The most discouraging part of becoming like Jesus…

Today’s reading is sad. The author describes her conversion and the joy of it, then asked someone how to get power over sin and was told that this was a life-long battle. She then became very disappointed and, again using the OT story of the Israelites as a bases, she wrote:

So ignorant was I of God’s ways that I in turn became a spy, bringing a bad report of the land to the Christians who came to me for counsel, telling them it was indeed a good land but adding the fatal “nevertheless” of unbelief, that the people who lived in the land were too strong for them, and the cities were walled and very great. Many a one did I thus turn back, causing them to wander with me in the wilderness for many years.

This author lived long before our time, and because her devotional is entitled, “God is Enough” I do hope she realized that such wandering is not abnormal. It is a stage of spiritual growth that some call “a period of spiritual crisis and struggle” and absolutely necessary to spiritual maturity. There is good reason for this stage.

The joy of salvation puts us in ‘honeymoon’ mode where we think we can do anything, conquer all our enemies and defeat sin. However, that stage cannot last. The NT says, “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him” (Colossians 2:6) so we conquer sin’s power in the same way that we were delivered from its penalty — by trusting Jesus and not ourselves. In other words, we need to learn that much of this “I can do it” is without understanding that like salvation, we are helpless to live a victorious life without total reliance on Christ.

For some, this can be a long time of “wilderness wandering” because the smart, capable people have no desire to become helpless, not merely believing the theology of it, but fully knowing the reality of it. As Paul wrote, when he was weak, God’s strength happens. Many do not even realize they are relying on themselves and not Jesus.

Spiritual dependency is next. This part of spiritual growth involves surrender, willingness to give glory to God and not keep it for myself, and a total commitment to total obedience. The devotional author calls that complete consecration, yet errs to say that without this, no one can enter heaven.
The only way that can be corrected is looking at the whole picture. Those who are saved will be taken through a time of frustration and struggle to learn that Jesus is necessary for all of life, whatever I do, even the seemingly insignificant things:

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Some stop growing at this point of yielding because the human way of thinking cannot make sense of it, or more likely, does not want to give up their own way and in great humility follow Jesus into great fruitfulness, yet even the OT says:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. (Proverbs 3:5–8)

This is the way out of wandering in the wilderness. It cannot be done by a decision of the will, or by feelings or even reasoning. It is part of the saving work of Jesus and a matter of faith. Like salvation from sin, being rescued from its power can be trusted — or resisted. Yet even curing that resistance is a work of our Savior:

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6)

Many realize we need to see Him face-to-face to be fully cured of relying on self. We need this understanding because the advice given to this author is true, not an error, only incomplete. Yes, I will fight sin all of my life, not because I have no way to win but because sinlessness belongs only to Jesus and learning that He fights for me is part of the journey. The total victory happens when I leave here and go home.

PRAY: Jesus, I agree that You deliver sinners from the penalty of sin and that I will experience some degree of its power as I battle the forces of evil in this world. However, only when You take me home will I be delivered from sin’s presence and finally realize the truth that You indeed are enough!

Jesus changes history

READ Romans 1–4

What makes a driver cruise past a speed limit sign at a rate twice the number on that sign? Do they excuse it? “I will miss my appointment” or “I didn’t notice the sign”? What makes a person rob a store or dupe seniors out of their life savings? How do they excuse it?

Romans 1 makes this startling statement:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. (Romans 1:18–23)

Reading again that line: “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”

God says everyone knows He is eternal, powerful, heavenly. It is made clear since creation and in the things created. Yet much of the human race now proclaims there is no God. He is dead, or if He does exist, He is weak. Many think His creation evolved over millions of years, not made by God but it just happened. These verses are mocked. What erased that plain understanding given by God to everyone?

The following verses describe the consequences. Seeing clearly did not produce honor to God or thankfulness. Instead, humanity turned from what they could see and made up a different scenario, one that allowed them to decide what their god should be like instead of what He’d shown them about Himself. The Bible call this “going our own way” and names it sin.

Drivers know the speed limit. Thieves know they have no right to take what belongs to others. But the doing of such things eventually blinds them and changes their thinking. God explains it:

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. (Romans 1:24–27)

Since humanity already denied what God had shown them, what were His options? He could reveal more truth about Himself but that had already been rejected. So He gave humanity up to their own rule, which became a slippery slope. Sadly, some people stop reading here, condemn those who have gone to the ends as described above and make that one of the “worst” sins. This is a mistake . . .

And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. (Romans 1:28–32)

Sexual sin isn’t the only sin. Note the list. All of us have done at least some of it. I may not have murdered anyone literally, but in thought. I may not be described as ruthless, but I have gossiped. In the mind of God, sin is sin and sin is the result of saying NO to what He reveals about Himself.

Grace is God giving a second chance. It was costly for Him, but free for us, another revelation. “Yes, you rejected Me, but here I am again, this time in human form to reveal My love and that I want you to be with Me forever. That is a gift. You only need to admit you have sinned, admit the obvious. I will take you back, reveal myself to you. Just say YES to Jesus, YES to forgiveness, and I will grant you forgiveness, power over sin and eternal life.”

And for those who do this, trusting the promise of God and believing, He changes everything, even drops the name “sinner” and gives us the righteousness of Christ. How utterly incredible!

 

Redemption: Past, Present, and Future

When Christians say “I am saved” along with “I am being saved” their listeners could become confused. In today’s devotional, author Don Fortner explains it so well that I’m filled with worship. Our God is an awesome God.

What can I say after reading his post for January 10^th other than recording the Scripture he used and how it spoke to my heart? Also, for those who want to read along, I just did a Google search and found that the entire book is published online. Here is the link.

Fortner says that redemption is two-fold. I am saved because Jesus paid the price for me concerning God’s demand for a perfect righteousness. I am also saved from the bondage of sin as Jesus continually works in my life to deliver me. In this, redemption is now and not yet.

Moses speaks of redemption this way . . .

Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord, saying, “I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him . . . . You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode.” (Exodus 15:1-2; 13)

King David speaks of redemption this way . . . 

For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me; you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God. (Psalm 31:3–5)

Paul says this to show the now and not yet nature of redemption . . .

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7) and “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30)

My sins are forgiven and I am redeemed for eternity. This is something like being drafted into the armed services in the sense that I am now a soldier. However, soldiers must experience boot camp to learn how to perform like a soldier. In the same way, God uses the power of His Holy Spirit in the boot camp called life to rid me of everything that does not go with my new identity. This is a process, but the fact of sin being present and cleansed does not change the fact of forgiveness and the new person created by the grace of God. To mix metaphors, I am in His family even when though I sometimes act like an orphan brat.

Fortner says that both aspects of redemption are essential to full salvation. I needed a suitable Substitute to redeem me with the price of His own blood. I also need a sovereign Deliverer to redeem me from the pull of sin with the power of His shed blood and His Holy Spirit.

Jesus, You overwhelm me with grace. I am redeemed, set free from the awful punishment that I deserve. I am being redeemed as You set me free from the bondage of sin.

Even more, Romans 8:22–23 tells me I will be fully redeemed. Right now, the whole creation groans together along with Your people who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, and we wait eagerly for our full adoption as Your people. On that day, this third aspect of redemption is marked by the redemption of our bodies — as we walk into eternity gazing at Your incredible face. 

Restoration

He restores my soul . . . (Psalm 23:3)

A video currently posted on Facebook shows a full-size horse playing in a child-size inflatable pool. The pool is about same length as the horse and about 30 inches deep. He begins with one foot slapping the water, but soon has all fours in, still striking the water and nodding his head. Then he lays down, first on one side then the other. This horse is obviously enjoying himself. If a horse has a soul, he is definitely restoring it.

I’m reminded of a horse I had before reaching my teens. My sister took a smaller child for a ride. They walked over a covered septic tank and the cover gave way. Snowball started to fall. My sister threw the child off one side and leaped to safety herself. Snowball was not as fortunate. He stood on his hind legs up to his neck in the muck, with his front legs on the top edge. It took several men and a tractor a long time to get him out. He lay on his side and whinnied his relief, another soul restored.

I use these examples because this biblical term refers to a shepherd rescuing a hapless sheep who somehow becomes upended and on its back. The sheep cannot get up by itself and would die without the loving care of the shepherd who restores it to its right position.

Jesus does that for His sheep. When my soul gets into a bad spot, He comes to my rescue. This is part of the gospel plan. God saves His people from the penalty of sin, the power of sin, and eventually the presence of sin. Right now, I live in that middle place where sin wants to ruin me, but Jesus is my Savior. He forgives, He intercedes, He guides, and He also restores.

Some think that when a Christian sins, God is going to scold or smack us. That is not a biblical concept of God or the gospel. The Lord corrects, but it is not with a big stick or a nasty voice. For Him, restoration is a careful and gentle process . . .

Behold my servant (pointing to Jesus), whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. (Isaiah 42:1–3)

And I (God) will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them. (Isaiah 42:16)

On those times when my life is upside down (and it happens often), I will feel panic like Snowball in the septic tank. Instead of struggle to right myself, I need to remember what the Word of God says about my Shepherd. Not only will He never leave or forsake me, He will deliver and rescue me. Like the psalmist, I might ask myself, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?” Then tell myself what to do . . . “Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God” (Psalm 42:11) 

After that, all that remains is waiting for Him to restore my soul. He never abandons His sheep.