One mouth, two ears…

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words. When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands? For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear. (Ecclesiastes 5:1–7)

Any effort in life to be prosperous (a dream) requires much business (or busyness) which this writer compares to the hasty and prolific words of a fool who talks too much. Another writer compares this thought this way:

Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. (1 Samuel 15:22)

This is like those who busily do what they think is serving God without actually listening to or obeying Him. They go through the motions and appear to be devout, but their actions are mere ritual. This was condemned then, and by Jesus, and today often goes undetected or sometimes applauded. 

Those who “serve God” in this manner perhaps have vowed to do so, yet when doing so, are doing what they assume is wanted rather than what God accepts. As one writer says, the truth that it is more acceptable to God is that one should go to Him to hear the Law taught and expounded, than to offer a formal sacrifice of ‘good’ works. This is the offering of a godless man and in proverbial language called “the sacrifice of fools” (Proverbs 21:27).

This same writer also says that the “fools” who offer unacceptable sacrifices do not know how to worship God heartily and properly. Thinking to please Him with their formal acts of devotion, they fall into a grievous sin. 

In my thinking, this is a failure to recognize the difference between walking in the Spirit and walking in the flesh. Instead of glorifying God who uses us like a hand in a glove, the glove gets credit for cooperating with the hand instead of moving with it in obedience and with the recognition of its own helplessness. 

. . . .  though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:6–10)

Paul knew the glory of few words and obedience because he knew his own helplessness and the foolishness of talking too much. He sought the will of God and was told his power was in helplessness, not in the many good things that God's hand did with him. His ‘dreams’ were successful because he feared God and listened. 

Lord Jesus, every day something happens requiring Your instruction. In my response to these events, I talk big about what I will do, but You urge me to shut up and listen. Then You surprise me with Your solutions. These are lessons in what it means to fear You and listen. You are the most amazing God and I am blessed to be weak and listen, rather than be ‘strong’ and do what I think is best.

 

Jesus is the Hand in this glove

 

When a person is drafted into military service, they begin that life by being taught how to live it. While some of those principles apply to civilian life, doing them does not make that person a soldier or a marine or whatever part of the military they aspire to become. They must first be enlisted.

This is also true of becoming a Christian. I began that life when God called me to Himself. Then He began to teach me how to live it. Sadly, those principles are often preached to civilians who cannot live like members of God’s family until they are members, because without that calling, they do not have what is needed to be it. All efforts are self-effort and even if those things seem to be the right things, doing them without faith is what the Bible calls sin.

Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. (Romans 14:23)

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)

(Jesus said) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:4–5)

In this world, a person can enlist in the army when they hear the call to do so. In the spiritual realm, that call is something like “Uncle Sam wants you” only it is Jesus doing the calling. Many Christians attest to hearing Him call and that it comes to them when they were ready to hear it. Some  might say no to the existence of God, or no to the reality of their sinfulness, or no to all sorts of ideas they have about religion and the church, but when Jesus calls, that invitation is irresistible.

I remember one woman who said she heard the gospel at camp when she went there to pick up her sister. She had no intentions of listening never mind responding, but when she heard Jesus, she  tightly grabbed the chair in front of her to keep herself seated. It didn’t work. She went forward, was filled with faith and saved.

This happened also to Saul who became Paul. He was on a road planning to destroy Christians when Jesus called him and transformed his life. From that time on, he became a mighty soldier of God. While not so dramatic, God did the same in my life. He walked into my living room and revealed such powerful truth to me about Himself that saying no was impossible.

My point is that God never asked me to first give up my old life, to be poor in spirit, to deny self, or anything like that. He just gave me faith to believe that Jesus died for my sin, that Jesus is God in human flesh and wanted me in His kingdom. I knew this was true. The training to live for Him came after that and because He had come to live in me, I had the ability and the desire to do His will.

PRAY: Jesus, You know that we who sin cannot save ourselves nor can we do any of the things You require unless we have You in our lives. Any self-effort is just that — self-effort, and because it is, we “go our own way” instead of the way that You clearly say is the only way: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) and Paul affirms it: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9) I cannot claim any part of becoming Your child as something I did. You are the Savior and You did it all and are still doing all as You enable me to live as Your soldier and Your child.

The dangers of being self-sufficient

Deuteronomy 25; Psalm 116; Isaiah 52; Revelation 22

Yesterday my hubby required some tests at our city’s well-known research hospital. Most of the entrances were closed. Those open had testing stations for Covid-19. As I answered questions, we chatted about the difficulties this pandemic put on hospital staff. I mentioned that I prayed often for all of them. One of the nurses said, “We have broad shoulders and can handle this.” Most people respond with thank you or some other expression of appreciation of prayer support. I was disappointed at her response.

My feelings are grounded in the realization that God answers the prayers of the helpless, the needy, those without strength and no pretense or confidence that they can handle their problems without His help. He is a merciful God, but I’ve realized my definition of mercy has been off the mark. I always though mercy meant not giving someone the judgment or punishment they deserved, but that is not it. Mercy means “doing for others what they cannot do for themselves.”

In other words, mercy is only for those who are helpless, needy, weak, and lacking self-confidence. The psalmist knew this and he also knew that feeling that way is a good thing.

I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live. (Psalm 116:1–2)

Jesus said the same thing but didn’t use the word mercy to describe those who receive it, only to those who give it. After saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven . . . .” He also said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” (Matthew 5:3; 7)

These two statements go together. One of my Bible tools says that verse 3 could be translated, “Happy are those who realize their need of God.” Mercy is about receiving that need.

This relates to several wonderful verses from the Old Testament that combine poverty of spirit and the blessing of God:

For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite. (Isaiah 57:15)

. . . This is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word. (Isaiah 66:2)

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18)

When I read all this with the definition of mercy in place, God says to me that I am the most joyful when contrite and realize my inabilities. When I’m in that attitude, God gladly supplies what I am lacking so I can do for others what they cannot do for themselves. He says, “Be empty so I can fill you — so you can fill others who are empty.”

In other words, if I am to be more like Jesus, I must be helpless, laying aside whatever ‘strengths’ and self-confidence I might think I have so I can rely on Him for everything.

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5–8)

The things God asks me to lay aside and not rely on are nothing compared to Jesus. He laid aside equality with God, the powers He has as deity, to become like me but without sin. In that God-man form, He was helpless as a man yet powerful because He did everything His Father wanted. He received the Father’s grace and mercy that He could be gracious and merciful to me — for I could not save myself.

APPLY: I’m proud and self-sufficient far too easily. These thoughts are humbling yet at the same time bring deeper peace to my heart, even closer to be like Paul — who said he’d learn to boast in his weaknesses for when He was weak, He was strong. So contrary to human reasoning but incredible and awesome, a truth that both hurts and heals. Praise the name of Jesus!

 

 

Alive but dead?

Moving many times and living in various parts of North America makes Thanksgiving easier. While there is no perfect place nor any perfect churches, I’m so glad to be where I am and for the privilege of being part of a strong church.

Today’s devotional points me to God’s words to an ancient church, one that was not doing very well. It had a good reputation, but something was seriously wrong . . .

“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.’” (Revelation 3:1–5)

How can a church that seems good be called ‘dead’? James explains that for faith to be alive and well, it must be producing works or activities or ministry that comes from the grace and power of the Holy Spirit. He said, “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” (James 2:26)

That is, a body of believers can claim faith but their lives do not show it. Their ‘faith’ might not be real in that the Lord Jesus Christ has not given them His renewing life. Their ‘faith’ might be immature in that they believe the Gospel but have not made its truths part of their lives. Whatever the reason, this church was not demonstrating faith by works done in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Works do not save, but they are evidence that salvation has occurred. If a person or a church is not keeping short accounts with God concerning their sin, is relying on their own abilities to ‘serve’ God and has not understood or determined to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, then whatever they do is incomplete in some way and failing to accomplish the will of God. The opposite was said of Paul and Barnabas when they sailed to Antioch “where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled.” (Acts 14:26)

I used to think about this problem of deadness in the church with the prideful attitude that I could fix it. I just needed to teach others what they were missing and the church would be alive and well. This is naïve and vain. The church is built and sustained by the Lord. I’ve no idea why all are not perfect churches.

I also have no idea why it is not true in my own life. I want to be a mature, alive, strong Christian who is filled with the Spirit and doing God’s will in effective and powerful ways. My desire does not make it happen. My desire does not help me understand why God is not making it happen. Church building and Christian building is His business and while perfection is His desire and He is all-powerful, I’ve no idea why there are churches and individual Christians that seem alive but are dead, who need to wake up and repent.

^^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, even in this perplexity, You call me to trust You. I’m to walk by faith, not by what I see and not by what I think should be happening. You are the Sovereign God who is like the manager of a grand performance; You know what is happening on center stage, but You also know what is happening back behind the wings.

Another word for sin

If I were to make a list of what I considered the worst immoral behavior, it would likely include murder, robbery, abandoning children, sexual assault, and the other tag lines in our daily newspaper. God’s list has those in it, but this one has a few surprises and hits much closer to home:

“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” (2 Timothy 3:1–5)

When teaching a class of children that the Bible says everyone is a sinner, one five-year-old looked at me with her big brown eyes and said, “But I’ve never murdered anyone!”

Like many, her focus was on the ‘big’ stuff, things that send perpetrators to jail, and things that they ‘never do’ supposedly making themselves safe from the sin list. However, the above verses strike deeper and reveal the root of many of these ‘big’ sins. It shows why no one is exempt from that list.

Lovers of self. Not long ago, our adult daughter announced her opinion of why the world is in such a mess. She said it is because people are totally selfish. An Old Testament verse backs this up in a prophecy about Jesus and the reason He had to die:

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6)

Selfishness is going our own way. It may not seem bad, yet Solomon wrote, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” (Proverbs 16:25) He also wrote:

“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)

Going my own way is easy. Yesterday’s test was to trust God’s leading rather than my own ideas. He blessed in numerous ways and my totally exhausted bones were refreshed. Rather than a list of more personal experiences to show that this is true, I’d suggest to just test it out. Abandon all those ‘I’ll do it myself’ and ‘I can do this’ ideas and anything else that is not of faith. Give God the opportunity and freedom to bestow His Holy Spirit power and He will surprise everyone with the results.

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

Jesus, faith in You is too often only for eternal life and only parts of this life. The past few weeks You have been impressing me to trust You with everything, even the details of my responsibilities that I’ve been able to deal with in the past and all by myself. I need to rely on You completely because ‘self-effort’ is simply another word for sin.