Why?

"When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon,

he said,

'The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.'

'Pardon me, my lord,' Gideon replied,

'but if the LORD is with us,

why has all this happened to us?

Where are all his wonders that our ancestors

told us about when they said,

"Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?"

But now the LORD has abandoned us

and given us into the hand of Midian.'"

Judges 6:12-13

I hear it all the time, and you probably do too.  In fact, maybe you've wondered this as well.   "If God is such a good God, why did He let such evil happen?"  It's a fair question.  Gideon had similar doubts about the benefit of God's presence.  He wanted to know what good it does for God to be with them if oppression and suffering still occurred.  Maybe there's more to it than meets the eye.

Wake-Up Call

The harsh sound of the ringing phone assaulted our senses, waking up our entire family of six.  "Sheesh, that wake-up call could raise the dead!" I mumbled, grumpy from the early-morning racket.  

"Well, you did say you didn't want us to sleep through our alarm this morning,"  my husband graciously reminded me as he stepped into the bathroom of our hotel room.

"Yes, but neither did I want to pull a muscle in my neck!"  I grumbled, rubbing the throbbing area just above my pajama collar.

In the same way that it sometimes takes a loud alarm to wake me from a sound sleep, God often resorts to using difficult circumstances to draw me back to Him, waking me up from the kind of stupor that comes from mindlessly wandering away.  When things are going well, I often drift away from Him, thinking I've got it all covered on my own.  As soon as the temperature starts rising, so to speak, I can clearly see how much I need the Lord.

There are many ways I live my life as if I'm in a sound slumber.  I push along, reaching for personal and professional goals that have nothing to do with God's intended purpose for my life (Ephesians 2:10). In my own way of thinking, it seems like a good thing to shoot for, but I foolishly neglected to include God in my decision-making process (Proverbs 14:12, Proverbs 3:5-6).

Other times I go through the motions of accomplishing all the good deeds I think a good Christian should do.  I read my Bible, attend church, meet with other believers, and help others.  Still, my heart feels cold as a stone (Isaiah 29:13).

Many times I'm at risk of forgetting the grace by which I draw each breath.  As I walk further along the road, it's easy to slip onto the destructive path where rules become most important.  I mistakenly think I can please God by upholding a high standard for myself, using my own strength to try to become more patient, loving, kind and gentle with each passing day.  In reality, there is no fruit apart from Jesus (John 15:5, Galatians 5:22-23).

When I drift away from God, He will use whatever means possible to bring me back to Him.

Blinded

He healed the man born blind, but still the Jewish leaders would not believe.  Instead of taking such a miracle as a sign Jesus was of God, they questioned the newly-sighted man, seeking to find the answers that would agree with their own faulty premise.  Clearly, these Pharisees were blind (John 9).

I can be similarly blind, choosing to see only that which supports my own way of thinking.  Instead of opening my mind to the unlimited possibilities of God's sovereign nature, I limit Him. 

Despite all the miracles Moses witnessed God perform, he sometimes suffered from this same kind of spiritual blindness.  When the people he so faithfully led out of Egypt began to complain about their circumstances once again, craving meat to supplement the constant supply of manna, God told Moses He would supply an overabundance of meat for them to eat.  Apparently forgetting to whom He was talking, Moses said, "'Would they have enough if the flocks and herds were slaughtered for them?  Would they have enough if all the fish in the sea were caught for them?' The LORD answered Moses, 'Is the LORD's arm too short?  Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true for you'"(Numbers 11:22-23).

Sin tends to blind me to the truth.  My flesh trains me to see with earthly eyes so that I only notice that which lines up with my own way of thinking.  If I want to see God at work, then,  I'll need to take on His perspective.

This means I must look at the big picture, keeping in mind that God has a master plan which includes using everything for my good (Romans 8:28).  I might also find it necessary to focus only on the evidence of God's work in my life, surrendering all the potholes, obstacles and burdens to Him for safekeeping (Matthew 11:28, Exodus 33:14).  In order to see the good God is doing, I'll also need to let Him be God, realizing I won't always understand everything that is happening (Isaiah 55:8-9). Instead, I must trust Him as sovereign over all things (Daniel 4:35).  

When I am living in a state of spiritual blindness, I will no longer notice the benefits of God's presence in my life.

Fallen World

Cancer.

Divorce.

Accidents.

Chronic pain.

Sudden death.

People who love God with all of their heart, who have dedicated their lives to following Jesus, often suffer greatly.

Living in a fallen world is not what God intended for us.  When He made all things at the beginning of time, He saw that His creation was good (Genesis 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31).  Then, sin entered the world.  When Adam ate the fruit God forbade him to consume, death became a reality for all of mankind.  It is only through Christ that we are delivered from such condemnation (Romans 5:12-21, John 3:17-18).

As a result of the destructive nature of sin, death is all around me.  Weeds threaten to choke out the vegetables I so carefully cultivate.  Everything moves toward a state of chaos and ultimately falls apart and disintegrates over time.  By the age of forty, most people notice their eyesight failing in one way or another.

Relationships also fall victim to the effects of sin.  Married people tend to drift away from each other.  Children automatically rebel and challenge their parent's authority in one way or another.  Friends find themselves at odds as each goes their separate ways.

Followers of Christ are not immune to the consequences of living in a fallen world. 

It's easy to ask, "Why?" when things get difficult, wondering what good God is doing if He doesn't bother to protect me from the bad stuff.  Hard times, suffering and pain, however, are not evidence that God has abandoned me.  Instead, He could be using the very thing that brings me great heartache to draw me back to Him.  It could also be that I'm not noticing all the good because I'm only looking at the bad.  Other times, my difficulty could simply be the result of living in a fallen world.  Whatever the reason for my pain, of one thing I can be sure:  He is with me (Psalm 16:8-11)!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will replace "why?" with "Who?"  The answer will then always be, "God."

How am I blind to all the good God is bringing into my life?

When do I blame God for something that is as the result of sin?


Originally published on March 17, 2014

Less is More

"The LORD said to Gideon,

'You have too many men.

I cannot deliver Midian into their hands,

or Israel would boast against me,

"My own strength has saved me."'"

Judges 7:2

John the Baptist knew this truth well.  He was created for a specific purpose; to prepare the way for the coming Messiah.  Once he saw Jesus taking His rightful place as the chosen One, John declared the fulfillment of his purpose in saying, "He must become greater; I must become less" (John 3:30).

In the same way that John understood the importance of letting Jesus have supremacy, I must take on the same mindset if God is to get all the glory in my life.  If I want to truly experience my purpose, He must become greater and I must become less.  In the kingdom where Jesus reigns and I desire to dwell, less is considered to be more.

Confidence

"I wish I had a fraction of your confidence."  I often say this to my dear husband who is overflowing with what I often lack.  Even though I tease him about his boldness and self-assurance, I know it is not really in his own capabilities that he trusts.  Instead, I know that my husband simply has faith in what God can do through him.

My problem is that I have a hard time getting over myself.  I am not so different from Moses in this way.  When he stood before the burning bush, receiving a powerful calling from God through a most extraordinary delivery method, Moses couldn't get over himself.  Are You sure You've got the right guy? (Exodus 3:11) What if the people don't listen?  I'm not one of them and I don't know what they call You! (v 13)  What if they don't believe me?  (Exodus 4:1)  Each time, God reassured Moses, giving him the answer he needed or a sign to prove His purpose.  

Then Moses got to the real issue: he didn't think he was capable of doing what God was asking him to do. I've never been good at speaking.  I'll never be able to speak in a way that anyone will listen.  I'll make a fool of myself!  ( Exodus 4:10)  Still, God calmly encouraged Moses with the truth that He made His mouth and was perfectly capable of giving him the ability to speak when the time came.  Trust me, Moses.  I'll be with you every step of the way (v 11-12).

Unfortunately, his own insecurity was too much.  Moses just couldn't picture himself standing in front of all the people, delivering a message he feared he couldn't give. Please, can't you send someone else?  This lack of faith angered God. Fine, I'll send your brother, Aaron, as your mouthpiece (v 13-17).  I can relate.

If I could only grasp what the Apostle Paul seemed to understand:  The weaker I am, the better.  The less of me there is, the more of God there is.  My own frailties are only an opportunity for God's strength to prevail (2 Corinthians 12:9).

In God's kingdom, the less able I am, the greater is the opportunity for God to shine.

Wisdom

I don't know enough to do this job.  What if someone asks me a question I can't answer?  What if no one else is there to lead and I am asked to step up?  What if. . . what if. . .  The "what ifs" often keep me from going where God is leading me.  What I often fail to understand, though, is that less is more in God's kingdom.

I don't need to possess all the wisdom I think is necessary before I start doing what God is calling me to do.  God is the One with all the understanding.  If I trust Him enough to step out in faith, believing that He will equip me once I accept His calling on my life, I'll find Him faithful to supply what I need at just the right time (Proverbs 9:10). The only qualification necessary for doing what God wants me to do is to be connected to the Source of all good things (John 15:5).

As I value Him above everything else in my life, His Word will become like vital sustenance to my soul.  I'll find that I can't begin the day without drinking in His living water.  A deep hunger will arise that can only be satisfied with a thorough study of the Bible and a meditation of the meaningful truths that come forth as a result.  

I may not be wise in the ways of the world nor in the realm of academia, but even the lowest thought that God can muster is wiser than anything that comes out of the world (1 Corinthians 1:25).  Everything I need to know is found in relationship with Christ.  The closer I get to Him, the more I will understand about the things that matter most (Colossians 2:2-3).   While the world may not recognize this brand of wisdom, I will never be sorry that I sought after it. 

In God's kingdom, wisdom flows from my relationship with Christ, not from the potency of my brain power.

Ambition

"You can do anything you put your mind to."

In the world in which I live, I am constantly bombarded with the message that I can reach any goal I set as long as I try hard enough.  Ambition can buy me the American dream, the fulfillment of my aspirations and the success I've always wanted.  As long as I work consistently and purposefully, I can hit any target for which I aim.

While this philosophy may (or may not) work in the world's economy, it certainly is not appropriate in God's.  In His kingdom it is less my own effort and more of God's grace that is vital.  In the world, I am the maker of my own destiny.  In God's kingdom, He is the Master Potter who created each of His own with a specific purpose in mind (Isaiah 45:9). Therefore, my role is to submit to His Lordship and allow Him to lead me through my days.

This means I must spend less time in trying to reach the goals I have set for myself, and more time in learning about the plan God has for my life (Jeremiah 29:11-13). I must decrease the amount of effort I put into getting ahead and increase the exertion I make into growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ Jesus (2 Peter 3:17-18).  I must put forth less energy into doing what I think looks religious and focus more intently on my relationship with the God who loves me unconditionally (1 John 4:16).

In His so-called Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught some radical truths as He revealed His kingdom to a hungry crowd.  He said it was time to cease running after all the things I think I need.  To me, this seems like a crazy concept.  Wouldn't I be irresponsible if I don't take care of my basic necessities?  I ask myself.  While the world may think so, Jesus had His reason for teaching such a radical idea.  He was trying to convey to those who would follow Him that we have a Father who knows our needs and is perfectly able to supply them.

Since I possess such a Father, I am free to live with the liberty of wholly focusing on Him and His kingdom.  I can devote myself to the work He has set aside for me to do, knowing that He will give me what I need to live (Ephesians 2:10). Or, as Oswald Chambers said, I can dedicate my life to Jesus Christ and pleasing Him.  "Learn to discern where the ambition leads, and you will see why it is so necessary to live facing the Lord Jesus Christ."  Any other direction will take me away from Him.

In God's kingdom, the less ambition I possess to attain worldly success, the more I have left to run to Jesus.

The values of God's kingdom are upside down and backwards to what I find in the world around me.  Therefore, it is important that I keep in mind that my confidence comes less from me and more from God, lasting wisdom is found in the mysteries revealed by the One who desires to be known, and the drive to succeed in this world can be replaced by a determination to grow closer to God.  In these ways, less is more in God's kingdom.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can step back from the world's economy and take stock of how much I have invested there.

When do I rely on my own understanding instead of seeking the wisdom of God?

How am I ambitious for success but indifferent toward my relationship with God?   


Originally published on March 20, 2019

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So What?

"Then the LORD turned to him and said,

'Go with the strength you have,

and rescue Israel from the Midianites.

I am sending you!'

'But Lord,' Gideon replied, 'How can I rescue Israel?

My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh,

and I am the least in my entire family!'

The LORD said to him,

'I will be with you.  

And you will destroy the Midianites

as if you were fighting against one man.'"

Judges 6:14-16 NLT

My dog ate my homework.

The sun was in my eyes.

I forgot.

I ran out of time.

These are common excuses I've heard throughout my life.  While it is tempting for me to use excuses to justify my failures, it doesn't do anything toward solving the problem my sin has created.  It takes humility and spiritual maturity to be able to own up to my weaknesses and wrongdoing.

As if it wasn't bad enough for me to try to explain away my failure to do right when dealing with humans, it simply isn't a good idea to try this same tactic when it comes to God.  Still, it doesn't keep me from trying.  Usually, my insecurities and fears drive me to such a point.

When God calls, I have a million excuses:  I'm ill-equipped, not well-suited, afraid, inexperienced.  What I must remember is that God calls the weak to shame the strong in order to receive all the glory for what is done and to keep me humble (1 Corinthians 1:27-29).  Therefore, I must trust Him and remember the only thing that matters; He is with me!

Wisdom

The world says that wisdom comes with experience and age, honed over the years when one has gone through difficult circumstances and come out on the other side with lessons learned and understanding gained.  God, however, says something different.

He says that He is the source of all wisdom.  When I need to know what to do, how to handle a situation or how to best use the resources God has given me, He will show me if I trust Him fully.  I must believe with all of my heart that He holds the answer to every question, the solution to all problems and the key to every locked door (James 1:2-8).  If I'm not completely confident in His ability to supply the know-how and understanding I need, He will withhold wisdom from me.

When I don't respect God as the giver of all good things and the dispenser of all that I need, I will doubt, thinking I may need to consult a wise friend to confirm His answer (Psalm 111:10).  Other times I may think it foolish to only depend on God to show me the way, wondering, what if He's busy or what if I miss His cues?  I could even prefer to listen to "an expert" since his advice sounds so practical and common-sense.  Whatever my excuse for not seeking God, it will only result in missing His guidance. 

When I seek the world's brand of "wisdom" I will find myself going after that which does not honor God.  My mission will become to elevate my own agenda and to win at all costs.  I'll look out for my own best interests and forget about others, figuring they can fend for themselves.  Jealousy will rear it's ugly head and I'll find myself miserable.

The wisdom God dispenses liberally, however, is wholly intent on honoring Him and furthering His purpose.  It doesn't promote the common practice of using others to get what I want but sees all people as bearers of God's holy image.  Peace will follow as God gets the glory for what He is doing in my life (James 3:13-18).

When I trust God enough to answer His call on my life, He will give me wisdom to know how to live.

Strength

I am weak.  As someone who has been given physical strength, however, this admission does not come easily.  While it may be natural for me to lift a heavy box, take two steps at a time, or open a tightly-closed jar, it's not so easy for me to do what is outside of my comfort zone.  For this, I need the strength of the Lord.

God is faithful to provide the power I need to love those who treat me with contempt.  It takes His strength to show kindness and compassion to someone who constantly throws sharp barbs at me.  Often, though, the harshest among us are the ones who are hurting the most.  God's love could break through the hard shell they've erected for protection.  

He is also the only One who can lift me up out of the pit of despair.  When my feelings tell me I'm no good and my life is without hope, the Lord is the One who can give me the strength to stand up and receive His mercy (Psalm 40:1-3).

In addition, the Lord can give me the ability to stand firm in times of confusion, speaking the truth in love.  When it seems to me that others are more equipped to stand up for what is right, if I'm the one who notices the wrong-teaching, it is up to me to set the record straight.  He will give me the strength to do my part so the body of Christ will be edified (Ephesians 4:14-16).

When I trust God enough to answer His call on my life, He will give me the strength to do what He's called me to do.  

Favor

I didn't know what to do.  I finished all the work, but was unsure of how to complete the job.  Since I didn't feel comfortable with the final stages, I let the project sit dormant for years.  As my friend is fond of saying, I failed to run through the finish line.

God is a strong finisher.  When He set out to create the world, He didn't stop until the task was done, looking at His work and declaring it good (Genesis 1).  I, on the other hand, tend to work with gusto in the areas where I feel comfortable and neglect what is not.  For instance, I have no problem cooking up a great meal, but would rather leave the clean-up to someone else.

When I buck my feelings, however, and instead trust God enough to plunge ahead, I will find that He sets all the pieces in place so that the job is not as bad as I thought it would be.  Before I know it, I'm doing what I thought I could never do because the Lord is making it all work out.  

If I don't feel comfortable speaking in public, for example, I can trust Him to give me the words I need to deliver the message He has for others to hear.  Or, when I answer His call to adopt a child even though I've never thought of myself as the motherly type, I will find my heart drawn to the little one who so desperately needs a home.  Even if I don't mind praying with my family but could never imagine leading a prayer in a group, trusting God enough to obey His gentle prods will result in words freely flowing from my mouth in a song of praise.

Not only will God equip me, but He has gone before me to set all the pieces in place in preparation for my arrival.  When I resist the urge to hold back but instead walk forward in faith, I will find doors opening up to allow my passage, people offering to help, and resources appearing as if from nowhere.  I'll only witness this kind of favor, however, when I trust God enough to take a step into the darkness where He is waiting for me.

When I trust God enough to answer His call in my life, His favor will enable me to finish the mission.

I have a million excuses as to why I can't do something to which God is calling me.  God's answer, however, is "So what?"  If He is with me, what is there I cannot do?  His presence gives me the wisdom I need to know what to do, the strength required to do the work, and the favor that is necessary to finish the job.  In other words, I have no excuse!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can stop using excuses and start trusting God.

When do I feel weak but forget that He is strong?

How am I trying to make things happen instead of following God's lead?   


Originally published on March 18, 2014 

What's Your Name?

"But Joash shouted to the mob that confronted him,

'Why are you defending Baal?

Will you argue his case?

Whoever pleads his case will be put to death by morning!

If Baal truly is a god, let him defend himself

and destroy the one who broke down his altar!'

From then on Gideon was called Jerub-baal,

which means,

'Let Baal defend himself,'

because he broke down Baal's altar."

Judges 6:31-32 NLT

President Benjamin Harrison was called "Kid Gloves" because he wore the hand coverings to protect his skin from its tendency for infection.

In high school, Jerry Lewis' nickname was "Id," short for idiot.

Carole Marsciarelli became known as "Penny" because as a child she saved up pennies to buy a horse.  We now know her as Penny Marshall.

Flip Wilson earned his stage name while serving in the U.S. Air Force when one of his bunk mates said, "He flippeth his lid."

Many times nicknames come about because of a certain behavior or practice, or due to a particular incident that occurred.  Gideon was no different.  He earned the nickname "Jerubbaal" because he had the courage to defy his father and the townspeople by obeying God and destroying the altar they erected to Baal.  When confronted, he challenged the people's willingness to contend for Baal.

What is it that I am quick to defend?  For what am I willing to rise up and contend?  If it's so powerful a force in my life that I find the need to speak out on its behalf, maybe I need to reconsider my priorities.

Freedom

Their presence burned me up inside.  I was driving on a local interstate freeway when I caught sight of their protest signs as I passed underneath a bridge.  They held their signs against the very war my husband was risking his life in which to fight.  These protesters even had the nerve to question the honor of my husband and soldiers like him.  To vent my frustrations, I wrote a scalding letter to the editor of the newspaper, chastising them for creating a hostile environment to which my husband would return from the battlefield. 

We love our freedoms and use them liberally to proclaim whatever beliefs we so adamantly wish to share with the people around us.  When anyone attempts to take away my freedom of speech which gives me the right to voice my opinion, and those protesters to do the same, I am ready for a fight.

It's easy for me to get passionately drawn into a quest for freedom.  When I see the government growing larger and larger as it demands more and more power, I am alarmed.  I am ready to fight to save the liberties for which our forefathers so valiantly fought.  

What about the freedom Christ gave His life for me to enjoy?  Am I as deeply passionate about my liberty from the obligation to earn my own salvation?  No.  Many times I find myself feeling guilty for how I have fallen short instead of remembering my true identity as a sinner saved by grace who is incapable of doing good (Romans 3:23, Romans 7:18).  Other times I'm bound and determined to prove my worth by serving out of obligation instead of obedience to God's direct calling on my life.   Sometimes I even use my own effort to attempt to become a better person instead of cooperating with God as He changes me from the inside out (Romans 12:1-2).

Jesus gave His life, suffering much abuse, so that I could live in freedom from the obligation to follow the law, in peace with my Father who expects perfection, and liberated from the guilt that comes from falling short.  I am justified freely by God's grace, made right with a holy God who loves me enough to send His Son to take my punishment so that I might approach Him boldly and with confidence (Romans 3:24, Hebrews 4:16).  Am I so quick to throw this away?  

Yes I am.  Despite this unspeakable sacrifice, I so often slip back into my tendency to try to do good, to attempt to earn my place in God's family by the sweat of my brow, to hold up the standard I am unable to reach but expect others to attain.  When will I stand up and contend for this freedom which has already been won for me (Galatians 5)?  

Jesus died so that I could enjoy true freedom.  Let me be known as one who has the courage to speak in defense of this liberty.

Rights

I remember the lyrics to an absurd song from my youth.  "You gotta fight for your right to party."  Even then I thought it lame, it did speak to a generation of kids who bought into the idea that they had the right to do with their life as they best saw fit.  

Americans take the idea of rights very seriously, so much so that the thought that I have complete autonomy is ingrained within me.  Unfortunately, while this way of thinking may appeal to my sin nature, it runs counter to God's kingdom.  If I am to make Jesus my king and live in His kingdom, I will need to realize that He is the only One with a right to me.  After all, He bought me at a steep price (1 Corinthians 6:20).

When I think, then, that I am entitled to be treated fairly and with respect, I will place that expectation above God's love.  Instead of showing compassion to the harried clerk who rudely handles my refund, then, I will demand to notify her supervisor to make sure action is taken against her rough behavior.  Unfortunately, while I may have done the right thing in the eyes of the world, I neglected to pass on the love and mercy of God to someone who desperately needed it.

I will also fight a merchant tooth and nail for a good price on a service he provides for me, thinking it is my right to pay the least amount possible.  Unfortunately, while I may have proved myself a shrewd consumer, I failed to contribute to the livelihood of a man who earns his living serving others.

When my daughter comes home from school with a note from the teacher, I take the opportunity to defend my child, accusing the overwrought woman of unfair treatment.  Unfortunately, I missed an opportunity to extend the forgiveness so freely given to me by a God whose mercies are new every morning.

Jesus' blood paid for my life.  Let me be known as one who lets God use me in a way that brings glory to Him.  

Contentment

I don't want to be rich but have enough to pay my bills with a little left over to do what I want to do.  I want to live comfortably. This is what I used to tell myself as I struggled to pay our family's bills.  Instead of being thankful for what God had provided and the faithful way He supplied my needs, I wanted more.  I wasn't content with what I had been given.  Instead, I thought I'd be happier with a little more.

I seek that which gratifies my sinful desire; to live a life of ease and to be well cared for.  Unfortunately, since my sin nature is never satisfied, I will never reach that level of contentment I thought was just up the pay scale.

The Apostle Paul told Timothy that, "true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth"  (1 Timothy 6:6 NLT).  He went on to explain how we came into this world with nothing and will leave the same way.  Therefore, if we have what we need, that should be enough.  When I go after more than what I've been given, I am in danger of wandering away from what is of true value: my faith. (1 Timothy 6:6-12)

As a result, I would be wise to seek godliness instead of happiness, living by faith instead of being led by my flesh, and sitting at the feet of Jesus instead of going after a reputation as a hard worker.  While I may think being content is what will give me a good life, the real joy comes when I surrender my life to Christ, letting Him be Lord of my life.  It is then that I will produce fruit that will last, and that will bring true satisfaction(John 15:5).

Jesus died so that I could live an abundant life. (John 10:10)  Let me be known as one who values Him above my desire to live comfortably.

What is my legacy?  When I am gone will people remember me for the way I stood for my liberties, defended my rights and sought after a life of contentment?  Or, will others recall the way I lived as a sinner saved by grace who was bought with a price and valued holy living above my own sense of satisfaction?   Today could be the day that I could start to make a name for myself; a name that will bring glory to the One who died for me!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can set aside any right I think I have to my own life and freely submit to Christ.

When is my own comfort my utmost desire?

How do I forget the freedom I have in Christ?


Originally published on March 19, 2014  

Snare

"Gideon made the gold into an ephod,

which he placed in Ophrah, his town.

All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there,

and it became a snare to Gideon and his family.

Judges 8:27

The sight struck fear into the hearts of his men.  Three thousand enemy chariots, each armed with two fighting men.  A horde of soldiers too numerous to count blanketing the land before them.  Philistines armed to the teeth and bent on revenge.  

Saul could see the writing on the wall; his men were preparing to desert.  The time to attack was now.  Despite the fact that Samuel said he would be there within 7 days to make the obligatory sacrifice to God, he had not lived up to his word.  Saul would not go forth on such a mission without the favor of the Lord; it would be mass suicide.  He had no choice.  He must offer up the burnt offering himself (1 Samuel 13).

While Saul may have had good intentions, his actions amounted to disobedience in the eyes of a holy God.  Likewise, it probably seemed just as much of a good idea when Gideon, years before Saul, melted down some of the gold earrings his men had gathered as plunder.  The men, fresh from their victory on the battlefield, adoringly asked their commander to lead them as a nation.  Gideon rightly responded, "I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you.  The LORD will rule over you" (Judges 8:23).

Unfortunately, in his attempt to honor God by forming a golden ephod out of the jewelry, Gideon ended up dishonoring Him in his unintentional defiance.  What he had meant for good became a snare, tempting the people to turn their reverence and adoration to a mere object instead of to the Lord.

How often do I do the same?  While my intentions may be good, the result is my heart is turned away from God.

Good Works

Serving in church.

Responding in love.

Doing good.

Resisting temptation.

Forgiving those who hurt me.

The list of things I must do as a follower of Christ is long.  I put a lot of pressure on myself to perform well.  The guilt from all the times I fall short weighs me down.  How much longer can I live this way?  

When Jesus came to earth to bear my sins upon Himself, it was for freedom's sake.  He made such a sacrifice so I could enjoy eternal life with Him, yes.  But His mission was so much greater.  He came to set me free from the heavy burden of trying to do right (Matthew 11:28-30). He came to offer abundant life.(John 10:10)  He came to save me from the futility of following the law.  (Romans 6:14)

Why, then, do I try so hard to do what I think a "good Christian" should do?  Why do I feel so heavily burdened by my failures?  If God no longer condemns me because of the precious blood of Jesus that covers my transgressions, why am I so quick to convict myself? (Romans 8:1)  Why am I always on edge, as if waiting for God to say, "You know what?  I said you were my child, but you just can't seem to get it right.  Forget it!"

It's because I don't understand the love of God. (1 John 4:18) God is love.  It is in His character to love me.  Unfortunately for me, it is also in His character to abhor sin. (Psalm 7:11, Isaiah 59:2) Thankfully, He sent His precious Son to make a way for me, a helpless sinner, to live in relationship with Him now and forevermore. (1 John 3:1, Romans 3:24)  

This unspeakable gift of redemption and restoration comes free for the taking, offered by grace.  It is not something I can earn. (Ephesians 2:8-9) In fact, I can never be good enough for God, which is why I need Jesus in the first place. (Romans 3:23) Why, then, am I so quick to slip into the habit of trying to earn favor with God?  Jesus already did all that was required.  My job is to submit to His lordship and follow Him wholeheartedly.  (Romans 8:3-4, Galatians 5:18)

My efforts to earn my own salvation, or even the favor of God, can become a snare that takes me away from the grace through which I find true freedom.

Good Habits

Psychologists say it takes three weeks to form a habit.  Theoretically, then, if I want to add exercise into my daily routine, I will simply need to stick with it for 21 days before it becomes second nature.  Or, if the doctor tells me to cut salt out of my diet, I'll only need to make an effort to stay away from the salt shaker for three weeks before I get used to eating that way.  Or, if I want to break my children of the habit of watching television after school, I'll need to hound them to go outside and play for nearly a month before it will become a normal part of their routine.  

What if I take this same principle and apply it to my relationship with God?  Since I know He wants me to read His Word, I can force myself to do it for three weeks until it becomes a healthy habit.  Or I try to make it my new custom to speak kindly to those around me, even if they're mean to me.  All I need to do is respond lovingly for 21 days and then it will be ingrained within me!  Or, I find I'm weak in the prayer department so I make it my intention to keep up a regular time of talking to the Lord for 3 weeks and then I've set a good pattern that will stick with me.

While it is not bad to take this approach, there is a danger that comes with "faking it till I make it."  I am at risk of becoming just like the Israelites whom God chastised through the prophet Isaiah when he said, "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.  Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught."  (Isaiah 29:13)

I wouldn't like it if my husband only talked to me at the same time every day because he wanted to make it a habit.  I want to hear what's on my dearly beloved's heart.  If my husband only talked to me out of obligation instead of treasuring the time we have together, I would be hurt.  I want more than his actions; I want his heart.

It's the same with me and God.  He wants me to share my hurts, struggles and dreams with Him.  He loves it when I turn to Him at the lowest time of my day as well as when I'm on mountaintop.  He wants to share my life with me.  When I make spiritual disciplines simply that; disciplines, it falls short of God's desire for a relationship I can share with Him.

Therefore, let my study of His Word not become a daily ritual, but a meaningful time of searching for nuggets of wisdom He has left for me there. (Psalm 119:105) Let my weekly churchgoing not become an obligation to fulfill, but a rich time of exhortation, worship and fellowship with others who love the God I love. (Hebrews 10:25-27) Let my acts of righteousness not come as a result of my own effort, but as a wonderful outcome of my cooperation with His transforming power in my life. (Philippians 2:12-13)

My quest to form good spiritual habits can become a snare that takes my heart out of the equation.

Good Intentions

"God wants you to be happy!  He doesn't intend for you to live a life of poverty.   It's not His purpose for you to struggle.  He wants you to live a good life.  He wants you to reach for the stars, fulfilling the dreams you have in your heart."

Doesn't that just make you feel good?  This is the message I have heard from some followers of Christ.  While I don't think their intention was to steer me wrong, they simply took bits and pieces of advice they'd received and knowledge that came from their own understanding and fashioned it into a gospel that truly appeals to my sin nature: A message that is contrary to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but nonetheless is preached from the pulpit of many-a-church.

It is easy to get into the habit of encouraging others with what sounds good to me instead of sticking to the truth.  After all, the truth can sound harsh to my sinful nature.  If I truly want to point my sisters and brothers to Christ, I must stick to His Word.  Telling people what they want to hear will only lead them astray.  (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

While it may feel good to support my friend when she tells me she's leaving her husband in order to follow her heart, God's love instead burdens me to take the side of marital fidelity.  Other times I may have every good intention when I give another the advice to "let sleeping dogs lie," the God who rejoices in the truth would rather I recommend she bring all the details out into the open.  Even though it sounded good when I encouraged my husband to do what seemed best to him, a godly wife would help him to seek God's counsel.

My good intentions can turn into a snare that works to turn people away from God.

Just like Gideon's attempt to honor God in his own way ended up backfiring, my good works, habits and intentions can all work to create a snare in my spiritual life.  As a sinner whose natural tendency is to follow my own desires, it doesn't take much to drag my heart away from the Lord.  Therefore, I would be wise to avoid these traps that may seem like good ideas, but in the end can damage my relationship with the God who loves me so much.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can keep my heart wholly devoted to the Lord.

When can even good habits become gods unto themselves?

How do I unintentionally lead others astray through the advice I give?