Choose Life

"'Today I have given you the choice between life and death,

between blessings and curses.

Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the 

choice you make.

Oh, that you would choose life,

so that you and your descendants might live!

You can make this choice by loving the LORD your God,

obeying him,

and committing yourself firmly to him.

This is the key to your life.

And if you love and obey the LORD,

you will live long in the land the LORD swore

to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.'"

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 NLT

Paper or plastic.

With or without nuts.

30- or 15-year fixed.

Sell or rent.

Caffeine or no caffeine.

Now or later.

Life is full of choices.  I make dozens each day, some without even thinking.  Others take much prayer and consideration.  

When God drew me to Jesus, enlightening me of my need for a Savior, I invited Him in as Lord of my life(John 6:44). As a result, I received the free gift of eternal life (John 3:16). Once I became a part of God's family through faith, I may have thought my choice had been made.  While my salvation is secure, I still have a decision to make that will result in blessing or trouble. Will I choose life or death?  

Words

I'll never be able to do that!

"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26).

Why even try?  I'm a failure at everything I do.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9).

I can't touch them or see them but they have the power to bring life or death into a situation.  As a follower of Christ, I have the option of either using my words to tear myself and others down, or I can apply them to edify, encourage and inspire greatness.  

Before I prefer life through my speech, however, I will need to get control of my thought life.  I find it easy to think negative thoughts, worry about what may or may not happen, and analyze my circumstances in an effort to find a suitable solution.  

Instead, to begin choosing life, I must strain my thought life through the filter of Christ.  If a thought doesn't honor Him and line up with His principles, it doesn't belong in my mind (2 Corinthians 10:5).  If my way of thinking is negative and self-defeating, it must be replaced with lovely, pure and praise-worthy ideas (Philippians 4:8). If I tend to think more like the world than like God, then I must intentionally cooperate with the Lord as He transforms my mind (Romans 12:2).

Once I'm on the path to pure thinking, my words will tend to take more of a godly slant.  Soon, I will find myself pointing others to the life-giving words of Christ, encouraging them to carry on despite the difficulties of their circumstances.  I may even notice a change in the way I speak to myself, choosing to preach the truth of the Gospel to myself in an effort to spur on my faith.

I have the power to choose either life or death in the way I speak to myself and others.

Actions

"Actions speak louder than words."

"Talk doesn't cook rice."  Chinese proverb

"Talk is cheap."

"A barking dog is often more useful than a sleeping lion." Washington Irving

"Don't just talk the talk but walk the walk."

"Well done is better than well said." Benjamin Franklin

The world is filled with wisdom regarding the power of action.  God also has much to say about the influence of my actions on the world around me.  He says mere knowledge of Him and His ways is not enough.  When it comes to His Word, He wants me to be more of a doer than just a listener (James 1:22).

Therefore, when He says that love is of the utmost importance, I better pay attention to not just doing what God calls me to do, but to saturate my obedience with love (1 Corinthians 13).  It also means I must do more than just memorize the scripture that teaches me to value others above myself, but to show Him that I believe what He said by respecting all humans as His image bearers (Philippians 2:3).  In addition, I can't just study about forgiveness and letting go of hurt, but I am called to make it a practice to extend the mercy and grace I am so freely given (Matthew 6:14-15).

When I take the option to do as God says, He will use me to bind wounds, soften hearts and promote healing.  In these ways my actions have resulted in life, with God getting all the glory for the great things He has done. 

   

I have the power to choose either life or death through my actions.

Heart

"I left my heart in San Francisco." Douglass Cross/Tony Bennett

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched--they must be felt with the heart."  Helen Keller

"Keep love in your heart.  A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead." Oscar Wilde

"Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eye." H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Everyone knows the heart is important; it determines my actions and sets the path for my feet.  If my heart is not in it, the work I do will not be my best.  

Samuel, the prophet and judge, learned how important the heart is to God when he was searching for the king who would replace the defiant Saul as the leader of Israel.  As he followed God's lead, travelling to Bethlehem in order to meet Jesse, he examined all of this man's fine-looking sons.  Judging by appearances, he determined the oldest as the one who must be God's chosen king.  Much to his dismay, however, God rejected each of the men until he got to the youngest, a lad named David who God saw as a man after His own heart  (Acts 13:22).

It is the heart that is important to God.  While I tend to size someone up based on their skills, abilities and stature, God pays attention to something of more value(1 Samuel 16:7).  Therefore, if I am to choose the way of life, I must also take note of the condition of my heart.  What do I treasure?  Who do I value?  How do I spend my time?  In what do I invest my money?  These are all questions that can help me determine where my heart is located (Matthew 6:19-21).  

If I'm more concerned with my bank account, making my own retirement of utmost importance, then my heart is rooted in the temporal.  If, however, I'm intent on using my financial resources to build God's kingdom, I'm treasuring the eternal.

If I hold my own rights as vital, then I'll jeopardize relationships and opportunities to give a testimony in order to defend my selfish interests.  If I replace that desire to uphold my own liberties with a regard for furthering the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I'll unveil my heavenly value system. 

If my focus is on pleasing myself and indulging in my own sensual desires, then I'll live a shallow life.  If, instead, I am centered on pleasing God and following His lead, my life will be rich and full.

I have the power to choose either life or death in the attitude of my heart.

God created His masterpieces with the ability to choose.  As a result, I must decide whether I'll pick life or death in the words I speak, the actions I take and the incline of my heart.  In these areas, it is my desire that I make the effort to choose life.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can remember the power of my words.

When do I speak carelessly, tearing myself or others down without a second thought?

How can I better honor God in the direction of my focus?

Originally posted on February 13, 2014

Who Are You Following?

"Childish leaders oppress my people,

and women rule over them.

O my people, your leaders mislead you;

they send you down the wrong road."

Isaiah 2:13 NLT

As a people, we are headed down the wrong path.  But who is leading us?  I must be careful whom I follow.

Complacency.  I'm pretty good.  I go to school, I don't do drugs, I don't hurt anyone, my life is pretty clean.  Sure I have this habit of looking at porn, but who doesn't?  I mean, it's natural to have these sexual desires.  At least I'm not acting on them.  And so goes the idolatry where I make up a god whose standard fits my lifestyle, justifying my sin no matter what it is in order to give myself a pass.  The problem is, if I were to reach out to a number of leaders in the American church today, I'd probably get a pass from them, too.  There are some sins that have become "acceptable" or at least are not seen as a problem, and others which are frowned upon.  Still, the underlying theme in the modern church is that we do not judge, and it's wrong to "restore that person gently" (Galatians 6:1).

This is the wrong path.  Sin is a serious enough problem that God saw fit to send His own Son to earth in order to die the death sinful mankind deserves to die (1 Peter 2:24).  In order to restore me into right relationship with Him, Jesus gave Himself over to the wickedness of man so that God's righteous justice could be satisfied on my behalf (Romans 3:24-26).  If He went to such lengths to free me from the bond that sin has on me, is it fitting that I give myself over to it again, as if His sacrifice meant nothing to me (Romans 6:12-18)?  Is this not making a mockery of the suffering He underwent on my behalf (Hebrews 10:29)?

I must not let anyone teach me to become complacent when it comes to sin for it contaminates my heart and leads me down the path that leads to destruction.

Compromise.  It sure would be easier just to let go of this one conviction.  If everyone else thinks this way so it can't be all that bad.  What's so wrong with loving another?  Even if it doesn't look like the traditional marriage union? I mean, want love to win.

It's hard to stand firm on Biblical beliefs when the world is painting sin as a loving act.  To challenge this belief, then, gives the impression that I am challenging love itself.  But "love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth" (1 Corinthians 13:6) and the truth of God's word clearly defines behavior which is fruit of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21).  To compromise with the world on this point, to conform to public opinion in order to keep on majority's good side, is to deny the truth of God's coming judgement.  For each human is "destined to die once, and after that to face judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). To make friends with any other belief regarding sin is to deny people the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ, to their eternal demise.

I must not let anyone lead me to believe that compromise with the world is a good thing, for there are many souls at stake.

Deception.  I don't need to repent, or even confess.  I'm already forgiven by faith in Jesus.  His blood covers my sins, past, present and future.  Therefore, I can walk in freedom knowing that I'm absolved of all guilt.  So goes the deceptive thinking of some believers today.  This gospel appeals to my sin nature because I can live the way I want but still buy into the "fire insurance," giving me the hope of heaven.  But is it truly the Good News Of Jesus Christ?

Simple belief in Jesus does not save me from the condemnation my sins deserve.  This faith must be accompanied by the act of turning away from the sin that separates me from God (Proverbs 28:13).  Sure, the blood of Jesus covers that sin so I can be presented as holy and righteous before Him, but His indwelling Spirit does not abide with continued and willful sin.  It grieves Him when I embrace that which sent Jesus to the cross.  This idea that "my sin is covered so I don't need to worry about sin" is a deceptive belief system that leads me to the wrong path, and I must constantly be on the lookout for it because it is everywhere in this society.  Instead, I must remember I'm a new creation, and not only have I been washed clean, but also set aside for His holy purposes and made right with Him so I could walk by His side (2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11).  To enter back into sinful living is to deny this Holy communion with Him (Romans 13:11-14).

I must not let anyone lead me to believe that sin is not a big deal.

There's not doubt about it, there are many deceptive beliefs floating around within circles of faith.  If I am to stay true to the Gospel of Jesus Christ as found in God's Word, I must not grow complacent, compromise, or fall into deception when it comes to sin.  Since these mind sets are so prevalent today, it is vital that I consider carefully who I follow.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can stay true to God's Word, letting it be the filter through which I sift all possible beliefs.

When do I buy into something just because it sounds right to me?

How to I give myself and others a pass when it comes to certain sins because they don't seem that bad?    

Seeking Love

"Whoever covers an offense seeks love,

but he who repeats a matter separates close friends."

Proverbs 17:9 ESV

Sin.  It ruined the world God created.  It destroys marriages, estranges mothers from daughters, fathers and sons, friends from friends.  It tears apart those who intended to stay together.  Living in a dark world in a body made of flesh, I've learned many destructive ways to cope, harmful methods of handling conflict, selfish approaches to living.  All of these damaging patterns are not what God intends for me.  They are sinful.  And they cause a rift between myself and those I love.

So how to deal with such sin?  It's an important issue since we're all sinners, either saved by the blood of Jesus or not.  Let's take a look at God's Word to find the answers we need.

Cover.  To forgive literally means "to cover."  When Jesus died the death meant for me, His blood atoned from my sins.  In other words, when God looks at me He no longer sees my sin but only the blood of Jesus cleansing me of all unrighteousness, covering over where I have fallen short.  Therefore, my Father is no longer offended by how I have transgressed His holy standard but is pleased by what His Son as done to make amends for such affronts.  My sin is covered and I go forward in forgiveness by faith in Jesus.

Now that I've been forgiven in such a way, walking in said forgiveness, I can pass this gift on to those I love (Ephesians 4:32, 1 Peter 4:8).  Instead of pointing out how they offended me, I can extend the blood of Jesus on to them, allowing His sacrifice to cover their sin so it no longer comes between us.  While it's easy to hold on to the way they hurt me, I can instead choose to let it go and refuse to hold their sin against them, not matter how hurtful.  I'm empowered to do this by the forgiveness Jesus delivered to me.  I could make my loved one pay for how they damaged my psyche with their offenses, or I could wipe their slate clean, offering to start anew because of what Jesus accomplished when He gave His life on the cross.

When sin threatens to destroy relationships, I can cover over these offenses with the blood of Jesus, rendering such transgressions as powerless to inflict further damage.

Offense.  It's easy for me to be offended by how others behave, especially when it comes to those I love.  They get under my skin, irritating me with their unwillingness to change, their annoying habits and difficult ways.  I build up a wall to protect myself from their destructiveness and I begin to think of myself as a little bit better than they.  After all, I think, at least I don't struggle with that, as I consider how foolish are their ways.

Unfortunately for me, I've forgotten just how sinful I am.  I've failed to recognize that I'm right there with them, wallowing in the muck of humanity, struggling with the same kind of sins.  I have put on blinders to how we share similar issues and instead mistakenly think I don't face such lowly tendencies.  I've fooled myself into thinking I'm above the sin when really I'm only forgiven from it and without the grace of God extended to me by faith in Jesus, I'm hopelessly broken and as bad off as the worst of the worst.  This humbling truth changes my perspective as I come down off of my high horse, allowing me to live in peaceful fellowship with those I love (1 John 1:7-9).

When sin threatens to destroy relationships, I must remember our commonality; that apart from Jesus we are all hopelessly broken and sinful people.

Gossip.  I have to admit, I gain a bit of satisfaction from talking about the way others have hurt me.  When I'm in pain, it seems the hurt subsides a bit when I can share how I've been slighted and get my frustrations off my chest.  Unfortunately, all I tend to do when in this selfish mindset is to spread gossip that works to drive a wedge between myself and the one I love who has offended me.

Gossip can come in many forms.  Sometimes its cloaked as a prayer request as in when I share how others can pray for my loved one who has sunk to such depths as to hurt me so.  I give too many details and speak with the intention of casting blame or pointing fingers, not desiring true healing.  Other times, I spread the news of how another has offended me, seeking to find support for my innocence instead of desiring the true reconciliation that would come with repentance and confession.  Then there are times when I take in the news shared by friends, turning the opportunity into an impromptu counseling session when I give all sorts of advice as to how they can fix their problem, stopping short of suggesting actually forgiveness.  Talking about the hurt that occurs in all relationships does nothing to solve the problem unless forgiveness is at its core.  

When sin threatens to destroy relationships, I must refrain from the temptation to gossip, keeping reconciliation through forgiveness as my constant goal.

Sin causes rifts in most loving relationships.  When it does raise it's ugly head I can wallow in the pain it causes, or I can choose the healing route.  When I stick to the path that leads to life, I'll seek to forgive, remember that I'm no better and often share similar struggles, and work toward reconciliation by avoiding gossip.  In these ways I'll be seeking love.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to stop holding on to hurts and instead extend forgiveness.

When do I gossip without even realizing it?

How am I part of the problem instead of part of the solution?  

     

Crippling Shame

"What, then, shall we say in response to these things?

If God is for us, who can be against us?

He who did not spare his own Son, 

but gave him up for us all--

how will he not also, along with him, 

graciously give us all things?

Who can bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?  It is God who justifies.

Who then is the one who condemns?

No One.

Christ Jesus who died

--more than that, who was raised to life-- 

is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?"

Romans 8:31-34

The lies float through my head.  You're no good.  You don't belong here.  Who do you think you are?  The guilt and shame flood over me and I wonder what I need to do to be good enough, to prove my worth, to earn my keep in God's kingdom.

Then I remember the sweet words of freedom from such oppression.  You are forgiven.  There is no end to this forgiveness (Psalm 103:12).  While your sins have stained you like scarlet, you are made white as snow through the blood of Jesus which covers your sins (Isaiah 1:18, Hebrews 9:14).  All I see is the perfection of Christ when I look at you;  I see the woman I created you to be (2 Corinthians 5:21, Philippians 3:9) .  Your are well-loved, my child, and nothing can change that (1 John 3:1, Ephesians 3:17-19, Romans 8:38-39).  Walk in My forgiveness made possible through My Son's sacrifice, now and forevermore.

So I begin this journey, walking and leaping and praising God.  I have been forgiven (Romans 4:7)!  I am forgiven (Ephesians 1:7).  I am free from condemnation (Romans 8:1).

If God has deemed me righteous by the blood of His Son, who can speak a word against me?  Who can say otherwise?  His word trumps all.

Now it's time for me to believe it.  Won't you join me, dear reader?

Let the words of "Drops in the Ocean" by Hawk Nelson wash over you, and believe.  When Jesus set you free, you are free, no matter what anyone says (John 8:36).

Go in peace, my friend.

Ministry of Forgiveness

"LORD, if you kept a record of our sins,

who, O Lord, could ever survive?

But you offer forgiveness,

that we might learn to fear you."

Psalm 130:3-4

Do you ever feel like we take God too lightly?  That as a people, we've somehow lowered Him to a position unworthy of His majesty?  That in our hunger for His companionship, we have made Him out to be a friend who is like our human friends?  It's not the idea of intimacy that bothers me.  Rather it's the casual way we view Him that doesn't seem quite right.  

When I came across this scripture, it stirred something inside, opened up a new layer of understanding, generated new questions to explore.  Won't you come along with me, dear reader?

Usually, I think that the forgiveness offered through faith in Jesus Christ results in thanksgiving and cultivates a grateful spirit.  I'm so glad that God forgives me through Christ, that He doesn't give me what I deserve, that I owe Him my life in return, a kind of sacrifice of praise in the way I live (Romans 6:23,12:1).  There is more, however, a deeper manifestation of forgiveness than I realized.

Inadequacy.  We all have sinned (Romans 3:23).  No one is good, not one (Ecclesiastes 7:20).  There is no man or woman, boy or girl, who has ever lived in all of history who was able to reach God's perfect standard.  Not the virgin Mary.  Not Mother Teresa.  Not Billy Graham.  No matter how well someone lives their life, each is still a sinful creature in desperate need of a Savior.

Once I understand and recognize my inability to be good enough to stand before a holy, righteous God in my own right, without the benefit of an advocate to argue my case, without the sanctifying cover of the blood of Jesus, I realize the depth of my sin problem.  The sin that is part of who I am, that I cannot help, that comes so naturally to me, is also the very thing that estranges me from the One who loves me perfectly, who has the power to make my life complete, who has what I've been searching for all my life.  But I, in myself, cannot survive His holy wrath if He chose to unleash upon me what I deserve from Him.  Even more, I cannot even come into His presence on my own to receive anything good from Him who is the source of all that is good (James 1:17).

Before I can receive the forgiveness of God through faith in Jesus Christ, I must come to a point of depravity, knowing my need for His pardon and my utter inability to earn it in any way.

Mercy.  Think about a world where I received what I truly deserved.  Sure, in my prideful way of thinking, I imagine that I have earned good things by the way I live my life, in the beneficial decisions that I make, in the generosity of my giving.  But my ability to judge my own behavior is tainted by sin, it is inaccurate to say the least.  Only God knows what I truly deserve.  And if He gave me what I earned through my twisted way of living, the destructive habits and patterns I've learned as a way of coping with this dark world, the self-centered method I've used to order my priorities, I'd be dead in a heartbeat.  If God really did keep a record of all my corrupt behaviors and mindsets, I would never leave a single day.

But there is a holding off of His righteous judgment until the appointed time, a grace period, an interval intentionally left between the sin I commit and the judgement I deserve.  This gap in time leaves room from the grace of God that is mine through faith in Jesus Christ.  Since it is my Father's will that all of His created image bearers come to a saving faith in Jesus, He graciously leaves time for each to come to repentance and accept the gift of mercy that comes by faith in Christ (2 Peter 3:9).

As I come to a recognition of my own depravity, I can then acknowledge God's merciful timing in holding off judgment to leave time for repentance.

Offer.  I see my need for a Savior, my own inability to save myself from the sin of my flesh.  I recognize God mercifully chooses to not judge me on the spot for how I've grieved Him, but gives time for all to come to Christ by faith.  Then I see the offer of salvation for what it is:  a gift of mercy by a merciful God.  It dawns on me that a thin yet powerful layer of blood separates me from the righteous wrath of God.  It becomes evident to me that my very flesh repulses God.  If it weren't for Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross, I'd have no hope of coming boldly before the throne of grace to freely receive all that I need to live for Him (Hebrews 4:16)

And the awe comes, the reverence for such a holy God who I am unable to see for His sacredness, the fear for a righteous God I don't deserve yet have freely been offered.  Who am I to kneel before Him?  How is it that I can speak to Him as if He were a good friend?  Why am I able to open my heart to Him as a beloved daughter to a Father?  As I ponder such mysteries, I offer back my reverence in response for such a God as this.

The dawning of my own need for a Savior, followed by gratitude for His merciful timing that allowed me to be found in my lostness, results in my astonishment of Him as a dangerous God from whose wrath I've been mercifully saved in order to be able to know Him as Papa.  Of this may I never forget.

It's easy to take sin casually in light of the forgiveness that is mine through faith in Christ.  It is equally as natural to start seeing God as if He were like man, able to be fully understood and thus like one of us.  There is an understanding that comes through forgiveness where I realize my own inadequacy, acknowledge God's merciful timing in holding off judgement, and offer back my reverence in response to the forgiveness that is mine through Christ.  This is the ministry of Forgiveness, not that I simply accept and be thankful, but that I come to a deeper understanding of His holy nature and righteous wrath.  He is a dangerous God who welcomes me into His refuge of mercy; of this I must always stand in awe.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that a spirit of respect and awe will grow for God.

When do I take the gift of forgiveness for granted, treating it as a cheap gift?

How am I living in a way that shows my disregard for God's holy nature?

   

Salvation that is in Vain

"Oh grant us help against the foe,

for vain is the salvation of man!"

Psalm 108:12 ESV

Humans are all around me and seem like the obvious choice to turn to for help.  I can see them, and many claim to possess the answers I need.  There are reasons, however, why this choice to turn to man is foolish.  Looking to a mere mortal for help is a worthless practice.

Busted.  Man has been found out.  The fallibility of humankind is evident.  No matter how much anyone claims to have all the answers, we, as a people, are busted and can't be trusted.  Humans have this problem that makes our line of thinking faulty, that skews our perspective, thus leaving any answers we come up with as filled with errors.  The issue common to every man, woman and child who ever lived?  Sin (Romans 3:23, Ecclesiastes 7:20).

My sin nature makes it impossible for me, or any other human, to give reliable advice 100% of the time.  The help I give or receive from others is always tainted by this fleshly imperfection.  While we may mean well, we just can't be trusted to know the best way to handle every situation, the escape route from trouble, or the purpose for pain.  As the psalmist wisely pointed out, "It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust man." (Psalm 118:8)

Even though man may have good intentions, it is foolish to turn to people for help.  When I don't know what to do, only God holds the road map for my life (James 1:5-7, Jeremiah 29:11).  When I feel everything is going wrong, only God sees the big picture and can show me how He's at work in my heart through the trouble (Psalm 46:1).  When I'm in despair, only God can give me hope for my future (Jeremiah 29:11).

God is perfect and 100% trustworthy, making Him my go-to Source for help.

Limited.  Man is created.  Everything I have is given to me from the Lord.  There is nothing I am, no feat I have achieved, no goal reached that is not enabled by Him, the Source of all good things.  I only have what I've been allowed to possess.

Since people are limited in what can be done, how much can be understood, and in point-of-view, help from man will reflect our finite nature (Psalm 146:3-4).  Due to the fact that my life is temporary, that I am only here for a season, any assistance I give or receive from others will be based on our limited scope that only takes the here and now into account.  While I may think myself wise, my wisdom is considered as foolish in the heavenlies (1 Corinthians 3:19).  Even though a powerful position may promise certain advantages in gaining assistance, it is limited at best and won't be able to deliver.

God is eternal, constant, and all powerful, making Him my unlimited Source for help.

No Authority.  I may feel secure if I have the assurance from a seat of power.  It may seem I'm immune from trouble if the leader give his promise of help.  If I call to the movers and shakers of my community in an appeal for help, I may feel on solid footing.  Unfortunately, any assistance they can give is in vain in the face of a sovereign God.

When Jesus stood before Pilate, standing silent regarding His accuser's claims, Pilate tried to understand why this prisoner would not defend Himself, frustrated that Jesus didn't seem to recognize his authority to condemn or grant pardon.  Jesus finally said, "You would have no power over me at all unless it were give to you from above." (John 19:11a)

No matter how things seem, man just doesn't have the authority to help in the way I need.  Only God can grant freedom from the punishment I deserve through faith in Christ.  Only God can empower me to live as I was meant to live in relationship with Him.  Only God can propel me forward through the valley of the shadow of death as I walk with Him.  Man has no ability to do such wonders for me.

God is righteous and holy, making Him my only salvation.

It's easy to turn to man for help.  I am constantly bombarded with claims of relief, support or assistance that comes from man. Turning to people for salvation, however, is a practice that is in vain.   It is only God who is able to give trustworthy, consistent help.  He is my only hope and His salvation is not in vain!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God to deliver me from trouble.

When do I look for help in what I see, instead of in the unseen?

How am I drawn to the temporary fix of man?

   

All God's Benefits

"Let all that I am praise the LORD;

may I never forget the good things he does for me."

Psalm 103:2 NLT

While it is hard to follow Jesus in a culture than runs counter to His teachings, there is much good that comes from this relationship.  There are many advantages I've been given through this bond.  Have I redeemed these benefits?

Forgiveness.  I feel tainted, guilty, burdened by my failures, wrong decisions, and mess-ups.  Even though I know in my head I'm free from condemnation from such transgressions, my heart feels doomed, like I'm a convict awaiting my sentence (Romans 8:1).  

In truth, I've been absolved of all crimes against God and His perfect standards.  Even though I often choose my own way instead of His, I'm cleared of receiving what I deserve.  Despite the fact that I'm drawn to what I think of as the right choice that is in reality not God's best for me, I'm pardoned from the death sentence this kind of living earns me (Romans 6:23).

Forgiveness, true cleansing from the dirty stain of the sin that comes so natural to me, is mine.  While all the ways I fall short, all my missteps and attempts at coping and living according to my methods and ideas have made me guilty as sin, the blood of Jesus has cleansed me as white as snow (Isaiah 1:18).  When God looks at me, He no longer sees my sin but only the holiness of Jesus.  What do I see when I look at myself?

Have I redeemed the benefit of the forgiveness of God that Jesus' death on the cross secured for me?

Healing.  I belong to Jesus, this I know.  I'm a part of His family and glad to find such belonging there (1 John 3:1).  Still, there is this brokenness inside, this inability to move forward in my faith, this constant, nagging feeling of incompleteness in my soul.  Past hurts plague me like an insidious cancer, growing bigger and bigger until they consume me.  I find myself unable to relate to the love of Jesus or reciprocate this love in any way because there is something wrong in my heart.

"Do you want to get well?" It was a strange question for the Healer to ask the invalid who had lain at the healing waters of the pool of Bethesda for years, obviously seeking freedom from his disability (John 5:6).  Of course he wants to be healed, the onlookers must have thought, why else would he be in this place, hoping to be the first into the angel-stirred restorative waters?  

Turns out, it was a valid question and one I must ask myself.  Do I want to be free from what ails me, or do I gain some measure of satisfaction from the misery in which I find myself?  Is my identity so wrapped up in my physical or emotional pain that I subconsciously think I'd lose myself if I became well?  Do I somehow enjoy feeling sorry for myself or reap some kind of warped benefit from my brokenness?

Wholeness and fullness-of-life is mine through faith in Christ, for this is why He came, to give me the abundant life (John 10:10).  If I choose to live with my infirmities, preferring to feel self-pity and see myself as the unfortunate one, or even afraid of who I would be apart from my comfortable and familiar soul-sickness, I am not receiving the whole gift Jesus died to offer me.

Have I redeemed the benefit of healing that is mine through faith in Jesus Christ?

Redemption.  The redemptive power of God is astounding.  He takes the bad within us and exchanges it for something eternally precious.  He transforms what was meant for evil into something astoundingly good.  He is able to take the worst thing that ever happened to me and somehow turn it into the best, most life-changing experience of my life (Romans 8:28, Isaiah 61:3).  

Have I welcomed this redemptive force into my life, or do I tend to focus on the negative, failing to see all the good God is bringing out of it?  Part of faith is believing God will act according to His redemptive nature, doing as He has promised He will do, even when things seem impossibly bad and irreversibly lost.  In Christ, there is always hope.  In Christ, I have the expectation of a God who is doing something new today (Isaiah 43:18-19).  In Christ, I can walk forward into the darkness with confidence, knowing that God, the Light himself, is there waiting to illuminate my path.

Have I redeemed the benefit of His redemptive power at work in my life through faith in Jesus Christ?

It's easy to claim a relationship with Jesus Christ but fail to receive all He has to give.  He offers complete forgiveness of all my sins, past present and future.  Healing is mine so that I can live in fullness of life.  Not only is my life redeemed, but He uses His redemptive power to transform the ugly into the beautiful.  Have I redeemed these benefits?  If not, today is the day to cash in and start living as God means me to live; fully forgiven, healed of all brokenness and with the hope that comes in His redemption.    

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to confidently walk through the fire knowing that God will use it for my good.

How am I stuck in my sorrow, choosing pity instead of healing?

When do I feel weighed down with the guilt of my sin when Jesus freed me from such a burden?  

The Result of Negligence

"My sons, do not be negligent now,

for the LORD has chosen you to stand 

before him and serve him,

to minister before him and to burn incense."

2 Chronicles 29:11

The Levites had forsaken their temple duties.  As a result, there was nowhere for the people to offer sacrifices and find God's forgiveness.  In response, King Hezekiah exhorted them to return to their calling.

I, too, have forsaken my purpose in many ways.  How can I refresh this calling on my life?  After all, I am chosen for more than this.  

Presence.  He gave up everything to deliver it.  This sacrifice ended with the ultimate giving of Himself.  As if it weren't enough to humble himself to the point of entering into His own creation as a lowly man, He went so far as to offer Himself as the final, perfect sacrifice.  In so doing, the veil that existed between a holy God and the people He loves was permanently torn, offering an opportunity for all to enter into His presence.

Since Jesus went through so much so that I can boldly approach the throne of grace, why do I so often choose to stand alone in life (Hebrews 4:14-16)?  My heart hurts when I am tossed aside as if I don't matter, treated like dirt or trampled on.  Instead of casting all my burdens upon Him, I attempt to carry them myself (1 Peter 5:6-7).  

Sometimes I feel so unworthy, noticing all the ways I fall short and thinking that defines me.  As a result, I tend to avoid the God who treasures the bond we share, turning away from His piercing eyes.  When I do so, I am forgetting how the blood of Jesus transforms my identity into a forgiven child who is always welcomed by my heavenly Father, no matter how I feel (Isaiah 1:18,1 John 3:1, John 1:12).

Other times I buy into the idea that God helps me only if I make a sincere effort to solve my own problems, work toward my own deliverance, or attempt to provide for myself (Psalm 46:1).  Unfortunately, I end up minimizing the sacrifice Jesus made in order to deliver me into His kingdom where I have a Father who has a plan for my life, is powerful enough to save me from any danger, and is faithful to give me all that I need (Jeremiah 29:11,Psalm 46:1,Matthew 6:31-33).

When I'm negligent in my calling as a precious child of God, I miss out on all the benefits of dwelling in His presence.

Minister.  He came not to condemn, but to save the world (John 3:17).  He was drawn to the weak, the overlooked, the forgotten (John 5:1-9, Luke 8:43-48).  His love drove Him to reach out to those society shunned (Luke 19:1-10, Matthew 8:1-4).

As one who is saved from certain death and ushered into an eternal kingdom by the blood of Jesus, I am called to do the same as my namesake (John 14:12-14).  Through Jesus, I see those the world walks on by.  Instead of joining in, I stop and take notice, showing love to the homeless man digging through the garbage, or the child abandoned by his parents, or the elderly wasting away in a forgotten corner of the home.  Because of Jesus in me, I am drawn to the hurting, going toward the pain and advancing when everyone else retreats.

When I am negligent in my calling to love, I rob the world of the compassion and charity of God it so desperately needs.

Offerings.  "Fool me once, shame on you.  Fool me twice, shame on me."  I've heard this saying enough to take on the meaning behind it as the gospel truth.  In fact, if I've lived in the world for any amount of time, I realize this is its mantra.  Forgiveness is a rare commodity in such an environment.

While the world says to guard myself against others' behavior, Jesus taught the opposite.  In His economy, extending mercy is more important than protecting my rights.  Offering forgiveness surpasses the tendency to guard against being taken advantage of.  Showing grace is better than sticking up for myself.

Sometimes, I am the conduit through which the forgiveness of God flows into the cold, hard world.  If I fail to forgive as I have been forgiven, my neighbor may never taste such a rarity.  If I don't let go of the way I've been hurt, my accuser may never experience the kindness of God which is so foreign to him.  If I insist on standing up for myself, my opponent may never see what it's like to be accepted right where she is, in the middle of her sin.

When I am negligent in my calling to forgive, I fail to model the mercy and grace on which I depend.

In the same way that the Levites negligence effected the entire nation of Judah, my own disregard for my calling as a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ has a ripple effect on myself and those around me.  When I fail to dwell in God's presence, minister to a hurting world, and provide offerings of God's mercy and grace, the consequences are far-reaching.  I am called to more than just an existence.  I am called to be Jesus to a world who needs Him.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can dwell in God's presence.

When do I attempt to do things in my own strength instead of letting God provide what I need?

How do I withhold the very grace and mercy upon which I depend?