“But even if he does not, [save, rescue] we want you to know…we will not serve your gods or worship you…” Daniel 3:18. “And if I perish, I perish.” Esther 4:16. “May it be to me, as you have said.” Luke 1:38.
There are fewer movie scenes that move my heart more than the one near the end of Moulin Rouge where Satine and Christian were belting out their love and loyalty to each other. She is standing on stage singing her heart out to the love of her life as he walks towards her singing down the aisle. The words captivated our hearts only to be heightened by their passion and conviction while singing the words…come what may.
We only have to look in the Bible to find this wholehearted devotion to God in the lives of many. Three men face the king basically singing…come what may. A little virgin teenager impregnated in a supernatural way knows the disgrace that will follow and yet she sings…come what may. A queen who has everything must make a decision to risk losing it all to save God’s people and yet her lifesong plays…come what may.
We have to live a life of come what may…a life that sings our wholehearted devotion to God. We must stand on the stage of life and belt out our unwavering love and commitment to the One who loves us unconditionally.
Be blessed this morning and know that God stands in that aisle and passionately sings to us and over us. May we sing the beautiful lyrics of Moulin Rouge back to the Lover of our souls with the same passion and conviction…no matter what…come what may.
Listen to my heart can you hear it sing
Telling me to give you everything
Seasons may change winter to spring
But I love you until the end of time
Come what may Come what may
I will love you until my dying day
And there's no mountain too high no river too wide
Sing out this song and I'll be there by your side
Storm clouds may gather and stars may collide
But I love you I love you until the end of time
Come what may come what may
I will love you until my dying day.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
Worry's Futile Work
“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough of its own.” Matthew 6:31-34.
I generally write my own devotionals in the morning with a reference or two from my commentary. This morning I will be sharing much of my commentary with a reference or two of my own thoughts. No need to try to reword something so beautifully worded. My commentary states: ‘In this passage Jesus strikes at the tendency to center our lives around food and clothing, thus missing life’s real meaning… Such worry about the future is sin because it denies the love, wisdom, and the power of God. It denies the love of God by implying that He doesn’t care for us. It denies His wisdom by implying that He doesn’t know what He is doing. And it denies His power by implying that He isn’t able to provide for our needs….this causes us to devote our finest energies to making sure we will have enough…therefore missing the central purpose for which we were made…We are here to love, worship, and serve Him and to represent His interests on earth. Our bodies are intended to be our servants, not our masters.’ Believers Bible Commentary, p. 1226.
When the word worry first appeared in Old English it meant, not to fret, but to strangle. This visual is so powerful for me as we all take a concern, consider it, pick at it and mentally tear it apart until we strangle the life out of it. Meanwhile, the days have passed and many times we have accomplished nothing more than strangling air…a ghost of what could have been but never was. Boy, can I relate to the quote of Mark Twain: ‘I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.' ~Mark Twain
We run after the things that are already ours in Christ. The way to claim what is already ours is to focus and pursue the things of God and our purpose in His kingdom. Our responsibility as believers is to live a life for God, trusting Him for our future with unshakable confidence in His provisions. We are clearly called by Jesus Christ to live one day at a time. If we are going to strangle anything, let it be worry itself for it has no lasting substance.
We must live our lives with a today confidence in God instead of a tomorrow fear.
I generally write my own devotionals in the morning with a reference or two from my commentary. This morning I will be sharing much of my commentary with a reference or two of my own thoughts. No need to try to reword something so beautifully worded. My commentary states: ‘In this passage Jesus strikes at the tendency to center our lives around food and clothing, thus missing life’s real meaning… Such worry about the future is sin because it denies the love, wisdom, and the power of God. It denies the love of God by implying that He doesn’t care for us. It denies His wisdom by implying that He doesn’t know what He is doing. And it denies His power by implying that He isn’t able to provide for our needs….this causes us to devote our finest energies to making sure we will have enough…therefore missing the central purpose for which we were made…We are here to love, worship, and serve Him and to represent His interests on earth. Our bodies are intended to be our servants, not our masters.’ Believers Bible Commentary, p. 1226.
When the word worry first appeared in Old English it meant, not to fret, but to strangle. This visual is so powerful for me as we all take a concern, consider it, pick at it and mentally tear it apart until we strangle the life out of it. Meanwhile, the days have passed and many times we have accomplished nothing more than strangling air…a ghost of what could have been but never was. Boy, can I relate to the quote of Mark Twain: ‘I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.' ~Mark Twain
We run after the things that are already ours in Christ. The way to claim what is already ours is to focus and pursue the things of God and our purpose in His kingdom. Our responsibility as believers is to live a life for God, trusting Him for our future with unshakable confidence in His provisions. We are clearly called by Jesus Christ to live one day at a time. If we are going to strangle anything, let it be worry itself for it has no lasting substance.
We must live our lives with a today confidence in God instead of a tomorrow fear.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Projecting Images...
“He then summoned…and all the other provincial officials to the dedication of the image he had set up.” Daniel 3:2.
What King Nebuchadnezzar did in reality we do in theory as we meticulously and methodically build an image for ourselves. I didn’t notice until this morning that the word image is so closely spelled to imagination. In the context of our concept this morning I would say that the two will always lends itself to the other.
It is through our imagination that we determine pieces of ourselves that we wish to bolster and exaggerate. We grab our chisel and chip away what we do not like about ourselves forming a more perfect façade. We add water to the mix to mold other areas into the image in which we want others to see. The dedication to our image is a full time job, since constant chipping, molding and shaping is the only way to maintain it. Our imagination works in overdrive as we think of new ways to support an old image.
The images we create are nothing more than a manifestation of our imagination…a ghost without an anchor. ‘Image building is any way we intentionally make ourselves seem different…and usually more…than we really are.’ Daniel – Lives of Integrity, Beth Moore.
There is only one image that counts which is the image of Jesus Christ. Like every image, it takes time to build, mold and sustain. Only through the transforming work of the Trinity will we be people of dedication to the One true image. The more we empty ourselves and fill up with the image of Christ, the more we will match the authentic person for which God created.
People will buy whatever we are selling so I ask myself this morning, ‘Am I selling Christ or am I selling a version of myself?’
What King Nebuchadnezzar did in reality we do in theory as we meticulously and methodically build an image for ourselves. I didn’t notice until this morning that the word image is so closely spelled to imagination. In the context of our concept this morning I would say that the two will always lends itself to the other.
It is through our imagination that we determine pieces of ourselves that we wish to bolster and exaggerate. We grab our chisel and chip away what we do not like about ourselves forming a more perfect façade. We add water to the mix to mold other areas into the image in which we want others to see. The dedication to our image is a full time job, since constant chipping, molding and shaping is the only way to maintain it. Our imagination works in overdrive as we think of new ways to support an old image.
The images we create are nothing more than a manifestation of our imagination…a ghost without an anchor. ‘Image building is any way we intentionally make ourselves seem different…and usually more…than we really are.’ Daniel – Lives of Integrity, Beth Moore.
There is only one image that counts which is the image of Jesus Christ. Like every image, it takes time to build, mold and sustain. Only through the transforming work of the Trinity will we be people of dedication to the One true image. The more we empty ourselves and fill up with the image of Christ, the more we will match the authentic person for which God created.
People will buy whatever we are selling so I ask myself this morning, ‘Am I selling Christ or am I selling a version of myself?’
Monday, October 24, 2011
Seasons, Kings & Kingdoms
“He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.” Daniel 2:21
This statement in Scripture is Daniel’s proclamation that he serves the sovereign God of the universe. He is unapologetic about the fact that God is in control of all things at all times. He didn’t try to sweep the reality of God’s interrupting hand under the carpet inferring that our challenging times are just chance, fate, or happenstance. Our seasons of suffering are ushered in by the providential hand of God. He sets up kingdoms of learning that are unique to our weaknesses. He allows something we worship to become our king to prove it will come up short ever time. When death finds our loved ones God is not intimidated by our emotions or our demands of why. He listens to us, His heart breaks with us, and He heals within us.
Providence is God’s intentional and purposeful interruption/intervention in life that mandates our complete focus. God does what He wants, as long as He deems necessary and the manner in which He desires to accomplish His purpose for each of our lives. To walk this journey on earth victoriously, we must believe with complete conviction that everything God allows into our lives is motivated by the same love in which He gave up His only son so we could live eternally with Him. With this truth, how can we question God's love...but sometimes our pain asks the question.
I had lunch with two of my best friends from childhood yesterday and we were discussing how challenging life has been. One of us lost a spouse in her early thirties, one of us has battled breast cancer, and one of us has traveled the road of drug addiction with her teen. God either allowed or ordained our seasons of suffering to accomplish a greater purpose than we may never know. He has spiritual purposes for our earthly walk. We cannot expect God to impart everything that has been accomplished in our times of despair, but we can know that critical work in the heavenlies is being fulfilled. Just as our children cannot understand our decisions for the greater purpose of our families, we cannot understand the greater purposes of God.
When despair interrupts our lives claim 1 Peter 4:12-19. ‘Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed…you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you…if you suffer as a Christian…praise God that you bear that name.’ This verse doesn’t say you will be overjoyed if His glory is revealed…the word is when implying certainty and completion.
When His work is done in our specific kingdoms He will usurp the king and bring the kingdom to an end…Amen…and we will see His glory revealed along with all of His wisdom and knowledge in that season. His Kingdom, both on earth and in heaven, will prevail.
This statement in Scripture is Daniel’s proclamation that he serves the sovereign God of the universe. He is unapologetic about the fact that God is in control of all things at all times. He didn’t try to sweep the reality of God’s interrupting hand under the carpet inferring that our challenging times are just chance, fate, or happenstance. Our seasons of suffering are ushered in by the providential hand of God. He sets up kingdoms of learning that are unique to our weaknesses. He allows something we worship to become our king to prove it will come up short ever time. When death finds our loved ones God is not intimidated by our emotions or our demands of why. He listens to us, His heart breaks with us, and He heals within us.
Providence is God’s intentional and purposeful interruption/intervention in life that mandates our complete focus. God does what He wants, as long as He deems necessary and the manner in which He desires to accomplish His purpose for each of our lives. To walk this journey on earth victoriously, we must believe with complete conviction that everything God allows into our lives is motivated by the same love in which He gave up His only son so we could live eternally with Him. With this truth, how can we question God's love...but sometimes our pain asks the question.
I had lunch with two of my best friends from childhood yesterday and we were discussing how challenging life has been. One of us lost a spouse in her early thirties, one of us has battled breast cancer, and one of us has traveled the road of drug addiction with her teen. God either allowed or ordained our seasons of suffering to accomplish a greater purpose than we may never know. He has spiritual purposes for our earthly walk. We cannot expect God to impart everything that has been accomplished in our times of despair, but we can know that critical work in the heavenlies is being fulfilled. Just as our children cannot understand our decisions for the greater purpose of our families, we cannot understand the greater purposes of God.
When despair interrupts our lives claim 1 Peter 4:12-19. ‘Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed…you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you…if you suffer as a Christian…praise God that you bear that name.’ This verse doesn’t say you will be overjoyed if His glory is revealed…the word is when implying certainty and completion.
When His work is done in our specific kingdoms He will usurp the king and bring the kingdom to an end…Amen…and we will see His glory revealed along with all of His wisdom and knowledge in that season. His Kingdom, both on earth and in heaven, will prevail.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Attitude of Gratitude
“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers; You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you…” Daniel 2:20, 23
When my children were young one of the most challenging attitudes to instill was the attitude of gratitude. It seems either we are born with it or not. Bruce and I would plan on doing something special for them, only for them to ask what was next while still enjoying the blessing. If you are a parent you certainly know what I am describing. You make a decision to please a child knowing how much it will mean to them. You reveal the blessing or the answered request for which they have been asking and their ‘thank you’ falls flat. Their minds are already racing to the next request so their gratitude is diluted with impatience for the next desire.
Sometimes we are no better than children and maybe even worse. When I think about all that I ask of God measured against the praise that I give to God…something falls flat. How many times have we moved on to the next request of God without really allowing His answered prayer to fall upon a heart of humility and gratitude? Each morning I ask that He protects my children during the day, only to repeat that request the following morning. If I would truly feel the praise of an answered prayer my joy and gratitude would fuel my worship. God answers our prayers so much more than we ever realize. As parents, our children grow to depend on us to feed and clothe them but few will take the time to come to us with praise and gratitude. They develop an attitude of entitlement and expectation, becoming complacent with the blessings.
We are so much like that in our prayer lives. We take for granted that we will be kept safe through the night. We assume that the job we have will still be there in the morning. We assume that the money in our bank accounts will still be available when we drive up to the ATM. God is the giver of all things and we receive an abundance of blessings for which we don’t even ask.
Just as it blesses us to see the enthusiastic response of thanks from others, it must bless God when we emphatically and joyfully thank Him for the immeasurable answers to prayer He bestows upon us. Many times the very thing we seek in others is what we fail to give to God.
When my children were young one of the most challenging attitudes to instill was the attitude of gratitude. It seems either we are born with it or not. Bruce and I would plan on doing something special for them, only for them to ask what was next while still enjoying the blessing. If you are a parent you certainly know what I am describing. You make a decision to please a child knowing how much it will mean to them. You reveal the blessing or the answered request for which they have been asking and their ‘thank you’ falls flat. Their minds are already racing to the next request so their gratitude is diluted with impatience for the next desire.
Sometimes we are no better than children and maybe even worse. When I think about all that I ask of God measured against the praise that I give to God…something falls flat. How many times have we moved on to the next request of God without really allowing His answered prayer to fall upon a heart of humility and gratitude? Each morning I ask that He protects my children during the day, only to repeat that request the following morning. If I would truly feel the praise of an answered prayer my joy and gratitude would fuel my worship. God answers our prayers so much more than we ever realize. As parents, our children grow to depend on us to feed and clothe them but few will take the time to come to us with praise and gratitude. They develop an attitude of entitlement and expectation, becoming complacent with the blessings.
We are so much like that in our prayer lives. We take for granted that we will be kept safe through the night. We assume that the job we have will still be there in the morning. We assume that the money in our bank accounts will still be available when we drive up to the ATM. God is the giver of all things and we receive an abundance of blessings for which we don’t even ask.
Just as it blesses us to see the enthusiastic response of thanks from others, it must bless God when we emphatically and joyfully thank Him for the immeasurable answers to prayer He bestows upon us. Many times the very thing we seek in others is what we fail to give to God.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
The 4 P's
“At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him…Then Daniel returned…and explained the matter to his friends…He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery…During the night the mystery was revealed…Then Daniel praised the God of heaven.” Daniel 2:16-18.
This passage is very important in showing us not only how to pray but the importance of our belief in prayer. Daniel learned from the king’s commander that the entire group of wise men for which the king called upon would soon be executed. The king felt that because a few of the men couldn’t reveal and interpret his dream that the lot of them should be extinguished. Daniel and his friends were among these men. Daniel immediately approached this furious king who ordered his execution. He not only had the courage to approach his foe but had the faith of expectancy that God would reveal the dream and its interpretation to him. But he knew he must have time to pray. He did not proceed without prayer. He not only knew the importance of pleading for God’s wisdom, instead of his own, but also knew the necessity and urgency to enlist his prayer partners. His partners were immediate in their prayers and specific in their petitions. Through the darkness of the night God revealed the dream to Daniel. The next thing that Daniel did was paramount – He praised…right then…before the confrontation with the king had even occurred.
We must follow the example of Daniel when approaching our challenges. Whether they are challenges in the details of life or the huge storms of life we are given a road map that will not lead us astray.
We must proclaim that God will reveal, will save, and will deliver.
We must petition others to pray and recognize the important of the entire Body of Christ. As the Body of Christ, when we are asked to pray we must not tarry. Time is precious.
We must posture ourselves in a position to receive from God removing our own wisdom, perceptions and predetermined outcomes.
We must praise Him for His power, strength and delivery before we face our giants, believing He will rescue us.
All of these steps are essential in the fellowship with God and the Body of Christ through prayer. Let us be courageous in our approach and expectant in our prayers.
This passage is very important in showing us not only how to pray but the importance of our belief in prayer. Daniel learned from the king’s commander that the entire group of wise men for which the king called upon would soon be executed. The king felt that because a few of the men couldn’t reveal and interpret his dream that the lot of them should be extinguished. Daniel and his friends were among these men. Daniel immediately approached this furious king who ordered his execution. He not only had the courage to approach his foe but had the faith of expectancy that God would reveal the dream and its interpretation to him. But he knew he must have time to pray. He did not proceed without prayer. He not only knew the importance of pleading for God’s wisdom, instead of his own, but also knew the necessity and urgency to enlist his prayer partners. His partners were immediate in their prayers and specific in their petitions. Through the darkness of the night God revealed the dream to Daniel. The next thing that Daniel did was paramount – He praised…right then…before the confrontation with the king had even occurred.
We must follow the example of Daniel when approaching our challenges. Whether they are challenges in the details of life or the huge storms of life we are given a road map that will not lead us astray.
We must proclaim that God will reveal, will save, and will deliver.
We must petition others to pray and recognize the important of the entire Body of Christ. As the Body of Christ, when we are asked to pray we must not tarry. Time is precious.
We must posture ourselves in a position to receive from God removing our own wisdom, perceptions and predetermined outcomes.
We must praise Him for His power, strength and delivery before we face our giants, believing He will rescue us.
All of these steps are essential in the fellowship with God and the Body of Christ through prayer. Let us be courageous in our approach and expectant in our prayers.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
None Equal...
“At the end of the time set by the king to bring them in, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and he found none equal … so they entered into the king’s service.” Daniel 1:18.
Daniel and his contemporaries had been trained, tested and tried before they were presented to the king. They had resolved to be nourished by the clean foods instead of being defiled by the unclean foods. They stuck to their convictions for the timeframe ordained by the king. Their fruit resulting from their commitment and obedience was unparalleled with anyone else in the kingdom.
We learned yesterday that we, too, have a Chief Official who has the authority to approach the King on our behalf through His work on the cross. We enter into seasons of testing and training calling us to practice our faith and live within our principles. We train during these challenging times which are accompanied with hunger, loneliness and exhaustion. But our Official is right there with us knowing what is required to be presented to the King blameless and flawless due to our position in Christ as co-heirs.
At the end of our time that the King has set we will be brought in as a member of the pure bride of Christ and will march arm in arm towards the throne of the Father. ‘To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.’ Jude :24.
…and He will find none equal!
Daniel and his contemporaries had been trained, tested and tried before they were presented to the king. They had resolved to be nourished by the clean foods instead of being defiled by the unclean foods. They stuck to their convictions for the timeframe ordained by the king. Their fruit resulting from their commitment and obedience was unparalleled with anyone else in the kingdom.
We learned yesterday that we, too, have a Chief Official who has the authority to approach the King on our behalf through His work on the cross. We enter into seasons of testing and training calling us to practice our faith and live within our principles. We train during these challenging times which are accompanied with hunger, loneliness and exhaustion. But our Official is right there with us knowing what is required to be presented to the King blameless and flawless due to our position in Christ as co-heirs.
At the end of our time that the King has set we will be brought in as a member of the pure bride of Christ and will march arm in arm towards the throne of the Father. ‘To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.’ Jude :24.
…and He will find none equal!
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Orange Noses
“…and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way…At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.” Daniel 1:15.
When my grandson Carson was a baby, one of the baby foods for which my daughter fed him was carrots. He loved his carrots and never fought against this vegetable. He gladly consumed these and enjoyed them daily, to the point of his nose developing an orange hue. I can look back at his baby pictures and know whether he was still on baby food based on the color of his nose!
Daniel only digested what was spiritually healthy to his life. He sought permission from the one in charge to be nourished only with vegetables for ten days, assuring the official that he and his friends would stand apart from the others. The principles and resolve of Daniel must be the example for our lives. We, too, have a Chief Official who will honor our request to avoid the foods of the world that are not healthy for digestion. We will not be tempted beyond the delivering hand of God. The food of God will always nourish our lives and provide healthier living.
We will reflect the spiritual life opposed to looking like the world if we allow God to determine the choices He would have for our lives. All of our lives are made up of different diets and God determines the spiritual diet for which we are meant to live. We must be like Daniel and demonstrate the courage to stand up and say no to the enticements of the world.
We will reflect whatever we most value. Just like Carson, if we are living the spiritual life which God intended, we will reflect a certain spiritual hue that will be visible to all.
When my grandson Carson was a baby, one of the baby foods for which my daughter fed him was carrots. He loved his carrots and never fought against this vegetable. He gladly consumed these and enjoyed them daily, to the point of his nose developing an orange hue. I can look back at his baby pictures and know whether he was still on baby food based on the color of his nose!
Daniel only digested what was spiritually healthy to his life. He sought permission from the one in charge to be nourished only with vegetables for ten days, assuring the official that he and his friends would stand apart from the others. The principles and resolve of Daniel must be the example for our lives. We, too, have a Chief Official who will honor our request to avoid the foods of the world that are not healthy for digestion. We will not be tempted beyond the delivering hand of God. The food of God will always nourish our lives and provide healthier living.
We will reflect the spiritual life opposed to looking like the world if we allow God to determine the choices He would have for our lives. All of our lives are made up of different diets and God determines the spiritual diet for which we are meant to live. We must be like Daniel and demonstrate the courage to stand up and say no to the enticements of the world.
We will reflect whatever we most value. Just like Carson, if we are living the spiritual life which God intended, we will reflect a certain spiritual hue that will be visible to all.
Monday, October 17, 2011
The World's Buffet
“Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine…” Daniel 1:8
I LOVE a good buffet! There is nothing like it…roaming down that line scanning each dish on the tabletop as it is displayed like a banquet. When Bruce and I went to Texas a few months ago we went to a restaurant known for their Sunday buffets. There was so much food to take in, and I was told ahead of time by my sister-in-law that the choices were unparalleled in flavor. I knew that before I even went to the line I needed to make a decision of how much I intended on eating. I didn’t want to end up with stomach pain which I had done so many times before. I knew the time for me to decide was not when I faced the temptation but rather by resolving ahead of time and being obedient to that decision.
This is what Daniel and his faithful friends did before they got to the kings table. They made decisions that matched their principles before they were tempted. The kings table was covered in ‘meats that were unclean, according to the Old Testament law…perhaps they were connected with idol worship.’ Believer’s Bible Commentary, p. 1079.
The world offers us quite the buffet as we move down the line of its display. We don’t even need to think up our wants, for the world generates the foods for us. The offerings have been uniquely seasoned to our taste as we look upon our choices in life. We don’t even taste the salt of over-indulgence or the spice of temptation. After all, it wouldn’t be on the table if we weren’t meant to have it, right?
It is spiritually critical that we balance our indulgence of the things of this world with our principles. Does it fit on our plate? If we indulge in this particular dish of the world, does it mean the exclusion of a healthier dish, perhaps something of a spiritual taste? We must resolve up front the things for which we will consume and the degree of our participation in that choice. We must be cautious that the things we consume will not consume us. After all, ‘Everything is permissible for me – but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me – but I will not be mastered by anything.’ 1 Co. 6:12.
Sometimes many of the things that are legitimate and legal in the world destroy us the most due to our lack of resolve and balance. We must be Daniels in this enticing world as we eat at the table that offers both life and death.
I LOVE a good buffet! There is nothing like it…roaming down that line scanning each dish on the tabletop as it is displayed like a banquet. When Bruce and I went to Texas a few months ago we went to a restaurant known for their Sunday buffets. There was so much food to take in, and I was told ahead of time by my sister-in-law that the choices were unparalleled in flavor. I knew that before I even went to the line I needed to make a decision of how much I intended on eating. I didn’t want to end up with stomach pain which I had done so many times before. I knew the time for me to decide was not when I faced the temptation but rather by resolving ahead of time and being obedient to that decision.
This is what Daniel and his faithful friends did before they got to the kings table. They made decisions that matched their principles before they were tempted. The kings table was covered in ‘meats that were unclean, according to the Old Testament law…perhaps they were connected with idol worship.’ Believer’s Bible Commentary, p. 1079.
The world offers us quite the buffet as we move down the line of its display. We don’t even need to think up our wants, for the world generates the foods for us. The offerings have been uniquely seasoned to our taste as we look upon our choices in life. We don’t even taste the salt of over-indulgence or the spice of temptation. After all, it wouldn’t be on the table if we weren’t meant to have it, right?
It is spiritually critical that we balance our indulgence of the things of this world with our principles. Does it fit on our plate? If we indulge in this particular dish of the world, does it mean the exclusion of a healthier dish, perhaps something of a spiritual taste? We must resolve up front the things for which we will consume and the degree of our participation in that choice. We must be cautious that the things we consume will not consume us. After all, ‘Everything is permissible for me – but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me – but I will not be mastered by anything.’ 1 Co. 6:12.
Sometimes many of the things that are legitimate and legal in the world destroy us the most due to our lack of resolve and balance. We must be Daniels in this enticing world as we eat at the table that offers both life and death.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Carried Off...
“Then the king ordered…to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family…young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve…He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.” Daniel 1:3-4
There is nothing as sweet as the cry of a healthy new born baby. Relationships are formed and love grows as that child matures in life day by day. We train our children in the Lord and raise them to honor God and those in authority. After all, they are from the royal family of God. We teach them the values of living within the boundaries of right and wrong. Life moves forward as they approach the age where Babylon invades and threatens to carry them away.
In the times of Daniel, their reality was the physical invading and kidnapping of so many of these young men. Commentaries confirm that the young men were merely 15 years of age…teenagers. What was done physically in Daniel’s teenage years is done mentally in the lives of our teenagers. I am sure that the enemy patiently waits for the teenage years because that is where he has such overwhelming success. He lures them with the hypnotic lust of power, wealth, sex and social status. He carries them off in promise and hope for a fast track to all of these…with a silver tongue he impresses his motto, 'No need to wait for what you are entitled to receive! It is all about you and no one else!'
I only have to look at my own children as well as my nieces to see who fell for Babylon in their teenage years. Who bought the lies of the language and distributed the literature of their kidnappers? The king of evil orders and targets the children of God specifically because he knows they have the power to make a difference in God’s plans. He hypnotizes these young and formative minds with the focus being on what they deserve and to what they are entitled in this life. Some will be indoctrinated and deprogrammed and some will hold true to their teachings and convictions...but all are sealed and eternally saved if they are from the royal Family. Babylon is first introduced in the teenage years and seems to raise its ugly head throughout our lives. The motto is the same, ‘I am and there is none besides me,’ but the stakes get higher.
We must live in a keen state of awareness of the lures of our own Babylon. Babylon knows where we live and how to invade and kidnap, but thankfully we have a King who paid our ransom. We have a way back to the One who is home and will fortify our hearts.
Let us be quick to understand and qualified to serve!
There is nothing as sweet as the cry of a healthy new born baby. Relationships are formed and love grows as that child matures in life day by day. We train our children in the Lord and raise them to honor God and those in authority. After all, they are from the royal family of God. We teach them the values of living within the boundaries of right and wrong. Life moves forward as they approach the age where Babylon invades and threatens to carry them away.
In the times of Daniel, their reality was the physical invading and kidnapping of so many of these young men. Commentaries confirm that the young men were merely 15 years of age…teenagers. What was done physically in Daniel’s teenage years is done mentally in the lives of our teenagers. I am sure that the enemy patiently waits for the teenage years because that is where he has such overwhelming success. He lures them with the hypnotic lust of power, wealth, sex and social status. He carries them off in promise and hope for a fast track to all of these…with a silver tongue he impresses his motto, 'No need to wait for what you are entitled to receive! It is all about you and no one else!'
I only have to look at my own children as well as my nieces to see who fell for Babylon in their teenage years. Who bought the lies of the language and distributed the literature of their kidnappers? The king of evil orders and targets the children of God specifically because he knows they have the power to make a difference in God’s plans. He hypnotizes these young and formative minds with the focus being on what they deserve and to what they are entitled in this life. Some will be indoctrinated and deprogrammed and some will hold true to their teachings and convictions...but all are sealed and eternally saved if they are from the royal Family. Babylon is first introduced in the teenage years and seems to raise its ugly head throughout our lives. The motto is the same, ‘I am and there is none besides me,’ but the stakes get higher.
We must live in a keen state of awareness of the lures of our own Babylon. Babylon knows where we live and how to invade and kidnap, but thankfully we have a King who paid our ransom. We have a way back to the One who is home and will fortify our hearts.
Let us be quick to understand and qualified to serve!
Thursday, October 13, 2011
The Plight of Answered Prayers
“In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death…Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD…And Hezekiah wept bitterly… ‘This is what the LORD…says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life.’ A writing…after his illness and recovery: ‘…In the prime of my life must I go through the gates of death and be robbed of the rest of my years…You restored me to health and let me live...and we will sing with stringed instruments all the days of our lives in the temple of the LORD.” Isaiah 38:1-16.
The 38th chapter of Isaiah is the wonderful testimony of King Hezekiah. He has been given a death sentence only to be given the message that God has changed His mind, ordaining another 15 years of life for Hezekiah. Upon Hezekiah’s recovery he pens this beautiful testimony beginning with lament and sorrow but ending with praise and worship. He promises to testify to the glory of God every day until he dies. For Hezekiah, ‘every day of his life’ only lasted one. ‘At that time…son of Baladan king of Babylon sent letters and a gift…Hezekiah received gladly and showed …everything found among his treasures. There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them.’ Isaiah 40:1-2. He opened himself up for friendly captivity. He became vulnerable to the enemy through his prideful display of every prized possession he owned. Instead of boasting in testimony about the LORD’s deliverance from death, he boasted about his worldly possessions for which he stored up…and was the enemy taking notes.
We can relate on some level as we have all experienced answered prayers at some point in our lives. We have a decision to make or we have been devastated with some news. We turn our minds and hearts ‘to the wall’ and begin negotiating with God, begging and pleading for the answer. We receive our answer to prayer and sing the praises of God for the moment. Then the crisis is over and life returns to the normal. We open our hearts to the world’s seepage allowing the temple of our hearts to collect its filth. We reflect our own lives instead of the reflection of God. We boast of our strength and power to others instead of testifying to the splendor of our God. We lay open our storehouses of integrity allowing the enemy to ravage through what used to be the treasures of our heart - the character of Christ.
We cannot allow the wondrous acts of our Savior to grow cold. They must be forever on our lips and remain alive in our hearts. Our testimonies are essential in our armor of God in our battle against evil. As long as we have God on our lips we cannot talk about ourselves.
The 38th chapter of Isaiah is the wonderful testimony of King Hezekiah. He has been given a death sentence only to be given the message that God has changed His mind, ordaining another 15 years of life for Hezekiah. Upon Hezekiah’s recovery he pens this beautiful testimony beginning with lament and sorrow but ending with praise and worship. He promises to testify to the glory of God every day until he dies. For Hezekiah, ‘every day of his life’ only lasted one. ‘At that time…son of Baladan king of Babylon sent letters and a gift…Hezekiah received gladly and showed …everything found among his treasures. There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them.’ Isaiah 40:1-2. He opened himself up for friendly captivity. He became vulnerable to the enemy through his prideful display of every prized possession he owned. Instead of boasting in testimony about the LORD’s deliverance from death, he boasted about his worldly possessions for which he stored up…and was the enemy taking notes.
We can relate on some level as we have all experienced answered prayers at some point in our lives. We have a decision to make or we have been devastated with some news. We turn our minds and hearts ‘to the wall’ and begin negotiating with God, begging and pleading for the answer. We receive our answer to prayer and sing the praises of God for the moment. Then the crisis is over and life returns to the normal. We open our hearts to the world’s seepage allowing the temple of our hearts to collect its filth. We reflect our own lives instead of the reflection of God. We boast of our strength and power to others instead of testifying to the splendor of our God. We lay open our storehouses of integrity allowing the enemy to ravage through what used to be the treasures of our heart - the character of Christ.
We cannot allow the wondrous acts of our Savior to grow cold. They must be forever on our lips and remain alive in our hearts. Our testimonies are essential in our armor of God in our battle against evil. As long as we have God on our lips we cannot talk about ourselves.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
The Babylon Mentality...Its All About Me
“You have trusted in your wickedness and have said, ‘No one sees me.’ Your wisdom and knowledge mislead you when you say to yourself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me.’ Disaster will come upon you, and you will not know how to conjure it away. A calamity will fall upon you that you cannot ward off… a catastrophe you cannot foresee will suddenly come upon you.” Isaiah 47:10-11.
When we hear the words from fellow Christians ‘God will be faithful’ it generally evokes a word of encouragement and hope for the future. But in the same way God is faithful in our deliverance and rescues, He will be faithful in His warnings regarding our sins. The passage above is a final warning to His children regarding their worship of idols rather than God. God cannot be less than God so His word will always prove true. God handed His children over to the culture for which they worshipped. ‘Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god.’ Daniel 1:1-2.
I think it is more than a coincidence that God’s children were not so blatant as to go into the city of Babylon. They allowed Babylon to invade their lives by their neglect of their city walls. They sat on the horizon unprotected and unaware of the looming attacks. They were comfortable in their worship and justified in their idols, making them vulnerable to the infiltration and kidnapping . They didn’t even lock up the articles of God in the temple but allowed them to sit as common place exposed to whatever the culture mandated.
We cannot allow our culture to carry away the precious articles of God stored up in our hearts and minds. We must spend time making God a priority in our lives building the temple walls of protection in our hearts. We cannot allow our Babylon mentality (I am, and there is none besides me) to convince us that we are justified in our emotions and are entitled to certain things and attitudes. Babylon has a king and its name is ‘I am’ (the counterfeit of God)…this king is constantly seeking a queen for its country to serve alongside and do the bidding of the culture for him. We must revere God and hold tightly to the things that belong to God so this culture will not carry away His teachings which are stored up in our hearts. Our treasure house will possess attitudes that will not fit into this earthly kingdom but are essential in God's kingdom where He will not share His crown with anyone...the true 'I AM.'
This is one crown we dare not wear….
When we hear the words from fellow Christians ‘God will be faithful’ it generally evokes a word of encouragement and hope for the future. But in the same way God is faithful in our deliverance and rescues, He will be faithful in His warnings regarding our sins. The passage above is a final warning to His children regarding their worship of idols rather than God. God cannot be less than God so His word will always prove true. God handed His children over to the culture for which they worshipped. ‘Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god.’ Daniel 1:1-2.
I think it is more than a coincidence that God’s children were not so blatant as to go into the city of Babylon. They allowed Babylon to invade their lives by their neglect of their city walls. They sat on the horizon unprotected and unaware of the looming attacks. They were comfortable in their worship and justified in their idols, making them vulnerable to the infiltration and kidnapping . They didn’t even lock up the articles of God in the temple but allowed them to sit as common place exposed to whatever the culture mandated.
We cannot allow our culture to carry away the precious articles of God stored up in our hearts and minds. We must spend time making God a priority in our lives building the temple walls of protection in our hearts. We cannot allow our Babylon mentality (I am, and there is none besides me) to convince us that we are justified in our emotions and are entitled to certain things and attitudes. Babylon has a king and its name is ‘I am’ (the counterfeit of God)…this king is constantly seeking a queen for its country to serve alongside and do the bidding of the culture for him. We must revere God and hold tightly to the things that belong to God so this culture will not carry away His teachings which are stored up in our hearts. Our treasure house will possess attitudes that will not fit into this earthly kingdom but are essential in God's kingdom where He will not share His crown with anyone...the true 'I AM.'
This is one crown we dare not wear….
Monday, October 10, 2011
Sinners and Stones
“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught…[in her sin]. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the act…Now what do you say?’ But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger…he straightened up and said to them, ‘If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.’ Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up…Jesus declared… ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.’ John 8:3-11.
I feel so overwhelmed by this story this morning. It is probably because I have been both the Pharisee and the woman who is facing her sin. I have been that sorrowful woman whose head hung towards the ground in regret. I have been that woman who felt the smoothness of that stone in the palm of her hand. I have been the one who asked Christ to explain why the sin of another was not being punished. Why is it that the sin of others always looks worse than our own sin? I have stoned and have been stoned.
The image of Jesus stooping down is another reminder that He humbled Himself on earth, becoming a servant to man who needed a Savior. He gave up His life in order that every one of us could claim life through the cross. When all others have forsaken us…when all others have judged us…when all others begin to go away one at a time…the only thing left is Jesus. Don’t you know that Jesus had to stoop down because the sinner’s head hung chin on chest. Without Jesus lowering Himself their eyes could never have met. I can’t help but to feel that whatever Jesus wrote on the ground that sweet day for that repentant sinner was written in blood…His blood.
How marvelous it is that through the resurrection Jesus ‘straightened Himself up’ and declared that all sins at the base of the cross are forgiven…something we can all count on…its written in blood!
I feel so overwhelmed by this story this morning. It is probably because I have been both the Pharisee and the woman who is facing her sin. I have been that sorrowful woman whose head hung towards the ground in regret. I have been that woman who felt the smoothness of that stone in the palm of her hand. I have been the one who asked Christ to explain why the sin of another was not being punished. Why is it that the sin of others always looks worse than our own sin? I have stoned and have been stoned.
The image of Jesus stooping down is another reminder that He humbled Himself on earth, becoming a servant to man who needed a Savior. He gave up His life in order that every one of us could claim life through the cross. When all others have forsaken us…when all others have judged us…when all others begin to go away one at a time…the only thing left is Jesus. Don’t you know that Jesus had to stoop down because the sinner’s head hung chin on chest. Without Jesus lowering Himself their eyes could never have met. I can’t help but to feel that whatever Jesus wrote on the ground that sweet day for that repentant sinner was written in blood…His blood.
How marvelous it is that through the resurrection Jesus ‘straightened Himself up’ and declared that all sins at the base of the cross are forgiven…something we can all count on…its written in blood!
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Them Bones...Them Bones
“Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.” Psalm 51:8.
My daughter, Kristen is going to be a nurse one day. I get to learn about the body without ever attending class. Her excitement for learning is inspirational and I am grateful for all of those whom choose this field of service.
I was astonished to learn of the number of little bones that make up the hand. There must be many tiny bones that lend to the full function of the hand. If just one of these bones is fractured the ability of the entire hand is compromised. It isn’t until that bone is identified, treated and fully healed that the integrity of the hand returns.
When considering our journey in this life, there will be seasons of fractured bones. I know in my own walk, my bones have had the marrow of pride and the goal of a perfect image. In an effort to increase the effectiveness of my faith, God placed stumbling blocks before me causing me to fall. I caught the fall with my hands which fractured essential bones and non-essential bones for which He never intended me to use. These bones served only a purpose surrounding my flesh…not my faith. God used those weak bones to build stronger bones…bones that serve out of a devotion to God…that seek His approval instead of man’s…bones that don’t care about a worldly image. My bones rejoice in the manner in which He has healed them!
He will break areas in our lives such as our will, agenda and ego. He will reveal fractures in our faith showing us the sins in which we find ourselves so easily entangled. He will identify the weak areas in our lives that need to be treated and fully healed.
After all of the rehab is complete, we will find joy in the healing and gladness in our spirits.
My daughter, Kristen is going to be a nurse one day. I get to learn about the body without ever attending class. Her excitement for learning is inspirational and I am grateful for all of those whom choose this field of service.
I was astonished to learn of the number of little bones that make up the hand. There must be many tiny bones that lend to the full function of the hand. If just one of these bones is fractured the ability of the entire hand is compromised. It isn’t until that bone is identified, treated and fully healed that the integrity of the hand returns.
When considering our journey in this life, there will be seasons of fractured bones. I know in my own walk, my bones have had the marrow of pride and the goal of a perfect image. In an effort to increase the effectiveness of my faith, God placed stumbling blocks before me causing me to fall. I caught the fall with my hands which fractured essential bones and non-essential bones for which He never intended me to use. These bones served only a purpose surrounding my flesh…not my faith. God used those weak bones to build stronger bones…bones that serve out of a devotion to God…that seek His approval instead of man’s…bones that don’t care about a worldly image. My bones rejoice in the manner in which He has healed them!
He will break areas in our lives such as our will, agenda and ego. He will reveal fractures in our faith showing us the sins in which we find ourselves so easily entangled. He will identify the weak areas in our lives that need to be treated and fully healed.
After all of the rehab is complete, we will find joy in the healing and gladness in our spirits.
Friday, October 7, 2011
You Are Invited!
"You prepare a table before me…You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23:5, 6
Years ago, Bruce and I were invited to the most incredible celebration of marriage for which I have ever attended. It was positioned on the property of a historical mansion in Wilmington. It was truly right out of a novel and the guests were made to feel as special as the bride. We truly felt as if it was thrown for us as much as for them. I remember approaching the lawn wide-eyed as I scanned the beautiful grounds of fairy tale lights and tables covered with exquisite decorations. With a child-like excitement I searched the tables for our place cards which were scripted with the beautiful flow of gold ink. I was honored to be a guest at that celebration and excited to be at that specific table to share the experience with my close friends who the host had thoughtfully seated together.
As wonderful as that experience was I cannot even begin to imagine the celebration and feast when sitting at the Lords table in Heaven. In the phrase my Grandmother would sometimes use, ‘I am on my tip-toes’ in anticipation of the thought of going to His banquet. After I enter into His wondrous presence and move into the gates of heaven, I will rush past the saints with child-like excitement to look for my place card designed just for me. Will I secretly swap my card for another so I can sit by Daddy? Will I be sitting close to Beth? Will I sit across from my sweet grandparents? The Host will stand there smiling in delight at my giddy demeanor and will gracefully come to me, and place those precious hands on my head with His warm touch to anoint me. My commentary states that being anointed with oil was customary treatment of an honored guest at a banquet. We each will be that honored guest and my heart overflows with joy of this knowledge. The goodness and love of God will be forever around me, before me and beside me.
He dwells within me on earth but one beautiful day I will dwell with Him in Heaven…so will you. There is a place card with your name in the heavenlies with the beautiful scripted flow of gold ink and His warm hands await....
Years ago, Bruce and I were invited to the most incredible celebration of marriage for which I have ever attended. It was positioned on the property of a historical mansion in Wilmington. It was truly right out of a novel and the guests were made to feel as special as the bride. We truly felt as if it was thrown for us as much as for them. I remember approaching the lawn wide-eyed as I scanned the beautiful grounds of fairy tale lights and tables covered with exquisite decorations. With a child-like excitement I searched the tables for our place cards which were scripted with the beautiful flow of gold ink. I was honored to be a guest at that celebration and excited to be at that specific table to share the experience with my close friends who the host had thoughtfully seated together.
As wonderful as that experience was I cannot even begin to imagine the celebration and feast when sitting at the Lords table in Heaven. In the phrase my Grandmother would sometimes use, ‘I am on my tip-toes’ in anticipation of the thought of going to His banquet. After I enter into His wondrous presence and move into the gates of heaven, I will rush past the saints with child-like excitement to look for my place card designed just for me. Will I secretly swap my card for another so I can sit by Daddy? Will I be sitting close to Beth? Will I sit across from my sweet grandparents? The Host will stand there smiling in delight at my giddy demeanor and will gracefully come to me, and place those precious hands on my head with His warm touch to anoint me. My commentary states that being anointed with oil was customary treatment of an honored guest at a banquet. We each will be that honored guest and my heart overflows with joy of this knowledge. The goodness and love of God will be forever around me, before me and beside me.
He dwells within me on earth but one beautiful day I will dwell with Him in Heaven…so will you. There is a place card with your name in the heavenlies with the beautiful scripted flow of gold ink and His warm hands await....
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Considering Him...
“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant…for the Mighty One has done great things for me- holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.” Luke 1:46-50.
This passage speaks of God being mindful of us but what about our responsibility of considering Him. I love the definition of mindful which is ‘being actively attentive, or deliberately keeping something in mind.’ I have suffered much grief in the past five years but no grief equals the degree that I have felt regarding the ways I have grieved God. There was an abundance of blessings and mercies that I never experienced because I had plugged in to the world instead of God. I experienced life seeking the approval of the world over the approval of the Creator of the world. I do not say this as self-condemning talk but rather as a consideration of the manner in which He has rescued me. ‘Consider what great things he has done for you.’ 1 Sa. 12:24.
To consider is to reflect on something, examine and to look very carefully at the subject. In order to consider God, I must consider the state of my heart from which He delivered me. Don’t get me wrong…I detest remembering the ways I have failed. But we cannot truly consider what great things He has done for us without remembering our failures. It is through this reflection that we are able to remain humble and reverent. It is through our careful thought process that we reconsider previous actions and decisions. Through all of this we become vessels of teaching and open books of testimonies. Through our reflection of who we were and from the depths that God has brought us we are able to encourage, relate and show future generations His mighty ways. We cannot focus on where we were but rather how far we have come in Him. ‘There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.’ Romans 8:1. The work that God does in each of our lives is not to condemn but to transform and liberate.
Remember, God does not ask us for perfection but rather for devotion.
This passage speaks of God being mindful of us but what about our responsibility of considering Him. I love the definition of mindful which is ‘being actively attentive, or deliberately keeping something in mind.’ I have suffered much grief in the past five years but no grief equals the degree that I have felt regarding the ways I have grieved God. There was an abundance of blessings and mercies that I never experienced because I had plugged in to the world instead of God. I experienced life seeking the approval of the world over the approval of the Creator of the world. I do not say this as self-condemning talk but rather as a consideration of the manner in which He has rescued me. ‘Consider what great things he has done for you.’ 1 Sa. 12:24.
To consider is to reflect on something, examine and to look very carefully at the subject. In order to consider God, I must consider the state of my heart from which He delivered me. Don’t get me wrong…I detest remembering the ways I have failed. But we cannot truly consider what great things He has done for us without remembering our failures. It is through this reflection that we are able to remain humble and reverent. It is through our careful thought process that we reconsider previous actions and decisions. Through all of this we become vessels of teaching and open books of testimonies. Through our reflection of who we were and from the depths that God has brought us we are able to encourage, relate and show future generations His mighty ways. We cannot focus on where we were but rather how far we have come in Him. ‘There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.’ Romans 8:1. The work that God does in each of our lives is not to condemn but to transform and liberate.
Remember, God does not ask us for perfection but rather for devotion.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Forming Calluses
“You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.” Matthew 13:14-15.
As I was considering the word callous this morning I couldn’t help but to notice how closely spelled it is to the word callus. A callus is a thickened layer of skin caused by repeated pressure or friction. I am sure it hurts at first, but we become tolerant to the discomfort. Eventually, we do not even notice it is there…it is void of feeling and sensitivity. Our hearts can develop calluses forming calloused hearts.
I have written many times about the darkness for which I traveled when my daughter was in her drug addiction. My heart was repeatedly under fire, creating immense friction in the deepest part of my soul. Somewhere along the way, my heart became callous. It became tough to the tenderness of God and what He was trying to chisel upon my heart. He wanted my sight and hearing to become perceiving and understanding. He never intended on me to build a heart of tough places.
My callous heart led me into areas of sin as a response to my daughter’s choices. I didn’t plan it of course but Satan did. When the temperature of my life rose in feverish degrees, the pain rose with it. The constant rubbing of heartache formed a callus upon my heart and things I used to know and understand became detached for me. My callous heart had developed its own eyes and ears and Satan was ecstatic for the desensitization!
Any emotion that is not given up to God will be exaggerated and exploited by Satan. He will massage, rework and remold our belief system when we are in our darkest valleys. We cannot allow him access to our heart to toughen and repeatedly rub lies into our thinking. We will start believing the lies and be desensitized to the Holy Spirit. In order to hear with our hearts we must turn away from temptations and face the One who will heal our hearts and file away our heart calluses.
I praise God for His forgiveness of a callous heart and for His love that restores and renews the toughest of hearts.
As I was considering the word callous this morning I couldn’t help but to notice how closely spelled it is to the word callus. A callus is a thickened layer of skin caused by repeated pressure or friction. I am sure it hurts at first, but we become tolerant to the discomfort. Eventually, we do not even notice it is there…it is void of feeling and sensitivity. Our hearts can develop calluses forming calloused hearts.
I have written many times about the darkness for which I traveled when my daughter was in her drug addiction. My heart was repeatedly under fire, creating immense friction in the deepest part of my soul. Somewhere along the way, my heart became callous. It became tough to the tenderness of God and what He was trying to chisel upon my heart. He wanted my sight and hearing to become perceiving and understanding. He never intended on me to build a heart of tough places.
My callous heart led me into areas of sin as a response to my daughter’s choices. I didn’t plan it of course but Satan did. When the temperature of my life rose in feverish degrees, the pain rose with it. The constant rubbing of heartache formed a callus upon my heart and things I used to know and understand became detached for me. My callous heart had developed its own eyes and ears and Satan was ecstatic for the desensitization!
Any emotion that is not given up to God will be exaggerated and exploited by Satan. He will massage, rework and remold our belief system when we are in our darkest valleys. We cannot allow him access to our heart to toughen and repeatedly rub lies into our thinking. We will start believing the lies and be desensitized to the Holy Spirit. In order to hear with our hearts we must turn away from temptations and face the One who will heal our hearts and file away our heart calluses.
I praise God for His forgiveness of a callous heart and for His love that restores and renews the toughest of hearts.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Mending Our Nets
“Going on from there, he saw two others…preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left.” Matthew 4:21
I always love learning the translation of words in the Bible. There is so much more than our basic understanding of words in Scripture, such as the above verse. The act of preparing their nets seems to us to be one of their daily tasks at work interrupted by an invitation from Jesus. They accepted the invitation, left their duties and went with Him.
My Bible commentary states that preparing their nets involved the mending of the nets. The Greek translation for mending in this sense not only means to repair, but also to arrange, to adjust, to complete, to furnish, to equip and to perfect. In Ephesians 4:11-12, we read, "He [Jesus] gave some apostles; and some prophets; and some evangelists; and some pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." The Greek word translates "perfecting" in Ephesians as the same as "preparing or mending" in Matthew 4:12.
When we are called to service by God we cannot accomplish His purpose in our own strength. We cannot try to prepare or ‘mend’ in our own efforts but must allow the perfecting hand of God to prepare, equip and furnish us with what is required through His abilities. By allowing the transforming [perfecting] work of the Holy Spirit, we will be equipped with the abilities required as we minister to others.
Galatians 6:1 states, ‘Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.’ It is no coincidence that the translation for the word restore in this verse is ‘to mend’. We are to pass on what God has prepared in us. We pass through what God perfects in our own lives, not judging those He places in our lives to gently guide according to His truths.
We cannot mend in our own strength and as we reach out to mend in the lives of others our attitude should be one of humility and obedience to God, lest we be lured into the sin of judging others. Whether we are being mended or we are mending in the lives of others, it all starts and ends with Jesus Christ, the original Fisher of men.
I always love learning the translation of words in the Bible. There is so much more than our basic understanding of words in Scripture, such as the above verse. The act of preparing their nets seems to us to be one of their daily tasks at work interrupted by an invitation from Jesus. They accepted the invitation, left their duties and went with Him.
My Bible commentary states that preparing their nets involved the mending of the nets. The Greek translation for mending in this sense not only means to repair, but also to arrange, to adjust, to complete, to furnish, to equip and to perfect. In Ephesians 4:11-12, we read, "He [Jesus] gave some apostles; and some prophets; and some evangelists; and some pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." The Greek word translates "perfecting" in Ephesians as the same as "preparing or mending" in Matthew 4:12.
When we are called to service by God we cannot accomplish His purpose in our own strength. We cannot try to prepare or ‘mend’ in our own efforts but must allow the perfecting hand of God to prepare, equip and furnish us with what is required through His abilities. By allowing the transforming [perfecting] work of the Holy Spirit, we will be equipped with the abilities required as we minister to others.
Galatians 6:1 states, ‘Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.’ It is no coincidence that the translation for the word restore in this verse is ‘to mend’. We are to pass on what God has prepared in us. We pass through what God perfects in our own lives, not judging those He places in our lives to gently guide according to His truths.
We cannot mend in our own strength and as we reach out to mend in the lives of others our attitude should be one of humility and obedience to God, lest we be lured into the sin of judging others. Whether we are being mended or we are mending in the lives of others, it all starts and ends with Jesus Christ, the original Fisher of men.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Digging Wells
"Blessed is the man whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the ways of them, who passing through the valley of Baca, make it a well; the rain also fills the pools. They go from strength to strength—every one of them in Zion appears before God." Psalm 84:5-7
Last month Bruce and I went to Texas to enjoy his brother and sister-in-law. As we arrived, we noticed just how dead everything was due to a major drought. While we were there it seemed that rain was on everyone’s mind we encountered. One day brought some temporary hope as the morning was met with covered skies of gray clouds. Hope rose all through the day until finally the cloud got its relief with an explosion of rain…for ten minutes. The downpour was violent and came as forcefully as it left. This explosion of rain was void of any lasting benefit.
This reminded me of our faith and how many times we pray for rain in our drought. Our minds are shot and our hearts are parched. We storm heaven for prayers of saturation. We plead, beg and negotiate with God to send a little rain…even if it is a few drops. But our prayers are lifted with dry and cracked hearts from a history of neglect to our faith. However, God will be faithful but His healing rain may take a while to penetrate, moisten and saturate before we see the benefit.
In life, we will experience droughts but the devastation of our droughts will be determined by how saturated our land is when the drought hits. Have we allowed the constant drizzle of God’s word to fall upon our land leading up to the drought? Do we spend time before the Lord allowing His word to fall upon our hearts in a steady and constant shower? Our land must be tended to in the days, weeks, months and years leading up to those arid times.
We must dig our wells daily to allow a place for God’s rain to accumulate so we will have a reserve when we experience our droughts.
Last month Bruce and I went to Texas to enjoy his brother and sister-in-law. As we arrived, we noticed just how dead everything was due to a major drought. While we were there it seemed that rain was on everyone’s mind we encountered. One day brought some temporary hope as the morning was met with covered skies of gray clouds. Hope rose all through the day until finally the cloud got its relief with an explosion of rain…for ten minutes. The downpour was violent and came as forcefully as it left. This explosion of rain was void of any lasting benefit.
This reminded me of our faith and how many times we pray for rain in our drought. Our minds are shot and our hearts are parched. We storm heaven for prayers of saturation. We plead, beg and negotiate with God to send a little rain…even if it is a few drops. But our prayers are lifted with dry and cracked hearts from a history of neglect to our faith. However, God will be faithful but His healing rain may take a while to penetrate, moisten and saturate before we see the benefit.
In life, we will experience droughts but the devastation of our droughts will be determined by how saturated our land is when the drought hits. Have we allowed the constant drizzle of God’s word to fall upon our land leading up to the drought? Do we spend time before the Lord allowing His word to fall upon our hearts in a steady and constant shower? Our land must be tended to in the days, weeks, months and years leading up to those arid times.
We must dig our wells daily to allow a place for God’s rain to accumulate so we will have a reserve when we experience our droughts.
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