Great Hope

"Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.  Whenever I pray, I make my request for all of you with joy,

for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heart it until now.  

And I am certain that God, 

who began the good work within you, 

will continue his work 

until it is finally finished 

on the day when Christ Jesus returns."

Philippians 1:3-6 NLT

I praise God every time I think of you, dear reader, because I know God is at work within you, changing you, growing your faith, transforming you in ways you could never have imagined.  You look at yourself and cannot even recognize who you have become.  

The things that used to make you angry, bringing your blood to the boiling point, have now become opportunities to extend the grace of God.  You can't explain this new you.

Your favorite pastime used to be engrossing yourself in intriguing dramas, but now you are inexplicably drawn to God's Word and can't seem to get enough.  You would never have imagined that you'd ever want to spend time studying the Bible like this.

In the past, the unknown brought about much fear and anxiety, bringing with it sleepless nights and restless days, but now you live in a state of perpetual rest, knowing that God is at work on your behalf.  You can hardly believe such a worrier as you can sleep this well at night.

And so I praise God for you and the difference the Gospel of Jesus Christ has made in your life.  And I praise Him for what He is continuing to do, and all that is to come in the days ahead.

We are a people of great hope! 

Gospel of Yet

"Our ancestors in Egypt

were not impressed by the LORD's miraculous deeds.

They soon forgot his many acts of kindness to them.

Instead, they rebelled against him at the Red Sea.

Even so, he saved them--

to defend the honor of his name

and to demonstrate his mighty power."

Psalm 106:7-8 NLT

Yet.  This one word is a beautiful symbol of the Gospel story.  I am a hopeless sinner, yet He loves me enough to send His son to die in order to redeem me (Romans 5:8).  I am unfaithful, yet He is faithful.  I forget Him and His desires for me, yet He remembers His promises.

This is the Gospel of yet.

Wickedness.  I live for me.  I am bent on doing things my way, following the destructive route, finding out the hard way.  My heart is blackened, corrupted by sin (Psalm 51:5, Romans 3:10-18).  I can't always do the right thing, even when I try.  I am selfish to the core.

Still, Jesus came to earth as a man, giving Himself as the perfect sin offering, the One who has no sin became sin for me (2 Corinthians 5:21).  Why would He do such a thing?  Who dies for his enemy, for the one who betrays him by her lifestyle, her attitude, her unbelief (Romans 5:6)?  Jesus does.  Out of His great love, He made the ultimate sacrifice, paid the steepest of prices, committed the unthinkable act.  He took my place, my rightful position on the cross and died the death that was meant for me so that I could live the life He intended for me to live.

The Gospel of yet gives every hopeless sinner the hope of an abundant, eternal life through faith in Christ.

Doubt.  I doubt His power.  I see the problems rearing up their ugly heads, looming over me like an overwhelming Godzilla and I can't take my eyes off them.  Meanwhile, God is beside me, waiting to do what He does best; fight my battles, give me peace in the midst of it, and empower me to live out my faith.  I doubt, wondering what can be done to help me.

Still, God uses His sovereign power on my behalf.  My unbelief doesn't diminish His ability to do what needs to be done to rescue me, to help me, to comfort me.  For His namesake, since I belong to Him and have claimed His name as my own, as my family name, He will take care of me as my Father.  Then, all the world will know that He is God and give praise to Him for what He does in my life (Exodus 14:30-31, Isaiah 37:20). And my faith in Him grows while I become a walking testimony to Christ.

The Gospel of yet shows God's faithfulness to even His doubting people for His namesake.

Memory Loss.  I forget.  I have seen the might of His hand in many ways.  I have experienced multiple examples of His love for me.  Even so, I tend to forget the committment I made to Christ as I try to live as if He didn't die for me.  I take sin lightly, allowing it in and corrupting my mind with the ways of the world (Romans 12:2, Ephesians 5:3)  I forget I am set aside for His purposes, living instead according to my fleshly desires (Philippians 4:8-9).

Still, He remembers His promise to me.  He does not forget I am His daughter by faith in Jesus.  He doesn't disown me because of my faithlessness.  No matter how many times I turn away from Him, He doesn't leave me nor forsake me.  It is His desire that I walk in His Spirit, becoming a slave to righteousness, but my own failures do not void His promise to redeem me (Galatians 5:16, Romans 6:19).

The Gospel of yet demonstrates the strength of God's promises that will never be broken.

It is clear that I am unworthy, incapable of sinlessness, 100% infallible faith, and perfect memory, thus demonstrating my need for the Gospel of yet.  I desperately need a Savior who came to die for me while I'm in my sinful state, to be faithful even when I doubt, and to exhibit a constant dedication to His memory despite the fact that I forget.  This is the Gospel of yet.  This is the Good News of Jesus Christ!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to give my life to Him through faith in Jesus Christ.

When do I tend to doubt God's ability to save me?

How am I forgetful of God's desire for me to live purely?

Olive Tree

"But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God.

I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever.

I will thank you forever, because you have done it.

I will wait for your name, for it is good, 

in the presence of the godly."

Psalm 52:8-9 ESV

Olive trees are virtually indestructible.  No matter the conditions, whether hot, dry, cold, wet, planted in rocky or sandy soil, the robust olive tree will live and produce fruit.  Even if it is cut down or burned, new shoots will sprout up from its roots.  Furthermore, these tenacious trees can thrive with a minimum of water in great heat and some even grow from roots systems that are over 2,000 years old.  

No wonder David compared himself as one who trusts in God to an olive tree.  In Christ, we too can make such claims.

Trusting.  In the same way that this durable tree can survive the harshest of conditions, I can endure whatever comes my way when I put my trust in the steadfast love of God.  His love can help me weather any storm, pull through any trial, and endure even the harshest of conditions.  While its one thing to survive, His love enables me to thrive as I live connected to His root system (John 15:5).  

I wouldn't expect to be able to produce fruit during times of trouble, but I've noticed in my life that some of the sweetest times have been when I've been enduring the most difficult circumstances.  In the middle of the crisis, God comes through in some powerful ways, giving me the supernatural ability to exhibit His love, reach out in mercy, and maintain a peace that cannot be explained.  Letting God be my strength has never let me down (Isaiah 40:28-31).

I am like an olive tree, fruitful and indestructible, when I trust in the steadfast love of God.

Thankful.  Olive trees are old souls.  These hardy plants are not just able to withstand any kind of condition, but they tend to multiply.  One root system not only survives for thousands of years, but can have ten or more other trees surrounding it that have sprouted from its one source.  

Like this productive plant, I can cultivate an atmosphere of praise wherever I go.  When I give thanks to God for the good things He is constantly at work bringing about in my life, my thankful attitude tends to rub off on others, promoting thankful hearts in their lives as well. 

Furthermore, the more I praise Him, the more I can see of His handiwork and the greater is my vision of His power at work.  It's like a cycle of praise that expands each time I give Him thanks, opening my eyes up to even more that He has done in my life and in the lives of those around me.  Before I know it, I'm living in constant gratitude to Him for all He has done and for who He is to me.

I am like an olive tree, sprouting shoots of thanks, when I cultivate a grateful heart to a God who is worthy to be praised.

Hope.  The thing about an olive tree is that it is a source of food that gives sustenance, oil for lamps that provide light, medicine that brings healing; possessing an olive tree in one's garden is a symbol of hope in the good things it will provide.

Similarly, I always have hope in Jesus Christ, because through Him I have a Father who generously provides for all my needs and even lavishes good gifts on me as His child (Matthew 6:31-32, Matthew 7:11).  

Waiting on His good name gives me a mental toughness that enables me to endure even the most harshest of conditions with the confidence that He will come through for me.  I can believe without a doubt that I will make it through because He has promised to go before me and to never leave me (Deuteronomy 31:8).

I am like an olive tree, sure to possess all that I need and more, when I wait on the good name of the Lord.

Olive trees are symbols of prosperity, perseverance and privilege.  When I trust in the steadfast love of God, give thanks to Him forever, and hope in His good name, I can do as David did and compare myself to an olive tree.  In Christ, I will bear much fruit, multiply in praise to God, and enjoy more than I could ever imagine.  The olive tree is more than just a gnarly old tree; it is a symbol of all that I can be in Christ!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can wait on the Lord.

When do I falter, losing hope when Jesus died to deliver me all the hope I need?

How am I cultivating a griping spirit instead of a heart of praise, missing out on noticing all the good He has surrounded me with? 

Photo courtesy of http://www.jerusalemperspective.com/wp-content/uploads/2004/01/Ancient-Olive-Tree.jpg

   

Kingdom Tempo

"Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints,

and give thanks to his holy name.

For his anger is but for a moment,

and his favor is for a lifetime.

Weeping may tarry for the night,

but joy comes with the morning."

Psalm 30:4-5 ESV

I have found that I tend to expect life to go at a certain pace and have learned through experience to see things with warped insight.  For example, I hate to suffer and don't like seeing others hurt but life has dealt so many blows that I expect misery to remain like a faithful friend.  Likewise, anger tends to linger in my own heart, coloring my perspective and sucking the life out of me like a deadly leach.  Furthermore, if I look deep within, I find that I expect rejection and ill-treatment as a way of life because of my own depravity: I know it's what I truly deserve.

God, however, does not operate according to my faulty expectations.  He has His own timing that reflects His perfect character.  Because of this, I must look to His Word to learn the superior tempo to which God marches.

His Anger.  It's hard for me to shake it.  When I'm hurt, offended or sense my boundaries being crossed, it rises up within me, overwhelming my entire being like an unwelcome tenant.  If things go differently than the way I hope they will turn out, it revives from it's latent state, always present though lying dormant.

Anger.  I sometimes feel like Dr. Bruce Banner, the alter ego to the Marvel superhero Hulk.  He says his secret of transformation into the wrathful green beast is that he's always angry, that the rage is simmering just below the surface, ready to erupt at any time.  I can relate.  Because of this fleshly trait of mine, I expect God to be the same way, thinking that He's always ticked off but just holding it back for the sake of all of mankind.

In reality, scripture tells me that God's fury passes, He never keeps angry or holds a grudge against me (Psalm 103:9, Isaiah 26:20).  As a result, I can give thanks for such a God as this.  Even though He has every right to be angry due to my inability to adhere to his commands and my tendency to stray away from Him, He doesn't hold onto that righteous wrath in the same way I do.  

I can breathe easy because God's anger is but for a moment.

His Favor.  I am stingy with my praise and kindness.  I tend to only give something good to those I feel deserve it.  In fact, as a parent bringing up four girls, I often focused on what needed to be improved and had to intentionally work at giving positive affirmation for what they were doing well, otherwise I'd have been a harsh taskmaster.

Because of my flawed way of doling out approval and help to others, I tend to think God is the same way, expecting me to earn His favor.  Instead, God freely indulges me with His lovingkindness, giving me so much that I don't deserve.  His character is merciful and gracious and He loves to give me good things that I haven't earned, as a Father who enjoys making his child smile.

As hard as it is for me to fathom, this favor lasts forever.  Since it's based on His character and is not founded on a whim, it is not wishy-washy, sometimes there and other times not.  I can count on God to pour His lovingkindness into my life because of His dependability.

Therefore, there is nothing I can do to lose His favor (Romans 8:38-39).  I won't wake up one day finding myself on the outside looking in because God has lost His patience with me and abandoned me in disgust.  Because of what Jesus Christ has done for me in dying on the cross, I am securely in His good graces, the recipient of His lavish love (1 John 3:1).

I can breathe easy because God's favor lasts a lifetime.

His promise.  As hard as it is to go through something difficult in life, it is even more of a challenge to watch the ones I love endure hardship.  The suffering that ensues makes me want to rescue them from the hurt.  Instead, I can keep God's faithful promise in mind: Joy will come in the morning.

While this life here on earth can be hard to bear, what I have to look forward to in eternity through faith in Jesus Christ is beyond compare.  I cannot fathom the riches of glory that await me there, produced by all that I endure in this wicked world (2 Corinthians 4:17, Romans 8:17-18).  Therefore, I know suffering in this life is temporary and not in vain.

I can breathe easy because God's promise of coming glory can be trusted.

I am forever thankful that God does not live up to my puny and warped expectations.  Instead, He has His own agenda that is much superior to my own outlook on life.  While my anger seems to simmer just below the surface, God's is short-lived.  Even though I don't think I am worth many gifts, God's love compels Him to bestow His permanent favor upon me.  And while suffering seems to be a way of life here on earth, it is temporary: I can expect joy that will blow my socks off in the life to come!  This is God's superior sense of rhythm that rules the ebb and flow of my life of faith.  This is His kingdom tempo.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God's unique tempo, letting Him run my life according to His own pace.

How do I trust in my own sense of warped timing, assuming God will operate according to what I expect? 

When do I think God will give me what I deserve instead of what He desires to lavish on me through Jesus?

His Greatness Made Known

"Because of your promise,

and according to your own heart,

you have brought about all this greatness,

to make your servant know it."

2 Samuel 7:21 ESV

One thing is for sure: David loved to sing praises to the Lord and to make his faith in God known to all.  Consider the first stanza of Psalm 21:

"O LORD, in your strength the king rejoices,

and in your salvation how greatly he exults!

You have given him his heart's desire

and have not withheld the request of his lips."

How was David able to sing such praise to God?  He knew God intimately.  David let God into every part of His life, sharing the grief, heartache and joy with the Lord of heaven and earth.  For such a reason David became known as a man after God's own heart. (Acts 13:22)

But David is not the only one who can gain such a reputation.  I, too, can invite the God of the universe into the nitty-gritty parts of my life through faith in Jesus Christ.  I, too, can open my heart to Him, letting Him in where I dare not let other's see.  I, too, can share my life with Him.  When I do, my heart will become like David's; full of the greatness of God.

The Lord's willingness to include David in His sovereign plan was something the second-crowned king of Israel understood and accepted.  He marveled at the fact that such a majestic and powerful God would bother to bring us into the workings of His plan at all.  But He did and He still does.  Why?

Due to His Promises

"I promise I will always be here for you," the young father assures his son.  The next scene of the movie predictably depicts the death of this well-meaning dad.  The rest of the movie is spent watching this boy grow up without a father and dealing with the fallout of broken promises.

I cringe whenever I hear a parent, or anyone for that matter, guarantee that which is completely out of human control.  Each breath is as a result of the grace of God and none of us knows which day will be our last.  Therefore it is foolish to promise something of which I cannot deliver.

God does not have this same limitation.  He is all-powerful, present everywhere and knows full-well what tomorrow will bring.  In fact, the Lord goes before us, not just aware of the future but already there.  He is not limited by time or space.  Therefore, God is able to not just make a promise, but keep it as well.  For this reason I can trust Him wholly.

Due to His promise-keeping ability, I know that He will always be with me. (Deuteronomy 31:6) I can count on the fact that I belong to Him and He to me. (Isaiah 43:1, Psalm 100:3)  I need not fear His judgement for He has promised an end to condemnation through Christ Jesus.  (Romans 8:1)  I can look forward with confidence to that place that has been prepared especially for me.  (John 14:1-3)

I am an integral part of God's plan due to the promises He has made and kept.

According to His Heart

Men have sought Him out since the beginning of time, trying to understand His mysterious ways.  How incredible that such a God who is holy and greater than the human mind can fathom desires to be known by those He created!  He has made Himself available to us so that we can seek to become familiar with Him.  It is part of God's nature to love His people in such a warm and intimate way.

Understanding this aspect of God, then, it is not surprising that He desires to include man in the workings of His plan.  He could easily provide for a family's needs by supernaturally speaking the necessities into being.  Instead, it makes His heart sing to send His own to provide in a tangible and practical way. (James 2:15-16)

It is not difficult for God to comfort the grieving heart of one of His children.  Still, He often chooses to send someone who has received that comfort to pass it on to his fellow man. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

God can easily and generously dispense wisdom to those in need. (James 1:5) Often, though, He gives it indirectly through another believer who lends timely words of godly advice. (Titus 2:3-8)

I am an integral part of God's plan due to His heart that cherishes His people.

Make His Greatness Known

It was one of the most difficult classes I had to take during my college career:  Organic Chemistry.  Unfortunately for me, the only available time for me to fit it into my schedule was during the summer.  As I embarked on this short yet intense journey, I learned there would be three professors teaching this course.  

Dividing the class into three equal segments, each professor would cover one part before giving a test.  As a result, I would never benefit from the understanding a student usually gains after the first test.  Instead, each test would be administered by a different professor, thus leaving his class members at a disadvantage.  That summer I never got to know the teaching style and testing practices of one particular teacher.

Thankfully, the Lord is a God who desires to make His greatness known to His children.  He does not make it difficult to learn more about Him as His nature is revealed throughout His creation.  The vastness of His glory is shown throughout the heavens on a starry night.  (Psalm 19:1)  

His creative streak is evident when I visit the zoo and examine the peculiarity of a flamingo's leg or a platypus's appearance. (Genesis 1:20-25)  

His attention to detail is made known through the intricacy of design found in the center of a tulip or in the pattern made by the petals of a rose.

In fact, God is so intent on making His greatness know that He put His very light within His fragile and frail children, adopted through faith in Jesus Christ, so that those who witness their lives will know the power comes from God Himself.  

How could a stutterer sing such beautiful songs?  Or a victim extend such forgiveness?  Or a broken woman exhibit such strength?  It is the surpassing power of God who is found within. (2 Corinthians 4:6-7)

I am an integral part of God's plan due to His willingness to make His greatness known to me.

In the same way that David understood God's desire to use him as part of a divine plan, I can live each day with this same truth ingrained in my heart.   This kind of inclusion is only possible because the Lord is a God who keeps His promises, whose heart is open to His people, and is willing to put His greatness into each of His frail children.  What a gift that such greatness is made known to each of His own!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can live with a large image of God.

When do I strive to make much of myself instead of glorifying God in the details of my days?

How am I failing to tap into such greatness?