What's Your Name?

"But Joash shouted to the mob that confronted him,

'Why are you defending Baal?

Will you argue his case?

Whoever pleads his case will be put to death by morning!

If Baal truly is a god, let him defend himself

and destroy the one who broke down his altar!'

From then on Gideon was called Jerub-baal,

which means,

'Let Baal defend himself,'

because he broke down Baal's altar."

Judges 6:31-32 NLT

President Benjamin Harrison was called "Kid Gloves" because he wore the hand coverings to protect his skin from its tendency for infection.

In high school, Jerry Lewis' nickname was "Id," short for idiot.

Carole Marsciarelli became known as "Penny" because as a child she saved up pennies to buy a horse.  We now know her as Penny Marshall.

Flip Wilson earned his stage name while serving in the U.S. Air Force when one of his bunk mates said, "He flippeth his lid."

Many times nicknames come about because of a certain behavior or practice, or due to a particular incident that occurred.  Gideon was no different.  He earned the nickname "Jerubbaal" because he had the courage to defy his father and the townspeople by obeying God and destroying the altar they erected to Baal.  When confronted, he challenged the people's willingness to contend for Baal.

What is it that I am quick to defend?  For what am I willing to rise up and contend?  If it's so powerful a force in my life that I find the need to speak out on its behalf, maybe I need to reconsider my priorities.

Freedom

Their presence burned me up inside.  I was driving on a local interstate freeway when I caught sight of their protest signs as I passed underneath a bridge.  They held their signs against the very war my husband was risking his life in which to fight.  These protesters even had the nerve to question the honor of my husband and soldiers like him.  To vent my frustrations, I wrote a scalding letter to the editor of the newspaper, chastising them for creating a hostile environment to which my husband would return from the battlefield. 

We love our freedoms and use them liberally to proclaim whatever beliefs we so adamantly wish to share with the people around us.  When anyone attempts to take away my freedom of speech which gives me the right to voice my opinion, and those protesters to do the same, I am ready for a fight.

It's easy for me to get passionately drawn into a quest for freedom.  When I see the government growing larger and larger as it demands more and more power, I am alarmed.  I am ready to fight to save the liberties for which our forefathers so valiantly fought.  

What about the freedom Christ gave His life for me to enjoy?  Am I as deeply passionate about my liberty from the obligation to earn my own salvation?  No.  Many times I find myself feeling guilty for how I have fallen short instead of remembering my true identity as a sinner saved by grace who is incapable of doing good (Romans 3:23, Romans 7:18).  Other times I'm bound and determined to prove my worth by serving out of obligation instead of obedience to God's direct calling on my life.   Sometimes I even use my own effort to attempt to become a better person instead of cooperating with God as He changes me from the inside out (Romans 12:1-2).

Jesus gave His life, suffering much abuse, so that I could live in freedom from the obligation to follow the law, in peace with my Father who expects perfection, and liberated from the guilt that comes from falling short.  I am justified freely by God's grace, made right with a holy God who loves me enough to send His Son to take my punishment so that I might approach Him boldly and with confidence (Romans 3:24, Hebrews 4:16).  Am I so quick to throw this away?  

Yes I am.  Despite this unspeakable sacrifice, I so often slip back into my tendency to try to do good, to attempt to earn my place in God's family by the sweat of my brow, to hold up the standard I am unable to reach but expect others to attain.  When will I stand up and contend for this freedom which has already been won for me (Galatians 5)?  

Jesus died so that I could enjoy true freedom.  Let me be known as one who has the courage to speak in defense of this liberty.

Rights

I remember the lyrics to an absurd song from my youth.  "You gotta fight for your right to party."  Even then I thought it lame, it did speak to a generation of kids who bought into the idea that they had the right to do with their life as they best saw fit.  

Americans take the idea of rights very seriously, so much so that the thought that I have complete autonomy is ingrained within me.  Unfortunately, while this way of thinking may appeal to my sin nature, it runs counter to God's kingdom.  If I am to make Jesus my king and live in His kingdom, I will need to realize that He is the only One with a right to me.  After all, He bought me at a steep price (1 Corinthians 6:20).

When I think, then, that I am entitled to be treated fairly and with respect, I will place that expectation above God's love.  Instead of showing compassion to the harried clerk who rudely handles my refund, then, I will demand to notify her supervisor to make sure action is taken against her rough behavior.  Unfortunately, while I may have done the right thing in the eyes of the world, I neglected to pass on the love and mercy of God to someone who desperately needed it.

I will also fight a merchant tooth and nail for a good price on a service he provides for me, thinking it is my right to pay the least amount possible.  Unfortunately, while I may have proved myself a shrewd consumer, I failed to contribute to the livelihood of a man who earns his living serving others.

When my daughter comes home from school with a note from the teacher, I take the opportunity to defend my child, accusing the overwrought woman of unfair treatment.  Unfortunately, I missed an opportunity to extend the forgiveness so freely given to me by a God whose mercies are new every morning.

Jesus' blood paid for my life.  Let me be known as one who lets God use me in a way that brings glory to Him.  

Contentment

I don't want to be rich but have enough to pay my bills with a little left over to do what I want to do.  I want to live comfortably. This is what I used to tell myself as I struggled to pay our family's bills.  Instead of being thankful for what God had provided and the faithful way He supplied my needs, I wanted more.  I wasn't content with what I had been given.  Instead, I thought I'd be happier with a little more.

I seek that which gratifies my sinful desire; to live a life of ease and to be well cared for.  Unfortunately, since my sin nature is never satisfied, I will never reach that level of contentment I thought was just up the pay scale.

The Apostle Paul told Timothy that, "true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth"  (1 Timothy 6:6 NLT).  He went on to explain how we came into this world with nothing and will leave the same way.  Therefore, if we have what we need, that should be enough.  When I go after more than what I've been given, I am in danger of wandering away from what is of true value: my faith. (1 Timothy 6:6-12)

As a result, I would be wise to seek godliness instead of happiness, living by faith instead of being led by my flesh, and sitting at the feet of Jesus instead of going after a reputation as a hard worker.  While I may think being content is what will give me a good life, the real joy comes when I surrender my life to Christ, letting Him be Lord of my life.  It is then that I will produce fruit that will last, and that will bring true satisfaction(John 15:5).

Jesus died so that I could live an abundant life. (John 10:10)  Let me be known as one who values Him above my desire to live comfortably.

What is my legacy?  When I am gone will people remember me for the way I stood for my liberties, defended my rights and sought after a life of contentment?  Or, will others recall the way I lived as a sinner saved by grace who was bought with a price and valued holy living above my own sense of satisfaction?   Today could be the day that I could start to make a name for myself; a name that will bring glory to the One who died for me!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can set aside any right I think I have to my own life and freely submit to Christ.

When is my own comfort my utmost desire?

How do I forget the freedom I have in Christ?


Originally published on March 19, 2014  

Korah's Rebellion, My Rebellion

"Korah son if Izhar,the son of Kohath, the son of Levi,

and certain Reubenites-- Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab,

and On son of Peleth--

became insolent and rose up against Moses.

With them were 250 Israelite men,

well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council.

They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron

and said to them,

'You have gone too far!

The whole community is holy, every one of them,

and the LORD is with them.

Why then do you set yourselves 

above the LORD's assembly?'"

Who do they think they are, anyway?  Moses and Aaron are getting a bit too big for their britches as far as I can see.  Every one of us is chosen by God to belong to Him as His treasured possession, so why do they think they're special? (Exodus 19:4-6)  I mean, they haven't even done what they've promised. . . we have not entered the land promised to us by God.  They just seem to be jerking us around.

These could have been the thoughts of the man who led the lethal rebellion that resulted in the death of him and two of his buddies, their families, 250 of their followers as well as an additional 14,700 who continued to rebel even after a frightening display of God's sovereign power and who ultimately met their own brutal demise. (Numbers 16)

Korah made the foolish mistake of wanting more than what the LORD had provided.  He was given the important job of caring for the holy things of the Tabernacle, along with the rest of the Kohathites, but he grew jealous of the position in which God had placed Moses.  He mistakenly believed Moses had elevated himself to his position of leadership.

While this seems like quite a bold and treacherous claim to make, I can often make the same kind of mistake.

Perspective

"Women will not achieve full equality until every woman can pursue her dreams free from discrimination.  NOW declared full support for same-sex marriage in 1995, claiming that the choice of marriage is a fundamental constitutional right under the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment that should not be denied because of a person's sexual orientation.  Feminism is rooted in freedom, independence and love.  Lesbian women should be able to marry their partner and be entitled to the same rights as their heterosexual sisters."  (Equal Marriage NOW: Talking Points)

Almost any behavior can be justified along the lines of rights or a sense of fairness.  The above statement is taken directly from the National Organization for Women's website and reflects their deceptive practice of using our desire to extend the same civil liberties and privileges equally to all people as a weapon that is destroying marriage as God defined it.  Unfortunately, these zealous rebels miss the point as far as I'm concerned.  Instead of arguing about who has the right to get married, the question that should be asked is, who has the right to define marriage?

Modern society is extremely concerned with rights.  Rights to bear arms.  Rights to speak freely.  Rights to live as I see fit.  If I take this worldly perspective and try to apply it to God's kingdom, I will run into trouble.  There are many things God teaches that seem unfair to me.  There is much in His Word that flies in the face of my selfish sin nature.  There is a lot that I have a hard time reconciling to my own way of thinking.

And herein lies the rub.  Either I accept God's ways and fall into line with what He expects from me, or I rebel against Him and go my own way.  I can't get my way and follow God at the same time.  I can't look out for my rights and follow God at the same time.  I can't focus on my desires and follow God at the same time.  

By the way, understanding is not a pre-requisite for obedience. (Proverbs 3:5-6) I have always had a hard time obeying an order or request if I don't understand the purpose for that command.  This gets me in trouble when dealing with governmental requirements because they often don't make sense to me.  It also, however, gets me in trouble with God because His ways and thoughts are so much higher than mine; I can't possibly expect to comprehend His line of thinking or His reasons for doing things!  (Isaiah 55:8-9)

My walk with Christ, then, is deeply rooted in a need to submit.  I must surrender my rights to myself over to God, allow the people He has placed in authority over me to lead me, and bow to His will in my life.  This continual act of submission flies in the face of my sin nature as well as to what the culture around me asserts.

I am in danger of rebelling against God and His chosen leaders when I insist on preserving my own fleshly, worldly perspective.

Jealousy

"Keeping up with the Joneses."  This well-known idiom describes a mindset where I work to match the lifestyle of my friends and neighbors.  It is easy, when living in such a materialistic society, to get caught up in this way of life.  I visit a friend's home, admiring her sense of style and decor, and suddenly find myself discontent with my own perfectly comfortable and adequate home.  All at once, what I have doesn't seem like enough.

I often find this same principle at work in my spiritual life as well.  God has given me gifts meant to build up the body of Christ.  Instead of being content with the jobs He has granted me to do, my eye wanders to what my sister or brother in Christ are accomplishing.  I then find myself desiring their gifts, trying to mimic their ministries, or nosing in on their area of responsibility.

While God has supernaturally gifted me with the ability to serve His people in specific ways, I may feel inadequate, uninterested, or displeased with His choice for me.  Other times I may want more than what He has given me, feeling slighted or unfulfilled in my role.  Then there are times when I simply feel insecure with the position in which He has placed me.  Whatever the reason, any time I don't serve where God has placed me, the Body of Christ suffers.                  (1 Corinthians 12:11, 14, 18)

I am in danger of rebelling against God and His Church when I am not satisfied with what God has given to me.

Justification

She walked the neighborhood, going door-to-door to try to drum up support for her cause.  When she came to my home, I quickly dismissed her quest for a following.  I refused to jump on her bandwagon, choosing instead to defend the woman this neighbor so stubbornly insisted on slandering.  

We all can recall a time when we've been hurt by another.  Sometimes it's a close friend whose words or actions cut deeply, other times it's an acquaintance, co-worker or relative who wounds.  Whatever the source, we've all suffered at the hand of another.

When I take this hurt and do as my neighbor did, seeking to garner support for my desire to pay back, I can be assured that I am in the wrong.  If I need to gather a following in order to give me a sense of justification, then I had better examine my motivation.  Am I seeking revenge?  Am I trying to defend my own position?  Am I concerned only with my reputation?

When living life together with other believers, there will be times when my toes are stepped on, my rights are violated, and my feelings are hurt.  The question to always ask is, does this bring dishonor to God?  If it's only me that is offended and I feel the need to build a following before trying to work it out with my brother or sister, I most likely have the wrong motivation.  In other words, if I need to rally support in order to rationalize my defense, it's probably me whose been wronged, not God. 

I am in danger of rebelling against God and His family when I sense a need to justify my own position.

God took drastic measures to end the revolt led by Korah.  His greed and jealousy cost the lives of many, but my own desire for more than what God has given me has a similar price.  Therefore, I would be wise to keep a godly perspective, guard against discontent, and examine my heart when feeling slighted by a brother or sister.  In these ways, I'll avoid building a rebellion of my own.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can keep my eyes on Jesus to avoid lusting after more than what God has graciously given to me.  

How am I concerned with my own rights more than I focus on obedience to God and His ways?

When do I feel jealous of what others have?

Ready

"When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.

Then Paul answered,

'Why are you weeping and breaking my heart?

I am ready not only to be bound,

but also to die in Jerusalem

for the name of the Lord Jesus.'

When he would not be dissuaded,

we gave up and said,

'The Lord's will be done.'

After this, 

we got ready and went up to Jerusalem."

Acts 21:12-15

He was arrested for telling others about Jesus.  Even though he lived in Iran, a country known for it's harsh position against religious freedom, Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani took a stand for Christ. I'm sure, as one who is familiar with the teachings of Jesus, he knew the risk involved in living for Christ in a Muslim land. (John 15:20)  Despite the danger, however, he counted his calling to preach the gospel as more important than his life. (Acts 20:24)

Despite his readiness to give his all for Jesus, there were many who committed themselves to his liberation.  When they were successful in negotiating for his release from the prison where he had spent three years awaiting execution, the American Center for Law and Justice who worked with the State Department to arrange for his freedom issued a statement that said, "International attention to this matter saved this man's life, but we must not forget the human right of freedom of religion includes the right to freedom of expression." *

Because human rights are very important to all freedom loving people, it is hard to understand the stance Paul took on the prophecy that he would be bound by the Jews in Jerusalem and handed over to the Gentiles. (Acts 21:11) He submitted to this loss of freedom as part of God's will.

While I can't speak directly on Pastor Youcef's case, it does seem clear in Scripture that we are to expect the same kind of treatment he received from a world that does not accept Jesus. (Matthew 10:22) Even though it is my natural reaction to protect those like the Iranian Pastor from inhumane treatment,  God does prepare us, like He did for Paul, for what is to come.  Then I will be ready for the fulfillment of God's will and will desire it above all else.

My Rights

In 1789, during the establishment of the government of the newly formed United States of America, Congress proposed what we call the Bill of Rights as amendments to the Constitution to protect the rights of citizens against the tyranny of government.  These rights include freedom of religion, speech and the press; the right to assemble and bear arms; as well as protection against unreasonable search and seizure of private property, among other civil liberties. **

As an American, I was brought up to respect and fight for my rights.  As a Christian, however, my life is no longer considered to be my own to do with as I please.  Instead, I belong to Jesus, being bought at the price of His death on a cross which paid the penalty for my sin.  (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)  I need to change the way I think, exchanging my expectation of freedom, liberty, fair treatment and respect with an expectation for the fulfillment of God's plan. 

Instead of standing up for myself when mistreated by a coworker,then, I can submit to Jesus and love her despite her cruel treatment. (Matthew 5:44)

Instead of making sure I get my fair share, I can submit to Jesus and look out for the needs of others above my own. (Philippians 2:3-4)

Instead of looking for the easy or most profitable way, I can submit to Jesus and take the rocky, narrow path that leads to life. (Matthew 7:14)

God's will trumps my rights.

My Life

I have always been a pretty careful person.  I never wanted to ride a motorcycle, didn't like climbing up on the roof where I might fall off, and basically avoided danger at all costs.  I did fall out of a tree one time, but that was about the extent of my dare devil nature.  I am very concerned with saving my life.

I imagine that if one of my family members were in danger, I would do what I had to do to save them without regard to my own safety.   I have done this when I chased a dog away from my daughters or stepped out in traffic to protect a child.  For the most part, however, I do not go looking for danger.

When it comes down to risk, I try to minimize danger of any kind.  God, however, is all about getting me to step out of the place where I feel comfortable and stretch my faith-muscles.

For instance, I wouldn't mind teaching a small class, but would I take a step of faith and speak at a conference if He asked?  I feel pretty confident in my ability to run in my neighborhood, but would I take a step of faith and compete in an obstacle course race designed by Marines if He placed that challenge before me?  I love writing my blog, but would I take a step of faith and respond to a request to talk about it on a radio show?

My life is not more important than God's name being glorified.  As one who claims to follow Christ, I can submit to Him out of love for the One who died for me so that I can live an abundant life.  This full, rich life is not just for my own pleasure, it is to ultimately bring glory to God.  If I only do what I am able to do, how will people give the credit to God?  In order for this to happen, the things I do must be generated from Him, by Him and for Him!

God's will trumps my life.

Sympathy

Sympathy is defined as, "feelings of pity or sorrow for someone else's misfortune."  While it is easy for me to feel sorry for the homeless man on the street, the single mom struggling to make ends meet, or the orphan boy who is picked on in school, "sympathy" is a word that I can't find in my Bible.  

Sometimes my concern for others can go against the work God is doing in the lives of those I pity.  He could be showing the homeless man his need for Jesus by taking him to the end of his own rope.  Maybe the single mom is growing in her faith as she trusts God to provide, or the orphan boy is gaining an inspirational testimony as he lets God be his protector.  If I step in simply out of sympathy, I could block the hand of God.

In the same way, well-meaning folks can get in the way with what God is doing in my life as well.  If I'm struggling in my finances, the advice to seek a debt-consolidation loan may seem like a good idea, but could keep me from learning the lesson God planned for my time of difficulty.  

If God intends to take me through a spiritual desert to grow my faith in a way that nothing else would, a sympathetic voice of concern at the current lack of fruit in my life could plant a seed of doubt in my heart.  

If pain is my constant companion, a friend may be tempted to offer herbal remedies to bring relief to my suffering, essentially getting in the way of how God is training me to rely on His comfort.

Even though things can look bad, we can be sure that God is using it for the good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28) Therefore, there is no need for me or anyone else to step in and help unless the call to act comes from the compassion of God flowing through me.

God's will trumps the sympathy of the human heart.

There is a lot of suffering involved in a life lived for Christ.  Consequently, I must remember to desire His will above all else.  In this way I will minimize the importance of my rights, my life and the effects of sympathy, making myself ready for whatever God has planned to bring glory to Himself in my life.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will trust God and His plan above all else.

When do I think my rights are so important that I don't even consider what God may be doing or allowing?

How can my concern for others get in the way of what God is doing?  

* http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/09/08/christian-pastor-jailed-in-iran-for-3-years-is-freed-watchdog-group-says/#ixzz2HUiIeWUx

** http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html