Choose Wisely

"'Now since the LORD,

the God of Israel,

has driven the Amorites out before his people Israel,

what right have you to take it over?

Will you not take what your god Chemosh gives you?

Likewise,

whatever the LORD our God has given us,

we will possess.'"

Judges 11:23-24

Choices.  I am faced with dozens of choices each day.  What time will I get up?  How will I spend my time?  What should I wear?  What sounds good for breakfast?  Which route do I take to get to my destination?  While most of the decisions I make are not earth-shattering, each does have a consequence attached to it.  If I decide to hit the snooze on the alarm, I will have less time to get ready.  If I choose short sleeves, I could get cold.  If I pick the wrong route, I might be late.

These consequences may be reversible while others are permanent.  There is a choice I make, however, that is earth-shattering.  The consequences of this decision permeates every part of my life.  Many times, the outcome is unavoidable.  Do I follow God or do I commit to my own way?  Whichever path I choose, I must accept the outcome as the cost of making that decision.

When I walk according to my own flesh, doing what seems best to me and what most satisfies myself, I will produce fruit that reflects my choice.  I can't expect good fruit that comes from God's Spirit when I insist on doing things my way (Galatians 5:16-22).  Therefore, I must choose wisely and accept what follows.

Temptation

The aroma of baking bread drew me in.  I followed the heavenly scent, walking into the kitchen in time to see my daughter removing the loaves from the oven.  "Yum!  That smells so good."  I could not resist sampling a piece, slathering butter on the piping hot slice before savoring the flavor that delivered such satisfaction.  I could not resist the temptation of eating the freshly-baked bread.

It's hard to say "no" to something so good.  I simply don't have what it takes to stand firm against such a sensory assault!  This weakness of mine does not stop with food, however.  My own power of will is no match for the draw of my flesh.  I am sinful by nature and can't help but give in to its lure.  If I choose to follow my flesh, I will not be able to stand against the strong attraction that comes from within.

The apostle Paul put it this way: "For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.  For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.  For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing" (Romans 7:18-19).  No matter how hard I try, I will not be able to resist temptation when making the decision to follow my own flesh.  There is no way around this consequence.

What hope do I have, then?  Plenty!  Through faith in Jesus Christ, I have the option of following Him and tapping into the power His Spirit supplies to stand firm against temptation.  Instead of giving in, I will have the ability to turn away, taking the way out He so graciously provides (1 Corinthians 10:13).

When I follow my own path I will discover that I am helpless to stand firm against sin, but when walking in the power of the Spirit I will find success in my quest to resist the temptations of my flesh.

Discord

Worry and anxiety filled her heart.  Wherever she went, trouble seemed to follow.  It appeared as if she couldn't go anywhere without getting into an argument with someone or falling into some kind of trouble.  Not surprisingly, it wasn't long before she ended up in jail.  

While I may not have it so badly, I do experience strife and discord when I choose my own way.  If my own reputation and desire to be right is what drives me, I will stand my ground, making sure I get the last word.  Nothing anyone says will make a difference to my way of thinking when I am so set in my ways.  

Likewise, if it is my ambition in life to reach the lofty goals I have set, I will work hard, letting nothing get in my way.  As a result, I will have zero tolerance for people who prevent me from going where I want to go, developing a cold heart to the suffering that is all around me.  My only focus will be on me and my own aspirations.

Similarly,  if controlling every aspect of my life and the lives of those I love is my main concern, I will be consumed with such an overwhelming job.  Never will I be able to rest as I deal with all the details that are constantly coming to light.

Peace will only come when I choose to follow the Shepherd who loves me (Psalm 23). Doing so will bring about harmony that is only the result of being right with God through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). When I stop fighting against the work of His Spirit in my life, I will find myself enjoying the peace He has promised (Romans 12:2, Psalm 85:8).

When I follow my own path I will experience nothing but strife while choosing to walk with Jesus will bring about peace.

Unchecked Anger

It always seemed to simmer just below the surface.  No matter what the circumstances, I couldn't shake the feeling of annoyance and bitterness that stuck around like a constant companion.  The slightest irritation would frustrate me.  I couldn't get a handle on what I thought was an anger problem.

What I later learned was that my insistence on living my way was tainting my heart.  Even though I wanted to follow Jesus, I stubbornly stuck to my own path, refusing to let go of the fears, doubts and insecurities that plagued me.  Whenever I thought about surrendering to Christ, something like panic would well up in me, encouraging me to set my own course instead of letting God choose for me.

Living in such a way led to a spirit of frustration as I found my life was not lining up with what I read in the Bible.  As  a result, anger was always ready to spring to life.  Jealously often raised its ugly head as I compared myself to others, always falling short.  I became envious of the fruit I saw in the lives of those around me.  Anger defined my life.

As I discovered the freedom found in following Jesus, mustering up the courage to surrender more and more of my life to Him, serenity began to fill my heart.  As I realized the depth of the love that God has for me, I trusted Him more and more each day, coming to appreciate the tender way He leads me through each challenge.  Before long, I noticed the familiar feeling of frustration rarely showing itself, replaced instead by contentment and a sense of security in my identity as God's well-loved child.

When I choose to go my own way I may find myself defined by anger, but surrendering to the way of the King will result in tranquility.

There are consequences for every choice I make; some are good while others are bad.  As a result, I would be wise to choose to follow Jesus, resulting in the production of fruit that will last.  If I insist on my own way, however, I will experience temptation that cannot be resisted, a life defined by discord, and anger that runs unchecked.  Instead of simply doing what comes naturally, then, I must be careful to choose wisely.

As I begin this day it is my prayer I will wisely choose to follow Jesus.

When do I fight against where Jesus tries to lead me?

How could the anger in my life be as a result of my determination to live life by my own rules? 


Originally published on March 25, 2014

Heart of Flesh

Originally published on April 30, 2012

"I will give you a new heart 

and put a new spirit in you;

I will remove from you

your heart of stone

and give you a heart of flesh."

Ezekiel 36:26

September has always been a special month for me.  Not only is it the month of my birth, but as a child and even as a homeschool mother, I always enjoyed the beginning of the new school year.  The preparation for the upcoming year brought a sense of hope and excitement to my days as I purchased new clothing and supplies, preparing myself for the challenges that lay ahead.

As the first day of school approached during my junior high and high school years, I would organize my notebook, making new dividers and filling it with fresh paper and pencils.  I then would turn my attention to my attire, deciding which outfit I would wear for the first day.  Often, I would get a pair of new shoes and somehow, this made me feel like a brand new person tackling a brand new school year.  

In the same way that my fresh, never-before-worn clothes and virgin pencils groomed me for the new classes I was about to face, the new heart of flesh that God has given me through faith in Jesus Christ prepares me for living my life as a member of the family of God.

Empowered Obedience

A friend of mine recently gave a great visual of the battle that occurs between my spirit and God's Spirit as described in Galatians 5:17.  "The sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.  They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want." 

My friend likened this contrariness, this conflict to a tug-of-war between me and God. As God's Spirit moves me in His direction, my flesh pulls back against Him, pulling me in the opposite direction. The only way for me to go in God's direction is for me to stop pulling and let Him lead me.  If I drop the rope altogether, giving up the fight and surrendering my will to Him, I can freely walk along with Him.  

As one who has been provided through Christ with a tender and responsive heart (Ezekiel 36:26), I am given the ability to withstand the temptation to do things my way.  The grace of God which constantly flows through me from His indwelling Spirit empowers me to, "offer the parts of (my) body to him as instruments of righteousness.  For sin shall not be (my) master, because (I) am not under law, but under grace." (Romans 6:13-14)  Either I choose to give myself over to the pull of God, or the influence of sin.  

Each time I sense the tug of God leading me in His direction, there will be the temptation for my flesh to fight against Him.  But thanks to God's grace abundantly found in my life and manifested through His Son's death on the cross, I have the option and ability to drop the rope, giving in to God's will.  When I submit, the fruit of the Spirit are produced and there is no law against these things! 

I don't have to try harder to be good and please God, rather I have to nail, "the passions and desires of (the) sinful nature to his cross and (crucify) them there."  (Galatians 5:24 NLT) Or, as 17th Century Puritan preacher Peter Bulkeley said, "If God be God over us, we must yield him universal obedience in all things.  He must not be over us in one thing, and under us in another, but he must be over us in everything."  

I am empowered to obey by the grace of God when I submit to Him and allow Him to lead me.

Godly Devotion

Our neighbors own a huge German Shepherd who looks quite intimidating but who is actually a big baby.  He's gentle, calm and pretty laid back. . . until his owner brings out the beloved tennis ball.  Then he turns into the fetching machine, never taking his eyes of the yellow orb.  Nothing can distract him from the job at hand; squirrels, food, other dogs, they all fade into the background as the ball takes center stage, monopolizing his attention.  He's all about his ball.

In the same way, I am called to be wholly devoted to God.  He may allow a variety of attractive belief systems or alluring distractions to come my way in order to test me "to find out whether (I) love him with all (my) heart and with all (my) soul.  It is the LORD (my) God (I) must follow, and him (I) must revere.  Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him."  (Deuteronomy 13:3-4)

This kind of devotion comes with maturity as we progressively work toward, "attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.  Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming."  (Ephesians 4:13-14)  Growing in my walk with God means I will gradually become more Christ-like, little-by-little gaining an immunity to distractions.  The goal is to become like my neighbor's dog; all about my God!

As I cultivate my personal relationship with God through faith in Christ, I will increasingly develop my devotion for Him and Him alone.

Spontaneous Love

Have you ever tried really hard to love someone, especially someone who is particularly prickly?  I have. . . and it doesn't work.  I just don't have it in me to love like God loves me!  

I like the way Oswald Chambers put it in his entry for April 30th in My Utmost for His Highest:  "Love is not premeditated, it is spontaneous, i.e., it bursts up in extraordinary ways.  There is nothing of mathematical certainty in Paul's category of love.  We cannot say--'Now I am going to think no evil; I am going to believe all things.'  The characteristic of love is spontaneity.  We do not set the statements of Jesus in front of us as a standard; but when His Spirit is having His way with us, we live according to His standard without knowing it, and on looking aback we are amazed at the disinterestedness of a particular emotion, which is the evidence that the spontaneity of real love was there.  In everything to do with the life of God in us, its nature is only discerned when it is past."

It is not my effort that produces a loving attitude or loving acts, rather it is in extension of God's Spirit working through me.  "God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."  (Romans 5:5)

As I let God's Spirit have it's way in me, I will find that the irritation I used to experience when dealing with a certain difficult personality has vanished and in it's place is patience and gentleness.

When I let go and let God, it will become apparent that my previous penchant for perfection and high expectations for others' actions has been replaced by a desire to let go of past failures and to always hope, believing with faith that things will get better.

If I follow God where He leads, I will soon see that circumstances and situations that used to anger me and send me into a tailspin now have no affect on me.  My blood does not boil and I'm no longer compelled to chew someone out, defending my position.  

Love comes as a natural extension of God Spirit as He becomes greater and I become less and will show up unprompted in ways I can't explain.  

God is the craftsman of my new heart.  Only He can, "Create in me a clean heart. . . and renew a right spirit within me."  (Psalm 51:10)  And with this heart of flesh I am empowered to obey God, to be wholly devoted to Him and to love spontaneously.  In this way, I am growing "in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church."  (Ephesians 4:15 NLT)

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will let go and let God have His way in my life this moment.

When do I insist on having my way, thus preventing God to love others through me?

How do I hang onto my own desires, refusing to nail them to the cross?

Living Water

"Whoever believes in me,

as the Scripture has said,

streams of living water will flow from within him."

John 7:38

There are many things I can turn to in my quest to find healing, satisfaction and fulfillment.  There is religion, drugs, sex, alcohol, sports, a career, raising a family, marriage, medical treatment, and hobbies, to name a few.  None delivers on the promise of happiness nor can mend my broken heart nor bind the wounds of past hurts.  Every solution I try will fall short apart from Jesus.  He is the answer.

Once I dedicate my life to Him and begin to humble myself before Him, giving Him access to my heart so He can mold me, shape me and heal me, then I find an interesting thing happening.  The very Living Water that flowed from Jesus into my life to make me whole, overflows into the lives of others.  

Fruit of His Spirit

I labor hard every week, doing my duty to serve in the church.  It feels good to help others and be a part of something bigger than myself.  Focusing on others helps me to divert my attention away from my own hurts, my failing marriage and the kids' behavioral problems.  I work diligently to love others, stay calm, speak kindly and extend grace.  With so much to live for, then, why is it that I cry myself to sleep every night and feel so empty inside?  Why is my life such a mess when I try so hard to do the right thing for God?

It's easy to get things backwards.  My nature tells me that I must work hard in order to reap a benefit in my life.  I think that I must try to be a better Christian and as I struggle through, God will see my efforts and take pity on me and help me.  I try to love my husband, but he's just so cruel to me.  No one can put up with that kind of treatment and be expected to maintain a kind and compassionate attitude.  It's as if I'm saying, "I'm glad Jesus died for me and I want to follow Him, but nothing is working.  My efforts are all in vain!"

The thing is, what my flesh tells me is contrary to the way God actually works in my life. Even though I feel pressure to try, I can never act in a loving, kind way, patiently enduring abuse, faithfully staying true to my faith, treating others gently despite their harshness, returning good for evil, exhibiting self-control at the table as well as in how I show my emotions, and do it all with a joyous attitude!  My sinful nature just doesn't naturally produce this kind of fruit.  (Galatians 5:16-26)

When I make Jesus Lord of my life, I must instead go through a life-long process of purification and maturation where I become less and He becomes more.  With not as much of my flesh rising up against His Spirit, He has more of a free reign in my heart.  Then I will notice a flow of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control where before I failed in my own effort.

Submitting to Jesus as my Lord means streams of living water will flow from me in the form of His fruit. 

Love

The world says love is a feeling and it is something I can "fall into" and then "fall out of."  Love is supposed to feel sweet, warm and cozy.  When it seems to vanish like a puff of steam in the cold air, I fall into a heap, reeling from the rejection of another failed relationship.

God, however, sets me straight by saying that love is so much deeper than a feeling.  God Himself is love, so if I want to learn of love I will need to go to the Source.  He says that "love cares more for others than for self.  Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.  Love doesn't strut, doesn't have a swelled head, doesn't force itself on others, isn't always 'me first,' doesn't fly off the handle, doesn't keep score of the sins of others, doesn't revel when others grovel, takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, puts up with anything, trusts God always, always looks for the best, never looks back, but keeps going to the end.  Love never dies."  (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 MSG)

If I want to love others the way God loves me, as described above, I cannot do it in my own effort.  Instead, it has to come from Him.  I am empowered to love others this way because He first loved me, even though I am highly unlovable. (1 John 4:19) I am selfish, hard-headed, prideful and judgmental  to name a few fleshly attributes that tend to repel others.  Despite my ugliness, God loves me enough to send His Son to die for my sins.  There is no greater love than this!  (John 15:13)

This is the love that runs through me as a follower of Jesus.  When I allow it to flow freely, I will find myself forgiving more easily, seeing the good in others instead of only the negative, and quickly forgetting offenses committed against me.

Submitting to Jesus as Lord of my life means streams of living water will flow from me in the form of love.

Mercy and Compassion

The girl caught in a prostitution ring.

The man living on the street.

The countless who lost their homes in a deadly storm.

The alcoholic who continuously lies to himself and others that "it's just a drink."

The young woman who denies her beliefs and does the unthinkable.

The old man suffering in the nursing home who wants nothing more than to end his life.

There is a lot of suffering in this world.  Affliction is the result of sin, either mine or others.  When I view the hurting with my sinful eyes, I can blame people for their own mess, think there is nothing I can do as one person, or am repulsed by what I see.  In short, I am not naturally drawn to those who are in pain and agony.

Once I make Jesus Lord of my life, however, I will notice a shift.  Those who I used to think were only getting what they deserved now become like a magnet, drawing out a sense of concern from within me.  Where I used to want to get away from those who were struggling, now I'm compelled to help.  Where once I sneered at the sin, now I sense the pain.

It is written in Lamentations 3:22 that, "Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail." With that kind of Spirit residing within me, am I surprised when I reach out to the down and out or broken-hearted?  He does not give me what I deserve, which is death, so how can I be so hard on others? It is His mercy and compassion that flows through me when I let go of my fears, doubts and other sins that block its' flow.

Submitting to Jesus as Lord of my life means streams of living water will flow from me in the form of mercy and compassion.

Life is full of distractions to keep me away from the Truth.  When I finally accept Jesus as my Savior and make Him Lord of my life, things begin to come into focus.  Not only will I feel more fulfilled and purposeful, but I'll notice His fruit, love as well as mercy and compassion flowing out to those around me.  Only Jesus can supply this living water that will never cease to satisfy.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will let the love of God rule in my life.

How do I rely on my own efforts to be the kind of person I think I should be instead of letting God change me into who He created me to be?

When do I think I am required to love others instead of letting God love those I find hard to love?

Bread from Heaven

"Jesus said to them,

'I tell you the truth,

it is not Moses who has given

you the bread from heaven,

but it is my Father who gives

you the true bread from heaven. 

For the bread of God is he who

comes down from heaven

and gives life to the world.' " 

John 6:32-33

Imagine what it must have been like for the Israelites as they wandered in the desert for 40 years.  Each morning, slipping out of their tent, they took a basket and gathered the fine flake-like stuff that fell to the ground each day like dew.  They were instructed to only gather enough for each day, trusting that God would provide for the needs.

Jesus compared himself to this manna and then went on in this passage from John 6 to call himself the Bread of Life.   As Christmas draws near, let's examine how Jesus is the "Bread from Heaven."

Source  When the Israelites first saw the manna, they must have felt amazed and also a little confused at this stuff whose name literally means, "what is it?"  I wonder if they swapped recipes as they tried to figure out how to prepare this new food.  It is the same with Jesus.  He came down from heaven, and even though the coming of the Messiah had been prophesied for years before, many didn't recognize Him when He came.  He was in a form unfamiliar to them and of their expectations of how the Messiah would come.  Jesus told those who did not believe His message that they do not know Him because they do not know the Father.  To recognize Jesus, I must let go of all preconceived notions about who I think He is, and get to know Him personally.  He is sent from heaven to be my Savior!

Life-Giving  Wandering in the desert gave the Israelites quite the appetite.  They began to long for their life back in Egypt where, even though they were slaves, at least they had food to eat!  It was then that God provided the life-giving manna and quail.  Just as food consumed in freedom tastes better than that served in slavery, we now have the Bread of Life, Jesus, who offers liberty from the bondage of sin.  No longer am I bound to do things that come naturally, but I have another way.  Paul instructs us to, ". . .live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature." (Galatians 5:16)  Before I met Jesus, I was headed on a path of destruction, having no other option than to follow my own evil desires.  Evil, because anything I think and do naturally runs contrary to God's holy ways.  But when I met Jesus and entered into a relationship with Him, He gave me another option.  I can now surrender my will to Him and let Him work through me, which yields much of His Fruit .  Jesus gives me the hope of eternal life, but also the anticipation of a fruitful life of purpose.

By Faith Even though God instructed the Israelites to only gather what was needed for each day, there were those who tried to store some manna for the next day, just in case God didn't come through.  When they awoke the next morning, however, their stash was covered in maggots and stunk to high heaven!  It took faith to believe that God would provide for their needs each day.  There was nothing the Israelites could do to generate more or less of the food God provided; it was received by faith.  Likewise, we are dead in our sins and powerless to save ourselves from the cycle of sin and it's inevitable consequences. It takes faith to believe that Jesus will clean me up and make me presentable to stand before a holy, perfect God.  When I trust Him, He does just that, and now I can live forever with Him!  Faith in Jesus gives me life.  Not just any life. . . but an abundant life!

Christmas is many things in America.  It is about shopping for gifts to give the ones I love, spending time with family and friends, sharing delicious treats and spreading goodwill.  But this Christmas, I want more.  I want it to be about the One whose birth we celebrate, and how He came from heaven to give life to those who accept His gift of salvation by faith. 

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will treasure my Gift from Heaven.

How is my life abundant; overflowing with the good things that God has given me?  Not so much the physical stuff, but what about His love, grace and mercy?  What about seeing His mighty hand at work every day?

Where do I try to hoard blessings He has given me instead of using them all up by spreading them around to those around me?

Glory in Excelsis Deo

"Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace,

good will toward men."

Luke 2:14

The sound of the bell floats across the air as I make my way to the supercenter to buy groceries for the week.  The smiling women greet me with a cheerful, "Happy Holidays," as the red bucket swings on the frame between them.  The Salvation Army has been using the infamous Red Kettle since 1891 to collect donations during Christmas time for their ministries throughout the year.  This most recognizable scene of the season is a symbol for a ministry that has been working to bring the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the poor, the homeless, the hungry and the destitute for nearly 160 years.  This got me to thinking about how I can best glorify God during this Christmas season.

Honor Him  Glorifying God means honoring Him with my life. It means living in such a way that people think of God when they see me and are inspired to draw closer to Him. This calls for intentional living, making a conscience effort to do things that reflect well upon my Savior.  Paul advised to have the attitude that, ". . . whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."  (I Corinthians 10:31)  In the Chinese culture, it is very important to do your best in everything in order to bring honor to your family.  This drives people to achieve greatness in order to give their family a good name.  If I adopt this attitude toward God, I would choose to do things that would give God a good name in our society.

Fruit  The Apostle Paul held this prayer for the church at Philippi:  "that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,  so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God." (Philippians 1:9-11)  The only way to be filled with the fruit of the Spirit, is to choose to let God have his way in my life instead of insisting on doing things my way.  When I let my fleshly desires rule my life, I produce fruit of the flesh.(anger, dissension, sexual immorality, selfish ambition, jealousy, etc)  But if I walk in God's spirit, His fruit will be evident. (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, self-control.  Galatians 5) This does not come from effort, but as a natural extension of God's work in my life.  If I let God have His way in my life, His fruit will reveal His awesomeness.

Unity  We don't naturally get along with each other.  Spend a little time in a family and this becomes painfully evident.  But cutting each other a break by not expecting more from others than I expect from myself is another way to bring glory to God.  Paul teaches in Romans 15 that we should be concerned with building up those around us, whether it be neighbors, family members, other believers or friends.  "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." (Romans 15:7)  If I accept those around me just the way they are, I can lift up the name of God to those I come in contact with.

During this busy Christmas season, I can glorify God by intentional living, choosing His way instead of mine and getting along with others. 

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can remember that bringing glory to God is the purpose for my existence.

How am I seeking to improve my reputation instead of lifting up God's?

When I think of all the people in my life, who am I the hardest on?