Iron Chariots

“Some boasts in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in the name of the LORD” Psalm 20:7.

In the book of Judges we find the Israelites comfortably settled in certain areas of their Promised Land – easily and previously conquered areas.  The problem was that God didn’t deliver them to only be victorious over the easily conquered lands – they were delivered to live in the abundance of all their God-given land.   But they avoided the areas that would provide a challenge and require faith on their part.  ‘One reason the Israelites disobeyed God’s command was their fear of the ‘iron chariots’ employed by some of their enemies.  Israel was making decisions based on their limited supplies instead of on the boundless resources of God…If God had commanded their enemies’ destruction, He had also taken into account their iron chariots and had planned to equip His people for victory regardless.’  Gideon – Priscilla Shirer, p. 9.

Yesterday during church we were given some time to complete a survey to determine if we are meeting the spiritual goals of our church.  One of the questions that I really had to think about was the area of my life which I felt least equipped.  My answer was in sharing the message of the gospel with others.   I know that those with whom I am surrounded are already Christians with different levels of faith.  My call in this season is to encourage and build those up during their times of crisis.  In the depths of my heart I realized that my answer was more about the insecurity of reaching out to those who do not have a personal relationship with God.  My ministry deals primarily (to my comfort and security) with ‘areas previously conquered’ – those who already experience intimate fellowship with God…easy land in which to live and work.  But like the Israelites, I wasn’t delivered to experience partial Promised Land living – Christ died for me to experience the fullness of His kingdom on earth.  I was rescued to overtake whatever areas God purposes as He equips me for that service. 

Yesterday, the sun didn’t even set before God gave me a sliver of challenging land to conquer with Him leading.  I was substituting in Grief Share when a member of our group was courageous enough to admit that they weren’t sure if they really knew God.  This person was laying out uncomfortable land for me to walk through, but God equipped me and the entire group with the words, testimonies and truths of His message.  It felt as if we were seamlessly walking upon holy ground which God had invited us to be a part of.   We all felt such a powerful sense of the Holy Spirit leading this conversation.  God saw a piece of spiritual land that had fertile soil …a longing heart to experience intimacy with God in a way never before known. 

Through this precious experience, I know that what God purposes will be accomplished, and I will be equipped to conquer any land God determines.

Swimming Lessons

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” Hebrews 13:8

When my children were young each one had to go through the trauma of learning to swim.  The first step was jumping into my arms while I was in the water.  I remember specifically being at a condo with an indoor pool trying to coax my little one to jump.  After much encouragement and pleading on my part, she finally leaped into my arms in the water.  I was so encouraged for the moment only to realize the second time would require just as much work…and the third…and the fourth.  I couldn’t believe that time after time the same fear would be so paralyzing since I was catching her every time.  I kept explaining that if I caught her one time…and twice…and three times then why on earth would she not believe that I would catch her every time.

When I consider our sweet Father I sometimes feel like that little girl on the edge of the swimming pool when facing challenging and fearful situations.  I see Him…I know He is there…cheering me on….reaching out His capable arms…and yet I stand there.  I wring my hands and bite my nails afraid to jump into the arms of the One who has never let me fall.  My circumstances keep me paralyzed on the sideline and focused on the deep water.  But thankfully our Father is the same One who has been faithful in our yesterdays, steadfast in our todays and unchanging in our forever.  The One who brought us through our past seasons is the same patient Father who is reaching out to us.  He is prepared to catch us and desires to carry all of His children.  When we focus on our Father of yesterday we build the courage we need today to run to the edge of our circumstances and jump into the arms of the Father of today.

"Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me...for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.' When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there."  Matthew 19:14-15.

Steadying the Ark

“David and all the Israelites with him went to Baalah…to bring up from there the ark of God the LORD, who is enthroned between the cherubim…When they came to the threshing floor…Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark… the LORD’s anger burned against Uzzah” 1Chr. 14:9-10.

The Ark of the Covenant was where the continual manifestation of God was displayed.  This event was full of joy and celebration as the Ark had not been with them for some time due to the reign of King Saul.  I can just picture everyone celebrating with musical instruments and dance as they are marching in the name of the LORD.  Then, it happens…Uzzah reaches out and touches the very thing that is forbidden.  He didn’t do it out of sin or out of any bad intentions.  He did it for the same reason we do it – we think God needs our help.  We think that we must give God a leg up…a boost…a nudge…a steadying of the ark in our circumstances.

Over the course of my adult life there have been more times than not when I reached out taking matters into my own hands.  There were seasons when I toiled and strived to manipulate the outcome of a situation… steadying the ark.  There were instances when I meddled with God’s decisions by believing that I knew best…steadying the ark .  Are you in a season when you are reaching out and trying to help God with His job?  Are you allowing the decisions of God to go untouched even though your circumstances appear to be teetering on the edge of discomfort?

There was another child of God who didn’t take matters into his own hands, but waited for God to instruct his movement.  It was our beloved Moses who knew the importance of God leading in all circumstances.  “The LORD said to Moses, ‘Stretch out your hand over the sea’…Moses stretched out his hand…and at daybreak the sea went back to its place.’” Ex. 14:26-27.  Moses did not get involved until God instructed him as to when and how – that is what brought about the success of the miracle.  Without God’s guidance and timing the waters would not have parted and the ground would not have been dry.  

This morning, are you tempted to steady the ark?  Are you inserting your own plan or decision over the plan and will of God?  We must be a people who refrain from reaching out before God instructs us.  We must be individuals who steady our faith in God instead of trying to steady our circumstances.

Freedom In the Desert

“‘Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.’  But God said to him, ‘Do not be distressed about the boy and your maidservant.  I will make the son of the maidservant into a nation also, because he is your offspring’” Gen. 21:10-13.

For anyone who feels this morning that your situation is leading you right into disaster, take heart!  Sarah demanded that Abraham banish their maidservant, Hagar and the son she had conceived with Abraham.  When Abraham took this heartbreaking situation to God, he was told that all would be alright.  God was going to allow the worst case scenario for Hagar and Ishmael.  At first glance it seems unfair…unjustified…unimaginable.  But, we must turn the prism to a different angle.  Abraham was no more than a master to Hagar and Hagar was no more than a servant to Sarah who hated her.  Ishmael would never be more than that boy of that maidservant.  He would always live in the shadow of Isaac just as Hagar would always live in the shadow of Sarah.  So the story continues…Hagar and Ishmael found themselves in the desert with no provisions…no one who cared…and what seemed to be no life ahead.  But God revealed Himself to her as her new Master, their new Father, and Provider.  ‘Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation…’ God was with the boy as he grew up.’ Gen. 21:20.

Before Jeremiah 29:11 was ever penned the Lord was demonstrating this principle in the life of Hagar and Ishmael.  ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ What seemed like life with Abraham and Sarah was really less than God’s abundance, and what seemed like the desert became life with God determining their future…not man.  Whatever circumstance feels like life is being derailed we must look to this story with hope and encouragement.  The life of freedom that Hagar and Ishmael experienced could have only happened after the situation forced them into the desert.  It was there that they experienced God at His best. 

Our difficulties birth the need for God, and provide the backdrop for Christ to become bigger through our faith.   If we are angry with our circumstances, it could be that we do not see God as love, so we miss out on His comfort.  If we fret and worry, we may have convinced ourselves that He is not able, so we miss out on His peace.  If we move ahead of Him, we have convinced ourselves that He is not wise in His decisions, so we miss out on His guidance.  We will experience God at the depth that we believe in His abilities and character.   So as we consider our challenges this morning, let us allow God to be the expanding and emerging God-power that He is, trusting Jeremiah 29:11 for our lives each and every day. 

Focusing on Pharaoh

As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them.  They were terrified and cried out…Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid.  Stand firm and you will see…the Egyptians you see today you will never see again.  The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.’” Exodus 14:10-14.

It had been less than a week since God had supernaturally and miraculously delivered the Israelites from their enslaved living…ONE WEEK!  However, they were scared to death …terrified beyond belief…filled with fear and hysteria.  You would have thought that the wonder of the Lord would have lasted longer than six or seven days in the minds and hearts of its recipients.  As we know the pillars of cloud and fire – God’s manifestation – never departed the Israelites.  It constantly filled the skies illuminating His presence, and yet Scripture states that they looked up and saw the Egyptians.  I wonder…how were they able to look beyond God’s manifestation?  How did they develop spiritual amnesia so quickly?  Before we judge too harshly are we not guilty of the same behavior?

How many times has God provided or delivered whatever it was we needed?  How is it that His presence shines so brightly in our lives with infinite blessings yet we focus on Pharaoh?  Why do we look beyond the pillars of Power and fear what seems to be enclosing upon us?  How can we look beyond His brilliance and fear the circumstances up ahead?  Priscilla Shirer, author of One In A Million states, ‘Many times we are so consumed with the past and concerned about the future, we miss out on what God is doing right now...God’s peace cannot hit a moving target.’  It is guaranteed that if we focus on what is up ahead or what is behind we will miss God’s glory for the moment.  We must take the advice of Moses…Be brave…Be faithful…Be watchful… Be still.

We must make intentional efforts to resist fear, remember God’s past victories, stay alert to His presence and cease striving for our own answers.

The Sweet Spots

“Then they came to Elim where there were twelve springs of water and seventy date palms, and they camped there beside the waters.” Exodus 15:27.

Back in November I began walking to get a little healthier and avoid going on medication for cholesterol.  The place I chose to walk was a road I had seldom paid attention to, never noticing the large hill I would have to climb.  The first time I turned the corner on that curve my eyes could only see the climb and nothing else.  I felt discouraged but committed so step by step I climbed the hill.  When I got to the top I was relieved to see the land flatten out for a good distance…Aaahhhh…breathing normally again…breeze through my hair and a smile on my face.  What I experienced was a mere fraction of what the Israelites encountered.  No doubt they dragged themselves step by step through the wilderness becoming exhausted, thirsty, hungry and dirty.  They had been led by God into the wilderness with nothing but open and empty land as far as they could see.  And then, out of nowhere they see the beautiful places of renewal and restoration.  I can see them acting like little children running up ahead into the water, splashing each other and drenching themselves with the fresh water.  Of course they camped…

My Bible study this morning shows the contrast between the desert and the wilderness.  ‘A wilderness is peppered with oases, places of hope for a weary traveler.  A desert is a barren expanse that can support little life or vegetation.  At first it seems that the wilderness through which God led His people was a desert, but in reality it was a place with grassy areas, upland plains, and even surface water.  God’s people were able to withstand the journey because God led them not through an arid desert but into a wilderness complete with natural rest stops.’ One In A Million, p. 53.  I find it very interesting that what appeared to be a desert of nothingness was really a wilderness of God’s wonders. 

Whatever you face this morning or whatever parched land on which you are walking, please be comforted that God has placed grassy areas up ahead for your refreshment.  This could be a word of encouragement from a stranger or a note from a friend.  He has provided waters of the Holy Spirit to quench our thirst of hopelessness.  Even if you cannot see anything up ahead, you can be confident that God has already been there placing an oasis of His wonders exactly where you need them.  God knows where all of the sweet spots are on our journeys…after all, He placed them there!   

Common Clouds Wrapped In Glory

“By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide…and by night in a pillar of fire to give the light” Exodus 13:21.

Day after day how the enslaved Israelites must have dreamed about the way things could have been…still could be…perhaps even will be.  As they worked on the grounds of their brutal masters, did they occasionally look to the skies praying for something more?  When they built fires to cook on could they have ever imagined that God would use something so common to man to show His presence?  How many millions of moments did they dare to dream when looking upon the clouds as they drifted from their view?  Eventually the very things that were common to them were the elements God wrapped around His glory to show His unwavering presence.  Once they had recognized these elements as God's indwelling, there was no question in their minds whether Emanuel was with them. 

We only have to look outside of our windows to see the creation of the Lord and the splendor of His handiwork.  If we are a believer, we have been indwelled with the power of God through the Holy Spirit who has become our inner pillar to guide us.  God didn’t send His son to save us only to hide His plan from us.  We have that inner Guide to lead us through our own wilderness and light up the way to go.   In addition to the Holy Spirit, many times God uses His creation to speak to us and reveal His plans for our lives.  Like the Israelites, we can look to creation to witness His presence.  The clouds were just clouds and the fire was just fire until the power of its Creator was supernaturally infused with His creation. 

‘God still wants to make Himself fully known to us and does so by working through what He has created.  He can and will encourage us in our journey by allowing, when He sees fit, His children to have visible evidence of His working on our behalf…as we can expect miracles in our lives.’ One In A Million, p. 47.

We must be watchful in the common things to man to see the uncommon glory of the Creator.

God's Mindfulness

“The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9.

If there is any verse in the Bible that I have learned the hard way it is this one.  For this girl, I have been planning things since I was a child.  I have been mindful of what to do, when to do and how to do in every aspect of my life.  I have made up my mind on a million different ideas, opinions and plots.  I have had momentary successes but more consequential missteps.  I have had dreams dashed and expectations never realized.  I have feared the anticipated death of a family member only for her to live, and experienced the deaths of others that I didn’t see coming.  When I think I have something figured out the opposite occurs.  I finally told my mother a while back that ‘the only thing I know for sure is that I don’t know anything at all!’  We now say that frequently and it seems to fit in most situations. 

What does the woman do who never planned on being abandoned by her husband in her forties…or the man who was welcomed into the company years ago only to be let go right before retirement.  What do we do with the dream of parenthood replaced with the reality of infertility?  The mind of man trumped by the mind of God… who can reconcile its mysteries?  The bottom line truth is that whatever we have faced or will face has been directed by God or allowed by God.  With this truth, we must settle in our hearts that GOD IS LOVE first and foremost.  He will use any hardship we face to show us more of Himself.  Just as we are motivated by love when directing the steps of our children, God is also working out of His love for us to develop us into our best.  God is concerned with intimacy first, with plans and purposes being secondary.  Whatever comes into our lives God will use every challenging circumstance and painful situation to move more deeply in fellowship with us. 

 

‘While we often want the easiest and least challenging route to abundant life in Christ, we must acknowledge that God wants to take us on the path that fosters a deeper relationship with Him.  He wants to lay aside our determination to do life our way and follow Him.  Only when we do this can we truly become ready to face what lies ahead.’ One In A Million, p. 40.  We must never lose sight of his sovereignty and the amazement of His mighty works.

‘When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?’ Psalm 8:3-4.

Hence God Led...

“…for God said, ‘The people might change their minds when they see war; and return to Egypt.’ Hence God led the people around by the way of the wilderness to the Red Sea” Ex. 13:18.

Most of us have grown up with the Lord’s Prayer and can recite it on any given day.  What our words speak in the prayer, the Israelites lived in reality.  The phrase ‘lead us not into temptation’ is the very prayer God answered in our verse this morning.  God could see the writing on the wall when it came to the fragile faith of His chosen ones.  He knew that they would be tempted to turn back to their old lifestyle when faced with uncertainty and fear.  So God did for them what He does for each of us – leads us on the faithbuilding path while at the same time avoiding old temptations in some area of our lives.  God knew that His chosen people would be tempted beyond their abilities so He used a different set of circumstances...a different way.

The New Testament is not silent on this matter either so we can be sure that it is a principle that God will always act upon.  ‘And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.’ 1 Co. 10:13.  Many times standing up under it means never having to face it thanks to God.  However, with this principle comes a caveat:  we have free will to choose the way He provides or give into the temptation.  The first step in avoiding many missteps along the way is by trusting God for what is up ahead even if we don’t like it.  What we see in our future can be scary or heartbreaking but a journey we must take with God if we are to move through and out of our wilderness.  ‘Then they [Israelites] camped in Etham on the edge of the wilderness’ Ex. 13:20.  They sat on the border between their comfortable past and their frightening future and had to make a choice.  Would they allow their past to steal their future?  Or would they faithfully and confidently take that first step of acceptance with God?

‘Etham describes a place where God gives a vision of what’s coming.  It’s the place of final decision where He lets us camp out to consider the challenge ahead.  Whether He’s asking us to stay in a rough marriage, to mother difficult children, to accept singleness, to choose full-time ministry, to let go of friendships, to suffer illness, or to navigate a situation we feel we can’t survive, we have to decide if we will follow where He is leading and trust that He knows what He is doing.’ One In A Million, p. 34.

‘Hence God led….’

No Wrong Turns

“Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land, even though it was near” Exodus 13:17.

 

It had been 8 long years of rebellion and extreme drug use for our daughter Kristen.  She had been enslaved by this relentless master for almost 1/3 of her life.  When she was delivered by God out of her drug use He could have given her an easy way…a way that was near perfect.  But, our daughter didn’t know who she was…who she could become…what was inside of her heart.  The only thing she knew for sure was that she had been rescued and delivered by God.  But for the next 10 years she traveled through the wilderness…a marriage full of deceit, lies and relapses on the part of her husband…paralyzing fear of her inability to make it on her own…a miscarriage…family deaths... a separation…financial difficulties…having to give up her childhood dream of nursing...being a single parent for 2 1/2 years.  Through each set of circumstances she had to question whether it was worth it to ‘leave Egypt.’ The road up ahead was every bit as daunting as the road behind, but now she couldn’t rely on the drugs to numb her pain.  She thought when she was rescued from drugs that the good land was right around the corner.  But there were things that God wanted to reveal to her to develop and free her, so He led her away from the easy life.  Over the past eight years God has given Kristen the strength and confidence to face her biggest fears, and experience her deepest disappointment.  She has been eye to eye with extreme challenges requiring her total dependency on God, allowing Him to reveal her unknown potential when partnering with Him.  She has witnessed the power of God in place of her fear. 

‘For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline’ 2 Tim 1:7.  For many of us, we see our good land up ahead but it seems that God is moving us away from it.  What do we do with that?  How do we operate spiritually when our heart longs for the nearby instead of walking in the faraway?  How do we reconcile that our Father knows what we long for but is moving us in ways that seem we will never get there?  How do we follow God with complete trust instead of questioning His detours?  There are no wrong turns in the economy of God.  If we are allowing Him to lead then they are just different paths.  We must settle in our hearts that the path we are on is the path God has cut and cleared for us.  We must live in complete confidence that God has determined what our good land is and the timeframe in which we will reach the place flowing with milk and honey.  Our wilderness will always produce the backdrop of learning something about ourselves and witnessing the power of God in our lives.  ‘There are some things we don’t know about ourselves until we are put in a position where we have to see God’s power working through us.  God wants to develop us, and He uses the wilderness to do it.’ One In A Million – Priscilla Shirer.   

The character and strength that God has developed in Kristen through the wilderness has been miraculous to watch.  Her wilderness has developed her faith in ways that no other paths could have, and she is coming out on the other side with a Masters in Faith. 

Like Oswald Chambers wrote:  ‘The wilderness is the Oxford & Cambridge for God’s people.’

Our Patient Father

“‘It is because we have no bread…’ ‘And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?’  They answered, ‘Seven.’  He said to them, ‘Do you still not understand?’”  Mark 8:20-21.

I cannot even begin to understand the patience of Jesus as He walked this earth dealing with man.  The disciples saw miracle after miracle, day after day, city after city.  And yet, they still questioned their provisions immediately after witnessing Jesus feeding four thousand people.  It had just happened…they stepped from the miracle directly into the boat talking about not having any bread with them.  The frustration of Jesus shows in this passage as it was clear they didn’t understand that the ‘bread’ was in the boat with them…the Bread who was able to provide, sustain and nourish …the Bread who would always be enough…the Bread who would never run out.

How many times do we question our own provisions when walking through life?  Like the disciples, we witness the power of God calming our storms and settling our tumultuous circumstances only to question the next season.  ‘When will this end…When will God move… How will this be resolved?  Where is the bread?’  We temporarily forget the acts and blessings that He just provided with our shortsightedness and single-mindedness.  Two times the disciples witnessed the same lesson – Jesus will always be the provision for everyone, and still they missed the point. 

It seems that I have the same lessons to learn, it just comes to me with several different faces.  I am sure that Christ looks upon my weaknesses…my slowness for understanding…and says ‘Brenda, do you still not understand?’  Faithfully, He just keeps showing me that the different faces belong to the same lesson.  I am so grateful that we serve a patient and loving God who desires the best for all of us.  He will take whatever time is required to penetrate our hearts and minds with His understanding. 

Slavery With Perks

“We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt” Numbers 11:5.

During the time of slavery there were different levels of slaves which determined the kind of life they experienced.  A house slave was a slave who worked directly with the family and enjoyed more perks than the other slaves.  Don’t get me wrong…slavery was slavery but a house slave came with more appeal than the slave who worked outside of the home.  When Lincoln abolished slavery a number of house slaves decided to stay instead of pursuing a life of freedom.  The security of what they had was greater than the freedom of what they could experience.  The minimal benefits of being tethered to a master were enough to keep them from discovering their own destiny.

We are hard pressed to find anyone who has not been enslaved to something.  ‘Let’s be honest:  Life estranged from God has fleshly perks.  The Enemy of our soul always ensures that we enjoy at least a portion of our sin.  He makes certain the enjoyment is addictive.’ One in a Million, p. 18.  He reminds us of how satisfying it is to walk in a store and drape ourselves with the wonderful possessions of the world.  He floods our mind with what can be instead of what is beneficial.  He surrounds us with earthly perks that seem free at first but costs us in the end.  We only have to look at the number of addictive struggles of the people in America – the land of abundance…abundance of selfishness…abundance of destructive choices…abundance of freedoms that lead to captivity.  He convinces us we are entitled to our perk which he is more than happy to give us.  ‘We can be sure that any good things the Enemy gives us are only intended to keep us nourished enough to continue under the yoke of his bondage.’ One in a Million, p. 19.

Every one of us should live cautiously when making choices.  While our world offers anything and everything we must recognize the Bible’s offering on this matter.  ‘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. 

If we are going to remember anything let it be that our own personal slavery was abolished thanks to Christ, who chose to be enslaved to our sin on the cross so that we may be free.

Conformity to the Rope

“Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Hebrews 12: 1.  "It was for freedom that Christ set us free." Gal. 5:1. 

 

I learned a sad fact about circus elephants in my Bible Study this morning.  It seems that baby elephants are chained during infancy when growing up at the hands of circus masters.  It begins with them tied to a tree without the strength to pull away.  Though they repeatedly try they eventually exhaust themselves and surrender to the fact they can never walk in freedom.  The struggle to be free ends and conformity to the rope begins.  The bigger they become the smaller rope is required since their minds and spirits have already been broken.  They adapt to living in the boundaries of the rope.

Living in the boundaries of the rope…haunting words for elephants and equally for Christians.  Since infancy we were all born into the captivity of sin.  Our circus master, Satan has trained us well as we find ourselves in adulthood living in some binding from our past.  Our rope is the thing that always surfaces and entices us the most in our flesh.  It is the thing that entangles…imprisons… binds.  For me, it is serving to receive approval which means no boundaries.  I have exhausted myself and frustrated others with this lopsided rope, all in the name of goodness.  My caregiving tendencies in the past had such a hold on me from the time I was a child.  We all possess ropes around our ankles that discourage us from living in the freedom God intends.

Christ gives us an opportunity to untie that rope that binds and be led out of our captivity.  Even the elephant needs guidance when the rope is unsecure.  He still thinks it is around his ankle because it always has been.  It isn’t until the one who frees him guides him out into the wild that he is convinced he no longer is bound by the rope.  "So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature...But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law." Gal. 5:16, 18.

Just because Christ has freed us doesn’t mean we live like we are free.  We can accept the freedom Christ gave us at the cross but still live like we are tied up.  ‘Since our tendency as humans is to err in a direction away from God, we must retrain ourselves to walk in the ways of freedom.’ One in a Million – Journey to Your Promised Land, Priscilla Shirer, p. 14.

Don’t just believe the rope has been removed…walk and live as if you are free!

Power In the Stone

“…but I come against you in the name of the LORD God Almighty” 1 Sam. 17:45.

“So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in the hand…” 1 Sam. 17:50.

Christian or no Christian, we would be hard pressed to find someone in our sphere of influence who hadn’t heard the story of David and Goliath.  David as a young teenager had already figured out where his confidence and strength lay – in the power of the Almighty.  David didn’t come before Goliath boasting of how powerful the little smooth stone in his pocket was, but how powerful his big God was.  David intuitively understood what many Christians today have not yet learned.  The power of God is not in our strengths but in the empowerment God places upon our strengths.

I have written many things over the course of my life but it wasn’t until I turned to God pursuing Him that my writings became empowered by Him for application and encouragement.  My written words were like lifeless stones that lay by the riverside until I met God there, and He brought my words to life.  My writings used to be simple and empty, but after God’s touch they became His empowerment for His purposes.  When I write in my own strength nothing is special about them, but when written in God’s power they become life giving words.  The same is true with your strengths and talents. 

Whatever we face we too have a sling that contains a stone…the Stone…the only weapon we will ever need in any given circumstance.  ‘See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame’ 1 Peter 2:6.  It is in the power of our Stone that our talents and strengths will have the enabling of Christ to accomplish anything.  We will not boast of the ‘thing’ that brings down our mountains but will testify about the ‘Who.’ 

David never even mentioned the stone when facing his giant because he knew the power was in the calling not the strength.

Above the Rabble

“The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing…‘We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost…’” Numbers 11:4-5.

The Israelites at this point had seen the plagues that God supernaturally sent for their deliverance out of slavery.  They stood before the Red Sea and witnessed the parting of those great waters.  They marched on dry ground feeling the mist from the power of the walls of water on each side.  They experienced the wonderful taste of freedom that they never had before.  And yet they made the two devastating mistakes that we still make today…they allowed the rabble (the non-Israelites) to remain in their lives, and they began romanticizing their life before deliverance.  With all the divine miracles that they had experienced it was still not enough to cultivate faith, trust and genuine gratitude.  They reminisced about their past life and forgot the price they paid.  Their memory doesn’t include the beatings, the long hours, the ruthless behavior of the Egyptians.  All they know is that this new life is not all that it’s cracked up to be.  ‘Yet just like the Israelites, we are prone to complain that we don't have enough. Prone to want more than what's been provided, to crave what we don't have rather than be thankful for what we do. Contentment and thankfulness is so important to a joyful life.’ www.lechemforleaders.com

We cannot expect to surround ourselves with those people who do not pursue a relationship with God, and remain grateful and committed to Him.  The rabble will convince us that our life is one of rules and regulations, giving up the fun things of the past.  They will cause us to look at the things we have lost instead of the blessings we have gained.  We will begin to see our present life through the eyes of discontent and less than abundant living.  Christ tells us that when we truly and completely follow Him, we will live in freedom.  We will not surround ourselves with the crude and irreverent media as it comes into our very homes.  We will not attend parties that focus on past appetites, nor chase dreams of the flesh. 

When we really get the truth that Christ paid it all and we paid nothing …and genuinely apply it to our hearts… we will see everything through the lens of deep humility and overwhelming gratitude.  If we find ourselves yearning for that same old sin or attitude it is because we are not truly walking in the freedom of Christ and the knowledge of the price He paid.

‘It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery.’

My Vine, My Vice

“You have been concerned about this vine…But Ninevah has…people who cannot tell their right hand from their left…” Jonah 4:10-11.

At first glance it seems that God keeps hammering Jonah with lessons.  We must remember that God is all about relationship first.  Jonah eventually did what God had commanded him to do but God wanted more.  God wanted to mold Jonah’s heart and experience more intimacy with him.  How many times have we looked towards God and told Him that we have had enough lessons for now?  The further we are into our flesh the more distant we become from God’s Spirit.  Jonah’s obsession (anger) with the vine dying became a barrier between his heart and the heart of God.  Obviously, the death of the vine placed Jonah in a very uncomfortable set of circumstances.  He enjoyed the vine and what it provided; his anger was a result of feeling entitled to have the vine and ease his comfort.  I would certainly say that Jonah seemed to be narcissistic and overdramatic regarding his comfort verses God’s will.  (I am so angry I could die!)

On any given day we can also be Jonah focusing on our own comfort instead of the spiritual condition of those around us.  We get so wrapped up in our self-made comforts we sometimes miss the opportunities God places before us in helping others.  At some point, we place our trust in the vine for comfort and joy instead of God who gave us the vine.  It is tough to see God’s perspective on kingdom work when we are cozy and comfortable.  It is when we live outside of the vine and walk towards God that we will begin experiencing genuine fellowship with Him.  ‘Come near to God and he will come near to you’ James 4:8.

Until we recognize that all vines are created equal…temporary in life…given by God… not eternal…we will feel the sting and devastation of their absence.  The closer we get to God the more complete our joy will be

Peppered With Pout

“Should I not have compassion on Ninevah, the great city?” Jonah 4:11.

In considering the Book of Jonah the reader is left with more questions than answers as Jonah begrudgingly obeyed God, but stewed in his emotions as we turn the final page.  Did he and God wrestle over this subject for years to come?  Did Jonah remain near the city pointing out to God and others the Ninevites transgressions?  Did Jonah finally surrender his position of bitterness and frustration, and fully engage in his previous life with the blessings God had given him?  The thing we know for sure is that we will never know on this side of heaven.   The Bible is silent on the ending of Jonah’s story because we are not meant to know.  It doesn’t really matter what appeared on the surface of Jonah’s life because God could read the walls of his heart.  Only God knows how his story ended and only God knows how our story will end when it comes to the way we truly feel about others. 

God is a speed reader when looking upon our heart no matter what we portray on the outside.  We may fool others and maybe even ourselves through our smiles and calm exterior, but inside there still wages a bitter war against others we judge.  God knows what is deeply rooted in our hearts…our minds…our attitudes.  On the surface, our story may look to be a story of taking the high road…forgiveness…peacefulness, but our secret story line is still peppered with pout instead of seasoned with salt.

God encourages us in Colossians 4:6 to ‘Let your conversations be always full of grace, seasoned with salt.’  This doesn’t mean surface conversations cowardly hidden behind smiles but the conversation we have with God.    We must genuinely have a desire to release bitterness, offering full mercy and grace, apart from the actions of others.  To fully engage in the spiritual life God has written for us, we must fully disengage from our sense of entitlement.  We cannot try to write an ending to another person’s story or we just might find ourselves sitting under a withered vine.

The Worm of Ingratitude

“Then the LORD God provided a vine…to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the vine.  But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the vine so that it withered.  But God said… ‘Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?  You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow.  It sprang up overnight and died overnight.’” Jonah 4:6-10.

Life certainly offers its own version of this story.  We don’t have to look too far to see these elements played out in our day to day lives.  We constantly stack our circumstances against the circumstances of others.  ‘Why did she land that job when I worked much harder?  How come he has loved ones who lived so long when I experienced a devastating loss?  Why does she get to enjoy the love of a partner and I don’t?’  While these questions are human nature the more concerning question lays much deeper in the heart.

The lacking element behind these questions is the same that was behind Jonah’s anger – an absence of genuine gratitude.  Everything comes from God, both in blessings and duration.  He created all things and only God determines the duration of their existence in our lives.  Like the shade God provided for Jonah, God provides our provisional needs to help us in our discomfort.  However, when we lack sincere gratitude for the things God has given us and the length of time we have been given them, the worm of ingratitude will gnaw away at our hearts.  It will work its ugly way into every situation and affect our relationship with others.

None of us truly deserve anything God has given us and certainly have no rights to tell Him how to handle our blessings.  Genuine gratitude begins with a humble heart and an acknowledgment that God is sovereign in His wisdom and His decisions.  Why are we so quick to praise Him when He takes away the bad but blame Him when He takes away the good?  He is the giver and taker of all things and we must be willing to trust Him regardless of our outcomes.

Washing Others' Wounds

“After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully.  Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks” Acts 16:23-24.

This particular time they were thrown in prison after being accused of ‘throwing the city in an uproar by advocating customs.’ Basically, they were sharing the message of Jesus Christ with others whom it offended.  After their beatings and floggings they were thrown into the dark inner cell and placed in ‘foot cuffs.’ What did they do?  They praised God in the storm.  They did not gripe or complain…they did not focus on their wounds…they set their gaze upon Jesus remembering how He suffered for the message.  No doubt, they had to consider that the end was near, and they were moving closer to being with Christ…no wonder they were praying and singing songs of praise.  The jailer had no compassion as he threw them in the cell with fresh wounds from the beatings.  Seeing their condition he added extra pain by placing their feet in stocks.  Then he cut off the lights and was able to close his eyes and go to sleep.  Last night I couldn’t even sleep after watching a basketball player break his foot on the court.  How this jailer was able to shake the sight of these men is beyond me.  But then God sent ‘such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken…the prison doors flew open…everybody’s chains came loose’ (v. 26).  The jailer awakened and realized that not only had the doors been opened but none of the prisoner’s had escaped.  He immediately wanted to know the message of these men whom had a faith he desired.  ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved (v. 30)?  Upon the jailer’s conversion he took them back to his home and ‘washed their wounds and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God – he and his family’ (v.33). 

One of the most beautiful lessons we learn from this story is that before we are filled with the love of God we don’t even notice the pain of others.  We are disconnected from compassion as we sleep while others suffer…we minimize the present pain of a friend’s experience because we live in our past pain.  We are so busy with our own lives, our own families and our own jobs that we don’t reach out to serve others.  But once we turn our hearts to Christ Jesus He allows us to experience His compassion and His love, moving us to action.  We cannot have the true love of Christ in our hearts and be inactive or blind to the needs of others.  ‘We will be both judged and rewarded in Heaven on how we loved, gave and served on earth.’  (Charles Stanley) 

 

When thinking about this statement our example is in Christ Jesus.  Jesus loved the very ones who hated him.  ('Father, forgive them.'  Luke 23:34)   Jesus gave His very life for everyone.  ('With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.' John 19:30.)  Jesus served wherever He was, making every step His mission field.  ('My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.' John 5:17) 

‘The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness’ 1 Sam. 26:23.  ‘After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God’ Mark 16:19.    I cannot think of a greater eternal reward than sitting next to God.