Setting Our Table

“They willfully put God to the test by demanding the food they craved.  They spoke against God saying, ‘Can God spread a table in the desert…But can he give us food?  Can he supply meat for his people?’  When the LORD heard them, he was very angry…for they did not believe in God or trust in his deliverance.” Psalm 78:18-22.

I must be honest this morning.  I opened up my Bible Study and realized it was requiring me to read Psalm 78:1-72.  I was hesitant to read this much passage and really had to push myself to agree.  I was blessed with such an experience.  It basically recounts the entire journey of the Israelites from Egypt to Canaan.  Over and over again God promised and provided…the Israelites received and forgot.  In this one Psalm God was angered over and over again because the Israelites were obsessed with the same desire.  It was all they could think about, talk about and worry about.  Even though they had a history of the provisions of God they couldn’t seem to let His wonders anchor their doubts.  But even in their weak flesh of not trusting God for His plan, He still blessed and gave to His children.  He spread a table of food before them.  ‘Yet he gave a command to the skies above and opened the doors of the heavens; he rained down manna for the people to eat, he gave them the grain of heaven.  Men ate the bread of angels; he sent them all of the food they could eat.’ Psalm 78:23-25.

What is it in our lives that we spread a table before God?  What desire do we continuously place before Him as if He doesn’t already know what is in our hearts?  Like the Israelites, we test God when we don’t believe Him for our future or trust Him for the path in getting there.  We complain…we argue… we calculate our own path…set our own table…feed our stomachs with our own plans.

We must believe God for everything in life.  We need to only look behind us to remember how faithful He has been over and over again.  This same faithfulness will anchor our future since God does not change.  ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.’ Hebrews 13:8.

May we all allow God to set His table before us instead of us setting our table before Him.

Spiritual Boxing

“And Jesus said to him, 'If You can?  All things are possible to him who believes.’ Immediately the boy's father cried out and said, ‘I do believe; help my unbelief.’” Mark 9:24

Many of us might judge this father and not understand his statement.  It seems like two opposing thoughts worked their way into words.  At first glance it seems silly for one statement to follow the next but on any given day we find ourselves with competing beliefs…opposite fighters in the spiritual boxing ring.

‘I truly believe that the sun is going to rise, but do I believe that my trying circumstances are really for my good?  I am confident that the moon will reflect but do I really believe that God is handling my children’s problems?  I know beyond knowing that the flowers will bloom again in the spring but do I have faith that all of my needs will be taken care of through the winter?  I emphatically believe God for my eternity, but do I trust Him for my life here?’  Oh Lord, we believe but help our unbelief!

What are you facing this morning that is your I do believe but help my unbelief situation?  What opposing thoughts seem to negate your faith for provisions, peace and promise?  It is only through affirming the abilities and wonders of God that we position ourselves in battling these negative thoughts.  When they creep into our mental boxing ring, we must take hold of them and disable their destruction.

‘We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ’ 2 Co 10:5.

 

Man Made Curses

“However, the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam but turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loves you” Deuteronomy 23:5.

If you have never read the story of Balaam and Balak in Numbers 22-24, you have missed out on a wild ride. Balak was the son of the Moab king who had just witnessed the Israelites defeating the Amorites. He sent for Balaam who was a prophet with the power to speak blessings over people which would come true. He also could curse those who God cursed which would come to pass. Balak’s plan was for Balaam to curse the Israelites before they attacked Moab. Balaam’s proclamations on three separate occasions were the same…God’s children would be blessed and the curses would come upon those who intended evil. Balak learned something critical that day in which we as Christians must be confident. ....God will bring blessings upon His children in spite of man's evil intentions.

We have all been there when something in our lives are suddenly threatened. It may be our physical safety, our reputation or our financial position. We try to live a good and Christian life but tough circumstances arise and we feel as if a curse is hanging over us. We must be reminded that God will bless us if we remain faithful and He will handle the curses that life brings against us. We must affirm that we have a wonderful Lord and Savior who delights in blessing His children and relentlessly curses those who have evil intent. ‘“May those who bless you be blessed, and those who curse you be cursed” Numbers 2:9. There are mean situations out there along with mean people who intend to harm us and create situations that discourage us and bring about despair. We must keep our focus on God's abilities and promises when times bring about threat and fear.

‘O LORD, grant us success. Blessed is the man who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you. The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine upon us Psalm 118:26-27. So whatever or whomever you face this morning, face it in the name of the LORD and you will be blessed from God.

 

Hosting a Dinner

“Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor.  Martha served while Lazarus was …reclining at the table with him…Mary took …expensive perfume…poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair” John 12:2-3.

There have been many books, studies and sermons on this sweet little family from Bethany.  They were dear friends of Jesus and constantly opened their home for him.  It seems that the most ink has been given in determining the opposing characteristics of being a Martha or a Mary.  Which one is best?  Which one is right?  Which one is practical?  This reminds me of the ongoing discussion years ago of which woman made the correct decision – the woman who works outside of the home or the one who stays home with the children.  Both scenarios have generated many heated debates I am sure.  I tend to believe the answer in this story involves all three personalities. 

This dinner was centered around Jesus much like our lives should be centered around His presence.  Martha knew that to honor Jesus was through service to Him.  Lazarus knew the importance of reclining with Jesus…having that one on one time talking and listening to Him.  Mary knew the value in honoring Jesus by using her most valuable resources on His body.  What if we individually lived a life patterned after this family?  What if our actions all centered around serving God, fellowshipping with God and honoring God?  Jesus lived this type of life…He served God with His life…He fellowshipped with God through His prayers…He honored God through His sacrifice.

I know that I can use a few lessons from this family in hosting time with Jesus.  I am confident that through our service to Him and fellowship with Him, we will honor both God and the Body of Christ.  The right way will not be in any one of these areas, but in the beautiful symphony when all of these areas come together.

Making Mud

“Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes.  ‘Go,’ he told him” John 9:6.

We continue considering the story of the blind man who gained his vision at the hands of Jesus.  As the man stood before Him in total darkness, he must have wondered what was going on.  He could only hear the conversation between the disciples and Jesus.  What were they talking about?  Some were insinuating that his blindness was a result of his sins or the sins of his parents.  But the other man was telling them that his blindness was an opportunity for God to display His miracles.  What?  This beggar, shunned and ignored for a long time, was God’s chosen instrument?   How strange that these people were standing around talking about his life and future.  He must have been hanging on every word.  Then suddenly and without notice a cold muddy pact was placed over his eyes with instructions from Jesus.  It must have jolted him when he experienced that messy sensation. What was the man’s response?  He fully believed Jesus for his healing and obeyed His instructions to go… he went…sight was restored…a life was changed…and God was glorified.  Jesus had to make a messy mud covering to usher in healing.

What in your life seems messy right now?  What blind spots are in your future that seem dark and fearful?  You hear the conversations of others talking about you, but you cannot see Jesus.  You wonder if He is engaged and working in this season.  You move closer to the Word to get answers and suddenly the situation seems to get a little muddier and scarier.  But then you remember that Christ came to give sight to the blind and hope to the despaired.  You hear your Savior calling your name and working to clean up the mess of your situation.  For a while you must stay in your mess and display the manner in which God is working in your life.  Then one beautiful day you will get your instruction from the Father who was there all along, working in your life to show others how faithful you have been. 

Friend, if you find yourself in a difficult time it could be so God can display His works in your life.  Be encouraged that when we trust God in the muddy messes and go with Him we will find our future.  We cannot forget however that the blind man still had to walk in darkness for a while to gain his sight.

 

The How and When of our Dreams

“As he went along, he saw a blind man…‘The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes.  He told me to go to Siloam and wash.  So I went and washed, and then I could see’” John 9:11.

We are told in John 9 that this man was blind and was approached by Jesus and his disciples.  The blind beggar (v. 8) had most likely become complacent in his position, as his neighbors referred to him as the man who used to ‘sit and beg.’ But Jesus had a better plan for his life, and determined how, where and when the man would finally see.  I can’t imagine the joy of this man when he saw the beautiful mountains and his reflection of his face in the water for the first time.  Hadn’t this day just started off like a million other days?  How many times had he envisioned the day when he would get his greatest desire?  Would it be next week, next year or ten years?  Had he finally given up his search for that dream, and accepted the timeline of the Savior? Or sadly, maybe he had even resolved himself to the reality that he would never get his heart’s desire.

So these are the questions on the table this morning.  Have we resolved ourselves to the fact that we will never experience our greatest desire?  Have we implemented plans with such narrow ideas on when or how to receive our desire that we might miss out on it?  What if our discomfort is a result of a self-made plan that we are unwilling to surrender?  What if the very timeline of our desires are lengthened due to our unwillingness to embrace God’s timeline even if it is different? What is God asking us to go down to the water and wash off?  What is He asking us to relinquish to Him?

Creation was built upon the directed order of things by God.  His timing was perfect on day 1 when He created heaven, earth, light and darkness.  Day 2 beautifully ushered the waters into being, followed by the land on day 3.  Each day brought forth another creation all working towards its perfect completion by a perfect Creator.  We all have deep desires for our future which keeps us anticipated with hope, purpose and excitement.  We must hold on to these positive encouragements in life, but must hold them loosely.  For whatever is held too tightly usually will be taken away. 

‘In one of God’s greatest ironies, though pain causes sorrow, that sorrow can cause growth if met with open and complete surrender.’ Spirit Hunger, p.192.

Marred to Molded

“So I went down to the potter’s house and I saw him working at the wheel.  But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands.  So the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him” Jeremiah 18:2-4.

I have only watched on television the process of shaping and molding clay into something of value.  I would love to see it in person since I love seeing emerging art.  That is exactly what Jeremiah was told to do by the Lord.  He was to enter into the workplace of the potter and witness the process.  It was the opinion of Jeremiah that the pot in the potter’s hands was marred.  The definition of marred is damaged to a certain extent, rendered less perfect, attractive, or useful.  The potter’s work did not change because man esteemed his work marred.  The potter continued to mold and shape because he knew the value of the pot wasn’t in its hard surface, but rather in the purpose it would bring.  The primary importance of the pot was its inner capabilities, whereas its outward beauty was secondary.

Who is feeling marred this morning…unattractive…spiritually distracted…undervalued?  We should notice that the marred pot was in the hands of the potter instead of being thrown aside.  The potter knew that there was still purpose in its future capabilities.  The potter must have known that the previous purposes for the shape had been completed.  He obviously envisioned a new repurposing for the pot’s life, and personally worked with his hands to prepare the pot for its new purpose.  God is that potter and we are that pot. 

Only God knows the worth of what is inside our hearts and the spiritual capabilities we possess.  He works to mold us towards God’s plan for our lives.  Within each pot purpose and value exists and the potter calls the purpose into being.  It is up to us to be submissive and trusting that His gentle hands will reshape and repurpose our lives.  Once one season closes out God is already working on a new vision, one of divine purpose and contribution.  Jeremiah assumed that the potter was reshaping the pot because it was marred.  In reality the pot was being reshaped because purpose had been completed, and a new vision was emerging.

“He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’” Rev. 21:5.

My Pleasure

“It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.  How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders” Daniel 4:2-3.

We have all probably known someone who is defined by their pride and greed.  However, I doubt anyone will ever live up to the level of King Nebuchadnezzar.  He blatantly and successfully led the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem.  He stole many items from the treasury that were used in ceremonial offerings to God.  He kidnapped and murdered the people of Jerusalem.  He erected golden images, demanding all to bow down and worship with their lives on the line.  He continuously ignored disturbing visions that God sent him in dreams predicting his downfall.  God’s prophesy was fulfilled twelve months after God had forewarned Nebuchadnezzar of the most disturbing consequences of all.  Nebuchadnezzar was banished to the wilderness and took on the life and mind of wild animals.  There he ate and lived with the animals until his pride and greed was broken.  ‘At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes towards heaven, and my sanity was restored’ Daniel 4:34.  Chapter 4 of Daniel is one of the most powerful testimonies ever shared.  It is an account of how the proudest can be humbled and the spiritually stubborn can surrender.  God did a powerful thing in his life through the loss of everything cherished.  But when Nebuchadnezzar began focusing on the King in heaven it became his pleasure and delight to tell the story of what God did for him. 

In considering this today I wonder what our story sounds like to others after losing things we cherish.  Is it our pleasure to talk about how God healed our hearts and the wonders that He performed on our behalf?  Or is it our pleasure to point out the things we have lost and the things we still lack?  How many times will God need to remind us of the blessings and graces in which we move and exist?  Our testimonies should be spoken with pleasure and delight.  If we do not share the ways that God has worked in our life then was it all for nothing?  What if the blessings come from our testimonies, but we remain silent?  There are many ways I hope to never resemble this broken man from the past, but there is one.  I want it to be my pleasure to speak of how God healed my broken heart as my family lost its beloved members.  I want it to be my pleasure to speak about my hidden sins that He brought into the open.  I want it to be my pleasure to be transparent enough to share my story of our family’s journey through drug addiction.  I want to delight in my Savior instead of despair in my circumstances. 

May it be our pleasure today and every day to share the ways that God has worked and performed on our behalf in love and faithfulness.

 

Faith Well Played

“O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand” Daniel 2:16-17.

My husband Bruce opened his own business many years ago at the urging of God.  It wasn’t something he really wanted to do but obediently followed God’s direction.  He has always believed the company he is running is God’s company. 

A while back his biggest client, who had been responsible for 90% of the business, was reorganizing and had changed their executive leadership.  Bruce went to them in an effort to determine how his company would continue under this new leadership.  The executive made comments that led him to believe they were breaking up Bruce’s responsibilities and handing them off to different people in the company.  They requested that Bruce make a list of his scope of responsibilities, and they would determine if the value to continue business was there.  So they sat set up a meeting time and Bruce began writing down his areas of responsibility.  As he began considering things he wanted to highlight, he decided to keep the list short.  In his spirit he determined that God was in control and if He wanted Bruce to remain with this company He would fight this battle for him, and there would be no greater way to defend his worth than allowing God’s control of this situation. 

This story of his faith gets even sweeter.  After submitting his list a follow-up meeting was set and with an hour to prepare leading up to this meeting he sat before his computer and opened up several documents.  The documents he opened were various devotionals that had previously spoken to him about God being in control.  As they prepared to take things away from Bruce, he was preparing by giving things away to God….giving Him praise that He had already decided our future…giving thanks to God for the past years of employment with this company…giving control over to a God who has nothing but good for His children.  Instead of going into the meeting defending himself and his worth he allowed God to guide his words.  Bruce said that the peace he felt going into the meeting was beyond anything he could have foreseen.  He confidently knew that if this would be his final time with the company, then God had something better for him.  He stood before his own Nebuchadnezzar that day allowing God to do what God does best…defend His children …provide for His children…and bless His children. The meeting was one of the best exchanges he had ever experienced with this person whom he had known for many years.  The business relationship continued and faith was well played!

I get choked up when I envision Bruce in his office facing his fire, and armoring himself with the sweet words of God.  Whatever your blazing fire is this morning may you live in the confidence of the Lord.  May you confidently believe that God will defend you in every matter and carry you in every challenge.

Temporay Tension

“For three days he was blind...‘Go…ask for a man named Saul, for he is praying.’  Then Ananias went to the house… ‘Jesus has sent me so you may see again’” Acts 9:9-17.

It was business as usual for Saul, the persecutor of the Way.  He was almost giddy to be going to work that day in Damascus since he had permission to arrest all Christians.  Never in a million years could he have foreseen the upcoming events of that day.  God would knock him down, blind him and change the course of his future.  In one quick moment his position went from pride to humility, confident to insecure, and insurgent to servant.  His fellow travelers led him to a home in Damascus where without food, water or sight he remained for three dark days.  Four little words that no doubt changed his heart forever…‘for he is praying.’  Were his prayers pleas of healing for his eyes or cries of repentance for not recognizing the Savior?  Could the homeowner hear him weeping as he prayed and begged for restored sight?  Did he go three days with no sleep because of the anxieties in his heart?  We can be sure that his prayers were laced with desperation, but heaven was silent for three dark days.  Finally, the silence was broken with a knock at the door.  Once being proud and pompous, but now he was humbled with his face turned towards the hands of a stranger with a message from Jesus.

No doubt we have all experienced a life-changing situation in our lives.  We arise for the day and get that phone call from the doctor that changes our life.  We have that discussion with our employer that threatens our future.  We realize that our partner has chosen a life without us…any one of these would knock us to our feet.  We lose our appetite, our sleep is interrupted, and fear blinds us with perceived realities.  And so we pray…we listen…the silence from heaven is deafening.  We look for answers and we listen for messages from God.  We wonder how long we will be blind to the future.  We search for answers to our questions but God determines how long we will be left in the dark.  This dark…the tension between the known and the unknown…is called our walk of faith.  It is where what we say we believe meets up with what we really believe. 

Whatever you are facing today take heart because God will only be silent as long as it takes to test your faith and orchestrate your circumstances.  He already has worked it out in our lives no matter what we face.  The only thing yet to be worked out is how we will live between the known and the unknown.  Stay on your knees with your eyes to heaven and your faith steadied.  The path may be rocky but He will keep you from stumbling.  ‘For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life’ Psalm 56:13.

Enough!

“And he directed the people to sit down on the grass…he gave thanks...gave to the people.  They all ate and were satisfied” Matthew 14:19-20.

I have read the feeding of the 5000 many times but until this morning missed an important point.  Jesus would not feed them until they calmed themselves and sat down.  No doubt these thousands of people were huddled in hundreds and hundreds of little groups, some being there for healing while others were there for teaching.  The instruction from Jesus was the same regardless of their motivation for being there…sit down on the grass…give thanks…get prepared to be fed.  With so many people I wonder how Jesus got the attention of everyone.  Did He have to raise His voice?  Did He climb up on a structure where He could be more visible?  We know that He used the disciples to gather the groups but what a commanding presence He must have possessed for all to obey.

When considering our necessity of spending time with Christ we are no different than those busy bodied followers from early on.  We cram our calendars with things of ‘insignificant significance’…those things that really aren’t important in the spiritual realm but get our attention above everything else.  When we envision a grassy meadow I doubt chaos and confusion comes to mind.  So why in the world would we have to be instructed to sit down, calm down, and bow down before our God?  Another verse that infers that we have to be made to have down time with God is one we recite all of the time.  Until this morning I never realized the same wording.  ‘The LORD is my shepherd I shall not be in want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures…he restores my soul.’ Psalm 23:1-3.

Being still before God apparently is one of the most difficult things to do.  In Scripture, on two occasions it was more of an instruction than a suggestion.  I always thought that ‘Be still, and know that I am God’ was about peace, prayer and affirmation.  But the Hebrew translation for ‘being still and knowing’ is Enough!… Acknowledge! God knows that the most powerful way we can be spiritually fed is by creating situations that make us drop to our knees.  If we fail to put God at the top of our priorities we might be setting ourselves up for being made to sit down.  Our Father delights in our fellowship, and pursues us through His passion for us.  It must grieve Him when we must be made to sit before Him and give thanks.

May He be enough for us today, tomorrow and every day after that until we see Him face to face.  May our love and passion for His presence be the motivation for dropping into the cool grass and being fed.

Snares and Traps

“Though I constantly take my life in my hands, I will not forget your law.  The wicked have set a snare for me, but I have not strayed from your precepts.  Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.  My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end” Psalm 119:109-112.

I was blessed this morning to better understand what the first sentence of our passage means.  Taking our life in our hands means publicly honoring God’s law even in the face of threats and hostility (NIV Study Bible, p. 928).  How does this look in our everyday life?  It means that when someone sets a trap of their own perception of you, you do not step into that trap of thinking.  You choose to publicly believe in who God says you are…valued…chosen …important…purposeful.  It is so tempting to stray over to man’s popular belief and take on the insecurity of who he says we are.  We must respond in the Spirit, God’s precepts, instead of responding out of our flesh.  A precept is a direction dictating a way we should act or behave.  We must remember who God says we are when man infers we are something else, behaving with belief and confidence.

Biblical statutes reveal God's thinking and reflect His priorities.  It is no wonder that our psalmist reminds us that only through publicly honoring God’s direction, and pursuing His thinking and priorities will we find joy in our hearts.  This joy comes only when our hearts are set on keeping God’s commands for our lives.  This joy paves the way for peace, confidence and security that surpasses anything on this earth. ‘Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble…I obey your statutes, for I love them greatly.  I obey your precepts and your statutes, for all my ways are known to you’ Psalm 119:165-168.

We all know what makes us stumble and fall into the traps of man.  For some it is acceptance and approval while others stumble by believing their worth is limited.  God knows everything that is in our hearts…our desires…our strengths…our weaknesses…our worth.  By seeking the mind and priorities of God we can be sure that we are living the heritage God intended.  ‘Our heritage is the possession we have received from God and from which we draw all provisions for our lives’ NIV Study Bible, 928.

Our help (provisions) comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.  He will not let our feet stumble or slip – He watches (protects) over us day and night – He will keep us from harm and keep watch over every part of our life.  Finally, He faithfully watches our coming and going now and forever. (Taken from Psalm 121)

Use It or Lose It

“‘Consider carefully what you hear,’ he continued.  ‘With the measure you use, it will be measured to you – and even more.  Whoever has will be given more, whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him’ Mark 4:24.

When I was a little girl I took piano for four years or so.  I remember the amazement whenever my fingers actually formed a song.  It was hard work and my hands had to grow into the more challenging arrangements.  After much practice and patience I was able to play some fairly nice pieces of music.  But I became lazy in my practice and bored in my pursuit of continuing in that discipline.  As a result at best I can only play two or three songs.  Although I knew how to play the piano, the measure of time I invested in practice was all but nonexistent, thereby losing what I had learned. 

Jesus was a man who knew the critical importance of practicing everything His Father had shown Him.  He walked this earth with Micah 6:8 tucked passionately in His heart. ‘He has showed you, O man, what is good.  And what does the LORD require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.’  I wanted to know what these requirements looked like today so we will have no doubt what these measurements are.  I know this is a lot of reading but you will be blessed to understand what it is that we are being held accountable to attain. 

“To walk justly would mean to act with God’s standards for right and wrong in view. It would mean that you wouldn’t take action if what you were about to do would be contrary to God’s direction.  Loving mercy means loving the opportunity to extend that same mercy to others. It means choosing mercy when people annoy you, frustrate you, hurt you, mistreat you and disregard you.  To walk humbly with our God is the best part. When you hit a stride where you think you have it all figured out, where you think you are doing really well with the previous two things, God wants you to remember who is in charge.” WordPress.com

 My commentary goes on and identifies the audience to whom this passage was directed.  ‘Those who have begun to understand and appropriate the truth of what Jesus is teaching will be granted fuller understanding in the future, but those who have failed to appropriate it will experience no benefit from it.’ NIV Study Bible, p. 1528.

We must avoid losing what we have learned due to spiritual laziness or pride.  We must put into practice everything that God shares with us or we will not grow in wisdom and intimacy with God.  Our passage even threatens that we will lose the wisdom and understanding given to us when we fail to apply it to our lives.  God’s word is not just reading material…it is meant to educate and activate!

Our Sore Spot

“‘Go, wash yourself seven times…and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.’ But Naaman went away angry and said, ‘I thought that he would surely…wave his hand over the spot and cure me…’” 2 Kings 5:10-12.

I love this story and how we can draw application in our own lives today.  Poor Naaman had leprosy and was seeking the healing of Elisha, a prophet of God.  He had high hopes as he had probably tried everything.  He approached Elisha with an expectation of easy and immediate healing, but Elisha required something different from him.  Elisha was God’s instrument for communicating the process for curing him.  The instructions were to go in and out of the river until the seventh time, at which point he would emerge clean. 

In the Bible the number 7 is symbolic of completion and perfection so I started thinking this morning of the implication of our story.  Every one of us has something in our flesh that requires healing from God.  For me I continuously plunge into the river of performance based approval requiring another dose of medicine from God.  He reminds me that I am His daughter and His love will never alter or change based on what I accomplish or fail to accomplish.  He urges me to believe that the two are completely disconnected since Christ did it all on the cross.  I confidently walk out of the Living Waters onto the shore with resolve and encouragement for a while.  Then I find myself back at the banks of the same river requiring additional washing of my soul.  It can certainly be frustrating and exhausting working on the same spiritual spots over and over again.  Why can’t we just be healed from our flaws?  Why can’t God just wave His hand over our spiritual weaknesses and be healed once and for all?  I believe the answer is in the process, not the outcome.  Without these flaws, we would limit our time with God and lack a certain amount of humility and gratitude for His grace.  We would find ourselves acting like a savior instead of searching for our Savior.

I know that I will continue to approach God with versions of the same thing until He takes me home to heaven.  Our focus cannot be how many times we go to the Living Waters with our spiritual spot to be healed.  The important principle is that we do go to the Living Waters and submerge ourselves in His healing powers.  We will always be encouraged and reminded of His ongoing love and provisions when spending time with Him.  God is more impressed with our spirit of dependency than our pursuit of perfection.  If He waved His spiritual wand and cured our spots He knows that we would limit our time in fellowship and prayer. 

Instead, He meets us at the shore, grabs our hand, walks us into the Water as many times as it takes to complete our spiritual journey on earth.  Then one fine day…a day finer than all others…we will be cleansed for the last time, the 7^th time, and cross the banks of heaven perfect and whole.

Spiritual Presumptions

“After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, ‘Surely you are one of them…” Mark 14:70.

While the ministry of Jesus attracted many followers Peter was one of the closest to Jesus, possessing an incredible passion for Him and getting out His message.  Peter was both powerful and public about his love for his teacher and his loyalty for his friend.  But on one dark and scary evening his fear surpassed his passion and his lips denied his Savior.  It is written that Peter had departed the company of Jesus and was standing around a fire warming his hands no doubt.  In three separate conversations he had the opportunity to not only proclaim the name of Jesus as a follower but to share the message of Jesus.  Fear won that night and those standing near who could have learned about a Savior did not.  We never hear about these unnamed people again and whether they made it to heaven. 

So in considering that dark night so long ago I am wondering this morning have things changed.    Every day we are surrounded with people, both known and unknown to us.  We are surrounded by people at work who may know Jesus but maybe they do not.  How would we know?  How would they know that we are followers?  Are we vocal with our love for Christ and public with our passion?  Or like Peter, do we hope to blend in warming up to those around us not setting ourselves apart? 

I remember one time I had the opportunity to share the message with someone and I missed my chance.  I allowed the lump in my throat to choke out my message and fear won that day.  My response was similar to Peter’s, ‘And he broke down and wept’ Mark 14:72.  We cannot make spiritual presumptions that those standing near are saved and have a personal relationship with Christ. God places us in strategic places to share His gospel and spread the spiritual revival needed in our workplace, communities, cities and states.  If we stand by and miss these opportunities to witness and share God’s eternal plan it could mean life and death for another.  What if we were the only person to share the love of God with someone at work?  What if we were their only bridge to faith?  We must push through whatever emotions are at work in our hearts…fear…embarrassment…pride.

‘They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him.’ Titus 1:16  

Belief...Our Finest Victory

“‘Lord, I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.’ But the Lord said, ‘Ananias, Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel’” Acts 9:13-15.

Can you imagine the fear that Ananias must have been experiencing when God called him to face Saul, the rumored persecutor and haters of Christians? Saul had specifically sought out permission to punish Christians and was granted the authority. Ananias tried to convince God that this was a bad idea but God prevailed. God saw the man Saul would become in Christ (Paul) instead of the man Saul had been in the past. In all fairness to Ananias he had reason to be frightened for his life but he chose to be obedient to God in spite of his fears. He boldly obeyed God and courageously faced Saul with one amazing word that showed his belief in God’s promise…brother. Ananias referred to Saul as his brother in Christ before Saul was ever converted. ‘He had chosen to believe what Jesus said about this man rather than what his fear said, and that’s where belief has its finest victory.’ Spirit Hunger, p. 126.

No man or woman is ever evil enough, wrecked beyond repair or too prideful to be used by God. God always sees the potential in everyone and has a purpose for each of our lives. If we have not found our purpose either God is still working out the details or we are too distracted with other priorities. On the flip side if God is calling us to do something that is fearful we must be faithful people and step out on the same vision God has. Like Ananias, we must see our circumstances through what God says they are (Saul would be His chosen instrument) instead of our own logic and reasoning. We will never see God’s vision for our lives through logic, past history or future fear. God is going to carry through with His plans whether we are on board or not. ‘…so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it’ Isaiah 55:11.

What future plans are you facing that instill fear? Are you basing your fear on past circumstances or present logic? The challenges for each of us are to see ourselves and others through God’s eyes, and courageously face His plans for our lives with confidence and certainty.

For She Loved Much

“I came into your house.  You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.  You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.  You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.  Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven – for she loved much.  But he who has been forgiven little loves little” Luke 7:44-47.

Back in the time of Jesus when someone would visit the home of another it sometimes involved walking great distances.  Regardless of the length of the journey, there were customary gestures of hospitality when entering someone’s home.  ‘Upon entering, every guest left his sandals outside the door.  Usually there were slaves ready to wash the dust from the sandaled feet of their guest and to pour sweet olive oil over their heads to soften their parched skin.  A kiss from the host upon the cheek was the ordinary salutation upon arrival.  Anointing was also a mark of honor which was usually bestowed upon the distinguished guest’ BibleStudyTools.com.  Any one of these gestures would have contributed to the honor Jesus deserved, but Simon the Pharisee did not even offer the minimal gesture of a slave washing His feet. 

I started thinking about that this morning…are we also approaching God with minimal gestures of our love?  Are we only doing the bare necessity to appear as a Christian?  Are we waiting on others to serve Jesus for us?  Are we judging the sins of others, totally oblivious to our own blatant shortfalls?  The woman’s example is one we should follow when approaching Christ.  We should approach Him in deep reverence at His feet.  We should drench Him with deep humility and repentance.  We should adore Him with public love and affection.  Lastly, we should serve Him with the aroma of Christ upon our lives. 

Also blessed is the woman who loves others through the same love she has for her God. "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'  Matthew 25:40.  In the same spirit as our previous examination, we must question ourselves when considering our treatment of others.  Are we doing the minimal things in loving others?  Are we opening our hearts and homes when God offers the opportunities or are we expecting someone else to wash the feet of our brothers and sisters?  Are we serving God through serving others?  To sincerely and completely love God we are to extend this same love to the care and concern of others.  Without it, we are no better than Simon the Pharisee who occasionally and without reverence invited Jesus in.

Dragging Us Before Jesus

“[They] brought in a woman caught in the act...they made her stand before the group…Jesus bent down and started to write …with his finger” John 8:3-6.

It is tough being a child of God in this world, and who better than Satan knows how to remind us of our sins and vulnerabilities.  Every little thing that we fail to do…do too much of… do too little of…is his basis for exposure in the work of God.  Much like the Pharisees dragged the sinful woman in front of Jesus, Satan drags up every bit of dirt that he can on us.

He invades our spiritual time with Jesus and turns worship into shame.  He highlights our secret sins and our pathetic weaknesses.  He taunts and tempts…entraps and entices.  He intentionally exposes our shameful things in hopes of reminding us that we are unworthy and unloved.  He convinces us that our performance is a make or break love with our God.  He drags us before Jesus, pointing out our sins but Satan forgets the truth and Christ is happy to remind him.  So Jesus bends down and with His precious engraved hand He writes:  She is my chosen daughter.  He is a member of my Holy family.  He may falter but will never fail.  She is so loved that even if she was the only one on earth I still would have breathed my final breath for her.  Her secret sins do not define her and her weaknesses will not defeat her.  He is mine!  She is my beloved!

‘At this, those who heard began to go away…until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there’ John 8:9.  The only thing worthy of our attention is what Christ writes about our lives.  While Satan writes fiction, Christ writes facts. The fact is we are the sealed children of God through what Christ has done.   Thankfully we are not defined by what we have or have not done, but rather what Christ has done for us.

‘You show that you are a letter from Christ…written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God’ 2 Co. 3:3.