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

What it Means to Know the Lord

"'But a beautiful cedar palace does not make a great king!

Your father, Josiah, also had plenty to eat and drink.

But he was jut and right in all his dealings.

That is why God blessed him.

He gave justice and help to the poor and needy,

and everything went well for him.

Isn't that what it means to know me?'

says the LORD."

Jeremiah 22:15-16 NLT

What does it mean to know the Lord?  To only seek my own blessing, build my own kingdom, trust Him to meet my own needs?  Or is there more?

What about the lost, those who have been duped into believing this life is all about running after worldly treasures even though they won't last?  Or those who are unknowingly looking in the wrong place for answers?  Or those who are oppressed by the enticing powers of evil in this dark world?

I have the Words of Life, the Good News that will set them free!  I know the goodness of God and the peace and liberty that comes when I enter His fold.  Isn't it His will that I generously share the enlightening message that the lost so desperately need?  To give the Living Water to the thirsty and the Bread of Life to the hungry (John 4:14, 6:35)?  What good is every blessing that comes down to me from God through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ if I never share His Kingdom with others?

This is what it means to know the Lord.

Who am I Hurting?

"'Pray no more for these people, Jeremiah.

Do not weep or pray for them,

and don't beg me to help them,

for I will not listen to you.

Don't you see what they are doing throughout the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?

No wonder I am so angry!

Watch how the children gather wood

and the fathers build sacrificial fires.

See how the women knead dough

and make cakes to offer to the Queen of Heaven.

And they pour out liquid offerings to their other idol gods!

Am I the one they are hurting?' asks the LORD.

'Most of all, they hurt themselves,

to their own shame.'"

Jeremiah 7:16-19 NLT

I dishonor God by failing to acknowledge Him as sovereign and staying true to Him alone.  But mostly it hurts me as I remove myself from all that is good and right (James 1:17).  How so?

Cultivate.  What seeds am I sowing?  What attitudes do I nurture?  What activities and mindsets do I promote, especially as a parent and a believer who is always watched by those around me?  If I look closely, I discover that I cultivate a spirit of busyness, pride in accomplishments, emphasis on education yet I ignore God, as if He is simply a means to another end.  Instead of looking to Him as the Source, as the Purpose, as my All in all, I use Him as the power to drive my agenda and to make my own selfish plans come to fruition.

While this sort of ungodly focus does fail to show respect and regard for God who is worthy to be praised at all times, it also hurts me.  It is to my own shame that I fail to see the value in connecting with God throughout my day, in teaching my children to look to Him as their source of wisdom, understanding and help, in growing in my bond with Him by trusting Him with every decision that must be made and every insecurity that wears me down.  I am made for relationship with God so when I neglect this higher purpose, I am missing a big chunk of what it is to be human as my Creator intended.

When I commit to cultivating my relationship with God, I am opening myself up to many blessings.

Dedication.  I faithfully attend church every time the doors are open.  I can be counted on to raise my hand whenever help is needed.  I'm devoted to the disciplines of my faith; reading the Bible daily, praying, fasting, discipling others.  I work hard to live a pure and holy life as is expected of me (1 Peter 1:15).  While I know the law doesn't save me, I try hard to adhere to it out of reverence to God.  Yet something is missing.

On the surface, it seems I am living the kind of life that would please God, that would give Him great pleasure, yet I'm missing the point.  You see, I am dedicated to a religion instead of a relationship with God.  I fail to perceive the God who is behind everything I'm doing as a living, breathing God who can be known and who desires that I grow closer to Him each day.  As my bond with Him grows, I'll find I'll want to gather with other believers and serve as He moves me.  As He and I become more intimate, I'll discover that a deep desire for the disciplines will well up inside of me like a hunger that must be satisfied, and a longing will develop to walk according to His indwelling Spirit who leads me in a way that honors His law (Galatians 5:16-18).  I am made for God, so when I dedicate myself to religious activity, I am missing out on the sweet thrill of drawing close to the One who made me and loves me perfectly.

When I dedicate myself to the Lord Himself as a living, breathing God, I am opening myself up to many blessings.

Sacrifice.  There are many gods to whom I can sacrifice.  I give up family time, a social life, and my health in order to taste success.  I surrender free time so that I can build up my bank account as I believe every responsible adult should.  I want a nice house and car so I work hard and reward myself with the finer things.  In order to taste happiness, I go after my dreams.  

This is the way most of us live our lives, willingly giving up lesser things in order to gain what is deemed as more valuable.  Yet in my desire to realize the American dream, I forget about the One who gives me life and breath.  Without Him, I wouldn't even exist let alone be able to run after all that I think will fulfill me.  I can even fool myself into believing that Jesus died so I can taste a rich and meaningful life, so He must want me to live life to the fullest, making the most of every opportunity to reach my full potential.  The problem is, I ignore God Himself, failing to realize the best way I can keep from wasting the one life I've been given is to honor Him by giving myself to Him as a living sacrifice, offering myself up as an instrument of righteousness to be used as He best sees fit (Romans 6:13, 12:1).  This is the kind of sacrifice that He desires.

When I sacrifice myself to the Lord, I am opening myself up to many blessings.

I dishonor God in many ways as I fail to acknowledge that He is at the center of all things.  I nurture the wrong things, commit myself to religion or tradition, and I surrender myself to what is temporary and shallow. When I live in such a way, I do more damage to myself than to God.  I was meant for so much more than all these things.  I was made for Him, and when I cultivate a bond with Him, dedicate myself to Him, and sacrifice my own will for His, I will discover what it is to live the good life.  I am only hurting myself when I live fail to live for Him!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can taste the riches God has in store for me by drawing close to Him.  

When do I focus on doing for God instead of getting to know Him?

How much do I know God for myself?

     

Religion is Not the Answer

"But I will be merciful only if you stop your evil thoughts and deeds and start treating each other with justice;

only if you stop exploiting foreigners, orphans, and widows;

only if you stop your murdering;

and only if you stop harming yourselves by worshiping idols.

Then I will let you stay in this land

that I gave to your ancestors to keep forever."

Jeremiah 7:5-7 NLT

I live in a land that values freedom.  As a result, according to the Bill of Rights, I have the liberty to live as I see fit, to live out my faith, to live according to God's moral standard.  Yet I fail to take advantage of this freedom and begin to coast along, veering away from God's intended purpose for His people.  Many hearts have likewise turned away from Him.  

I see how far removed from God we've become as a nation, but I can't imagine He would take His hand of mercy away from America because of our forefather's acknowledgement of Him.  But I'm wrong.  We are not special because of our heritage or our freedom.  And just because religion is everywhere and I'm free to believe whatever I want does not mean God looks the other way when it comes to the hearts of His people.  What then must I do to turn this country around?

Repent.  Soup kitchens.  Charity.  Volunteerism.  Elderly visitation.  Shut-in ministries. Prison outreach. There is a myriad of opportunities for believers to invest in the community, to get involved with the good God is doing, to shine their light.  As I see the world become darker, it's my tendency to amp up my efforts as a way to counteract the evil, to overwhelm the bad, to outshine the darkness.  But does all my hard work do any good?  Does it make a difference in the eternal scheme of things?  Does it make a dent in the change that must come?

I'd like to think my commitment to giving back to my community will help combat all that's wrong in this country, but the real problem has already been solved by a Savior who gave His life in order to make a way for mankind to be reconciled with God and thus find a better way to live (2 Corinthians 5:17-18).  Jesus is the key that opens the door to right living, and only by turning away from my old ways and committing to Him by faith can I follow His indwelling Spirit and do what pleases God in order to accomplish that which makes an eternal difference (John 15:5, Galatians 5:16-17, 22-23).  If even a third of Americans repented of their sins, wrong living, and harmful attitudes and actions, turning to Jesus by faith, think what a difference it would make in the atmosphere, in the direction we are headed as a nation, in the tone of politics.  The Light would shine into the darkness and the darkness would not be able to put it out (John 1:5, Psalm 18:28).

The answer is not a commitment to a tradition of doing good but in an intimate relationship with a living God through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.  

Exploitation.  A heavy burden is placed on many shoulders.  Much is expected of even the weak among us.  The vulnerable are oppressed, held back by the overwhelming load adding to their already uphill battle.  Instead of feeling hope and support from those who call themselves church family, the poor, the orphan, the widow, and the unbeliever feel discouraged and ostracized, shamed by their position and circumstances, crushed by the weight of their helplessness.  Some are even pushed into unthinkable solutions to unbearable problems as the life of the innocent growing inside her young womb is snuffed out in an effort to give her a future.  Those in charge call it a necessary evil in order to bring about the greater good.  The church often gets the cart before the horse and fails to follow the leading of the Spirit of God in ministering to the needy.  Thus, man messes up what God intended.  

Much exploitation occurs within the walls of the church when the helpless and hopeless come to her for assistance.  Instead of offering true Life, healing, purpose and an eternal future through repentance and faith in the Christ, programs are presented, forms are filled out, inconceivable resolutions are offered, unreasonable expectations are required.  If all who came to the Body of Christ for help became part of His family by faith, they would receive all they ever needed from their Father above (Matthew 6:33, Philippians 4:19), and He would often use His people to give what is necessary.  Then the kingdom of God would grow and His culture of perfect provision would prevail.

The answer is not an investment in the religion of following rules made by man but in an intimate relationship with a living God through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

Deceit.  Many popular teachers speak words that sound good, tell me what I want to hear, give me a feeling of well-being that serves as a pick-me-up (2 Timothy 4:3).  Their ratings soar as their books fly off the shelf.  As a result of their fame, I buy into their brand of religion, believing the deceptive teachings that make me the center, the focus, the emphasis.  Instead of mankind's purpose being to bring glory to God and enjoy a close bond with Him, the reason for living that comes from their mouths is all about my fulfillment, my happiness, my success.  I begin to fashion my own god based on what I hear and he takes on a life of his own as I cuddle up to this soft and comfortable idol who resembles little of what makes the One True God magnificent and worthy of praise.  

I'm seeing a trend in "Christianity" today where beliefs are based not on God's Word, but have been adjusted to accommodate the culture, the flesh, and is based on man's own understanding.  Not comfortable with the exclusive nature of marriage?  Man's solution is to expand it's parameters and include all who claim to love each other truly.  Not sure if a loving God would really judge His image bearers based on their sin?  Man's solution is to deny the coming judgment and fashion a god who is not offended by sin (1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Hebrews 9:6, Psalm 51:4).  Don't like the idea that we must give up our independence, our bent toward the flesh in order to follow Jesus?  Man's solution is to present a God who accepts us as we are, sin and all and gives us a life that is easy, where all our dreams come true (Matthew 16:24-25, Romans 3:23, 6:23).  If all who sought God accepted Him as He is through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, our culture would become more pleasing to God and pleasant for mankind.

The answer is not adherence to a set of comfortable beliefs created by man to suit his needs, but in an intimate relationship with a living God through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

When times get tough, people often go to church.  But religion will not save us from the direction our country is now headed, or from the consequences of our actions. We need a more permanent solution that is offered to those who let go of their own desire to control and do things their own way and surrender by faith to Jesus Christ.  He is the answer because faith in Jesus reconciles man with God, connecting believers to the One who can set all things right again.  Let us not wait.  May many turn to Jesus now, for He is the answer!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to accept the solution He offers.

When do I try to solve problems my way?

How have I drifted away from the reality of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and bought into something else altogether?

     

Stand in the Breach

"So he said he would destroy them--

had not Moses, his chosen one,

stood in the breach before him

to keep his wrath from destroying them."

Psalm 106:23 NIV

I am no different from the Israelites, failing in many ways to live up to God's standards, to meet His expectations, to faithfully place all my trust in Him.  This God who rules over all the earth in His magnificent sovereignty is not One to cross.  It is a terrible thing to fall under His wrath, into His hands (Hebrews 10:31).

Since my unfaithfulness, my periods of doubt, my selfish ways can incite His wrath just as it did for the Israelites, I need a Moses to stand in the breach, to protect me from His horrible fury that my sin incites.  In standing between God and the wayward people, Moses shielded the guilty ones from being destroyed.  In the same way, Jesus stands in the gap, protecting me from the wrath of God my sins have provoked (Colossians 1:21-22, Romans 5:10). 

Now that I'm in Christ, it's not that God has changed and is no longer infuriated by sin, but that Jesus stands between me and what I truly deserve.  It is true that if I had to face God myself, without the covering of Jesus' blood, I could not stand before Him (Psalm 130:3).  Instead, through faith in Jesus I am forgiven and in right standing with God, despite my unworthiness (Romans 6:23).

Thankfully, Jesus is my Moses.

Test.  I test God's character by my blatant disregard for His sovereign nature.  Problems rise up and I panic, as if God is not in control. Just like the Israelites who had been cared for by God yet lost their composure when there was no water, acting as if they didn't have a God who had delivered them from the heavy hand of a stubborn Pharaoh and parted the Red Sea to provide an escape route.  Instead, they freaked out, thinking they would die of exposure and dehydration (Exodus 17:1-7).

Despite the fact that I often do the same, failing to acknowledge the fact that I have a Father who cares for my needs or refusing to wait for Him to lead me like a Shepherd, I am protected from His rightful anger.  Instead, I only receive His love, grace and mercy as He reminds me of His tender loving care for me, all because Jesus is my go-between (Hebrews 4:14-16).

Jesus stands in the breach for me, between my unfaithfulness and a faithful God.

Ungodly Exchange.  God made me to reflect His glory, to worship at His feet, to enjoy His presence forever, yet I exchange this sacred privilege for something more base.  I turn to worldly pleasures that seem to temporarily quench a desire in my flesh as a cheap substitute for drinking from the satisfying streams of life that come from His unconditional love.  Or I seek out the approval of people in my quest for meaning in life in place of pursuing His esteem.  Or I worship at the altar of success instead of acknowledging the greatness of the One who made me and His plan for me.

He wants my undivided attention, my complete adoration, my whole heart.  Instead, I am distracted by the trivial, worship Him haphazardly, and give him only fragments of what I feel I can let Him have of me.  I don't deserve such a perfectly attentive God who desires my trust, yet in Christ, I have Him, even if I fail to give Him what He truly wants. 

Jesus stands in the breach for me, between my infidelity and a jealous God.

Forget. He never forgets me.  I am always on His mind.  If He had a refrigerator, my picture would be on it, front and center.  Why, then, do I forget Him, letting Him slip from my thoughts, setting Him aside as I tend to the details of my life?  He wants to be in the midst of it with me, slugging through the slop with me instead of me doing it on my own.  I forget how intimate a Father I have through faith in Jesus Christ.

God wants me to remember that He is my only hope when things seem hopeless, that He is my best bet when life seems like a crap shoot, that He is the only One I can count on when I feel all alone.  I can put all my eggs in His basket, yet I tend to withhold a few, just in case.  I don't put all my weight on Him, forgetting He is there waiting to carry my load for me.  If He gave me what I deserved for turning away from Him again and again, I would be destroyed as He wanted to do to the Israelites. Yet, I have hope in Christ!

Jesus stands in the breach for me, between my forgetfulness and a powerful, sovereign God.

I fail in many ways, just like God's people of old.  And just like them, I need someone to stand between me and the God I often test, fail to submit to as Lord, and forget of His faithfulness.  In these ways I could be inciting His righteous anger just like the Israelites did.  They had Moses to stand between them and God, and I have Jesus.  And through Christ, I get the best God has to offer.  May I never take His sacrifice for granted but treasure it thoroughly in the way I live in respect of Him.

As I begin this day I pray I can remember that God's love drove Him to send Jesus to stand in the breach. 

Have I pondered how Jesus bore God's wrath so I did not have to?

Do I ever think of the wrathful side of God and consider how I've been saved from it because of what Jesus has done for me?  How do I respond in the way I live my life?      

Companionship

"'Don't let your hearts be troubled.

Trust in God, and trust also in me.

there is more than enough room in my Father's home.

If this were not so,

would I have told you that I am going 

to prepare a place for you?

When everything is ready,

I will come and get you,

so that you will always be with me where I am.

And you know the way to where I am going.'"

John 14:1-3 NLT

God is all about togetherness.  He has been from the beginning.  He wants to enjoy closeness with me.  He made me for Himself.  So, when He sent Jesus, its no surprise that His mission was restoration of this bond that has been broken by sin (Romans 5:10, John 3:17).  It's what He really wants; for us to be together.

What does this companionship with God look like in the here and now?

Connection.  There is only one God, but three parts.  Our God is a triune God: each person separate and distinct, yet completely and fully God.  In the relationship of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I see a picture of what it means for me to be connected to God.

Jesus is the conduit, the delivery system that transports all the good things from God to us.  In His death, I am offered abundant, eternal life, all through faith in Jesus.  Therefore, it is vital that I stay connected to this delivery system, Jesus, in order to continue receiving the power I need to live a fruitful life.  I can't produce the fruit on my own.  It comes from my connection to Jesus (John 15:5)  

Jesus demonstrated the need I have for my heavenly Father when He walked the earth as a man.  He said, "Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does." (John 5:19) There is a relationship there where the Son resembles the Father in character, but all power and authority comes from the Father.  He is the source.  

Jesus set the example but He is also the only way to the Father (John 14:6). Therefore, I must stay connected to Jesus to receive the power to live as I'm called to live.  This ability to love, to have peace that makes no sense, to experience joy, to be able to wait, it all comes straight from the Father, delivered through the Son and installed into my operating system by the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

Jesus is my connection to my Father as the Source and His Spirit is the manifestation of that relationship.

Exchange.  To live as a child of God through faith in Jesus, I must stop fighting against Him.  In order to live in His house as His daughter, I must yield to His plan for my life.  As a rule, what God wants for me is at odds with what I want for myself (Galatians 5:17).  Therefore, if I am to live in the peace with God that Jesus secured for me, I must stop resisting His work and let Him have His way.

Jesus beautifully and powerfully modeled this obedience to His Father's bidding when He agonized in the Garden of Gethsemane before His trial, suffering and death.  As He prayed to His Father, dreading the horrible ordeal He was facing, He appealed to Him, asking His Father to "take this cup of suffering away from me." (Luke 22:42a NLT)  Then, in submission to His Father's wishes He continued, "Yet I want your will to be done, not mine." (v 42b NLT)  This is to be my attitude as well.

Companionship with God means exchanging my will for His.

Enjoy.  Contrary to popular belief, religion is not dry and boring.  Well, maybe religion is, but relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ and expressed by the Holy Spirit in my heart is meant to be enjoyed.  It is what I was made for so it makes sense that it would be what brings the greatest sense of fulfillment and joy (Psalm 37:4, Matthew 6:33).

The Sons of Korah, those singers of psalms, knew the joy that comes from living in relationship with the One who made them.  They sang to the Lord, "Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere." (Psalm 84:10)  Were they saying the most fulfilling service is that which is done to the Lord, or were they speaking of their relationship with God?  Since one came through the court in order to enter into the King's presence or to draw close to God in His temple, I believe they were singing of communion with their Father.  There is nothing better than to be in the presence of the Lord, for that is what I was made for!

I was created to live in relationship with God, and this companionship is where joy is found.

Loneliness is perhaps one of mankind's greatest modes of suffering.  It hurts to live this life alone and I was not meant for such agony.  Instead, I was made for relationship, primarily with the One who made me.  Therefore, when I enter into a personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ I'll find the connection with Him is vital, and that it is necessary to stop fighting against Him and exchange His will for mine, and that I was meant to enjoy Him forever.  This is the companionship for which I was made.  This is the companionship for which I have been searching.  This is true companionship!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to let my guard down so that He can draw as close as He wants to me.

When am I afraid of intimacy with God?

How am I resisting His will in my life?

Boundaries

"These are the boundaries around

the people of Judah

by their clans."

Joshua 15:12b

The land was wide open, theirs for the taking.  They could have settled anywhere, taking their pick of the land.  God, however, is a God of order and He determined for each tribe to have their own distinct allotment.  With clear, well-defined boundaries, each clan member knew what belonged to him; there was no question.

The same is true for me today.  While I've not been given land, I do have benefits that come with responsibilities, and there are clear boundaries of which I must observe.

Love

I tried to love her but her words cut deeply, wounding my heart and offending my pride.  I wanted to show compassion for her difficult situation, but her complaining and negativity turned me off.  There were times when this woman pushed me to the edge, tempting me to react in anger.

I have a friend who is difficult to love.  As a follower of Christ, I read in God's Word that my life is to be a testimony to the love of God.  (Mark 12:34)  The world that is watching will know I belong to Him because of the love I show to my brothers and sisters.  Even more, though, is the expectation that I love all the unbelievers God places in my life.  (Mark 12:31)

In my ignorance, then, I set out to love out of my own effort.  I think that if I try hard enough, I can conjure up some compassion as I put myself in the shoes of another.  Or, I believe I can respond in kindness to those who treat me like yesterday's rubbish if I simply try to look beneath the harshness to see the hurting heart.  Sometimes I even foolishly think I am able to reach out to help those in need without expecting any kind of acknowledgment for my efforts.

Not surprisingly, I find my own compassion, kindness and desire to help runs dry as I continue in my own strength.  If I don't find an outside source, the shallow well of inferior love that is found in my own heart will come to an end.  God is that Source.  He is love, and His love is perfect.

When my family and I first moved into our current home, we hadn't unpacked our household goods.  Since we had a newly planted tree in our front yard, I needed to give it water each day to help it adapt to its new home and to encourage strong root growth.  Unfortunately, I hadn't found the hose yet so I used a bucket to supply the life-giving water to the tree.  Once the pail was empty, however, I had to return to the source to refill, necessitating many trips back to the faucet on the side of the house.  The day I found the hose I rejoiced!  Now I could simply supply water to the tree directly from the source.

It is the same with love.  I am unable to love in the way God expects me to love.  I can only love because He first loved me, and it is only His love that can astound the world and draws the lost to Him. (1 John 4:16-19)  My own efforts to love fall far short from what God can do if I stay connected to Him. (John 15:5)

I am called to love with the perfect, never-ending supply found in God, not in my own sub-standard, meager stores.

Holiness

"Surely God will be kind to you because of what you've done for Him.  He will give you what you want because of your sacrifice."  This was the logic my Muslim friend dispensed when I told her my husband's need for a job.  In her mind, God is like a man, susceptible to manipulation and observing a kind of barter system.

In reality, God's ways are far above my own. (Isaiah 55:8-9) As my Father, God knows my needs and gives me what He deems best according to His own plan and purpose for my life.  (Matthew 6:31-33)  Therefore, I would be wise to understand His holy nature.  As He is separate from the world's ways and pure of any contaminate, I am called to live similarly.

If I judge myself according to my own sense of righteousness, however, I will find myself becoming judgmental of others while cutting myself slack.  I will expect the impossible from my brothers and sisters while I give myself a pass.  I will find that I spend more time focused on what others need to fix instead of repenting of that which contaminates my own heart.

God calls me to follow His example of holiness, not because I am special or better than anyone else, but due to the fact that I am so weak. (1 Peter 1:13-16)  It is easy for me to fall back into my old ways, acting as if I don't have the power over sin that Jesus supplies. (Romans 6:11-14) In order for me to stand firm against temptation, then, I will need to be aware of my own susceptibility.  I must separate myself from that which lures me backward, seeing sin for what it is: An affront to a holy God.

I am called to live a holy life, but can only stand firm in a fallen world by the grace of a holy God.

Relationship

Jesus never ran after anyone.  He spoke the truth, called for repentance, loved those who had never before experienced such compassion, but He never chased after those who walked away.  Instead, He worked with the one who came down out of the tree to see the Savior, or the woman who took a chance and touched His cloak, or the men who left their nets on the shore in order to follow Him.  (Luke 19:5-6, Luke 8:43-48, Matthew 4:18-22)  

I am called to make disciples of all the world. (Matthew 28:19-20)  In light of this commandment, it's easy for me to become overzealous, desperately trying to force those in my path to see the truth of the Gospel.  I know its power to transform lives, introduce peace into chaos and deliver a rich and meaningful life.  

While I may be able to see how my relationship with the self-professed atheist, the devout Muslim or the homeless alcoholic could serve to introduce Jesus into their desperately hopeless situation, I cannot force them to see their need for a Savior.  Only God can do that.  (John 6:44)

Therefore, when I set out to please people in my feeble attempts to attract the lost to the message that could save their lives, I must remember it is my devotion to Christ which is most important.  This reminds me of a movie I recently watched called, "Machine Gun Preacher." Sam Childers turned his life over to Christ and heard the call to help the war orphans of Sudan. In his quest to protect the innocent from the brutal rebel militia, however, he seemed to lose his connection to Christ.  Instead of letting God work through him to save these children, he used his own brand of warfare to fight the battle that lay before him.  Therefore, he grew into a bitter, angry man who would go to any length to accomplish the mission.

When I place the mission above my relationship with God, I have crossed a boundary set to protect me.  As Oswald Chambers wrote in My Utmost for His Highest, "Discipleship is based solely on devotion to Jesus Christ, not on following after a particular belief or doctrine."  I must not sacrifice my commitment to the person of Jesus in my quest to win souls for Him.

I am called to make disciples of all nations, but can only do so in tandem with Christ.

It is easy for me to go outside the borders God has set for me.  Thankfully, He has placed those boundaries in place to keep me inside His parameters so I can love others with his perfect love, live a holy life by His grace, and keep my relationship with Christ as my utmost ambition.  In these ways I will observe the boundaries God so wisely placed in my life.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can respect the holy nature of God.

When do I take a "no holds barred" approach to living for Christ?

How do I try to love others in my own strength instead of letting God love through me?