Christian Giants?

God set me up for today’s devotional with a dream last night. Someone I love was with me and a few of my Christian friends. As we were about ready to go to our separate homes, this person asked, “Can we pray?” I was surprised because he was not a Christian.

I asked someone to begin and while the prayer time was a bit odd (dreams are like that) this person stood up to pray also. He became very emotional and it was obvious that he had something important to say. I stood beside him and found out his news. He was too emotional to say it and gave me permission to make the announcement: God had touched his life and he was now a Christian.

I woke up, hoping the dream was a prophecy. Then I read Tozer’s story about Pascal. This man wrote on a piece of paper a brief account of his experience, folded the paper and kept it in a pocket close to his heart, apparently as a reminder of what he had felt. Those who attended him at his death found the worn, creased paper. In Pascal’s own writing it said: “From about half-past ten at night to about half-after midnight — fire! O God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob — not the God of the philosophers and the wise. The God of Jesus Christ who can be known only in the ways of the gospel. Security — feeling — peace — joy — tears of joy. Amen.”

Pascal is known for his mind. He was a mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer, philosopher and theologian. However, the Holy Spirit broke through and beyond all that was human and intellectual and philosophical and left him with such emotion that he could only say it was fire.

Was this a repeat of what happened to Jeremiah? Perhaps not exactly the same but it describes a visitation from the Holy Spirit that changed everything:

“Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.” Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.” (Jeremiah 1:8–9)

Jeremiah was a changed man after this visitation of the Spirit. God used him in a powerful way even though his ministry was excessively difficult.

Sometimes I’ve wanted to be like Jeremiah or other spiritual giants but realize such tasks requires tests, and I’m not sure I want the tests. Today I’m whining over the pain of a small surgical procedure. What would I do if God wanted me to experience more of His power and put me to the test to see if I could handle it? I can imagine Him saying to me:

“If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses? And if in a safe land you are so trusting, what will you do in the thicket of the Jordan?” (Jeremiah 12:5)

^^^^^^^^^

Lord, I understand. High ambition requires high requirements. While me trusting You depends on knowing You and that You are all powerful, You trusting me is about You knowing me — much more than I know myself. I’m not as powerful or as godly as I would like to be! May I have the heart and attitude of David who said,  

“O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.” (Psalm 131:1)

Not me, but Christ alone

In the early eighties, my husband and I spent several months learning how to present the Gospel. The church we attended had many first-time visitors who were asked to fill in a visitor’s card, giving us contact information so the teams in this outreach program could visit and share the Gospel with them.

At that time, I thought a good argument would do it, that I could persuade people to believing using logic. My mentors were not happy with me, but it took an unusual situation to put me on the right track.

I met a woman who was in a bad situation. Her husband left her with several children, no money, and poor health. She was unable to work and was selling a drafting table. I answered her ad and we became friends. I took her shopping, babysat the two smallest boys to give her a break, and did a lot of listening. One Sunday, our son wasn’t feeling well so I stayed home with him while the family went to church. He was busy playing a game so I decided to call this woman. One thing led to another and I gave her the Gospel presentation I’d been taught — only I messed it up — thoroughly. Nothing I said was logical or made sense.

She listened. She became a Christian. I was stunned. Her life changed dramatically, and from that time on, I knew that the power of God’s good news was not in the ability of the person who shared it, but in the message itself. It was exactly as Paul wrote about his own life:

“For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” (1 Corinthians 1:17)

“And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:1–5)

Not only is this true, it is true for a reason — God is glorified. No one can boast that they “led so-and-so to the Lord” for it is the Lord who brings people to Himself. If human beings have any eloquence at all, it is a gift from God, not a talent to boast about or flaunt as if He had nothing to do with it.

But God does not need eloquence. The truth is, God isn’t interested in my ‘wisdom’ or in my ‘strengths’ because nothing I have is mine, and even if it were, none of it can be compared to the power of God.

“For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’” (1 Corinthians 1:26–31)

I’ve lost touch with that friend who God saved that day and only know that the Lord transformed her life. He blessed her and took care of her, even used a foolish, weak, and pride-filled person to do it. And He used her to knock the stuffing out of my self-sufficiency.

^^^^^^

Jesus, You are the most awesome, most wise God. You can humble and raise up at the same time, use fools for Your purposes, and give each of us exactly what we need to look up to You and boast in You alone.

God keeps His promises

Fear of change is at the foundation of most other fears. Those fears on the top ten lists involve any type of upset in the status quo, from attacks by terrorists to becoming seriously ill. The people surveyed want life to be better, but also stable, predictable.

When someone says “people never change” or “the world has always been like this” I feel a vague discomfort. God promises to change His people and I know this to be true. He also has a plan that will change the world; this is the hope of all who trust Him.

When it comes to predictable, God’s promises are totally that. Those that have not yet been fulfilled are the most certain of any predictions ever made, yet those who hear them cling to their ‘no changes’ chant. Christian believers are not surprised . . .

“This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.“They will say, ‘Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.’”

The passage goes on to remind them of the flood that destroyed scoffers and God’s promise of another day of judgment when the world and ungodly people will be destroyed by fire. Then He addresses the bit about nothing ever changing and adds a warning to His people about paying attention to His promises . . . 

“But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! “But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. “You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:1-18)

I particularly like the last part. It tells me that while others scoff that nothing ever changes, I’m not to be carried away by the same error in thinking. Instead, I am to be changing — and in the best way possible — changing by spiritual growth through a deepening knowledge of Jesus Christ. As the Bible says, the more I know Him and the deeper our relationship, the more I am transformed into His image.

^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, my Lord and Savior, You do not tell us when You will come back to this sin-sick world, but I know You will come. You do tell us to live as if it could be any moment now. For me, that means great anticipation, yet it also pushes my thoughts to the many ways I am NOT like You and how I need to grow in grace and in the knowledge of You. This is my desire as I wait for that certain promise — whichever comes first — Your return or that day when I enter eternity.

God changes hearts . . .

I often wonder how others use their time and money compared to many Christians. Sundays are obviously different, as should be schedules and to-do lists during the week. Being a Christian is about having our lives changed. Today’s Scriptures describe the changes in people who were first saved in the new church formed after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  

“So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:41–47)

God changes hearts and attitudes, and that change actions. That passage describes some of them:

Baptism. This is a public confession that I have been buried with Christ and raised to new life in Him. I now do not live for me, or the world, or the devil, but for Him. (see Romans 6:3–4)

Discipleship. No one person learns and knows all that God have for us. We learn from one another as we share God’s Word through preaching, teaching, and studying together.

Fellowship. Discipleship includes sharing our lives. Fellowship can mean chatting over coffee, but it is mostly about much deeper interaction as our lives intertwine.

Communion is also a symbolic activity like baptism, and an ordinance to remember the death of Christ for our sin. Neither this or baptism are for those without faith, but for Christians only. God calls for self-examination rather than participating in an unworthy manner. (see 1 Corinthians 11:23-30)

Prayer is an individual and a community thing. We pray for ourselves, the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ, and the needs of the world. We do this because our relationship with God has become personal and intimate. He invites us to come to Him about everything, and we know He hears and answers our prayers.

Incredible bonding in community. God also puts His people in His family. No matter where I go, when I meet a genuine follower of Jesus Christ, there is that instant family bond. We can be different in race, culture, background, but the sense of family is always present.

Generosity. Christians are characterized by knowing God is our source. We learn that no matter what we give away, if we need it, God will fill our need. We help other Christians and God extends our generosity to widows, orphans, strangers, those in bondage, and suffering people of all descriptions.

Praise. We know we are blessed by God so praise is very natural. Oh, I get caught in a funk now and then, griping about some inconvenience, complaining over something or other, but being thankful and full of praise for God is a wonderful gift from Him to His people.

Attractiveness to others. History tells how faith in Christ changed people from living for self to being a blessing to others. They gave their lives to make a difference in their world. This still happens. The sad thing is that our efforts sometimes go unseen, or we take the glory instead of giving it to God, or we are misunderstood, or the people around us are so resistant to God and the things of God that they hate what we stand for and reward our good deeds with persecution.

Nevertheless, I like this list. It reminds me of the things I have in common with the body of Christ. It also deepens my sense of ‘family’ and our unity. Jesus changes us, brings us together, uses us for His redemptive purposes. Our lives matter, not only to God but to one another and to a world that needs to know about God and to see Jesus in action. We are that link. The better we respond to the attitudes God gives us, the more we can be as He intends in a needy world and to people without hope.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, You changed the world when You changed that handful of people and made them the church. You are still changing the world, despite the many times Your church falls short. Thank You. Please keep us standing firm on the foundations that You gave us, not divided over minor issues but strong in faith and agreeing in the most important reasons why You came, why You died and rose again, and what You want us to do while we live here in this world.