Poisonous Root

"Make sure there is no man or woman,

clan or tribe among you today

whose heart turns away from the LORD our God

to go and worship the gods of those nations;

make sure there is no root among you that produces

such bitter poison.

When such a person hears the words of this oath

and they invoke a blessing on themselves,

thinking, 'I will be safe,

even though I persist in going my own way,'

they will bring disaster on the watered land

as well as the dry."

It seems harsh.  The heart of God is relationship, so when sin damages a bond between members of the body of Christ, I am to lovingly pursue reconciliation.  The process laid out in Matthew 18:15-20 requires community involvement.  There is always the risk that my thinking is selfish so if I seek the godly counsel of others and they agree, I avoid the risk of pursuing my own agenda.  There is also the risk that I form a mob to come against my brother or sister so my heart must be bent on reconciliation, not retribution or revenge. 

If all the required steps have been taken and still there is no agreement, then the offending child of God must be treated as an outsider, removed from the fellowship of His people.  Why would God require such action when He is a God who goes after the lost sheep?

The answer is found in today's passage.  While God is merciful and gracious, He is also holy.  His concern is for the sanctity of His people and He knows how easy it is for us to go astray.  We, like sheep, tend to wander, especially if those around us are compromising  (Isaiah 53:6).  Consequently, God warned His people in today's passage of the prideful heart that thinks he's safe even in his disobedience and defiance.  This line of thinking pollutes the holiness of God's people and puts the whole Body at risk of turning away from the Lord and His ways.

What poisonous root do I tolerate in my life?

Sin

A mistake.

A misstep.

A blunder.

An error.

It's easy to minimize sin, labeling it as something other than what it is: defiance toward holy God and His holy ways.  I often do this when I don't want to face the facts.  Sin is destructive and dangerous.  When I allow an area of sin to remain in my life, I am putting my own desires above God's.  I am placing my own pleasure higher than God's plan for my life.  I am making a mockery of the sacrifice Jesus became on the cross.

When I downplay the sin of which God has convicted my heart, it is as if I am spitting in the face of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  He bore the wrath of His Father, an unimaginable nightmare of the worst kind, to conquer sin for His people.  Why should I then invite it in, growing comfortable with the very thing that requires death as a punishment?

If I am to remove such a poisonous root in my own life, I must be careful to not tolerate sin.  When God opens my eyes to my tendency to gossip, for example, and I sense His gentle nudge as I begin to share with a friend a tasty morsel disguised as a prayer update, I would be wise to stop the flow of words immediately.  

Or if God reveals my issue with fudging the truth to avoid conflict and I'm on the verge of using the destructive tactic once again, I would be wise to instead speak the truth in love, pointing all involved in the disagreement to the common ground of the Gospel (Ephesians 4:15).

Or for the time when God makes clear my inclination to indulge in worldly entertainment that dishonors His holy name and desensitizes my heart, I would be wise to take every step necessary to avoid such temptations.

I am at risk of cultivating a poisonous root that could infect the Body of Christ when I become comfortable with sin in my life.

Self-Sufficiency

When my daughters were young, my goal for them was that they would become self-sufficient and independent.  I envisioned them going out into the world and earning success in whatever field they pursued.  As they grew, however, my relationship with God matured and I learned more about Him and His ways.  

Soon I discovered that He doesn't want me to rely on my own strength at all, nor does He care for me to go after selfish pursuits.  Instead, His desire is for me to be dependent upon Him for all my needs and to pursue righteousness and His kingdom. Boy, did I have it backwards (Matthew 6:33, 2 Timothy 2:22, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10)!

I live in a world that preaches self-sufficiency.  I am bombarded with messages that tell me to overcome, that I can do whatever I put my mind to, and that I can pull myself up by my own bootstraps.  Basically, I'm told that I have what it takes inside of me to reach the stars.

In reality, there is nothing good within me and relying on myself is kind of like the blind leading the blind.  If I really want to succeed in life, then, I will need to seek God with all of my heart, waiting on Him and His provision (Jeremiah 29:11-13, Isaiah 40:31). He holds the key to unlock the blueprint for my life, so I will never find a sense of purpose until I come into a relationship with Him, letting Him take the lead.

That means I will need to diligently turn away from my own desire to be the master of my own destiny and turn toward my true Master. I will need to fight the urge to make things happen and instead wait on His perfect timing. I will need to stop looking for escape routes and solutions and start fixing my eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2).

I am at risk of cultivating a poisonous root that could infect the Body of Christ when I rely on my own strength and understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Sense

I ignored the advice offered by several godly people because it didn't make sense to me.  After a couple of years, a friend spoke the same wisdom but this time I paid attention because she also provided additional enlightenment.  I never recognized the value of the advice until it made sense to me.

I struggle with obeying without understanding.  If something doesn't make sense to me, I tend to balk.  This is a problem when it comes to my relationship with God.  I'm kind of like the African impala who has an innate ability to jump great heights, but only if it can see where his feet will land.  If I only do what makes sense to me, I miss out on many of the blessings that come with obeying a God whose ways are unfathomable (Isaiah 55:8-9).

It takes faith to blindly go where God is leading.  In fact, I would even say this is the definition of faith; stepping forward without knowing where the path will lead me. Hebrews 11:1 gives a great description of faith.  "Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see" (NLT).

To boldly follow God's lead when He calls me to take a risk means I must believe He knows what He's doing even when I can't see a foot in front of me.  Other times He may inspire me to go beyond my own natural abilities, volunteering for a job that is outside my normal parameters. Then there are the times when He sends a hailstorm of trials and tribulations, challenging me to trust Him to guide me through the onslaught.

I am at risk of cultivating a poisonous root that could infect the Body of Christ when I limit my faith to only what I understand.

Poison is deadly and ruthless, infecting all who come in contact.  When I become comfortable with sin, take on an attitude of self-sufficiency and rely on my own common sense, I am allowing a poisonous root to take hold in my heart.  When I do so, I am placing the Body of Christ at risk.  Therefore, it is in my own best interest as well as that of my brothers and sisters that I guard against such corruption.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can keep my heart open to God, allowing Him to examine every nook and cranny.

When do I stubbornly refuse to turn away from sin?

How am I relying on my own common sense instead of trusting in God's higher ways?



Originally published on February 12, 2014

Chink in my Armor

"One day Samson went to Gaza,

where he saw a prostitute.

He went in to spend the night with her.

The people of Gaza were told,

'Samson is here!'

So they surrounded the place

and lay in wait for him all night at the city gate.

They made no move during the night,

saying, 'At dawn we'll kill him.'"

Judges 16:1-2

Samson, like all humans, had many flaws.  One was his weakness for women.  As he succumbed to temptation one day, failing to detect the trap into which he was stepping, he sought out a prostitute.  In so doing, he made himself vulnerable to his enemies who were bent on his destruction.

I, too, have an Enemy who seeks to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10).  His whole mission is to take away the peace that rules my heart through Christ Jesus, to damage my relationship with the Lord so I cease to live the abundant, purposeful life, and to wipe out the confidence I have in the God who will never let me down.

When I give in to the sin which lures me, I open myself up to attack from the Enemy, making myself vulnerable to his schemes (1 Peter 5:8, Genesis 4:6-7).  Even though Satan has no hold on me, I give him a foothold when I yield to the sin that seems so attractive to my flesh (Ephesians 4:27). Then, there is much that I lose.

Peace

As I sat by the river watching the slow-moving water, I could feel the stresses of life melt away.  Birds sang praises to their Maker, lifting up their voices in sweet harmony.  A cooling breeze gently set the trees to swaying, adding to the composition that delighted my senses.  Dappled light painted a beautiful design at my feet as the sunlight filtered through the leaves above my head. This place delivered a sense of peace to my soul.

While its nice to sit and enjoy such a serene setting, its not always possible to take time out of each day to do so. Thankfully, surrendering to the Lord delivers the same effect. When I let go of my desire to work out all the details of my life, fretting over how I will solve all my problems, peace floods my heart (Philippians 4:6-7).

Similarly, knowing that the blood of Jesus has covered all my sins, making me right with God, sets my mind at ease (Romans 5:1). I don't have to be perfect to enjoy the presence of my Father who loves me perfectly (Hebrews 4:16)! Guilt is not an issue when I know the depth of His love (1 John 4:16-18). 

Unfortunately for me, this peace is often fleeting even though it is mine to keep. Satan knows how to push my buttons, drawing me into a state of worry or planting seeds of doubt about the security of my salvation. Once the thought is there, I easily glom onto it, letting the destructive thought pattern take me where it wants to go.  Soon the calm I once enjoyed is gone, leaving behind nothing but trouble.

If I want to protect the peace that comes from trusting in Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I must not give Satan a foothold by giving into temptation.

Purpose

From the time she was a little girl she knew what she wanted to do with her life.  From that point on, everything she did was with that goal in mind.  Nothing could distract her from her God-given purpose.  

Each believer has a specific purpose; a job for which they were created (Ephesians 2:10). When I seek God's will for my life, He reveals that focus that He meant for me, giving me a reason to drive forward each day (Jeremiah 29:11-13). As I accept His calling, everything suddenly begins to make sense.  Suffering is allowed into my life as part of the training necessary to prepare me for His use. I accept the bad along with the good, knowing that it all works together for my good and helps to propel me toward the purpose for which God has made me (Romans 8:28).

When I open myself up to the attacks of my enemy, however, this focus and drive is one of his targets. He aims to kill the plan God has for me, doing whatever he can to divert my attention away from it so I suddenly feel there is no reason for me to live. Or, he throws a wrench in the works with the hope that I will give up and forget about the good God has planned for my life.  

Instead of living with an aim and a purpose, then, I begin to wander aimlessly, going after one pursuit followed by another.  When one goal begins to lose its luster, I move onto another, never settling in for the long haul.  My life takes on the characteristics of an aimless wanderer instead of as a purposeful athlete training for an important competition (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).  Satan has killed my God-given purpose.

Thankfully, my calling is not gone, but I've only been fooled into thinking there is no reason for my pitiful life. Jesus, however, can restore that purpose as I keep my eyes on Him. Staying focused on Him enables me to run my race with purpose as I let go of all that distracts me from that single objective (Hebrews 12:1-2).

If I want to retain the sense of purpose I've been given as a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ, I must not give Satan a foothold by giving into temptation.

Faith

Each day was a carbon-copy of the one before.  Pain ruled her life, limiting her ability to care for herself.  She felt as helpless as a newborn baby.  Was this what God meant for her life?  Did He even care about her suffering?  She began to wonder if God even existed.  And if He did, why didn't He do something to help her?

Pain and suffering has a way of destroying faith.  Where once I believed God was capable of anything and I had full confidence in His goodness, sovereignty and power, misery and agony can wipe out that belief.

While God can use hard times like this to grow my faith and proving it as authentic, Satan's goal is to destroy my belief in God as my Helper and Source of comfort (James 1:2-4, Job 1:9-11).  If I begin to question God's goodness, wondering if He really has my best interest at heart, Satan thinks he's won the battle. What he (and I as I'm swept along by his lies) fails to realize , however, is the power of Christ that is within me, giving me the upper hand in this war (1 John 4:4). 

I have been given armor to protect me from the schemes of my enemy.  One of these pieces of protective gear is a shield to ward off the flaming arrows of the devil.  This important safeguard is made up of my faith (Ephesians 6:16). If Satan can destroy my shield, he thinks he's won the battle.

Instead of giving into the temptation that my enemy puts in my path, then, I must act as a soldier and quickly raise up my shield, using it to safeguard against what seduces me away from the path of righteousness.  

When hard times come my way, instead of focusing on the suffering,  I must remember my position as a soldier in a war and refresh my memory of all the good that will come from standing firm in my faith (Romans 5:3-5).

When trouble enters into my life, in the place of blaming God for what is unbearable for me, I can hold fast to the truth that I have been presented with a great opportunity to taste the compassion God has for me as I allow Him to give me comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). 

When I'm faced with the impossible, I must not let down my guard, strengthening my firm stance with the truth that nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37).

If I want to stand firm in the faith I have in Jesus Christ, I must not give Satan a foothold by giving into temptation.

I often forget how vulnerable to attack I am and simply live in a way that pleases me.  When I follow my own flesh, I open myself up to the work of my enemy.  If I want to remain firm in my walk with the Lord, then, it is important that I guard against Satan's schemes.  Taking the way out when temptations come will allow me to retain the peace that guards my heart and mind, protect the purpose God has for my life, and to keep my faith in Him who is able to do more than I could ever imagine.  In these ways, I can avoid developing a chink in my armor.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can stand firm in my faith, keeping aware of my enemy who is constantly on the prowl.

When do I live as if I have no enemy, assuming I am safe from attack?

How do I easily give in to temptation, making myself vulnerable?    


Originally published on March 28, 2014  

Testing God's Patience

"'Yet you have forsaken Me and served other gods;

therefore I will deliver you no more.

Go, cry to the gods you have chosen;

let them deliver you in your time of distress.'"

Judges 10:13-14 AMP

They were chosen out of all the peoples of the earth to be His treasured possession (Deuteronomy 7:6).  There was nothing about them that set this nation apart from anyone else, nothing that drew the Creator of all things to them in particular.  Instead, it was His purposes that drove Him to make that long-ago promise to their father Abraham, creating a covenant that He could not break (Genesis 12:2-3, Genesis 15).  Still, out of all that God had done for the people of Israel, they tested His patience, failing to stay faithful to Him and turning to other gods.  

Similarly, I did not choose Jesus, but He chose me (John 15:16, John 6:37, John 17:2).  God opened my eyes to my need for Him, my utter helplessness to save myself, and drew me to Jesus, opening my heart to receive Him as my Lord and Savior (John 6:44, Romans 8:28-30). As I did, I experienced His great love, and realized my own wretchedness.  It was then that I understood God's great patience (2 Peter 3:9).

God did not send Jesus to convict me, dooming me to eternal suffering and giving me what I rightfully deserve because of my sins.  Instead, Jesus came to save me, delivering me from what is inevitable and giving me what I cannot earn; eternal life and a restored relationship with a heavenly Father who adopts me into His family as His precious child (John 3:16-17,1 John 3:1). Still, out of all that God has done for me, I test His patience, failing to stay faithful to Him and turning to other gods.

He is patient, waiting for me to come around, giving me a chance to see my sin and repent.  He gives me more chances than I deserve, yet still I test His patience in more ways than I realize.

Take for Granted

I assumed he would always be there.  I noticed all his quirks and irritating ways, pointing out what needed improvement.  Seldom did I thank him for his willingness to work hard, his faithfulness to me and his desire to take care of me.  Instead, I took these good traits for granted, assuming he would always be there for me to kick around.

As the wife of a soldier, there were many times when I would come to the above conclusion after my husband had left on deployment, willingly placing himself in harm's way in order to fulfill His commitment to his country.  I often took for granted the blessings I'd been given until it wasn't there any more.  Then, in his absence, I would suddenly be aware of how good I had it. 

It's easy to take those I love for granted, stubbornly refusing to cherish the moments I have as if they were fleeting.  In the same vein, I also take God for granted, accepting his grace, mercy and love as if I deserve it, failing to realize the sacrifice Jesus made so I could enjoy such unmerited blessings.  

If I did truly appreciate the lengths my Savior went to retrieve me from the depths of Hell, I would more easily put myself into His hands to allow Him to mold me into His image.  Instead, I assume God will forgive me for my own stubbornness, continuing to insist on doing things my way, knowing that He will give me a pass.  After all, I think, I'm only human.  I'm not perfect and can't be expected to never fall.

While it is true that I cannot live a perfect life, my attitude is often wrong.  If I truly understood how my sin offends my holy Father, I would not so easily accept it into my life, knowing that I'll be forgiven by a God who loves me.  If I really realized how much Jesus went through so I could live a life free from guilt, I would not put so much pressure on myself to impress God with my efforts, taking for granted the grace that I seem to have missed.  If the love of God really meant something to me, I would let it flow through me instead of hording it all for myself.

I often test God's patience when I take His precious gifts for granted instead of allowing Him to mold me into the woman He created me to be.

Unfaithful

Even though I had provided plenty of clean, well-maintained litter boxes throughout the house, our elderly cat still insisted on using the corner of the dining room as his personal bathroom.  Whenever I caught him preparing to do his dirty deed, I would run him to the nearest litter box and he would willingly use it for its intended purpose.  Obviously, he knew of its presence and how it was meant to be used,  but he often chose to do it his way instead.

While its easy to feel angry at my cat for choosing such destructive behavior, I am not so different when it comes to God.  He has shown me His goodness, demonstrating His love for me in the way He gave His own Son's life for me while I was His enemy because of my offensive sin, completely ignorant of my need of a Savior (Romans 5:8, 1 John 4:9).  He faithfully provides for my needs, giving me what is necessary while protecting me from harm (Matthew 6:31-33, Psalm 121:7).  His wisdom guides me through the toughest times of my life, making the path I must travel clear to me (Proverbs 3:5-6, James 1:5).

Still, I turn to other sources for answers when times get confusing, preferring that which I can see and hear over God's intervention which takes faith to trust (Proverbs  9:10).  When it seems action is needed, I often prefer to do something rather than to sit back and give God a chance to work, justifying to myself that action is better than passivity (Isaiah 40:31). Even though I know God is the Father of compassion who best knows how to comfort me in times of trouble, I often prefer the tangible touch of a human who I turn to instead of letting God take me through the deep waters (Isaiah 43:1-7, 2 Corinthians 1:3).

God made me for Himself.  When I arrogantly turn to my own ways instead of surrendering myself into His loving hands, I am missing out on all the good things God has saved up for me.  As a Gentleman, God would never force me to submit to Him.  Instead, He lovingly and patiently waits for me to willingly choose His life-giving way over my destructive approach.  For the times when I turn to Him, I truly taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8).

I often test God's patience when I turn to other sources to find the good things God has already prepared to give to me (1 Corinthians 2:9).

Refuse to Trust

Love those who persecute me.

Forgive.

Run after kingdom-pursuits, not worldly ones.

Treasure relationships not possessions.

Hold belongings with an open hand.

These are some of the commands of God with which I struggle.  I often go my own way, hating my enemies, holding onto hurts, chasing success, valuing what I've worked so hard to attain more than anything else, and gripping my possessions as if they're what gives me security.  I often refuse to trust God enough to obey Him.

God values my obedience more than anything else I can give Him (1 Samuel 15:22).  Maybe its because when I do what He says, I am proving to Him that I trust Him.  With my actions, I'm saying, "Lord, even though I may not agree with what you are telling me to do and I certainly don't understand Your ways, I trust you enough to do what You say despite my misgivings.  Obeying You is more important than quenching my desire to comprehend or agree.  I want to please You by living life Your way."  Its amazing what a strong message my actions can deliver!

Therefore, when He impresses upon my heart the importance of turning the other cheek when I'm mistreated, I will trust in God's integrity enough to give up my desire to defend myself.  Or, when He calls me to step forward into the darkness, defying my own common sense and longing to stay where things seem safe, I will trust in God's Sovereign plan enough to give up my desire to see what is to come.  Or, when His way requires giving up my worldly possessions, I will trust enough in God's ability to give me more than I can ask or imagine and let go of what seems so valuable.

I often test God's patience when I don't trust Him enough to do as He says.

There is no doubt that God is a patient God.  Time means nothing to Him as He waits for me to fall into step with Him.  Still, I often take His goodness for granted, turn to other sources to receive what He so willingly gives, and refuse to trust Him enough to obey.  In these ways, I test God's patience.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to let Him have His way this day.

When do I refuse His guidance, insisting on doing things my way?

How do I take God for granted?


Originally published on March 24, 2014

The Prayer of the Righteous

"'O Sovereign LORD! 

You have made the heavens and earth 

by your strong hand

and powerful arm.

Nothing is too hard for you!

. . .See how the siege ramps have been built

against the city walls!

Through war, famine, and disease,

the city will be handed over to the Babylonians,

who will conquer it.

Everything has happened just as you said.

And yet, O Sovereign LORD,

you have told me to buy the field

--paying good money for it before these witnesses--

even though the city will soon be handed

over to the Babylonians.'"

Jeremiah 32:17, 25 NLT

Jeremiah did the foolish, the wasteful, the stupid.  He paid good money for land that was about to be handed over to the Babylonians.  Why would he do such a thing?  His prayer reveals much about the maturity of his faith, and I can glean much from it about how my own faith will grow.

Obedience.  Jeremiah was pure of heart.  Instead of weighing the pros and cons of buying the field God directed him to purchase, or relying on his own understanding of the wisdom of doing such a reckless thing, or asking himself how this action would make him look to his peers, he obeyed God (Jeremiah 32:9).  Once his cousin came to offer the land to him, just as God had said he would, giving him the assurance the directive was from God, Jeremiah did as God directed him to do (v 8).  Noncompliance was not even considered.

As I grow in the grace and knowledge of my Lord Jesus Christ, He will allow hard things into my life to purify my heart, as well, giving me the desire to obey Him above all other aspirations.  I will begin to grasp the importance of doing as God commands and desire to please Him more than I want to satisfy myself or others.  Tithing will no longer be a difficult step of faith but a delight.  Instead of feeling discomfort or revulsion when coming in contact with the mentally ill, drunken street people, or the hardened convict, God's love for the unlovable will flow from me as I fall in step with Christ.  While I used to begrudgingly spend a few minutes in prayer and study of scripture, I will grow in my desire to sit at the feet of Jesus and learn from His Word.

As I grow in Christ I will develop a heart that is pure like Jeremiah's, desiring to obey God more and more each day.

Values.  Jeremiah's value system was upside down and backwards from the world's economy.  He treasure his bond with God more than his freedom, reputation, money or even his life itself.  He would probably join the apostle Paul in saying, ". . .to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21).  What could be better than to enter into eternity with God?  But both men knew that glorious day would soon come, so to stay on this wretched earth for the sake of reaching the lost and doing His will was their desire, as long as God was using them for His purposes.

As I get to know Jesus more and more, disentangling from the corruption of the world, my value system will go through a transformation process.  I may at times feel as if I'm going through a sifter or being tumbled around like a grain of sand in an hour glass as God changes my standards and alters my ideals.  While I used to treasure my comfort, guarding my "me time" and being stingy with my resources, God changes the way I look at what I have.  I realize everything belongs to Him and has been entrusted to me as a gift so I stop holding on to things like they're mine and let Him use all I have as He sees fit.  As I give Him more and more control, I see that His grace abounds and I never feel overextended or strained.  Instead, I find joy in giving generously as He gives, whether it be of my money, time, or gifts.

As I grow in Christ my value system will change until I discover what Jeremiah knew; that my relationship with God is my greatest treasure.

Faith.  He didn't doubt God would do as He said He would do.  Jeremiah understood that God was utterly faithful to deliver upon His promises and he staked his life on this belief.  He knew God enough to trust that He could do anything, overcome any obstacle and accomplish the most impossible feat.  His faith reminds me of the young shepherd boy's when he was willing to face a 9-foot seasoned warrior with only a sling and a few smooth stones.  David's belief that God was with him gave him the kind of courage most of us only dream about (1 Samuel 17:37,46).

What would it look like to live without doubt, free from fear, unrestricted by insecurity?  I need only look to David or Jeremiah to see my future as my vision of God grows larger and larger.  The more I know about God and His character, the less I am likely to hesitate when it comes to trusting God to do the "impossible."  I'll walk forward in confidence, believing God can change the hardest of hearts, open the most secure of doors, or make a way where it seems there's none.  

As I grow closer in my relationship with Jesus I will see Him more and more as He truly is, limiting Him less and less until I allow Him to operate in my life in His full power as Jeremiah did.

It is not easy to walk by faith since I often desire to gain fully understanding before I commit to an action.  As I grow in my relationship with Jesus, however, I'll become more and more like Jeremiah, wanting to obey God more than anything else, valuing my bond with Him as my greatest treasure, and building my faith until I realize nothing is impossible for God.  When I do, I'll be able to utter the prayer of the righteous which says, "Nothing is too hard for You!"

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to take off the limits I place on Him in my doubt.

When do I judge something as impossible?

How do I doubt God's sovereign power in my life?

  

The Curse is Lifted

"Say to them,

'This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says:

Cursed is anyone who does not obey 

the terms of my covenant!'"

Jeremiah 11:3 NLT

The curse is on all who don't follow God's moral law to the "t".  What shall we do?  We are doomed for none is perfect, not even one (Ecclesiastes 7:20)!  Thankfully, Jesus Christ changed all that.  Check out the Good News (Galatians 3:10-14):

Law.  It was meant to be followed.  God gave His moral law to Moses on top of Mt. Sinai, spoken with His own voice and written by His own finger on tablets of stone (Exodus 20, Deuteronomy 9:9-10) .  These laws are foundational.  These laws are permanent.  These laws are binding.  And according to His own requirement, His people would be cursed if they didn't do as He commanded.  Yet who hasn't broken every one, at least in their heart (Matthew 5:21-48)?

If I expect the commandments of God to save me, that my effort in keeping them can earn me God's favor and mercy, making me good enough to stand up under His perfect standard, then I am under the curse as I inevitably fail.  But if I instead turn from my own selfish ways and trust in Jesus Christ and what He has done on the cross, I'm free from the curse.  For He took that curse upon Himself when He agreed to be punished for my rebellion, my failings, my shortfall, thus lifting the curse from me (Galatians 3:13, Romans 8:1-4).  Now I can live a new way, not by the law but by following the living Spirit of God that is in me (Galatians 5:18).  Praise be to God for Jesus Christ my Lord for saving me from God's curse!

God's law serves to show me how much I need Jesus.

Faith.  I want to be blessed by God, and I'm not so different from anyone else that ever existed.  All of mankind often asks God for His blessing.  He is asked to bless a country, to bless a family's finances, to bless a job search, to bless a new life.  But can He give it to those under the curse, to those who are not even aware of how much they offend God with their own sinful flesh?  To those who try to earn their way into His good graces?  To those who don't yet understand the grace and mercy He offers through faith in Christ?  Good questions.

While I may not know the answers fully, I do know this:  God promised a blessing through Abraham's offspring, a covenental blessing that would stand for all time (Genesis 12:2-3).  And this blessing comes through the person of Jesus Christ and can only be received by faith in Him.  What is this long-promised blessing?  It is the forgiveness of sins that comes by repentance and faith in Jesus,  And furthermore, this faith in Him opens up the opportunity to receive every kind of spiritual blessing that is available from God (Ephesians 1:3).  So by faith in Christ, I can boldly come before the throne of grace and ask for God's blessing (Hebrews 4:16).

I am blessed by God through faith in Jesus Christ, the One who came to restore me in right standing with God, a blessing indeed.

Belonging.  The people of Israel couldn't help but become a bit snobby.  Even though they did nothing special to deserve God's favor, His designation as His people and His most treasured possession, the nation identified by His name, they must have come to believe they were better than anyone else (Deuteronomy 7:6-8).  In His effort to keep them holy, He commanded them to avoid intermarrying with foreigners and that any priest would be defiled by merely touching a dead human body (Deuteronomy 7:3, Numbers 19:11).  While God meant to set His people apart for His own namesake, it would be easy for them to think they were the best thing since sliced bread and begin to look down on anyone not born into the nation of Israel.

Even though it could be argued that God always accepted people by faith not by family lineage or heritage, there was an advantage to being born into the line of Abraham.  Through the new covenant that was established through Jesus Christ, anyone at all can enter into the family of God simply by turning away from their selfish ways and their instinct of self-preservation, and following Him by faith (Matthew 16:24, Galatians 3:26).  Once I take on Jesus Christ as my own righteousness, I belong to Him and inherit the promise given to His people (Ephesians 1:13).  I am God's child by faith and receive all the benefits of His legitimate, well-loved offspring (Hebrews 12:7-8, 1 Peter 1:4, 1 John 3:1).

Through faith in Jesus Christ, I belong to God as His very own treasured possession.

There are so many rules given by God for me to follow.  If I try to save myself by attempting to comply to all of them 100% of the time, I will soon realize how impossible His standard is for me, a mere mortal.  If I expect to earn my way into His favor I'm placing myself under the curse that comes from breaking the law, and break it I will.  Thankfully, God sent His Son to free me from this horrible ordeal of failing to earn my keep.  By taking the curse upon Himself in dying on the cross, I can now receive His blessing by trusting in Jesus as my own Lord and Savior and thus enter into His family by faith.  Praise be to God through Jesus Christ my Lord that the curse is lifted!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to stop trying to earn His favor but simply follow Him.

When do I try to do the impossible and follow the law as a way to make myself right with Him?

How would it change things if I instead trusted in Jesus to be my righteousness?    

Incomparable

"To whom can you compare to God?

What image can you find to resemble him?

Can he be compared to an idol formed in a mold,

overlaid with gold,

and decorated with silver chains?

Or if people are too poor for that,

they might at least choose wood that won't decay

and a skilled craftsman 

to carve an image that won't fall down!"

Isaiah 40:18-20 NLT

I run across many who struggle with believing in a God they can't see or whose existence they can't prove.  Others claim His three-person nature is too hard to fathom and reject His reality based on their inability to grasp such a thing.

I say, all the more reason to worship a God who is incomparable.  He is different than man in so many ways, giving me the basis for a strong faith in Him.  Who wants to place their lives in the hands of a puny God, anyway?  I'm glad the God of heaven and earth cannot be placed in a box, otherwise I'd truly have reason to doubt.  Here are some other reasons to place my trust in Him through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 26:20).

No Equal.  Everyone needs a trust adviser, one upon whom they can lean when decisions are tricky and the right path is not clear.  Most people like to discuss their options over with someone who shares the same values and beliefs because no one can see all the angles, possible snags or cons of each possibility; we need a second set of eyes.  In facts, as the election cycle spins into full throttle mode, I hear a lot about the wisdom of seeking advice for those in leadership positions.  It is considered foolish to only depend upon one's own wisdom.

Yet this is exactly what God does.  He has no equal to whom He must turn for reassurance or from whom He must seek advice.  He doesn't need to depend upon anyone else to help Him or to fill in the gaps where He lacks (Isaiah 40:12-14).  He is a stand-alone God who knows all, possesses all, is all.  This is the kind of God whom I can trust in any and every situation, who will never let me down nor fail to guide me rightly.  I can absolutely trust such a God as this.

The incomparable God of the universe has no equal upon whom He must depend.

Worthy.  I have always enjoyed the story of The Little Drummer Boy as told in the song first recorded in 1955.  As the fictional story goes, the little poor boy kneels before the King of kings and realizes his lack, his inability to give anything worthy of such a King as this!  As he realizes his own poverty, he decides to take what he has, his drum, and play it for him with all of his heart.  In essence, he gives himself to the God who loves us so much that He came down and became part of His creation in order to save us from the sin that condemns us and separates us from Him.  The little boy gave in the same way God gave; he gave himself.  

As I ponder this sweet Christmas story, it occurs to me that this imaginary little boy truly understood the holiness and magnificence of God found in that little babe lying in the manger that morn so long ago.  He is worthy of more than I could ever give, yet all He really wants from me is me, all of me, given in sweet surrender as I trust Him wholly.  No gift can really match His splendor, but this is the gift that makes His heart sing because it speaks to Him on the same level upon which He gave (John 3:16).  

The incomparable God of the universe is worthy of more than I could ever give Him yet delights in me as I give myself to Him (Isaiah 40:16, Zephaniah 3:17).

Divine Nature.  He is unique.  More than that, though, He is beyond my ability to fathom.  His characteristics are so wonderful that I can spend every moment of my life studying Him and only scratch the surface of His true nature.  He is "far beyond anything [I] could imagine"  (Isaiah 55:8b).  Even though He can be known, He can never be fully understood or comprehended (Romans 1:19-20).  He is just too big, too high, too magnificent.

This is the kind of God I can respect.  If He were small enough that I were able to fathom all His ways and guess how He might work in certain situations, than He wouldn't be much of a God at all.  In fact, it would be hard to place my life into the hands of such a puny god who could be fully known by those he created.  The Maker is always greater than the one who was made (Romans 9:20-21).

The incomparable God of the universe has a divine nature that is beyond man's ability to fully fathom.  

Even if it's hard for me to believe in what I cannot see, I have to admit that the God of the Bible is an awesome God.  He has no equal, is worthy of more than I could ever give, and possesses a divine nature that is too great for me to grasp.  This is the kind of God I can trust to run my life, and this is the God who wants nothing more from His own.  And when I surrender my life to Him through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, I discover that He is truly incomparable.

As I begin this day I pray that I can trust God with all that I am.

When do I doubt His existence, or wonder about His ability to guide my life?

How am I afraid to place my life in His hands?