Sounds Good to Me

"In those days

there was no king in Israel.

Everyone did what was right in his own eyes."

Judges 17:6 ESV

It seemed like a good idea at the time:  Go to college, earn a degree and see what happens.  The problem is, I didn't even consult the Master Planner.  Instead, I did what seemed right to me.  I guess it wasn't surprising since I lived my life based on what sounded good to me.  If I wanted to participate in a certain activity, there was nothing to hold me back as long as I felt comfortable doing it.  If a boy expressed interest in me and told me I was beautiful, I gave my heart to him because it felt right.  If a thought entered my mind, I examined it fully from every angle since I lacked any kind of filtering system.  You see, I was my own god for many years after I made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ but I failed to submit to His Lordship until I was well into my adult years.

I guess my life might not be so different from your life.  I can see it was also very similar to Micah's.  He lived during the time of the judges and did what seemed right to him;  He set up his own shrine in his home and ordained his own son to be priest.  Instead of following God's instructions for proper worship, he did things his way. He meant well; doesn't that count for something (Leviticus 8-10)?

It's easy for me to take on this same attitude, thinking that as long as I'm trying to worship God, it doesn't matter how I do it.  Let's see what God says.

Living Sacrifice

Hands held high.  Bodies swaying back and forth.  Eyes closed.  Worshipful expressions on the faces of the people. The voice of the worship leader gently prodded, "Let it go. Let God have His way with you right now in this place."  The people responded, each doing what seemed like it might look like they were worshiping God.  Meanwhile, the Lord was paying no attention to the outward appearance.  Instead, He was concerned with the hearts of His people, especially after they piled into their cars and headed home (1 Samuel 16:7).

It's easy for me to think that worship is what takes place on Sunday mornings or Wednesday evenings when I gather with other believers to sing praises to my Lord and Savior.  While this is a form of worship, if I truly want to revere and adore my Maker, I must look to scripture for instructions.

The Lord tells us clearly in Romans 12:1 how to truly worship Him.  He said through the Apostle Paul that, in light of everything He has done for me, I can give my entire life, totally surrendering to Him and His plan as a form of living and holy sacrifice to Him.  When I do this, I am worshiping God not just with my lips or in the way that seems right to me, but I am giving Him what He wants most: my heart.  

This means I will let go of my desire to control the details of my life, to decide which way I want to go, to make up my own mind as to how I will spend the time, money and gifts He has given me.  Instead, I will freely turn the responsibility of managing my life over to Him, letting Him control the ins and outs of my life, allowing Him to lead me down the path He has laid out for me, and giving Him Lordship over the resources He has so generously bestowed upon me.

I have my own idea of what worship looks like based on what I see around me, but if I want to do what is right in God's eyes, I must pay attention to His design for worship.

Pure Religion

There is much pressure to conform to my religion.  I feel guilty if I miss a Sunday at church.  I don't feel comfortable spending the money I should be tithing.  I beat myself up if I slip and let a curse word fly when I'm frustrated.  I just can't seem to live the way I think I should be living.  I would never tell anyone, but I secretly wonder what good this religion is if all it does is heap a heavy burden on my shoulders.  I already have enough to worry about!

Does this sound familiar?  It's easy turn Christianity into a set of rules to follow, a mold to which I must conform, or a way of living I think I need to mimic.  Instead, Jesus died a horrible death, emptying Himself of His divine privileges in order to make it possible for me to have a relationship with the One who loves me perfectly (Philippians 2:6-8, Romans 5:10, 1 John 3:1a).

Consequently, it is my relationship with a loving and merciful God that is most important (Luke 10:38-42).  Instead of trying to follow a set of religious rules, then, I can simply follow Him (Matthew 11:28-30). As I fall into step with Him, I will find that He changes my heart, giving me a desire to do things that please Him (Philippians 2:13).  As a result, my religion will begin to morph into something more in line with what God has in mind.

Instead of feeling pressure to go to church and listen to the Bible being taught, I will take in His Word as if it were life itself, letting it cut out the parts of me that don't line up (Hebrews 4:12).  Instead of doing service out of obligation, I will discover a passion for helping the widows and orphans God places in my life:  It will be a joy to help take care of their needs  (James 1:27).  Likewise, instead of trying so hard to clean up my language out of duty, I will find that I want to honor God with my words and to stay separate from the ways of the world which resonate deeply to my sin nature (James 1:26-27).

I have an idea of what religion looks like based on a set of rules, but if I want to do what is right in God's eyes, I will have to instead focus on my relationship with Him.

Obedience

At this time of year, many people decide to give something up for Lent.  It might be a certain habit, an indulgence, or an activity each offers as a sacrifice.  Whatever is surrendered, the idea is to give it up for 40 days before Easter as a symbol of turning back to God.

While this can have some real spiritual impact, for most people it is a temporary sacrifice made out of obligation.  The hope may be that the fast will last for the rest of their lives, but nearly all who give something up for Lent go back to their old ways once Easter rolls around.

Samuel, the prophet and final judge of the nation of Israel, delivered a message from God to Saul when he similarly tried to give a sacrifice as a way to earn God's favor before an important battle.  Instead of obeying God's instructions to the "t," however, Saul tried to use the offering as a sort of talisman, hoping that it would result in God's stamp on approval of him as king before he entered into combat. Saul wanted the power God wields without wanting God Himself.  Samuel set him straight, telling him that, "To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams" (1 Samuel 15:22).

Instead of trying to give something up for the sake of giving it up, then, I would be better off paying attention to His Word and yielding to His work in my life.  When I sense His gentle prodding to forgive a sister who has wounded me deeply, it would please Him most if I let go of the hurt that is eating me up inside (Ephesians 4:32). When I know He is telling me it is important to wait on His time, I would give Him pleasure if I stopped my forward progress to give His plan a chance to work out in my life (Isaiah 40:31). When I read in His Word that love is more important than any of the gifts I can use in His name, opening my heart to let His love flow through me would put a smile on my Father's face (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

I may be tempted to make sacrifices to prove the seriousness of my faith, but if I want to do what is right in God's eyes, I would be better off putting my efforts into obedience.  

I am not so different from Micah, the Old Testament character who tried to worship God in a way that seemed right to him.  When I do what is right in my own eyes, however, I am not pleasing God.  If I want to give Him pleasure, then, I must offer my life as a sacrifice, focus on growing closer in my relationship with Him, and make obedience my greatest desire.  In these ways I'll stop doing what sounds good to me and start doing what truly is good in God's eyes.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can stop following a form of religion that leads nowhere.

When do I follow a list of rules instead of my Father who loves me?

How am I more focused on a religion instead of my relationship with the Lord? 


Originally published on March 31, 2014

Go! But first. . .

Then God said to Jacob,

'Go up at once to Bethel and live there.

Make an altar there to God,

who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.'

So Jacob told his household and all who were with him,

'Get rid of the foreign gods you have among you.

Purify yourselves

and change your clothes.

Let us go up at once to Bethel.

Then I will make an altar there to God,

who responded to me in my time of distress

and has been with me wherever I went.'"

Genesis 35:1-3

My daughter was so excited to begin her trip to New York City for a fashion and talent convention.  Her modeling school was taking a group of students to compete in the International Modeling and Talent Association's annual scouting event and she spent a lot of time preparing.  Before she could go, however, I had required that she finish her homeschool studies thus earning her high school degree.  Even though her heart was set on NYC, there were some details to which she had to attend before she would be ready.

It is not so different with me in my walk with the Lord.  He may call me to a particular mission, a certain ministry or a specific task.  Before I can jump in with both feet, however, I would be wise to consider a few items of preparation.

Purge

Finally the water was turned back on after some repairs had been completed to the pipes in our cul-de-sac.  The worker told me to run the water in the sinks for a few minutes to purge the lines from built up air and any debris that might have contaminated the lines.  As the water ran, I could see what he meant as the steady flow was interrupted by sputtering and knocking as the trapped air pockets left the system.  Soon, our water was flowing smoothly again.

In the same way that these air pockets can interrupt the flow of water into my home, so can attitudes, hobbies, relationships, careers, or a myriad of other pursuits come between me and God.  Anything that hampers the flow of the Holy Spirit into my life is considered to be an idol.

I can make anything a god when I give it more attention than I do the Lord.  Exercise used to be an idol for me.  While running and working out is beneficial to my health, it is not helpful when it takes up more space in my thoughts than does my Father.  

When I thought about how I could improve the time on my upcoming run more than I meditated on the sacrifice of Jesus, then I realized I had an idol problem.  When the new exercises I could include in my routine monopolized my thoughts instead of the mysterious ways of God, then what was considered as healthy and good had turned into a god.  When I found myself daydreaming about how great it felt when my feet were hitting the pavement and my lungs were breathing in the fresh air instead of focusing my mind on a particular passage of scripture, then it became apparent it was time to get rid of my obsession.

While many things can be beneficial, almost anything can become a passion that steals my thoughts, efforts and heart away from the Lord.  He is to be my one, true love.  

Before I can answer the call of God, it is vital that I purge my life of any and all idols.

Purify

Sometimes, water lines can become contaminated with bacteria or viruses.  In these rare cases, public health authorities issue a boil-water advisory, recommending to local residents that they boil drinking water for one-minute before using it.  This practice effectively kills these harmful organisms, producing a liquid that is safe for consumption.

While everyone wants clean water to drink and use for cooking, not many of us think about the purity of our hearts.  God reminds me of the importance of protecting the center from which everything in my life flows in Proverbs 4:23.  "Guard your heart with all vigilance, for from it are the sources of life." (NET)

In this day and age, it is easy to let sinful attitudes, selfish motivations, and indulgent pursuits monopolize my heart.  Then, I find myself driven by my own fleshly desires instead of the will of God.  

Therefore, I must be careful with how I spend my time.  If I have a little extra, I can either find something with which I can amuse myself on social media, or I can seek out wisdom to enrich my soul.

While I'm completing my work for the day, I can either think about what I'm going to do when I finish, or I can dwell on the scripture passage that stood out to me in my morning reading.  

When I'm driving to and from work, on my way to appointments or running errands, I can either take a walk down memory lane and listen to some golden oldies on the radio, or I can use the time to worship the Creator of all things through song.  In this life I can expect to reap what I sow:  Whatever I allow in will eventually come out in one way or another.

Before I can answer the call of God, it is vital that I purify myself of that which leads me astray.

Put On

It is said that I should dress the way I want to be addressed since I live in a world that judges by appearances.  While it may be important to make a good first impression, God is more concerned about a different kind of clothing.

Paul gave some great advice to me as I live in a time that is moving quickly toward the day of my salvation.  He reminds me how important it is to live decently, avoiding the dark temptations that lurk all around me, sticking instead to the light.  Instead of putting on some kind of superhero costume to help me negotiate the shadows where my enemy prowls, however, I am called to clothe myself with Christ Jesus Himself (Romans 13:11-14).

Replacing my own sinful desires with my true identity in Christ is a necessary daily practice.  Instead of thinking of myself as my own to treat as I see fit, to go where I want to go, and to act in the way that seems right to me, I must remember I belong to Christ (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).  

When I find it natural to put myself down, I must remember I am infinitely valuable as one who was made in the very image of God (Genesis 1:27). In place of letting myself go down to the pit of despair as I think of all the wrongs I have committed, I can remember that I am redeemed and nothing can separate me from His great love (1 Peter 1:18-19, Romans 8:38-39).

Before I can answer the call of God, I must put on the Lord Jesus Christ.

God has a great plan for my life.  When He calls me to move forward in faith, I want to be ready.  Before I jump, however, it is important that I purge myself of all idols, purify myself of anything that could distract, and clothe myself with Christ Jesus.  In these ways I will prepare myself to answer His great call.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can take the time to prepare before I jump ahead.

When do I let sinful attitudes seep into my consciousness?

In what ways do I forget my identity in Christ? 


Originally published on August 28, 2013

Heart of Flesh

Originally published on April 30, 2012

"I will give you a new heart 

and put a new spirit in you;

I will remove from you

your heart of stone

and give you a heart of flesh."

Ezekiel 36:26

September has always been a special month for me.  Not only is it the month of my birth, but as a child and even as a homeschool mother, I always enjoyed the beginning of the new school year.  The preparation for the upcoming year brought a sense of hope and excitement to my days as I purchased new clothing and supplies, preparing myself for the challenges that lay ahead.

As the first day of school approached during my junior high and high school years, I would organize my notebook, making new dividers and filling it with fresh paper and pencils.  I then would turn my attention to my attire, deciding which outfit I would wear for the first day.  Often, I would get a pair of new shoes and somehow, this made me feel like a brand new person tackling a brand new school year.  

In the same way that my fresh, never-before-worn clothes and virgin pencils groomed me for the new classes I was about to face, the new heart of flesh that God has given me through faith in Jesus Christ prepares me for living my life as a member of the family of God.

Empowered Obedience

A friend of mine recently gave a great visual of the battle that occurs between my spirit and God's Spirit as described in Galatians 5:17.  "The sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.  They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want." 

My friend likened this contrariness, this conflict to a tug-of-war between me and God. As God's Spirit moves me in His direction, my flesh pulls back against Him, pulling me in the opposite direction. The only way for me to go in God's direction is for me to stop pulling and let Him lead me.  If I drop the rope altogether, giving up the fight and surrendering my will to Him, I can freely walk along with Him.  

As one who has been provided through Christ with a tender and responsive heart (Ezekiel 36:26), I am given the ability to withstand the temptation to do things my way.  The grace of God which constantly flows through me from His indwelling Spirit empowers me to, "offer the parts of (my) body to him as instruments of righteousness.  For sin shall not be (my) master, because (I) am not under law, but under grace." (Romans 6:13-14)  Either I choose to give myself over to the pull of God, or the influence of sin.  

Each time I sense the tug of God leading me in His direction, there will be the temptation for my flesh to fight against Him.  But thanks to God's grace abundantly found in my life and manifested through His Son's death on the cross, I have the option and ability to drop the rope, giving in to God's will.  When I submit, the fruit of the Spirit are produced and there is no law against these things! 

I don't have to try harder to be good and please God, rather I have to nail, "the passions and desires of (the) sinful nature to his cross and (crucify) them there."  (Galatians 5:24 NLT) Or, as 17th Century Puritan preacher Peter Bulkeley said, "If God be God over us, we must yield him universal obedience in all things.  He must not be over us in one thing, and under us in another, but he must be over us in everything."  

I am empowered to obey by the grace of God when I submit to Him and allow Him to lead me.

Godly Devotion

Our neighbors own a huge German Shepherd who looks quite intimidating but who is actually a big baby.  He's gentle, calm and pretty laid back. . . until his owner brings out the beloved tennis ball.  Then he turns into the fetching machine, never taking his eyes of the yellow orb.  Nothing can distract him from the job at hand; squirrels, food, other dogs, they all fade into the background as the ball takes center stage, monopolizing his attention.  He's all about his ball.

In the same way, I am called to be wholly devoted to God.  He may allow a variety of attractive belief systems or alluring distractions to come my way in order to test me "to find out whether (I) love him with all (my) heart and with all (my) soul.  It is the LORD (my) God (I) must follow, and him (I) must revere.  Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him."  (Deuteronomy 13:3-4)

This kind of devotion comes with maturity as we progressively work toward, "attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.  Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming."  (Ephesians 4:13-14)  Growing in my walk with God means I will gradually become more Christ-like, little-by-little gaining an immunity to distractions.  The goal is to become like my neighbor's dog; all about my God!

As I cultivate my personal relationship with God through faith in Christ, I will increasingly develop my devotion for Him and Him alone.

Spontaneous Love

Have you ever tried really hard to love someone, especially someone who is particularly prickly?  I have. . . and it doesn't work.  I just don't have it in me to love like God loves me!  

I like the way Oswald Chambers put it in his entry for April 30th in My Utmost for His Highest:  "Love is not premeditated, it is spontaneous, i.e., it bursts up in extraordinary ways.  There is nothing of mathematical certainty in Paul's category of love.  We cannot say--'Now I am going to think no evil; I am going to believe all things.'  The characteristic of love is spontaneity.  We do not set the statements of Jesus in front of us as a standard; but when His Spirit is having His way with us, we live according to His standard without knowing it, and on looking aback we are amazed at the disinterestedness of a particular emotion, which is the evidence that the spontaneity of real love was there.  In everything to do with the life of God in us, its nature is only discerned when it is past."

It is not my effort that produces a loving attitude or loving acts, rather it is in extension of God's Spirit working through me.  "God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."  (Romans 5:5)

As I let God's Spirit have it's way in me, I will find that the irritation I used to experience when dealing with a certain difficult personality has vanished and in it's place is patience and gentleness.

When I let go and let God, it will become apparent that my previous penchant for perfection and high expectations for others' actions has been replaced by a desire to let go of past failures and to always hope, believing with faith that things will get better.

If I follow God where He leads, I will soon see that circumstances and situations that used to anger me and send me into a tailspin now have no affect on me.  My blood does not boil and I'm no longer compelled to chew someone out, defending my position.  

Love comes as a natural extension of God Spirit as He becomes greater and I become less and will show up unprompted in ways I can't explain.  

God is the craftsman of my new heart.  Only He can, "Create in me a clean heart. . . and renew a right spirit within me."  (Psalm 51:10)  And with this heart of flesh I am empowered to obey God, to be wholly devoted to Him and to love spontaneously.  In this way, I am growing "in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church."  (Ephesians 4:15 NLT)

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will let go and let God have His way in my life this moment.

When do I insist on having my way, thus preventing God to love others through me?

How do I hang onto my own desires, refusing to nail them to the cross?

The Choice

"'Come now, let us settle the matter,'

says the LORD.

'Though your sins are like scarlet,

they shall be as white as snow;

though they are red as crimson,

they shall be like wool.

If you are willing and obedient,

you will eat the good things of the land;

but if you resist and rebel,

you will be devoured by the sword.'

For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

Isaiah 1:18-20 

I look at the decisions being made by the powers that be in this country and I come to the conclusion that discipline is coming.  As a nation, we have sunk so low, offended God in so many ways, turned from Him and toward iniquity so severely that I know He cannot keep His hand of protection upon us.  But is it the choices being made by the lost that offends Him most, or is the Body of Christ itself an affront to God?

Jesus begs a decision.  I can't sit on the fence when it comes to Him; I'm either for Him or against Him, in His corner or fighting against Him, living by the Spirit under grace or operating according to the flesh under law (Matthew 12:30, Galatians 5:16, Romans 7:5-6).  I must not do as the people of Judah did, going through the motions of religion and worship, identifying myself as a Christian yet living like I'm still a slave to sin, as if Jesus didn't die to free me from the very thing that sent Him to the cross (Romans 6:18, Hebrews 10:29) .

While salvation is mine through faith in Christ, there is still an issue of the heart I must face within that relationship.  Otherwise, I'm rebelling against God and can expect discipline as my Shepherd guides me back to His fold.  This kind of rebellion within the church may be the greater problem Americans face this day.

Willing.  His greed and carnal desires had him trapped.  He wanted the luscious fruit, yet he wanted freedom, too.  Little did he know, he couldn't have both.  The monkey picked up the scent of the bait and eagerly reached into the box in order to grab the treat, but soon he found himself stuck.  The little guy wasn't able to free his hand no matter how hard he tried.  He had a sense that letting go of the tempting food would free his hand from the trap, but he couldn't bring himself to do without such sensual pleasures.  His life just wouldn't be the same without it, or so he thought.  His stubbornness led to his demise.

Oh how tempting is the flesh!  As a human presented with the Gospel of Christ, I eagerly desire to have the assurance of eternal life, the peace of mind that comes from knowing my sins are covered and my fate is sure.  Yet the sensual desires of my natural self rules me.  I am as unwilling as that doomed monkey to let go of that which brings fleshly satisfaction and pleasure, stubbornly holding on to the very thing that condemns me.  I can't live for Christ and for self; I must choose one or the other.

To live in Christ is to be willing to die to self (Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 4:22-24, Luke 9:23).

Obedient.  The Bible is often seen as an instruction manual of sorts, a guide on how to live a righteous life.  Instead of treating God's Word as a textbook for me to follow by the letter, it is vital that I understand it's transformational power, realizing that God has a mission and the holy Scriptures will accomplish all He sets out for them to achieve; supernaturally and powerfully (Isaiah 55:10-11, Hebrews 4:12).

Once I comprehend my role as a disciple of Christ, it is my passion for Him that will lead me to do as He commands, to submit to His wishes (John 14:15-16).  Instead of simply taking in His words as good advice, I will have a hunger to see them be fulfilled in my life.  As I surrender to God's renovation process, I will find a desire welling up within me to put the things I learn into practice (Romans 12:2, Philippians 2:13, Colossians 3:10).  And I will also discover the grace necessary to empower me to do as He says as I rest in the work He has already accomplished on the cross on my behalf.

True transformation takes place when my heart is devoted to Jesus, as evidenced by my desire to obey His commands.

High Cost.  They didn't think it through.  Instead, the went with their gut, blindly and foolishly hoping that their meager paychecks would be enough to cover the cost of living in the house of their dreams.  Unfortunately, they discovered they were often short and had to dip into their retirement account in order to make up the difference.  If only this unfortunate couple had considered the high cost of living outside their means, then they wouldn't be in such a difficult situation.

In the same way that there is a cost of living that must be taken into account before buying a house, there is also a high price to pay in terms of what I will surrender when giving my life to Jesus (Luke 14:25-33).  Instead of going into the relationship without full knowledge of what I will give up, only focusing on what I will receive, I may soon find myself disillusioned.  Where's this abundant life I was promised?  How come troubles keep coming my way?  I thought life would be easier once I gave myself to Christ.  Instead, it only seems to get harder, and to think of all I gave up for Jesus. . . 

There is a high cost to following Jesus and I should come into the relationship with my eyes wide open, otherwise I will run out of resolve and won't be able to stand firm until the end when I'll receive my reward (1 Corinthians 15:58, Philippians 3:14).

Perhaps one of the main problems in this country lies not in the ungodly leadership decisions but within the hearts of God's people.  As one who professes Christ as Lord and Savior, it is mandatory that I be willing to surrender my will and repent of my sins, to devote myself to Jesus so I'll want to do as He says, and to accept the high cost that comes from living in Him.  The choice is mine; either I'm for Him or against Him.  A life lived in Him, however, is never a life wasted. . . and the benefits are out of this world!

As I begin this day it is my desire that I can fully commit myself to Christ, letting go of every desire that hampers my journey.

When do I want it all; salvation and to live my way?

How am I offending God with my stubbornness?         

  

True Security

"For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,

and the complacency of fools will destroy them;

but whoever listens to me will live in safety

and be at ease, without fear of harm."

Proverbs 1:32-33

We live in a tumultuous time.  Terrorism threatens, "progressive" agendas violate traditional values, and foolishness is disguised as wisdom.  How can we be safe and secure in such a time as this?  How can we keep from being swept away?  

It is possible.

Turn Toward.  Life is a journey.  I've heard it often, so frequently in fact that it's easy to dismiss it as a meaningless cliche.  But life really is a journey, a series of steps, a trip down a rocky path that often becomes difficult to negotiate and hard to navigate (Matthew 7:13-14).  I easily get off track, wandering away from the way He marked out for me to walk, enticed by worldly temptations, fleshly desires and the Devil himself.  

Since it's so easy to turn away from God and His plan for me, it's important that I constantly take the time to take stock, to inventory my heart.  Of course, this is not a job I can do using my own faulty discernment.  Instead, I find it vital to sit down in the peace of my Father's presence and ask Him to show me where I'm off, how my thinking is wrong, where I've strayed (Psalm 139:23-24).  Once He shows me, and He has never failed to do so and can always be counted on to answer this prayer, I can turn back toward Him and His loving Hand of correction.  He will direct me toward the way everlasting, the pure and lovely thoughts, and the healthier coping mechanism.  

To find true security in such a volatile world I will need to make it a practice to turn toward God.

Passion.  My relationship with Jesus can easily become a religion; a series of obligations I must fulfill, a set of rules I must follow, a regimen I'm expected to adhere to.  But Jesus died for more than this.  His love for me is so intense that it drove Him to undergo great agony for my sake.  In order that I might live and taste the life He meant for me to live when He first breathed life into my inert form, Jesus gave His own.  Even though He never sinned, is pure as could be, He took my sin upon Himself, suffering the agony of bearing the punishment meant for me (2 Corinthians 5:21).  This is how strongly and passionately He loves me.

I can love like this as well.  Not in my own strength, but because God's brand of love flows through me by faith in Jesus.  If I allow God to have His way, He will develop in me a similar passion for Him which will overflow with a compassion for others.  Instead of just learning His ways, then, I'll be driven by love to put it in action, to let Him move my hands and feet in ways that demonstrate His great love.  The hungry will be fed, the broken given hope, the imprisoned set free.  

To find true security in such a volatile world I can let God's great love for me develop into a passion for Him and His image bearers.

Heed.  Either I'm too busy to hear or I'm too afraid to listen.  The first is an unintentional blocking of God's voice, the second a deliberate effort to ignore Him.  

When my days are filled with errands to run, activities to participate in, tasks to perform, I rarely sense His leading or notice His hand at work around me.  Instead, I'm too intent on sticking to my schedule.

I'm not always busy, though, and it would seem those quiet moments would be the ideal atmosphere for hearing God's voice.  Unfortunately, I all too often am plagued by fear, assuming the message He has for me will hurt me, or that He'll expect me to do what I don't want to do, or that I just won't be able to handle His rebuke.  So I pretend I don't hear Him, or do what I can to divert my attention away from Him.  How I must hurt Him in my self-preserving efforts.  As my loving Father He has my best interest at heart and knows exactly what is best for me.  I can trust Him with my life and I have no reason to fear.  Fear is a choice I make that hampers intimacy with my Papa.

To find true security in such a volatile world I must learn to heed God's gentle promptings and expert lead.

It's easy to feel hopeless, wondering if it's even possible to live a life of integrity when the world seems to be falling down around me.  How can I stand firm and keep from being sucked into living in fear, adopting popular worldviews, or being shaped by foolish rhetoric?  I can purposefully allow God to search my heart for what doesn't belong and responsively turn toward His best, allow God's love to develop in me a passion for Him and people, and to heed His lead.  When I do, I will find true security despite the volatile nature of the world.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to listen to what He is saying to me.

When am I afraid to hear what He wants to say to me?

How do I intentionally keep myself busy so I won't have to deal with His correction or His conviction?

     

How to Please the King

"'And let the young woman who pleases the king

be queen instead of Vashti.'

This pleased the king,

and he did so."

Esther 2:4

King Xerxes was ready for a new queen.  He didn't want just any woman, though.  She must be young and beautiful, and pleasing to him.  In order to find this perfect candidate, his advisers counseled him to search the kingdom, bringing in young women from every province to compete, as it were, for his affections.  What would it take to please the king?

In such an environment, it would take quite a lot to impress the king.  Whoever would be chosen would have to stand out from the crowd, impacting him in a powerful way.  She would have to be pretty special to capture the king's attention.

Thankfully, this is not the case with God.  To please Him is quite another matter.

Obedience.  I give up my favorite pursuits as a show of dedication to Him.  While I know there's nothing inherently wrong with my nightly television viewing, I decide to try to capture God's attention with my faithfulness by cutting out this enjoyable time.  Even though my possessions are just stuff to me, I become a minimalist, thinking that the less I have the closer I can become to God.  All my efforts are in vain, however, because I consistently fail to heed His warnings, comply with his wishes, or yield to His loving hand of discipline.

God doesn't care about all the sacrifices I make in His name whether it be giving up things, forgoing sleeping in order to regularly attend church, or abstaining from sensual pleasures as a show of dedication to Him.  Instead, what He is really concerned with is my heart.  He wants me to treasure Him and His opinion of me so much that I will take seriously His leadership in my life (1 Samuel 15:22).  He's not impressed with my religious activities, my commitment to foreign missions, or my faithfulness to spread the gospel.  All He wants from me is to be a good listener who does what He says.

Then, if He calls me to give up things, dedicate time, or commit to activities, I'll please Him when I comply.  Otherwise, it's wasted on a God who only looks at my heart.

To please God I must obey His voice and submit to His hand.

Humility.  There is a sacrifice that God does accept.  While all my efforts to impress Him with my faithfulness mean nothing, there is something that will capture His attention.  What He does desire is for me to fully realize the weight of my own sin and to understand how much my sinful ways grieve Him.  God will not refuse such a thoroughly remorseful attitude for the ways I've pained Him with my selfishness and rebelliousness (Psalm 51:17).

This means if I think there is anything good in me that could impress God, I'm still too proud.  It also means if I don't believe God would ever accept me as I am, I've got some humbling to do.  I must see myself as God sees me as a sinful child loved enough for which to make the ultimate sacrifice.  Despite my sinful ways, I'm accepted as family.  In spite of all my unsuccessful efforts to reach God's standard, I'm made righteous by the blood of Jesus.  My identity in Christ is secured by faith, not works (Ephesians 2:8-9). 

I am who I am because of what He's done, not because of what I have or have not accomplished.  My place as His child is secure because of His strong love, not based on my worth, whether I view it as low or high.  Since I'm secure due to nothing I could ever contribute, I can't lose such a position in His family.

To please God I must realize how I am fully dependent upon Him for my acceptance in His kingdom.

Faith.  I try in vain to follow the letter of the law found in God's Word.  I make a resolution to curb my appetites, to abstain from cursing, to show patience to my loved ones.  I give it my best shot, putting all my effort into doing what I know is right.  Still, I fail.  There is no joy, only an utter sense of failure.  Where is God?  Does He see my attempts to live for Him?

There is a better way to live than to try to do the impossible.  I can no more reach God's perfect standard than a 1000-pound grizzly bear can fly (Romans 3:23, 3:9).  In order to please God, then, there is something else.  My hope is not in my efforts but in my faith.  I can only draw near to God because of my belief in what Jesus has done to repair my relationship with a Holy God (Hebrews 7:19).  

Without this willingness to trust God and know without a doubt that He is my salvation, I am unable to please Him (Hebrews 11:6).  Pursuing Him, then, even though I can't see Him or touch Him, is what it takes to be satisfactory in His eyes (Hebrews 11:1).

To please God I must belief He exists despite my inability to prove His reality.

Pleasing God is far different from satisfying a human king.  The King of kings looks for my compliance to His personal guidance in my life, a broken and contrite heart, and the willingness to believe what I cannot see.  This is how I please the King.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to do as He says.

When do I try to impress God with my sacrifices instead of simply obeying Him?

How am I doubting His ability to work through the hurt in my heart, revealing my lack of faith?