Eyes of Faith

"Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said,

'We should go up and take possession of the land,

for we can certainly do it.'"

Numbers 13:30

God promised a land flowing with milk and honey.  I'm sure each Israelite formed a picture in their own mind of what that looked like.  Some probably expected abundant fruit, others looked forward to a land to call their own, while still others anticipated peace and prosperity.  Whatever they imagined, I'm sure they didn't expect what they actually received: A land abundantly filled with rich resources yet occupied by giant, powerful people.  It wasn't quite what they envisioned.

Its not so different with me.  I read of God's promise to bring good out of every situation, but my definition of "good" differs from God's.  Therefore, when God's good is delivered, I don't recognize it but label it as difficulty, hardship or impossibility.

This Christmas, let me take on eyes of faith.  As I celebrate the most generous gift of all delivered through the lowly birth of a babe who seemed to be anything but a king but in actuality was a Savior who rescued me from eternal death and ushered me into His kingdom as the precious child of a loving God, let me see the world through kingdom eyes.

Let me see things with an eternal perspective instead of expecting to receive my reward or blessings now.  Let me notice how God is growing me, using the hard times to transform my mind and heart.  And let me see how God's definition of good is so much better than mine.

Jesus is the fulfillment of the greatest promise ever made and the perfect example of how God's good came in an unexpected package.

Attitude of Gratitude

"Now the people complained about their hardships

in the hearing of the LORD,

and when he heard them

his anger was aroused.

Then fire from the LORD burned among them

and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp."

Numbers 11:1

Christmas is the time of year when hearts turn toward giving and we are more inclined to practice generosity, acts of kindness, and hospitality.  Unfortunately, it is also a time when a spirit of discontent can rise up as I focus on all the things I don't have but would like to acquire.

The Israelites possessed this same spirit of discontent and ingratitude, inciting the fierce anger of the Lord.  What was it about their attitudes that evoked such a response from our patient and generous God?

God's people were focused more on the hardships than on the blessings, on what was missing than on what was provided, and on how it could be better than on how good it already was.    In other words, they craved more than what God had provided, thus sending Him the message that His provision was not enough.  As a result, they completely missed the chance to acknowledge the miracle of God's deliverance and subsequent provision and refused to trust God in His continuing, sovereign plan.

I'm not so different.  I complain about my health, or my finances, or my sorry state, pointing out all the things that I think are wrong instead of noticing everything that is right.  God is displeased with my negative eyes that betray my lack of thankfulness to my Father who is faithful to give me all that I need.  (Philippians 4:19, Matthew 6:32)

This Christmas, I want to take the message of Isaiah 43:18-19 to heart, leaving behind my low expectations based on my past experiences and instead look forward with gleeful anticipation to all that I believe God will do.  If I look, I will see His hand at work all around me, providing abundant blessings that I didn't expect. 

Instead of feeling sorry for myself for what I don't have, I choose to feel abundantly blessed for what I do have.  Everything I possess comes from God, so an attitude of gratitude is one that continually gives thanks to Him for His extravagant goodness.

As if to prove the point, God sent the gift of His precious Son as evidence of His abundant blessing upon me.   Jesus is the best example of God's great love for me and is the most extravagant gift of all. (Romans 5:8, Matthew 1:21)   

Principle of the Wave

"Aaron is to present the Levites before the LORD

as a wave offering from the Israelites,

so that they may be ready

to do the work of the LORD."

Numbers 8:11

I spent little time tending to the fruit trees.  A friend of mine told me I needed to fertilize them, but I never got around to it.  It was no surprise, then, that when it came time to harvest there was little fruit to find and minimal growth to detect.

I can expect to get out of my garden in proportion to what I put into it.  This principle is also found in the wave offering, a special offering established by the Lord where people would bring thanks, oath or other voluntary offerings and wave them before the Lord in the Tabernacle.  This waving motion was a symbol of how we give to the Lord and then He gives back to us.

Jesus taught this same idea when He said, "Give, and you will receive.  Your gift will return to you in full--pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap.  The amount you give will determine the amount you get back." (Luke 6:38 NLT)

When I give my attention, time and gifts to the Lord, pouring my life out to Him like an offering, I receive as much, if not more, than what I give. (Romans 12:1)

Experience

I had never done anything like it before.  It was hard to even picture myself teaching a class of children.  Still, I stepped forward in faith, responding to the call to teach Sunday School that I sensed God placing on my heart all those years ago.  Week after week I presented the lessons.  Month after month went by as I learned valuable lessons and gained understanding and know how into the craft of teaching.  By the time my family and I moved away from Ft Bragg, I had learned many valuable lessons and acquired 3 years of experience in teaching children.

My confidence in the Lord's willingness to give me the tools necessary to accomplish the mission to which He called me grew as I trusted Him enough to act on His calling on my life.  If I had sat back, afraid to try, I would never know the awesome power that comes when I place myself in His hands and trust Him fully to equip me for the job at hand.  After all, it is not up to me to carry out the task.  Rather, it is God working through me Who is faithful to complete the work He desires to be done.

Therefore, when I offer myself to Him, I need not be afraid of what He will ask me to do.  Like Moses learned when he offered God every excuse in the book as to why he couldn't go to Pharaoh to deliver the message God had for him, I will find out that my success or failure is not based on my own skills, worth or abilities. (Exodus 4:11-12) Instead, the accomplishment of the mission to which God has called me is entirely based on His power working through me.

When I use the gifts God has given me, I gain experience and confidence in the Lord.

Faith

The boy offered all he had to give; five small loaves of bread and two little fish.  What good would that do in feeding a crowd of five thousand men plus uncounted women and children?  It turns out the small offering was more than enough.  Jesus took what the boy had given and multiplied it until they were overflowing with food.  When the feast was over, the disciples collected up twelve basket-fulls of leftover bread. (John 6:1-14)

It goes without saying that the faith of those gathered there that day grew as they witnessed such an astounding act of God's power.  No one had ever seen such a thing!  From that time forward, these people began to consider Jesus, if not the Messiah, at least as a prophet from the Lord.  The witnesses knew there was something different about this Jesus and there is no doubt that they would pay attention to whatever He said from that time forward.

My faith also grows when I step out into the dark, scary places to which God has called me to go.  As I see Him work through me, providing for my needs, supplying the tools necessary, and affording me the energy required, I am more likely to respond eagerly the next time He calls and the easier it is for me to believe that God is who He says He is.   

As a human, it is hard for me to believe something I cannot see with my own eyes.  Ironically, faith requires me to do just that:  to be sure of what I hope for but have no physical evidence to back that expectation up, and to have a conviction of the reality of these things of which I have no proof of their existence. (Hebrews 11:1)

When God says, then, that there is nothing that can separate me from His love, I will be able to take Him at His word and walk boldly through the shadow that crosses over my heart, bringing me into a time of grief and suffering that leads me closer to Him.  (Romans 8:38-39)  When He reminds me that there is nothing I can do of eternal significance apart from Him, I will be able to believe enough in what He says to cease all the meaningless activities and service and focus solely on where He is leading me.  (John 15)  When He tells me there is no need to fear because He is with me, I can trust Him enough to know my feelings of isolation and loneliness are not accurate. (Psalm 23:1-4, Psalm 139:5-10) 

The more I offer of myself to the Lord, the more my faith in Him will grow as I see God work in and through me.

Intimacy

My husband lost his brother in a shooting a year ago.  At the time, it was hard for any of us to comprehend that this fun-loving father of five was gone.  There was much grief and sorrow as my husband thought about all times he had shared with his little brother and of the years ahead that would be devoid of his presence.  As our family walked through this dark time, we each turned to the Lord for comfort.  As we did so, we experienced the kind of healing that only He can bring to those with a broken heart. (Isaiah 61:1-3, 2 Corinthians 1:3-5)

Walking with the Lord through difficulty leads to a deeper bond with Him.  As I draw near to Him to find comfort, guidance and reassurance, He comes closer to me in response.  (James 4:8)  Similarly, as I trust God enough to step out in faith in obedience to His calling, I will find in return a closer bond with Him.  The more I trust Him, the closer I will grow to Him.  

Not only will I find that my relationship with the Lord will be tighter as I give of myself, but my bond to other believers will grow stronger as well.  As I give to the Lord of my life, trusting Him enough to live authentically before Him, others will be drawn to what God is doing in me.  As I work side-by-side with my brothers and sisters in Christ, we will grow closer as we share our hearts with each other.  

Serving God and others in obedience to His calling leads to a closer relationship with the Lord and His family.

In Old Testament times, the wave offering demonstrated the principle of giving and receiving found in God's kingdom that I can still experience today.  When I give of my life to the Lord, sharing the time, gifts and talents He has so generously bestowed upon me, I will find as much if not more coming back to me.  I will gain experience, faith and intimacy with God and others as I give of myself in faith.  This is the principle of the wave offering.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can remember all the benefits that are mine if I would trust God enough to move my feet in the direction He is pointing me.

When do I fear so much that I'm paralyzed, unable to obey the Lord?

What have I gained from giving to the Lord?    

Wave Offering

"Moses, Aaron and the whole Israelite community

did with the Levites just as the LORD commanded Moses.

The Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes.

Then Aaron presented them as a wave offering

before the LORD and made atonement 

for them to purify them.

After that,

the Levites came to do their work at the tent of meeting

under the supervision of Aaron and his sons.

They did with the Levites just as the LORD 

commanded Moses."

Numbers 8:20-22

It was a strange turn of events.  What once was traditionally a part of the peace offerings that were given to express gratitude to the Lord, in fulfillment of a vow and to convey thanks for benefits thusly received, or to simply offer something out of devotion to the Lord, now took on a whole new twist.  In the past, these offerings were given, in part, as a way to provide for the priests. (Leviticus 7:28-34)  Once they were waved before the Lord as a special presentation to Him, whatever was offered by the people became the property of the priests. The offering was waved toward God and then back toward the priests as a symbol of how God provides with what was offered to Him. Now, however, Moses told the people that the Levites themselves were to be presented as a wave offering before the Lord.

This reminds me of Jesus.  First the sacrifice of animals was given as the way of atonement for God's people. (Leviticus 4-6) Then Jesus Himself became the sacrifice offered before the Lord as a punishment for my sins and a way to make me right with God.  (Romans 3:25)  As He willingly gave His life, Jesus provided a way for all those who believe to receive atonement.  He gave, we receive.

Supernatural

She was powerless to help herself.  The girl was drowning and she needed someone to save her or she would sink down to the bottom of the lake and meet her demise.  She tried to stay afloat by kicking her legs, but she must have been doing something wrong because it did little to keep her head above water.  As the fatigued young woman bobbed up and down, she cried out with all her might each time she came up for air.  "Help!"

Suddenly, a savior grabbed her from behind and towed her to safety.  Without the lifeguard's help, she would have died.

In the same way, I am completely powerless to save myself from the predicament in which my sin has placed me.  I can put as much effort into meeting God's standard, but I fail every time. (Romans 3:23)  The Lord, in His holiness and righteousness, condemns me to hell because of this failure.  (Romans 6:23)  If someone doesn't intervene, I'm destined to spend eternity apart from God, suffering as a punishment for the sin I can't help but commit. (Romans 7:18-19)

Suddenly a Savior reaches out His hand and snatches me from the jaws of death.  Before I even knew I needed Him, He rescued me from eternal suffering. (Romans 5:6-8) Jesus Christ, in dying on the cross, accomplished for me what I was unable to do for myself:  He took the punishment meant for me, satisfying God's righteous requirement for my sin and giving me a clean slate. (1 John 4:10, Hebrews 2:17)  

Jesus Christ, in offering Himself as a sacrifice to satisfy God's wrath against me as a helpless and condemned sinner, provided a way for me to be reconciled to God.

Free

"Free Stuff."  I spotted the sign on the side of the road as I drove out of the neighborhood.  Someone had piled some of their belongings at the curb in front of their house in an effort to get rid of things they no longer needed, offering the items to whoever wanted to haul them away.  As a result, my family gained enough landscaping bricks to create a border around a flowerbed in our backyard.  

It's hard to believe that I could receive something for nothing.  In this world, if something is labeled as "free,"  there is usually a catch;  a fee that must be paid, or a contract I'll unwittingly enter into, or a hidden agenda I won't discover until it's too late.  Even the bricks that I paid no money for required some labor to haul them to my house and then into the backyard.  There is always some kind of price that must be paid.

When Jesus died on the cross, however, He paid the only price that was required for my sins.  When He uttered the words, "It is finished," He signaled to us that He had completed the mission He was sent by His Father to fulfill; He had paid the penalty for all of my sins.  There is nothing I can do to earn the benefit of eternal life and reconciliation with a holy God that is found in Christ Jesus.  Instead, this salvation is a free gift from a loving God.  (Ephesians 2:8)

Sometimes I might think I need to earn my salvation by doing good deeds.  It just seems too good to be true that I could gain such riches for free.  Other times I might begin to think I must be on the right track or that I've gotten on God's right side in order to receive such a valuable gift.  I may even think I can't accept such extravagance, that my heart is just too black.  In all instances, I must realize the complimentary nature of the gift means that my salvation cannot be earned and is not at all connected to my performance, whether good or bad.  (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Jesus Christ freely gave Himself as the perfect sacrifice for my sin so that I can freely receive salvation from the separation from God I rightly deserve.

Undeserving

"You deserve a break today."  This was the advertising slogan for McDonald's from 1971-1975, 1980-1983, and again from 1989-1990.  This successful campaign worked because it spoke to the very heart of our sin nature: We deserve all the best life can give us.  We think that we work hard, we do our best and should therefore be rewarded for our efforts.  

When I take this fleshly principle and try to apply it to the salvation that comes freely through faith in Jesus Christ, I wrongly believe that I deserve to be saved.  Or, on the flip side, I don't believe I'm good enough to receive such a costly gift so I turn it down, unable to accept the fact that I could be an heir to righteousness through simple faith.  (Romans 4:13-16, Romans 8:17, Romans 3:22)

In reality, the gift of salvation I receive through Jesus Christ is not based on my worth, my performance or my standing in life.  Instead, it is entirely rooted in God's great love for mankind.   If it wasn't for His love, I would be left standing on the outside of His kingdom, feeling the full brunt of His wrath. 

Jesus Christ gave Himself as a sacrifice for my sin, not because I deserve to be saved, but because God loves me enough to rescue me from certain death for all of eternity. (John 3:16)

I see the Levites being presented as a wave offering whose service benefited the people as a type of Christ.  Christ's loss was our gain.  This unspeakable gift is as a result of a supernatural work of God, at no cost to me, and stands apart from my own worth.  In these ways, Jesus is a kind of wave offering that provides eternal benefits for those who believe in Him.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will never forget the price that Jesus paid so that I can be made right with God.

When do I take this gift for granted, living my life without thought to what He has done for me?

How do I feel I don't deserve such extravagance and reject the freedom that comes through faith in Christ?

Tools

"The LORD said to Moses,

'Accept these from them,

that they may be used in the work at the tent of meeting.

Give them to the Levites as each man's work requires.'

So Moses took the carts and oxen to the Gershonites,

as their work required,

and he gave four carts and eight oxen to the Merarites,

as their work required.

They were all under the direction of Ithamar 

son of Aaron, the priest.

But Moses did not give any to the Kohathites,

because they were to carry on their shoulders

the holy things, for which they were responsible."

Numbers 7:4-9

My husband and I struggled to remove the spark plug from our large SUV.  It was difficult to access the plugs and we reached the point of frustration where we wanted to give up.  What good is it to do something ourselves if we're going to waste so much time? I thought.  Out of desperation, my husband went to the auto parts store and soon came back with a new tool.  Soon, he had the job done.  A job goes well when one has the proper tools.

When it comes to my faith, God provides the tools necessary for what He has called me to accomplish.  I may not always believe it, but I can step forward in faith with the grace God has given me.  The rub comes when I realize that the gifts I've been given differ from what those believers around me have.  As Paul teaches in Romans 12:6 that, "We have different gifts according the grace given to each of us."

Therefore, it is important that I respond appropriately. 

Avoid Comparison

From a young age, my sister possessed a gift for accompanying choirs and musical groups on the piano.  She used this skill through college, working with various ensembles and forming lasting bonds as she traveled to perform in different locations.  After she married, she was able to use this gift to minister to the congregation in which her husband served as youth pastor and sometimes accompanied him as he used his beautiful voice to sing God's praises.

By comparison, I felt like a useless lump of clay.  I never could play the piano well enough to do what my sister did; what purpose did I serve?  I often felt inadequate when measuring my worth against my sister's purpose.  Falling into the trap of comparing myself to others always leads to despair and a feeling of failure.

The Apostle Paul addressed this problem when he taught, ". . . our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it.  How strange a body would be if it had only one part!  Yes, there are many parts, but only one body." (1 Corinthians 12:18-20 NLT)

As absurd as it would be if my own body was only made up of an eye, or a hand, this is a good picture of what I do when I expect to be able to serve the body of Christ in the same way my sister does.  Even though we come from the same family, we have not been given the same talents and gifts.  Therefore, I would be wise to joyfully support her, as well as my other brothers and sisters in Christ in the use of their gifts, and stop comparing my own place to theirs.

When I focus too much on what others are doing, not only does it put me at risk for feeling inadequate but it works to minimize my own ministry, distracting me from the task at hand.  (Galatians 6:4-5)  I must instead keep focused on what I'm called to do.

It reminds me of mezzo-soprano Susan Graham when she was an up and coming opera star.  Writer Jamie Schilling Fields attempted to compare her to a legend in opera circles by asking her if she was the next Cecilia Bartoli.  Graham responded by saying, "I'm not sure I want to be the next anyone.  I'd rather be the first Susan Graham."

I, too, should only attempt to be the best me God intended and stop comparing myself to others.

God has provided me with all the tools necessary to accomplish the mission He has designed for me so I would be wise to avoid comparison to others.

Accept Place

No matter what I planted around the maple tree in our front yard, it would soon die.  I tried cheerful Marigolds, colorful Impatiens and even bright Begonias, but nothing survived.  Finally I planted Liriope, a grass-like evergreen plant that sports purple spikes of flowers in the summertime, and it thrived in the conditions found at the base of our tree.

In the same way that the Liriope flourished in the environment where nothing else survived, so I am called to bloom where God has planted me.  When God saved me by His grace through faith in Jesus Christ from the eternal punishment my sins deserve, He made a new place for me in His kingdom.  Part of the purpose, then, that comes out of God's plan for my life is a path that He has designed for me to walk. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

This path is specially prepared for me.  Many times, however, it may not be the way I dreamed of traveling, or the direction I imagined my life going, or it may seem steeper than what I'd rather climb.  Since God is the one with the blueprint for my life, however, I would be wise to accept the place where God has placed me.

When I accept the difficult ministry to which God has called me, I will find the grace I need to move forward.  If I try to do something else that seems more comfortable, not only will I be butting in on someone else's job, but I'll be neglecting the duty to which I've been assigned.

It reminds me of an embarrassing situation from my youth.  I was a newly minted lifeguard and had been hired on at a local water park.  My job was to stand guard at the activity pool where kids could swing on ropes and play in the water.  I needed to take a bathroom break but couldn't get the attention of any of the other guards so they could cover my area.  Out of desperation, I simply walked away from my post, leaving this part of the pool unguarded.  My actions did not please my supervisor, to say the least.

Just as I jeopardized the lives of the children under my watch when I left my post, so I could cause others to suffer if I don't do my part in the body of Christ.  No one else has been assigned the role I'm expected to play.  Therefore, if I don't do it, no one else will.

There might be an elderly person in the local nursing home who desperately needs the encouragement I'm expected to give, or a hungry child who needs the hug that comes with the food I've been destined to deliver, or a despondent woman who will only be touched by the music that comes from my fingers as I play a favorite hymn.  If I am unwilling to serve as I've been called to serve, who will take my place?

God has provided for me all the tools necessary to accomplish the mission He has designed for me so I would be wise to accept the role He has assigned for me to play.

Embrace Gifts

She did what she was asked to do, but not willingly.  My daughter grumbled the entire time she cleaned the bathroom.  Since she was assigned this least-favorite job, she knew it was up to her to do it, but she wasn't happy about it.  And she let everyone know just how miserable she was in her attitude and demeanor.

While it would be easy for me to chastise my daughter for her poor attitude, I can't be too hard on her since I am often guilty of doing the same thing.  There is a difference between doing just enough to check a task off the list, and completing it to the best of my ability.  One is only concerned with finishing it, while the other desires to do the best job possible.

As a follower of Christ, I am called to do my best, doing even the most menial of tasks as if I were laying it like an offering at His feet.  (Colossians 3:23)  In this way, my willing spirit brings glory to God.

If God has given me the gift of service or helping others, then, I am to throw myself into the task wholeheartedly, doing it as if my life depended upon it.  If He has equipped me to teach, I must prepare fully, making sure I glean every tidbit of wisdom God intended from a passage in order to benefit all who listen.  If He has bestowed upon me the ability to lead, I am to guide with confidence and assurance, thus bringing honor to God's name. (Romans 12:6-8)

God has provided me with all the tools necessary to accomplish the mission He has designed for me so I would be wise to embrace my gifts and use them wholeheartedly.

In the same way that God provided the amount and type of tools necessary for the Levites to carry out their jobs, I have been given the amount of grace needed to use the gifts I've been given.  Therefore, it is important that I avoid comparing myself to others, accept the place where God has placed me, and sincerely embrace the gifts He's given me.  In these ways I'll use my tools wisely for the glory of God.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can accept the calling God has placed on my life.

When do my eyes wander, desiring another gift instead of what I've been given?

How am I rejecting my gifts in my poor attitude?

Blessing on God's People

"The LORD said to Moses,

'Tell Aaron and his sons,

This is how you are to bless the Israelites.

Say to them:

""The LORD bless you and keep you;

The LORD make his face shine on you

and be gracious to you;

the LORD turn his face toward you

and give you peace.""

So they will put my name on the Israelites,

and I will bless them.'"

Numbers 6:22-27

There were dozens of kids that flowed through our house when my family ran a free afterschool program ministry. Many neighborhood children felt comfortable in our home.  Even though we welcomed them with open arms, there was not one who was allowed to open our refrigerator or use something from one of our closets.  Only those who were a part of the family were extended those privileges.

When I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior, I entered into a familial relationship with the Creator of all things.  As part of His family, I have been blessed by my Father in ways unbelievers have not.

Favor and Protection

It was easy driving despite the heavy snowfall.  Even though the white stuff was piling up quickly, I was able to negotiate the road with no trouble, thanks to the plow that cleared the way ahead of me.  There's no doubt about it, the best place to be while driving in a snowstorm is behind a snow plow.

This reminds me of the favor of God.  When I am wholeheartedly devoted to Him, He makes the way clear for me. (Proverbs 3:5-6) Even the things that seem like obstacles or difficulties are transformed into good things when I incline my heart toward God and His purposes.  (Romans 8:28)  The Lord doesn't stop there, however.  For those who belong to Him through faith in Christ Jesus, He keeps close, protecting and guiding every step of the way.  (Psalm 37:23)

With such benefits as these, it would be easy to think I somehow deserve everything I get or that, in the words of a song from the 1965 classic The Sound of Music,  "I must have done something good."  Instead, God lavishes His favor and protection on those who have called upon the name of Jesus Christ because of His great love.  If only I could fathom just how deep is this love. (Ephesians 3:18)

When I see the provision of His mighty hand at the hour of most desperate need, I see evidence of this love.  Or when I experience the opening of doors before me, as if by magic, I know of His love.  Or when I walk boldly to His throne to receive all the mercy and grace I need to stand strong in my faith, I have seen His love. (Hebrews 4:16)

God freely gives the blessing of His favor and protection to those who trust in Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Presence and Grace

He stands at the door knocking.  Many are too busy to even hear the light rapping on the door of their heart.  Some are even diligently working to further the name of the One who is seeking entrance. More are distracted by all the responsibilities piling up around them, drawing their attention away. Still, He knocks.  The Lord Jesus Christ only enters into a life when He is invited. (Revelation 3:20)

Perhaps I have taken that first step and accepted God's free gift of salvation that comes through faith in Christ.  (John 3:16)  If I never go further than that, though, I miss out on much of the blessing He has for me.  You see, the Lord wants nothing more than to share in every aspect of my life.  As His child, this is one of the benefits that comes with being a part of His family.  It is up to me, however, to let Him in.

When I open up my heart to the Lord, allowing Him access to the inner parts of my life, I will enjoy the intimacy of His constant presence.  (Psalm 139)  Even though He is always there, my insistence on keeping my old sinful ways can cast a shadow on His presence, blocking the refreshment that comes from Him.  (1 John 1:5-10, Acts 3:19-20)  Turning away from the sin that so easily entangles, however, will result in the blood of Jesus to flow over my sins, setting me back into the Light where I can enjoy the One who loves me best.  

There is no doubt that God loves me.  He proved His great love for me by sending His beloved Son to die in my place.  (Romans 5:8, John 15:13)  The only thing that remains, then, is for me to enter into His loving company, partaking of the relationship He is so hungry to share with me.  He loves to take part in my life and give me good things.  (Luke 11:13)  When I delight in Him as He does in me, He will change my desires and give me all sorts of things I don't deserve. (Psalm 37:4)

I will find a loving family all around that cares enough to lend a helping hand. (Galatians 6:10)  I will also be comforted in ways I could never imagine by the Father of compassion. (1 Corinthians 1:3-4)  Furthermore, I'll enjoy a nearness to my Father as I humble myself before Him, and He will bring rich significance to my once empty life.  (James 4:8-10)

God wants to be with me as His child through faith in Jesus Christ and enjoys giving me things I don't deserve.

Acceptance and Peace

She waited in agony for several weeks.  When she was getting to the end of her rope, my daughter came to me near tears saying, "I'm worried about the test.  Everyone else has already heard the results but I haven't received any news."  At that moment, her sister walked into the room and handed her an envelope.  The mail carrier had just delivered the news that my oldest daughter had passed the state board exam and was now approved to practice as a licensed cosmetologist.

In the same way my daughter felt relief at her acceptance into her chosen profession, I have received a similar gift through faith in Jesus Christ.  The difference, however, is that there is nothing I have done to receive this approval from the Lord. He expects perfection and I am far from reaching that standard. (Romans 3:23) 

Graciously, Jesus took the penalty for my sin when He died on the cross, making my faith in Him all that is necessary to receive God's approval. (Romans 6:23)  I am then invited into His family, approved because of the blood of Jesus that makes me appear as white as snow. (1 John 3:1, Isaiah 1:18)

I don't have to change before I can receive this acceptance into God's family.  There exists no requirement that I get my life together before I'll be allowed in.  It is not necessary for me to clean up and get myself right before I can receive this free gift of salvation.  Instead, I am accepted as is; simply on the basis of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.  When He willingly gave His life, He made a way for me to be received just as I am. (John 10:18, Romans 5:8)

This gives me peace with God.  I no longer am considered His enemy because of my sin.  Now, I can live in harmony with Him, and experience a quiet calm in my heart as I know my place in His family.  There is nothing that can steal that quiet confidence that comes from knowing that God has my back.  (Psalm 139:5, Romans 8:31)

Through faith in Jesus Christ, I have been accepted just as I am and now enjoy a peace I never before knew.

As a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ, I receive a blessing that is reserved by the Lord for His people.  He shows His favor and protection, is pleased to be with me and give me what I don't deserve, and to accept me as is, resulting in peace that can't be understood.  In these ways, I have received the blessing that comes to God's people.  

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can live as one who was bought at a price.

When do I push God out of my life, even though He desires to be with me every moment of the day?

How do I live as if I'm a reject?    

Holiness of God

"The LORD gave these instructions to Moses:

'Command the people of Israel to remove from the camp

anyone who has a skin disease or a discharge,

or who has become ceremonially unclean by 

touching a dead person.

This command applies to men and women alike.

Remove them so they will not defile the camp in which

I live among them.'"

Numbers 5:1-3

Completely conquer the inhabiting peoples.

Make no treaties with these nations.

Show no mercy to these people groups.

Don't intermarry with these foreigners.

Destroy religious artifacts and altars of these nations.

God gave this list of instructions to His people before they entered into the land He had promised them but which was inhabited by seven powerful and mighty nations.  When God gave these commands, it was with the intention that His chosen people were to remain pure and true to Him, not because they were special in and of themselves.  Instead, they were only considered to be exceptional because the Lord had chosen them.  (Deuteronomy 7:1-6)

I'm sure the Israelites were not so different from me, sometimes thinking there was something special in themselves that stood out, grabbing God's attention and motivating Him to choose them as His own.  To make it perfectly clear, though, God reminded His people that He had chosen them simply because He loved them and that He had promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that He would. (Deuteronomy 7:7-11)

Getting back to God's insistence on purity, I have to ask, Why was it so important that God's people be pure?  He didn't want them to be contaminated by disease, foreign gods or anything unclean.  Adherence to such rules could easily make them think they were better than all other peoples.  This, however, was not the intention.  Instead, God wanted His people to practice purity because He as their God, and now as mine, is holy.

Higher

They thought they had God all figured out.  They told Job all about the One who created them from nothing.  Job's friends put the suffering man on trial, treating him like a criminal and trying to force a confession out of him.  Instead of comforting him, they found themselves defending God and lecturing Job on the reasons for what they saw as punishment.

It wasn't long before God responded.  When He did, there was no doubt as to Who was supreme and sovereign.  He asked such questions as, "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?" (Job 38:4) and "Have you visited the storehouses of snow or seen the storehouses of hail?" (v 22)  The Lord drilled Job with queries like, "Is it your wisdom that makes the hawks soar or spread its wings toward the South?" (Job 39:26)  Job and his friends were definitely put in their rightful place and they came away humbled.

God's ways are much higher than mine.  (Isaiah 55:8-9)  I cannot expect to understand or even fathom His purposes.  Therefore, I must trust Him with my life, knowing that His plan is best yet realizing that I may not comprehend why He is leading me down a certain path.  Instead, it is my job to follow, leaving the "why" and the "how" up to Him.  

So when I am stricken by illness after illness, leaving me feeling like a useless shell of what I used to be, I can look to the One who directs my footsteps and know that He has a plan for the pain.  Or when I go through times of want, struggling to make ends meet, I can look for the lessons He is teaching me in the middle of the desert.  Or when I feel like I am all alone, ceasing to sense His presence despite my searching, I can remember that I stand in the shadow of His Almighty.

The holiness of God reminds me that His ways are much higher than mine and can never be fully understood.

Worthy

"I just want you to know that you deserve the best.  You are beautiful." Lil Wayne

"Timidity keeps people from their good.  They are afraid to say, 'Yes, I deserve it.'" Maya Angelou

"You deserve to be happy.  You deserve delight."  Hannah Arendt

Is it any wonder that we live in an age of entitlement?  We are constantly bombarded by such self-absorbed messages which appeal to our sinful natures.  After all, who doesn't want to be the center of attention and receive the best out of life?

The problem is, however, that God did not create me to get all the things I think I deserve.  Instead, He created me for His own purposes, and He is the only one who deserves anything at all.  In fact, since this is His creation, I would even go so far as to say that I should learn to be thankful that He even gives me my next breath.

Instead, I often adopt the attitude that I've worked hard and I deserve a break.  Other times, I justify my sinful ways by listing all the things that I think I do right.  Sometimes, I even find myself thinking I have earned some kind of benefit or reward due to my effort or attitude.

These are the times when I must remember that only God is worthy to be praised and exalted. (Revelation 4:11)  Even though I want recognition for a job well done, the Lord is the one who deserves all the credit.  Without Him, I would not even have the tools or even the life to accomplish anything.

Even though I think my sin is not a big deal in the scheme of things, God is the only One who can judge my heart.  Even though I've decided that my endeavors have earned me something good, only God is righteous enough to offer blessing or curse.

Instead of focusing on my own value, then, I would be wise to consider the worthiness of God to be praised and exalted above all things.  It is easy to either lift myself up too high, or not see any merit in myself at all.  In the place of putting myself on the scale in the first place, I can keep my attention on the One who created me in His image, knowing that He is the only One who is worthy to be praised. (Psalm 145:3)

The holiness of God reminds me that He is the only One who is worthy to receive praise and honor, keeping my attention fully on Him.

Majestic

The mighty mountain peak towered above the surrounding land, reigning over the plains and valleys.  Everyone who visited the Puget Sound area marveled at the beauty and majesty of Mount Rainier.  

Like a snow-covered mountain peak that can take my breath away, God is similarly majestic in power and authority.  There is nothing God cannot do and no place where He cannot visit.  As Moses and Miriam sang after God delivered them on dry land through the Red Sea, rescuing them from the persistent and powerful Egyptians, "Your right hand, O LORD, is glorious in power.  Your right hand, O LORD, smashes the enemy.  In the greatness of your majesty, you overthrow those who rise against you.  You unleash your blazing fury; it consumes them like straw."  (Exodus 15:6-7)

Since God is for me through faith in Jesus Christ, who can be against me? (Romans 8:31)  Who can thwart the plans of the Almighty?  Who can trip up His purposes for my life?  Therefore, I can trust Him to do what is right, to lead me on the path that is best for me, and to protect me from those who want to harm me.  

The holiness of God reminds me that He has power and authority over all things making Him the only One who can be trusted to lead me into the unknown of tomorrow.

God wants me to live a life of purity because of His holiness.  This means that He is a God whose ways are higher than mine, who is the only One who is worthy to be praised, and who is majestic in power and authority.  When I dedicate myself to living a life set aside for Him, I end up glorifying these attributes of my holy God.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can worship the holy God in the way I live my life.

When do I take His holiness lightly?

How do I lower God's status in order for Him to meet my own standards?