Hopeful Expectation

"Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me

all the days of my life,

and I will live in the house of the LORD forever."

Psalm 23:6 NLT

I have seen the benefits of living life with the Good Shepherd.  I have learned of His many blessings as I live in relationship with Him.  I am overjoyed with such abundance.  The beauty that blooms in my transforming heart goes above and beyond my expectations.  As deep and meaningful as my life has become through Jesus Christ, however, it is not all there is.  Perhaps the greatest benefit is yet to come.

Goodness and Mercy.  Anything that is good in this world comes from God (James 1:17).  He Himself is good.  There is nothing evil or dark about Him.  Unlike me, He can be counted on to be virtuous and to do what is best.  Not only is He a good God, but He is love, known for giving me what I don't deserve.

This goodness and steadfast love is beautifully demonstrated in God's generous gift of a promised land to His unfaithful people.  Despite their continual distrust of His ability to provide, protect and deliver them, He still gave the younger generation of Israelites houses beautifully furnished and filled, wells flowing with sweet water and gardens bursting with produce; a ready-made community marked by the abundance of a kind and merciful God (Nehemiah 9:25, Deuteronomy 6:10-12).

This is the kind of goodness and mercy that flows into my life through faith in Jesus Christ.  It's not due to anything I have done, wise choices I have made, or right paths I have chosen.  Instead, God gives good things as a result of His astounding love;  love that flows uninhibited into my life because of His character.

I can expect God to pursue me with His goodness and mercy.

All My Life.  I tend to give up easily.  If I'm treated poorly, my first response is to write the offender off.  My patience quickly runs dry.  God is not at all like me.  He is a God who pursues the broken, who runs after the lost, loves the unlovable (Isaiah 40:28, Luke 15:4).  

Because of this faithfulness, I can expect to never go a day without experiencing the lavishness of God.  If I look for it, I will see it, this abundance overflowing throughout my days.  It could be in the simple gift of a smile when I most need a bit of sunshine, or the hug of a friend when I'm feeling down, or the sight of a sparrow flitting through the bushes outside my window that brings an unexpected smile to my face.

If I am to notice all the good things God is pouring into my life, I'll have to look with kingdom eyes.  My Father does not value the same things this world holds dear.  As a result, His good gifts come wrapped in different kinds of packages, those the world won't even categorize as precious.  But to Him, they are the best kind.  May I always treasure that which will last, that which comes from Him (Matthew 6:19-21).

I can look forward to an continuous flow of His goodness and mercy each and every day of my life.

Eternal Dwelling.  I often feel like I don't belong, like this world is foreign to me or that I'm a fish out of water.  As one who has been bought by the blood of Jesus, ushered into the family of God through faith in His Son, I really don't belong here.  There is a place where I am meant to live, a heavenly dwelling place that is my real home (Philippians 3:20). 

Since this is not where I will always live, I must remember the temporary nature of this life.  When I return to my home in heaven, everything will be as God meant it to be.  It is unrealistic, then, for me to expect heaven here on earth.  Therefore, I must place my hope in what is to come, trusting that all will be made right when I arrive to the place Jesus has prepared for me.  Until then, I keep my eyes focused on this prize, running with all my might toward the hope of what is to come.  

The hope I have of returning to my real home in heaven can spur me on as I live here on earth.

God has blessed me with so many good things as His child through faith in Jesus.  Even though I don't deserve it, I can expect this flow of blessings to continue throughout my life.  As if this weren't enough, this life pales in comparison to the home that awaits me in eternity.  With such a God as this, I can live my life in hopeful expectation.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God to give me better than what I deserve.

When do I desire that which is not truly valuable?

How do I doubt God's goodness and mercy, believing He won't give me good things because of all the ways I've failed?

His Domain

"And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth

and under the earth and in the sea.

They sang:

'Blessing and honor and glory and power

belong to the one sitting on the throne

and to the Lamb forever and ever.'"

Revelation 5:13 NLT

The tornado tore through the town, destroying everything in it's path.  One house stood pristine and untouched while right next door devastation reigned.  One family lost everything while the other's possessions all remained.  It's hard to understand such discrimination, especially if I believe it's all a matter of luck, or lack thereof.

If such tragedies simply happened by chance, this world would indeed be a scary place to live.  Even though I don't know what today will bring, I do have the assurance of knowing the Author of my days and the Maker of all things is securely at the helm.  I live in His domain and despite the fact that evil runs rampant, the Lord is never out of control or at a loss or astonished by an event.  All things are under His sovereign hand.

One day, at the appointed time, every created being will give the Father and His Son their proper praise.  There is no one or thing that will be able to refuse to acknowledge His majesty and dominion.  This knowledge can give me a sense of security as I remember that all things are under His power.

Heaven

Thousands stand ready to answer the call.  When their commander gives the word, these warriors, guardians, defenders and messengers report for duty, fulfilling their purpose as ministering spirits to those who belong to Jesus. (Hebrews 1:14)  They accompany me on my daily duties, defend me against the attacks of the Evil One, and protect me from mishap.  (Psalm 91:9-12)  In addition, there were over 72,000 heavenly soldiers waiting for the word from God to rescue Jesus from the hands of sinful men.  (Matthew 26:53)  There is no doubt to the importance of the role of angels.

Despite their great influence, though, no angel can do their job outside of God's command.  He is the One who dispatches the troops and gives the orders.  In the same way that Jesus chose to go through the horrors of the cross in order to fulfill His Father's mission of reconciliation, so I can expect help only when God ordains it.  

Thankfully, I can take heart knowing that the Lord is a God of compassion whose plan for me is for good, not evil. (2 Corinthians 1:3, Jeremiah 29:11)  Therefore, I need not fear whatever comes my way but can walk forward boldly with the assurance that He has me covered.  

Only those angels who fell from grace, pledging their allegiance to Lucifer, the archangel who was cast from heaven due to his desire for God's position, do their own thing. (Isaiah 14:12-13)  They, however, do not escape without punishment.  God has a plan for those ministering spirits who defied His purposes and currently work against His people.  (2 Peter 2:4)  No one escapes the judgement of God!

I can live in security knowing that all of heaven is part of God's domain.

Earth

It seemed extreme to say the least.  He lost everything:  His family, his possessions, and his health. I can think of no other man in all of history who suffered more than Job. (Job 1-2)  I could understand if he felt like he suddenly had a big target on his chest that directed the arrows of pain and affliction to himself.  If any man deserved to ask, "Why me?"  it was Job.

Of all the lessons I can learn from the life of Job, the one that really sticks is the idea of God's sovereignty.  Nothing that happens is outside of His will and all things must go through His hands for approval.   Applying this truth to my life, I can take great comfort in realizing that my current pain will bring about good.  (Romans 8:28)  The bitter pill of difficulty is a bit easier to swallow when I know it will turn into some kind of blessing in the hands of God.  

Not just the circumstances of life are under His control, however.  Even the physical realm is His.  While the earth belongs to the Lord, I am called to take care of it as a steward or trustee.  (Psalm 50:10-11, Genesis 2:15, Proverbs 12:10a)  Therefore, I must think of everything I can see as my Father's possession.  I am simply placed here to make sure it's used wisely.  When I am tempted to waste His resources, remembering it's His domain will help me to conserve, treating all things as valuable.  In this throw-away society, it will take some effort to change my habits and to train my mind to hold onto things with an open hand.

Instead of jumping on the environmental bandwagon, though, I must be careful to honor the earth as God's, always remembering His people are His most precious of possessions. (Matthew 10:31, Isaiah 43:4)

I can live in security knowing that all of the earth is part of God's domain.

Under the Earth

The darkness was wholly consuming.  I felt it pressing down upon my skin as if it were tangibly present.  When the tour guide turned the light back on in the cave, a sense of relief flooded my being.  I had never before experienced such complete blackness!

That place devoid of any light made me think of the darkness of the Evil One and His mission to dethrone the Lord.  As dark as is his purpose, even he and his minions are a part of God's domain and they know their power is limited by His authorization.

This is why I can boldly walk through the valley of the shadow of death and dine in the presence of evil.  It is because my Shepherd is with me and He is never out of control.  When I stand by His side, I can trust Him to protect me from evil.  (Psalm 23:4-5)  Just knowing someone is with me brings a certain amount of comfort, possibly because misery loves company.  But realizing that the One who holds all power in His mighty right hand is with me makes all the difference in the world.

With Him by my side I can walk through fire and not be burned, go through the flood and not be overcome, or simply pass through the gauntlet of negative thoughts that can many times overwhelm, and come out on the other side whole and of sound mind. (Isaiah 43:1-3)

I can live in security knowing that even under the earth is part of God's domain.

Things may seem out of control and I am sometimes tempted to think God has lost His jurisdiction   During those times of fear, I can take heart with the truth that all of heaven, earth and even under the earth is part of God's domain.  For this reason, I can live in security with my feet planted firmly on solid ground.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God with all things.

When do I fall easily into fear?

What tends to plunge me into despair because I forget it had to go through God's hands before it would be allowed into my life?

Eternal Perspective

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ,

set your hearts on things above,

where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

Set your minds on things above,

not on earthly things."

Colossians 3:1-2

At the age of 17 a diving accident left Joni Eareckson Tada a quadriplegic in a wheelchair, unable to use her arms.  An active teenager, this new reality was difficult to understand.  Over the years, however, Joni was able to accept God's plan for her life. . . a plan she did not necessarily like, but a purpose in which God gave her the grace to receive as His will.

Life doesn't always go the way I want it to go.  Surprises are around every corner, making it difficult to continue the struggle.  Joni said, "The world has a philosophy that says, 'What can't be cured must be endured.' Christians have a philosophy that says, 'What can't be cured can be enjoyed.'"

If I want to be able to experience joy in the midst of difficulty, I must keep an eternal perspective.  Seeing things from God's point-of-view changes everything.  While I can't literally put myself in God's place, I can change my position, giving me another angle from which to see my current situation.

Heart

For many years of my life I treasured bodybuilding.  I spent hours poring over muscle magazines, learning the latest workout, diet and posing techniques.  The gym became my second home as I toiled away, sculpting muscle and sweating fat away.  Food grew to be a tool used to manipulate my body into the condition I desired it to attain.  My heart was fully devoted to my own physical appearance.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:21 that I should focus on storing up treasures in heaven, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  Whatever I value leads my heart to follow.  The center of my life is my heart.  For this reason, a wise man once said, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." (Proverbs 4:23)

As the center, my heart is the barometer of my spiritual well being.  If anyone wants to know the condition of my spiritual life, he need look no further than my heart.  Since only God can see my heart, humans must look at the produce, so to speak.  Jesus said, "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.  For out of the overflow of his heart, his mouth speaks."  (Luke 6:45)

When stress increases, the words that I so easily blurt out reflect what's on the inside.  When things seem to be going all wrong, the way I react reveals who I believe is in control.  When everything is going the way I want it to go, my attitude exposes my pride.

Keeping an eternal perspective means my heart will be focused on what is important to God instead of in pleasing my own selfish desires.  To set my heart on things above is to desire His will above all other things.  This takes some house cleaning, asking God to remove whatever passions do not glorify Him.  

If I want to change my perspective, I can devote my heart to pleasing God.

Mind

A few years ago our family was working to get out of debt.  Whenever I was doing any menial task like folding laundry, cleaning or exercising, my mind would analyze our progress, calculating how many months it would take to pay of this credit card or that loan.  I took great pleasure in meditating on the improvement we were making in our financial health.  My thoughts often drifted toward the good thing we were doing.

Everyone agrees living debt-free is wise and beneficial.   Even though we were in the process of doing something good, my thought life was not pleasing to God.  He is jealous for my attention.  As His Creator, He deserves the highest place of honor and esteem in my life.   Focusing my deliberation, analysis and meditation on Him and His Word demonstrates the place He holds in my scheme of things.  

Anything can easily take God's place in my thought life.  Another area of temptation is for my mind to focus on problems, analyzing them and brainstorming solutions until I come up with just the right one. Then I'll think it through from every angle, determining all the possible outcomes when finally I drop into an exhausted heap and plead with God to take the problem and solve it His way.  As soon as I stop worrying and release the responsibility for unraveling the tangle of issues, my mind enjoys some peace and rest.  I have placed God back in the driver's seat of the car that is my life.

Jesus gives us the antidote for worry in Matthew 6:33.  After describing how the rest of His creation trusts Him to provide for their needs and to solve their problems (have you ever seen a worried bird?), He showed me where my mind should be focused.  ". . .seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."  

When I keep my attention on God and living to Him, He takes care of the things I used to worry about.  He solves the problems.  He gives me the answers.  He supplies my needs.  

My constant attention to our debt-pay-off plan did not serve to pull us out of debt sooner.  It only served to entice my mind away from God and onto distracting things.  Instead, I can train my mind to take the advice of the Apostle Paul when he taught that, ". . . whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things." (Philippians 4:8)

Focusing on God and His Word will transform my mind into a more godly viewpoint. 

Heaven

I remember going on long runs as a teenager.  To help me keep focused, I would envision my house and what I would do when I reached the end of the run.  Keeping that mental picture of the finish line in my mind encouraged me to keep going even when I felt tired and ready to quit.

In the same way, life is like a long marathon.  When I feel like giving up and dropping all my convictions, having a good vision of heaven in mind will inspire me to keep going.  Believers have something to look forward to. Before Jesus returned to His heavenly home he reassured His followers. He said, "Do not let your hearts be trouble.  Trust in God; trust also in me.  In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I am going there to prepare a place for you." (John 14:1-2) 

I have a special spot just for me in my eternal home!  Jesus Himself is getting it ready for me.  It's like when I go home to visit my mom, she always fixes up a room just for me.  She doesn't wait until I arrive to change the sheets and freshen the pillows.  Instead, she works in advance, making sure everything is ready when I set foot in her home.  I know I am expected and I am welcomed because of her attention to the preparations.  

It is the same with heaven.  Jesus wants me there and is getting everything ready for my arrival.  Keeping this picture in my mind as I go through the trials and tribulations of life helps me to carry on with joy in my heart.  

As I run this race of life, "I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." (Philippians 3:14 NLT)

Keeping a mental picture of my heavenly reward will give me a new lease on life, inspiring me to do my best for my Father.

Life is hard.  Thanks to sin, this world is a difficult place in which to live.  Those of us who follow Jesus, however, have reason to rejoice.  In the midst of the mess, I can experience joy by devoting my heart to God's purpose, by keeping my mind focused in Him and His Word, and by  maintaining a visualization of my heavenly home.  Then I will gain an eternal perspective.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can be heavenly minded as I am worldly bound.

In what ways do I betray my thoughts in the way I respond to stressors?

When am I too short-range in my vision instead of keeping heaven in my sight?

I Don't Belong Here

"All these people were still living by faith when they died.  

They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance.  

And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.  People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.

If they had been thinking of the country they had left, 

they would have had opportunity to return.

Instead, they were longing for a better country--

a heavenly one.

Therefore,

God is not ashamed to be called their God,

for he has prepared a city for them."

Hebrews 11:13-16

I recently attended a concert in a coliseum packed with over 15,000 people.  I was moved to tears when Building 429 led us in worship to God as thousands of believers sang out, "All I know is I'm not home yet this is not where I belong.  Take this world and give me Jesus.  This is not where I belong." *   Take a moment to see what I mean by watching this video:

This song got me to thinking about what it means to live like I don't belong.

Ambition

This world values selfish ambition.  Any worker who gives themselves fully to a career will end up being rewarded with advancement within the company as well as an increase in salary and benefits.  Dedication to a profession is highly regarded and duly compensated.

What kind of ambition does God value?  Oswald Chambers teaches that, "It is arduous work to keep the master ambition in front.  It means holding one's self to the high ideal year in and year out, not being ambitious to win souls or to establish churches or to have revivals, but being ambitious only to be 'accepted of Him.' "

It is easy to take the kind of ambition the world values and translate that to my faith.  Drive and determination are not enough, however.  My goal must always be to please God and to do things His way, following His lead.  As Jesus said in John 15:5, "If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."  

If my ambition is to please God, I will only move when He moves.  If my drive is to produce fruit or see results, I will most likely take matters into my own hands and run ahead of God.  Fruit will come as I stay connected to Jesus. . . it can't be my goal.

Paul reminds me in 2 Corinthians 5:9-10 that, "we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad."

Anything done of my own volition is done outside of God's calling, even if it seems good to me. God has His own standard of good and bad upon which I will be judged.

I must ask as Oswald Chambers asks, "Is my master ambition to please Him and be acceptable to Him, or is it something less, no matter how noble?"

Heavenly Eyes

If I'm going to live like I don't belong here, I'm going to have to focus on where I do belong.  Heaven is my real home, and as such I should, "set (my) heart on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  Set (my) mind on things above, not on earthly things." (Colossians 3:1-2)

How often I find that my focus is exactly like that of the world.  I concentrate on material things like my home, my hobbies or my job.  I make decisions like the world, making a list of pros and cons and deciding accordingly.  My sources of entertainment, pleasure and comfort are exactly like those used by my unbelieving friends; there is no difference.

Instead, if my concentration was on heavenly things like loving the people around me, or if I made decisions solely out of obedience to God's calling in my life, or if I only surrounded myself with things, activities, movies and music that were pleasing and honoring to God, then God would be glorified in my life.  People would look at me and instead of seeing me, would see Jesus.

Being heavenly focused means every part of my life points to Jesus.

Live Like Aliens

My family and I lived in Germany for almost three years when our daughters were toddlers and preschoolers.  It was a precious time in our lives, but I distinctly remembering that I was living in a country that was not my own.  It was a beautiful country filled with rich history, friendly people and gorgeous landscapes, but it was not my own, just the same.

I should think the same way with my home here on earth.  There are many good things God has blessed me with, but my attitude should always be that this is all temporary, transitory, and momentary.  If I put all my hope in feeling fulfilled here, I will be disappointed.  If I expect complete satisfaction in this fleeting life, I'll be let down.  If I want nothing more than to feel comfortable here, my heart is in the wrong place.  

True fulfillment, satisfaction and comfort will come in my heavenly home where things are as they should be.  Heaven is not tainted with sin; there is no pain, suffering and torment.  Heaven is my real home.  

God spoke to His people through the prophet Jeremiah when they were living as exiles in a strange land.  He said to them, " 'I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.' "  

But God's message did not end there.  He went on to give the reason for His plans.  "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."  (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

God has a plan for my life here in this foreign place.  It is a good plan that will not hurt me.  It is a plan that will give me hope and it assures me of potential for the days to come.  But it is not just for me, so that I will enjoy myself.  The purpose of the plan is so that I will seek God.  And when I seek God, I will find Him.

As I live like an alien in this world, if I would seek Him in every moment of this temporary existence, my life here would never be the same as I experience His presence.

As a follower of Jesus, I don't belong here.  That means that my ambition should be to please God, I must maintain an heavenly focus, and I can seek God as I live like an alien in a foreign land. 

Then I can truly say with all of my heart to, "take this world and give me Jesus!"*

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can live like I don't belong here.

How do I blend in with those who have no hope?

Is there a place in my life right now where I am driven by any ambition other than pleasing God?

 

*http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/lyricsdetail.php?lyrics_id=68970