Merely Man

This post was originally published in October 2015.

"This is what the LORD says:

'Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans,

who rely on human strength

and turn their hearts away from the LORD.'"

Jeremiah 17:5 NLT

It's easy to be intimidated by those who oppose my faith, especially if they have credentials, power or position to bring me down.  The time is here when more and more Christians will be called to take a stand for our beliefs.  When it is me against the entire federal government, the state officials, or even the local school board, I may feel frightened when considering what they might do to me.  But I need not be afraid, for I have the Lord my God, and they are merely men (2 Chronicles 32:8).   Here's how I can be greatly encouraged as I stand firmly within God's blessing.

Trust.  There is much in which I can place my faith.  I can trust in political insiders who support my cause, or influential leaders who come alongside me, or cunning lawyers who take my case.  While these benefits may help me, I must not place my faith in them to save me.

Ultimately, it is God who has the power, influence and wisdom to save me.  Do I believe it?  Or are these only words I say out of habit or tradition?  I must walk forward in confidence with the understanding that He goes before me, He has my back, and He envelopes me with His sovereign power (Deuteronomy 31:8).  He literally hems me in (Psalm 139:5)!  If I really believe this, I will not doubt, will not fear, will not waver.

Blessed am I when I trust fully in God alone as my Savior.

Rely.  I can depend on man to make my case before the powers that be, believing if I have a well-crafted argument, justice will prevail.  I can count on the knowledge I have about the judge who may oversee my case, depending upon him to make a wise ruling.  I can bank on the support of other believers to hold me up during a difficult time of persecution.  While it may seem most important to have such benefits, I must not rely on them to sustain me.

Ultimately, it is God who has the might, not any man-made entity.  Even if it seems I have no hope, with God there is always a way through.  He has resources I know nothing about, ways I cannot fathom, power that is not of this world.  Therefore, I must place all my weight on Him, standing on the Solid Rock that will not let me down (Psalm 62:6-8).  

Blessed am I when I rely completely in God as my source of power.

Heart.  It's easy for my heart to become tainted by the beliefs, attitudes and corruption of this world.  I may start off being motivated by a passion for Jesus and a deep love for Him until another affection begins to draw me away from Him as my true devotion.  Or I close myself off from His leading, afraid to head down the path He is taking me on, unwilling to experience such hardship for His sake.  Or I resist the painful molding process as the Potter's hands attempt to fashion me into the image of His Son, chipping away all that doesn't belong.

It is then that I can cry out to God as David did, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and restore a right spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10).  Make me loyal to You again, Lord, led by a heart that desires to please You and You alone.  A heart that does not worry about what man may do, or how unpopular I may become, or how difficult the path may be.  A heart that only is concerned with Your opinion of me, desiring to hear those coveted words, "Well done, my good and faithful servant"( Matthew 25:21).  This is the kind of heart that He will cultivate within me when I submit to Him.  

Blessed am I when my heart is fully devoted to God as my greatest delight (Psalm 37:4).

Times are getting difficult and I must be prepared to take a stand for my faith.  When I do, I may feel intimated by the powers of this world that I face, feeling overwhelmed by their authority and influence.  It is then that I will do well to trust in God alone, rely completely on Him as my strength, and be driven by a heart that is fully devoted to Him.  When I do, I will say with confidence that if God is for me, who can stand against me (Romans 8:31-34)?  Whoever tries is merely man!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that God will be my greatest hope.

When do I trust more in human power than in God's?

How am I afraid to go against the status quo?  

  

Examination

"Search me, God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting."

Psalm 139:23-24

When I was younger in my faith, I couldn't point out many sin problems.  I knew I suffered from a severe case of impatience and short-temperdness, but it was hard for me to root out any other issues that might offend God.  Then I grew closer to the Great Examiner of my heart and I discovered the ugly truth:  There is no area of sin with which I am not infected, making me even more thankful for Jesus Christ my Lord who has rescued me from this body of death!  

I am completely incapable of examining my own heart.  I am unable to see myself accurately.  Since I can't self-diagnose when it comes to sin, I had better leave that job up to God.  What happens when I invite Him in for a thorough examination?

Search and Try.  Whenever I go to the dentist, I endure his bright light as he peers into my mouth, searching for issues that may cause problems in the future.  Invariably, he'll discover something I knew nothing about; a tiny cavity in the making, gums that are becoming inflamed, or fillings that are weakening.  He also can objectively give me an accurate assessment of my brushing and flossing job, showing me areas I'm neglecting or pointing out particular surfaces to which I must pay special attention.  He does this all for my welfare, not to make me feel bad.

It's the same with God.  When I place myself on His examining table, He can show me areas that cause problems in the way I interact with others, or unhealthy methods for coping that I've adopted, or wrong attitudes or thought patterns regarding life and love, especially when it comes to the way I think about Him.  As I endure His bright Light, He lovingly shows me where I'm off, giving me a gently rebuke for how I've resisted His better way as He renews my mind (Romans 12:2).  His love for me gives me confidence as I place myself under His authority, giving Him a chance to purify my heart.  All the while, I know the exam is for my own good and His glory.

When I invite my kind and loving Father to examine my heart, He will gently search my heart.

Root Out.  I have a friend who maintains a beautiful garden.  As her children have grown, however, her priorities have changed and the job of tending the garden has fallen by the wayside.  To help curb the growth of weeds that have taken over, she borrowed her neighbors pigs.  As they foraged for food in her plot, they rooted out most of the unwanted plants, doing double duty of consuming the weeds while tilling up the soil, saving her hours of back-breaking work.

God has a similar ability to separate the godly stuff from the offensive ways as He continues His examination of my heart.  While I may see no problem with certain attitudes, He shows me how they are offensive to Him and destructive to me.  He is able to give me insight into what makes me tick, burrowing deep to bring dark secrets out into the Light where they can be dealt with.  Healing comes as I repent of these ways I was never meant to follow.  I need God's loving ability to root out the wrong thinking, habits and attitudes buried deep within me, knowing all along that He has my best interest at heart.

When I invite my gentle and gracious Father to examine my heart, He will expertly root out what doesn't belong there.

Lead.  The baby robin sat perched on a piece of exercise equipment in our barn.  My daughter discovered the little guy when she entered the cavernous building we use as a gym one morning in order to work out.  Even though we opened the large door in order to let him out, he would not budge an inch on his own, despite his mother's desperate calling in the adjacent yard.  We had to use a mat to guide him toward the door where he hopped out to freedom, reunited with his relieved mother.

I can be just as ignorant of God's better way for me.  I tend to wander, just like that baby bird, getting myself into tight spots, impossible predicaments, and destructive difficulties.  As God shows me how I'm wrong, He doesn't leave me there, wondering how to do better.  Instead, He shows me a new and improved way to communicate, gives me a more healthy method for coping with stress, or opens up my mind to a more beneficial attitude.  However He chooses to reveal this better way, I must be ready to follow Him wherever He leads me, trusting that He has an emotionally and spiritually prosperous path for me to walk.

When I invite my wise and considerate Father to examine my heart, He will lead me down the path that leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14).

While I may be encouraged to conduct a self-exam when it comes to certain aspects of my health, it is impossible for me to accurately assess my own spiritual well-being.  For this I need my Father who can expertly and lovingly examine my heart, root out what doesn't belong there, and replace it with His better way.  When I place myself under His bright light of scrutiny, I will find freedom and healing.  This is the kind of examination I need not fear.  This is the kind of examination that is for my good and His glory.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to let Him look deep within my heart.

When do I assume I'm okay, or fear God's intense scrutiny?

How can I remind myself that God is for me, not against me?     

Give it All

"Large crowds were traveling with Jesus,

and turning to them he said:

'If anyone comes to me

and does not hate his father and mother,

his wife and children,

his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--

he cannot be my disciple.

And anyone who does not carry his cross

and follow me cannot be my disciple. . .

In the same way,

any of you who does not give up everything he has

cannot be my disciple.'"

Luke 14:25-27, 33

He loved God and followed His commands all of his life.  He spent much of his time studying God's law and putting it into practice.  He wanted so much to please God and live forever with Him.  When the man heard that Jesus the Messiah was close by, he took the chance to find out the answer to his question.

"Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

Jesus answered just how he expected; "Keep the commandments."

"Well, I've done that since I was a boy!"

Jesus knew this was a man who took His Father's law seriously.  "There is one more thing;  Give all you have away to the poor and come follow me."

He couldn't believe He would ask such a thing.  Give away all of His riches?  How foolish and risky that would be!  What would he and his family live on?  No. . .that is too much to ask.. . I just can't do it. (Mark 10:17-31)

It's easy to sympathize with the young rich ruler.  He had it all but he didn't live for his own comfort, as is so common to do.  Instead, he tried to live his life in a way that pleased God.  All he wanted was the assurance of God's acceptance of his offerings.  Unfortunately, he went away sad because Jesus asked for more than he was willing to give.  The young man wanted to please God only if it came on his own terms.  He would try to do his best for God, but only if he could decide the means he would use.

I am so like this young man.  My heart desires to please God, but there are certain places I won't go, specific things I won't give up, or particular people I want by my side.  If, however, I truly want to delight in the Lord, I must be prepared to give it all.

My Heart

Mother Teresa, a tireless servant of Jesus Christ who worked with the lowest of the low in the slums of Calcutta, India said, "A clean heart is a free heart.  A free heart can love Christ with an undivided love in chastity, convinced that nothing and nobody will separate it from his love."  This is how she was able to do the unthinkable: care for lepers, love the unlovable, nurse the hopeless.  Her heart was entirely devoted to Jesus, loving Him in the way she gave attention to the lost and suffering of this world.

When David prayed for God to, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me," (Psalm 51:10) he was committing himself back to the One he loved above all else.  He was throwing himself at God's mercy, knowing that He alone could rid him of all that distracts his heart from His true Love.  Only Jesus can capture my heart in such a way that my passion is for Him alone.

Many times, however, the trappings of this world, the worries that threaten to overtake me, or my inner drive to make a name for myself can take away from my One True Love.  How many times is my heart tainted with other than pure devotion to God?

What am I unwilling to give up for Jesus.  Which parts of my heart am I retaining for my own purposes and pleasure?  I could secretly want some recognition for the good things that I do.  Maybe it's hard for me to act selfishly, where there's no pay off for me.  It's likely that my heart is more devoted to my comfort than to following God's calling on my life.

Whatever I find to be the holdup, I must realize and accept that a pure heart is free from anything selfish that would keep me from following Jesus without hesitation.

If I want to delight the Lord, I will be ready to give my whole heart to Jesus.

My Mind

There are problems to solve, past conversations to analyze, blame to place, plans to make, work to perform, hurts to examine, revenge to plan and behavior to understand.  My mind is a battlefield, and if I want to have any chance of winning that fight, I will need to power of God to help me change the focus from me to Him.  

Even though there is much to capture the attention of my thoughts, it is possible to use my mind in a way that shows love and respect for God.  The Apostle Paul teaches me to focus my thoughts on things that will please God.  He says in Philippians 4:8, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anythings is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."

Virtuous and commendable thoughts are those that dwell on all the good that God is doing, not on all the problems and difficult circumstances that He allows for my good.  A friend of mine says that our words, spoken or thought, "create life or death.  Look at every problem as an opportunity for God to show Himself in ways unimaginable."  My life would change immensely if I viewed conflict or suffering as a way for God to display His mighty power instead of as a hardship.

Dwelling on the difficulties that come my way by asking myself Why does everything have to happen to me? or wondering, Great; what else can happen to make my life even worse than it already is? is counteractive to my faith in God.  Joyce Meyer talks about God's purposes for the hard things or difficult tasks He brings my way.  She said, "God doesn't tell you to do hard things so He can stand back and laugh and watch you struggle.  He tells you to do the things He knows are gonna work out to your good in the end." (Romans 8:28)  Keeping my mind focused on the good that will come out of the bad is pleasing to God.  

In addition, my thoughts not only can look negatively on my circumstances, but also on my own self.  When I think negatively about certain aspects of my character, I am tearing apart one of God's image-bearers: Me.  For instance, I have the habit of saying or thinking that I have a big mouth.  Thankfully, a friend of mine recently corrected my thinking.  She said, "You are assertive and can see the what needs to be done.  You speak up for others in a way that they cannot do for themselves."  When she put it like that, I instantly could feel myself sit up a bit straighter and my thinking began to turn more positive.  Putting myself down is not humility, it is showing a disregard for God's grand design.

No matter how strongly my thoughts naturally turn toward the negative, a mind dedicated to Jesus will be transformed into a mind that pleases God.

My Will

My will is defined by Merriam-Webster as, "a disposition to act according to principles or ends."  In other words, my will is what gives me the drive to make a decision.  This determination or resolve can work toward my favor and support my desires, or it can push me closer to Christ.  When my will yields to Christ, I will act in a way that pleases God.  When, however, my will is solely set on me and my wishes, then I'm only gratifying myself.

Thankfully, God is not a bully who breaks my will and forces me to obey Him.  He sends situations and hard times into my life to help me to see those parts of me of which I must let go in order to come to Jesus as I am, ready to let Him work through me.  Fear, worry, anxiety and doubt are obstacles that get in the way of my access to Him.  God, however, never gives up on me.  He compassionately and relentlessly pursues me with His persistent love, guiding me in the way I can go, if I will only choose.

Allowing God to have access to my life comes only with my blessing.  He will not force Himself upon me, but waits to be invited.  As Jesus said in Revelation 3:20 ESV, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me."

A closer relationship with Jesus that goes beyond a Savior/Saved association, must be initiated by me.  I must desire to make Him Lord of my life.  As Oswald Chambers explained regarding those things to keep me from giving Jesus lordship, "The Holy Spirit will locate the one impregnable thing in you, but He cannot budge it unless you are willing to let Him."

My will is the one thing that can get in the way of Jesus having full ownership of my life.  Sure, there are sin struggles, fleshly strongholds and other barriers; but all of those can be removed by Jesus.  I, however, must permit Him access to my life.

As strong as my will may be, it is only possible to please God is I am agreeable to give ultimate sovereignty over my life to Him.

Simply wanting to please God on my own terms is not enough.  I must be willing to give my whole heart to Jesus, dedicate my mind to thoughts that please Him, and give Him complete access to my life.  In these ways I will do what the eager, young rich ruler would not do: Follow Jesus.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can keep my thought life turned toward the good things God is doing.

How does my heart betray my true focus?

When do I unintentionally set my will against God?