Be still and know . . .

Genesis 17; Nehemiah 6; Matthew 16; Acts 16

In Genesis 17, God repeats His promises and the covenant made with Abram. He gives this man and his wife new names, establishes the covenant sign of circumcision, and affirms that Sarah will have a son, even at ninety years of age. God says it will be through this son that God will establish the covenant line and fulfill His promises to Abram. Abram believed God and did what He commanded. How did he know that what God said was true?

In Nehemiah 6, the enemies of Israel continued to conspire against Nehemiah and his work of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. He answered their accusations with: “No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.” For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands. (Nehemiah 6:8–9) How did he know the motivations of these subtle and persistent men? How did he know they were lying?

In Matthew 26, the religious leaders AND Jesus’ disciples were not so discerning. The Pharisees and Sadducees looked for a sign. Jesus rebuked them; they could discern the weather but not what God was doing in their midst. Then, when Jesus warned the disciples to avoid their “leaven” these men thought he was rebuking them because they forgot to bring bread (even after feeding two groups of thousands with almost no food at all). Duh?

When Jesus asked His disciples who they said He was, Peter gave this wonderful answer: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16) yet a few verses later after Jesus told them He would die and rise again, Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” (Matthew 16:22) At that, Jesus said, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” (Matthew 16:23) How could the earlier men of God be perceptive to what God was doing yet these who walked in the presence of God’s Son be so clueless?

Acts shows how those who later believed in Christ were tuned in. For example . . .

And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. (Acts 16:6–10)

Again, how did they know where to go and where not to go? This passage says the Holy Spirit was directing them through that quiet voice and through visions, much like the way God guided His people in the Old Testament. A lot of it depends on paying attention, upon waiting. He says, “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10)

For me, I am trying to listen. We are in a cold snap with travel advisories. Going anywhere when it is this cold is never a good idea. We are also still coughing and hospitals often do not allow visitors who show such symptoms. My sister is in a hospital four hours driving from here on a good day. Her family are close to her. They tell me she may not know us if we do come. I want to see her, yet family are saying we do not need to feel compelled as we might want to be left with better memories — she has deteriorated so much. They are all strong in faith. One said that maybe our coughs and the weather are God’s way of telling us "not now."

As I read the above passages, I could relate to the knowing/not knowing the will of God, but also understanding what it means to be still, to know He is sovereign and I can trust Him with this. The doctors give my sister only a couple days, but only the Lord knows. She may be gone today or not be taken home until the weather and coughs no longer hinder our travel. Waiting on Him means just that, being still, knowing, realizing that He will guide us and His will is perfect.

I feel a bit heavy and don’t know what lies ahead, not even the next few minutes. The phone could ring. It may not. God knows and He will tell me what I need to know. His Word for me today is assurance that I need to be still, listen and wait.

Fulfilling a vision

Paul was given a ‘vision’ of Jesus as he traveled to Damascus to persecute Christians. He was blinded by light and asked “Who are you, Lord?” The Lord said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.” At that moment, Jesus also gave him another ‘vision’ concerning his future.

“ . . . Rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”

Years later, Paul told King Agrippa his story.He said, 

“I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.” (Acts 26:16–20)

Chambers says a vision can be lost if God does not fulfill it immediately and we cannot wait. Instead, we need to keep it by continual recall, not so much in prayer meetings, but in daily thought. That is, if God calls me to do a thing, that thing must stay on my mind until He works out the timing and opportunities for the vision to be fulfilled. I’m not to let go of it by disobedience or in discouragement.

He also says to let God fling me into it, not going out to do it until He makes it happen. If I decide myself to go, the venture will be fruitless. The walking of my feet need to match the light of what God has given me.

Actually, God did give me a grand plan for something, but it has not yet worked out except by dribs and drabs. I translated this sluggishness to mean that it was merely my idea and not from God. Yet the idea (or ‘vision’) does keep coming back. After reading this, I am convinced that “being obedient to a heavenly vision” isn’t always about jumping into action. It is also waiting for God’s timing and instruction.

My church leader who gave the okay for this idea also said, “Start small and see how it goes.” I wanted to start big, but now see his wisdom in that advice. For one thing, I am not Paul, but even if I were, the Bible relates that this spiritual giant spent years before he started doing fully what God envisioned for him.

“God . . . was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days . . . Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia . . . Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem . . . .” (Galatians 1:16–2:1)

Paul’s ministry was years in its development. He began to share the Gospel right away, but God had a plan. It took years of “increasing in strength” — which was necessary to fulfill that initial ‘vision’ from God. If it took that for a man like Paul, I’ve no reason to be impatient!

From all this, my focus needs to stay with what God gave me, looking for opportunities, but first listening for His ‘go’ signal and direction on what to do first, and second, and third, and all steps after that.

Waiting and working

After a long week of busyness and a couple of toss and turn nights, I woke this morning feeling like eight hours sleep was not enough. However, I got up and opened Selwyn Hughes’ devotional guide. The feature verses for today end with these lines, so familiar and like warm oil on my heart . . .

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28–31)

But this is not about being renewed so I can be at leisure. It is about praying for renewal so I can do whatever God nudges me to do, even to be part of the answer to my own prayers.

Prayer brings peace to anxious hearts, but James, one of the most practical books of the Bible, says that faith is basically useless if it does not result in action . . .

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? (James 2:14–16)

Sometimes the action is not about doing things for others, but doing some personal house-cleaning. I know I’m of little use to God if my life is cluttered with sin and selfishness. For that, God says, “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

If I wonder what needs to be done, I only have to look around me to see a multitude of human need. The morning news is filled with opportunities to be useful to those in need. Some of them are outlined in these lines from Jesus . . .

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ (Matthew 25:31–40)

Today’s devotional reading also included a fragment of a poem, author unknown. I found it on the Internet. It is a discussion between two farmers, both pray, but one has better crops than the other. The poet is someone named Morris, and I’ve copied the last few lines below . . .

"It's well to pray both night and morn,

As every farmer knows;

But the place to pray for plentiful corn

Is right between the rows."

"You must use your hands while praying, though,

If an answer you would get;

For prayer-worn knees and a rusty hoe

Never raised a big crop yet."

"An' so I believe, my good old friend,

if you mean to win the day;

From sowing clean to the harvest end

You must hoe as well as pray."

— Morris

Christians call this ‘putting show leather’ to your prayers. Instead of feeling tired about the day ahead, I need to get my shoes on, praying in the process and obeying those nudges to get busy.

(To read the entire poem, go here)

Learning at His feet

When I share with others that I’m going back to school to finish my Master’s degree, the reactions vary. One person, a pastor, was instantly excited. He almost jumped off his chair and cheered. Others look at me as if I am out of my mind. 

The decision to do this was not for ‘people pleasing’ yet I’m encouraged by the cheers. I’ll need those people to pray for me as my old mind tries to wrap itself around new ideas. I’m trying to not even think about the challenges of learning two languages or trying to remember how to spell Rehoboam and other words not in the average spell-checker.

Those who wonder what has possessed me could easily have me second-guessing this decision. Isn’t serving God more important than learning about Him? Yesterday, I must have been wondering about that for I went to bed worried whether the lack of support from some people might pull me into a slump or even quit before I start. However, God has this amazing way of being my very best encourager. Today’s devotional reading hits me right where I am, using the story of busy Martha…

And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:39–42)

Mary sat at Jesus’ feet. Mary wasn’t refusing to work, but knew that her time with Jesus was short. She could make lunch later, but when Jesus was gone, so was her opportunity. She selected to sit at His feet.

The Old Testament has several verses that use the word ‘portion’ but the one that I’m the most familiar with is Psalm 73:26. “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” This verse comforted me when my heart problems started and it comforts me now. Choosing to sit at His feet is the strength of my life, strength to know my future, strength to know what God wants me to do in the present. He is my portion, my allotment in life.

Mary learned much at the feet of Jesus, but the most important thing she learned was about His impending death on the cross for the sins of the world (see John 12:3ff and John 11:1ff). Even His disciples hadn’t figured that out, but when she anointed Jesus’ feet with precious nard, He commended her, knowing she had intended to use it for His burial. 

Any anxieties I might have about “should I or shouldn’t I?” are answered with this simple story. I am where Jesus wants me. W. Hay Aitken, who wrote the devotional article, says that at the feet of Jesus is my place of privilege and blessing as well as where I am to be educated and made fit for the practical duties of life. It is at His feet where I renew my strength as I wait on Him. Here I learn how to mount on wings as eagles as I become possessed with that true knowledge that empowers me to serve without fretting, as Martha did. I learn from Him how eternal service is to be done, and am given His motivation to do it. 

As happens now, He will give me errands to run and people to bless while I am studying. At His feet I will find solace in the trials of that work — and they happen — and in the trials of life in general. At the feet of Jesus I will get a deeper foretaste of heaven even in these days on earth — for sitting at His feet is the closest I can be to those heavenly places. Gazing upon His glory right now is doing what I will never get tired of doing when I leave this place.