“You have come to need milk and not solid food. Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” Hebrews 5:12b-14.
When an infant is born the necessity for development is milk. There is no question that milk is essential in the health and growth of all babies. But what if milk was the only source of food given to a child as they approached toddler’s age or even young children? The child would be unhealthy and stunted in growth – sickly if you will – and would not develop in the healthy manner required for maturation.
The same is with our spiritual growth. When we begin our pursuit of knowing God we nurse on simple truths until truths of that season are learned. We then move on to deeper truths in our spiritual walk nourishing us with more knowledge of Christ. ‘Professing believers who stay on a milk diet are unskilled in the word of righteousness. They are hearers of the word, but not doers. They lose what they do not use, and remain in a state of perpetual infancy.’ Believer’s Bible Commentary, p. 2172.
As in the case of Helen Keller, due of her inability to see and hear, she worked hard developing her sense of taste, smell and touch. She exercised her remaining senses to help her distinguish between important things she needed to recognize in order to be successful. Just as her challenges heightened her remaining senses, adversity sharpens our spiritual senses allowing us to determine right from wrong. Through the exercising and practicing of our faith, we will learn to hear and recognize God’s truths to bring us into a mature and seasoned faith.
The temptation is to forget what we have learned and not put in action the truths of the solid food for which we have been fed by God. By returning to mere milk, we will not grow into the beautiful spiritual adults for which we were created.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Unlimited Grace
“Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times…’ This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.” Matthew 18:21-35.
Forgiveness…most are fast to require it and slow to give it! This conversation between Peter and Jesus makes the requirements clear according to God. Traditional Rabbinic teaching only required a person to forgive three times. Peter had offered what he considered a generous amount of mercy and forgiveness, as he more than doubled the number. When Jesus answered He was not really giving a certain number but rather inferring an indefinite amount of times we are to forgive. He goes on to tell a story of a servant who begs his master to extend his time to pay back a huge amount of money. The master extends this due date and shows him mercy. That servant, in turn, would not extend the same to his servant who owed him a much smaller amount. The one who was shown grace was unwilling to give grace. Jesus ends this illustration with the truth that people who treat others this way on earth will be treated the same way in Heaven by the Father.
According to Scripture and my commentary the following is laid out regarding true forgiveness.
"The answer is that there are stages in the administration of forgiveness, as follows:
1. When a brother wrongs me or sins against me, I should forgive him immediately in my heart. (Eph 4:32) That frees me from a bitter, unforgiving spirit, and leaves the matter on his shoulders.
2. While I have forgiven him in my heart, I do not yet tell him that he is forgiven. It would not be righteous to administer forgiveness publicly until he has repented. So I am obligated to go to him and rebuke him in love, hoping to lead him to confession. (Luke 17:3)
3. As soon as he apologizes and confesses his sin, I tell him that he is forgiven. (Luke 17:4)
It seems to me that we cannot hold someone accountability for wounding us if we have never approached them in truth and love on the subject. Just as we cannot ask God for forgiveness if we are unaware of any unconfessed sin, we cannot expect those who wound us to know they have hurt us. We have the Holy Spirit to convict and reveal what sin we are carrying. We, too, should lovingly and Scripturally follow this Christian principle in seeking forgiveness from others.
By following the instructions of Jesus, we stand pure and merciful when we approach God to receive our own mercy and grace.
Forgiveness…most are fast to require it and slow to give it! This conversation between Peter and Jesus makes the requirements clear according to God. Traditional Rabbinic teaching only required a person to forgive three times. Peter had offered what he considered a generous amount of mercy and forgiveness, as he more than doubled the number. When Jesus answered He was not really giving a certain number but rather inferring an indefinite amount of times we are to forgive. He goes on to tell a story of a servant who begs his master to extend his time to pay back a huge amount of money. The master extends this due date and shows him mercy. That servant, in turn, would not extend the same to his servant who owed him a much smaller amount. The one who was shown grace was unwilling to give grace. Jesus ends this illustration with the truth that people who treat others this way on earth will be treated the same way in Heaven by the Father.
According to Scripture and my commentary the following is laid out regarding true forgiveness.
"The answer is that there are stages in the administration of forgiveness, as follows:
1. When a brother wrongs me or sins against me, I should forgive him immediately in my heart. (Eph 4:32) That frees me from a bitter, unforgiving spirit, and leaves the matter on his shoulders.
2. While I have forgiven him in my heart, I do not yet tell him that he is forgiven. It would not be righteous to administer forgiveness publicly until he has repented. So I am obligated to go to him and rebuke him in love, hoping to lead him to confession. (Luke 17:3)
3. As soon as he apologizes and confesses his sin, I tell him that he is forgiven. (Luke 17:4)
It seems to me that we cannot hold someone accountability for wounding us if we have never approached them in truth and love on the subject. Just as we cannot ask God for forgiveness if we are unaware of any unconfessed sin, we cannot expect those who wound us to know they have hurt us. We have the Holy Spirit to convict and reveal what sin we are carrying. We, too, should lovingly and Scripturally follow this Christian principle in seeking forgiveness from others.
By following the instructions of Jesus, we stand pure and merciful when we approach God to receive our own mercy and grace.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Communication of Love
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.
When we were created we were never meant to walk alone. God provided a bridge of communication for which we may all approach Him sinless, pure and reconciled. This bridge was Jesus who was sent to earth to take the place of sin in order that man could fellowship with God. Why do we question God’s love and build these mysterious barriers of communication with God?
We choose people to love in our own lives such as a partner or a child. Out of our love we long for someone in whom to place that love. We don’t withhold until that person is perfect but rather love in spite of their own imperfections. We learn to love over their flaws and accept them into our lives in fellowship and relationship.
There are many means of communication when entering into a relationship with someone. We communicate through our words, our actions, our beliefs and sometimes through others. If we hate something, it will be known. If we love something it will be shown. The same was with Christ Jesus. He came as our example and communicated many things through His life, death and resurrection.
Through His life, He communicated how to walk through life, how to live and how to love.
Through His death, He communicated how to surrender and to sacrifice.
Through His resurrection, He communicated how to believe, how to hope and how to receive eternal life.
God would not have shown us this great love if He didn’t want to fellowship and talk to us. His sacrifice was not in vain and provides an open and eternal bridge for which we can know Him, hear from Him and return His love.
When we were created we were never meant to walk alone. God provided a bridge of communication for which we may all approach Him sinless, pure and reconciled. This bridge was Jesus who was sent to earth to take the place of sin in order that man could fellowship with God. Why do we question God’s love and build these mysterious barriers of communication with God?
We choose people to love in our own lives such as a partner or a child. Out of our love we long for someone in whom to place that love. We don’t withhold until that person is perfect but rather love in spite of their own imperfections. We learn to love over their flaws and accept them into our lives in fellowship and relationship.
There are many means of communication when entering into a relationship with someone. We communicate through our words, our actions, our beliefs and sometimes through others. If we hate something, it will be known. If we love something it will be shown. The same was with Christ Jesus. He came as our example and communicated many things through His life, death and resurrection.
Through His life, He communicated how to walk through life, how to live and how to love.
Through His death, He communicated how to surrender and to sacrifice.
Through His resurrection, He communicated how to believe, how to hope and how to receive eternal life.
God would not have shown us this great love if He didn’t want to fellowship and talk to us. His sacrifice was not in vain and provides an open and eternal bridge for which we can know Him, hear from Him and return His love.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Wait Until Your Father Comes Home!
“The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame…Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.” Gen. 2:25 – 3:8.
When I was young my days were filled with playing outdoors with my sisters and living a carefree life in the country. It was a wonderful life with lots of freedom to run, explore and generally have a great time. I could tell when it was getting close to dinner as the day would begin getting a little cooler. Suddenly, my dad’s car would appear as he made his way home from work. We would run up to him welcoming him home and telling him about our day. Looking back, I had my own little Garden of Eden.
One day when I had disobeyed my mother, she withheld the punishment until daddy got home causing me to anticipate his arrival much differently. I no longer ran up to his car, but instead, being very aware of my disobedience watched from the window for him. I had sewn together my case to plead in an effort to receive mercy from the court. My disobedience had created a barrier between me and my dad.
Our disobedience to God will also create tension and barriers in our intimate relationship with Him. We will try to run from Him, hide from Him, or sew together justification for our actions to Him. We will no longer enjoy ‘walking through the garden in the cool of the day’ with Him. Instead we will limit our time of fellowship with Him because of our awareness of disobedience to Him. We will experience Him 'from the window instead of running up towards Him.'
God knows that man fell from grace that dreadful day in the Garden. He knows that we are unable to be sinless and save ourselves. That is why God sent Christ to do the work for us. He came to earth and became flesh so that He could take the place for us to have eternal life. ‘The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.’ Gen. 3:21. The LORD God made a garment of skin for Christ who through His life, death and resurrection has clothed us with eternal life.
Don't miss out on 'walking through the garden in the cool of the day.' He is waiting...
When I was young my days were filled with playing outdoors with my sisters and living a carefree life in the country. It was a wonderful life with lots of freedom to run, explore and generally have a great time. I could tell when it was getting close to dinner as the day would begin getting a little cooler. Suddenly, my dad’s car would appear as he made his way home from work. We would run up to him welcoming him home and telling him about our day. Looking back, I had my own little Garden of Eden.
One day when I had disobeyed my mother, she withheld the punishment until daddy got home causing me to anticipate his arrival much differently. I no longer ran up to his car, but instead, being very aware of my disobedience watched from the window for him. I had sewn together my case to plead in an effort to receive mercy from the court. My disobedience had created a barrier between me and my dad.
Our disobedience to God will also create tension and barriers in our intimate relationship with Him. We will try to run from Him, hide from Him, or sew together justification for our actions to Him. We will no longer enjoy ‘walking through the garden in the cool of the day’ with Him. Instead we will limit our time of fellowship with Him because of our awareness of disobedience to Him. We will experience Him 'from the window instead of running up towards Him.'
God knows that man fell from grace that dreadful day in the Garden. He knows that we are unable to be sinless and save ourselves. That is why God sent Christ to do the work for us. He came to earth and became flesh so that He could take the place for us to have eternal life. ‘The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.’ Gen. 3:21. The LORD God made a garment of skin for Christ who through His life, death and resurrection has clothed us with eternal life.
Don't miss out on 'walking through the garden in the cool of the day.' He is waiting...
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Mirrors & Freedom
“Do not merely listen to the word…Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But he who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:22-25.
For me, this past year was a year of running from one challenge to the next. My focus was intently on caregiving much to the exclusion of everything else. After the death of my father-in-law I remember walking through one of the stores in the mall. I happened to catch my reflection in a mirror as I passed by and was shocked to see how tired I now appeared. Over the past year a day had not gone by when I hadn’t at some point seen myself in a mirror but this day was different. My situation no longer had any competing focus and I could truly see myself – tired eyes and all.
The same thing has been happening in my heart and my spirit. Now that my caregiving focus has come to an end I can reflect on everything God has shown me through His word. I have learned immeasurable truths about myself and have been shown amazing revelations about God. These are things I don’t want to forget. I don’t want the impact made by these challenges to ever fade away. I never want to be the same.
We will be shown amazing things about God in our adversities. These revelations through our pain, if cherished and not forgotten, will be the new truths by which our thoughts and actions may be guided. However, the flesh would bid us to return to the old way of our thought process. Life would invite us to dwell on the former things instead of putting into action the things that God has shown us through our experiences. ‘Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!’ 2 Co. 5:17.
Life’s challenges are too tough to go through only to turn around and have the reflection of what they represented fade away. Don’t lose sight of the truths for which God showed you through the tough seasons. These precious truths will be the transforming freedom that God intends you to have. ‘Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’ John 8:32.
For me, this past year was a year of running from one challenge to the next. My focus was intently on caregiving much to the exclusion of everything else. After the death of my father-in-law I remember walking through one of the stores in the mall. I happened to catch my reflection in a mirror as I passed by and was shocked to see how tired I now appeared. Over the past year a day had not gone by when I hadn’t at some point seen myself in a mirror but this day was different. My situation no longer had any competing focus and I could truly see myself – tired eyes and all.
The same thing has been happening in my heart and my spirit. Now that my caregiving focus has come to an end I can reflect on everything God has shown me through His word. I have learned immeasurable truths about myself and have been shown amazing revelations about God. These are things I don’t want to forget. I don’t want the impact made by these challenges to ever fade away. I never want to be the same.
We will be shown amazing things about God in our adversities. These revelations through our pain, if cherished and not forgotten, will be the new truths by which our thoughts and actions may be guided. However, the flesh would bid us to return to the old way of our thought process. Life would invite us to dwell on the former things instead of putting into action the things that God has shown us through our experiences. ‘Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!’ 2 Co. 5:17.
Life’s challenges are too tough to go through only to turn around and have the reflection of what they represented fade away. Don’t lose sight of the truths for which God showed you through the tough seasons. These precious truths will be the transforming freedom that God intends you to have. ‘Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’ John 8:32.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Recognizing Jesus
“When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the LORD’s anointed stands here before the LORD.’ But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.’” 1 Sam.16:6-7.
God instructed Samuel to go to a certain household in Bethlehem where God had chosen the next king. He didn’t offer Samuel the name of the future king, but told Samuel that it would be revealed. The first son of Jesse walked in and Samuel naturally assumed that this tall, handsome and postured fellow was his guy – no question about it. God intervened and basically told Samuel that he was not the future king. After parading all of his sons before Samuel and God rejecting all of them it was revealed that the baby boy of the family was out in the field tending sheep. When they sent for him I am sure he entered the scene sweaty and smelly. The next verse makes my heart sing – “Then the LORD said, ‘Rise and anoint him; he is the one.’” 1 Sam. 16:12. It doesn't matter from where we have been or the condition of our lives, He calls us to rise and follow Him.
Another king was not recognized in the New Testament – the King of Glory! ‘The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.’ The soldiers came up and mocked him… ‘If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.’ Luke 23:35-36.
Let’s face it – it can be tough recognizing the King. He may be in front of you in line at the grocery store carefully counting out the remaining change of his last dollar. The King may be the man or woman who is sitting on a bench in the mall crying needing someone to notice. The King just may be lying in your home as you care for them in sickness. The King may be that homeless teen who is searching for hope to get home. “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:40.
We will never know how many times we were approached by the King of Glory. We must serve Him in every way presented to us and ride with the King!
Who is this King of Glory?
God instructed Samuel to go to a certain household in Bethlehem where God had chosen the next king. He didn’t offer Samuel the name of the future king, but told Samuel that it would be revealed. The first son of Jesse walked in and Samuel naturally assumed that this tall, handsome and postured fellow was his guy – no question about it. God intervened and basically told Samuel that he was not the future king. After parading all of his sons before Samuel and God rejecting all of them it was revealed that the baby boy of the family was out in the field tending sheep. When they sent for him I am sure he entered the scene sweaty and smelly. The next verse makes my heart sing – “Then the LORD said, ‘Rise and anoint him; he is the one.’” 1 Sam. 16:12. It doesn't matter from where we have been or the condition of our lives, He calls us to rise and follow Him.
Another king was not recognized in the New Testament – the King of Glory! ‘The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.’ The soldiers came up and mocked him… ‘If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.’ Luke 23:35-36.
Let’s face it – it can be tough recognizing the King. He may be in front of you in line at the grocery store carefully counting out the remaining change of his last dollar. The King may be the man or woman who is sitting on a bench in the mall crying needing someone to notice. The King just may be lying in your home as you care for them in sickness. The King may be that homeless teen who is searching for hope to get home. “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:40.
We will never know how many times we were approached by the King of Glory. We must serve Him in every way presented to us and ride with the King!
Who is this King of Glory?
Friday, March 25, 2011
All You Need Is Love
“We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:5
In Ruth we find the same concept as she placed herself at the feet of Boaz with a heart and mind for him. She trusted the process of choosing and pursuing him as her kinsman-redeemer. There is no support in Scripture that they spent a lot of time getting to know each other. In contrast, it seems that there were only three meetings before He redeemed her. The first was their introduction to each other. The second was his invitation to be fed at his table which she accepted. The third was her decision to choose him for the rest of her life. Ruth’s knowledge of Boaz was extremely limited but regardless she chose him. Ruth knew she had her entire life to experience her kinsman-redeemer and get to know him more intimately through this union.
The only other relationship that is similar to this one-sided love before love is returned is the birthing process. With each of my babies, I have preserved that sacred moment when they were born into my family and placed upon me. There is no other experience more burned upon my heart than the birth of my children. They were born with hearts that had yet to experience love. The love they developed was their response to the love they received. The birth came first and then the relationship followed.
Our pursuit of God will always start with His pursuit of us through the love He has and the love we desire. We are introduced to Him at which time He will always take the initiative and invite us to come to His table. We recognize Him as being the One who will return our love and redeem our lives. Once we accept His invitation and take His extended hand to walk with Him we will experience the love first hand. In turn, through spending time with Him we will develop the same intimate love for Him that comes so naturally through Him. It is only through the intimate time spent with my children that they have developed the love for me that I originally had for them. They love because they were first loved.
We love because He first loved us!
In Ruth we find the same concept as she placed herself at the feet of Boaz with a heart and mind for him. She trusted the process of choosing and pursuing him as her kinsman-redeemer. There is no support in Scripture that they spent a lot of time getting to know each other. In contrast, it seems that there were only three meetings before He redeemed her. The first was their introduction to each other. The second was his invitation to be fed at his table which she accepted. The third was her decision to choose him for the rest of her life. Ruth’s knowledge of Boaz was extremely limited but regardless she chose him. Ruth knew she had her entire life to experience her kinsman-redeemer and get to know him more intimately through this union.
The only other relationship that is similar to this one-sided love before love is returned is the birthing process. With each of my babies, I have preserved that sacred moment when they were born into my family and placed upon me. There is no other experience more burned upon my heart than the birth of my children. They were born with hearts that had yet to experience love. The love they developed was their response to the love they received. The birth came first and then the relationship followed.
Our pursuit of God will always start with His pursuit of us through the love He has and the love we desire. We are introduced to Him at which time He will always take the initiative and invite us to come to His table. We recognize Him as being the One who will return our love and redeem our lives. Once we accept His invitation and take His extended hand to walk with Him we will experience the love first hand. In turn, through spending time with Him we will develop the same intimate love for Him that comes so naturally through Him. It is only through the intimate time spent with my children that they have developed the love for me that I originally had for them. They love because they were first loved.
We love because He first loved us!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
She's Back!
“The women said to Naomi, ‘Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer.’ Then Naomi took the child, laid him in her lap and cared for him.” Ruth 4:14,16, 18
Boy do I feel silly! Here I have been thinking throughout this Bible Study that my parallel was to Ruth…you know, sacrificial living…caring for her in-law…blah, blah, blah. Well, the joke is on me! In a strange ‘spiritual turn of events’ it seems that the Holy Spirit has impressed upon my heart a new understanding as it relates to my life. You may call me Naomi.
I have always known God in my family and introduced God to my own children much like Naomi. I was very comfortable in my spiritual life and went through the motions of living a Christian life knowing I was a ‘people of God.’ It wasn’t until God began preparing me to enter into a season of famine – cancer and Alzheimer’s in my family. These illnesses took me into other lands forcing me to face foreign situations and depleting the fullness of my life. Like Naomi, I have been emptied through this wilderness and have lost a lot. Also like Naomi, there were times when you could have called me ‘Mara’ (bitter). But, thankfully, I trusted God and knew that there was hope for a future. I knew He was my kinsman-redeemer in all situations no matter the circumstances. I feel that God is placing blessings in my lap that He had for me all along. He had to wait until the motivation of my heart was more pure and my hands would care for them according to His purpose.
Like Naomi, there needed to be the rains of adversity, a season of humility, for the beautiful bouquet of blessings to bloom. Our seasons of have and have not’s are accomplishing the same work – building our faith and growing us into the people God wants us to be. With each season the walk may get tougher but our faith will get richer. An abundance of blessings will follow these seasons if we will just look higher than our situation and allow God to carry us. Many times the LORD will withhold blessings and rewards until the motivation of our hearts are ready to receive. Blessings are meant to be shared from the heart with others as God has shared them with us from His heart.
It is sort of like the song that states, 'It's not love until you give it away!' Blessings should be pass through's - not where the buck stops.
Boy do I feel silly! Here I have been thinking throughout this Bible Study that my parallel was to Ruth…you know, sacrificial living…caring for her in-law…blah, blah, blah. Well, the joke is on me! In a strange ‘spiritual turn of events’ it seems that the Holy Spirit has impressed upon my heart a new understanding as it relates to my life. You may call me Naomi.
I have always known God in my family and introduced God to my own children much like Naomi. I was very comfortable in my spiritual life and went through the motions of living a Christian life knowing I was a ‘people of God.’ It wasn’t until God began preparing me to enter into a season of famine – cancer and Alzheimer’s in my family. These illnesses took me into other lands forcing me to face foreign situations and depleting the fullness of my life. Like Naomi, I have been emptied through this wilderness and have lost a lot. Also like Naomi, there were times when you could have called me ‘Mara’ (bitter). But, thankfully, I trusted God and knew that there was hope for a future. I knew He was my kinsman-redeemer in all situations no matter the circumstances. I feel that God is placing blessings in my lap that He had for me all along. He had to wait until the motivation of my heart was more pure and my hands would care for them according to His purpose.
Like Naomi, there needed to be the rains of adversity, a season of humility, for the beautiful bouquet of blessings to bloom. Our seasons of have and have not’s are accomplishing the same work – building our faith and growing us into the people God wants us to be. With each season the walk may get tougher but our faith will get richer. An abundance of blessings will follow these seasons if we will just look higher than our situation and allow God to carry us. Many times the LORD will withhold blessings and rewards until the motivation of our hearts are ready to receive. Blessings are meant to be shared from the heart with others as God has shared them with us from His heart.
It is sort of like the song that states, 'It's not love until you give it away!' Blessings should be pass through's - not where the buck stops.
Monday, March 21, 2011
He Who Had No Sin...
“(Now in earlier times in Israel, for the redemption and transfer of property to become final, one party took off his sandal and gave it to the other. This was the method of legalizing transactions in Israel.) So the kinsman-redeemer said to Boaz, ‘Buy it yourself.’ And he removed his sandal.” Ruth 4:7-8.
My commentary states that the three qualities of a kinsman-redeemer are next of kin, able to redeem and willing to redeem. This man was the closest living relative to be given the opportunity to redeem Ruth and her future. He was also very much able to redeem as he was in a financial place to bless her. However, he lacked the third quality which was his unwillingness to redeem and bless her life. Ruth went on to birth a son which placed her forever in the lineage of Christ. We can see by his quick response that no time was spent in prayer or even in consideration. He based his decision from the focus of his own selfishness. His blessings would have come from the decision to bless her. I’ll bet he couldn’t remove his sandal fast enough!
Jesus Christ qualifies in every area of being our kinsman-redeemer. He is our next of kin through God the Father. ‘The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ…’ Romans 8: 16-17.
Jesus Christ was able to redeem as He was free of sin. ‘God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.’ 2 Cor. 5:21.
He was and still is willing to redeem our lives. He left the comforts of His home in heaven, stepped down into our world and willingly dwelled among us, giving up His life for us. ‘The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.’ John 1:14.
As you can clearly see, Christ is the only one who qualifies to redeem our lives, both eternally and spiritually. He will never ask us to ‘do it ourselves’. To complete the transaction between us He gave up much more than His sandal…He gave up His life.
My commentary states that the three qualities of a kinsman-redeemer are next of kin, able to redeem and willing to redeem. This man was the closest living relative to be given the opportunity to redeem Ruth and her future. He was also very much able to redeem as he was in a financial place to bless her. However, he lacked the third quality which was his unwillingness to redeem and bless her life. Ruth went on to birth a son which placed her forever in the lineage of Christ. We can see by his quick response that no time was spent in prayer or even in consideration. He based his decision from the focus of his own selfishness. His blessings would have come from the decision to bless her. I’ll bet he couldn’t remove his sandal fast enough!
Jesus Christ qualifies in every area of being our kinsman-redeemer. He is our next of kin through God the Father. ‘The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ…’ Romans 8: 16-17.
Jesus Christ was able to redeem as He was free of sin. ‘God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.’ 2 Cor. 5:21.
He was and still is willing to redeem our lives. He left the comforts of His home in heaven, stepped down into our world and willingly dwelled among us, giving up His life for us. ‘The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.’ John 1:14.
As you can clearly see, Christ is the only one who qualifies to redeem our lives, both eternally and spiritually. He will never ask us to ‘do it ourselves’. To complete the transaction between us He gave up much more than His sandal…He gave up His life.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Thanks, But No Thanks
“Then Boaz said, ‘On the day you buy the land from Naomi and from Ruth, the Moabitess, you acquire the dead man’s widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property.’ At this, the kinsman-redeemer said, ‘Then I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it.’” Ruth 4:5-6
Leading up to this conversation, we see Boaz with extraordinary kindness living above the selfish norm. With this verse, in walks one of us…a little calculating and a lot of sneaky! I cannot wipe the smile off of my face as he describes to his competitor the prize. He has already stated to Ruth that her reputation is one of amazing character full of sacrifices for others which will be blessed by God. No doubt she is a beautiful woman who could have had her chance at anyone. Boaz stated, ‘You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor.’ Boaz jumped at the chance to marry Ruth if the family member closer to the deceased declined. With all of his adoration for Ruth, he sells her to the competitor as ‘Ruth, the Moabitess, who comes along with the package!’ I love it that he withholds the extraordinary and presents the ‘baggage.’
Thankfully, our kinsman-redeemer is not human. He has purchased our lives through His death on the cross. Unlike Ruth, we are no longer identified and defined by our past lives. Whatever baggage we bring when we join Him in life will be tossed aside. He will outfit us with a new life in Him and we will be free of our past identities because of His loving and undeserved forgiveness. Ruth came to Boaz in honesty, truth and hope. There was no manipulation or calculation on her part, but simply a desire to belong to Boaz and everything that may bring as a blessing to Naomi. Once again, the motivation of her heart was focused on benefiting someone else.
Many times, we look away from Christ when we are being called to some responsibility. We look upon the situation of what He is asking of us and reply, ‘I cannot…because I may endanger my own estate.’ We approach the invitations to partner with God and determine that it might cost us too much or take too much of our time.
We have been redeemed by Christ and must be open to the invitations to walk with Him in love, sacrifice and spiritual opportunities.
Leading up to this conversation, we see Boaz with extraordinary kindness living above the selfish norm. With this verse, in walks one of us…a little calculating and a lot of sneaky! I cannot wipe the smile off of my face as he describes to his competitor the prize. He has already stated to Ruth that her reputation is one of amazing character full of sacrifices for others which will be blessed by God. No doubt she is a beautiful woman who could have had her chance at anyone. Boaz stated, ‘You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor.’ Boaz jumped at the chance to marry Ruth if the family member closer to the deceased declined. With all of his adoration for Ruth, he sells her to the competitor as ‘Ruth, the Moabitess, who comes along with the package!’ I love it that he withholds the extraordinary and presents the ‘baggage.’
Thankfully, our kinsman-redeemer is not human. He has purchased our lives through His death on the cross. Unlike Ruth, we are no longer identified and defined by our past lives. Whatever baggage we bring when we join Him in life will be tossed aside. He will outfit us with a new life in Him and we will be free of our past identities because of His loving and undeserved forgiveness. Ruth came to Boaz in honesty, truth and hope. There was no manipulation or calculation on her part, but simply a desire to belong to Boaz and everything that may bring as a blessing to Naomi. Once again, the motivation of her heart was focused on benefiting someone else.
Many times, we look away from Christ when we are being called to some responsibility. We look upon the situation of what He is asking of us and reply, ‘I cannot…because I may endanger my own estate.’ We approach the invitations to partner with God and determine that it might cost us too much or take too much of our time.
We have been redeemed by Christ and must be open to the invitations to walk with Him in love, sacrifice and spiritual opportunities.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
"They All Ate..."
“Then he told the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. They all ate and were satisfied. Afterwards, the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.” Matthew 15:36
The feeding of four thousand is such a beautiful display of the provisional love of Christ. The verse leading up to this passage describes Jesus as being full of compassion for the crowd and His desire to not send them away hungry. There are so many Christian principles in this miracle.
First and foremost, Jesus was moved to act on behalf of those in need. With His awareness of their hunger He instructed then to sit down. In my own life, there have been many times I was in need when the Father simply turned to me and said, ‘Brenda, pray, prepare and posture yourself to receive.’
Secondly, I cannot help to draw symbolism from the broken bread given to the disciples. The same miracle of the bread multiplying to feed the thousands could have been done with unbroken bread. Jesus could have provided a loaf for each person if He so desired. Instead, what was given to and passed on from the disciples was the loaf broken into pieces. What a beautiful image of the brokenness of our lives ministering to others who are brokenhearted and hungry for comfort. When God supplies us in our pain with peace, comfort and sustaining grace we can turn to others and share the same with them. The disciples were just as hungry as the people, but they gave in their hunger for the nourishment of others.
We are expected to share with others what God has freely given to us. We are to testify to the hungry out of our own hunger and provide drink out of our thirst. When we so freely give of ourselves in our own season of need, afterwards our baskets will overflow with blessings and abundance from God.
'They all ate and were satisfied.'
The feeding of four thousand is such a beautiful display of the provisional love of Christ. The verse leading up to this passage describes Jesus as being full of compassion for the crowd and His desire to not send them away hungry. There are so many Christian principles in this miracle.
First and foremost, Jesus was moved to act on behalf of those in need. With His awareness of their hunger He instructed then to sit down. In my own life, there have been many times I was in need when the Father simply turned to me and said, ‘Brenda, pray, prepare and posture yourself to receive.’
Secondly, I cannot help to draw symbolism from the broken bread given to the disciples. The same miracle of the bread multiplying to feed the thousands could have been done with unbroken bread. Jesus could have provided a loaf for each person if He so desired. Instead, what was given to and passed on from the disciples was the loaf broken into pieces. What a beautiful image of the brokenness of our lives ministering to others who are brokenhearted and hungry for comfort. When God supplies us in our pain with peace, comfort and sustaining grace we can turn to others and share the same with them. The disciples were just as hungry as the people, but they gave in their hunger for the nourishment of others.
We are expected to share with others what God has freely given to us. We are to testify to the hungry out of our own hunger and provide drink out of our thirst. When we so freely give of ourselves in our own season of need, afterwards our baskets will overflow with blessings and abundance from God.
'They all ate and were satisfied.'
Friday, March 18, 2011
I'm a W O M A N! (Peggy Lee)
“My daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All my fellow townsmen know that you are a woman of noble character.” Ruth 3:11
When I was a little girl one of my favorite commercials was the woman who breezed through the door singing in a suit and high heels and began making dinner. Her song was not only her public declaration about all she could do, but it was her idea of what made her a W..O..M..A..N! (I’m A Woman – Peggy Lee) Somehow I don’t see Ruth bursting into song naming the reasons Boaz should consider her as his W..O..M..A..N!
Proverbs 31 tells us God’s view of what makes us a woman. The entire chapter begins with the subject of finding a woman with noble character, being the number one goal. The chapter goes on with what seems like a song itself listing the qualities for which we are to possess. This list is not to be a measuring stick for one woman because none of us would measure up to this perfect woman. It is a description of the different ways a Proverbs 31 woman shows her character. From the woman whose service is singing Jesus Loves Me to a group of children to a Christian artist who sings before an audience of 1000. It is a woman who is known by her character, not her beauty. It is woman who places the needs of others before the needs of herself. It is neither a woman who lists the deeds for which she performs, nor is it a woman who climbs over others for notoriety, fame or power. She is a quiet woman, one who pursues God first and foremost.
Notice that Boaz conveys to Ruth that her notoriety is one defined by her character. She is known by all because of her extravagant kindness to ‘one of theirs.’ (Naomi) Her act of surrender to her other life, and her sacrifice to care for Naomi was her song. Her actions wrote the beautiful melody of her life and the chorus would be her blessings.
Our legacy will be the manner in which we live our life. What will our song sound like? How will our fellow townsmen describe us? Hopefully we will be described as ‘one of noble character’ transforming every other attributes of our character into beauty and service for God.
When I was a little girl one of my favorite commercials was the woman who breezed through the door singing in a suit and high heels and began making dinner. Her song was not only her public declaration about all she could do, but it was her idea of what made her a W..O..M..A..N! (I’m A Woman – Peggy Lee) Somehow I don’t see Ruth bursting into song naming the reasons Boaz should consider her as his W..O..M..A..N!
Proverbs 31 tells us God’s view of what makes us a woman. The entire chapter begins with the subject of finding a woman with noble character, being the number one goal. The chapter goes on with what seems like a song itself listing the qualities for which we are to possess. This list is not to be a measuring stick for one woman because none of us would measure up to this perfect woman. It is a description of the different ways a Proverbs 31 woman shows her character. From the woman whose service is singing Jesus Loves Me to a group of children to a Christian artist who sings before an audience of 1000. It is a woman who is known by her character, not her beauty. It is woman who places the needs of others before the needs of herself. It is neither a woman who lists the deeds for which she performs, nor is it a woman who climbs over others for notoriety, fame or power. She is a quiet woman, one who pursues God first and foremost.
Notice that Boaz conveys to Ruth that her notoriety is one defined by her character. She is known by all because of her extravagant kindness to ‘one of theirs.’ (Naomi) Her act of surrender to her other life, and her sacrifice to care for Naomi was her song. Her actions wrote the beautiful melody of her life and the chorus would be her blessings.
Our legacy will be the manner in which we live our life. What will our song sound like? How will our fellow townsmen describe us? Hopefully we will be described as ‘one of noble character’ transforming every other attributes of our character into beauty and service for God.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
"..and You Became Mine."
“Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down.” Ruth 3:7.
This small verse exemplifies one of the most beautiful examples of posturing ourselves in humility and complete surrender to God. Ruth has been told by Naomi to go to the threshing floor. It is important to understand what purpose was accomplished on the threshing floor. It was the place where the seeds were separated from the wheat. Symbolically, the center of the threshing floor contained two large flat stones, one resting on the top of the other. They were “fitted and joined” together. The top stone was known as the “female” and the bottom stone the “male”. The “grinding of grain” was a depiction of the act of marriage (Job 31:10). For Ruth to go to the threshing floor and follow Naomi’s instruction was basically Ruth offering herself in marriage – talk about gutsy!
(Now I can relate to this on a small level as I proposed to Bruce 26 years ago. Like Boaz, he didn’t even know what hit him – he simply looked the offer in the face and had to make a decision!)
Ruth secretly moved across the floor in the dark and covered herself with his garment, symbolizing the total surrender of her life to him. She laid it all on the line in total vulnerability and all that was left was the wait.
How many times have we finally gotten to the place of surrender to Christ only to find ourselves waiting for His answer. We sit in anticipation of His response to our situation and pray that it will give us new life into our situation and a bright future. Christ will always respond to our proposal to give our lives and our concerns to Him. ‘…and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered…I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Sovereign LORD, and you became mine.’ Ezekiel 16:8. These were the words spoken by God as Israel represented being His bride.
When we approach God on our own threshing floors we must humbly lay down our own will and agenda, recognize Him as our only hope in the future. We must wait on Him to arise, extend His beautiful hand and receive us into Him in covenant. He will carry and cover us under His wings and we take our place beside Him.
The gutsy move will be worth the surrender!
This small verse exemplifies one of the most beautiful examples of posturing ourselves in humility and complete surrender to God. Ruth has been told by Naomi to go to the threshing floor. It is important to understand what purpose was accomplished on the threshing floor. It was the place where the seeds were separated from the wheat. Symbolically, the center of the threshing floor contained two large flat stones, one resting on the top of the other. They were “fitted and joined” together. The top stone was known as the “female” and the bottom stone the “male”. The “grinding of grain” was a depiction of the act of marriage (Job 31:10). For Ruth to go to the threshing floor and follow Naomi’s instruction was basically Ruth offering herself in marriage – talk about gutsy!
(Now I can relate to this on a small level as I proposed to Bruce 26 years ago. Like Boaz, he didn’t even know what hit him – he simply looked the offer in the face and had to make a decision!)
Ruth secretly moved across the floor in the dark and covered herself with his garment, symbolizing the total surrender of her life to him. She laid it all on the line in total vulnerability and all that was left was the wait.
How many times have we finally gotten to the place of surrender to Christ only to find ourselves waiting for His answer. We sit in anticipation of His response to our situation and pray that it will give us new life into our situation and a bright future. Christ will always respond to our proposal to give our lives and our concerns to Him. ‘…and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered…I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Sovereign LORD, and you became mine.’ Ezekiel 16:8. These were the words spoken by God as Israel represented being His bride.
When we approach God on our own threshing floors we must humbly lay down our own will and agenda, recognize Him as our only hope in the future. We must wait on Him to arise, extend His beautiful hand and receive us into Him in covenant. He will carry and cover us under His wings and we take our place beside Him.
The gutsy move will be worth the surrender!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
The Lord's Declaration
“‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt…you will take up your tambourines and go out to dance with the joyful. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow. I will satisfy…and my people will be filled with my bounty,’ declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 31:3-4, 13-14.
Today is the day that the LORD has made! It is the one year anniversary of my dad’s homegoing. There is no sadness today for me as I celebrate all that is His for eternity. Being human, however, is what we do best and being God is what He does best! Leading up to today I can’t say the same about my sadness. On Sunday I attended a funeral that ended up being in the chapel on the grounds where my dad was buried. Since discovering the location of the funeral I had been dreading attending and facing the fresh pain of my friend as she lost her dad. On Saturday I decided that after the funeral I would spend a few moments at Daddy’s gravesite. By the time Sunday arrived, I was saddened and raw in my emotions and barely made it through church. When Bruce asked if I would spend time by my dad’s grave I curtly responded, ‘No.’ I left for the funeral allowing just enough drive time to get there within five minutes of it’s beginning. The Lord had other plans….
I have lived in Charlotte most of my life and never have I reached Sharon Memorial Gardens in less than 35 minutes…I made it in 25 minutes on this day. With ten minutes to spare I was ‘drawn’ to go and sit at my dad’s gravesite. I was expecting this to be like in the movies where I lovingly and thoughtfully glanced down sharing the deepest part of my heart. Instead I felt awkward and detached, however I proceeded telling Daddy how much I love him and have missed him. That took all of 5 seconds at which point my eyes scanned over to the right of the headstone. It shows Mother’s name and date of birth with the dash following. I immediately starting praising God for the empty date and the fact I have my mother on this earth. That praise was followed up with my gratitude of all of the blessings I have in my life – past, present and future. This went on for 10 minutes straight until I realized how big the smile was on my face.
I came detached…He drew me in.
I came torn down…He built me up.
I came with no music…He sang over me.
I came with grief…He replaced it with gladness that I came.
I came with sorrow…I left dancing with joy.
Because of His everlasting love for me I was filled with His bounty. No matter what you are facing this morning, the love that God so freely declares to extend for me is also yours in full.
Today is the day that the LORD has made! It is the one year anniversary of my dad’s homegoing. There is no sadness today for me as I celebrate all that is His for eternity. Being human, however, is what we do best and being God is what He does best! Leading up to today I can’t say the same about my sadness. On Sunday I attended a funeral that ended up being in the chapel on the grounds where my dad was buried. Since discovering the location of the funeral I had been dreading attending and facing the fresh pain of my friend as she lost her dad. On Saturday I decided that after the funeral I would spend a few moments at Daddy’s gravesite. By the time Sunday arrived, I was saddened and raw in my emotions and barely made it through church. When Bruce asked if I would spend time by my dad’s grave I curtly responded, ‘No.’ I left for the funeral allowing just enough drive time to get there within five minutes of it’s beginning. The Lord had other plans….
I have lived in Charlotte most of my life and never have I reached Sharon Memorial Gardens in less than 35 minutes…I made it in 25 minutes on this day. With ten minutes to spare I was ‘drawn’ to go and sit at my dad’s gravesite. I was expecting this to be like in the movies where I lovingly and thoughtfully glanced down sharing the deepest part of my heart. Instead I felt awkward and detached, however I proceeded telling Daddy how much I love him and have missed him. That took all of 5 seconds at which point my eyes scanned over to the right of the headstone. It shows Mother’s name and date of birth with the dash following. I immediately starting praising God for the empty date and the fact I have my mother on this earth. That praise was followed up with my gratitude of all of the blessings I have in my life – past, present and future. This went on for 10 minutes straight until I realized how big the smile was on my face.
I came detached…He drew me in.
I came torn down…He built me up.
I came with no music…He sang over me.
I came with grief…He replaced it with gladness that I came.
I came with sorrow…I left dancing with joy.
Because of His everlasting love for me I was filled with His bounty. No matter what you are facing this morning, the love that God so freely declares to extend for me is also yours in full.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Dressed to Impress
“Wash and perfume yourself, and put on your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor….” Ruth 3:3
Our story continues as Naomi encourages Ruth to make a bold move. She sees the opportunity of a future life for Ruth, and gently encourages her to make the shift from widowhood to a life open to God’s new plans. My commentary states that ‘new clothes’ is really a diluted translation for our understanding. In Old Testament culture, a widow would clothe herself in garments that would testify to her loss. It would signal others that she was still in the state of mourning, and in her own time the shift would be made. New clothing meant moving forward and out of the grief process, and making room for the new…a shift we all will be called to make in life. It was a very public and visable decision that marked acceptance and movement into the future.
Today marks the second anniversary of my sister’s death and tomorrow will mark the one-year anniversary of my dad’s death. For me, I feel the shift has come and I am moving forward in God’s grace and making room for healing. That is one of the key issues of healing…the attitude of willingness and the openness of trust in God once again.
I concur with the author of my Bible Study on the issue of the death of a loved one. She writes, ‘Please know that if you have walked Ruth’s exact journey of a dire loss, I am not at all presuming on your grieving process. My simple hope is when God has held us, healed us, and lifted our heads, that we’d be ready to move forward with Him; and though our hearts may always ache, we won’t stay in our mourning clothes forever.’ P. 99.
It wasn’t until Ruth trusted, moved out of the old and embraced the new that her blessings began to emerge. Wearing her old clothes of mourning, Boaz would never have approached her in a manner more than concern. It wasn’t until Ruth went to the threshing floor in ‘new clothes’ that gave her signal of acceptance of God’s new plan for her life. ‘When we’re wrapped in garments of mourning, we’re unavailable for whatever else God has for us. In a sense, we take ourselves out of the game.’ P. 99.
Whether your loss is physical, financial, emotional or some other type we can only wear our old clothes for so long. We must wash ourselves in the Living Water, perfume ourselves with the aroma of Christ and clothe ourselves in the new clothes God has laid out for us.
Wearing our new clothes signals our faith to God that we trust Him with the entirety of our hearts and our lives.
Our story continues as Naomi encourages Ruth to make a bold move. She sees the opportunity of a future life for Ruth, and gently encourages her to make the shift from widowhood to a life open to God’s new plans. My commentary states that ‘new clothes’ is really a diluted translation for our understanding. In Old Testament culture, a widow would clothe herself in garments that would testify to her loss. It would signal others that she was still in the state of mourning, and in her own time the shift would be made. New clothing meant moving forward and out of the grief process, and making room for the new…a shift we all will be called to make in life. It was a very public and visable decision that marked acceptance and movement into the future.
Today marks the second anniversary of my sister’s death and tomorrow will mark the one-year anniversary of my dad’s death. For me, I feel the shift has come and I am moving forward in God’s grace and making room for healing. That is one of the key issues of healing…the attitude of willingness and the openness of trust in God once again.
I concur with the author of my Bible Study on the issue of the death of a loved one. She writes, ‘Please know that if you have walked Ruth’s exact journey of a dire loss, I am not at all presuming on your grieving process. My simple hope is when God has held us, healed us, and lifted our heads, that we’d be ready to move forward with Him; and though our hearts may always ache, we won’t stay in our mourning clothes forever.’ P. 99.
It wasn’t until Ruth trusted, moved out of the old and embraced the new that her blessings began to emerge. Wearing her old clothes of mourning, Boaz would never have approached her in a manner more than concern. It wasn’t until Ruth went to the threshing floor in ‘new clothes’ that gave her signal of acceptance of God’s new plan for her life. ‘When we’re wrapped in garments of mourning, we’re unavailable for whatever else God has for us. In a sense, we take ourselves out of the game.’ P. 99.
Whether your loss is physical, financial, emotional or some other type we can only wear our old clothes for so long. We must wash ourselves in the Living Water, perfume ourselves with the aroma of Christ and clothe ourselves in the new clothes God has laid out for us.
Wearing our new clothes signals our faith to God that we trust Him with the entirety of our hearts and our lives.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Right In Front of Jesus
“And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick. Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.” Luke 5:17b, 18-19
This is a beautiful story that exemplifies how important the Body of Christ is in ministering to the needs of others. This anonymous man was totally dependent on the others to receive the healing power of Jesus. Not only did these men bring the sick man directly to Jesus, but when circumstances threatened successful results they continued to find ways to get them together. They were relentless in their attempts to place the man ‘right in front of Jesus.’
There are so many brokenhearted people who need to be led to the healing feet of Jesus. The man was anonymous because it could be anyone and everyone. Our circumstances at one time or another has the potential to leave us paralyzed, just going through the motions of life. The unbeliever does not know how to sit at the feet of Jesus, but longs for a healing for which he is not even aware.
How hard do we work to bring others to the feet of Jesus? Do we just drop His name casually not even whetting the appetite of others? At the first sign of that uncomfortable feeling, do we give up on introducing our Lord to others? When trials arise do we allow thoughts of faithless resolution crowd our minds blocking the entrance to the great Healer?
Everyone has a set of circumstances by which they are carried through life, either requiring us to carry the mat or be carried on the mat. Whether we are praying to God for others or requiring prayer for ourselves, the feet are the same…they are the feet of the Healer and the Savior. We must continue to encourage, carry and lift up the downhearted and poor in spirit. Our testimony should be forever on our lips and eternally in our heart. In our own trials we cannot allow seeds of doubt and despair to crowd the doorways of testimony blocking the path for others to get to Jesus.
‘And the power of the Lord was present…’
This is a beautiful story that exemplifies how important the Body of Christ is in ministering to the needs of others. This anonymous man was totally dependent on the others to receive the healing power of Jesus. Not only did these men bring the sick man directly to Jesus, but when circumstances threatened successful results they continued to find ways to get them together. They were relentless in their attempts to place the man ‘right in front of Jesus.’
There are so many brokenhearted people who need to be led to the healing feet of Jesus. The man was anonymous because it could be anyone and everyone. Our circumstances at one time or another has the potential to leave us paralyzed, just going through the motions of life. The unbeliever does not know how to sit at the feet of Jesus, but longs for a healing for which he is not even aware.
How hard do we work to bring others to the feet of Jesus? Do we just drop His name casually not even whetting the appetite of others? At the first sign of that uncomfortable feeling, do we give up on introducing our Lord to others? When trials arise do we allow thoughts of faithless resolution crowd our minds blocking the entrance to the great Healer?
Everyone has a set of circumstances by which they are carried through life, either requiring us to carry the mat or be carried on the mat. Whether we are praying to God for others or requiring prayer for ourselves, the feet are the same…they are the feet of the Healer and the Savior. We must continue to encourage, carry and lift up the downhearted and poor in spirit. Our testimony should be forever on our lips and eternally in our heart. In our own trials we cannot allow seeds of doubt and despair to crowd the doorways of testimony blocking the path for others to get to Jesus.
‘And the power of the Lord was present…’
Sunday, March 13, 2011
He Comes Walking...
“Her mother-in-law asked her, ‘Where did you glean today? Where did you work?’…Then Ruth told her mother-in-law about the one at whose place she had been working.’” Ruth 2:19.
No doubt Naomi had been spending her day trying to imagine the details of any failure or success for which Ruth had experienced. Also, knowing the mindset of Naomi, (blaming God for her circumstances), she was not very confident in good coming from Ruth’s efforts. When Ruth returned, Naomi wanted the details perhaps to validate her own bitterness of how God has ‘come against her.’ Naomi wanted to know ‘the where’ but Ruth couldn’t quit talking about ‘the who’. Isn’t she shocked to hear Ruth talk about the one who showed her extravagant kindness? Her response to this was much different than her previous response to Ruth regarding God’s provisions. “‘The LORD bless him!’ Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. ‘He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead.’ Ruth 2:20. We have just witnessed faith restored! Can anybody relate? As soon as Naomi heard ‘the who’ her focus suddenly turned to fresh hope for a future. The details were no longer significant – the horizon had just gotten brighter, and life was starting to make sense again.
The details of our lives should carry a lesser significance than the One who works out the details in our lives. We should be talking about ‘the who’ instead of focusing on ‘the what, the where and the how’s.’ We all have seasons of doubt but God will come through in moving us from one season into a better season. We can trust Him to be faithful in orchestrating our lives motivated by His ultimate wisdom and unending love.
Even David had times when he felt that God had abandoned him. “In my haste I said, ‘I am cut off from your sight!’ Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help.’” Psalm 31:22. He was basically saying the same thing Naomi said. ‘I feel you have abandoned me, God.’ Thankfully, when following God, we give Him the opportunity to prove His promises are true. He will answer, ‘Here I am!’
If we are patient and keep a heart bent towards God, He will prove faithful in restoring our faith through His movement in our lives. When we search the horizon for Him instead of the short sighted view of our circumstances we will see His image walking towards us.
No doubt Naomi had been spending her day trying to imagine the details of any failure or success for which Ruth had experienced. Also, knowing the mindset of Naomi, (blaming God for her circumstances), she was not very confident in good coming from Ruth’s efforts. When Ruth returned, Naomi wanted the details perhaps to validate her own bitterness of how God has ‘come against her.’ Naomi wanted to know ‘the where’ but Ruth couldn’t quit talking about ‘the who’. Isn’t she shocked to hear Ruth talk about the one who showed her extravagant kindness? Her response to this was much different than her previous response to Ruth regarding God’s provisions. “‘The LORD bless him!’ Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. ‘He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead.’ Ruth 2:20. We have just witnessed faith restored! Can anybody relate? As soon as Naomi heard ‘the who’ her focus suddenly turned to fresh hope for a future. The details were no longer significant – the horizon had just gotten brighter, and life was starting to make sense again.
The details of our lives should carry a lesser significance than the One who works out the details in our lives. We should be talking about ‘the who’ instead of focusing on ‘the what, the where and the how’s.’ We all have seasons of doubt but God will come through in moving us from one season into a better season. We can trust Him to be faithful in orchestrating our lives motivated by His ultimate wisdom and unending love.
Even David had times when he felt that God had abandoned him. “In my haste I said, ‘I am cut off from your sight!’ Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help.’” Psalm 31:22. He was basically saying the same thing Naomi said. ‘I feel you have abandoned me, God.’ Thankfully, when following God, we give Him the opportunity to prove His promises are true. He will answer, ‘Here I am!’
If we are patient and keep a heart bent towards God, He will prove faithful in restoring our faith through His movement in our lives. When we search the horizon for Him instead of the short sighted view of our circumstances we will see His image walking towards us.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Is Anyone Left?
“The king asked, ‘Is there no one still left…to whom I can show God’s kindness’? ‘There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in both feet.’ ‘Don’t be afraid…for I will surely show you kindness…I will restore to you all the land…and you will always eat at my table.’” 2 Sa. 9:3, 7.
This is a beautiful story of extravagant kindness and commitment. King David has just lost his best friend, Jonathan. His desire is that anyone linked to this family be shown privilege and prosperity. He is searching for family members and has been told that Jonathan has a son who was crippled. King David sought Mephibosheth out, and he was blessed due to his family association with Jonathan. My Bible Study states so eloquently, ‘He had no entrance on his own, no right to the meal, no privilege to the table. This gift could only be extended by someone who not only had a heart of extraordinary kindness but also had the authority to do so.’ Ruth – Loss, Love & Legacy, p. 76. Mephibosheth’s deformity, no doubt, had driven him into seclusion for many years. Back in those times, any person who was lame was not allowed in the temple. They had to depend on others to carry them.
All of us are spiritually lame and must depend on Christ to carry us to the table. Apart from Christ, we live crippled lives prohibiting us from joining God. Christ will never give up on finding every member of His family just like David. But like Mephibosheth, we, too, have been extended an invitation through our association and birth in Christ. Through that relationship we are granted entrance to the King’s table regardless of our sins and imperfections. Through association with Christ, we are given the right to every meal and all the privileges God has to offer.
The world had Mephibosheth hidden and secluded…the king searched him out and exalted him into family. The world saw Mephibosheth as deformed and crippled…the king saw a person upon whom to lavish his love.
We sometimes see ourselves as outcasts in our circumstances…our King sees us as His bride. Regardless of our sins, we will be sought out, chosen and given a permanent seat at the King’s table.
This is a beautiful story of extravagant kindness and commitment. King David has just lost his best friend, Jonathan. His desire is that anyone linked to this family be shown privilege and prosperity. He is searching for family members and has been told that Jonathan has a son who was crippled. King David sought Mephibosheth out, and he was blessed due to his family association with Jonathan. My Bible Study states so eloquently, ‘He had no entrance on his own, no right to the meal, no privilege to the table. This gift could only be extended by someone who not only had a heart of extraordinary kindness but also had the authority to do so.’ Ruth – Loss, Love & Legacy, p. 76. Mephibosheth’s deformity, no doubt, had driven him into seclusion for many years. Back in those times, any person who was lame was not allowed in the temple. They had to depend on others to carry them.
All of us are spiritually lame and must depend on Christ to carry us to the table. Apart from Christ, we live crippled lives prohibiting us from joining God. Christ will never give up on finding every member of His family just like David. But like Mephibosheth, we, too, have been extended an invitation through our association and birth in Christ. Through that relationship we are granted entrance to the King’s table regardless of our sins and imperfections. Through association with Christ, we are given the right to every meal and all the privileges God has to offer.
The world had Mephibosheth hidden and secluded…the king searched him out and exalted him into family. The world saw Mephibosheth as deformed and crippled…the king saw a person upon whom to lavish his love.
We sometimes see ourselves as outcasts in our circumstances…our King sees us as His bride. Regardless of our sins, we will be sought out, chosen and given a permanent seat at the King’s table.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Beneath Servant Girls
“You have given me comfort and have spoken kindly to your servant – though I do not have the standing of one of your servant girls.” Ruth 2:13b.
What was Ruth basically stating in fact to her master? She was aware of her social status not even being equal to the lowliest in the country for which she found herself. She had been and continued to be in a season of humility. She most likely was in equal standing with the others in Moab – a Moabitess who was probably envied due to her beauty coupled with the fact that she ‘married well.’ (We are told that Naomi’s family was prosperous when coming to Moab. They came to avoid the famine in their land.) Due to her true humility, her blessings and rewards were right around the corner.
Most of my caregiving experiences have been at my choosing and my own timeline. Honestly speaking, my motivation was less than stellar as it fed my ‘feel good appetite’, leading up to my father-in-law living with us. Prior to him moving in, my caregiving was very public. I believe that God allowed a caregiving experience out of the view of others in an effort to expose the wrong motivations of my heart. I was unaware at the time that God was leading me into a season of humility – deep humility. It generated feelings that contradicted who I thought I was as a Christian. It made me reassess certain characteristics of Christ that I thought I possessed. It became painfully apparent that the only way I could possess these missing characteristics was to borrow them from Him until I had developed my own heart of true humility – a servant’s heart. As hard as my season of humbling was, it falls flat compared the season of humility Christ had to endure.
Christ’s season of humility, pain and suffering was stepping from the realm of Heaven expecting nothing for Him but everything for each of us. His heart of humility was rewarded in the highest form of blessing – sitting to the right of Yahweh for eternity – the Creator of all things. No humility will ever be experienced in a greater level than the humility of Jesus, as He was ridiculed and left for dead for our sake. No blessing will ever top the one He so deservingly received. This was the greatest Rags To Riches story ever told in the spiritual realm. The beauty of this version is that we have our own chapter and through the belief and fellowship with Christ we have the same guaranteed legacy for our everlasting richness with Him.
The Lord knew I needed some humbling and used my passion through which to humble me. His motivation was one of love, and His desire for my heart to be more surrendered to Him. His motivation was never for the sake of hurting or humiliating me. ‘Nothing prepares us for enormous blessing and impact like a season of humbling…Jesus chose to humble Himself, God, therefore, chose to exalt Him to the highest place. Be encouraged that humbling seasons are for our ultimate benefit, though they are painful and, well, humbling.
If God has you in the place of a servant girl – or even beneath one – humble yourself under His mighty hand. In due time, He will lift you up.’ Ruth – Loss, Love and Legacy, p. 72-73 based on James 4:10.
What was Ruth basically stating in fact to her master? She was aware of her social status not even being equal to the lowliest in the country for which she found herself. She had been and continued to be in a season of humility. She most likely was in equal standing with the others in Moab – a Moabitess who was probably envied due to her beauty coupled with the fact that she ‘married well.’ (We are told that Naomi’s family was prosperous when coming to Moab. They came to avoid the famine in their land.) Due to her true humility, her blessings and rewards were right around the corner.
Most of my caregiving experiences have been at my choosing and my own timeline. Honestly speaking, my motivation was less than stellar as it fed my ‘feel good appetite’, leading up to my father-in-law living with us. Prior to him moving in, my caregiving was very public. I believe that God allowed a caregiving experience out of the view of others in an effort to expose the wrong motivations of my heart. I was unaware at the time that God was leading me into a season of humility – deep humility. It generated feelings that contradicted who I thought I was as a Christian. It made me reassess certain characteristics of Christ that I thought I possessed. It became painfully apparent that the only way I could possess these missing characteristics was to borrow them from Him until I had developed my own heart of true humility – a servant’s heart. As hard as my season of humbling was, it falls flat compared the season of humility Christ had to endure.
Christ’s season of humility, pain and suffering was stepping from the realm of Heaven expecting nothing for Him but everything for each of us. His heart of humility was rewarded in the highest form of blessing – sitting to the right of Yahweh for eternity – the Creator of all things. No humility will ever be experienced in a greater level than the humility of Jesus, as He was ridiculed and left for dead for our sake. No blessing will ever top the one He so deservingly received. This was the greatest Rags To Riches story ever told in the spiritual realm. The beauty of this version is that we have our own chapter and through the belief and fellowship with Christ we have the same guaranteed legacy for our everlasting richness with Him.
The Lord knew I needed some humbling and used my passion through which to humble me. His motivation was one of love, and His desire for my heart to be more surrendered to Him. His motivation was never for the sake of hurting or humiliating me. ‘Nothing prepares us for enormous blessing and impact like a season of humbling…Jesus chose to humble Himself, God, therefore, chose to exalt Him to the highest place. Be encouraged that humbling seasons are for our ultimate benefit, though they are painful and, well, humbling.
If God has you in the place of a servant girl – or even beneath one – humble yourself under His mighty hand. In due time, He will lift you up.’ Ruth – Loss, Love and Legacy, p. 72-73 based on James 4:10.
God Who Sees Me
"At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She exclaimed, ‘Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me – a foreigner?’” Ruth 2:10.
Imagine yourself in these circumstances. Your spouse has died and, in addition to your own grief, you have to watch your mother-in-law suffering at the loss of two sons, following the loss of your father-in-law. To add insult to injury, she is pushing you away physically and emotionally but you know you are committed to her. Your mother-in-law is foreign and you follow her back to her country, adopting the laws of her land. You go into a strange job with people you do not know and customs that you have never experienced. You are trying to remain anonymous in every way but the owner of the company, whom you have never met, approaches you with extravagant kindness such as Boaz did Ruth. I am sure we would all feel the same as Ruth did that afternoon. Her responses flowed in the same manner in which ours flow when we realize that God has responded with such extravagant kindness to us.
First and foremost, she reverently bowed facedown before Boaz, realizing that he was the master of the field. Secondly, she expressed her humility that she was unworthy to receive his favor. Lastly, she identified herself as a foreigner – one who had come to the field not belonging but who had come with hope. Does her spirit resonate in any of our hearts this morning?
I know for me personally I am experiencing a time of blessing from God. He continues to have me experience undeniable blessings in the whisper after the chaos of the past five years of family illnesses. Like Ruth, I look up at God and humbly accept with the same disbelief His on-going blessings and grace that I find myself receiving.
When we go through the dark seasons of life it is sometimes hard to see God, and we wonder if He sees our suffering. In the Bible, Hagar was so overwhelmed with God’s presence in her dark valley she actually named a well after Him. It was the place where she fell facedown in her agony, and where the God of the universe met with her with intense love. ‘She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me.” That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi.” Gen.16:13-14. (* Beer Lahai Roi means well of the Living One who sees me.) If you do not feel that God is walking in your field be patient and keep focusing on His work. One day, when you aren't expecting it you will look up and there He will be. Through the Holy Spirit He will remind you of your worth and position in His field. He will bestow such love and acceptance upon you that you will never again feel like a stranger in His kingdom.
When we approach God with true reverence, complete humility and hopeful pursuit of Him, He will respond with the faithfulness and the love of a Savior.
Imagine yourself in these circumstances. Your spouse has died and, in addition to your own grief, you have to watch your mother-in-law suffering at the loss of two sons, following the loss of your father-in-law. To add insult to injury, she is pushing you away physically and emotionally but you know you are committed to her. Your mother-in-law is foreign and you follow her back to her country, adopting the laws of her land. You go into a strange job with people you do not know and customs that you have never experienced. You are trying to remain anonymous in every way but the owner of the company, whom you have never met, approaches you with extravagant kindness such as Boaz did Ruth. I am sure we would all feel the same as Ruth did that afternoon. Her responses flowed in the same manner in which ours flow when we realize that God has responded with such extravagant kindness to us.
First and foremost, she reverently bowed facedown before Boaz, realizing that he was the master of the field. Secondly, she expressed her humility that she was unworthy to receive his favor. Lastly, she identified herself as a foreigner – one who had come to the field not belonging but who had come with hope. Does her spirit resonate in any of our hearts this morning?
I know for me personally I am experiencing a time of blessing from God. He continues to have me experience undeniable blessings in the whisper after the chaos of the past five years of family illnesses. Like Ruth, I look up at God and humbly accept with the same disbelief His on-going blessings and grace that I find myself receiving.
When we go through the dark seasons of life it is sometimes hard to see God, and we wonder if He sees our suffering. In the Bible, Hagar was so overwhelmed with God’s presence in her dark valley she actually named a well after Him. It was the place where she fell facedown in her agony, and where the God of the universe met with her with intense love. ‘She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me.” That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi.” Gen.16:13-14. (* Beer Lahai Roi means well of the Living One who sees me.) If you do not feel that God is walking in your field be patient and keep focusing on His work. One day, when you aren't expecting it you will look up and there He will be. Through the Holy Spirit He will remind you of your worth and position in His field. He will bestow such love and acceptance upon you that you will never again feel like a stranger in His kingdom.
When we approach God with true reverence, complete humility and hopeful pursuit of Him, He will respond with the faithfulness and the love of a Savior.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
To the Lord, From Your Child
“Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.” Isaiah 58: 9
I have just experienced Isaiah 58:9 and I must tell someone. My youngest daughter has been dealing for some time with intense fears regarding her safety that forever seems to hold her captive. It has become quite a paralyzing experience for a twenty year old away at college living in an apartment. Her fear has overcome her remembrance of a God who protects and saves. Like most of us, her faith has become diluted by her fear.
She has become committed to delving into the things her heart would rather not expose to her conscious mind. She has been through a great deal of loss as she lost her boyfriend in an accident two years ago, followed by the death of her beloved aunt, her precious Pawpaw and most recently her sweet Grandpa who lived with us. All of these losses in two years makes for great insecurity on many levels. She made the comment that night that she has lost sight of God and needs that intimacy again to be reminded that He is here. Needless to say the family has been praying for her fears to be removed and her faith to be restored.
This morning, while searching for a document in our fire safe, I came across a colorful piece of paper written in magic marker from Caroline when she was a little girl. It wasn’t in any file and was actually out of place – just crammed between two files. Be blessed and encouraged as the God of each of us and the God of the universe answered our prayers in a manner that no one can deny. The little orange sunflower sheet written in green magic marker reads:
“The Lord is with me. I know Becaus I read the Bible. So I Learn about Jesues and god and a lot of other caring people. The Holy BiBle is my Faverot Book. I know that god and Jesues are looking down on me. I will Be safe. god is my Father. All the littal children are My bothers and sisters. I will Help and care for the world. I will Help other Helpless littal children. I will pray every Night. Love, Caroline. To, the Lord.”
Her Father is reaching out that sweet and saving hand, saying ‘HERE I AM!’ He is doing the same for you - just reach out and know...that He is Lord, your Father and Savior.
I have just experienced Isaiah 58:9 and I must tell someone. My youngest daughter has been dealing for some time with intense fears regarding her safety that forever seems to hold her captive. It has become quite a paralyzing experience for a twenty year old away at college living in an apartment. Her fear has overcome her remembrance of a God who protects and saves. Like most of us, her faith has become diluted by her fear.
She has become committed to delving into the things her heart would rather not expose to her conscious mind. She has been through a great deal of loss as she lost her boyfriend in an accident two years ago, followed by the death of her beloved aunt, her precious Pawpaw and most recently her sweet Grandpa who lived with us. All of these losses in two years makes for great insecurity on many levels. She made the comment that night that she has lost sight of God and needs that intimacy again to be reminded that He is here. Needless to say the family has been praying for her fears to be removed and her faith to be restored.
This morning, while searching for a document in our fire safe, I came across a colorful piece of paper written in magic marker from Caroline when she was a little girl. It wasn’t in any file and was actually out of place – just crammed between two files. Be blessed and encouraged as the God of each of us and the God of the universe answered our prayers in a manner that no one can deny. The little orange sunflower sheet written in green magic marker reads:
“The Lord is with me. I know Becaus I read the Bible. So I Learn about Jesues and god and a lot of other caring people. The Holy BiBle is my Faverot Book. I know that god and Jesues are looking down on me. I will Be safe. god is my Father. All the littal children are My bothers and sisters. I will Help and care for the world. I will Help other Helpless littal children. I will pray every Night. Love, Caroline. To, the Lord.”
Her Father is reaching out that sweet and saving hand, saying ‘HERE I AM!’ He is doing the same for you - just reach out and know...that He is Lord, your Father and Savior.
The God Who Sees Me
“At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She exclaimed, ‘Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me – a foreigner?’” Ruth 2:10.
Imagine yourself in these circumstances. Your spouse has died and, in addition to your own grief, you have to watch your mother-in-law suffering at the loss of two sons, following the loss of your father-in-law. To add insult to injury, she is pushing you away physically and emotionally but you know you are committed to her. Your mother-in-law is foreign and you follow her back to her country, adopting the laws of her land. You go into a strange job with people you do not know and customs that you have never experienced. You are trying to remain anonymous in every way but the owner of the company, whom you have never met, approaches you with extravagant kindness such as Boaz did Ruth. I am sure we would all feel the same as Ruth did that afternoon. Her responses flowed in the same manner in which ours flow when we realize that God has responded with such extravagant kindness to us.
First and foremost, she reverently bowed facedown before Boaz, realizing that he was the master of the field. Secondly, she expressed her humility that she was unworthy to receive his favor. Lastly, she identified herself as a foreigner – one who had come to the field not belonging but who had come with hope. Does her spirit resonate in any of our hearts this morning?
I know for me personally I am experiencing a time of blessing from God. He continues to have me experience undeniable blessings in the whisper after the chaos of the past five years of family illnesses. Like Ruth, I look up at God and humbly accept with the same disbelief His on-going blessings and grace that I find myself receiving.
When we go through the dark seasons of life it is sometimes hard to see God, and we wonder if He sees our suffering. In the Bible, Hagar was so overwhelmed with God’s presence in her dark valley she actually named a well after Him. It was the place where she fell facedown in her agony, and where the God of the universe met with her with intense love. ‘She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me.” That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi.” Gen.16:13-14. (* Beer Lahai Roi means well of the Living One who sees me.) If you do not feel that God is walking in your field be patient and keep focusing on His work. One day, when you aren't expecting it you will look up and there He will be. Through the Holy Spirit He will remind you of your worth and position in His field. He will bestow such love and acceptance upon you that you will never again feel like a stranger in His kingdom.
When we approach God with true reverence, complete humility and hopeful pursuit of Him, He will respond with the faithfulness and the love of a Savior.
Imagine yourself in these circumstances. Your spouse has died and, in addition to your own grief, you have to watch your mother-in-law suffering at the loss of two sons, following the loss of your father-in-law. To add insult to injury, she is pushing you away physically and emotionally but you know you are committed to her. Your mother-in-law is foreign and you follow her back to her country, adopting the laws of her land. You go into a strange job with people you do not know and customs that you have never experienced. You are trying to remain anonymous in every way but the owner of the company, whom you have never met, approaches you with extravagant kindness such as Boaz did Ruth. I am sure we would all feel the same as Ruth did that afternoon. Her responses flowed in the same manner in which ours flow when we realize that God has responded with such extravagant kindness to us.
First and foremost, she reverently bowed facedown before Boaz, realizing that he was the master of the field. Secondly, she expressed her humility that she was unworthy to receive his favor. Lastly, she identified herself as a foreigner – one who had come to the field not belonging but who had come with hope. Does her spirit resonate in any of our hearts this morning?
I know for me personally I am experiencing a time of blessing from God. He continues to have me experience undeniable blessings in the whisper after the chaos of the past five years of family illnesses. Like Ruth, I look up at God and humbly accept with the same disbelief His on-going blessings and grace that I find myself receiving.
When we go through the dark seasons of life it is sometimes hard to see God, and we wonder if He sees our suffering. In the Bible, Hagar was so overwhelmed with God’s presence in her dark valley she actually named a well after Him. It was the place where she fell facedown in her agony, and where the God of the universe met with her with intense love. ‘She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me.” That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi.” Gen.16:13-14. (* Beer Lahai Roi means well of the Living One who sees me.) If you do not feel that God is walking in your field be patient and keep focusing on His work. One day, when you aren't expecting it you will look up and there He will be. Through the Holy Spirit He will remind you of your worth and position in His field. He will bestow such love and acceptance upon you that you will never again feel like a stranger in His kingdom.
When we approach God with true reverence, complete humility and hopeful pursuit of Him, He will respond with the faithfulness and the love of a Savior.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
'...Him who is able...'
“So Boaz said to Ruth, ‘My daughter, listen to me. Don’t go and glean in another field and don’t go away from here. Stay here with my servant girls. Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the girls. I have told the men not to touch you. And when you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled.’” Ruth 2:8-9.
Upon the report of his workers, Boaz, the owner of the field, approached Ruth with these instructions. I have read this story too many times to recall, yet this morning the words ‘My daughter’ have come into the spotlight. As I am approaching my dad’s one year anniversary since his death, I am overwhelmed with the undeserved placement in my family where God created me. Like Ruth, I did nothing to deserve the extravagant love and kindness of my father. Upon introduction with Boaz, she had immediate acceptance and an open invitation for her protection, her hunger and her thirst. I was fortunate to have the same upon my birth. God placed me in a field where all of my needs were met and exceeded. My earthly father exemplified my heavenly father – ‘Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.’ Ephesians 3:20.
Whether we have experienced a wonderful father or not we all have the opportunity to come to the field of the most wonderful Father in the universe. His field is one of blessings, protection and provision. Boaz made Ruth equal to the harvesters and exempt from being harmed in any way. Some may come to God as a stranger but He exalts everyone to equality with others in the Body of Christ once we accept Him and serve Him. We become sons and daughters of the Head of the family. Our Father implores us to not depart from Him or His will for our protection. He realizes the dangers that reside outside of His will.
Ruth was asking for little – Boaz gave her more. We come to Christ asking for something…He will give us everything. This is called grace – undeserved acceptance and love received from God.
‘…now to Him who is able...’
Upon the report of his workers, Boaz, the owner of the field, approached Ruth with these instructions. I have read this story too many times to recall, yet this morning the words ‘My daughter’ have come into the spotlight. As I am approaching my dad’s one year anniversary since his death, I am overwhelmed with the undeserved placement in my family where God created me. Like Ruth, I did nothing to deserve the extravagant love and kindness of my father. Upon introduction with Boaz, she had immediate acceptance and an open invitation for her protection, her hunger and her thirst. I was fortunate to have the same upon my birth. God placed me in a field where all of my needs were met and exceeded. My earthly father exemplified my heavenly father – ‘Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.’ Ephesians 3:20.
Whether we have experienced a wonderful father or not we all have the opportunity to come to the field of the most wonderful Father in the universe. His field is one of blessings, protection and provision. Boaz made Ruth equal to the harvesters and exempt from being harmed in any way. Some may come to God as a stranger but He exalts everyone to equality with others in the Body of Christ once we accept Him and serve Him. We become sons and daughters of the Head of the family. Our Father implores us to not depart from Him or His will for our protection. He realizes the dangers that reside outside of His will.
Ruth was asking for little – Boaz gave her more. We come to Christ asking for something…He will give us everything. This is called grace – undeserved acceptance and love received from God.
‘…now to Him who is able...’
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Leftovers
“And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, ‘Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind someone in whose eyes I find favor.’” Ruth 2:2.
To give some history on this process, the Israelites were instructed by God long before this set of circumstances to open their fields to the foreigners, fatherless and widowed. ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.’ Lev. 23:22.
Imagine the humility and courage it took for Ruth to approach the fields in a foreign land where she was considered tarnished. (1 Kings 11:1 - They were forbidden to intermarry with the Moabites.) She had arrived as someone who wasn’t worthy of introduction. Yet, in an effort to care for her mother-in-law, she places aside her own dignity to gather some provisions for them – now that is grace. She acquires Naomi’s blessing to avoid embarrassing her and places one courageous foot in front of the other. She reaches out to grab what the law has provided her with as a foreigner. Notice that although the law provides for her as a widowed foreigner she still feels that she may require the favor of someone in the field. This tells me that throughout history, those belonging to God sometimes do not act in that way. They know the commands but seem to find loopholes around them. Many hoard their resources and refuse to give…could these gleanings around the edges be compared to the 10% tithe we are to set aside? God gives us our fields and only asks for a small percentage to be left untouched for the benefit of others.
God’s heart is so tender that He even provides for those who are foreign to His family. His hope is that no one should perish but all should have eternal life in His family. (John 3:16) He commanded those with fields of resources to leave provisions around the edges for which others could be fed. Today, we must reap our harvest making room for others. We never know the circumstances for which others come into our lives, but with a command like this one, we must build our fields with reserve for the needy, the lonely and all people who come hungry.
‘For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field…’ 1 Co. 3:9. …do not reap to the very edges of your field!
To give some history on this process, the Israelites were instructed by God long before this set of circumstances to open their fields to the foreigners, fatherless and widowed. ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.’ Lev. 23:22.
Imagine the humility and courage it took for Ruth to approach the fields in a foreign land where she was considered tarnished. (1 Kings 11:1 - They were forbidden to intermarry with the Moabites.) She had arrived as someone who wasn’t worthy of introduction. Yet, in an effort to care for her mother-in-law, she places aside her own dignity to gather some provisions for them – now that is grace. She acquires Naomi’s blessing to avoid embarrassing her and places one courageous foot in front of the other. She reaches out to grab what the law has provided her with as a foreigner. Notice that although the law provides for her as a widowed foreigner she still feels that she may require the favor of someone in the field. This tells me that throughout history, those belonging to God sometimes do not act in that way. They know the commands but seem to find loopholes around them. Many hoard their resources and refuse to give…could these gleanings around the edges be compared to the 10% tithe we are to set aside? God gives us our fields and only asks for a small percentage to be left untouched for the benefit of others.
God’s heart is so tender that He even provides for those who are foreign to His family. His hope is that no one should perish but all should have eternal life in His family. (John 3:16) He commanded those with fields of resources to leave provisions around the edges for which others could be fed. Today, we must reap our harvest making room for others. We never know the circumstances for which others come into our lives, but with a command like this one, we must build our fields with reserve for the needy, the lonely and all people who come hungry.
‘For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field…’ 1 Co. 3:9. …do not reap to the very edges of your field!
Friday, March 4, 2011
Expecting Naomi
“Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.” Ruth 1:20.
This is quite an odd scene if you try to visualize the homecoming. Scripture records that the town was stirring about with excitement at the reality of Naomi returning to their town. No doubt, she was well respected in her circle and had created a void when she left for Moab. As the ladies gathered in anticipation for her arrival, they were greeted with this sour response – talk about a mood changer. The name Naomi translates as ‘lovely, pleasant’ while the name Mara translates as ‘bitter.’ While Naomi didn’t reject God she clearly blamed Him – not just once, but four times in her greeting to the women who had not seen her in over ten years. Naomi allowed her circumstances to define who she had become. She went away full (wife and mother with the dreams of a future) and came back empty (widowed and childless), void of everything that had previously defined her. To sum up this season, she went away lovely but came back bitter.
Unable to see her present blessings, she totally discounted the resources God was giving her - welcoming arms and respect from a town she previously called home. Let’s not forget Ruth – a loving daughter-in-law and friend who walked away from her own life and family in Moab. Naomi was so blinded with bitterness that she was unable to recognize the current blessings for which she was experiencing.
We will all move in and out of seasons of suffering and hardship. To be sure, after the losses we will have a story to tell. We will be met along the way with people anticipating our testimonies and looking to us for a story. After a time of healing, every bit of our pain can and will be used by God as a ministry to others. The story will be told out of the attitude of our hearts. 'No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit...For out of the overflow of the heart his mouth speaks.' Luke 6:43-45.
Will your story be recounted by Naomi or Mara?
This is quite an odd scene if you try to visualize the homecoming. Scripture records that the town was stirring about with excitement at the reality of Naomi returning to their town. No doubt, she was well respected in her circle and had created a void when she left for Moab. As the ladies gathered in anticipation for her arrival, they were greeted with this sour response – talk about a mood changer. The name Naomi translates as ‘lovely, pleasant’ while the name Mara translates as ‘bitter.’ While Naomi didn’t reject God she clearly blamed Him – not just once, but four times in her greeting to the women who had not seen her in over ten years. Naomi allowed her circumstances to define who she had become. She went away full (wife and mother with the dreams of a future) and came back empty (widowed and childless), void of everything that had previously defined her. To sum up this season, she went away lovely but came back bitter.
Unable to see her present blessings, she totally discounted the resources God was giving her - welcoming arms and respect from a town she previously called home. Let’s not forget Ruth – a loving daughter-in-law and friend who walked away from her own life and family in Moab. Naomi was so blinded with bitterness that she was unable to recognize the current blessings for which she was experiencing.
We will all move in and out of seasons of suffering and hardship. To be sure, after the losses we will have a story to tell. We will be met along the way with people anticipating our testimonies and looking to us for a story. After a time of healing, every bit of our pain can and will be used by God as a ministry to others. The story will be told out of the attitude of our hearts. 'No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit...For out of the overflow of the heart his mouth speaks.' Luke 6:43-45.
Will your story be recounted by Naomi or Mara?
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Where You Go I Will Go
“But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried.’” Ruth 1:16-17.
This is one of the most beautiful passages in the Bible. Two things struck me in reading this passage, the first being Ruth’s pursuit of something better. As we remember, Ruth came from a land full of false gods that beckoned the worship of anything and everything. This pursuit of many gods was her normal in a land that dictated numerous offerings to many gods. It wasn’t until she was introduced to Naomi and joined their family that she experienced the one true God. Finding intimacy with God is like opening the blinds – you cannot ‘un-see’ Him once His splendor has been shown. You know the beauty of the 'Son-rise' once you have witnessed it. Ruth had seen faith in action, and measured against her old life, wanted to move ahead in her faith in God instead of turning back. Once someone has intimately found God they will be committed and resolved to follow their faith in Him into unchartered lands.
The second revelation is that Ruth’s statement to Naomi should be our passionate declaration to Christ. He will lead us into foreign lands creating circumstances that are beyond our earthly vision. We will travel the path with Him believing that where He goes we desire to go with Him. When He stays silent or keeps us in a waiting season, we will stay with Him. We will surround ourselves with His family and His Father becomes our Father. When we have died to self we join Him in life, and when we bury our will we resurrect into His purpose.
Many times, the pain for which we experience creates a temptation to leave our faith and turn back from our trust in God. It beckons us to return to the false gods in our lives in search of the old, the familiar and the ‘devil(s) we know.’
We must commit ourselves to God that no matter where He takes us and what our future holds, we will hold onto Him.
This is one of the most beautiful passages in the Bible. Two things struck me in reading this passage, the first being Ruth’s pursuit of something better. As we remember, Ruth came from a land full of false gods that beckoned the worship of anything and everything. This pursuit of many gods was her normal in a land that dictated numerous offerings to many gods. It wasn’t until she was introduced to Naomi and joined their family that she experienced the one true God. Finding intimacy with God is like opening the blinds – you cannot ‘un-see’ Him once His splendor has been shown. You know the beauty of the 'Son-rise' once you have witnessed it. Ruth had seen faith in action, and measured against her old life, wanted to move ahead in her faith in God instead of turning back. Once someone has intimately found God they will be committed and resolved to follow their faith in Him into unchartered lands.
The second revelation is that Ruth’s statement to Naomi should be our passionate declaration to Christ. He will lead us into foreign lands creating circumstances that are beyond our earthly vision. We will travel the path with Him believing that where He goes we desire to go with Him. When He stays silent or keeps us in a waiting season, we will stay with Him. We will surround ourselves with His family and His Father becomes our Father. When we have died to self we join Him in life, and when we bury our will we resurrect into His purpose.
Many times, the pain for which we experience creates a temptation to leave our faith and turn back from our trust in God. It beckons us to return to the false gods in our lives in search of the old, the familiar and the ‘devil(s) we know.’
We must commit ourselves to God that no matter where He takes us and what our future holds, we will hold onto Him.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Out of the Mouths of Babes
“After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the LORD, nor what he had done for Israel.” Judges 2:30.
My daughter Kristen and her children attend the church that Bruce and I attend. It is such a privilege to watch her worship as she is moved by the Spirit, not to mention seeing my sweet grandchildren involved in church. One day, when Kristen went to pick Carson up from his Sunday School class she asked him what he learned about that day. He looked at her with exasperation and said, ‘Jesus, Mommy, Jesus! It’s ALWAYS going to be about Jesus!’ I loved that statement. It blesses my heart that another generation of Miller’s is ‘growing up knowing it will always be about Jesus.’
The legacy of our Christian faith will hopefully be marched out in the generations that follow. Society has created an environment that threatens new generations from recognizing Jesus in their daily walk. This country was founded upon seeing God in every way, but recognizing the capability of sin taking root. Today’s generation has become more complacent of sin, believing God can forgive us from our sin if we so choose. He has become a choice on the spiritual buffet line instead of the sole entrée.
Amazing how one generation in the Bible had witnessed the awesome power of the LORD. They experienced divine miracle after miracle. They fed right out of the holy hand of God through manna from Heaven. They were given red carpet treatment as they arrived on the bank of their promised land as God gave all the inhabitant’s over to them. They could not deny the continuous provisions and blessings given by a Father who bestowed amazing abundance on His children. What did they do with all that knowledge and revelation? They received and did not give…they took and failed to tell.
We have such amazing opportunities to discuss God and the manner in which He has worked in each of our lives. Our children and grandchildren may not hear anything about Jesus except for what we tell them. We must create an on-going dialogue regarding Christ in our lives to the point of Him being another family member around the table.
Our lives must announce just like Carson announced, ‘It is ALWAYS going to be about Jesus!’
My daughter Kristen and her children attend the church that Bruce and I attend. It is such a privilege to watch her worship as she is moved by the Spirit, not to mention seeing my sweet grandchildren involved in church. One day, when Kristen went to pick Carson up from his Sunday School class she asked him what he learned about that day. He looked at her with exasperation and said, ‘Jesus, Mommy, Jesus! It’s ALWAYS going to be about Jesus!’ I loved that statement. It blesses my heart that another generation of Miller’s is ‘growing up knowing it will always be about Jesus.’
The legacy of our Christian faith will hopefully be marched out in the generations that follow. Society has created an environment that threatens new generations from recognizing Jesus in their daily walk. This country was founded upon seeing God in every way, but recognizing the capability of sin taking root. Today’s generation has become more complacent of sin, believing God can forgive us from our sin if we so choose. He has become a choice on the spiritual buffet line instead of the sole entrée.
Amazing how one generation in the Bible had witnessed the awesome power of the LORD. They experienced divine miracle after miracle. They fed right out of the holy hand of God through manna from Heaven. They were given red carpet treatment as they arrived on the bank of their promised land as God gave all the inhabitant’s over to them. They could not deny the continuous provisions and blessings given by a Father who bestowed amazing abundance on His children. What did they do with all that knowledge and revelation? They received and did not give…they took and failed to tell.
We have such amazing opportunities to discuss God and the manner in which He has worked in each of our lives. Our children and grandchildren may not hear anything about Jesus except for what we tell them. We must create an on-going dialogue regarding Christ in our lives to the point of Him being another family member around the table.
Our lives must announce just like Carson announced, ‘It is ALWAYS going to be about Jesus!’
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Strange Bedfellows
“My master has withheld nothing from me except you…How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God!” Gen. 19:6
This story is one of many in the Bible that is all about long running obedience above all else. It continues the story of Joseph, a servant who had been exalted above all others in Egypt, and his master’s wife. She launches a campaign to seduce, entice and sleep with him regardless of her marital status. No doubt she is used to getting everything she desires in an effort to fill her own loneliness. But this morning, our spotlight is not on the temptress but rather on her prey.
Any one of our temptresses lays on their chaise lounge luring us away from what our Master has told us and what has been forbidden for our own good. In every Christian’s life, God withholds a few things that He knows will be misused, exalted or be allowed to power over our lives. He knows perfectly what we must keep out of our lives since He is the one who created us. We must walk our spiritual journey with our commitment to God, identifying the things for which we know is a sin against God. We each have our own appetite of sin and know what our downfall could be if left unchecked. Our obedience in avoiding our seductress will be powered by our motivation to obey and respect our Master. We stand before our tempter and say the same words Joseph spoke in the presence of his temptation. We state the obvious regarding our Master… ‘Our obedience to our Master is, in part, out of gratitude for what He has done in the past, and the faith in what He will do in the future for us.’ It will not be a once and for all statement of commitment to our temptation but a daily reaffirmation to ourselves and to the world.
‘Though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.’ Gen. 29:10. Notice that after telling her over and over again he simply changed his strategy to the removal of her presence. Many times, no matter how hard we try we must surrender in totality the sin that so easily rules us. ‘…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…’ Heb. 12:1-2.
God gave us so much abundance in our lives. The success of our obedience is fixing our eyes on what has been given to us instead of what has been withheld from the Master – the victory is in the focus.
This story is one of many in the Bible that is all about long running obedience above all else. It continues the story of Joseph, a servant who had been exalted above all others in Egypt, and his master’s wife. She launches a campaign to seduce, entice and sleep with him regardless of her marital status. No doubt she is used to getting everything she desires in an effort to fill her own loneliness. But this morning, our spotlight is not on the temptress but rather on her prey.
Any one of our temptresses lays on their chaise lounge luring us away from what our Master has told us and what has been forbidden for our own good. In every Christian’s life, God withholds a few things that He knows will be misused, exalted or be allowed to power over our lives. He knows perfectly what we must keep out of our lives since He is the one who created us. We must walk our spiritual journey with our commitment to God, identifying the things for which we know is a sin against God. We each have our own appetite of sin and know what our downfall could be if left unchecked. Our obedience in avoiding our seductress will be powered by our motivation to obey and respect our Master. We stand before our tempter and say the same words Joseph spoke in the presence of his temptation. We state the obvious regarding our Master… ‘Our obedience to our Master is, in part, out of gratitude for what He has done in the past, and the faith in what He will do in the future for us.’ It will not be a once and for all statement of commitment to our temptation but a daily reaffirmation to ourselves and to the world.
‘Though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.’ Gen. 29:10. Notice that after telling her over and over again he simply changed his strategy to the removal of her presence. Many times, no matter how hard we try we must surrender in totality the sin that so easily rules us. ‘…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…’ Heb. 12:1-2.
God gave us so much abundance in our lives. The success of our obedience is fixing our eyes on what has been given to us instead of what has been withheld from the Master – the victory is in the focus.
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