Go! But first. . .

Then God said to Jacob,

'Go up at once to Bethel and live there.

Make an altar there to God,

who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.'

So Jacob told his household and all who were with him,

'Get rid of the foreign gods you have among you.

Purify yourselves

and change your clothes.

Let us go up at once to Bethel.

Then I will make an altar there to God,

who responded to me in my time of distress

and has been with me wherever I went.'"

Genesis 35:1-3

My daughter was so excited to begin her trip to New York City for a fashion and talent convention.  Her modeling school was taking a group of students to compete in the International Modeling and Talent Association's annual scouting event and she spent a lot of time preparing.  Before she could go, however, I had required that she finish her homeschool studies thus earning her high school degree.  Even though her heart was set on NYC, there were some details to which she had to attend before she would be ready.

It is not so different with me in my walk with the Lord.  He may call me to a particular mission, a certain ministry or a specific task.  Before I can jump in with both feet, however, I would be wise to consider a few items of preparation.

Purge

Finally the water was turned back on after some repairs had been completed to the pipes in our cul-de-sac.  The worker told me to run the water in the sinks for a few minutes to purge the lines from built up air and any debris that might have contaminated the lines.  As the water ran, I could see what he meant as the steady flow was interrupted by sputtering and knocking as the trapped air pockets left the system.  Soon, our water was flowing smoothly again.

In the same way that these air pockets can interrupt the flow of water into my home, so can attitudes, hobbies, relationships, careers, or a myriad of other pursuits come between me and God.  Anything that hampers the flow of the Holy Spirit into my life is considered to be an idol.

I can make anything a god when I give it more attention than I do the Lord.  Exercise used to be an idol for me.  While running and working out is beneficial to my health, it is not helpful when it takes up more space in my thoughts than does my Father.  

When I thought about how I could improve the time on my upcoming run more than I meditated on the sacrifice of Jesus, then I realized I had an idol problem.  When the new exercises I could include in my routine monopolized my thoughts instead of the mysterious ways of God, then what was considered as healthy and good had turned into a god.  When I found myself daydreaming about how great it felt when my feet were hitting the pavement and my lungs were breathing in the fresh air instead of focusing my mind on a particular passage of scripture, then it became apparent it was time to get rid of my obsession.

While many things can be beneficial, almost anything can become a passion that steals my thoughts, efforts and heart away from the Lord.  He is to be my one, true love.  

Before I can answer the call of God, it is vital that I purge my life of any and all idols.

Purify

Sometimes, water lines can become contaminated with bacteria or viruses.  In these rare cases, public health authorities issue a boil-water advisory, recommending to local residents that they boil drinking water for one-minute before using it.  This practice effectively kills these harmful organisms, producing a liquid that is safe for consumption.

While everyone wants clean water to drink and use for cooking, not many of us think about the purity of our hearts.  God reminds me of the importance of protecting the center from which everything in my life flows in Proverbs 4:23.  "Guard your heart with all vigilance, for from it are the sources of life." (NET)

In this day and age, it is easy to let sinful attitudes, selfish motivations, and indulgent pursuits monopolize my heart.  Then, I find myself driven by my own fleshly desires instead of the will of God.  

Therefore, I must be careful with how I spend my time.  If I have a little extra, I can either find something with which I can amuse myself on social media, or I can seek out wisdom to enrich my soul.

While I'm completing my work for the day, I can either think about what I'm going to do when I finish, or I can dwell on the scripture passage that stood out to me in my morning reading.  

When I'm driving to and from work, on my way to appointments or running errands, I can either take a walk down memory lane and listen to some golden oldies on the radio, or I can use the time to worship the Creator of all things through song.  In this life I can expect to reap what I sow:  Whatever I allow in will eventually come out in one way or another.

Before I can answer the call of God, it is vital that I purify myself of that which leads me astray.

Put On

It is said that I should dress the way I want to be addressed since I live in a world that judges by appearances.  While it may be important to make a good first impression, God is more concerned about a different kind of clothing.

Paul gave some great advice to me as I live in a time that is moving quickly toward the day of my salvation.  He reminds me how important it is to live decently, avoiding the dark temptations that lurk all around me, sticking instead to the light.  Instead of putting on some kind of superhero costume to help me negotiate the shadows where my enemy prowls, however, I am called to clothe myself with Christ Jesus Himself (Romans 13:11-14).

Replacing my own sinful desires with my true identity in Christ is a necessary daily practice.  Instead of thinking of myself as my own to treat as I see fit, to go where I want to go, and to act in the way that seems right to me, I must remember I belong to Christ (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).  

When I find it natural to put myself down, I must remember I am infinitely valuable as one who was made in the very image of God (Genesis 1:27). In place of letting myself go down to the pit of despair as I think of all the wrongs I have committed, I can remember that I am redeemed and nothing can separate me from His great love (1 Peter 1:18-19, Romans 8:38-39).

Before I can answer the call of God, I must put on the Lord Jesus Christ.

God has a great plan for my life.  When He calls me to move forward in faith, I want to be ready.  Before I jump, however, it is important that I purge myself of all idols, purify myself of anything that could distract, and clothe myself with Christ Jesus.  In these ways I will prepare myself to answer His great call.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can take the time to prepare before I jump ahead.

When do I let sinful attitudes seep into my consciousness?

In what ways do I forget my identity in Christ? 


Originally published on August 28, 2013

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?     

Returning to the Lord

"So Samuel said to all the Israelites,

'If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts,

then rid yourselves of the foreign gods

and the Ashtoreths

and commit yourselves to the LORD

and serve him only, 

and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.'"

1 Samuel 7:3

The hem of His robe flapped in the wind as I walked by His side.  I drew comfort from the sound that reassured me of His presence.  Joy welled up inside as I gazed upon His loving countenance.  A gentle breeze stirred among the trees as we strolled along the narrow path.  As it grew rocky, I felt my heart flutter, unsure of my footing.   A single glance toward Him, however, was all I needed to restore my confidence in my foothold.

A sweet bunny hopped across the path, headed deep into the forest.  I was drawn as if by an unseen, irresistible force.  Just for a moment.  I will follow it only for a few feet.  I just want to see where it went.  It seemed innocent enough, this sideways jaunt off the path.  My Master will be there when I return.  Not to worry. 

Before I knew what was happening, I was all turned around, confused after only a few minutes of following the meandering trail of the forest creature.  Where is the path?  I must be close, but I don't see it.  This seemed like such a good idea at the time, but now that I'm lost deep in the woods, I wish I could see just a glimpse of my Shepherd.  Only a glance would set my mind at ease.  Why, oh why, did I leave the path of life?

The people of Israel were just like you and me; prone to fall away from the Lord.  As a result, God sent judges to His ancient people, using these leaders to get the people back on track.  In order for this repentance to be deemed as authentic, both for them and for us, it must be accompanied by certain actions.

Wholehearted Devotion

My heart was not in it.  For nearly twenty years, I did what I thought I should.  I read my Bible a few times a week.  Sunday mornings were set aside for church, sometimes even Sunday night.  I tried to talk about God, giving credit to Him when appropriate, although His name felt foreign to my lips. I offered up the obligatory prayer before meals and at bedtime.  I wanted to do right, but it seemed I couldn't stop thinking about myself, my plans and my problems long enough to seek God. (Isaiah 29:13) My spiritual life was quite shallow and unfulfilling.

One day, God introduced Himself to me in the form of a Bible study.  Experiencing God, by Henry Blackaby and Claude King, opened my eyes to the truth of His presence in my life and vividly showed me how I can see Him at work all around me and even join in with what He is doing.  Incredible!  This idea of living with Him, in His presence, was so different from what I had been experiencing.  Suddenly, my faith was alive and I found myself wanting more and more of Him.

God did not send Jesus to die a horrible death on the cross so that I could live an unrewarding, meaningless and lifeless existence.  No!  He sent His Son so that I could bear fruit that lasts, experience abundance and flourish like a tree planted by streams of water. (John 15:8,16; John 10:10; John 8:36; Psalm 1:1-3)  Instead, I often choose my own way, fearing to let go of my own desires, unwilling to surrender my plans that seem so good, and hesitating to take the plunge into the sea of life.

Once I do take a chance and jump into the deep waters where Jesus is found, I discover that it is more than I could have ever imagined.  My faith grows as I trust Him more each day.  The bond between us grows stronger as I place more and more of my life into His hands, opening the deepest parts of my heart to Him.  A peace that is beyond my comprehension floods my heart and mind.  Now this is living, I think to myself.  What was a waiting for all those years?

If my repentance is real, it will be marked by a wholehearted devotion to God and His ways.

Purge

A little bit won't hurt, I tried to reassure myself as I stirred up the pot of delicious stew simmering over the campfire.  As I added all the ingredients, a fly had somehow found it's way into the pot.  Before I knew what was happening, it was a part of our dinner.  While I didn't relish the thought of including the disease-laden insect in my family's meal, I tried to justify my willingness to serve such a contaminated dinner by telling myself we were camping so anything goes.  In reality, even one fly is enough to ruin a whole batch of stew.

This is often how I deal with sin.  I figure that as long as I get rid of most of it, I'll be okay.  But even a little bit of envy can steal my contentment.  Even a dab of anger can grow a root of bitterness.  Even a tiny amount of lust can lead my heart away from my one, true Love.

Therefore, it is important that I do as God instructed the Israelites to do and remove every trace of idols and foreign gods.  God knows how easily influenced His people are by temptations that appeal to my fleshly desires, worldly mindsets that contaminate godly thinking, or enticing promises of power and prestige that interrupt God-honoring priorities.  (1 John 2:16)  If I leave even a trace of the sin in my life, it threatens to lead me away from Jesus.

As His child, then, true repentance is marked by a desire to completely purge my life from what offends Him.  If I am convicted to give up curse words, for example, I can't give myself a pass when I'm driving in traffic, figuring that God won't mind if I vent a little.  If God pricks my heart, impressing upon me the importance of giving up offensive movies, I can't allow myself to watch a film laden with dirty language and sex scenes just because it received an Oscar.  Or, if I know God wants me to use my time in a way that honors Him, justfying the hours frittered away in social media because I need a little "down time" won't satisfy God's jealous nature.

If my repentance is real, it will be marked by a true effort to purge my life of the sin that offends my holy Father.

Serve

My Plans.

My Desires.

My Dreams.

My Time.

My Money.

My Family.

My Life.

I like to think they all belong to me.  In the words of Jimi Hendrix, "I'm the one who has to die when its time for me to die, so let me live my life, the way I want to."

While it may seem like common sense that everything in my life belongs to me, when I enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ, He becomes Lord of my life.  Now I have a new Master.  Instead of me being the author of my life, Jesus has stepped into that position.  Since He's not a bully, however, He will not forceably take headship.  Instead, He waits until I relinquish control, letting Him step into His rightful place as Lord of my life; a position which He gave His life as a ransom to purchase. (1 Corinthians 6:20)

Therefore, when I want to serve my own interests, I can instead be all about my Father's business.  When I am tempted to run after the things I think I need, becoming a slave to my hunger, I can let my Father provide what He sees fit.  When I give my life in service to my family, dedicating myself to it's health and the well-being of every member, I can try serving God instead, placing my loved ones in His capable hands.

It is easy to let other people, pursuits or passions take the place of God in my life.  When I choose to cater to the needs of myself and others instead of following God and God alone, I am in danger of being unfaithful to Him.  If I make it my heart's desire to do only as He bids, then I will never go wrong.  Merely doing what I think is right will always lead to destruction.  (Proverbs 14:12)  

If my repentance is real, it will be marked by my endeavor to serve God and only Him.

I have much in common with the people of Israel who were prone to wander.  Likewise, I find it much easier to fall off the path of life than to keep my foot steady upon its hard surface.  Therefore, it is important that I turn toward God in repentance of my wayward ways.  When I do, I will know if this change is real by whether I am giving Him all of me, if I'm willing to rid myself of all temptation, and if I serve only God.  In these ways I will know that I am truly returning to the Lord.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can keep my eyes on Jesus.

When do I get distracted by things that don't really matter?

How am I easily discouraged from living a pure life?