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?

Cursed for Us

"If someone has committed a crime worthy of death

and is executed and hung on a tree,

the body must not remain hanging from the tree overnight.

You must bury the body that same day,

for anyone who is hung is cursed in the sight of God."

Deuteronomy 21:22-23a NLT

It was a horrible way to die.  The insolent young man who refused to obey his parents, choosing instead to live to please his own desires by gorging in sensual pleasures and drink, was taken to the outskirts of town.  According to God's holy law, the men of the town were required to throw stones at the rebellious youth until he succumbed to death.  This was God's chosen form of execution as a way to purge evil from His nation. (Deuteronomy 21:18-23)

Death by hanging on a tree, in contrast, was not an acceptable form of punishment and brought with it the curse of God.  Isn't it curious, then, that Jesus would willingly accept the shame that came with being put to death on a cross, taking on this curse of God on my behalf? (Galatians 3:13)  Yet this is exactly what Christ did.  He was willing to fall under God's curse in order to bring righteousness and eternal life to me.  In light of such a sacrifice, I am called to follow His lead.

Choose Humility

He is God.  With this identity comes privilege, power and honor.  Even so, He chose to give up His place at the right hand of God the Father where He was esteemed and lifted up in order to take on the form of a lowly human.  Not only that, but He sunk even lower, exchanging His divine nature for that of a servant.  Perhaps the greatest example of the humility of Christ, however, was that He agreed to death on a cross; a kind of execution that brought shame and disgrace to the one hanging there. (Philippians 2:5-8)

If Jesus was willing to undergo such treatment even though His name is above all other names, why am I so intent on preserving my own rights, demanding respect from others and protecting my reputation?  It is easy for me to get caught up in focusing on my privileges, my position, my character.  In fact, I often live according to the principles of the survival of the fittest, every man for himself and may the best man win.

Unfortunately, this self-centered mindset is not of God but of the world.  In order to follow Jesus, then, I must constantly fling off this self-preserving way of conducting life and instead pursue Jesus.  When He is my sole pursuit, I am only concerned with His name being glorified, His love being shared and His sacrifice being honored.  In this way, I will choose humility.

When Jesus stood on the mount, teaching the masses the ways of His kingdom, He said that, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:3)  When I rate my own pursuits as insignificant, esteeming the needs of others as more valuable, I have chosen humbleness.  When I let go of my desire to defend myself, deeming the pursuit of peace as of more importance, I have chosen humbleness.  When I find the need to prove myself as right fading into the hazy background, choosing instead to understand the heart of my opponent, I have chosen humbleness.

Making the choice to take on a humble spirit is evidence that I am following Christ.

Choose the Gospel

He didn't have to agree.  Jesus could have refused.  He knew the hearts of men and of their cruel spirit. (John 2:25) He knew He would be spat upon, rejected and ridiculed.  Instead of preserving His own dignity, though, He chose to come to earth as a mere human in order to take the punishment of those He loves enough for whom to die.  There is no greater love than what He chose that fateful day. (John 15:13)  He chose to die a criminal's death, to become sin itself in order to save me from eternal death and restore my relationship with a holy God.  (2 Corinthians 5:21)

What kind of sacrifice do I choose in order to further the good news of Jesus Christ?  Humiliation?  Embarrassment?  Rejection?  Most of the time I am too comfortable in my safe zone.  If I am to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, however, I will not find it objectionable to be considered as yesterday's garbage for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  (1 Corinthians 4:9-13)

This means when someone laughs in my face, I will only see the face of Christ as He hung in agony of the cross, dying a slow and painful death so that this mocker could taste life.  As Oswald Chambers said in My Utmost for His Highest, "You can refuse to let God count you as one separated unto the gospel.  Or you may say--'I do not care if I am treated as the offscouring of the earth as long as the Gospel is proclaimed.'"

Treating the Gospel as most important also means when someone targets me for abusive behavior, I endure, gently speaking the truth in love with the hope that my enemy will soon see the Truth and repent.  (2 Timothy 2:25-26)

It also means when I am fodder for the rumor mill, I will respond in love, always keeping in mind the testimony for Christ my reply could be.  

Making the choice to esteem the Gospel as most precious is evidence that I am following Christ.

Choose Obedience

He could have commanded legions of angels to rescue Him from the coming torture. (Matthew 26:53) He agonized so much over the decision to obey His Father's wishes that blood mingled with the sweat on His brow.  Jesus suffered as He prayed in the garden, wanting more than anything to further His Father's will but struggling with the thought of what was to come.  (Luke 22:42-44)

Jesus chose obedience over His own comfort, safety or well-being.  Instead of doing what would seem best for Himself, He placed His Father's will above His own.  In order to follow Christ, then, I must do the same.

When I am tempted to make a decision based on what will best benefit me, then, I instead need to consider what it is God desires. (Proverbs 3:5-6)  When I naturally look out for my own best interest, doing what will further my own long-term plan, I would be wise to instead seek the Lord to find out the plan He has for me.  (Jeremiah 29:1-13)  Or when I tend to do the things that elevate my own dreams and desires, I must cooperate with God as He transforms my way of thinking to more closely line up with His so that I'll recognize His aspirations for my life.  (Romans 12:2)

Making the choice to value God's will above my own is evidence that I am following Christ.

I am so thankful to Christ for the gift of salvation His death made possible.  While I could very easily live my life never going any further than making Jesus my Savior, it is my desire to go deeper and let Him be Lord of my life.  When I elevate Him to this position, I will find that it is necessary to do as He does by choosing humility, the Gospel and obedience to my Father above all other pursuits.  In this way, my faith in Christ will be shown as authentic and His sacrifice to take on the curse of God as He hung on that cross will not be in vain.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will humble myself before the Lord as I go about my day.

What kinds of everyday experiences tempt me to defend my own rights instead of desiring to elevate the Gospel?

How is it difficult for me to seek out God's will above my own?

Unsoiled

"Yet you have still a few names in Sardis,

people who have not soiled their garments,

and they will walk with me in white,

for they are worthy.

The one who conquers will be clothed

 thus in white garments,

and I will never blot his name out of the book of life.

I will confess his name before my Father

and before his angels.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says

to the churches."

Revelation 3:4-6 ESV

The late frost had the potential to damage the delicate peach blossoms.  If they froze, there would be no peaches to enjoy come summer.  In order to protect the potential fruit from this destructive freeze, my daughter and I had to cover the tree with plastic, making sure each blossom was sheltered from the impending doom.  Then each morning, we removed the sheet to give the tree a chance to breathe.  In this way we kept the harmful frost from spoiling the fruit.

In the same way that peach blossoms are at risk of destruction, so is my new creation in Christ in danger of being corrupted by the world and my own flesh.  It is easy to start following my own common sense or to think as the unbelievers around me do.  Like Oswald Chambers wrote, "If I am devoted to the cause of humanity only, I will soon be exhausted and come to the place where my love will falter; but if I love Jesus Christ personally and passionately, I can serve humanity though men treat me as a doormat."  My allegiance to Jesus is what keeps me purely devoted to Him.

Therefore, it is possible to keep from being tarnished by evil, and what awaits those who grasp the victory that is ours in Christ Jesus, not compromising our relationship with Him, can expect great things!

Walk with Jesus

The heroes sat in the back of a convertible as onlookers cheered.  The two were humbled by the attention and a bit surprised by all the accolades: After all, they were only doing their duty.  As they thought of the lives that had been saved, the two firefighters knew they had made the right decision in going into the burning building.  This honor, however, was not why they had risked their lives.  Instead, they had stayed true to their calling and fulfilled their mission.

In the same way, my commitment to my calling as a daughter of the One True God by faith in Jesus Christ is to live in relationship with Him.  When I take His teachings to heart, desiring to please Him, I'll enjoy a parade of kinds where Jesus is the guest of honor.  Incredibly, I will be invited to join Him if I stay true to Him in this life.

So, when ridicule comes my way because of the Christ-honoring choices I make, I'll one day be glad I didn't cave into the pressure.  Or, when I feel all alone as people abandon me in exchange for worldly success, on that precious day I'll rejoice that I stayed true.  Even when rumors swirl as the Enemy tries to dishonor the name of my Lord, the incredible privilege of walking beside the One to whom I stayed true will make it all worth it.

When I keep my allegiance to Jesus while in this dark world, I can expect to walk with Him as a friend.

Dressed in White

I could hear the gasp as she made her appearance.  Creamy white gave her the appearance of an angel.  Tears rolled freely as the bride made her way down the aisle.  Her friends and family knew the sacrifices she had made so that she could give herself to her groom as pure, and the white gown was a symbol of that decision.

White has always been the image of purity.  While most brides in this day and age do not take the call to sexual abstinence seriously, it does not diminish the meaning of the symbol.  In fact, the prophet Isaiah used this imagery to describe the righteousness that would come with the sacrifice of Christ.  "Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow.  Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool."  (Isaiah 1:18 NLT)

This use of white will continue through eternity as I can expect to be dressed in the symbol of righteousness if I stay true to Christ in this corrupted world.  In the same way that a bride can wait for her husband until her wedding day, so I can keep faithful to my Lord while here on earth, anticipating the great day when I will don the garment of virtue.

When I keep my allegiance to Jesus while in my sinful flesh in this world polluted by evil, I can expect to be dressed in white as one who stood firm.  

Name Acknowledged

The reading of the names went on for hours.  This solemn ceremony illustrated the impact of the  magnitude of loss experienced on 9/11.  As each victim's name was called, loved ones grieved: To hear their beloved's name triggered a visceral reaction of sorrow and remembrance.  The word was but a symbol of a life left unlived, dreams not yet realized, and families left to mourn.

In the same way that acknowledging names of victim's during times of public tragedy honors those who lost their lives, so God will use this same practice as a way to give tribute to those who stood firm in the face of great temptation.  

While Jesus walked the earth as a mere human, he warned us that we would receive similar treatment as did He.  We know the world is not friendly to His message, and those who walk with Him will be threatened in one way or another. Not to worry, though!  This persecution is not in vain, for those who take a stand for Christ while here on earth will also be acknowledged in heaven before the Father. (Matthew 10:32)  There is nothing I long to hear more when I reach the throne of God than, "Well done, my good and faithful servant!" (Matthew 25:23)

When I keep my allegiance to Jesus in a place so set against His ways, I can expect for my name to be acknowledged before God and angels. (Luke 12:8)

It is not easy to live clothed in sinful garb in such a world corrupted by evil where I am mistreated in many ways.  Just as the precious peach blossoms can be protected from damaging frost, however, I can stand firm in the face of such opposition.  When I do, I can expect to walk with Jesus as His friend, to be dressed in a garment of white, and for my name to be acknowledged before my Father.  The key to remaining unsoiled in such as way is to love Jesus more than anything else.  In this way I can stand firm 'til the end!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can stand firm for Christ.

How do I compromise the teachings of Jesus because the temptations to conform are so great?

When do I give in because standing up seems too costly?

Wake Up!

"To the angel of the church in Sardis write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits

of God and the seven stars.

I know your deeds;

you have a reputation of being alive,

but you are dead.

Wake up!

Strengthen what remains and is about to die,

for I have found your deeds unfinished

in the sight of my God.

Remember, therefore,

what you have received and heard;

hold it fast, and repent.

But if you do not wake up,

I will come like a thief,

and you will not know at what time I will come to you."

Revelation 3:1-3

She had a reputation for being confident and assured.  People went to her for advice because she always seemed so certain, quick to point others in the way she thought they should go.  She owned her own business and dabbled in local politics.  When most people in the small town thought of someone who had it all together, they thought of this woman.

In reality, her heart quaked at the thought of being alone and she constantly second-guessed her decisions.  Her opinion of herself was low and most would be surprised to find out she didn't like herself all that much.

In the same way that my friend's reputation before mankind was an illusion, so I must ask myself if what others see in me is the same as what God perceives in my heart.  It is easy to be busy doing what I think I should do and act in the way I distinguish as how a faithful, godly person should act, but what is the reality as God sees and judges?

Thankfully, there are some steps that will bring me back to completion in God's sight.

Remember

"I forgot!"  It has been a common excuse used by our daughters when disobeying.  While I found this to be exasperating as the girls were growing up since I knew they possessed the potential for a higher level of responsibility, I had to admit that I exercise the same defense when it comes to following Jesus.

Many times I know the teachings of Jesus since I study them on a daily basis, but I fail to apply them to my own life.  As a result, I lash out at my loved ones in anger when I am disappointed instead of taking the warning of Psalm 37:8 to heart.  Or I practice "keepin' it real" with my friends but I leave out the part about doing it with love. (Ephesians 4:15)  Or I build up resentment toward those who hurt me and are bent on my destruction while Jesus wants me to let it go and lift those adversaries up in prayer.  (Matthew 6:14, Matthew 5:44)

Other times I live so much in the flesh that I let my natural reaction serve as my guide instead of going after the Truth.  Then I find myself adhering to a religion instead of following my Good Shepherd, trying to shape myself into who I think I should be instead of letting the power of God do the transforming work.  (2 Timothy 3:5, John 10:14, Romans 12:2)

In order for God to find my heart complete, it is important that I remember what He has taught me.

Obey

My friend uses a catchy motto to remind herself who she was in Christ.  It goes something like this:  "I'm a human being, not a human doing."  In the same way that Jesus revered Mary's desire to spend time with Him as the better choice over her sister Martha's focus on finishing all the preparations (Luke 10:38-42), He looks for a heart that is compliant and ready to follow Him. (Luke 4:18-22)

While my heart is what is important to God, not my deeds, it is my willingness to do as He says that reveals the inclination of my heart.  (1 Samuel 15:22)  Oswald Chambers makes this distinction in My Utmost for His Highest devotional.  He writes, "We count as service what we do in the way of Christian work; Jesus Christ calls service what we are to Him, not what we do for Him."

I can't work my way into His good graces and I can't expect to please God by simply doing what I think is right.  Instead, it is a love for His teachings and a desire to comply that brings joy to my Father's heart. (John 14:15)  He desires a pliable heart that is willing to let go of my own ways and adopt His instead. (Psalm 51:17)

In order for God to find my heart complete, it is important that I obey Him without reserve.

Repent

The new skier was on a route headed for destruction.  While she could see she was on a collision course with another skier, she didn't yet possess the skills to be able to change her heading.  Consequently, the young woman crashed into the other student.  Thankfully, they were both moving at a slow rate of speed so the injuries were negligible   The lesson learned, however, was powerful.  

When I see myself traveling in the wrong direction, the only way I can avoid crashing and burning is to change my present heading.  I must turn away from traditions that are empty and meaningless, setting my sights instead upon pleasing the Lord in the way I live every part of my life.  (Isaiah 1:10-17, Romans 12:1)  If I'm caught up in doing things out of obligation instead of obedience to God's direct calling on my life, then it is time for me to change my focus.

A shameless heart will continue doing the things I know to be wrong while making an effort to look godly on the outside.  An unrepentant spirit also shows it's colors in my lack of attention to the areas of sin in my life God is pointing out as unacceptable.  I must also be careful not to drift in my walk, but to make a conscious effort to keep reaching out to my Source of power and direction. (John 15:5)

In order for God to find my heart complete, it is important that I keep my heading programmed on Jesus. (Hebrews 12:1-12)

It is easy to slip into an easy way of living where I drift along aimlessly.  As one dedicated to following Jesus, however, I must wake up!  God sees the real condition of my heart so I would please Him by remembering His teachings, obeying His Word, and repenting from all that He despises.  In these ways my heart will appear as complete before Him.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can keep focused on Jesus.

How do I let my own flesh lead me instead of following Jesus?

When am I most in danger of slipping into mindless traditions?

Contrast in Values

"Believers in humble circumstances ought to

take pride in their high position.

But the rich should take pride in their humiliation--

since they will pass away like a wild flower.

For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant;

its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed.

In the same way,

the rich will fade away even 

while they go about their business.

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because,

having stood the test,

that person will receiver the crown of life

that the Lord has promised to those who love him."

James 1:9-12

Dew drops glistened in the morning sun, drawing my attention to the crimson blooms.  My rose plants looked especially beautiful that Spring dawn, velvety and rich in color.  Green leaves flourished all around, making a luscious backdrop to the deep hues found here and there throughout the bush.  The roses are doing especially well this year, I thought to myself.

A few days later I saw a different scene.  Spots of mildew spread throughout the plant and most of the leaves had fallen.  The blooms were all spent and not one new bud could be seen.  Disease had attacked the once beautiful roses.

Life here on earth is transient.  One day a bird is flying through the air singing the praises of his Creator in heaven, the next he lays dead on the ground.  Even though I can count on the sun to rise each and every morning, I cannot be confident that I will be there to witness the dawn.  Consequently, I would be wise to choose God's value system, which differs greatly from my own.  While I tend to latch onto that which is transient, God values the eternal, which is unseen.

I have to choose whose value system I will adopt:  God's which values that which the world despises and despises what the world loves, or the world's which will soon pass away.

Humble vs. High Position

"Ummm. . . .excuse me, Jesus?"

"Yes?"

"Well, uh, my brother and I were talking and we wanted to ask. . . when you take your throne, would it be possible to be placed in positions of honor; one on either side of you?"

It's hard to know what James and John were thinking when they asked for such a privilege, but one thing is certain:  They valued high positions.  Jesus proceeded to school them in the ranking system of the Kingdom of God.  He said if they truly want to be honored, they must be the servant of all.  Then, in case it wasn't clear enough, Jesus wrapped up the lesson with this shocker.  "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."  (Mark 10:45)

Choosing God's system of values means I will be as willing to do the menial, thankless work as I am to accept the high-profile, rewarding jobs.  It also means I'll venerate a landscape worker as much if not more than I do a CEO.  It reminds me of a story I heard about the final exam a notoriously strict college professor gave to a group of medical students.  The test consisted of one question:  "What is the name of the janitor who cleans this building?"  It seems this educator knew a little about what was truly important to God.

God values lowly positions as a mine field where all sorts of valuables are unearthed.  

Poor vs. Rich

The man lived the ultimate life of luxury; sleeping on fine Egyptian cotton sheets, dining on caviar and the most difficult-to-find delicacies, and driving expensive high-performance cars.  If money could buy it, he loved it.  

As this well-to-do man walked to lunch at his favorite restaurant each day, he always passed a homeless man whose skin was covered in sores.  As pitiful as the beggar looked, the busy man scarcely gave the poor guy a glance, so self-absorbed was he.

Jesus tells this story to illustrate further the value system found in God's kingdom.  (Luke 16:19-31)  While the world goes after comfort, pleasure and riches now, those who follow Jesus know the real reward comes later.   If I want to live under God's value system I would do well to live as though everything I can see and touch will soon pass away, choosing to go after eternal treasures instead.  (Matthew 6:33, 1 Corinthians 7:29-31)

God offers the more precious riches later, while the world goes after temporal treasures now.

Trials vs. Smooth Sailing

He was unjustly thrown in prison numerous times, whipped too often to count, faced death over and over, was beaten with rods, stoned and left for dead, shipwrecked not once but three times, encountered all kinds of dangers that come with traveling extensively and endured periods of great hunger and thirst.  Basically, the Apostle Paul's life after yielding to Jesus was one trial after another. (2 Corinthians 11:23-27)

This is not a great advertisement for living a life dedicated to the Lord!  A much easier sell would be to promise clear waters and smooth sailing, a life of ease and comfort, or at least happy times all around!  

The reality is, however, that living with Jesus means I'll experience a lot of the same treatment He received. (Matthew 10:25) Not only that, but I can expect lots of refinement as my Father purifies me and molds me into the image of Jesus. (Psalm 66:10, Romans 8:29)   Living as a legitimate daughter means I will also endure discipline designed to bring me closer to Him.  (Hebrews 12:5-6)

Oswald Chambers wrote about hard times in this way.  "Jesus has prayed nothing less for us than absolute oneness with Himself as He was one with the Father.  Some of us are far off it, and yet God will not leave us alone until we are one with Him, because Jesus has prayed that we may be."  Until I recognize suffering as a useful instrument of grace in God's hands, I will always fight against the struggles of life.

God cherishes trials and difficult times as a tool used to grow my faith and draw me closer to Him.

The world teaches that I should expect respect and admiration from others, that I have a right to a certain level of comfort, and that life is successful if it is trouble-free.  God, however, has a different idea.  He places much more worth on humble attitudes and positions, accepting poverty now in exchange for riches later, and trials as a means to draw me closer.  There is no doubt that there is a contrast between the values of the world and those of God.  Which will I choose this day?

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will treasure those things the world despises.

When do I fall into the trap of seeking my treasure in the here and now?

How am I fighting against what God is doing by not accepting the trials He sends my way? 

Run!

"Therefore,

since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,

let us throw off everything that hinders

and the sin that so easily entangles.

And let us run with perseverance

the race marked out for us,

fixing our eyes on Jesus,

the pioneer and perfecter of faith."

Hebrews 12:1

I watched with interest as my daughter negotiated the obstacles, plunged into muddy ravines and climbed over walls of all kinds.   Would I be able to complete this course?  I wondered.  I thought I might be strong enough and I knew I could run the 4 miles required by the Marine Corps Mud Run, but the only way I would know for sure was if I entered the race myself.

It's the same with the path God has planned for me to walk.  I may think my faith is strong and I have the endurance to persevere, but I'll never know unless I step out in faith.   With all of the examples of people living in God's strength found in the Hall of Fame of Faith in Hebrews 11, what am I waiting for? Now it's my turn.

Hindrances

The burden weighed heavily upon his back.  He tried to continue on with his life as if everything was normal, but it wasn't.  In fact, his whole life had been tragically altered the day his step-father beat to death his beloved mother.   Still, the boy grew into a man, stumbling through life with the added weight of unforgiveness bearing down upon him.

Once Dean Smith* gave his unforgiveness and resentment over to Jesus Christ, however, things began to change.  God transformed him, giving the once angry, self-destructive man a new perspective.  As he released the rage that had so defined him all those years, God's power allowed Dean to forgive, enabling him to re-establish a relationship with the source of his hurt.

Unforgiveness is but one of the barriers between me and freedom in Christ.  I can also run up against fear, doubt, foolish and selfish pursuits or one of the many distractions that can keep me from completely living in Christ.  In order to live as I was meant to live, perfectly related to God, I will need to purposefully cast these blockades aside, placing them into the capable hands of my Lord and Savior.  (Psalm 55:22)

Running the race like those who came before me means I'll need to do away with everything that gets in the way of my relationship with God.

Entangling Sin

After a brief period of neglect, the tree was overcome.  The invading vine had quickly grown, entwining itself around the small tree until it's branches were bound like a hostage held against his will.  If I had allowed the creeper to continue spreading, the tree would surely have died.

In order to free my tree from the entanglement of this aggressive assailant, I had to use a knife, hatchet and a set of pruners to cut away the vine.  While this temporarily did the job, in order to wipe this problem out permanently, I needed to dig out and destroy the root.

Sin is a similarly aggressive and invasive adversary.  A stronghold of sin in my life will soon choke out the Son, ensnaring me and hampering any forward movement.  Just as the tree wouldn't be able to grow properly with the vine taking most of the water, nutrients and sunlight, so sin can suck all my attention and energy, giving me desires that run counter to God's.  Before I know it, I find myself living for me instead of for Christ.

Running the race like those who came before me means I'll need to take sin seriously and cut away any sign of it the moment it sprouts.

Enter the Racecourse

I had always thought of taking up painting as a hobby, but I never took the time to learn.  As my daughters grew, I watched them tackle and accomplish many creative pursuits while I stood by observing their talent.  One day, an artistic friend mentioned a painting class she was offering in her home and invited me to join in.  I would have never known the joy of exploring the world creatively if I hadn't taken a chance and given it a try.

In a similar way, I can't run the race God has tailor-made for me if I never enter the racecourse.  I can stand by watching others live for Him or try to mimic the same path I see others traveling, but I'll never know the power of God for myself unless I run my own race.  

My life has it's own peculiar tasks that have been created just for me to accomplish, passions that drive me forward toward Christ, and troubles meant to grow my faith and purify my heart.  If I don't keep my eyes on Jesus, however, I'll get distracted and may start living the way I think I should live or do what I see my friend doing instead of letting God be my leader.  

Oswald Chambers made a good point about the difference between manufacturing my own destiny, and letting God serve as my master planner.  He said, "It is one thing to choose the disagreeable, and another thing to go into the disagreeable by God's engineering.  If God puts you there, He is amply sufficient."  

Running the race like those who came before me means I must enter the course designed for me, keeping the Lord close as the head as well as the source of all strength, wisdom and joy.

With all the amazing examples found in Hebrews 11, I can either read about them as unusual exceptions, or I can be inspired to live the same.  If I choose the latter, I will learn to cast off the hindrances that block my relationship with God, cut away the strongholds of sin before they ensnare me, and enter the path intended for me.  Then I can run with perseverance as those who came before me did.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will keep my eyes on Jesus who both gives me my faith and perfects it through His choice of circumstances and experiences.

How do I let sin hold me back as it grows to overpower my faith?

When do I most often run up against roadblocks in my walk with Jesus and what are those hindrances? 

*www.livetoforgive.com

Guard Against Disbelief

"See to it,

brothers and sisters,

that none of you has a sinful,

unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.

But encourage one another daily,

as long as it is called "Today,"

so that none of you may be hardened by sins' deceitfulness.

We have come to share in Christ,

if indeed we hold our original conviction

 firmly to the very end."

Hebrews 3:12-14

The car broke down on the way home from Bible study.  My nephew is graduating from high school on the other side of the country.  The IRS wants their money, as does my daughter's expensive college.  These are a few of the challenges I am facing.  I can either let them distract me from Jesus and discourage me to the point of despair as I turn toward the problem and away from God, or I can rest securely in the knowledge that God allowed these difficulties into my life for a reason.  His purposes are always good so I can trust Him, if I choose, no matter how impossible things seem. (Romans 8:28)

In this world, its easy to let circumstances, trials and tribulations turn me away from God.  In order to stop this natural slide away, I must guard against unbelief.  As Oswald Chambers said, "Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading."

Encourage

It seemed like nothing was going right that day.  I received a notice of insufficient funds in our checking account, the final straw on an overwhelming load of unforeseen financial struggles.  As I spoke to the customer service agent from the creditor whose payment had overdrawn our account, she explained to me how the automatic payment had not been stopped as I had been reassured it had the week before.  I felt the pressure of the past year of monetary woes come crashing down upon my head.  Sheesh!  Can I get a break here?  

Then our gracious Father sent me some encouragement from the most unlikely place.  When I called the bank to let them know we'd be a little late on our insurance payment, a sister in Christ took my call.  She asked me how things were really going and I revealed my frustration, telling her how I felt that right when I thought we were getting our finances under control, something else would happen.  I felt discouraged to say the least.

God, however, held things firmly under His control.  Out of 18,000 who answer the phones at our bank, God directed me to her.  This godly woman showed her application of Hebrews 10:24, 25 as she gave me word after word of positive affirmation, all the while pointing me to the Truth. "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching."  

I hung up the phone that day with an attitude adjustment and a renewed hope in my heart.  I can take a lesson from my new friend and look for ways to build others up in their faith as I go through my life. Wherever I go, there is always someone who is struggling and in need of some fine-tuning of their focus.

To help guard against the natural tendency to turn away from God, I must always be ready to encourage my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Put off Old Self

She lost a lot of weight and looked like a whole new person.  With a change in dietary habits and a new active lifestyle, this woman had transformed her body.  One day she had occasion to wear a business suit so she chose her favorite tweed ensemble.  Unfortunately, with her new body, her old clothes no longer fit and she resembled a little girl trying on her mother's clothing.

Just as a new wardrobe is necessary after a large weight loss, it is equally as absurd for me as a new creation in Christ to continually go back to my old way of thinking, doing and reacting.  In order to keep from being corrupted by sin as I fall back into my natural ways, I will need to purposefully put off my old self.

The Apostle Paul explains it this way in Ephesians 4:22.  He says, "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."

I can't continue to live for Christ while still letting my sin nature dominate.  Instead, I must set aside the things my selfish nature desires and let God transform my mind to think more like Him.  This new creation God has formed will desire only the things of God; if only I will place it on like a new wardrobe.

To help guard against the natural tendency to turn away from God I must purposefully put off my old self and step into the new me who is in Christ.

Hold Firmly to New

I had just finished my run and held our Labrador's leash loosely in my hand.  Standing on the front porch of our home, relishing the feeling of accomplishment as I let me heart rate return to normal, the peace of the moment was suddenly broken by severe pain in my right hand.  The loop at the end of the leash had caught on my ring finger, bending it into an unnatural position as man's best friend darted in pursuit of a squirrel.    "You dumb dog!"  I yelled as I retrieved the exuberant canine from his position at the bottom of the tree on which the wily rodent had just retreated.

As I sat in the hospital later that morning waiting for an x-ray of my dislocated finger, I regretted the fact that I had not held firmly to the leash.  If I'd kept a better grip on the strap, I wouldn't be in this predicament.

Satan is kind of like our dog: He is constantly trying to pull me off my feet with surprise ambushes, clever attacks and cunning traps.  In order to stand firm in my faith, I must have a strong grip on all the lessons God has taught me.  

I will go through times when I just don't feel the presence of the Lord.  It is especially important during these desert periods to remind myself of the Truth, re-positioning my grasp of the certainties I know to be true so I won't fall away.

To help guard against the natural tendency to turn away from God, I must purposefully keep a strong grip on the teachings of Christ.

In this world it is easy to get distracted from God, feel discouraged to the point of despair and turn away from God.  In order to stay close to my Lord, it is important for me to encourage others in their walk, put off my old ways and hold firmly to the new self that is found in Christ.  It is then that I will be actively guarding against the disbelief that comes so naturally.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can stay focused on the One I love as He leads me.

When do I get distracted from God by all the cares of this world?

How am I most vulnerable to falling away from God?