Superficial Treatments

"'From the least to the greatest,

their lives are ruled by greed.

From prophets to priests,

they are all frauds.

They offer superficial treatments

for my people's mortal wound.

They give assurances of peace 

when there is no peace.

Are they ashamed of their disgusting actions?

Not at all--they don't even know how to blush!

Therefore, they will lie among the slaughtered.

They will be brought down when I punish them,'

says the LORD."

Jeremiah 6:13-15 NLT

Sin has broken God's creation so nothing works as it was meant to work.  Nowhere is this more evident than in God's image-bearers.  People are hurting as a result.  Many solutions are offered by God's people to solve the problem of suffering as man tries to negotiate through the mine-field of life.  But I find the solutions offered to me, or the ones I suggest to others, run up against the wall of God's intention.  In truth, only One will bring about true healing and deliver the solution that was meant for mankind's troubles.

Coping Mechanisms.  Life is hard and I find that stress often overwhelms me.  There are so many ways I could choose to cope with the difficulties of life, but most are faulty, unhealthy and even harmful instead of helpful.  I can use drugs or alcohol to numb me from the realities of life.  Anger can be my go-to mechanism when encountering difficulty.  I can let food comfort and bring me joy and satisfaction.  Exercise or other obsessive addictions can give me some semblance of control.  Soon I find the coping mechanisms I choose cause more problems than results and never bring about the solution I had originally sought.

As I come to the end of myself, I may go to the church for help, seeking out godly support.  Unfortunately, the help I'm often offered is not what will bring about true healing.  I may be pointed to drug or alcohol treatment, anger management classes, books on how to survive stress, or any number of programs meant to bring healing. While these are all good things, the help I really need, the aid God sent as a solution to the sin problem that is the root of all that ails me, is never even mentioned.  As representatives of Jesus in a dark world, Christ must be the beacon of hope that is offered as the primary answer to every question, the foundation of all treatment programs, and the only Way to find peace, comfort, satisfaction, happiness, and sound mental health. Without Jesus, all other therapy offered will fall flat.

It is God's intention that Jesus quench every thirst, fulfill every need, and solve every problem that results from my faulty coping mechanisms (John 4:14, 6:35).  May the people of God always point broken people to Him first and foremost.

Relationships.  So much can go wrong as I live in this shattered world.  Marriages crumble, children rebel, friendships crash and burn, countries war, leadership quarrels, breakdowns occur right and left.  Can't we all just get along?  But it is inevitable that troubles will come as sinful beings attempt to live in tandem with one another.  And soon I taste the bitterness of defeat in my own personal life, especially in my bonds with others.

As I get to the point where I realize I need help to fix my failed relationships, I may go to the church for help, seeking out godly support.  Unfortunately, the help I'm often offered is not what will bring about true reconciliation.  I'm pointed to counseling, psychology, helpful classes that foster healthy relationships, or books on how to treat my relational problems.  While these all are good things, the help I really need, the Savior who reconciles ruined relationships, binds up the brokenhearted and promotes emotional healing, is never even mentioned (Isaiah 61:1).  Since Jesus is the cornerstone of the church, He must be the foundation of any solution offered to help people get along.  After all, He is the Prince of Peace, and there is no other name under heaven that is meant to rescue (Isaiah 9:6, Acts 4:12).  

It is God's intention that Jesus free captives of any imprisonment, including that of unhealthy relationships.  May the people of God always point broken people to Him first and foremost.

Purpose.  I want to feel necessary to the workings of this world, to have a reason for getting up in the morning, to be counted on by someone.  It is in my nature to desire something bigger than myself, to see I've been created for a purpose, to find meaning for my life.  It's not always easy to discover this reason for my existence, however.

As I find little satisfaction in running the rat race, I may go to the church for help in finding my purpose, the thing that will drive me and propel me forward with passion for living.  Unfortunately, the help I'm often offered is not what speaks to my reason for existing; to bring glory to God and enjoy a strong bond with Him in every part of my life.  I may instead be pointed to career counseling, meaningful activities to fill my time, classes that teach successful living skills, or groups that foster strong bonds with like-minded people.  While these all are good things, the guidance I really need, the Savior who restores my bond with the God who holds the blueprint for my life, is never even mentioned.  Since God is the only One who gives me purpose as my Maker, honing my relationship with Him through faith in Jesus Christ is the key to opening the door to understanding my reason for living.  And it is in discovering the treasure of knowing Him more each day, and realizing the value of the bond I have with Him by faith, that will give me the passion I've been seeking (Philippians 1:21, 3:8).  

It is God's intention that His love be the passion that propels me through life.  May the people of God always point the aimless to Jesus who connects mankind to His everlasting source.

There is no doubt that the world is broken, and living here causes all sorts of issues.  As I learn to cope in unhealthy ways, mourn over broken relationships, and flail around as I discover I have no idea why I'm here, I turn to the people of God for help.  While I don't always find the help I truly need, the answer is more simple than any of us acknowledge.  Jesus is the best solution to any problem.  May He always be offered as the primary treatment, the One who promotes permanent healing, and the passion that drives man forward.  Everything else that is offered only tackles the issues I face superficially.  It is only Jesus who offers the permanent solution!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to believe He sent Jesus for more than just offering a ticket to heaven.

When do I place Jesus on the back burner, assuming He doesn't have anything that can help me in my present struggles?

How do I seek a quick solution from a human source when Jesus offers permanent healing?     

Wisdom is not the Answer

"I said to myself, 

'Look, I have increased in wisdom more than anyone

who has ruled over Jerusalem before me;

I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.'

Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom,

and also of madness and folly,

but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind.

For with much wisdom comes much sorrow;

the more knowledge, the more grief."

Ecclesiastes 1:16-18

Humans are so busy learning new things and seeking greater understanding of the world and everything in it, but what good does it do?  How does it relieve suffering or deliver meaning?  Does knowledge have eternal significance or make an everlasting impact?  The answer is "No."  In a lot of ways we are wasting our time because the more we know, the more we realize our lack, our deficiency, our utter hopelessness to save ourselves from insignificance.

So, what is the answer?  Jesus.

Understanding.  I find it difficult to have deep conversations with intellectuals who only want to discuss what they can quantify, prove, or sense.  Many look down on me for my faith in a God they cannot see, refusing to acknowledge even the possibility that there is Someone greater than they.  In their arrogance and at their own peril they reason that if they can't understand it, then it can't exist.  What a superficial and hopeless existence.

There is more to life than what we can touch, see, hear, smell and taste.  If I only pursue knowledge of physical things which are here today and gone tomorrow while completely ignoring spiritual truths which last forever, I am limiting myself to that which is temporary.  If I never recognize my Maker who set a perfect standard which I constantly miss, I will never see my need for rescue from the punishment my shortfalls deserve.  If I spend my life limiting myself to what I can comprehend and what I can sense, when I get to the end of this life and stand before a holy and just God, not only will He judge me according to my own sin, condemning me to an eternity of punishment, but I will have nothing to show for all my effort to understand.  Seeking knowledge and insight will not save me from the inevitable.  Only faith in the blood of Jesus can do that (Hebrews 9:11-15).

A life spent trying to gain insight into this world is a life wasted and an eternity doomed.

 Abundance.  There is an emptiness apart from Christ.  Humans have a desire for meaning, for fulfillment, for purpose.  I can search for the reason for my existence by throwing myself headlong into an important career, or giving my all to a vital cause, or pursuing deep connection with those I love, but still there is something missing.  No matter how hard I try, I will never find what my heart truly desires.

It's not until I see my own depravity, my brokenness, my lack that I will understand my need.  There is nothing in this world that can fill the void left by my estrangement from God due to my sin.  As I see how far I fall short from God's expectation for me as His image bearer, understanding the gulf that exists between Him and me, I see the value in what Jesus died to offer:  Forgiveness from the One who set the standard I fail to reach and restoration of the bond between Him and me (Romans 3:21-24).  This is the abundant life Jesus came to deliver to me by faith (John 10:10b)

A life spent trying to fill the void inside apart from Jesus is an empty and pointless life.

Purpose.  Why am I here?  Every human asks this question in one way or another.  Some look to religion to find the answers, finding a certain meaning in the rituals and fellowship.  Others turn to science, thinking if they can understand the "how" they will understand the "why".  A few use reasoning powers to conclude there is no purpose, life came about spontaneously and completely by accident so there is no ultimate reason for our existence.

No matter how I try to answer the question of my purpose, I come up empty apart from Jesus.  In Christ, I find my purpose as I learn I was made on purpose for a purpose (Ephesians 2:10).  Not only is there a design for all of creation, but I am placed right where I am to shine His light in the darkness around me (Matthew 5:14-16).  Knowing He made me for a specific reason gives me a feeling of worth and value.  I am intrinsically valuable to the One who made me (Psalm 139:13-16).  Therefore, my life takes on a new-found importance as I live for His glory instead of my own (Colossians 3:17).

A life spent looking for my purpose apart from Christ is an exercise in futility.

Wisdom in and of itself cannot save me.  It is powerless to rescue me from eternal condemnation, give me a rich life, nor reveal my purpose.  Only Jesus can fulfill such missions, and as I give my life to Him by faith, I'll find a new meaning that will lead to the rich and abundant life for which I've always longed.  Wisdom is not the answer, Jesus is!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to look to Him to find the answers I need.

When do I look in the wrong places to find the answers I seek?

How am I wasting my time on temporary fixes instead of the permanent solution that is in Christ?  

  

Captive!

"See to it that no one takes you captive

through hollow and deceptive philosophy,

which depends on human tradition

and the elemental spiritual forces

(basic principles) of this world

rather than on Christ."

Colossians 2:8

She was only eleven years old at the time, walking to her school bus stop one morning when her life changed dramatically.  A predator kidnapped her, holding her captive for 18 years.  During this time of confinement, the girl grew into a young woman:  She became a mother, bearing two children as the product of the sexual abuse her captor so cruelly and coldly subjected her to, and Jaycee Dugard slowly but surely lost touch with the ways of her youth.

When this young girl was first taken hostage, her captor was the only human contact she received for months.  He manipulated her with food, twisted beliefs, and threats until the girl believed his warped version of reality.  Before long, he could trust her to be faithful to him; he had been successful in his attempts to reprogram her mind.

In a similar way, I am vulnerable to being brainwashed into believing something other than what I know to be the truth.  If I give into these beliefs, my mind begins to drink in what is contrary to the truth and I become captive to it's power.  There are so many shallow and false teachings all around me that I must beware!

Human Tradition

Carol did it the same way her mother always did.  Carefully setting the turkey in the sink to defrost, she then inverted the dish drainer and placed it over the bird.  When her husband asked her one year about the reason for the dish drainer, Carol thought for a minute and then said, "I don't know.  That's just how my mother always did it."

Curiosity got the best of my friend and she asked her mom to solve the mystery for her.  "I was always afraid the cats would get to the turkey so I covered it up with the drainer for my own peace of mind."  

Since Carol didn't own any pets, her blind observance of her mother's practice suddenly seemed foolish.  It's funny how easy it is to get caught up in following traditions without understanding the purpose behind it.  When it comes to my relationship with God, however, doing things just for the sake of tradition can land me in a bad place.

Sometimes I get caught up following a list of rules made my men about how I should act, what I should eat and what activities are appropriate.  Then, I turn further and further away from God and begin to worship doctrine.  

Other times I get stuck believing a certain denomination is better or a particular style of worship is superior.  These are the times I adhere more to a belief system instead of staying true to the Person of Jesus Christ.

Letting myself get sucked into the trap of human tradition leads to a close mind that is human oriented.  Instead, I want to be open to whatever God teaches me, willing to love all who come across my path so that He will be glorified in every way.

I must beware of falling into the captivity of customs created by man.

Worldly Principles

Unleash Your Inner Goddess

Your Life Can be Fantastic Too!

The Personal Success Handbook

Change Your Life in Seven Days

Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking

These are the titles of a few Pop Psychology books that are currently on the market.  The common thread running through each of these popular tomes is the desire for personal power, happiness and success.

While achieving a certain sense of control over my life, a measure of contentment and some form of achievement are common goals in this day and age, I can hardly say they are godly desires.  Pop psychology may be common subjects on well-liked talk shows and fodder for discussions around the water cooler, but common beliefs like thinking positively as a way to transform my life or taking charge of my own destiny go against the truths I find in the Bible.

Letting the worldly principles found in my culture influence the way I think and act is a danger to my faith in Jesus Christ.  If I want to keep from falling into these snares, I will need to pay attention and know the truth.

I must beware of falling into captivity of the worldly principles commonly accepted by most people.

Christ

As a student in college, there was one thing I knew intuitively: when taking a test, there is only one answer.  I studied with this understanding in mind, making sure I knew the material well enough so I would be able to give the correct solutions to the problems presented.  Otherwise, I would fail the exam and endanger my standing as a student.

In life, there is also only one answer that is appropriate for any question.  In other words, any problem I can face shares the same solution; and His name is Jesus Christ.

Living in such an age of relativism where each person creates their own truth or where scientific proof is the only acceptable reality, this belief seems simplistic.  Jesus is, however, the only answer.  

He gives me a full life where once there was emptiness.  (John 10:10)  He offers purpose where I used to feel only indifference.  (Jeremiah 29:11)  Jesus is the only one who can heal me from the inside out. (Luke 4:40)  He gives rest from the burdens I needlessly carry.  (Matthew 11:28-30)  Jesus gives me peace when everything around me is swirling in turmoil. (Mark 4:39)  In short, only He gives the answer I need.  (Proverbs 16:1)

I must beware of falling into captivity of anything other than Christ and Him crucified as the basis of my life.  

I don't even have to look very hard to find shallow teachings that will lead me away from the Truth.  Consequently, I must be on guard, watching out for those human traditions that seep into my way of thinking, or letting the principles of this world become my own.  Jesus is the answer for every issue I face, fear I hold or difficulty I can encounter.  He is the one who will protect me from falling into the captivity of the futile thinking of the human mind.  It is my desire to depend on Christ and Christ alone!

Take a moment to sing along with Jesus is the Answer performed by Andrae Crouch as you thank Him for His love for you.

As I begin this day I pray that I can keep Jesus as the focus of my attention.

How do I rely on popular thinking to guide my footsteps?

When am I most at risk of falling into the trap of faulty beliefs?