Now is the Time

"Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth,

before the evil days come

and the years draw near of which you will say,

'I have no pleasure in them'. . ."

Ecclesiastes 12:1 ESV

People often think they can put off coming to Jesus, that there will be plenty of time to live in relationship with Him later.  Things are going fine, they reason, I'll just wait 'til I need Him, after I've lived a little.

Why wait?  How long is my life?  How much time do I have?  No one knows.  Therefore, now is the time for repentance from sin that leads to salvation (2 Corinthians 7:10).  Now, when things are good, living is carefree and I'm in my prime.  Otherwise, I'll discover I've wasted my life!

Voluntarily.  He always knew God was there calling his name.  Instead of responding, though, he waited, placing God on hold where he could deal with Him later, when the time was right.  Then came the accident when he lost his sight.  No longer could he live as he once did, and the blind man knew God was giving him a wake-up call.  Hello!  I'm here and I want to be part of your life!  You are headed toward destruction!  Turn around and come toward Me where you will find life (Matthew 7:13-14, John 10:9-10, John 14:6)!

While salvation through faith in Jesus Christ is powerful no matter how and when I come, how sweet it is to come freely and of my own volition.  While ultimately it is God who is drawing me to Christ, it is up to me to respond or to resist, to cooperate or to defy, to give in or to stand firm in my destructive ways.  I can either wait until I hit rock bottom when I've tried everything else and failed to find peace and love, or I can put my faith in Jesus Christ now, giving Him my whole life.  The first is looking for proof or a guarantee while the second is taking God at His Word.  If I give Him a try I'll see how much better living with Him is (Psalm 34:8). 

Instead of trying all there is and coming up empty or waiting for a crisis to hit that will wake me up from my ignorant slumber, what a blessing it is to come to Jesus voluntarily.

Whole Life.  When I observe those who came to Christ early, who wholly submitted to Him at a young age, I grieve for all the years I lost to the sowing of fleshly oats.  Instead of the privilege of giving all my years to Him, I only have what is left.  When my body was young and before I had family responsibilities, who knows how God could have used me, what adventures I could have had while serving others in the name of Christ?  While I can't go back, I can warn others not to waste their lives on foolish pursuits that seem so important now but in the end, when standing before a holy God in the face of eternity, will not amount to anything (John 15:5-6).

There is another consideration regarding the timing of repentance.  The earlier I submit to God's plan for my life, entering into a relationship with Jesus Christ, the sooner reconstruction can begin.  There is much to transform in my life, and this sanctification is a lifelong process (Romans 12:2, Philippians 1:6).  It brings me great joy to see young people growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, knowing how special it is to experience His presence for all their days (2 Peter 3:18).

Instead of working against God until my final days, what a blessing it is to offer a lifetime to Jesus!

Preparation.  It's easy to see the United States and the world at large is headed in the wrong direction.  The mass slaughter of innocent babies is legalized and socially acceptable.  The name of Jesus Christ is a dirty word, often relegated to the use as a curse word.  Prayer to the One true God is considered an affront to a people who arrogantly and hypocritically claim tolerance.  Deviant sexual behaviors are celebrated and labeled as alternative lifestyles.  Identity has ceased to be a God-given trait and is now seen as self-assumed; I am whatever I want myself to be.  Self has clearly replaced God in this culture.

With things headed in such a destructive direction, how easy will it be to live for Christ in the days to come?  It may become a criminal offense to worship Jesus Christ, to mention His name, to proclaim His truths.  The days to come will only get worse for those who follow Christ.  Therefore, it makes sense to grow in my faith now in preparation for the days to come.  If I wait until tomorrow to make a decision about what I'll do with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, will I give my life to Him when the cost is higher than it already is?  Should I risk the fact that I may balk at giving up the security of this life in order to attain the eternal life offered by Jesus (Luke 9:24-25)?  Better to turn to Him now while the opportunity is here.  It may be too hard to repent later, when I'm rooted in this world and it turns even darker.  

Instead of waiting until it's physically dangerous to turn to Jesus, what a blessing it is to follow Christ in freedom now.

It's easy to sweep my sins under the rug, pretending not to hear Jesus as He knocks on the door of my heart.  Instead of putting Him off, however, there is much blessing to be found in giving my life to Him now.  I can willingly turn over my life in my prime so I have my whole life to serve and grow.  Then, when times become more caustic, my faith will be strong enough to stand the test.  Now is the time to turn away from my selfish ways and put on the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 13:14).  I will never be sorry I did.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can stop resisting and start cooperating with Jesus.

How am I defiant to God?

When do I resist His advances, balking at His desire to come closer?  

  

Wisdom is not the Answer

"I said to myself, 

'Look, I have increased in wisdom more than anyone

who has ruled over Jerusalem before me;

I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.'

Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom,

and also of madness and folly,

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

For with much wisdom comes much sorrow;

the more knowledge, the more grief."

Ecclesiastes 1:16-18

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

So, what is the answer?  Jesus.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  

Proof of His Love

"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.

His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of gods.

His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the Lord of lords:

His love endures forever."

Psalm 136:1-3

I read the words on the page proclaiming of God's amazing, enduring love, but how do I know it is real?  How do I know He loves me?  I mean, really know deep in my heart without a doubt?  How can I take a risk to place my entire life in His loving hands, trusting that He won't hurt me, exploit me or let me down?  It takes faith.  

Here is some evidence of His great love to bolster my faith.

Great Wonders.  Standing under the expanse of sky that crisp, clear night, I am struck by the enormity of the universe and of my own tiny, insignificant life.  In comparison to all the twinkling stars I see sprinkled throughout the dark canvass above me, I realize there is a great Force at work in this world who has created unimaginable wonders, things I can barely comprehend let alone try to mimic: Oceans teaming with wildlife, a plethora of flora and fauna waiting to be discovered, a sun whose rise and fall I can set my watch to, and the moon whose glorious glow, in the words of Clement Clark Moore, gives "the lustre of mid-day to objects below."  (Psalm 136:4-9)

And the conclusion the psalmist draws from recognizing such wonders?  "His love endures forever."  A God who would grant such glorious gifts to His most prized possession, His beautiful image bearers, is the God of a permanent kind of love of which I can never lose.  I am secure in the love from a God such as this.  If He can perform such miraculous, creative wonders, is there anything He will not do out of His great love?  Nope, nothing is off-limits to such a loving God!

One of the most compelling pieces of evidence pointing toward God's enduring love is all of creation of which I am an integral part.

Salvation.  There is a track record of salvation written throughout the pages of scripture.  God is continually at work saving His people (Psalm 136:10-16).  Sometimes its the oppression of sin and fear that holds me down, compelling me to call out to the One whose sword can free me from the guilt and anxiety that often comes with living in a fallen world.  Other times its the so-called impossible situations I often face which send me to my knees where I find delivery from what I once labeled as my lot in life.  Then there are the times when I'm confronted by the ugly monsters of life, the giants that bully me into submission, giving me cause to cry out in desperation to the God who fights these overwhelming battles on my behalf.

And the conclusion the psalmist draws from remembering such salvation?  "His love endures forever."  A God whose heart is inclined toward the suffering of His people produces the kind of love on which I can count.  His love will never let me down, and there is never a time when I cannot cry out to Him and expect Him to ride in on His great white stead and rescue me from my present danger.

One of the most compelling pieces of evidence pointing toward God's enduring love is His willingness to rescue me.

Sovereignty.  Protection.  Provision.  Blessing.  Rescue.  Despite my unfaithfulness to a God who is in complete control, He still chooses to remember me, to see me in my current situation, to comfort me in all my troubles.  His authority over all things is often forgotten as I go about my day, attempting to feebly protect my wounded pride with coldness of heart, guarding against every conceivable disaster with insurance and money in the bank, and struggling to rescue myself from the stresses of life by using my own twisted methods of coping.  I find myself failing miserably, yet He never writes me off as a lost cause, always ready to use His sovereign power for my benefit.

And the conclusion the psalmist draws from realizing such perfect authority over all things?  "His love endures forever."  A God who is completely in control of all things yet yearns for me to willingly submit to His perfect plan for my life is a God whose love can be trusted as safe, faithful, and abundant.  He does not need me, yet He wants me.  And not just parts of me as I so often tend to give, but all of me; every nook and cranny of my heart.  

One of the most compelling pieces of evidence pointing toward God's enduring love is His sovereignty over all things yet willingness to be a personal part of my seemingly insignificant life.

It's sometimes hard to believe anyone, let alone the God of the universe, could love me.  He is all-powerful, all-present, all-knowing; why would He care about me?  The beauty of this God of all gods is that He is made of love.  And the proof of His great love is written throughout His creation, found in the way He chooses to save me, and in His sovereign power that is used for my good.  This is some evidence of His love which can propel me forward into His waiting arms.  Why wait another minute?

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust my whole life to such a God as this.  

How do I hold out on God, unsure of His love for me?

When do I doubt His love despite the fact that there is evidence everywhere?  

Dependence

"O LORD, listen to my cry;

give me the discerning mind you promised.

Listen to my prayer;

rescue me as you promised."

Psalm 119:169-170

In most things, the better I get, the less help I need.  When first learning to ride a bike, for instance, I needed my dad to hold the bike while I steadied myself, getting used to turning the pedals with my feet while balancing on two wheels.  As I got the hang of it, he held on less tightly and eventually was able to let go as I learned to ride by myself.  Before you knew it, I was speeding around the neighborhood on my little green Schwinn with the banana seat and the tassle-adorned handlebars.

I sometimes think it's like this in my walk of faith, as well.  Instead, it is backwards from this concept:  The longer I've walked with Jesus, the closer I get to my Father through faith in Jesus, the more I need Him.  As I mature, I come to realize more and more how I am totally dependent upon Him.  His ministry is vital.

Help.  It's not an easy path to walk.  For one thing, it feels unnatural, against my natural inclinations.  My feet desire the wide, flat surface of the road that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14).  It's hard for me to keep up a steady pace when I'm continually running into potholes, obstacles, and other hardships.  I then say as the psalmist said, "Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts." (Psalm 119:173)

Once I commit to Jesus, the going will be sweet as I am restored to the woman I was created to be and enjoy His precious companionship, but the path itself is rocky and hard.  I'll find myself going through trial after trial, hardship followed by hardship, all for the sake of purification, sanctification, molding me into the image of Christ.  I'll find myself more often than not in the minority, sticking out like a cat in a pack of dogs.  I find I can't do it in my own strength.  I desperately need God's ever-present help in order to stay the course (Psalm 46:1, Ephesians 6:13).

The ministry of God's help is vital to my ability to live as He has called me to live.

Salvation.  As I keep in step with the Spirit, I experience restoration.  He has a supernatural way of shaping me into my intended form, of returning me to my original pre-sin condition, of making me into the daughter He meant for me to be.  This transformation process is constantly in the works as I cooperate with what He's doing in my life.  It's not just the salvation from eternal punishment that I need, it goes much deeper than that, touching every fiber of my being.

As I grow in faith and knowledge of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I long for this continuous rescue process, this putting-of-myself-back-together, this restoration (Psalm 119:174).  His still, small voice instructing me in His ways becomes sweet music to my ears instead of dreaded correction to my defiant flesh.  I learn to depend on this continuous process of salvation from my destructive ways.

The ministry of God's salvation and restoration is vital to my growth and maturation as a disciple of Christ.

Finding.  I easily forget.  I tend to stray.  I am often distracted by the shiny, luring objects of this world.  Since it's so hard for me to stay on track, sticking to the race that has been marked out for me, I need God's finding Spirit (Hebrews 12:1).  He is a true Shepherd, dedicated to seeking me out not matter how many times I get lost or abandon His company (Psalm 119:176). 

And I desperately need to be found.  Even though I love God's best for me, I'm easily ensnared by the traps of the enemy, quickly drawn away by the attractions of this world, without difficulty fallen prey to my own body of death (Romans:7:24).  I am completely dependent upon the seeking, finding nature of God through faith in Jesus Christ.

The ministry of God's finding Spirit is vital to my ability to stick with my Shepherd.

The closer I get to Jesus, the more I realize my need for Him.  I'm desperate for God's help, His salvation, and His willingness to find me when I stray.  The stronger my relationship with Him and the more mature I become in my faith, the more I realize my dependence upon Him.  While dependence in this world is seen as a weakness, this is the kind of dependence that gives me a strength that no one can deny.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to let Him help me when I need it today.

How do I stubbornly insist on doing life on my own instead of learning to depend on God?

When am I buying into the world's message of self-sufficiency?

  

Be Still

"Be still,

and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth."

Psalm 46:10

I've heard it said to cook the best hamburger, it's important to let the meat be; just let it cook for several minutes before grabbing the spatula and flipping it to the other side.  My inclination is to smash it down, move it around a bit; just do something to make me feel useful in this cooking process.  In reality, I'm not helping at all but simply causing the piece of meat to lose a lot of juices which will result in a dry burger.  

Frying a hamburger is a lot like living in this world as a follower of Christ.  It seems like I must be constantly doing something in order to be useful in this journey.  I try to give a hand in fighting my own battles, going after what I need, saving myself, joining service projects, generally just attempting to be helpful.  I'm trying to be a good Christian, I think.  But God wants His people to operate under a different battle plan.

Know.  Knowing who my God is involves more than just brain power.  It requires trust which concerns my heart.  Take the Israelites, for instance.  After God had delivered them from the cruel hand of the Egyptian king where they served as slaves, they stood between the impenetrable Red Sea and the mighty army of Pharaoh.  They were stuck.  What could they do?

Nothing.  God told them to do nothing but watch and "see the salvation of the Lord which He will work for you today." (Exodus 14:13)  Their part was to hold their peace and remain at rest, God's part was to fight for them.

Part of knowing who God is, is to prove that I believe what I know.  Just like the Israelites had the choice to trust God to do the impossible which He had told them He would do, or they could not believe what He said, panic and pick up whatever weapons they could find and fight the soldiers themselves.  The first showed faith in their knowledge of God, the other fear and doubt.  Which will I choose today?

In order to live as a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ, I must know Who my God is, and trust Him.

Nations.  Governments operate apart from His law.  People live as if He didn't exist.  Leaders bow to the god of tolerance and religious inclusion.  Life is not valued, marriage  grows extinct, gender identity fluid.  How are we to live?  Where are the boundaries for civilized society?

God doesn't need my help to exalt Himself.  He will be honored before the seats of every government, and man shall be humbled, their pride taken down a notch or two until it dwells in the basement (Isaiah 2:17).  God will be lifted up as Maker, as Ruler, as Sovereign over all.  

So how do I live in a world that is yet to be reduced to their rightful place as God shows His?  Live in a way that brings glory to Him now, not waiting until He exalts Himself, but willingly giving Him the honor and praise due Him.

In order to live as a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ, I must operate with the expectation that God will be exalted among the nations, even if they don't acknowledge it now.  He is Lord.

Earth.  The birds sing His praises.  The eagles soar to proclaim His power.  The flowers bloom each spring to illustrate the hope I have in Christ.  The mountains stand in majesty as a symbol of His magnificence.  All of creation points to it's Creator.

If I truly believe this, I will look for lessons of His kingdom all around me.  Instead of just watching a mother bird feed her babies, I can ponder the nurturing nature of a God who lovingly meets all my needs and grows me into the woman He created me to be.  

While I could simply enjoy watching the rhythm of the waves washing in to shore, I could let it remind me of the constancy of God, how I can count on Him to always be there for me.  

As the sun rises behind the sheath of fog, revealing sunny skies to the west, I can receive the promise of God's divine blessing that is to come in my life, knowing that He directs the weather pattern and can use it to speak hope to my weary heart.

In order to live as a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ, I must look for how He is showing Himself throughout all of creation.

As a "doer," it's easy for me to get caught up trying to prove myself as useful to God by staying busy in His kingdom work.  Really, though, He doesn't require this of me, nor has He asked me to do such nonsense.  Instead, He desires His people to know who He is, live as people who acknowledge His glory throughout the nations, and notice all the ways He exalts Himself in all the earth.  In essence, I must be still, and let God be God.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can stop trying to do for God, and just be with Him.

How do I miss His glory all around me?

When am I so busy doing, that I don't get a chance to enjoy His presence?

On the Precipice

"O LORD, how long will you forget me?  

Forever?

How long will you look the other way?

How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,

with sorrow in my heart every day?

How long will my enemy have the upper hand?"

Psalm 13:1-2 NLT

Ever feel like falling into despair?  David did as his enemies relentlessly pursued him.  I often do as I live life in an evil world with an Enemy bent on my destruction.  

It often feels like God is far away, as if He doesn't care.  But I know better.  Will I trust in my feelings, or do as David did and trust in what I know to be true (Psalm 13:5-6)?

Steadfast Love.  I am human.  As such, I am intimately familiar with failure.  I make promises, truly desiring to follow through but ultimately unable to foresee the obstacles which make keeping those pledges impossible.  I let those I love down despite my best intentions.

It's easy to transfer this inconsistent, inferior and counterfeit brand of love with which I am so familiar to God, assuming He will love in the same way as man.  Nothing, however, could be further from the truth.  God's love never fails, never gives up, never runs out (Psalm 6:4, 1 Corinthians 13:7, Psalm 107:1)

What does this mean for me?  There is nothing I can do that will make God stop loving me, contrary to what I've learned from people.  I expect to lose a little in the eyes of family and friends when I hurt them, fall off the wagon, or fail to do what needs to be done.  God is not like a human, however.  His love cannot be lost (Romans 8:38-39).

It also means there is nowhere I can go that is away from His love (Psalm 139:7-12)  His love knows no boundaries.  There is no line I can cross where God will say, "That's it!  I've had it with you!"  His love drives Him to seek me out no matter how lost I am (Luke 15:3-7).

Furthermore, I can't come to the end of His love, using up my allotment or fair share.  His love overflows like an eternal spring, never running dry (1 Timothy 1:14).

I can trust God when I feel like giving up because His love never does.

Salvation.  Who do I call when I need help?  I guess it depends.  When my car breaks down, I call the mechanic.  When the toilet is backing up, the plumber comes to the rescue.  When I develop health concerns, I visit the doctor.  There are many sources to which I turn for help.

There is only One, however, who can truly save me.  While I can go to a counselor and receive medications and good therapy to help when I am depressed, I can trust God to pull me up out of the pit of despair and set my feet on solid ground (Psalm 40:1-3).

When I feel like my life has no meaning, I can busy myself with beneficial activities, well-meaning programs, and benevolent events, trying desperately to save myself from the mundane and insignificant.  Still, something is missing until I discover the rich and abundant life I have in Christ (John 10:10b).

There are significant strides being made in medical treatments that have worked to lengthen lives tremendously.  While modern medicine can work wonders, there is only one Physician who is truly equipped to bring complete healing.  

I can joyfully trust God when I feel like giving up because He is in the business of saving.

Bounty.  More than enough.  Overflowing.  Beyond my wildest imagination.  These are a few phrases to describe God's generous Spirit.  He doesn't just give what I need, but He tends to offer in abundance (Ephesians 3:20).

When I was growing up, I vividly remember the times my dad would pull out the blender.  As I sat at the kitchen table finishing my dinner and watching him work, I knew this appliance meant one thing:  Milkshakes!  I would get so excited as I saw him walk to the freezer and pull out the container of ice cream, scooping generous heaps into the wonderful device.  Soon, a thick helping of the frosty treat was set before me and I realized my father's love for me.  

Just as there was no special occasion to call for those yummy milkshakes, just a dad's love for his daughter, God is always at work giving me good things (Matthew 7:11, James 1:17).  He delights in showering His goodness down on me.  I may miss the bounty, however, unless I am looking for it.  

I might think the field of daisies is just a natural phenomena instead of realizing it was placed there just so God could bring me joy.  I could think the prime parking spot opened up by happenstance instead of acknowledging that God wanted to bless me with a bit of extravagant convenience.  It would be easy for me to pass off the unexpected discount as a fluke instead of admitting I have a Father who loves to tickle me with an extra bit of spending money.

I can trust God when I feel like giving up because He is a generous God who fills my life with bountiful gifts.

I often find myself on the precipice of despair when I focus on the world around me.  Evil is everywhere and I often feel without hope.  In place of trusting in my feelings, however, I can turn my attention to my God whose love never fails, is in the business of saving me, and who is generous and lavish.  In these ways, I'll step back from the edge of despair and place my feet on solid ground.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can keep my hope in such a God as this.

When do I trust more in my feelings than in what I know to be true?

How am I talking myself into despair because I only have eyes for what is wrong?

God's Pursuit

"Although the LORD sent prophets to the people

to bring them back to him,

and though they testified against them,

they would not listen."

2 Chronicles 24:19

They walked in the cool of the day through the beautiful garden, enjoying the company of their Creator.  Dew drops shimmered in the early morning light, transforming their home into a magical land.  The first man and woman basked in the glow of the attentions of their Father, relating to Him openly and without fear.  Their hearts were fully exposed to Him; nothing could be better.

Then came the sin, the disobedience, the turning away.  Suddenly, fear entered in, ruining the fellowship they once knew with God.  Instead of running toward Him with the eagerness of a child greeting his father, they cowered in the shadows, dreading His attentions.  Still, despite their transgression, the Creator sought them out, going after His wayward ones (Genesis 3).

From the beginning, the Lord has been a God of pursuit.  He didn't leave Adam and Eve where they were, trembling in shame and fear, and He doesn't wash His hands clean of me, either.  He patiently and relentlessly goes after me in more ways than I know.

Salvation.  There was a multitude bleating on the hillside, crowding together in a tight group, drawing comfort from each others' presence.  The shepherd circled around his herd, carefully taking stock of his charges.  He sensed that something was wrong; one was missing.  Without hesitation, he leaves the 99 and searches for the one who is lost (Matthew 18:12-14).

This is the heart of God.  He does not desire that any are lost and He goes to whatever lengths are necessary to draw His own into relationship with Himself (2 Peter 3:9, John 6:44).  In fact the perfect evidence of this love is Jesus.  God's love drove Him to send His only Son as a sacrifice so that I could taste freedom from eternal punishment (Romans 5:8).  

Jesus didn't surrender His divinity and enter into His creation as a lowly man to find me guilty, to root out my shortfalls and to point to my sin.  Instead, Jesus came to save me from the wrath of God (John 3:16-17).  My sin earned condemnation, but Jesus came to give me what I don't deserve: redemption, the hope of life eternal and reconciliation in the here and now with the One who makes my life complete.

God's relentless pursuit is evident in His plan for my salvation.

Sanctification.  The refiner carefully holds his treasure to the hottest part of the fire.  Knowing it takes intense heat to purify the silver, he is not hesitant to place it in the blazing-hot furnace.  Knowing also that too much exposure could injure his charge, he carefully watches, never taking his eyes off this precious metal.  He knows when the refining process is finished when the gleaming silver reflects his own image.

God sits as such a refiner of silver (Malachi 3:3).  He is not hesitant to allow trouble, heartache and trial to enter my life, knowing that such heat is necessary to burn out all the impurities found in my heart.  As I endure such agony, I must remember that His hand never leaves me.  He watches carefully so that I will not be burned (Isaiah 43:2).  His goal is not my suffering but transformation.  It is His desire that I be conformed into the image of Christ and only He knows what kind of tests are necessary to reach that end (Romans 8:28-29).

God's relentless pursuit is evident in the life-long sanctification process (Philippians 1:6).

Intimacy.  I'm not naturally inclined to intimacy.  Instead, I tend to put up walls of protection, guarding against any rejection of my true self, the pain of pointing fingers, and my fear of abandonment.  Even though God loves me perfectly and accepts me right where I am, it takes time and patience to get me to trust Him enough to let Him in.

Thankfully, God has the kind of patience that is necessary to woo me into a closeness with Him.  Despite the fact that He won't hurt me in the way I've grown accustomed to, it takes time for me to realize this truth.  As I grow in my relationship with Him, I start to trust Him, giving me the confidence to remove the masks I tend to wear.  Soon I find that I can depend on Him more and more and pose less and less.  Before I know it, I'm letting Him look fully upon my sinful heart so He can lovingly examine it for offense (Psalm 139:23-24).

God's relentless pursuit is evident in His patient quest for intimacy with me (Revelation 3:20).

It's sometimes hard to picture God as the One who goes after me, but His great love doesn't allow forfeiture.  Instead, He eagerly desires me and has gone to great lengths to win me over.  He offered the ultimate sacrifice to secure my salvation, carefully takes me through the refiner's fire to sanctify me, and waits as long as it takes for me to feel comfortable in trusting Him.  In these ways He reveals His relentless pursuit of me.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can appreciate the heart of a God who would go after me so persistently.

When do I put off His advances?

How am I hesitant to trust Him fully?         

For This

"For this I will praise you, O LORD,

among the nations,

and sing praises to your name.

Great salvation he brings to his king,

and shows steadfast love to his anointed,

to David and his offspring forever."

2 Samuel 22:50-51 ESV

"God is good!"

I mostly hear this when something goes well for another.  I, too, often feel ready to praise God when things go my way, or when I am comfortable with the turn my life has made, or when everything falls into place the way I envisioned it.  "God is good!"  rolls easily off my lips.

What about when the test results are positive?  Or when I'm forced to wait in the unknown?  Or when my beloved's heart seems stuck in concrete?  Is God still good, or am I only willing to make such a profession when things are well for me?

There is a better reason to praise God for His goodness, and it is completely independent of my circumstances.  Not matter what I'm going through, I can still brag of His goodness because of these two gifts.

Salvation.  I deserve eternal death. (Romans 6:23) My sin has earned for me permanent condemnation, resulting in separation from God and all that is good.  Due to my transgressions, I have no hope of a future or anything good of which to look forward. (James 1:15)

In the same way a drowning man needs a lifeguard to save him from certain death, so I am completely incapable of rescuing myself from the inevitable.  My sin comes quite naturally, making it impossible for me to ever measure up to God's perfect standard.  Therefore, I can never hope to enter into God's kingdom based on my own merit.  If it were up to my goodness, I would be doomed to hell. (Romans 3:23)

Thankfully, God sent a Savior to rescue me from the path of death my feet so easily tread.  He offers a way for me to travel instead on the road that leads to life, even though I am completely incapable of walking such a way.  It is only through the blood of Jesus that I am made righteous and able to enter into the family of God, having a hope and a future of a place that is prepared specifically for me.  I am saved from the doom my sin secured for me. (John 14:2-3, Jeremiah 29:11-13)

With such a treasure held firmly in my grasp, my life takes on new purpose.  Instead of living for myself and my own selfish desires, I now live for God and His eternally good purposes.  Everything takes on significance.  Even the most mundane of chores can be done with the intent of bringing attention to the One who saved me. (1 Corinthians 10:31) Life now is rich with meaning. (John 10:10)

The salvation from death and an empty life God freely gives me through Jesus Christ is a reason to always give Him praise.

Steadfast Love.  The kind of love I'm used to seeing comes and goes, dependent upon my performance or as a reward for good behavior.  Human love is conditional, incapable of reaching the depth of God's unwavering love.  

This unconditional love is shown perfectly through the sacrifice made by His Son on the cross.  While I was still completely unaware of my need for help, while I was ignorant of the way my selfishness offended God and His holy nature, His loved compelled Him to make a way to repair the relationship my sin destroyed.  His love is so deep, so wide, so unfathomable that He took me as His child while I was still His enemy!  (Romans 5:10)

Such love cannot be lost.  There is nowhere I can go, nothing I can do, and no depth to which I can sink which will cause me to lose such love.  (Romans 8:35-39)  No matter how I feel, or how much I suffer, or how often I fail, His love for me is secure.  

This is a love that can take a bunch of wayward criminals and form them into a family.  (1 John 3:1)  This is the kind of love that sets the captive free.  (Luke 4:18)  This love melts even the hardest of hearts, turning it from stone into flesh.  (Ezekiel 36:26)

This steadfast love secured through faith in Jesus Christ is a reason to always give praise to God.

It is easy to base my praise of God on my circumstances, honoring Him and exalting His name when things go well but remaining silent when times are hard.  God, however, has given me so much of which to praise Him no matter my situation.  I have been granted salvation and a never-ending supply of His steadfast love through faith in Jesus Christ.  Completely apart from my own effort or merit, I have been given such precious gifts.  Of these alone I can always give praise to such a generous God!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can always remember the love and salvation that are mine through faith in Jesus.

When do I base my praise on my circumstances?

How am I quick to sink into despair when things go differently than I expected, forgetting that God has a great plan for me?