Newly Opened Eyes

"Thus I cleansed them from everything foreign,

and I established the duties of the priests and Levites,

each in his work;

and I provided for the wood offering at appointed times,

and for the firstfruits."

Nehemiah 13:30-31a ESV

Nehemiah had his work cut out for him.  The people had been far away from God, living in exile before returning to Judah.  Therefore, they didn't know any better than to live as the other nations did.  Once they returned to God, however, there were some changes to make.

It's the same with me.  When I'm living in exile from God, ignorant of His ways and unfamiliar with His love and grace that comes through faith in Jesus Christ, I can't help but live as the world does;  it's all I know.  Once I repent of my sinful ways, however, and come into relationship with Jesus Christ through faith, there are some changes to make.

Purge.  In the same way that God's people during the time of Nehemiah were affected by foreign influences, so I have many worldly ways about me when I come to Christ.  As I enter into His kingdom, there is some purging to do (Romans 12:2a).  

I have adapted mindsets that are comfortable to my flesh yet run counter to God and His Word.  These beliefs and views must be purged from my consciousness.  There are also ways of living that appeal to my sensual side, bringing fleeting moments of pleasure that don't line up with God's best for me.  

If I'm to live the abundant life Jesus died to deliver, I will need to turn away from such shallow pursuits.  In addition, I'm used to making decisions using my own common sense and intellect.  

Now that I have a Father who knows my needs and who has a plan for my life, I can leave the provision up to Him and let Him lead me down the path He has for me (Matthew 6:31-33, Jeremiah 29:11-13).

Once I come to Christ by faith, I'll need to purge the worldly ways from my life.

Establish.  Out with the old, in with the new.  I often repeat this saying to myself when I buy new clothes, taking a look at my closet and deciding which old clothing I will donate.  A friend of mine advised that I adopt this practice in order to keep from cluttering my closet, and that has helped me cut down on how much unnecessary stuff I end up with.

Similarly, when I repent of my sin, a continual process as a follower of Christ, I am wise to replace the old ways with something new.  In Christ, I am a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).  Sometimes, though, I fail to embrace the new and I easily fall back into the familiar.  Therefore, it is necessary that I take on the Lord Jesus Christ as I would don a coat (Romans 13:13-14).  Instead of doing as I always did before I knew Jesus, I can turn away from those old, sinful ways and walk with Him, letting my Shepherd lead me down paths of righteousness that lead to life (Psalm 23:3, Matthew 7:13-14).  Otherwise, if left to my own devices, I'll just do as I've always done which has led me nowhere good.

Once I come to Christ by faith, I'll need to establish a new way of living in Christ instead of in the flesh.

Give.  In my old way of living, when I was immersed in the world and it's ways, the mindset I learned and that fit so naturally with my nature was to take, take, take.  It was all about grabbing what I could for myself, hoarding good things for me and my family, and taking care of myself first and foremost.

Now that I belong to God through faith in Jesus Christ, He has introduced a new way of living where generosity rules.  In the same way that He lavishes His love on me, I find myself being transformed into the same kind of giving being (1 John 3:1,1 John 4:19).  Once I realize my security in His kingdom, I realize I don't have to grab all that I can as if there may be no more.  Instead, I can freely give, knowing that my Father owns a cattle on a thousand hills and He loves to give me good gifts.  I need not worry that I'll never have enough because I know my Father is a good provider.

I am therefore free to give instead of take.  And Christ compels me to do so.  Where I once only thought of myself, now I find my mind going to how I can benefit others with what I've been given.  When my budget used to be focused on how to get what I want, now I include giving back to God a portion of what He generously gives.  While I used to be all about me, now God is transforming my mind to think of others.

Once I come to Christ by faith, I'll need to let God transform my mind into becoming a more generous person.

In the same way that the recent exiles had to learn new ways once they came back to God, I have some changing to do once I accept Christ as my Savior.  These changes, though radical, are not as a result of my hard work but are intentional acts that are powered by the God who loves me.  It's not through my effort that transformation occurs, but is more of a supernatural work of God's indwelling Spirit.  I must, however, cooperate.  Once I do, I will need to purge the old to make room for the new and allow Him to change my once selfish ways into a more generous spirit.  These are some of the changes that happen once I pledge my life to Jesus, giving my newly opened eyes a whole new vista to appreciate.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can keep my eyes on Jesus as I operate in His Kingdom instead of the world.

When do I resist cleansing my life from the sin that so easily entangles?

How am I caught up in living as if I am not a new creation?     

Love is Action

"We know what real love is

because Jesus gave up his life for us.

So we also ought to give up our lives

 for our brothers and sisters.

If someone has enough money to live well

and sees a brother or sister in need

but shows no compassion--

how can God's love be in that person?

Dear children,

let's not merely say that we love each other;

let us show the truth by our actions.

Our actions will show that we belong to the truth,

so we will be confident when we stand before God.

Even if we feel guilty,

God is greater than our feelings,

and he knows everything."

1 John 3:16-20

The chair sits there in the corner of the room.  I love the look of it; the curvature of the arm rests, the beautiful lacquer glowing in the warmth of the lamp light, the cushion inviting me to sit.  It seems too nice to actually use.  I extol it's virtues, pointing it out to all who enter our home, but I can't bring myself to sit in it.  It seems to defeat the purpose of the chair.

The love of God is kind of like that chair.  I can talk about how powerful His love is and how it can melt the heart of the hardest criminal.  I can admire it's beauty and extol it's virtues, but it means nothing unless I actually let it flow from me.  Love is an action, not merely a word.  If I never put it to use, no one will get to encounter love as it was meant to be experienced.

Lay Down Life

First came the words of scorn, the looks of disdain, the sneer of the lip.  Soon these passive forms of mistreatment were replaced with the more active variety: A crown of thorns shoved on His head, a brutal beating meant to humiliate as well as wound, an agonizing walk through a crowd of the curious and the hateful, topped off by the unthinkable torture of being nailed to a cross.

Jesus was not forced to submit Himself to such treatment.  As the Creator of all things, He could have stopped this horrible progression at any time.  Why did He not?  Love.  Jesus demonstrated the Father's love by giving His life for those who needed the life this sacrifice made possible even though we didn't yet recognize it.  (John 15:13, Romans 5:8)

Since I have been saved by this great act of love, it is my heritage to continue in this pattern of the laying down of my life.  No longer are my interests at the forefront of my attention.  As I move closer in relationship to God, He gives me the desire to sacrifice my own safety to safeguard that of another.  (Philippians 2:13)

As Jesus showed His love for me by giving His life, I can love others by sacrificing my will for His.

Give

I live in a world where the motto is, "Every man for himself."  I see it at the grocery store where shoppers jockey for position in the fastest checkout line with nary a thought to anyone else.  This mindset also shows up when a hurricane is fast approaching and residents rush to gather up supplies without thinking about how anyone else will manage.  The survival of the fittest mentality is also seen in the way money is spent when an inheritance or a pay raise is received;  most of the time it's all about filling my own needs and wants.

Love, however, changes the playing field.  Instead of thinking only of myself, love impels me to fill the needs of those around me.  While I used to hoard the blessings God generously gives to me, love urges me to share.  When it used to be so natural for me to plan for my own future, love compels me to leave tomorrow up to my Father as I give away my nest egg.

As Jesus emptied Himself in order to give me the richness of life, so I can love others by giving generously.  (2 Corinthians 8:8-9)

Hearts at Rest

"But I don't want to do that!"  When working with children, this is a refrain that is often heard.  Youngsters seem to think, in their immaturity, that they only need do what feels good to them.  If they're not feeling it, they just don't want to do it.  Maturity comes when the child accepts the fact that life is full of responsibilities, obligations and duties that must be done regardless of how they feel about it.

As much time as has passed since I could call myself a child, I still sometimes hold onto this immature way of thinking, thanks to my sin nature.  It is all too easy for me to let my feelings determine what I do and don't do.

When I don't feel like loving the mean, old lady who seems to take great pleasure in harassing those she doesn't life, I can go with my feelings or I can choose the compassion of Christ that courses through my veins.

When guilt overwhelms me, giving me the feeling of unworthiness, I can go with my feelings or I can choose to remember that I belong to the family of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  No one, in and of themselves, is worthy apart from Christ. (Romans 3:10, 20, Ephesians 2:8)

When my anger at those who hurt me threatens to overwhelm my heart, I can go with my feelings or I can choose to extend the forgiveness that has been so generously given to me. (Ephesians 4:32)

As Jesus made me right with God, delivering me from my sinful heart, I can now choose to love despite the way I feel.

Love is not merely a word, but an action based on what I know to be true.  If I really believe what I read in God's Word, I will lay down my life, give without limits, and let my heart be at rest as I allow God's Spirit to drive my actions.  In these ways I will demonstrate the love of God that flows through me.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can stop talking about love and let God love others through me.

How do I turn inward instead of letting God's love loose?

When do I let my feelings hold me back?