Natural Consequences

"Listen, all the earth!

I will bring disaster on my people.

It is the fruit of their own schemes,

because they refuse to listen to me.

They have rejected my word."

Jeremiah 6:19 NLT

As I read through the Old-Testament prophecies, I keep noticing a reoccurring theme:  God holds His people accountable for their faithlessness, their hypocrisy, their hard-heartedness.   He disciplines those He loves in order to bring them back to Him. Just because they were chosen by God to be His own precious possession does not exempt them from experiencing the consequences of their wayward actions.  And I have to wonder, how did their ungodly behavior, attitudes and beliefs influence the surrounding nations, the climate of the times, the culture as a whole?  And how did their destructive sway incite God's holy anger for the sake of His hallowed name?

Is it any different today?  Yes, those who have turned from sin and committed their lives to Jesus by faith fall under God's grace and are protected from the wrath of God's judgement for the sin that comes so naturally (Romans 5:9).  Yet I am called to holiness as His child (1 Peter 1:15-16).  I am to be a positive influence as the salt of the earth.  I am to shine the light of righteousness into the dark world (Matthew 5:13-16).  But I look at the culture around me and see my country falling apart.  We are in a bad way.  It's easy for me to blame the lost for the moral decline, for God taking His hand of blessing off our land.  Maybe I should instead be looking in the mirror to find who is to be held accountable for such deterioration.

Fruit.  I expect good things to flow into my life.  After all, I've given my life to Jesus, identifying myself as a Christian.  Doesn't that mean God's favor falls upon me, that my life will be filled with blessing as I align myself with the source of all beneficial and perfect gifts (James 1:17)?  Or does my habit of doing what comes naturally, of letting my own selfish desires serve as my greatest influence, of sowing seeds of my own sin nature that produces fruit of the flesh that is contrary to God's best block His flow of blessing(Galatians 6:7, 5:16-17)?

It's easy to blame God or others when my life is filled with prickly brambles instead of luscious bounty.  I may be constantly plagued by lust, drawn into confrontations with others, seem to be a magnet for trouble, envious of the lives of others that seem so much better, driven my a passion to make my mark in the world.  Instead of peace in my heart there's dissension, irritation replaces joy, coldness is in place of God's love, and harshness substitutes for gentleness.  Is this the life Jesus died to deliver (John 10:10)?  But it's not Jesus that's the problem, it's me.  I'm only getting what's coming to me as I neglect holiness, purity, humility, and a Kingdom-focus in order to cultivate my own sin-nature. And my country suffers as I fail to live as salt and light so others can see what He's doing in my life and give praise to Him (Matthew 5:16).

When I fail to walk by the Spirit, I negatively influence the world around me with the fruit of my own flesh (Galatians 5:19-20).

Stubbornness.  I want God's blessing more than anything.  I many times profess that His blessing is on me, that God is in control so I don't have to worry about a thing, that He's got my back.  Yet I willfully refuse to listen to what He's speaking to my heart, the bad habits He gently asks me to give up, the wrong attitudes of which He convicts me, the past I cling to like a snugly blanket. As a result, I don't live out my faith.  It doesn't reach any further than my lips, becoming only empty words I say but refuse to live out.

Instead, what if I lived my faith out loud?  What if I submitted to God, taking His messages to heart, refusing to defend myself or give excuses for why I won't let go of what is harmful?  What if I let down the walls I've erected to protect my own fleshly identity and allow God to give me a new one that is based on His love for me?  What if I let Him change the way I think (Romans 12:2)?  What a wonderful world that would be!

When I fail to listen to what God speaks to me, I negatively influence the world around me by sticking to my own stubborn ways.

Defiance.  I look for a better way, a path that won't offend others so much, one that is easier and will make me popular, that doesn't require me to change.  I spend a lot of time listening to sermons, reading God's Word and talking to other believers about deep topics, but I think I'm okay the way I am, or I'm afraid to go under the scalpel of the Great Physician, or I've talked myself into believing I'm not ready to endure the hand of the Master Potter.  Maybe tomorrow, I think.  Meanwhile, I continue to live as I've always lived, content in my wayward ways.

As a disciple of Jesus I'm meant to undergo transformation as my thoughts, attitudes and perspective are replaced with His.  If I choose to stick to my own, rejecting the truth of God's Word as irrelevant as justification to feel comfortable in my old skin, I'm not really His disciple.  Instead, I'm a rebel who is trampling on God's own Son, making a mockery of the sacrifice He made in coming to earth as a man and dying on the cross (Hebrews 10:29).  And how does my refusal to take up my own cross, my burden of suffering that is bound to come from following Him, negatively influence the world around me?  If I won't even deny my own self-interests in order to see the lost through my Father's eyes, how can I expect to be His ambassador(Matthew 16:24, 2 Corinthians 5:20)?  And how many people who need Jesus will not be introduced to Him because I'm so intent on living my own way?

When I fail to let God change me from the inside out, I negatively influence the world around me by robbing it of a much-needed representative of Christ.

I look around me at the moral decline and the climate of negativity and divisiveness and I want to blame others.  I think the decisions made by the powers to be are bringing God's righteous wrath upon the nation as a whole.  Yet I fail to see how my own lifestyle is dragging His holy name through the mud.  I am reaping fruit of the flesh, stubbornly refusing to listen to His offensive-to-my-flesh Word, and defiantly choosing my way over His.  In all these ways I'm the one responsible for the mess around me.  If I lived as I was called to live, God could use me to influence things for the better.  May I take the time to repent of my wayward ways and realize what I'm seeing around me is a natural consequence for the actions of God's people.  The future is in our hands so lets not waste any time.  Today is the day to repent and start living for Christ!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can realize I don't live in a vacuum, that my actions affect the culture in which I live.

How do I fail to see the part I'm playing in bringing this country down?

How would it change everything if every professing Christian served as His ambassador, appealing to the world to come back to God?       

    

Effective Word

"The rain and snow come down from the heavens

and stay on the ground to water the earth.

They cause the grain to grow,

producing seed for the farmer

and bread for the hungry.

It is the same with my word.

I send it out,

and it always produces fruit.

It will accomplish all I want it to,

and it will prosper wherever I send it."

Isaiah 55:10-11 NLT

I think I must explain it effectively, speak fluidly and persuasively, use proven techniques and remember key points.  I am afraid to share the story of Jesus because I think I must have all the answers, be able to quote scripture and know how to reason with intellectuals.  I shrink away from engaging others with the Good News of Jesus Christ because I feel ill-equipped or am afraid of looking foolish.

But so many all around me are lost and cannot find their way to the one path that leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14).  I know the Way and can introduce them to the Gate that provides entrance into the everlasting Kingdom of God (John 14:6, John 10:9).  If I were to let God do what He does best with His Own Word, I might become bold in proclaiming His truths.  If I were to realize that God's Word never fails to produce good fruit, how would that change my outlook?

Messenger. All he had to do was deliver a message, making sure it got to the intended recipient.  Once he handed off the note, his job was done. It was not the courier's responsibility to make sure the addressee understood the content of the letter, or that he did what was being asked of him.  His only concern was that he get the note to the right person.

While I may not be a courier, I am a messenger of sorts.  God sent the most wonderful love letter to mankind through the life, death, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:8).  My job is to tell the story, to shine the light, to point to Him.  And the best part of all is that I don't need to be an expert in theology or human psychology, figuring out how to deliver the Gospel in a way appropriate for each individual person, so that each will respond favorably.  Instead, I can rely on the indwelling Spirit of God to give me the words to say, the angle to take, the message that will most touch every image bearer (Luke 12:12).  It is up to Him to draw people to Jesus, and my role is that of the willing messenger delivering the words meant specifically for each one (John 6:44).

My role as a follower of Jesus Christ is that of a willing messenger who delivers His powerful Word in His perfect time.

Faithful.  "Every word of God proves true" (Proverbs 30:5).  Every word printed on the pages of my Bible are accurate and sound, shown to be factual and correct.  Therefore, I can trust scripture implicitly, without a bit of worry that I'm believing fallacy or being hoodwinked into placing my faith in something that is untrustworthy.  I can stake my life on the message found within Holy Scripture.

This means I cannot improve on the Word of God.  Instead of thinking I need to come up with a snappy catchphrase or a more relevant message, I can stay true to God's message found in the Bible.  After all, Timothy reminds me that all scripture is quite useful for many godly purposes.  It "is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives.  It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.  God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT).  Therefore, there is no greater preparation for sharing the Good News of Jesus than to study His Word, and there is no more powerful tool than scripture to convict the guilty conscience and drive sinners to the foot of the cross to find grace and mercy.  God's own Word always brings about the outcome He intends.  

My role as a follower of Jesus Christ is that of a willing messenger who stays true to His faithful Word that never fails to produce fruit.

Humility.  I get to know others and think I need to come up with a plan for how to lead others to salvation.  I analyze their lives and try to discern where their greatest need is.  I watch how the lost live and desperately try to rescue them from their troubles.  All along, however, I forget to consult the One who holds the blueprint for each life.

It is important that I stay completely dependent upon the Spirit of God to lead me at just the right time, in just the right way, with just the right message.  If I try to go out on my own, running ahead for fear that I may miss my opportunity, the words I say will fall flat or hit concrete, failing to penetrate the heart.  This is because God has not yet prepared the way, softened the heart, opened the ears.  Only He knows what it will take for each of us, and only He knows what it is He wants to accomplish in every life.  Therefore, it is vital that I stay humble and not assume I know the best way to approach anyone.

My role as a follower of Jesus Christ is that of a willing messenger who stays true to His faithful Word and maintains a humble heart wholly dependent upon Him (Psalm 51:10).

God's Word is powerful.  When I get the idea that I must be a Bible scholar who is proficient in giving moving speeches and answering every possible question, I am placing my faith in my own intellect.  Instead, I must realize the inherent power found in every Word that comes from God's own mouth.  When I do, I will walk forward in faith, letting Him give me the appropriate words for every situation, staying true to His message and sensitive to His lead, and acting according to His plan, not mine.  When I live in such a way, I will discover for myself the effectiveness of God's own Word!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God to speak through me instead of trying to come up with a snappy word of my own.

When do I shy away from sharing the Gospel instead of letting God use me for His purposes?

How am I starving myself of the sustenance that is found in God's Word?  

    

Inflexibile

"The words of the wise are like goads,

their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails--

given by one Shepherd.

Be warned, my son,

of anything in addition to them."

Ecclesiastes 12:11-12

God's Word, His standard, is firm.  Either I adjust my line of thinking, my values, my way of living to line up with His, or I stubbornly insist on my own, placing myself in opposition to God.  He will not transform to meet my beliefs or desires, or to change with the times.

God's Word is infallible and immutable; if I try to alter it to justify my actions or ease my conscience I'll find it impossible as His Word is firmly rooted in placed.  In addition, the wisdom found there will prod me on in my walk with Christ, teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16-17) while separating what thoughts and attitudes belong and which don't (Hebrews 4:12).  Yes, the wisdom from God is quite inflexible.  What does this mean for me?

One Author.  Sheep generally respond only to their own shepherd's voice.  They also submit to his discipline, instinctively knowing he is there for their protection and has their best interests at heart.  Therefore, when he pulls out the goad, that pointy stick to prod them on, they respond not just because it's sharp point hurts their skin, but because they are under his authority.

Likewise, I am a sheep who is under the authority of my Shepherd (John 10:11-16).  He is the only One who created the standard for my life, and only through Jesus do I find forgiveness for my offenses against His criterion (Ephesians 1:7).  When I try to accept other teachings that sound good to me and ease my conscience, I am straying from my Shepherd's intention for my life, from His best for me.  This is quite an offense to my Creator and my Redeemer.  Therefore, any wisdom or beliefs that don't line up with His must be tossed away as rubbish.

The only beliefs I must pay attention to are the ones that come from my Shepherd.

Judge.  In this day and age of relativism, I am always hearing the phrase, "Don't judge."  While it's true I must refrain from questioning a godly activity, lifestyle or decision a brother or sister has embraced or made, it is vital that I judge the actions of others as a way of discerning what is godly and what is not (Matthew 7:3-6).  

The act of assessing that one's actions do not line up with scripture is a part of living in community with others (Galatians 6:1).  God may prompt me to gently restore a fellow believer who has strayed, or my judgement may lead me to share the Gospel with the lost as I observe the lifestyle that can only be kept by the unbeliever.  Either way, it is vital that I discern which behavior is as a result of keeping in step with God's Spirit, and which is because one is doing what comes naturally (Galatians 5:19-23), not so I can lord it over anyone.  Rather, so I can either tenderly bring a wanderer back or boldly reveal the Way of life to the lost.

The only judging I take part in is the discernment that reveals the need so I can point the offender to Christ.

Fruit.  There is an overload of information available at my fingertips.  When I am curious about something, I can search for the answers I need.  If I need more insight, I can look up word meanings or find the root of it's use.  When I want to understand another's beliefs, a plethora of background information is available to help me delve into their point of view.

As I study, I have noticed different responses within myself to different sources.  When I dive deep into God's Word I gain insight into how to apply certain passages to my own life and find peace as I adjust to God's best for me.  Other times I experience relief as I discover that destructive habits contrary to God's intentions were the source of some of the pain in my life.  There is much good that comes from studying the Bible.  

On the other hand, when I learn about Metaphysical Humanism or Buddhism or other worldviews that stray from God's wisdom, I feel a confusion and weariness as I try to comprehend such beliefs.  In addition, I often am overwhelmed when faced with such knowledge that is in stark contrast to God's.  The outcome of or response to my research indicates from where the knowledge comes.  

As I study, the fruit of my studies often reveals the source.

While the world tells me the times are changing and I need to adjust accordingly, God does not take this same approach.  Instead, His wisdom as found in the Bible is firmly set.  When I accept His Word as the one standard by which all mankind will be judged, I realize the deep need each of us has for a Savior who can deliver us from such condemnation and offer us forgiveness instead.  As I step into His grace, then, I must agree that His way is the only way so that I'll reject any other beliefs, be ready to judge that which does not come from His Spirit, and be sensitive to the fruit that comes from my studies as an indication of it's source.  When I do, I'm acknowledging how inflexible God's Word is, and adjust accordingly.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can remain flexible in my beliefs, open to God's teaching throughout my life.

When do I refuse to let go of old beliefs that don't line up with God's?

How am I afraid to judge the actions of another, denying them the saving grace they need through Christ?

Common Misconception

"If they obey and serve him,

they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity

and their years in contentment.

But if they do not listen,

they will perish by the sword and die without knowledge."

Job 36:11-12

She was hurting, wounded by a failed marriage that was not at all what she imagined it would have been when she first walked down the aisle.  The abuse and unfaithfulness left her feeling like a shell-of-a-woman.  She cried out to God, "Is this the abundant life Jesus died to give me (John 10:10b)?"

I can't blame my friend for being disappointed in the way her life has turned out.  While she does have hope in Christ, she wonders what kind of benefit there is for her faithfulness to God.  How has her love for Him brought about this prosperity and blessing she's always reading about in His Word (Proverbs 3:1-2)?

Elihu wondered the same thing about Job:  If he's been so devoted to God and His ways, why is He suffering so?

When God says I can be like a tree planted by streams of water if I delight in His law, prospering in all I do, what does that mean (Psalm 1:1-3)?  Does it mean my life will be free from trouble and I'll be wealthy and pampered?  Or is there something more to this promise?

Fruit.  The pile of vines were stacked near the curb, ready for pick-up.  Even though they had produced quite a few blackberries the year before when they covered the back part of our yard, this year I had declared war on these insidious bushes and vowed to wipe them out.  Consequently, I spent every morning for two weeks digging out roots, cutting shoots, and dragging the vines to the street.  Now, the wilting plants produced nothing as they lay apart from their source of nutrients and water.  Without being rooted in the ground, these blackberry vines were worthless.

It's the same with me, Jesus tells me in John 15.  If I'm connected to Him, the source of all that I need, I will bear much fruit.  Apart from Him, there is nothing worthwhile that I'll be able to accomplish, no matter how hard I try.  I can work hard in service to the Lord, but if I'm not doing it with Him, it won't make an eternal difference.

This means the fruit is more important than the location of the vine.  As long as the plant is rooted in Christ, a crop will be yielded.  In other words, no matter my circumstances, God will use me for good when I'm connected to Christ.  It doesn't depend on how comfortable my life is, whether or not its free from suffering, or if it lines up with my expectations.  I will bear fruit if I'm abiding in Jesus.  In the pit.  During the trial.  In the midst of the pain.  Fruit will come.

I will prosper in fruit production when I stay connected to Christ, even through the trial.

Strong Roots.  I worried about the little sapling, newly planted and exposed to the elements.  The wind blew and blew, hammering the little tree.  I wondered if this would hamper it's growth or damage it in any way.  What I learned was that hardship stimulates strong root growth.  The harsher the environment, the more the tree will adapt and become tough.

This is like me, as well.  When I go through hard times, suffering much, my faith will grow.  If my faith only remains in my head, never tested out by facing tough, real-life issues, I'll never know if it's real.  It could just be words I say, or phrases I repeat, or truths I know.  

When I choose to wait on the Lord and I find new strength, or I when exchange my worry for prayer and experience an unfathomable peace flooding my soul, or when I believe God will get me through even though I don't see how it will work out, my faith grows stronger (Isaiah 40:28-31, Philippians 4:6-7, 2 Corinthians 5:7).  As I test out His promises and see them deliver time and time again, I'm able to trust Him even more.

My faith develops strong roots when I trust God throughout my life, no matter how hard times get.

Kingdom Prosperity.  I want it now.  I expect to see my reward in the here and now.  Since I live in a fast-food type of economy, I'm used to instant gratification.  The thing about God's kingdom is, my true treasure is being stored up in heaven.  This is delayed gratification at its best!

When I read about all the giants of faith in Hebrews 11, I find out that many of them did not receive what they were promised in this life (Hebrews 11:13-16).  Instead, they died waiting.  What's  up with that?  That seems unfair!  

In reality, they understood God's economy: The real treasure is yet to come!  There is nothing on this earth that can compare to what God has in store for us.  Staying true to Him, standing firm during the storm, keeping my faith strong will bring about rewards I cannot fathom.  It will be well worth my time to stay faithful to Him in this life, even if it seems it's not doing me any good.  In the end, when I enter into my eternal home lit by the glory of God, I'll be glad I waited to receive my blessing.

That's not to say there won't be good things to taste while here, but I had better be looking in the right place to receive those blessings.  I can't expect God to work within the parameters of this world, giving what is valued here.  While He can bless with money and material goods, that is not the true benefit for us.  For His children, He would rather give more valuable treasures like a rich, meaningful life with a purpose, the assurance of dwelling in the security of a perfect love, and the peace that only comes through Christ (Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 8:38-39, John 14:27).

Prosperity in God's kingdom is quite different than I may expect, but much more valuable.

I often get it wrong, falling prey to a common misconception as I expect my life to follow a certain path as long as I'm true to God.  In reality, God has His own economy and His idea of success is quite different from mine.  Therefore, I must expect fruit production when I stay connected to Christ, development of strong faith, and kingdom prosperity as a result of my faithfulness.  This is so much better than what I first thought would be mine if I stay loyal to God.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can look for my kingdom blessings instead of worldly ones.

When do I get disappointed because Jesus doesn't give as the world does?

How am I looking for the wrong kind of blessing?

No Exchanges

"If what they vowed is an animal that is acceptable

as an offering to the LORD,

such an animal given to the LORD becomes holy.

They must not exchange it

or substitute a good one for a bad one,

or a bad one for a good one;

if they should substitute one animal for another,

both it and the substitute become holy."

Leviticus 27:9-10

A friend recently told me about an experience she had in selling a piece of exercise equipment.  The potential buyer saw her ad on the classified advertising website and arranged to see the item.  Once he examined the equipment thoroughly and asked numerous questions, the man offered to pay a price that was about half the asking price.  When my friend and her husband stood firm, he kept attempting to negotiate.  Finally, when he could see there was no wiggle room, he agreed to pay the quoted fee and they loaded the purchase into the new owner's vehicle.

After a couple of days, my friend's phone rang.  When she answered it, she was dismayed to hear the voice of this same man, asking if he could return the equipment.  She firmly stated that the sale had been final; no returns accepted!

As puzzling as this experience was, I often do the same thing as this waffling customer.  Instead of wavering on a purchase, though, I try to exchange God's way for my own.  The Lord, however, takes me at my word.  Once I give my life to Jesus Christ and vow to follow Him all the days of my life, He expects me to stand by my decision.  God accepts no substitutes or exchanges when it comes to the way I live.

Worship

They spent much time raising their hands in praise, singing with all their might and swaying back and forth to the music.  The strains of the chorus moved the people, touching their hearts and invoking a spirit of worship.  The love they felt for God was so strong that many felt motivated to reach out to a lost world so they too could know such affection.  As soon as they walked out the door of the church, however, the emotion was gone and they went back to living for themselves.

This may be what the average American Christian thinks about worship and it also could describe what most of us experience on Sunday mornings.  God, however, intended so much more for His children.

Instead of worship being a once-a-week experience, He created us to live in relationship with Him.  The Lord wants me to dedicate all that I am to Him, giving Him full access to my life and desiring Him to have dominion.   He gave His all to me by offering His own precious Son as a sacrifice so that I could avoid the punishment I deserve.  In return, He asks me for my life. (Romans 12:1) 

There is nothing I can substitute for this kind of worship.  When I try, it falls flat and God is not impressed.  I can spend my life reaching out to the homeless, or running a non-profit organization that cares for children in need, or faithfully attending church every time the doors are open, but if my heart is not fully devoted to the Lord, wanting only His will for my life, then it means nothing to Him.  If I only desire His presence and if sitting at His feet is what truly completes me, I have found what it means to give my life as a living sacrifice. It is then that I will find nothing short of knowing and obeying Him fully will be what satisfies me.  

Many times, however, I try to worship my way.  I raise my hands once a week then continue to live in the way that pleases me.  I watch shows that are an offense to what God has taught me as being right, I take part in activities where I compromise godly values, and I speak words and think thoughts that offend a holy God.  

To make up for my way of life, I attend weekly prayer meetings, take part in outreach ministries, or teach children on a regular basis, thinking these offerings will atone for all the ways I allow sin into my life. (Isaiah 1:10-17) Instead, the only kind of worship God desires is a broken heart that is willing to turn away from the sinful ways which displease Him. (Psalm 51:17)  Jesus paid a painful price for my transgressions: Should I treat sin so lightly? (Isaiah 53:5)

When Jesus paid the price for my sins and I accepted His gift of salvation, my life became His. (1 Corinthians 6:20)  Instead of living for myself, then, a true act of worship is to give my life to Him to do with as He pleases.

Salvation

The unmerited favor of God.  Salvation from eternal damnation.  The free gift of eternal life.  The restoration of my broken relationship with God.  There are many aspects to the gift of salvation that come through faith in Jesus Christ.  Whatever it is I gain, however, I can be sure it is not based on anything I have done or could do.  Instead, it is purely a result of God's great love for me.  (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Even though I may know I am saved by grace, not by works, this principle may not have sunken in and taken hold of my heart.  I know this because I often try to exchange this simple truth with something more complicated.  I feel obligated to follow this law or that one, thinking that will get me right with God.  I try to make up for my sin by doing what I consider to be an equal amount of good works in order to get back on God's good side.  I don't feel good enough so I attempt to increase my sense of decency by taking on important ministries.  Along the way, I forgot that I am saved by grace.

Doing things will never get me right with God.  Instead, it is the blood of Jesus that makes me clean, pure and holy in His righteous eyes. (1 John 1:7) When He looks at me, then, He doesn't see my sin, my mess-ups and my failures.  In the place of my sin, all He sees is the perfection of His holy Son.

Therefore, I am free to live in tandem with the God who loves me, knowing that my sin has been paid for.  I need not be weighed down by guilt, shame or regret.  In its place, I can live the life God has meant me to live as I pay attention to His loving Hand which guides me down the path of righteousness.  (Psalm 23:3)

When Jesus earned my salvation through His death on the cross, He made a way to free me from condemnation.  Instead of trying to earn God's favor, then, I must never forget the price Jesus paid to set me free.

Fruit

My friend's tree was producing fruit that was sour and inedible.  She worked hard to fertilize, mulch and water it, hoping the fruit would improve.  Unfortunately, she ended up pulling the tree out and taking it back to the nursery for a refund.  Nothing she did could make this tree produce good fruit.

It's much the same with me.  Once I've accepted Christ as my Savior, I've been given the gift of God's Spirit living inside of me.  When I live in tandem with Him, responding to His promptings and cooperating with His guidance, there will be evidence of His work in my life.  I will notice compassion welling up inside, compelling me to reach out to the hurting all around me.  Where once I only experienced strife and chaos, peace now rules.  Instead of the usual harsh attitude, I will discover a new-found lightness. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Even though I have the benefit of God's indwelling Spirit, I still live in my fleshly body.  Therefore, the Spirit of God is at odds with my natural desires that pull me so strongly away from Him.  When I give in to what my sin nature desires, I will find the old fruit showing up again.  Hatred and bitterness will burn within, giving me a cynical outlook.  My heart will feel discontent, tempting me to look away from God to find satisfaction, maybe to food, men or success as the focus of my lust.  Or I will once again find impatience well up within me as I feel a sense of frustration at those who just can't seem to get their lives together.  (Galatians 5:19-21)

There is one thing of which I can be sure:  I can't have it both ways.  I cannot live by the Spirit and gratify the desires of the sinful nature.  Either I must live for me or live for God.  Either I am my Lord or God is.  Either I win out or God does.  (Galatians 5:16-17)  Whichever I choose, the fruit will make my decision obvious.

When I accepted the free gift of salvation that came through faith in Jesus Christ, I also received God's Spirit who lives within me.  Instead of living according to what pleases me, then, I must let the Holy Spirit guide my life.

I live in a world where exchanges are freely allowed.  If I don't like a product, I am encouraged to take it back and get something different, or if my friends don't meet my emotional needs, I am advised to find new ones.  God, however, does not work this way.  When I entered into a relationship with Him through faith in Jesus Christ, I agreed to live His way.  He does not accept exchanges or substitutions.  Therefore, I am expected to offer my life as a living sacrifice as an acceptable form of worship, to accept salvation as a free gift, and to live by the Spirit.  When I attempt to substitute something else, I will find that the Lord is a God who accepts no exchanges.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can remember the truth as I have learned it and adjust my life accordingly.

How often do I try to adapt the truth to fit my own way of living?

When am I guilty of trying to earn the salvation for which Jesus already paid?    

Give Him all the Glory

"On the appointed day Herod,

wearing his royal robes,

sat on his throne

and delivered a public address to the people.

They shouted,

'this is the voice of a god, not of a man.'

Immediately,

because Herod did not give praise to God,

an angel of the Lord struck him down,

and he was eaten by worms and died."

Acts 12:21-23

When the crowd saw what Paul had done,

they shouted in the Lycaonian language,

'The gods have come down to us in human form!'

. . .But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this,

they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd,

shouting: 'Men, why are you doing this?

We too are only men, human like you.

We are bringing you good news,

telling you to turn from these worthless things

 to the living God, 

who made heaven

 and earth

 and sea

 and everything in them.'

. . .Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium

and won the crowd over.

They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city,

thinking he was dead."

Acts 14:11,14-15, 19

I remember watching Return of the Jedi and laughing as the Ewoks, the cute, fluffy creatures of the moon of Endor venerated the proper yet cowardly C-3P0 as a god.  The ever-sarcastic Han Solo, who at the time was held captive by the natives, said, "Well, why don't you use your divine influence and get us out of this?"  Surprisingly, the droid declined.  When Solo asked why, C-3P0 responded that, "it's against my programming to impersonate a deity."

Even a droid understands the implications of accepting the worship and adoration fit only for the One True God.  Unfortunately, King Herod did not mind accepting such admiration from men.  The consequences of his decision to remain quiet and allow men to call him a god were swift and horrible, resulting in his death.  

On the other side of the coin lies the example of Paul and Barnabas.  As soon as they heard men were attempting to label them as gods, they immediately showed their fierce revulsion of of the thought.  The two men did everything they could to convince the crowd that God alone deserved praise, but their enemies convinced the mob otherwise.  Paul was stoned and left for dead.

In both cases, the outcome was death.  For Herod, God's judgment was final and true.  For Paul, man's judgment was painful but not absolute.  It only appeared Paul was dead.

Honoring God in the way I live my life does not mean that things will always turn out comfortable and to my liking.  Sometimes, God allows evil to prevail for a time so that God can get all the glory in the end.  Through this and other situations of persecution, Paul learned that God grace is enough and that it is in times when I am incapable of saving myself that God's power is made known.  ( 2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

Allowing praise to go to God alone may not result in an easy life, but there are benefits to be reaped in giving Him all the glory.

Peace

Everyone has their own idea of how to achieve peace.  Jimi Hendrix said, "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace."  Ralph Waldo Emerson believed that, "Peace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding."  Nelson Mandela's approach was through friendship. He said, "If you want to have peace with your enemy, you must work with your enemy.  Then he becomes your partner."

While these ideas may seem grand in theory, and may even have enjoyed some success in practice, there is only one way to achieve inner peace.  Jesus gives me peace and provides a way for me to benefit from a relationship with the God whom I have offended with my sin.  When He took my punishment for my sin, He made a way for me to enter into a close, intimate relationship with the God of the universe.  My sin is not longer held against me, through faith in Jesus Christ.

In this way, I am at peace with God.  Harmony with God results in a heart at peace, despite what goes on around me or how I'm treated.  

Following Jesus, however, does not mean I'll have peace with the world.  Quite the opposite is actually to be expected. (John 15:19,Matthew 10:22)  Staying true to God and not accepting credit for what He has done may not be popular with those around me, but it will keep me at peace with God.

There are times when God has clearly worked out a situation in my life.  Those I work with may say, "Wow!  That was pretty smart of you!"  I can either accept the praise, or give God to glory.  When people praise my parenting skills, I can thank them and move on, or I can take the time to give God the credit for guiding me and teaching me.  During times of difficulty, others may notice my peaceful countenance.  It would be easy for me to accept their praise of my strength, but it would be more admirable for me to tell how God is my refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.  (Psalm 46:1)

There are many times that people try to give me the credit, but refusing to accept praise that God deserves will result in peace with Him.

Fruit

Growing fruit in a home garden is not easy.  There are many pests, diseases, and conditions to deal with, making the job quite complicated.  

In an even more powerful way, producing fruit of God's Spirit and results that will be valuable in His kingdom is completely impossible apart from Jesus.  (John 15:5)  I can try hard to win people for Christ, but if He is not leading me, equipping me and drawing them, it will not come to pass.  I can put all my effort into trying to be more patient and loving, but I will find I don't have it in me.  I can make it my life's passion to preach the truth but if it's not flowing from the One who claims to be the Truth, it will have no lasting impact.

When I acknowledge God in all my ways, though, I will begin to see things happen that I can't explain.  (Proverbs 3:5-6)  Lives will be changed, hearts will be softened, questions will be answered.  

Letting God rule in my life, however, means more than just giving Him all the honor and praise.  It also means letting Him take the lead, submitting to Him and His will.  In this way, everything I do will be attributed to Him.  (Matthew 5:16)  Missionary leader and writer Andrew Murray pointed out an important distinction to be made.  He said, "Do not confound work and fruit.  There may be a good deal of work for Christ that is not the fruit of the heavenly Vine."

How can I know?  By staying connected to Jesus in relationship with Him.  I do this by keeping Him at the forefront of my thoughts, obeying His lead, and responding to His prompts.  When I read His Word and His Spirit moves my heart, reacting with action to change my ways or thought processes in order to line up with what He taught me will lead to an even closer bond with Him.  As I grow closer, His love will naturally flow through me.  The minute I try to take back control or to pay attention to my flesh instead of Him, however, I'll drift further away from my Lord.

I am constantly tempted to control my own life , but when I submit to God's sovereign will, I will bear much fruit.

Kingdom

When I think of a kingdom, I picture a mighty yet benevolent king dwelling in a splendid palace, ruling over his doting subjects.  The kingdom I envision in this scenario is definitely a place.

The Pharisees must have thought similarly as they looked forward to the day when the Messiah would deliver them from the oppressive rule of the Romans.  Jesus, however, set them straight. He said, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:20b-21)

Jesus has set up His kingdom in the hearts of His people.  Wherever I go, I take His kingdom with me.  When times get hard, like they were for the Jewish people during Jesus' time, I can take heart because my Lord and Savior has overcome the world.  (John 16:33)

The only way Christ will set up His kingdom in my heart is if I give up my right to establish my own kingdom, ruled by my own selfish desires.  I want to defend my reputation or the privileges I think I deserve.  My kingdom is governed by my craving for my own comfort or sense of security.  There are times when the only thing I'm concerned about is in making sure I get my fair share.  My kingdom conflicts with God's.  (Galatians 5:17)

When my highest desire, however, is to please God and walk with Him, He will rule in my heart. It is then that I'll experience His kingdom within.

Christ will set up His kingdom within my heart as soon as I get rid of the rights I claim to mine.

As I go through my life, I will experience many who try to give me credit, temptations to garner control for myself, or the desire to establish my own kingdom.  If I let God get all the glory, however, I'll experience peace with Him, fruit that lasts and the joy of experiencing His kingdom.  These are all benefits that come with making an effort to give Him all the glory.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will desire to give God all the glory.

When do I tend to steal the glory without realizing it?

How am I setting up my own kingdom where I rule supreme?

What Comes Out

"'You have let go of the commands of God

and are holding on to the traditions of men.'

And he said to them: 'You have a fine way

of setting aside the commands of God

in order to observe your own traditions!

For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother,

and

 Anyone who curses his father or mother

 must be put to death.

But you say that if a man says to his father or mother:

Whatever help you might otherwise

 have received from me is Corban

 (that is, a gift devoted to God),

Then you no longer let him do anything for his

 father or mother.

Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition

that you have handed down.

And you do many things like that.'

Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said,

'Listen to me, everyone, and understand this.

Nothing outside a man can make him unclean by going

into him.  Rather, it is what comes out of a man

that makes him unclean.'"

Mark 7:8-15

I recently took a trip to the west coast to visit my parents.  One thing that stood out to me was the fixation on fitness and nutrition that people seemed to carry.  Living as I do in one of the fattest states in the Union, I'm not used to having these kinds of conversations.  Even though I love exercise and have a mild interest in eating well, it is no longer what defines me.  In the past, I obsessed over exercise and nutrition and there was a time when I would enthusiastically welcome such discussions.  As I've grown in my walk with Jesus, however, I have found there are other things which are more important than physical health.

Jesus found the church people during His time on earth similarly fixated on things that were not important.  In order to try to 'help' their fellow Jews please God, these thoughtful leaders came up with lists and lists of rules for people to follow.  This set of man-made laws evolved into commandments that ended up overshadowing God's own decrees.

It's not so different now.  I have been pressured to think I must dress a certain way in order to worship God on Sunday mornings, to believe that a "good" Christian only listens to certain music or watches specific movies, or that in order to please God I must live up to the standards which man has set.  Thankfully, God judges me according to my heart.  For this reason, its not what goes into my body that defines me, but its what comes out that matters.

Fruit

The vines grew to take over the entire hill and I began making plans to preserve pickles and add zucchini to every dish that I cooked during the summer months.  It looked like the harvest would be abundant.  Then the fruits began to form and, much to my dismay, they were rotten at one end.  Disappointingly, the vines began to wither.  I was another victim of the persistent Squash Vine Borer and the destructive Cucumber Beetle.  All my hopes for a plentiful yield were dashed.

In the same way, if I walk with Jesus my life will produce good fruit. (Galatians 5:22-23)  If, however, I follow my fleshly dreams and desires, my life will produce rotten fruit. (Galatians 5:19-21)   

I am recognized by my fruit.  If my life is filled with strife, unrest, jealousy, gossip, rage, bitterness, hatred and the drive to get ahead, then I am producing fruit that is of my own sinful flesh.  But, if my life is filled with a compassion for others, the ability to suffer without complaint, the desire to live in harmony with others, and a calm and quiet spirit, then it is God's Spirit who is winning out and making His own fruit evident in my life.

Jesus said, "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." (Matthew 7:8-9)  Maybe I don't always feel good.  I've been through some rough times and have fallen into sin on more than one occasion.  I feel like a failure.  But it is not up to my own ability to live a righteous life that produces this kind of fruit.  That is impossible.  

Instead, it is a life that is wholly devoted to God and devoid of any selfish desires that is able to produce the fruit that God calls good.  As Oswald Chambers said, "Undress yourself morally before God of everything that might be a possession until you are a mere conscious human being and then give God that."  God can do amazing things with a life that is surrendered to Him.

It's the quality of my fruit that matters to Him.

Cleanliness

I had the honor of visiting a Mosque and going on a tour of the facility.  As the young women described their beliefs and walked me through their rituals for pre-prayer cleansing, it struck me that they were trying to make themselves pure by washing their outer selves.  This, however, did nothing to address the real source of their uncleanness: their hearts.

God revealed His focus when He commanded Samuel to anoint a new king to replace the rebellious Saul.  He cautioned the priest to, "not consider his appearance or height. . ." as Samuel's eyes were drawn to the older, more experienced and stronger brothers.  Instead, He said, "The LORD does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 17:7)  

Even though he was a mere boy at the time, David later became known as a great king, and more importantly as a "man after God's own heart." (Acts 13:22)  My purity comes from my heart.  Do I have a desire to glorify God or follow a religion?.  Do I mostly follow my own lead or God's?  Do I consider my own needs as more important or am I dedicated to loving others?

My cleanliness does not come from taking a shower or going through a purification ritual.  Rather, my heart betrays the motivation of my actions, and thus the purity of my faith.  Either my heart is inclined toward God, or it's slanted toward myself.  As David prayed when Nathan the prophet pointed out his sin and he realized his selfish motivations, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10)

It is the tilt of my heart that matters to God.

Traditions

I remember reading about a young wife who began cooking her Thanksgiving turkey one year early in her marriage.  She thawed it out in the sink, just as she'd seen her mother do so many times before.  Finally, she placed the dish drainer upside down over the bird.  When her husband asked her why she did this, the young woman replied, "I don't know.  That's just how my mom always did it."  Unbeknownst to her, her mother's cats had attempted to dine on the thawing poultry so her mom had come up with the strategy of protecting it with the dish drainer.  Since the newlyweds owned no pets, there was not a need for this ritual.

There are many things I can do without understanding why I do them.  Maybe it's something I've seen someone else I look up to doing.  I think that if I follow suit, I'll end up with the same results as my idol.  

Or it could be that I've read a lot of books, or listened to much advice from well-meaning believers and I want to do the things they've said to do.  

It's easy for me to also get caught up following my own strategy that I've developed over the years.  After all, no one knows myself better than me, right?

If I'm not following God directly out of obedience to Him, I have no business taking part in any tradition.  No matter how long something has been carried out in my family, church or town, it will lead me away from God if the directive did not come from Him.  My relationship with God is more important than fitting in with what everyone else is doing.

Getting caught up in following traditions is not peculiar to God's people in this day and age.  The prophet Isaiah had to deliver a message to the Israelites that, "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.  Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men."  (Isaiah 29:13)

How much of my worship of God, or the way I live my life, is made of stuff I do without meaning? How much of it is out of direct obedience to His calling on my life?  The former cancels out the latter.  

It is my obedience to God that matters to Him.

It is easy for me to think that either I'm a complete failure or that I'm doing pretty good.  Both beliefs are fallacy.  Rather, the truth is that I am a sinner who is saved by the grace of God through faith in my Savior Jesus Christ.  As such, I am free to move forward from here and produce good fruit that comes directly from Him, to have a pure heart cleansed by His blood, and to cultivate an obedient relationship with my Father.  It is then that what comes out of me will please God and lead to a blessed and fulfilled life.  

As I begin this day it is my prayer that my life will be wholly devoted to pleasing God.

How do I let traditions overshadow God's direct Word in my life?

In what ways is my life producing rotten fruit?