Living with Hope

"Delight yourself in the LORD

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the LORD;

trust in him and he will do this:

He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,

the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;

do not fret when men succeed in their ways,

when they carry out their wicked schemes. . .

those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land."

Psalm 37:4-9

I think we can all agree that life is hard.  Tragedies hit out of nowhere.  Illness strikes when I least expect it.  Loved ones are ripped out of this life before I get a chance to say, "good-bye."  Pain and suffering is all around me.  Life is hard.

If it wasn't for the hope of eternity with Jesus, it would be impossible to endure.  Thankfully, I can look forward to the time when, "He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Revelation 21:4)  Now that's something to which I can look forward!

It reminds me of the time our family planned a trip to Disney World.  For months we saved funds and made plans.  Our daughters saved spending money from what they earned dog walking and babysitting.  We studied the Disney website and literature designed to familiarize ourselves with the parks and decide which attractions we really wanted to see.  Excitement began to build and the mundane difficulties of our day-to-day lives faded in light of the anticipation of our upcoming trip.  

In the same way, I am able to endure the difficulties of life in light of the anticipation of my upcoming residency in a place with no struggles, no pain and no suffering.   Heaven gives me hope.  But I must continue living here where God has placed me.  I cannot live with my head in the clouds, creating my own reality where I ignore what's going on around me.  I'm here for a purpose.

Thankfully, God has given me some guidance in how to live for Him while I wait for the time when I will live with Him!

Delight

When I think of the meaning of the word "delight,"  I think of my dogs.  They exhibit a high degree of exuberance and joy upon my return from an outing.  It doesn't matter if I've only been gone for an hour, they greet me with great pleasure and enthusiasm.  Their tails wag intensely as their tongues loll out of their mouths and their eyes shine with excitement.  They absolutely delight in my presence!

Apart from sprouting a tail and learning to drool like a dog, how can I delight in the LORD?  One way is to enjoy and revel in the study of His Word.   God teaches that the blessed man is one who finds that, "his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night." (Psalm 1:4)  

I can either read the Bible daily and check that off my things-to-do list, or I can conduct an intense study of His Word, examining references and looking up the meaning of the terms.  I can apply it to my life, meditating on what I learned throughout the day, asking God to show me the lesson found there.  The Bible is more than just a book of advice, it is, "living and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."  (Hebrews 4:12)

As I delight in Him, He will change my priorities and list of requirements needed to live.  Oswald Chamber wrote in My Utmost for His Highest that my life itself is the, ". . . essential thing. . . wherever you may go, even if it is into hell, you will come out with your life, nothing can harm it.  So many of us are caught up in the show of things, not in the way of property and possessions, but of blessings.  All these have to go; but there is something grander that never can go--the life that is 'hid with Christ in God.'"  

All I really need is God, and as I delight in Him, He will change the desires of my heart to line up with that truth.  

Commit

My husband and I have been married for 23 years.  We made a pledge before God, obligating ourselves to the marriage.  Because of this commitment, we have stayed together despite disagreements, hurt feelings or times when affection was lacking.  This kind of vow takes a confidence in the integrity of the institution of marriage despite what I see, hear or feel.  My sense of obligation keeps me rooted to the relationship.  

In the same way, I have a relationship with God through faith in Jesus, but entrusting my plans to God takes faith.  Faith involves taking a step into the darkness without knowing whether or not there will be something solid to hold my weight.  Faith, however, know the One in whom I place my trust is faithful to guide and provide.  As Oswald Chambers said, "Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading."

Committing my way to the LORD means entrusting every part of my life to Him, letting Him have  His way.  But perhaps 19th Century Evangelist Dwight L. Moody said it best.  "The sweetest lesson I have learned in God's school is to let the Lord choose for me."  Trusting God doesn't mean I can make my plans and then ask Him to bless them, but rather to hand the reigns over to Him.

If I can make the same commitment to God as I did to my husband, unconditionally trusting Him, He has promised to make me able to stand in the sun without guilt or shame.  The blood of Jesus covers my sin when I commit my life to Him and accept Him as my personal Savior.  In so doing, I become innocent in God's eyes, relieving me of the burden of past, present and future sins.  


Making Jesus Lord of my life means letting Him have His way.  In turn, He gives me a spotless and innocent appearance before Him. 

Wait

Deals made behind closed doors.  Payment for service "under the table."  Conflicts of interest. Improper handling of tax payer funds.  Pilfering of finances to feed a gambling addiction.  Wherever I look, wicked schemes are taking place: Plots designed to benefit the planner, conspiracies thought up to further a dark plot, or a ploy intended for evil.  There's no doubt that immorality flourishes in this fallen world.

Even so, no sin goes unpunished.  Either Jesus has already paid the price for the sins of His followers, or the unrepentant sinner will face the consequences of eternal death.  Justice will be served.

In the meantime, I am called to quietly and untiringly wait for God to act.  He reminds me in Deuteronomy 32:35 that, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay.  In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them."   I can trust God to punish evil, both now and in eternity.

Until then, the Apostle Paul gave some advice in Romans 12:17-20.  "Do not repay anyone evil for evil.  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath. . . On the contrary, 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.'"

While I wait on God to enact justice on those who do me wrong, it is up to me to treat them with the same respect I would show to a friend.

This world is a difficult place in which to live, but as I wait to enter my eternal home, I have been given a plan.  I can take great delight in God,  make a commitment to Him and wait patiently for Him to act.  In this way I will glorify God with my life as I receive a new outlook, a clean countenance and the assurance of true justice for the wickedness going on around me.  

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can let go of all my expectations for my life and let God choose the way He wants me to go.

When do I try to take matters into my own hands, robbing God of the chance to enact His justice.

How can I love and treasure God above all other things? 

My Shepherd

"I myself will tend my sheep

and have them lie down,

declares the Sovereign LORD.

I will search for the lost and bring back the strays.

I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak,

but the sleek and the strong I will destroy.

I will shepherd the flock with justice."

Ezekiel 34:15-16

I need a shepherd.  I tend to wander off the path, seeking my own way, getting distracted by sweet-smelling flowers or tantalizing green blades of grass that sprout just beyond my pasture.  The lusciousness of my own meadow, bountiful and abundant as can be, pales in comparison to what, in my opinion, lies beyond.  My gaze wanders to the unknown. . . enticing my little feet to carry me to places not meant for me.  

I am lost, wounded and in need of a shepherd.

God knows how to take care of those who belong to Him better than any human can.  Even so, He placed some of us in positions to mind His flock.  Unfortunately, not all succeed, instead falling to the temptation of personal comfort and gain.  The stars in their eyes block the view of the One who called them, luring them away from their true purpose.  Consequently, God's people are left to wander.  

Thankfully, I am not left without a shepherd.  The Sovereign LORD Himself will tend His sheep so I am not without hope.

Lost

I remember one time in my life being lost in the woods.  I thought I knew where I was going, but I soon became completely turned around and disoriented due to my unfamiliarity with the area and the thickness of the forest.  I lost my way.

In a similar sense, it is easy for me to lose my bearings as a believer.  I can wander around in a place I have no business exploring when, before I know it, I've lost my way.  I don't know how to get back to where I belong.

Thankfully, God does not leave me to my own devices.  He comes after me, searching for me until He finds me.  

While Jesus walked the earth as a man, He vividly demonstrated His passion for finding His sheep.  There was one lost little lamb named Zaccheus who held the despised position of a Jew serving as the chief tax collector for the Roman empire.  He cheated many people in the course of carrying out his duties and thus became quite wealthy.  


One day he heard that Jesus, this man he had heard so much about but had never had the opportunity to meet, was coming his way.  Being a short man, he climbed a Sycamore tree to gain an advantage over the large crowd that had formed.  As Jesus approached, he looked up into the tree and called Zaccheus by name, announcing that He would come to his home and eat a meal with him.  


Jesus visited Jericho in search of one of His own.  When those around Him began to criticize, saying He should not be defiling Himself by eating with someone who had cheated so many and who actually worked for the oppressive occupying regime, He proclaimed that, ". . .the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."  (Luke 19:10)


Jesus came to die for those who know their need for Him.  Without Him, I have no hope of getting close to the One who created me, or of receiving the gift of life eternal.  


When I am straying toward the land of self-sufficiency and independence, Jesus will not rest until He has brought me safely back to the fold of His sovereignty.  When I follow those who preach a message that speaks to my desire for wealth and happiness, my Shepherd will pursue me until He guides me back into the pen of peace.  When I tire of staying on the rocky, narrow trail and wander over to the wide, smooth path, Jesus patiently prods me toward His Way.  


My Shepherd goes after me when I have strayed away from Him.

Injured and Weak

When I first started having trouble with my knee, I found that it helped if I bound it with an ace bandage.  The support the wrap provided helped me to keep active and continue moving with minimal pain.

There are many times when life has caused injury.   The death of a loved one.  The betrayal of a friend.  The pain of gossip.   These are times when I need my Shepherd.  He is the one that, ". . .heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." (Psalm 147:3)  

If I want true healing from injury, I must take my pain to the Master Healer.  As I undergo His treatment, He will painfully clean out the wound, ridding me of every impurity that is impeding the healing process.  He will show me the hidden anger, the bitterness and the areas of sin that are festering under the surface of the wound.  As I release these struggles, placing them into His hands, I experience the restoration of my health.  I am well!

Other times I'm just plain weak.  I'm physically worn out, mentally fatigued and spiritually broken.  I feel like I can't go on, am unable to endure another second, or will break under the pressure of another crisis.  I wonder when I will find rest.

Joni Eareckson Tada knows a little bit about weakness.  She suffered a spinal cord injury at the age of 17 which left her paralyzed from the chest down, unable to use her arms or legs.  She felt her life was over.  But through faith in Jesus, she is now able to say, "God wants us to lay our burdens on Him and rest in His love.  It's His responsibility to work out the purpose and plan in our hardships.  Only our refusal to trust Him. . . can hinder His purposes in our lives."  

Even though I feel powerless against all the difficulties and trials occurring in my life, I am not without hope.  God has a plan, and in completely trusting Him and letting Him direct my life, I can say as the Apostle Paul said, "I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:10)

My Shepherd restores me to a healthy place and is my strength when I am weak.  

Justice

It's not fair!

What have I done to deserve this?

Why do I always get the short end of the stick?

These are common thoughts in my mind.  I judge according to my own sense of right and wrong which is usually biased toward my own interests.  I feel slighted when I don't get my fair share of the good stuff and angry when I get more of the bad stuff than everyone else.  Of course, my scale is off so my conclusion is faulty.

Only God is just.  Only He knows right and wrong.

The King of Assyria was pretty sure of himself.  He thought the strength and size of his mighty empire was due to his own wisdom, strength and understanding.  He failed to acknowledge God's providence, instead taking credit for himself.  He showed a real lack of respect for the One who makes every breath possible.  Therefore, God said, "the LORD Almighty, will send a wasting disease upon his sturdy warriors; under his pomp a fire will be kindled like a blazing flame."  (Isaiah 10:16)

God is always looking at the state of my heart.  When I place myself in the position of judge, deciding who deserves what and taking credit where none is due, my heart is selfish and hard. I am setting myself against God.

If, instead, I would turn from rebellion against God and accept His will and lordship over my life, I am rightfully placing the responsibility for judging back in His hands.  I release the desire to look out for my own best interests and let God decide what is best.

The one thing that really matters to God is my relationship with Him.  The things that usually matters to me is my comfort and me getting what I want.  Like Oswald Chambers said, "God wants you in a closer relationship to Himself than receiving His gifts. . .There is nothing easier than getting into a right relationship with God except when it is not God Whom you want but only what He gives."

Jesus said, ". . .God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."  God is the only just judge, but He is not here to condemn me.  Instead, He does everything He can to reconcile myself with Him.  But I must want that for myself.. . .I must want Him more than I want anything else: He will not force Himself on me.

My Shepherd is just and therefore accepts nothing less than all of me.  

My wandering, weak and hard-hearted self needs a shepherd.  Thankfully, I have a Shepherd who will search for me until He finds me and won't rest until I'm back with Him.  My Shepherd binds up my injuries and serves as my source of strength.  My Shepherd leads with justice, always with an eye on restoring my relationship with Him.  The LORD is my Shepherd!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will let my Shepherd lead me.

When do I try to take credit for the good things in my life instead of giving glory to God?

How do I take on the role of judge in deciding what is good and what is not for myself instead of simply seeking Him?

The Watchman

"If the watchman sees the sword coming 

and does not blow the trumpet

to warn the people

and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them,

that man will be taken away because of his sin,

but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood."

Ezekiel 33:6

During Medieval times, a watchman kept post on the city wall or other high place, constantly on the lookout for any signs of danger.  If a threat was perceived, the watchman would sound an alarm to warn the people.

In the same way, Ezekiel was called to be a watchman for the house of Israel.  As a prophet, it was his job to relay messages from God to the people, warning them to turn from their wicked ways or face the consequences.

Today we have many messages from this watchman to help keep us on alert, but like the people of Ezekiel's time, we say, "'Come and hear the message that has come from the LORD.'" (Ezekiel 33:30b)  Then God revealed the truth when He told the prophet that, "My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice.  With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain." (verse 31)

How do we stay on-task during such evil times?  It is easy to get sucked into the way of thinking, living and speaking like the world around us.  Temptations are everywhere.  But I am not left without defense.  The Apostle Paul reminds me that, ". . . in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." (Romans 12:5)

We are placed in community to help each other keep from danger and we are each accountable to one another for our actions.  

Confession

We sat on the porch, enjoying the coolness of the evening.  Well, maybe my friend was enjoying it, but my insides were twisted into a knot.  God had put it on my heart to confess a certain area of sin to my sister in Christ.  Now, as the time came near to " 'fess up", I considered backing out.  What will she think of me?  

My gracious friend received the news with love and mercy.  And as I relieved myself from the burden, I found something else to be true: After I confessed, it was as if a burden had been lifted. No longer was this a deep, dark secret. . . it was out in the open.  

Incredibly, that confession was the end of that sin.  Once I revealed the dark secret and let the Light shine upon it, that sin no longer had power over me and the temptation to succumb had vanished.  


James addressed this area of acknowledgement of sin to one another in his letter to the believers scattered among the nations.  In reminding us of the importance of prayer he said, ". . .confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." (James 5:16)


I had experienced this healing that James spoke about.  Exposing my sin to the Light gave my sister the opportunity to pray for me, putting into motion the power of God in my life.  In turn, she was also able to fulfill the law of Christ by carrying my burden. (Galatians 6:2)


If I am to be accountable to my brother or sister in Christ, I will need to be honest about my areas of sin.  Confession leads to a relief of my burden and healing in this area of sin.

Live out Loud

I have heard it said that hurting people are more likely to unload their burdens at the local bar than in church.  One reason is because they won't find any condemnation in the saloon, but another explanation is that people are more authentic when they're out having a good time than they would be when they're sitting in church.  For some reason, we seem to think we need to be on our best behavior in church, putting up a front that everything is okay and I'm actually a pretty decent human being.

This runs counter to the message of the gospel!  "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  (Romans 5:8)  We don't have to be clean and perfect in order to step foot in church.  Instead, God accepts us as we are, flaws and all.  He redeemed me from the clutches of death by no effort or sense of worth on my part.  It is not my worthiness that makes me able to come into the presence of God.  Rather, it is the blood of Jesus that makes me clean and able to come into His company.

Why, then, do I insist on pretending that I'm someone I'm not?  Why do I think I need to be perfect in order to be acceptable enough to worship God in a group setting?  The church is made up of a bunch of broken people!  Until I can be honest enough to live transparently, openly admitting to my sins, the church will never feel like a safe place to confess areas of struggle.

As the Apostle Paul told the group of believers at Colosse, "Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator."  (Colossians 3:9-10)

I am a work in progress, and as such will have many rough spots left to be smoothed by my Master Potter.  I am no longer condemned, therefore I am free from the fear of punishment from my sin.  There is no need for me to hide my struggles, except to save face.  My pride encourages me to pretend I'm better than I am, but that kind of effort can be exhausting.  The sobering thought is that the One whose opinion of me should matter most, is the One who already know my heart.  I'm not fooling Him.. . and I'm probably not pulling the wool over anyone else's eyes, either.

If my reputation is more important to me than living in the way God intended, then I will be robbed of the blessing and peace found in living transparently with my family.

Submission  

There is nothing more humiliating and embarrassing to a parent than their children fighting and bickering in public.  I remember one family who I met when we were decorating the tree in the Army chapel we had just started attending.  I actually hadn't even met them, but had already formed an opinion about the lack of cohesiveness and respect within their family by observing the way the teenage sisters interacted with each other.  

"You're so stupid.  Why are you even here?"

"Shut up!  Just leave me alone, you moron!"

Their bickering lowered a blanket of negativity over the otherwise festive gathering.

As dramatic as the above scenario seemed, it pales in comparison to the kind of fights that take place today within the body of Christ.  Arguments range from disputes over the color of carpeting to be installed in the foyer to the kind of study that should be used on Wednesday evening services.  The world outside shakes it's head in disgust, not surprised that those who act "holier than thou" are really just as bad as the rest of us.

James reveals the reasons for our bickering.  He said, "What causes fights and quarrels among you?  Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?  You want something but don't get it."  (James 1:1-2)  

The Apostle Paul reveals the antidote to fighting.  "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." (Ephesians 5:21)  If I let Brother Tom have his way with the choice of carpet color, I am showing respect for Jesus, who is the head of the Church.  If I insist on doing things the way I want and dig my heals in, I am saying through my actions that getting my way is more important that Christ. 

When I get along with the Body of Christ, God is lifted high to those who are watching. Therefore, I am instructed to, "become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which your shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life." (Philippians 2:15-16)

I should not give unbelievers something to talk about in the way I interact with my family.  If I insist on getting my way, I will cause a disagreement or argument, making Jesus look bad.

Submitting to my brothers and sisters in Christ is an influential testimony to the power of God found in the gospel.

I am accountable for my actions to the family of God.  Consequently, I can learn to openly confess my sins when appropriate, live my life transparently for all to see the grace of God, and to submit to others out of reverence for Christ.

I can either live for my own best interest, or I can live as God intended.   Only one way will glorify Him. 

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will live as God intended.

How do I put up a front of perfection instead of letting others see my faults?

When do I tend to take a stand for something that will not glorify God, but will simply serve to get me what I want?

My Life as a Sermon

"Preach the word of God.

Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not."

2 Timothy 4:2 NLT

"But I don't want to!"  The sound of the whining child grated on my nerves.

"It doesn't matter if you want to or not.  The chores need to be done and as a part of this family, you need to pitch in and do your part. . . whether you feel like it or not."

Maybe this sounds familiar. . .children don't always want to do their chores.  Maybe in your house the battle is over homework or a myriad of other things.  Whatever is the source of conflict, I can guarantee that where there is a will. . . there is a battle of some kind.

As an adult, I am not immune to this childish mindset.  There are many things I don't want to do.  I don't feel like cleaning, for example. In fact, I could call myself a reluctant cleaner.  Every once in a while I'll feel inspired to clean and then I'll go crazy, getting everything spic and span.  Most of the time, however, I clean because it needs to be done.  Another thing I rarely want to do is to go to the dentist.  Again, it is something that is important for my overall health, so I make a point to do it.  

Life is filled with examples of "chores" like these.  My walk with Christ is not so different.  There are things I am called to do whether or not I'm in the mood.  I can't wait until I feel inspired or in the mood.  

One of these things is that even though I'm not a pastor, I am called to preach, whether I feel like it or not.  Some kinds of preaching can't be done from the pulpit but are best observed by onlookers watching a life that is wholly committed to Christ. 

Love

She holds the hand of the leper.  He runs back into a burning building to save a child.  She prays for the one who beats her.  Love compels people do the unthinkable, the heroic, the foolish.  

As much as I love my family and would give my life for them, I don't think I really understand the depths of God's love for His people.  It is important that I let His love sink into my very being.  Unless I truly grasp the magnitude of His love, I will not fully become the one who God has created me to be.

The Apostle Paul explained this truth to the believers at Ephesus.  "I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.  Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him.  Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully.  Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God."  (Ephesians 3:16-19 NLT)

It all begins with surrendering my all to Jesus.  As I do this, I will grow in His love and will experience more of His love.  Coming into contact with the love of Christ as I allow Him to invade my being, transforming me into His image, empowers me to love others as He does.  This is the fullness of life that God has given me; not to simply feel that love He has for me and soak in it, but to allow the love to flow over into the lives of others.

In this way I will be preaching a powerful sermon to people around me.  Scottish scholar and writer William Barclay put it this way when he wrote that, "More people have been brought into the church by the kindness of real Christian love than by all the theological arguments in the world. . ."

Loving others is not always easy; some are prickly porcupines and others are cuddly teddy bears.  If I have endured a difficult day and am in a hurry when God places a hurting porcupine in my path, I have two choices.  Either I can go with my feelings and turn away, or can I allow the love of Christ to show some compassion to someone who needs a kind word.  

The love of Christ is a sermon that will always preach, if I will only yield to the Preacher.

Joy

I remember trying to catch our neighbor's bunny.  Everyone gathered to retrieve the escapee.  We corralled, lured and chased, but nothing seemed to work.  As soon as we thought we had her, she would hop away.  A rabbit-loving friend of mine later told me that if we would have sat down and relaxed, the bunny would have come right to one of us.

Joy is like that elusive rabbit. Alexander MacLaren, a 19th Century Baptist Minister, said,  "To pursue joy is to lose it.  The only way to get it is to follow steadily the path of duty, without think of joy, and then, like sheep, it comes most surely, unsought, and we 'being in the way,' the angel of God, fair-haired joy, is sure to meet us."  

Following Jesus and giving control over to Him produces the fruit of joy in my life.  It's easy to pursue my Savior when things are going smoothly, but what about when all seems lost; when the car breaks down, the child becomes ill, or the breadwinner loses his job?  Maybe this Jesus-thing isn't working out so well, I may think.

Trusting in Jesus means letting Him decide where the path of my life goes, and which route it will take.  Knowing that He loves me, I can say that, "even though (I) don't see him now, (I) believe in him and (am) filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy." (1 Peter 1:8)

Joy comes when I continue on the path of faith, even when things aren't working out the way I want.  

Jesus

"We don't believe in Jesus."  The words hit hard.  This phrase came from the mouth of a father whose family is open to all kinds of beliefs.  All kinds, that is, except for the very One that brings life.  They have practiced Islam, learned about Hinduism, New Age beliefs and the teachings of Buddha.  They study all varieties of religions together as a family, but they deny Jesus and the message of the cross.

This is not a surprise.  It was prophesied in Psalm 118:22  and Peter talked about this dismissal of Jesus as he appeared before the Sanhedrin, a Jewish panel of judges.  He said that Jesus is, "'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.' Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."  (Acts 4:11-12)

The name of Jesus is powerful.  It is the salvation of my soul!  The world I live in, however, does not respect His name.  Characters in movies use His name as a curse word.  Others make jokes with His name.  Then there are those who deny His deity and power while claiming to have accepted the salvation that is offered through faith in Him. 

There is no doubt that the name of Jesus provides some controversy.  As His follower, I hold Him in the highest regard, as the source of my salvation. . . the rescuer of my soul from the depths of Hell itself.  I owe my all to Him.  Jesus is the reason for my faith, and salvation is the reward of this faith. 

Since Jesus holds such an important position in my life, can I give any less than my very best for Him?

There are many times when I would rather live my life for me, but claiming Christ as my Savior means I put Him first.

I could never imagine preaching a sermon, but the way I live my life says a lot about what I believe.  If the love of Christ overflows to others, His joy is evident despite my circumstances, and I give my all for Jesus, then the message I convey will be one that points to the gospel.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will preach a sermon with my life that glorifies God.

When do I let circumstances steal the joy God has given to me?

How do I live my life in such a way that says I have no hope in Christ? 

Driving Force

"May the words of my mouth

and the meditation of my heart

be pleasing in your sight,

O LORD,

my Rock and my Redeemer."

Psalm 19:14

I watched as the bird flitted around in the bushes, singing a song of praise to the One Who made him.  He jumped into the bird bath, relishing the cold water as he splashed and ruffled his downy attire.  Feathers fluttered and wings waved as the created glorified the Creator by behaving as he was meant to live.   

It's so easy for me to get caught up in living my life for me, in a way that pleases myself and depending on my own abilities and strength.  After all, that is how the world around me exists.  But I am not of the world.  I live here, but this is not my home!  As a follower of Christ, I belong to Him and His family.  Like the bird who was created to bring glory to the Creator in the way he lives His life, so I am made to live for Him.  

The driving force of my life could be to succeed by the world's standard, cultivating a successful and meaningful career, marrying and having 2.5 children, a couple of cars in the garage and a mortgage to boot.  Or, the thing that compels me and inspires me to continue on could be to live as God intended me to live when He first created me.

My Motivation

Businesses hire motivational speakers to inspire and drive workers toward a goal of pulling together to improve their performance and enhance the bottom line.  They often use stories of those who have survived unspeakable tragedies and came away with a renewed sense of purpose. 


Most of these kind of motivations for living a meaningful and fruitful life can be quite powerful, but temporary at best.  The drive to be the best I can be fades as the pivotal experience disappears from the reflection found in my rear view mirror.  The influence of the past on my future is limited.


Even my work for the Lord can start to shift toward a worldly campaign.  I can start assessing my success or failure based on statistics or production.  In this way I lose focus with that is important: pleasing God.  


As Oswald Chambers wrote in My Utmost for His Highest, "Never court anything other than the approval of God. . . We have a commercial view--so many souls saved and sanctified, thank God, now it is all right. . . Salvation and sanctification are the work of God's sovereign grace; our work as His disciples is to disciple lives until they are wholly yielded to God.  One life wholly devoted to God is of more value to God than one hundred lives simply awakened by His Spirit."  


If my goal is to triumph in the eyes of the world, I will be driven by the need to achieve.  But if my aim is to please God, I will perceive things from a godly point-of-view, focusing on the things that are important to God.   


David understood this principle; the motivation for most of his life was to win God's heart.  This showed most poignantly after he realized and repented of his sin with Bathsheba.  He knew the evil things that he had done were committed against God himself.  Then he prayed, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."  (Psalm 51:10)


For all those months he had been living to please himself, and his actions, his words, his heart were all an abomination to God.  As he came back to a right relationship with his Father, he knew that his highest desire must return to what it was before: to please God and God alone.


If the driving force of my life is to bring delight to my Lord, then the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart will be pleasing to Him. 

My Help

I remember this huge boulder in my neighbors yard when I was growing up.  It was said to have come from Mt. Rainier, a dormant volcano which loomed in my childhood skyline.  The nice couple that lived next door allowed me and my friends to play on the giant rock.  We would dig little caves underneath for our dolls, or make homes for ourselves between the trees and the hardness of the stone.  Sometimes we'd climb up on top and imagine ourselves to be explorers of a new region, setting our eyes on the fertile landscape for the first time.  We loved that rock. 

It's kind of like God in my life.  He is the fortress where I can take shelter from the harshness of the world.  When the going gets tough, I can find refuge in Him, like a safe haven that goes with me wherever I go.  During the times when flaming arrows of life are hurling toward me, He stands between me and the danger, keeping me from harm.  He is the strength that saves me.  (Psalm 18:2) 

I am often tempted to find help in other places.  I run to my friends or family, asking them for advice and guidance.  I expect my husband to always protect me.  I am hurt when friends don't provide the safe place I am looking for, instead pointing a finger and tell me where I'm wrong.  I try to find comfort and shelter in the pursuit of my hobbies, the affection of my pets or the satisfaction of a job well done.  Eventually, they all fall short.  I still need help.  

As the psalmist reminds me in Psalm 46:1, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."  Instead of going to other sources for my support, I need look no further than God.  He is always ready to help, whenever I am ready to receive.

If I look to other things for my source of help, then I will leave myself vulnerable.  If, instead, I trust in God as my ever-present source of help, then I will stand strong as a mighty oak.  

My Inspiration

Job was given a raw deal.  He lived his life in a way that please God, but the Lord allowed Satan to test him, giving him one heartbreak after another.  In one day he lost all of his children and all of his possessions in a series of unprovoked attacks and tragedies. As if this weren't enough, he was then inflicted with a horrible skin disease that covered his entire body.  Job suffered greatly.

Despite all this pain and anguish, Job did not blame God.  He lamented, he mourned, he questioned the purpose of his existence, but he didn't point the finger at His Creator.  How was he able to carry on?  The answer lies in Job 19:25-27 when he proclaimed, "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.  And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes--I, and not another.  How my heart yearns within me!"  

The hope that inspired Job to drive on, day after day as he sat in pain and suffering, was that the One who had bought him from certain death was alive and he would one day see Him face to face.  This can be our hope as well. 

Jesus made a way for me to live forever with Him when he took the punishment meant for me and my sin.  In this way, God bought me back from slavery to sin and the indebtedness I carried against Him.  I have been redeemed.  And because of this, I have hope for my future.

If the hope I have for life eternal through faith in Jesus is my inspiration, then I can endure any calamity or circumstance God brings my way.

God intends me to live in a way that glorifies Him.  But I can't do that when I am distracted by all the desires, temptations and difficulties that come my way.  If, instead, I focus on pleasing God as my motivation, trusting in Him as my help, and remembering the hope I have to give me inspiration, then I will please God as the birds do. 

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can strive to please God and make that my driving force.

How do I find my motivation in other areas besides in pleasing God?

When do I take shelter in the arms of others instead of in my Rock? 

True Worship

"Do not worship the LORD your God 

in the way these pagan peoples

worship their gods."

Deuteronomy 12:4

The man rang my neighbor's doorbell one afternoon.  Seeing that he was a solicitor for a lawn maintenance company, she told him that he was in a "No Solicitation" neighborhood as posted by the Sheriff's department on a sign positioned at the opening of the community.  He replied, "Oh, that's okay.  I'm not selling anything.  I'm just taking samples of homeowners' soil."  He then proceeded to step into her yard to do his work.  She called the Sheriff's department and charged him with trespassing.  Even though his purpose for taking the sample was to try to sell his service to the homeowner's, he had tried to pretend he was there for other reasons.  His deception got him into trouble.

Doing things my way and using my own definition of right and wrong rarely works out well.  In fact it usually ends in a mess.  I can rationalize my actions, calling it something else, but in the eyes of God it's still rebellion.  In the same way, God gave me specific instruction on how to worship Him in the way I live my life.  I can do what seems right to me, but in the end I will find it leads me nowhere and gets me into trouble.  

The message of the world in which I live leads me far away from God.  I can't combine a worldly attitude with one that pleases God. . . it just doesn't work.  If I want to truly honor God with my life, I need to live His way.

Break Strongholds

Everything that is more important than God in my life is considered to be an idol.  It could be relationships, material items, hobbies, careers or belief systems.  Whatever it is, if I can't give it up in a heartbeat without a backward glance, it is an idol.  


Back in the time of Moses, God's people had to physically destroy idols and their places of worship.  Today it's more complicated.  My idols are interwoven into my psyche, a part of my culture and way of thinking.  To break a stronghold of a certain false idea or ungodly habit, I must surgically remove it from my being and cast it away, turning my back on something that has become a part of who I think I am.  


In breaking the bond these idols hold on my life, I am giving God permission to be Lord of that area.   I am saying to God that, "You are more important to me than ___________________."


The Apostle Paul advised Timothy to teach his congregation to go after, "godliness with contentment." (1 Timothy 6:6)  It is important to constantly check myself and test whether or not God is of the utmost importance in my life.  


Pastor Paul Pepin came up with a simple "godliness with contentment" test .  He said the following will exist in a heart that is fully committed to God:  Gratefulness, lack of comparing myself to others' lives or to my own expectations, no attempt to fill a void with 'stuff', acceptance of a gain or loss in life as God's choice for me, and possession of godly ambition.


If I am to be truly satisfied in life, I must want God more than I desire anything else.  


The world says I can have it all, but God says I must make a choice.

Rejoice Together  

We live in a very individualistic society.  Family members retreat to their separate spaces to eat, study, work or relax.  The dinner table is becoming obsolete as the convenience of microwavable meals caters to our desire to please our personal desires.  People rarely get together in groups to celebrate anymore, except possibly at major holidays.  

But God desires for us to gather in His name, worshiping Him corporately, learning from His Word and sharing all that He has been doing in our lives.  In Deuteronomy 12:7, He instructed us to to go, "There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the LORD your God has blessed you." 

Since we are now considered to be the church, it matters not where we meet.  What makes the difference is that we gather together and rejoice in what He is doing.  We share our blessings as a way of encouraging each other to continue on.   We celebrate His love for us.

One of the easiest ways of doing this type of worship is to re-institute the family dinner.  As we gather around the dining room table, we can make it a point to focus on how God is working and where He is blessing.  Make suppertime a time to worship God as we meet in His name.  Jesus said, ". . . where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:20)  I can set a place for Jesus at my family's table and see what happens!

The world says "every man for himself," but God says to rejoice together as we honor His name.

Live God's Way

I tossed the instructions aside.  My husband and I were putting together a bookshelf for my daughter's birthday.  We had built a few of these kinds of pieces and were convinced that we could figure it out on our own.  Once we had it all put together the way we thought it should go, we realized we were left with one finishing piece that didn't seem to fit anywhere.  

Finally, I consulted the directions and learned that the piece of molding was to be installed toward the beginning of the process.  Consequently, we had to take the shelf apart and start over again.  Doing it our way had cost us time and caused a bit of frustration.  Additionally, the piece of molding had been slightly damaged in our attempts to assemble it the wrong way, resulting in a flawed finished product.  

In the same way, God's people during the time of Isaiah the prophet had begun to worship God in a careless manner.  They lived their lives as those who did not know God, failing to pay attention to those who needed defending like widows, orphans and the oppressed, then they arrogantly entered the temple with their required sacrifices and offerings.  

They were observing all the feasts, celebrations and times of fasting, but their hearts were far from God.  They cared nothing for what was important to God.  Instead, they tried to check things off a list, hoping they looked holy enough in their actions to get by.  They were doing things according to what they thought looked good, but completely ignored God's instructions.

When I try to do things according to my own understanding, I can easily get caught up in doing things that are detestable to God. I'm not trying to hurt anyone, it's just that I can't determine on my own what is the best way to live.  

God made me and only He knows the way I should go about doing things.   His ways are higher than my ways so there is no way I can figure it out on my own.  In order to please God, I must pay attention to what He says is important.  My heart.  My motivation.  My focus.  

Lord, give me a clean heart that only desires to please you.  

The world says to do whatever feels good, but God says to live His way.

When I try to honor God with my life but continue to live like the world around me does, my efforts are detestable to the LORD.  Instead I can choose to break the strongholds that idols hold on my life, rejoice with my family of believers in all that God is doing, and to live God's way instead of the way I see fit.  When I do this, I will worship God the way in which He intended.  

As I begin this day it is my prayer that You will be the only thing on my priority list. 

How do I continue to rely on my own way of thinking instead of following God?

When was the last time I ate a meal with my family?