God. . .or not?

"There the Danites set up for themselves the idol,

and Jonathan son of Gershom,

the son of Moses,

and his sons were priests for the tribe of Dan

until the time of the captivity of the land.

They continued to use the idol Micah had made,

all the time the house of God was in Shiloh."

Judges 18:30-31

It seemed like a good idea at the time.  After all, I didn't know any better.  My husband and I put together the pieces in the way we thought the bookshelf should go.  Without the instructions, we relied on our own experience of assembling kits, our background in using bookshelves and our opinion of how the finished product should look.  After we completed the product we discovered several "extra" pieces.  Obviously, our idea of how the shelves should be put together was different than what the creator of the furniture had intended.

This is similar to what happened to the tribe of Dan.  Without a godly leader to teach them the ways of God, they relied on what seemed right to them.  They ended up, then, with something that was different from what God intended.  They had a form of godliness but it wasn't of God (2 Timothy 3:5). It looked like a legitimate religion and made them feel good, but they failed to seek God Himself, nor did they desire to know Him personally.

Not surprisingly, I often make this same mistake.

My Wisdom

I used my own rationale, reasoning to myself that if I followed the game trail I would be able to more easily negotiate the wooded terrain.  What I didn't take into account, however, was the direction of travel.  Deer don't mind if they wander through a neighbor's pasture or trespass onto land that belongs to someone else.  Their only focus is to get from point A to point B.  I, however, had a different goal; to explore the 10 acres of wooded land my family was considering purchasing.  As a result, I got lost.

While it made sense to my way of thinking to follow this meandering path as a way to find my way through the dense forest, it didn't turn out very well in the end.  I suddenly found myself in a cow pasture I didn't even know existed and I had to trek through a herd of cattle before making my way to the road and circle back around to where I started.  Doing things my way was unsuccessful.

This is similar to what happens when I rely on my own insight, using my past experiences, background and reasoning to determine what I should do.  The path I choose takes me far away from God.  Consequently, if I want to do things God's way, I had better let Him lead.  

This means placing my confidence in the Lord's wisdom, believing that He has a way through my present circumstances that I know nothing about.  When I turn to Him, placing all my trust in His way, He will show me what I need to know when I need to know it (Proverbs 3:5-6).

It reminds me of the markers that indicate the borders of our property.  In order to find the boundaries, I would only need to locate those markers buried a few inches under the ground.  Without them, I don't know where my yard stops and my neighbor's begins.  All that it takes for me to discover the property line is to locate those markers that have already been positioned.

Similarly, God has laid out a race for me to run, a way for me to go, a path for me to take (Hebrews 12:1).  There is no need for me to figure out by myself what I should do with my life.  Instead, I need only seek out the Lord and, according to His timetable, He will unveil the markers that make His way clear (Jeremiah 29:11-13).

I follow my own form of religion when I rely on my own understanding instead of seeking God's plan.

My Power

In my own strength I could only get the seat out to the van from where it was temporarily stored in our garage.  Without my husband's help, though, I couldn't lift it into the vehicle and maneuver it back into place.  I possessed the will to do so and I could see how the latches on the bottom of the seat were designed to clamp into the anchors mounted on the floor of the van.  Without an outside source of power, however, I didn't have the strength to accomplish the task.

This is similar to my walk with the Lord.  I may think I know what needs to be done, or I have an idea of how things should go according to what I can handle, but I limit myself to what I can naturally do.  For instance, I may reject the idea that I could speak to a group of people because I get too nervous.  Instead of relying on the God who made my mouth and can enable me to deliver His message, I only go by what I think I am capable of doing.  In this way I limit God by my own weaknesses (Exodus 4:10-11).

Other times, I think that this is not the time to start the ministry God has placed on my heart.  After all, I reason, my life is too busy right now; I don't want to spread myself too thin.  Unfortunately, what I am failing to realize is that if God gave me a job to do, it is His strength that will accomplish the work, not my own.  Therefore, it doesn't matter if I'm poured out until I'm empty because God's power never runs out (Isaiah 40:28-29).

Then there are the times when I limit God to what I think I'm able to do.  Instead, God has amazing things to show me where He will prove that His arm is not too short (Numbers 11:23).

I follow my own form of religion when I limit God to what I can do instead of remembering that His power within me is able to accomplish far more (Ephesians 3:20).

My Love

Despite my efforts, the duck pond I excavated as a child drained quickly.  No matter how much water I added to the hole, it promptly drained out, leaving my ducks nowhere to swim.  This reminds me of my own ability to love; it is shallow and easily exhausted.  God's love, on the other hand, never runs out (1 Corinthians 13:7, 13, Psalm 136).

If I attempt only the acts of kindness that are within my own shallow ability to love, then, I am refusing to give God free reign to love.  Instead of letting His perfect love flow through me uninhibited, I kink the hose, cutting off the stream.  I manufacture a counterfeit religion based on my own ideas of love.

This happens when I put pressure on myself to respond to the cranky clerk with a soft answer, knowing it will turn away wrath (Proverbs 15:1). If she keeps pushing my buttons, however, my own well of love will soon grow dry and I'll snap, giving her a piece of my mind.  Instead, a genuine ability to love will only come forth when I surrender my desire to be treated with respect and let God show me the hurt that lies beneath her harsh words.  Then, as I take on the Lord Jesus Christ, He will respond through me with a level of compassion and understanding she has never before experienced (Romans 13:14).

Sometimes I attempt to love those who have been forgotten.  As I distribute the meals to the homeless, I smile warmly, attempting to show them how much I care.  Soon, however, I tire of the exercise and want to get back to my side of town. Instead, if I were to let God have His way, letting go of my own agenda, I'd soon find a genuine desire to personally get to know each person passing through the line, discovering a new-found acceptance of them as His image bearers.

I also make up my own form of religion when I try to reach out to my neighbors by a sense of obligation, knowing I am to be salt and light in a dark world.  Every time I hear the foul language spring forth from their mouths, however, and see the way they neglect their children, my efforts to show kindness draws to a close.  If I were to give up my tendency to point out their flaws, however, and simply let God remind me how much they need Jesus just like I do, I would not be able to fathom the compassion that flows out to them.  

I follow my own form of religion when I attempt to love others in the way I think I should instead of letting God perfectly love them through me (1 John 4:7-8).

While I may think it ridiculous that the tribe of Dan worshiped an image and thought they were doing right, I often set up my own form of religion and think it honors God.  Unfortunately, when I rely on my own wisdom, power and love, my attempts are proved a fraud.  If I want to follow God, I must do it His way.  Otherwise, I will find myself following a god that is not at all the One I seek.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can stay true to what God teaches in His Word.

When do I rely on my own understanding to try to negotiate the potholes of life instead of depending on God?

How am I making up things as I go instead of following the path God has marked out for me?


Originally published on April 2, 2014

His Heavy Hand

"Praise our God, all peoples,

let the sound of his praise be heard;

he has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping.

For you, God, tested us;

you refined us like silver.

You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs.

You let people ride over our heads;

we went through fire and water,

but you brought us to a place of abundance."

Psalm 66:8-12

I want the good stuff without the hard, the benefit without the responsibility.  I desire to be called His child, yet despair under His discipline where true growth occurs.  A legitimate daughter falls under the heavy yet loving hand of her Father at times.

Living as His child is hard.  He loves me as I am, but loves me too much to leave me that way.  He sometimes seems relentless in His loving discipline.  But this is what it means to be His; it all brings abundant goodness into my life.

Kept.  I remember learning about the autonomic nervous system in school where the bodily functions necessary for life are carried on without me even thinking about it.  This wondrous feature of the human body seemed amazing; my heart keeps beating without any effort or thought on my part.  Even while I sleep, I continue to take air into my lungs.  I often wondered how it could all keep going by itself.

I am a marvel of God's creation, and He is the One who keeps the body functioning.  It is by His hand that I take each breathe.  It is through His grace that I wake up each morning.  I am at His mercy.  But as His child, this is not a scary thing because I am His.  I am under His constant attention. With such an attentive Father as this caring for each and every need, I can rest easy.

As His child, I am kept in the palm of His hand.

Tested.  Silver is no good until it goes through a purification process where the precious metal is exposed to high heat in order to burn off any contamination.  Once it shines bright, reflecting the refiner's image, the process is over and only pure silver remains.

I am like this silver.  On my own, I am precious in God's eyes; fully loved and treasured as His daughter.  But as His child it is His desire that I mimic His Son.  I can't fake this, bring it about through concentrated effort, or become like Him in the blink of an eye.  Sanctification is a process in which I cooperate with the Holy Spirit as He transforms me into the image of His Son (2 Corinthians 3:18).  

This process can be painful as God exposes me to the fire, showing me what my faith is really made of (1 Peter 1:7).  It's not until I reach the end of myself when going through hard times when I realize how much I need Jesus.  It's not until I am forced to put my faith into action, doing what I so boldly proclaim, that I discover it's not as strong as I once thought.  It's not until I must put my money where my mouth is that I find my faith coming up short. This is when I learn to really lean on the Jesus I claim to love and follow. 

As His child, my faith is tested as I undergo trials and tribulation.

Burdened.  I always thought it would be great to live the rich life without a care in the world.  All my needs would be taken care of, I'd want for nothing.  Then I grew up and found that money brings more troubles than happiness.  True joy comes from following Christ.

As a child of God through faith in Jesus, however, my life is not easy and comfortable.  He lays heavy burdens upon me, loads which are too much for me to carry.  I am weak and unable to bear such pain and heartache.  Why does He do this?  I thought He loved me!

My Father in heaven has a love that is peculiar to the heart of man.  He does not shield me from trouble, but brings me through it so that I can see my own weakness and come to a greater appreciation for His power (2 Corinthians 4:7-9).  It is only by relying on Him that I can keep from being destroyed by the difficulty of life.  It is only through the strength of His love that I am able to avoid despair.  It is only in Christ that I am not ruined by the blows that come my way.

As His child, I am burdened heavily so that I can bring glory to Him as my strength.

What advantage do I have as God's child?  I am not shielded from difficulty, that's for sure.  But as His daughter, His eye is ever on me, keeping all systems working. He tests my faith in order to prove it's worth, and He burdens me heavily so that it is clear to all that God is the One who gets the glory for the great things that He has done in my life.  What is the result of His heavy hand upon my life?  What can I expect as His oft-disciplined child?  Abundance of life!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God through the trials.

When am I prone to despair, forgetting I am kept by the God of the universe?

How do I forget that part of being His child is to expect discipline that brings me closer to Him?

  

What Kind of Love

"We love because he first loved us."

1 John 4:19

Imagine for a moment a mother nurturing her child.  She poured everything into her daughter's life, forgoing sleep in order to feed and change her throughout the night, giving up a lucrative career so that she could be there for her little one, caring for the developing babe in ways she never thought possible.  Every need was met, each tear wiped away, whenever heartache came there was comfort.  This mother gave all she had for this child.  

One day, after ten years of selfless giving, the little girl endured a bizarre incident where she developed amnesia.  Suddenly, the child didn't know her own mommy.  The one who used to be the center of her universe all at once became like a stranger.  Instead of running to her mama in search of solace, she turned away in fear.  This mother could hardly bear the pain such rejection wrought.

Now redirect your thoughts to that of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  He knows each of His own intimately, taking an active part in the formation of each human life.  Every Image bearer came into being through Him.  Without Him, there would be no life at all.  He is the ultimate Life Giver.

Still, when He came down into the world His Father painstakingly created through Him, not one of His masterpieces even recognized Him as the One who gave them life.  Not only that, He was rejected by His own, much like the daughter with amnesia denied her own mother.  It was as if all that He had done for mankind mattered not.  What pain must have pierced His heart.

Despite the anticipation of such treatment, such rejection, Jesus chose to come down off His throne and lower Himself to the position of a mere man. (Philippians 2:5-8) Knowing full well that He would be snubbed by the very ones He came to save, He still made the decision to endure such treatment.

What would drive Him to such a point?  What would compel Jesus to endure such torture?  Why would He choose to go through such pain?  Love. (Romans 5:8, John 15:13) 

The perfect love of God compelled Christ to humble Himself even though He deserved only adoration and praise.  This unspeakable love propelled Christ to the cross where He sacrificed not only His life, but for a time, even the bond He shared with His Father.  As the sin of all mankind drained the life from Christ's ravaged body, His Holy Father turned away.  The pain of suffering so deeply without the comfort of the Father of all compassion must have been excruciating.

This is the love that flows through my veins.  As a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ, I am saved by this love, offered abundant, eternal life through this love, and welcomed into a family because of this love. (John 3:16-17, 1 John 3:1)   Even though my sin earned me death, I was graciously and mercifully offered life due to such amazing love. (Romans 6:23)  

How then can I turn away from the lost who need such love so desperately?  Why do I find it so easy to withhold such love from those who don't deserve it?  If I was given such a gift despite my own unworthiness, why am I so stingy with His love?

What kind of love would compel Jesus Christ to make the unthinkable sacrifice?  God's perfect love.  May this love propel me forward into a dark world where I will freely allow His light to shine, drawing people to His perfect love where they too will find relief from all that binds them.  (Matthew 5:16, Luke 4:18)  May His love move me to step beyond my comfort barriers where the real need lies.  May His love push me to look beyond myself to see the suffering all around me.  

What kind of love would drive the Son of God to endure rejection by His own, great human suffering, and separation from His Father?  The perfect love of God.  What can this love propel me to do today?

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will stop hampering the flow of God's love through me and out to a hurting world.

When do I let fear stop this flow of love?

How do I judge others as unworthy of such unconditional love?

Uniquely Equipped

"For the Spirit God have us does not make us timid,

but gives us power,

love

and self-discipline.

So

do not be ashamed of the testimony

about our Lord or of me his prisoner.

Rather,

join with me in suffering for the gospel,

by the power of God."

2 Timothy 1:7-8

Their laughter only made the blood rise quicker until it reached the tips of my ears, turning my face red as a beet.  I couldn't believe what they were saying about my Lord Jesus Christ!  Attention always made me uncomfortable, but the comments I was about to say in defense of the One whom they were ridiculing would most assuredly draw negative attention, to say the least.  My thoughts betrayed my fear: How can I speak up and risk my reputation?  I've always been known as one who goes with the flow, but standing for Christ in the midst of such widespread contempt for Him would definitely rock the boat.

Living in a world that is opposed to Christ can cause any believer to quake in their shoes.  God, however, did not give us this spirit of apprehension.  Instead, He uniquely equipped us to testify about Him.

Power of God

False accusations flew like so many stones thrown with the intent to kill.  Those in authority, who had the influence to make his life a living nightmare, had been stirred into a frenzy.  Their intent was to bring him down.  Even with all their efforts, though, these troublemakers were about to experience a smack down like no other.  You see, Stephen, the one they accused, was full of God's grace and power.  No one could argue against the divine wisdom that came out of his mouth. (Acts 6:8,10)

Stephen went on to give a speech to the Sanhedrin that began with Moses and chronicled the history of God's people.  (Acts 7)  He ended by turning the accusing finger back on his adversaries, delivering a message of judgement from a holy God.  For this, Stephen lost his life.  While this may not seem like a victory, for God's kingdom, it is.  That fateful day, all who were present for the speech of Stephen heard the power of God as He communicated through the lips of a man.  

Stephen is not unique in that I, as a believer, possess that same power of God to speak the truth boldly to those who stand against the Lord.  All it takes is for me to be a willing vessel.  When I step forward in faith, He will deliver the right words at the right time and give me the courage to say them.  But I'll never know until I trust Him enough to step forward.

God's power uniquely equips me to testify about the Lord.

Love of God

There was no reason for her to stay; her husband had died, she didn't have any children, and her mother-in-law was planning to travel back to her hometown.  The only logical decision would be for Ruth to return home to her birth family.  Her heart, however, would not let her leave this woman that she had grown to love and respect. (Ruth 1:16-17)  

God's love empowers me to do things I normally wouldn't do, like forgive someone who hurt me, or reach out to someone who makes me uncomfortable, or consider my enemy to be my friend. There is no greater power than the love of God.

This love never gives up on people, even those who seem like they'll never care about the forgiveness that is theirs through Jesus Christ.  The compassion of God prepares me to speak the truth in a gentle and kind way to those who need to hear it.  When I live by way of the love that God so generously supplies, it will be the trademark by which I am known.  (John 13:35)

God's love uniquely equips me to testify about the Lord.

Self-Discipline

Nike began a successful advertising campaign with three simple words: Just Do It.  In a nutshell, this summarized the need for self-discipline when sticking to any exercise or training regime.  Successful athletes are known for this kind of discipline because they know it's the only way to excel in their sport.

In a similar way, I need a bit of discipline in my spiritual walk.  The Apostle Paul spent a lot of time teaching and discipling other believers. I am sure there were days that he didn't feel like talking to anyone.  Maybe he didn't have a good nights sleep and he was a bit grumpy, like I am prone to get.  Or, it could be that he just wasn't in the mood, or didn't feel his usual passion for training others in God's ways.  Some days are what I like to call, "bad hair days."

The amazing thing about God, is that he gives us a spirit of self-discipline for those days when I don't want to do what He's called me to do, but I can push through anyway with this spirit of obedience.

For the times when an opportunity to share the gospel is presented but I don't feel in the mood, I can follow-through despite my lack of passion. Instead of waiting to feel motivated to tell what I know about the Lord, I can just do it.

Self-discipline uniquely equips me to testify about the Lord.

I am living in a world that desperately needs to hear the message of love and grace that is found in the good news of Jesus Christ.  When I'm feeling afraid to speak up, I can tap into the power that comes from God, His trademark love, and the ability to follow-through despite my lack of motivation.  I have been uniquely equipped to testify through words and actions, but it is up to me to utilize these tools.  Then I will know what it means to not be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can stop depending upon my own wherewithal and instead depend upon the spirit God has given to me.

How do I let my feelings dictate my actions (or lack of action)?

When am I afraid to speak up for Christ?  How can I purposefully depend upon the spirit God has given me during those times?