God of Integrity

"On the third day Abraham looked up

and saw the place in the distance.

He said to his servants, 

'Stay here with the donkey while I 

and the boy go over there.

We will worship

and

we will come back to you.'"

Genesis 22:3-4

The future was uncertain.  Death loomed, throwing it's oppressive shadow on the happy troupe as they climbed to the spot the Lord had designated as their destination. The father was so proud of his son and loved him as only one who has waited for the special blessing of parenthood can understand.  How could he sacrifice his only son?  The thought of it sent him into despair.  But how could he not?  The God he feared and followed had spoken; how could he disobey the One who meant so much to him? (Genesis 22:1-2)

Abraham made a choice that day.  He decided to act with confidence based on what God had promised.  Knowing that God is faithful, he chose to believe that he could trust the Lord to bring about His assurance that Abraham would be the father of many nations and that a great blessing would come through his child, Isaac.  (Genesis 12:2-3,  Genesis 15:5, Genesis 21:12)

Abraham didn't know how God would fulfill His promise, but he knew without a doubt that somehow, both he and his son would return from Moriah.  He had every intention of taking the life of his beloved, knowing in his heart that God would bring him back to life.  (Hebrews 11:17-19)

What drove Abraham to act was his understanding of the nature of God.  He knew God as One who could be trusted to carry out what He proclaimed.  I, too, can become a woman like unto Abraham.  Even when things look dismal and beyond hope, I can live in a way that proclaims my faith in a God of integrity.

Actions

By all accounts he was a righteous man who loved God.  When his Lord spoke, he put the plan into action.  This proposal was preposterous and would bring him much grief.  His reputation would be ruined, his home would be one filled with betrayal and pain, and there would be much speculation at the city gate as to his sanity, but Hosea trusted God and did as He commanded.

This prophet of God was used to illustrate the love of God to the unfaithful people of Israel through the circumstances of his life.  Hosea would become an example of the devotion of the Creator to the ones He chose as His own, even though their affections were for other gods.  Hosea was called to marry and cherish a prostitute; an adulterous woman who did not take her marriage vows seriously.

God may call me to live in circumstances which could bring about great pain to myself and those I love in order to bring Him glory.  Maybe it is a job in a far-away place that will mean separation from extended family.  It could be that He has a plan for me that includes living in poverty for a time.  Or, God might bless others through my willingness to share about a stronghold of sin that troubled me for a time.  

Whatever God is asking of me, I can be assured that my obedience will bring about great blessing, no matter how bleak my situation may seem.  Like Hosea, God will use my obedience to deliver a message of hope and love to a world doomed for destruction.

When I choose to obey God's calling despite the consequences my submission may bring, I am saying with my actions that I serve a God of integrity.

Vision

The reports were glowing.  The land was filled with good things to eat and flowing with milk and honey.  Grapes larger than ever-before seen were growing freely, and juicy pomegranate and delicious figs were abundantly available.  This was a wonderful paradise!

Oh, but there was one tiny problem.  The people who lived there were vicious giants who would not easily give up their land to the Israelites.  Thankfully, two men carried a vision of what God could do to those puny monsters!  Caleb and Joshua knew that God would deliver on His promise to guide His people into the promised land.  These two young men could see the twelve tribes living there as if it were already a done deal. (Numbers 14:7-9)

Because of their faith, Caleb and Joshua were the only two out of an entire generation who were allowed to enter into the land God had set aside for His people.  I, too, can live my life like these two men who believed God was capable of slaying giants.

When impossible circumstances present themselves, I can move forward as if God has already delivered me.  For the times the bills are piling high and my pay is dwindling, I can live as if my Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills.  When my child is behaving as if he doesn't know Jesus, straying far away,  I can treat him as lovingly as my Father cherishes me despite my waywardness.  During the rocky times of my marriage, I can treasure my vows, knowing that God will bring us through.

No matter how large the barriers in my life, God is up for the job.  Only He can give me the strength and courage to hang on when the storms of life rage around me. (Isaiah 43:2)

When I am in the middle of the seemingly impossible, I can choose to move forward with the assurance that God will deliver me.

Example

The sun gleamed, reflecting off the blade of the knife held high over his head.  Even though he lay in such a vulnerable position, laid out as a sacrifice to the Lord, his heart beat steadily.  The words of his father ran through his mind, bringing him comfort and the assurance that all would turn out well.  "We will come right back," he had said to their servants. (Genesis 22:5)  Isaac knew he would return home with his father.

As the mother of four daughters, it is hard for me to think about killing one of them in obedience to God's calling.  The more I know about God, however, the more plausible it becomes.  Abraham's faith in God was strong.  As a father, it was his desire to not only obey God, but to demonstrate his faith through the example he left for Isaac.  As one who loved his son as much as I love my daughters, his act of obedience wasn't cruel or unloving.  On the contrary, I would say he probably showed great love and care as he placed Isaac on the altar.

More importantly, though, was the faith he exhibited for his son.  Instead of feeling fear and trepidation at what was to come, then, Isaac only felt peace as his father's faith rubbed off on him.  His father's confidence in a God who could raise him from the dead gave him reassurance to move forward with a quiet sense of calm.

I, too, have the opportunity to demonstrate my faith to those who are following me or simply observing my life.  When hard times come, do I boldly live, knowing that God will provide or do I sink into depression, afraid that my life is over?   When I am asked to do what seems impossible, do I willingly rise to the occasion knowing that God will equip me or do I shrink away from the challenge, troubled by the thought of the test?  When bad things keep happening, do I speak of the hope I have in Christ, or only of the pain I feel in my heart?

However I react, I can be sure that people are watching.  Either they will gain confidence in the God I trust or they will see that my God is really not all that great.

When I speak the vision my faith gives me, all those around me can share in God's mighty acts and will then give Him glory.

What I believe about God is evident in the way I respond to His call.  When I move forward down the path He laid out for me despite the difficulty it brings, live with the vision of what He has promised as if it were a done deal, and leave a powerful example in my speech, then my life will  express a faith in a God of integrity.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can live my life this day as if my God can do anything.

How do I betray my lack of faith in the way I tackle difficulties?

When do I convey a spirit of doubt in the way I talk about my circumstances?

Clouds

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

and He will make your paths straight."

Proverbs 3:5,6

The thick gray fog enveloped the aircraft, obscuring my vision of anything except for the dull mist surrounding the plane.  The voice of the captain filled the near-empty cabin, "Flight attendants, prepare for landing."   I peered out the window, searching fro any landmarks to let me know how close we were to the ground, but I could see none.  Suddenly, we emerged from the fog into a light rain with the lights of the runway laid out before us.

Flying in conditions like this means a pilot must trust his instruments and the guidance of the air traffic controllers, not his sight.  His eyes are telling him he is miles above the earth's surface in a heavy bank of clouds, when in reality he is only several hundred feet from the runway.

It is the same with us as we trust in God during our journey.  It is as if we are flying in a bank of clouds, not knowing how far up we are, or in what direction we are traveling: Trusting God means keeping my eyes on Him to guide me safely to the landing strip.

In The Clouds    

When I was flying through the clouds, I could not recognize any familiar landmarks.  There was nothing but gray, and I couldn't see very far.  It gave me an eerie feeling of disorientation.  If it wasn't for the plane itself providing a frame of reference, I wouldn't know which way was up, down or sideways.  

This is how much of my life is.  I have no idea which way is up, how far it is to my destination or goal, or when I'll be emerging from the fog.  I simply must trust that God is guiding my every footstep, leading me to His purpose for my life.  

When I feel no sense of direction or guidance, I must fly by my instruments, trusting God to guide me in to a safe landing.

Under the Clouds

Once I emerged from the clouds, I could see the ground was wet and the grayness above translated into a sense of gloominess below.  Even though I could now see my surroundings, they didn't look too nice.

Isn't this like life?  I emerge from the foggy disorientation of blindly following God's lead, expecting to arrive at my destination to a choir of singing birds and shining sun, but instead am greeted by dreary drizzle.

How often are things not as I expected when following God?  Rain is not bad, it was just not what I imagined.

Maybe I thought motherhood would be more exciting, adventurous and thrilling, but it turns out to be monotonous and filled with day after day of sameness.  Or I might have imagined my life to be dominated by an exciting fulfilling career, giving me a chance to utilize my degree skills and bring in a paycheck.  Instead, I find myself staying at home and being available to those who need a helping hand or an encouraging word.  Or perhaps I expected to marry young and have a large family.  Instead, as I follow God's lead, I find myself deep in a remote jungle as a single missionary.  There are many roads God's plan could take me on as I trust Him.  

Following God means trusting Him with the outcome, not going by my own plan and hope for my life.

Above the Clouds

Flying above the clouds is a bit like paradise.  The sky appears as a deep azure canvass, a beautiful backdrop to the puffs of white cotton below.  It seems I can see forever, gaining a tiny glimpse of God's enormous vision of His Creation.

Living above the clouds is the goal for which I am called by faith in Christ.    Paul encouraged the believers at Philippi with the thought that, "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. . . I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2:12, 14)  As I am transformed under His loving grace, slowly but surely I gain a viewpoint more closely in line with His. 

When I am close to God, it doesn't matter what is going on around me because I can see things from His perspective.  annoying, whiny children who get under my skin become little ones who need an extra dose of love.  Frustrating delays turn into opportunities to connect with a hurting soul.  Demanding panhandlers are converted into lonely, lost beings.  angry short-tempered cashiers turn out to be wounded warriors in the battle of domestic violence.  

There are people all around me who need a vision of paradise only Jesus can offer.  Am I able to see them through God's eyes?

Flying can be an interesting experience.  It helps me to remember to fly by the instruments, trusting only in Him for my guidance, to accept the destination God has guided me to, and to keep an eternal perspective that allows His love to flow through me to a hurting world in need of a Savior.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can keep my eyes on my personal guidance system; God.

Where am I relying on my own plans instead of trusting God for direction?

How do I have a self-centered, short vision of those around me, missing all the opportunities there are to show the love of Jesus?