Used

"Now this man Micah had a shrine,

and he made an ephod and some household gods 

and installed one of his sons as his priest.

In those days Israel had no king;'

everyone did as they saw fit."

Judges 17:5

He and his mother were forced to move away from their home, settling instead in Bethlehem within her clan of Judah.  People had forgotten the ways of the Lord, neglecting to tithe. Therefore, this young man who had been set aside for service to the Lord by birthright could not provide for he and his mother (Numbers 18:20-24). Instead of staying put, then, they decided to return to the home of her youth.  Life there was difficult without the provision of the people's required offerings. 

So, one night, the young Levite crept away.  Telling no one, he started his journey, looking for adventure and somewhere else to stay.  Soon he came upon a man in Ephraim who had set up his own shrine.  When the man living there in the hills found out the young wanderer was a Levite, he was ecstatic. 

Micah used God by forming his own personal religion, employing the wandering Levite who was willing to be bought off.  Both men received what they sought; the young sojourner found a home where his Levitical heritage was respected, and the homeowner was given the opportunity to legitimize his religion.  I guess you could say it was a win-win arrangement.

Unfortunately, neither sought God's will in this situation.  Instead, both were a kind of lone-wolf, using God to fulfill their own visions.  While I may not go so far as to set up my own religion, I am in danger of going out on my own in some ways.  Therefore, I would be wise to remember the characteristics of God.

Sovereignty of God

I make my plans then ask God's help to carry them out.  I justify this risky way of living by telling myself that God must have given me these plans, or that the aspirations I have come from Him, or that He wants to help me make my dreams come true.  After all, I rationalize, God wants me to be happy, doesn't He?  

Unfortunately for me, I have a low view of God.  He is not here for my benefit, to cater to my desires or to make me look good.  How could the created lead the Creator (Isaiah 29:16)?  Instead, God is sovereign over all things.  He has a plan of which I know nothing, necessitating my connection to Him.  If I don't seek Him out, I'll have no idea what He wants me to do (Jeremiah 29:11-13).

Living with a respect for God's sovereign nature means I'll recognize His lordship over every part of my life, hindering my natural tendency to do what seems right to me.  Instead of following my own instincts or common sense, I'll seek out God in an effort to honor Him as King of my life (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Honoring God as sovereign also means I'll accept my place, embrace my calling and acknowledge the importance of the position in which He has placed me.  While its easy for me to complain about my current circumstances, compare myself to others and come up short or yearn for something more, I will show respect for God's dominion in my life by making the most of who He has made me to be, right where He has placed me (Romans 9:19-20).

Revering God as the One who is in charge of all things means I'll remember how He can use every situation to bring about good.  I can be sure He is right there with me, looking out for my own best interest, even when it doesn't feel good (Romans 8:28).

I honor God's sovereign nature when I let Him serve as Lord of my life instead of using Him as some kind of magic talisman that can get me what I want.

Holiness of God

The colors found in the desert rock formation reminded me of a sunset.  Sudden movement off to the side caught my attention as a chipmunk scurried up a large stone, perching there while munching on a nut like a spectator watching a sporting event.  A vulture circling above looking for prey gave me the impression of a car salesman making the rounds in his lot, trying to make a sale.  

Everything in all of creation can be compared to something else with which I am familiar.  Understanding comes when I measure the strange and unique against the common and recognizable.  In this way I can comprehend what seems difficult or just plain different.

When I try to use this same exercise to help me understand God, however, I get myself in trouble.  I attempt to compare the triune nature of God with the three forms of water: liquid, gas and solid.  Unfortunately, this contrast is not perfect.  Similarly, I may assess the fatherly nature of God as compared to my own earthly dad, leaving me with an inadequate description.  Hearing that God is my Shepherd, I try fitting Him into the mold of one who leads sheep.  While this gives me a good start to understanding His role as my Guide, it falls short of reaching the fullness of His nature.

Instead of trying to compare God to something in His creation, I must accept that I don't need to understand Him fully in order to follow Him.  His ways are higher than mine and His thoughts far superior to anything my mind can drum up (Isaiah 55:8-9). Therefore, there are some things about God that I must accept by faith, reminding myself of His holy nature.

I recognize the holiness of God when I embrace Him and His ways as He teaches me, resisting my tendency to want to understand before I'll accept.

Relational Aspect of God

It wasn't so much that he didn't understand that bothered me.  Rather, it was the fact that he didn't seem to care enough to try to find out what made me tick.  When I was going through that marriage crisis, it was my husband's desire to grow closer to me that I craved the most.

I think we can all agree that the desire to be known and loved is as basic as the need for sustenance.  For instance, while a baby may survive without being held, it will not thrive apart from some kind of affection.  We all need connection with others who care for us.

Being made in God's image, it is apparent that this need for connection comes from our Maker.  He desires relationship with me as His child and He wove this longing for Him within each one of us, although I often seek to fill this void with lesser things (Ecclesiastes 3:11).  His desire for me is that I would share my heart with Him, depend upon Him to fulfill my every need and to love Him as He created me to love, seeking to know Him more each day through His holy Word.  

This is apparent in the life of David who was known as a man after God's own heart even though he committed the worst of sins (Acts 13:22). It was his desire to do as God had commanded that drew Him closer to God.  God knew that He could trust David with important missions, but also with tender truths that fall close to His heart.

Obedience is the outward manifestation of one's heart.  If I am bent on doing things my own way, I will forsake the leading of the Lord and go off on my own.  If, however, I am mostly concerned with my relationship with Him, I will be careful to do as He says, being unwilling to sacrifice my connection to Him just so I can get my way.  In other words, preserving my relationship with the Lord weighs heavily on every decision I make.

I show my understanding of God's heart when I place my relationship with Him above everything else, seeking to grow closer to Him more and more with each passing day.

In the same way that Micah came up with his own form of religion, I am guilty of doing the same, using God to try to get what I want, thinking I can completely fathom His ways, and seeking to impress Him with my dependable service.  If I want to guard against these common mistakes, I must remember God's sovereign and holy nature as well as His highest desire for me to build my relationship with Him.  In these ways, I'll avoid the pitfalls of Micah and cease using God for my own benefit.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to do what He says even if I don't understand what He's doing.

When do I place my desire to get something out of God above my desire to grow closer to Him?

How do I use God like a magic talisman, hoping He will supernaturally make things work out to my benefit?


Originally Published on April 1, 2014

Stand in the Gap

"I looked for a man among them

who would build up the wall

and stand before me in the gap

on behalf of the land

so that I would not have to destroy it,

but I found none."

Ezekiel 22:30

Friday the 13th is an unlucky day.

A rabbit's foot brings good luck.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

To find a four leaf clover is to find good luck.

If you walk under a ladder you will have bad luck.

If a black cat crosses your path you will have bad luck.

Breaking a mirror will bring you seven years of bad luck.

Step on a crack, break your mother's back.

These are common superstitions that I have heard from the time I was a child.  Although I wouldn't say I believed these false notions, I am familiar with them and don't completely discount them.  I won't purposefully walk under a ladder, for instance, and the sight of a field of clovers always reminds me of the searches I conducted in my youth for the elusive four-leaf variety.

Luck has to do with chance, not purpose or design.  All of these seemingly harmless sayings and beliefs are an affront to the One and Only God who set all things in motion and in His sovereignty controls the universe.

How many silly beliefs do I allow into my life as a part of my consciousness?  Am I willing to stand in the gap of the wall of God's teachings, correcting untruths, repairing damage done by false beliefs and traditions, and building up the ways of the Lord in my home, neighborhood and community?

The wall around the holy city of Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonian army in 586 B.C.  In 445 B.C., Nehemiah led the effort to repair the walls, symbolizing the restoration of a nation devoted to God and His law.

In the same way, God is calling me to stand in the gap, to rebuild the walls destroyed by a culture that exalts self and worships celebrities, that falsely teaches that there are many ways to God and the truth is whatever you believe it to be.  


Could it be that God has placed me here for such a time as this?  

Know the Truth

Before an attorney can argue a case before a judge, he or she must know the law.  She must spend hours studying the law itself, previous rulings which interpreted these laws found in the case law records, and analyses of the law.  

Likewise, as one who claims to follow Christ, I must take the study of His Word seriously. The Bible is no ordinary book, however.  Studying it is not the same as analyzing the law or other scholarly text.   No, "For the word of God is living and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrated even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)

Studying God's Word will challenge me, teach me, warn me, correct me, and train me in righteousness so that I will be ready to do good things in His name. Scrutinizing and learning God's Word accomplishes more than imparting knowledge, it serves to transform my mind.  

Before I can agree to stand in the gap left by false teachings I must know the truth so that I will recognize the falsehoods. 

Take a Stand

It is believed, although not substantiated, that 18th Century philosopher Edmund Burke said, "All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing."  A cursory glance at history will confirm the truth behind this premise: Humans do not want to rock the boat, step outside our comfort zone or go against the majority.

I may not be faced with blatant evil, but darkness exists all around me.  Co-workers joke about the latest sitcom episode in which God's name is maligned and His values mocked.  Loud music filled with profanity and messages uplifting the degradation of women reach the ears of youngsters playing in the neighborhood.  A friend offers to loan me a book written by a preacher known for a teaching that plays to my selfish desire for happiness but denies the truth of the Gospel.   

These are all examples of opportunities when I can take a stand for God's ways.  The Apostle Paul gives me some strong advice as he closes his letter to the believers at Corinth.  He said, "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong."  He encouraged me to watch out for false teachings, dig my heals in to keep from being drug along by accepted ways of thinking, to be brave enough to go against popular opinion and to be tough enough to not take any attacks personally.

This kind of action must also be taken on by the church as a Body.  As speaker and author Mary Nelson said, "The church is the glue that keeps us together when we disagree.  It is the gasoline that keeps us going during the tough times.  It is the guts that enables us to take risks when we need to."  

There is no need for me to act as a "Lone Ranger," roaming around looking for false teachings and standing alone against them.  Although there will be times when I am personally called to action, there are also many times in which the Body needs to stand together for the Truth.

The time to take a stand for God's ways and His Word is now, before the Truth is diluted down to a watery story, devoid of the power to save.

Rooted in Love

There is a Romanian proverb that says, "You will catch more flies with a spoonful of honey than with a gallon of vinegar."  Although the only reason to catch flies, in my opinion, would be to kill them, there is a point to this saying that I don't want to miss.  If I want to get my point across, I must be kind and respectful.  As the saying goes, "No one will care what you know until they know that you care."

As followers of Christ, we are to be known for our love.  Not my love, but the love of Christ.  Love is our distinguishing feature, our flag of identity, our characteristic attribute.  So often, though, we are known more for what we are against.  

When I am rooting a plant cutting, the best medium to use is moist soil, contrary to popular belief.  A plant rooted in soil will form stronger roots than those rooted in water, giving it a better chance to survive once the plant's roots are established.  Then, the strong new plant can be transplanted into it's permanent home.

In a similar way, I am rooted in the love of Jesus, the preferred medium for growing new roots.  His love gives me a better chance at growing as a new believer, encouraging tender new leaves to form as I rest in His love and acceptance.  Once I begin to absorb the nutrients that come with His love, I begin to establish my roots, growing them deeper as they reach toward His living water.  He becomes my most important sustenance and source of love.

This love that flows through me can then pour out to others, unencumbered by fear or judgement.  Love turns a harsh rebuke into a tender question, a cruel verdict into a compassionate caution, or a hard opinion into a caring word of guidance.  

"Speaking the truth in love. . ." is my mantra, helping me to take a stand without inflicting pain and injury. (Ephesians 4:15)

Who will stand in the gap? I will as I learn the Truth so I am equipped to recognize the false teachings all around me and will be able to take a stand in a way that glorifies my loving God.

I will stand in the gap!

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that it will be my highest goal to glorify God in whatever I do.

How do I fail to take a stand for the truth in my daily life?

When do I take a stand, but do it in a harsh and unloving manner?