The Freedom of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

I'm away from my computer for a couple of days but I wanted to give you something to think about.  It's a quote I found scribbled on a 5 x 7 card that recently fell out of my closet. Seriously.   I don't know from where it came, nor do I know the source.  But since then, I haven't been able to get the simple truth out of my mind.  I thought you might enjoy chewing on it for awhile, as well.

"The Gospel of Jesus Christ liberates you to be okay with not being okay."

Beautiful.  Insightful.  Powerful.  Liberating.

May you know this truth that will set you free (John 8:32). 

Who is Influencing Whom?

"This is how the LORD responds:

'If you return to me, I will restore you

so you can continue to serve me.

If you speak good words rather than worthless ones,

you will be my spokesman.

You must influence them;

do not let them influence you!'"

Jeremiah 15:19 NLT

Jeremiah stayed true to God, choosing the lonely existence over joining in with the crowd in betraying Him.  How was he rewarded?  With persecution, suffering and difficulty.  Sound unfair?  I guess it depends upon your perspective.  But there is something I can learn from God's response to Jeremiah's lament over his misery.

Second Chances.  The Creator of heaven and earth, the sovereign Lord over all creation, is a God of second chances.  His mercies are new every morning and He is always at work giving new life to what was messed up by sin (Lamentations 3:23,  Isaiah 43:18-19).  He doesn't look at His broken creation and cast it away like yesterday's garbage, but loves mankind enough to have given His own Son as an atoning sacrifice for all who would believe (Romans 5:8).  He could have sent His Son into the world to righteously judge His image bearers, and He would have had every right to do so, giving us all what our sins deserve.  But He didn't (Romans 6:23, Psalm 103:10).  This God of second chances sent Jesus down into the realm of men in order to save us (John 3:17).

If Jesus doesn't prove that God is a God of mercy, I don't know what will.  This means that no matter how many times I fall, I can confidently get back up again, knowing that I have an Advocate who is pleading my case with the Father in heaven (2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 1 John 2:1).  Even though I'm not perfect, I can keep pressing forward with the assurance that I'm made right with God through Jesus (Philippians 3:14, Romans 3:22).  Therefore, I can be okay with not being okay.

The Lord my God, Maker of heaven and earth, is a God of second chances.

Mouth for God.  My mind often drifts toward thoughts that do not please God, nor do they honor Him.  I obsess over trivial details, worry about my needs, am consumed by meaningless pursuits, yet rarely think about Him.  Therefore, it is important that I get a grip on my thought life, directing my mind toward what is excellent and worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8, 2 Corinthians 10:5).  Yet it's not just my thoughts that are important.  It's also what comes out of my mouth that matters.

My words can give life or death (Proverbs 18:21).  I can encourage others or I can tear them down (Ephesians 4:29).  With a single breath I can start a dispute that could destroy families, demolish friendships, or bring down church congregations (James 3:6).  Therefore, since my mouth is such a powerful tool, it is important that I use my tongue to bring glory and honor to God.

When I give it completely to God, my mouth can be used as His instrument of righteousness (Romans 6:13).

Saltiness.  Those who have given their lives to Jesus, who submit to His lordship, are the aroma of Christ in a world that stinks of sin and brokenness (2 Corinthians 2:15).  Those who are lost turn their noses up in disgust, failing to detect the sweetness wafting straight from heaven.  To those who are being saved, however, it is an aroma like no other, giving life and hope (2 Corinthians 2:16, 1 Corinthians 1:18).  It's all a matter of perspective.

It's the same with my influence.  As a fragile jar of clay that holds a precious treasure, I have the unique opportunity to change the world for the better, influence it for Christ, make an impact that will last forever (2 Corinthians 4:7, Matthew 5:13).  Yet if I am the one being influenced by the world, adapting to the way the lost think, living as if I have no regard for the sacrifice Jesus made in order to save me, then I lose my ability to shine into the darkness, to improve the quality of its brokenness, to offer hope to those who desperately need it.  If I don't stay true to Christ, letting Him transform my thinking as I go through my days, how can I serve as His Ambassador to a world that is headed toward destruction (Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 5:20)?  To retain my saltiness, I must make Jesus my greatest treasure, never forsaking Him as my First Love (John 15:5, Revelation 2:4).

Staying tight in my connection to Jesus by loving Him fully will give me a unique flavor that will influence the world for Him.

As I look around me, it's easy to see how the life of a follower of Christ is different than that of the world.  It can often be a lonely, difficult road on which to travel and I can become discouraged as Jeremiah did.  But God encourages me through the weeping prophet by reminding me that He is the God of second chances, that my mouth can be used to build His kingdom, and my saltiness to improve the world with His unique flavor.  In order for this to happen, though, I must stay true to Him and apart from the world, otherwise I'll wonder who is influencing whom.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to stick by Him, even when it makes me look peculiar to those around me.

When do I try to fit in, thus losing my saltiness?

How am I compromising my values? 

The Heart of a Weeping Prophet

"Now, Jeremiah, say this to them:

'Night and day my eyes overflow with tears.

I cannot stop weeping,

for my virgin daughter--my precious people--

has been struck down and lies mortally wounded.

If I go out into the fields,

I see the bodies of people slaughtered by the enemy.

If I walk the city streets,

I see people who have died of starvation.

The prophets and priests continue with their work,

but they don't know what they're doing.'"

Jeremiah 14:17-18 NLT

The people had made their bed and now they must lie in it, so to speak.  They would reap what their seeds of destructive rebellion had produced.  He might have been tempted to gloat or to smugly proclaim to the people of Israel that they were only getting what was coming to them.  But God gave him a different response.

What can I learn by examining the heart of a weeping prophet and thus the heart of God that will help me live in such a dark and twisted world?

Sanctity of Life.  Today's cultural and political climate treats human beings as disposable entities.  Respect of the viewpoint others hold has entirely been lost.  If I disagree with someone, it seems right to demonize them, labeling them as not just wrong but evil and the root of all that is wrong.  I am encouraged to look at those who live in a way I don't agree with as if they are less than human, inferior, and even enemies.  This leads to seeing those who are on the path that leads to destruction as one-dimensional beings, characters without a past or a family who love them, devoid of dreams and passions, regrets and struggles.    It's easy to dismiss someone as invaluable if I never find common ground or acknowledge their humanness.

The message God sent through Jeremiah revealed His attitude toward His image bearers.  Their lives are precious and each person, no matter how rebellious or thick-headed, is equally as valuable.  While God was preparing to lower the boom on His people, it was always with the hope that they would repent and return to Him.  It was never His intention to simply cast them away or cause them to suffer for the sake of making them hurt.  Each life is instead seen as sacred, and He goes to great lengths to try and draw each back to Him, holding back His wrath for longer than any deserve (Luke 15:1-7, Romans 2:4, 2 Peter 3:9).

Jeremiah the weeping prophet reveals the heart of God who values each life as sacred, and it is time that I treasure each human as He does, leaving any revenge to Him alone (Matthew 10:29-31, Romans 12:19).

Humble Lament.  I live in a culture that is uncomfortable with grief and sorrow.  I'm taught to never wallow in my sadness or troubles, but to heal and move on and quickly as possible.  As a result, I fail to fully feel the weight of my sorrow and find the acting of mourning quite difficult and unpleasant.  I tend to take on this same attitude when it comes to sin, as well.  I fail to spend any time feeling the full weight of my sin; how it affects others, the impact it has on my future, and how it hurts God.  Instead, I try not to think too much about it, attempting to unload it like a hot-potato.

Here God demonstrates through His prophet Jeremiah how to humbly lament over the suffering caused by the sins of the people.  Even though they are only experiencing the consequence of their own selfish, hard-headed, stiff-necked choices, the hurt that results is nonetheless painful.  If I turn away from my coldness of heart, this compassion of God will flow through me as well, allowing me to mourn for those who are disobedient to God (Psalm 119:136).  And when I do, God's lovingkindness may draw others to the eternal well where they will find everlasting healing (John 4:14).

Jeremiah the weeping prophet reveals the heart of God who grieves over the sin of mankind, and it is time that I humbly lament as He does.

Sobering Reality.  I don't understand why he would make such a foolish choice that is destroying his marriage and family.  She knows exactly what she's doing, I guess she's just a glutton for punishment.  He's beyond my help, I just can't reach him no matter what I do.  It can be frustrating to stand by and watch people I care about self-destruct.  And it's easy to chalk it all up to stupidity, foolishness or stubbornness.  But there is a truth that better explains their behavior, and it will help me to interact with them in a more godly manner.

Jesus modeled this for me as He hung suffering on the cross, pleading with God to forgive the men who caused him such pain.  "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34 NLT)  Jesus knew something I need to realize:  the lost are blinded by Satan who holds them captive to do his own destructive will and are filled with darkness that confuses their minds and closes them off from the truth (2 Timothy 2:26, 2 Corinthians 4:4, Ephesians 4:18).  Any who do not know Christ truly don't know any better than to sin.  I was the same way until God rescued me from my ignorance (Ephesians 2:1-3).   Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord who has liberated mankind from the power of sin and Satan (Romans 8:2, Hebrews 2:14). 

Jeremiah the weeping prophet reveals the heart of God who knows the power of the flesh and man's enemy yet offers the overwhelming victory that comes through faith in Christ, and it is time that I accept this sobering reality as He does.

I look around me in disgust, failing to see how people could be so blind as to live in such a destructive way and bring society down with them .  It's easy to take on a cynical attitude and scorn my fellow man.  But God used Jeremiah, the prophet to His people during a time of great rebellion, to reveal His own heart.  When I take note, I realize how much God values every human life, that He grieves over the suffering that comes as a result of their own foolish and stubborn choices and attitudes, and the sobering reality that they truly don't know what they do but are victims of Satan and sin.  As God's perspective sinks in and I turn away from my own prideful perspective, I take on the heart of the weeping prophet and let the heart of God shine through.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to refrain from looking down on the lost, knowing that He values each one enough to have gone to great lengths to win them back (Romans 8:32).

How do I dismiss the lost as beyond all hope because they are so deep in their sin?

How can I take steps to lament, grieving and weeping over the sins of the nation?

      

The Curse is Lifted

"Say to them,

'This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says:

Cursed is anyone who does not obey 

the terms of my covenant!'"

Jeremiah 11:3 NLT

The curse is on all who don't follow God's moral law to the "t".  What shall we do?  We are doomed for none is perfect, not even one (Ecclesiastes 7:20)!  Thankfully, Jesus Christ changed all that.  Check out the Good News (Galatians 3:10-14):

Law.  It was meant to be followed.  God gave His moral law to Moses on top of Mt. Sinai, spoken with His own voice and written by His own finger on tablets of stone (Exodus 20, Deuteronomy 9:9-10) .  These laws are foundational.  These laws are permanent.  These laws are binding.  And according to His own requirement, His people would be cursed if they didn't do as He commanded.  Yet who hasn't broken every one, at least in their heart (Matthew 5:21-48)?

If I expect the commandments of God to save me, that my effort in keeping them can earn me God's favor and mercy, making me good enough to stand up under His perfect standard, then I am under the curse as I inevitably fail.  But if I instead turn from my own selfish ways and trust in Jesus Christ and what He has done on the cross, I'm free from the curse.  For He took that curse upon Himself when He agreed to be punished for my rebellion, my failings, my shortfall, thus lifting the curse from me (Galatians 3:13, Romans 8:1-4).  Now I can live a new way, not by the law but by following the living Spirit of God that is in me (Galatians 5:18).  Praise be to God for Jesus Christ my Lord for saving me from God's curse!

God's law serves to show me how much I need Jesus.

Faith.  I want to be blessed by God, and I'm not so different from anyone else that ever existed.  All of mankind often asks God for His blessing.  He is asked to bless a country, to bless a family's finances, to bless a job search, to bless a new life.  But can He give it to those under the curse, to those who are not even aware of how much they offend God with their own sinful flesh?  To those who try to earn their way into His good graces?  To those who don't yet understand the grace and mercy He offers through faith in Christ?  Good questions.

While I may not know the answers fully, I do know this:  God promised a blessing through Abraham's offspring, a covenental blessing that would stand for all time (Genesis 12:2-3).  And this blessing comes through the person of Jesus Christ and can only be received by faith in Him.  What is this long-promised blessing?  It is the forgiveness of sins that comes by repentance and faith in Jesus,  And furthermore, this faith in Him opens up the opportunity to receive every kind of spiritual blessing that is available from God (Ephesians 1:3).  So by faith in Christ, I can boldly come before the throne of grace and ask for God's blessing (Hebrews 4:16).

I am blessed by God through faith in Jesus Christ, the One who came to restore me in right standing with God, a blessing indeed.

Belonging.  The people of Israel couldn't help but become a bit snobby.  Even though they did nothing special to deserve God's favor, His designation as His people and His most treasured possession, the nation identified by His name, they must have come to believe they were better than anyone else (Deuteronomy 7:6-8).  In His effort to keep them holy, He commanded them to avoid intermarrying with foreigners and that any priest would be defiled by merely touching a dead human body (Deuteronomy 7:3, Numbers 19:11).  While God meant to set His people apart for His own namesake, it would be easy for them to think they were the best thing since sliced bread and begin to look down on anyone not born into the nation of Israel.

Even though it could be argued that God always accepted people by faith not by family lineage or heritage, there was an advantage to being born into the line of Abraham.  Through the new covenant that was established through Jesus Christ, anyone at all can enter into the family of God simply by turning away from their selfish ways and their instinct of self-preservation, and following Him by faith (Matthew 16:24, Galatians 3:26).  Once I take on Jesus Christ as my own righteousness, I belong to Him and inherit the promise given to His people (Ephesians 1:13).  I am God's child by faith and receive all the benefits of His legitimate, well-loved offspring (Hebrews 12:7-8, 1 Peter 1:4, 1 John 3:1).

Through faith in Jesus Christ, I belong to God as His very own treasured possession.

There are so many rules given by God for me to follow.  If I try to save myself by attempting to comply to all of them 100% of the time, I will soon realize how impossible His standard is for me, a mere mortal.  If I expect to earn my way into His favor I'm placing myself under the curse that comes from breaking the law, and break it I will.  Thankfully, God sent His Son to free me from this horrible ordeal of failing to earn my keep.  By taking the curse upon Himself in dying on the cross, I can now receive His blessing by trusting in Jesus as my own Lord and Savior and thus enter into His family by faith.  Praise be to God through Jesus Christ my Lord that the curse is lifted!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to stop trying to earn His favor but simply follow Him.

When do I try to do the impossible and follow the law as a way to make myself right with Him?

How would it change things if I instead trusted in Jesus to be my righteousness?    

Lessons of Life

"I know, LORD, that our lives are not our own.

We are not able to plan our own course.

So correct me, LORD, but please be gentle.

Do not correct me in anger,

for I would die."

Jeremiah 10:23-24 NLT

Life is often a struggle, isn't it?  I don't know about you, but I often feel like a tiny boat tossed around by the waves of life.  As we share life together, let's take a moment to learn some lessons from the prophet Jeremiah's godly heart.

Ownership.  It's my life to do with as I please, to live as I see fit.  I want to do it my way, to make decisions, to take charge, and in fact have learned that this is my responsibility so that I can live conscientiously.  If things don't seem to be moving along at the pace I desire or in the direction I want, I think I need to step in and make things happen.  I only have one life to live so I want to make sure it goes the way I think it should.

In reality, my life is not my own to direct by my own understanding and faulty perspective (Proverbs 3:5-6, 14:12).  Instead, as a child of God through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, I've been bought by His blood (John 1:12, Romans 2:4, Acts 2:38) .  Now my life belongs to Him and it honors Him and is my highest form of worship when I relinquish control and hand Him the reigns (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Romans 12:1).  When I do, I'll find myself doing things I never dreamed I'd do, accomplishing goals that didn't come from me, and having an eternal impact in the lives of others (Ephesians 3:20, Jeremiah 29:11).  

Jeremiah learned that his life is not his own, and he passed the lesson on to me.

Course-setter.  I'm the captain of my destiny and my life is what I make it to be.  If I want to make something of my life, to leave a legacy and leave my mark in this world, I'm responsible for generating a motivating passion and maintaining a vision of where I think I should go.  Once I've decided upon my destination, I set my own course and formulate a plan for how to reach that goal.  If I want to live a successful life I must take the the bull by the horns and create my own opportunities.  I only have one life to live so I must do all I can to make the most of it.

In reality, the blueprint for my life is in God's hands, not my own (Psalm 40:5, 139:16).  Therefore, if I want to live the life He planned for me to live and do all the wonderful things He long-prepared for me to do, I must stick close to Him, staying in constant contact and cooperating with His transformation process (Ephesians 2:10, John 15:5, Isaiah 55:1-3) .  As He changes the way I think and alters my perspective, I see more from His point of view and can know what He wants me to do with my life and how to move forward as I encounter all sorts of situations (Romans 12:2).

Jeremiah learned that God is the one who sets the course for his life, and he passed the lesson on to me.

Discipline.  I think I'm doing well, that I've learned from my mistakes and have made the appropriate corrections.  I'm so much better than I used to be, surely God is proud of my progress and will let me rest for awhile, give me a chance to catch my breath and enjoy the fruit of my labors.  I only have one life to live and it was meant to be enjoyed.

In reality, God is much more concerned with my character than with my well-being, security and happiness.  In the words of a young missionary on the cusp of a long stint in a dark place, "God never promised to be my comfortable God but my provider God."  While I may deceive myself into thinking He would never purposefully allows hardship and trouble into my life, the reality is that His doing so is the mark of belonging to Him as His legitimate child (Hebrews 12:8, Romans 5:3-5).  If God didn't love me, He would leave me as I am.  But His love drives Him to constantly work to shape me into the image of His Son, a process that lasts a lifetime and often involves suffering and adversity (Romans 8:28-29, Philippians 1:6).

Jeremiah learned that God is a loving Father who disciplines His children, and he passed the lesson on to me.

Life is hard, and it can be difficult to negotiate its rocky path, especially as a follower of Christ.  No one knew the cost of obedience more than the prophet Jeremiah so I'd be wise to learn the lessons he left behind for all of mankind.  I can realize my life belongs to God from the moment I gave up ownership through repentance and faith in Christ, that He sets the course for my days, and that discipline is part of the package-deal.  These are the lessons that will help me run my race for the glory of God so that I won't lose heart and give up before I reach the finish line!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to stop trying to control my own life.

When do I resist His course corrections?

How am I afraid to let God have complete control?    

One True God

"But the LORD is the true God;

he is the living God, the eternal King.

When he is angry, the earth trembles;

the nations cannot endure his wrath.

Tell them this:

'These gods, who did not make the heavens and the earth,

will perish from earth and from under the heavens.'"

Jeremiah 10:10-11 

How do we go about living in a world that honors tolerance of all religions except the Gospel of Jesus Christ?  I feel intimidated in the face of angry accusations of intolerance, hate, and judgementalism.  Yet I know the truth; all mankind will be judged by the One True God and there is only one name under heaven by which we can be saved from the condemnation our sins earn us (1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Hebrews 9:27, Acts 4:12).  Am I not here to revere Him in speech,action and attitude?  Before all of mankind?  To honor Him by openly extolling His virtues, sharing of His love, and for those who are deceived into following any other god or belief system, to warn them that they are following a dead-end religion that has no power to save them?

Yes, I am, for there is only One True God!

Living.  He is alive.  He is able to be known and to intimately know His own created beings.  He constantly thinks about those He made in His image, perceiving even the thoughts and understanding each quirky way.  Even when I don't grasp my own intricate inner-workings, He is very familiar with every nook and cranny of my being (Psalm 139:1-3).  And this real God desires to be found (Jeremiah 29:13).  He doesn't make it difficult to connect with Him.  In fact, He wants so much to be in touch with each of His children that He didn't even let sin stand in the way, but went so far as to send His Son as a sacrifice to atone for man's sin and to restore the relationship He so desires to share with each human (Romans 8:32). Through rejection of my innate, fallen nature and faith in Jesus Christ, I can find what it means to know and be known by the One who made me for Himself (Romans 4:25-5:2).  

In contrast, all other gods are made by man and are dead, inanimate object who cannot be known any more than I can know my coffee mug or share intimately with my computer or car.  I may feel affection for such objects, but they have nothing to give in return besides the function for which they were created.  Similarly, religious belief systems may have a long history and complicated standards to follow yet none address the problem of sin nor have the power to save me from my own destructive destiny.  While many claim to find peace, meaning or a measure of help within their chosen faith, there is only One who truly delivers such benefits.  This is because the Maker of heaven and earth is the living God.

To operate in a world filled with false gods and belief systems, I must strive to honor the living God above all else, pointing others to Him.

Everlasting.  He always has been and always will be.  There is no limit when it comes to Him, no end to His power, no boundary when it comes to His abilities, no beginning or end to His very existence (Isaiah 40:28).  There is nothing He cannot accomplish, no capability He does not possess.  He can do anything He wants, is never frustrated by His lack or obstructed by incompetence (Ephesians 3:20, Genesis 18:14).  If He is for me, then there is literally no one who can be against me, because no one or no thing can stand in His way, stopping Him from accomplishing His will (Romans 8:31). 

In contrast, all other gods are temporary figments of man's imagination who are impotent and finite as a result.  Just as Tinkerbell cannot truly give me the ability to fly nor is there a genie in a bottle somewhere who can grant me three wishes to enhance my life, any god other than the One who made all things is unable to deliver on its promises, give what it claims or do as it says.  Wouldn't it be the loving thing for me to do, then, to help those caught up in the deception of false religions to examine their beliefs, to discover the Truth and thus be free of the bondage of traveling down a path that will never lead them to life (Matthew 7:14, John 10:9)?  There is only One God who can be trusted, and He is the everlasting God who will never perish.

To live in a world filled with false gods and belief systems, I must strive to point others to the everlasting God.

Authority.  He is to be feared.  Why?  Because He has the authority to judge, to condemn, to punish.  While it is my sin that truly condemns me, it is God's perfect standard that shows me how much I offend Him, that illustrates my need for a Savior, that highlights just how corrupt I am (John 3:18, Romans 7:7).  He fills all creation with awe because of His majestic might, and no one can stand before Him without the benefit of an Advocate (Psalm 76:7-8, 1 John 2:1).  We all are completely at His mercy, and it is by His word that we exist (Titus 3:4-5).

In contrast, there is nothing to respect when it comes to other gods or the words that are attributed to them.  They have no authority to judge, nor the power to carry out their threats.  Neither do they have the right to forgive anyone of their sins.  Only One is the Judge, and only One offers forgiveness through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ (James 4:12, Ephesians 1:7). Since the life of every man is in His hands, I can help those caught up in false religions to come to the understanding that only the Lord our God is to be feared.

To live in a world filled with false gods and belief systems, I must fear the One True God alone and help others see they are also at His mercy.

I'm constantly being bombarded with the message that all religious belief systems are equally as valid and to be honored.  If I truly care about those who are caught up in deceptive religious practices, however, I would take the time to help them examine their beliefs with the hope that they would come to their senses and see that there is only one living, everlasting God who reigns with supreme authority (2 Timothy 2:24-26).  This is how to live in the world of tolerance.  It may be risky, but is there any other way to honor God as the One True God?

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to speak the truth of His sovereignty into the dark world around me.

When am I afraid to speak out?

How do I deny God's power by failing to share the Gospel with the lost?

              

How to Boast

"This is what the LORD says:

'Don't let the wise boast in their wisdom,

or the powerful boast in their power,

or the rich boast in their riches.

But those who wish to boast

should boast in this alone:

that they truly know me and

understand that I am the LORD

who demonstrates unfailing love

and who brings justice and

righteousness to the earth,

and that I delight in these things.

I, the LORD, have spoken!'"

Jeremiah 9:23-24 NLT

Everyone boasts at one time or another. In fact, I live in a culture that encourages me to look out for my own self-interests before I consider anyone else, to promote my own agenda, toot my own horn, boost my self-confidence by extolling my own virtues.  It shouldn't be surprising, then, that those who brag the most are the most full of themselves and their own wisdom, power and riches, who bought into the lie that the world is their oyster and it revolves around them.  

If I'm ever tempted to boast, I want to do it in a way that pleases God, not in order to pump myself up.  Here is how to do it.

Intimate Knowledge.  The more I know, the more there is to talk about.  As I walk with the Lord my Shepherd in humble submission, I learn more about Him and what makes Him tick.  I discover all the ways He accomplishes the impossible as I witness the work of His hands in the everyday.  Resting in all Jesus has already done for me, I am filled with awe when I behold my Father's loving care and the patient, gentle way He molds me into the image of His Son.

The more I know of God, not as book knowledge stored in my head for future reference, but as a greater awareness that forms as I undergo on-the-job training in how to operate according to His Spirit, cooperating with Him and letting Him have His way, the more I have to tell (Romans 8:14).  As He becomes bigger and I become smaller, He takes up more of my consciousness and I start to think about Him more and more (Matthew 6:24) .  I realize everything points to Him and His majesty, and I can't help but sing His praises, taking after David who relished every opportunity to tell about God's greatness (Acts 4:20, Psalm 36:5-9).

If I want to boast, may I boast in all I am learning about God and who He is to me.

Unfailing Love.  There is much talk as of late about love.  I hear people say that people can't help who they love, that love makes the world go 'round, and that tolerance of one another's lifestyles is a way to demonstrate love.  While love between two people is a beautiful thing, it is far inferior to God's brand of love.

His love never runs out and bides its time, isn't rude, pushy or selfish and doesn't have a thin skin.  There is never a worry that God is taking inventory of all my failings because this goes against His character of love.  He's not happy to see me fall, but lives to witness me grasp the truth and rise out of the ashes.  With His love, I am strengthened and can face anything, never feeling doubt or despair, and I discover that there is no end to its power (1 Corinthians 13:3-8).  It's the greatest of all that exists in the here and now yet lasts forever (1 Corinthians 13:13), and it was best proven when Jesus died for sinners on the cross (Romans 5:8).  God's love gives me something to talk about (Psalm 89:1)! 

If I want to boast, may I boast in God's unfailing love (Isaiah 54:10)!

Justice and Righteousness.  Without God, I have no idea what is right and what is wrong.  If I depend upon my own sense of righteousness, I judge inaccurately every time, with me coming up smelling like a rose and everyone else stinking up to high heaven.  If it wasn't for God writing His law on my heart, I wouldn't know truth from fiction and I'd be destined to bear the consequences of my own destructive fate (Romans 2:15).  As it is, I'm dead in the depravity of my flesh, unable to stop from doing what I've been shown is wrong (Ephesians 2:1, Romans 7:21).

Thankfully, through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, the penalty for my sin has been paid through His sacrifice on the cross (1 Peter 2:24, 1 Timothy 2:6).  In God's perfect sense of justice, my sin must be dealt with (Romans 6:23a, James 1:15).  It cannot go unpunished.  Out of love and obedience to His Father, Jesus took my sins upon Himself and His righteousness is then transferred from Jesus to me by faith (2 Corinthians 5:21).  In this way, God's justice is served and I'm made right with God, though sinful to the core.  I'm deemed as righteous by faith and I can now rest easy that I can live the rest of my days in peace, connected to Him.  No more must I fear death and the judgement that comes after (Hebrews 9:27), because Jesus stands as a advocate, pleading my case before the One whose wrath I fear with a holy respect (1 John 2:1-2).

If I want to boast, may I boast in the fact that God's justice has been satisfied and righteousness delivered through the person of Jesus Christ.

It's easy to talk about myself when my own selfish desires take up most of the scope of my vision.  My own plans, my accomplishments, my dreams are my favorite topic.  Since I'm so bent on tooting my own horn, I might be surprised to discover boasting is not a bad thing.  As long as I'm at the center of my world, however, I won't see any other reason to brag.  Once God replaces myself as the sun in my universe, I'll take every chance I can to tell others about all I've learned of His greatness, of His unfailing love and how He has satisfied His own sense of justice and given me His righteousness through repentance and faith in Jesus.  Now this is something about which I can boast without guilt!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to let Him take up more of my vision.  

When do I focus only on myself?

How am I intent on tooting my own horn?   

  

Who am I Hurting?

"'Pray no more for these people, Jeremiah.

Do not weep or pray for them,

and don't beg me to help them,

for I will not listen to you.

Don't you see what they are doing throughout the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?

No wonder I am so angry!

Watch how the children gather wood

and the fathers build sacrificial fires.

See how the women knead dough

and make cakes to offer to the Queen of Heaven.

And they pour out liquid offerings to their other idol gods!

Am I the one they are hurting?' asks the LORD.

'Most of all, they hurt themselves,

to their own shame.'"

Jeremiah 7:16-19 NLT

I dishonor God by failing to acknowledge Him as sovereign and staying true to Him alone.  But mostly it hurts me as I remove myself from all that is good and right (James 1:17).  How so?

Cultivate.  What seeds am I sowing?  What attitudes do I nurture?  What activities and mindsets do I promote, especially as a parent and a believer who is always watched by those around me?  If I look closely, I discover that I cultivate a spirit of busyness, pride in accomplishments, emphasis on education yet I ignore God, as if He is simply a means to another end.  Instead of looking to Him as the Source, as the Purpose, as my All in all, I use Him as the power to drive my agenda and to make my own selfish plans come to fruition.

While this sort of ungodly focus does fail to show respect and regard for God who is worthy to be praised at all times, it also hurts me.  It is to my own shame that I fail to see the value in connecting with God throughout my day, in teaching my children to look to Him as their source of wisdom, understanding and help, in growing in my bond with Him by trusting Him with every decision that must be made and every insecurity that wears me down.  I am made for relationship with God so when I neglect this higher purpose, I am missing a big chunk of what it is to be human as my Creator intended.

When I commit to cultivating my relationship with God, I am opening myself up to many blessings.

Dedication.  I faithfully attend church every time the doors are open.  I can be counted on to raise my hand whenever help is needed.  I'm devoted to the disciplines of my faith; reading the Bible daily, praying, fasting, discipling others.  I work hard to live a pure and holy life as is expected of me (1 Peter 1:15).  While I know the law doesn't save me, I try hard to adhere to it out of reverence to God.  Yet something is missing.

On the surface, it seems I am living the kind of life that would please God, that would give Him great pleasure, yet I'm missing the point.  You see, I am dedicated to a religion instead of a relationship with God.  I fail to perceive the God who is behind everything I'm doing as a living, breathing God who can be known and who desires that I grow closer to Him each day.  As my bond with Him grows, I'll find I'll want to gather with other believers and serve as He moves me.  As He and I become more intimate, I'll discover that a deep desire for the disciplines will well up inside of me like a hunger that must be satisfied, and a longing will develop to walk according to His indwelling Spirit who leads me in a way that honors His law (Galatians 5:16-18).  I am made for God, so when I dedicate myself to religious activity, I am missing out on the sweet thrill of drawing close to the One who made me and loves me perfectly.

When I dedicate myself to the Lord Himself as a living, breathing God, I am opening myself up to many blessings.

Sacrifice.  There are many gods to whom I can sacrifice.  I give up family time, a social life, and my health in order to taste success.  I surrender free time so that I can build up my bank account as I believe every responsible adult should.  I want a nice house and car so I work hard and reward myself with the finer things.  In order to taste happiness, I go after my dreams.  

This is the way most of us live our lives, willingly giving up lesser things in order to gain what is deemed as more valuable.  Yet in my desire to realize the American dream, I forget about the One who gives me life and breath.  Without Him, I wouldn't even exist let alone be able to run after all that I think will fulfill me.  I can even fool myself into believing that Jesus died so I can taste a rich and meaningful life, so He must want me to live life to the fullest, making the most of every opportunity to reach my full potential.  The problem is, I ignore God Himself, failing to realize the best way I can keep from wasting the one life I've been given is to honor Him by giving myself to Him as a living sacrifice, offering myself up as an instrument of righteousness to be used as He best sees fit (Romans 6:13, 12:1).  This is the kind of sacrifice that He desires.

When I sacrifice myself to the Lord, I am opening myself up to many blessings.

I dishonor God in many ways as I fail to acknowledge that He is at the center of all things.  I nurture the wrong things, commit myself to religion or tradition, and I surrender myself to what is temporary and shallow. When I live in such a way, I do more damage to myself than to God.  I was meant for so much more than all these things.  I was made for Him, and when I cultivate a bond with Him, dedicate myself to Him, and sacrifice my own will for His, I will discover what it is to live the good life.  I am only hurting myself when I live fail to live for Him!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can taste the riches God has in store for me by drawing close to Him.  

When do I focus on doing for God instead of getting to know Him?

How much do I know God for myself?

     

Religion is Not the Answer

"But I will be merciful only if you stop your evil thoughts and deeds and start treating each other with justice;

only if you stop exploiting foreigners, orphans, and widows;

only if you stop your murdering;

and only if you stop harming yourselves by worshiping idols.

Then I will let you stay in this land

that I gave to your ancestors to keep forever."

Jeremiah 7:5-7 NLT

I live in a land that values freedom.  As a result, according to the Bill of Rights, I have the liberty to live as I see fit, to live out my faith, to live according to God's moral standard.  Yet I fail to take advantage of this freedom and begin to coast along, veering away from God's intended purpose for His people.  Many hearts have likewise turned away from Him.  

I see how far removed from God we've become as a nation, but I can't imagine He would take His hand of mercy away from America because of our forefather's acknowledgement of Him.  But I'm wrong.  We are not special because of our heritage or our freedom.  And just because religion is everywhere and I'm free to believe whatever I want does not mean God looks the other way when it comes to the hearts of His people.  What then must I do to turn this country around?

Repent.  Soup kitchens.  Charity.  Volunteerism.  Elderly visitation.  Shut-in ministries. Prison outreach. There is a myriad of opportunities for believers to invest in the community, to get involved with the good God is doing, to shine their light.  As I see the world become darker, it's my tendency to amp up my efforts as a way to counteract the evil, to overwhelm the bad, to outshine the darkness.  But does all my hard work do any good?  Does it make a difference in the eternal scheme of things?  Does it make a dent in the change that must come?

I'd like to think my commitment to giving back to my community will help combat all that's wrong in this country, but the real problem has already been solved by a Savior who gave His life in order to make a way for mankind to be reconciled with God and thus find a better way to live (2 Corinthians 5:17-18).  Jesus is the key that opens the door to right living, and only by turning away from my old ways and committing to Him by faith can I follow His indwelling Spirit and do what pleases God in order to accomplish that which makes an eternal difference (John 15:5, Galatians 5:16-17, 22-23).  If even a third of Americans repented of their sins, wrong living, and harmful attitudes and actions, turning to Jesus by faith, think what a difference it would make in the atmosphere, in the direction we are headed as a nation, in the tone of politics.  The Light would shine into the darkness and the darkness would not be able to put it out (John 1:5, Psalm 18:28).

The answer is not a commitment to a tradition of doing good but in an intimate relationship with a living God through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.  

Exploitation.  A heavy burden is placed on many shoulders.  Much is expected of even the weak among us.  The vulnerable are oppressed, held back by the overwhelming load adding to their already uphill battle.  Instead of feeling hope and support from those who call themselves church family, the poor, the orphan, the widow, and the unbeliever feel discouraged and ostracized, shamed by their position and circumstances, crushed by the weight of their helplessness.  Some are even pushed into unthinkable solutions to unbearable problems as the life of the innocent growing inside her young womb is snuffed out in an effort to give her a future.  Those in charge call it a necessary evil in order to bring about the greater good.  The church often gets the cart before the horse and fails to follow the leading of the Spirit of God in ministering to the needy.  Thus, man messes up what God intended.  

Much exploitation occurs within the walls of the church when the helpless and hopeless come to her for assistance.  Instead of offering true Life, healing, purpose and an eternal future through repentance and faith in the Christ, programs are presented, forms are filled out, inconceivable resolutions are offered, unreasonable expectations are required.  If all who came to the Body of Christ for help became part of His family by faith, they would receive all they ever needed from their Father above (Matthew 6:33, Philippians 4:19), and He would often use His people to give what is necessary.  Then the kingdom of God would grow and His culture of perfect provision would prevail.

The answer is not an investment in the religion of following rules made by man but in an intimate relationship with a living God through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

Deceit.  Many popular teachers speak words that sound good, tell me what I want to hear, give me a feeling of well-being that serves as a pick-me-up (2 Timothy 4:3).  Their ratings soar as their books fly off the shelf.  As a result of their fame, I buy into their brand of religion, believing the deceptive teachings that make me the center, the focus, the emphasis.  Instead of mankind's purpose being to bring glory to God and enjoy a close bond with Him, the reason for living that comes from their mouths is all about my fulfillment, my happiness, my success.  I begin to fashion my own god based on what I hear and he takes on a life of his own as I cuddle up to this soft and comfortable idol who resembles little of what makes the One True God magnificent and worthy of praise.  

I'm seeing a trend in "Christianity" today where beliefs are based not on God's Word, but have been adjusted to accommodate the culture, the flesh, and is based on man's own understanding.  Not comfortable with the exclusive nature of marriage?  Man's solution is to expand it's parameters and include all who claim to love each other truly.  Not sure if a loving God would really judge His image bearers based on their sin?  Man's solution is to deny the coming judgment and fashion a god who is not offended by sin (1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Hebrews 9:6, Psalm 51:4).  Don't like the idea that we must give up our independence, our bent toward the flesh in order to follow Jesus?  Man's solution is to present a God who accepts us as we are, sin and all and gives us a life that is easy, where all our dreams come true (Matthew 16:24-25, Romans 3:23, 6:23).  If all who sought God accepted Him as He is through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, our culture would become more pleasing to God and pleasant for mankind.

The answer is not adherence to a set of comfortable beliefs created by man to suit his needs, but in an intimate relationship with a living God through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

When times get tough, people often go to church.  But religion will not save us from the direction our country is now headed, or from the consequences of our actions. We need a more permanent solution that is offered to those who let go of their own desire to control and do things their own way and surrender by faith to Jesus Christ.  He is the answer because faith in Jesus reconciles man with God, connecting believers to the One who can set all things right again.  Let us not wait.  May many turn to Jesus now, for He is the answer!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to accept the solution He offers.

When do I try to solve problems my way?

How have I drifted away from the reality of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and bought into something else altogether?