Act First

"The angel of the LORD appeared to 

Manoah's wife and said, 

'Even though you have been unable to have children,

you will soon become pregnant 

and give birth to a son.

So be careful;

you must not drink wine

or any other alcoholic drink

nor eat any forbidden food.

You will become pregnant and give birth to a son,

and his hair must never be cut.

For he will be dedicated to God

as a Nazirite from birth.

He will begin to rescue Israel from the Philistines.'"

Judges 13:3-5 NLT

"I'll believe it when I see it."

This is the principle by which I often live.  Manoah's wife, however, was called to live by faith in much the same way I am called.  When she received the communication from God's messenger, there was no proof that what he said would come to pass.  In fact, when Manoah heard the news from his dearly beloved, he asked the Lord to send the angel again so that he could ask some questions; kind of a confirmation that what his wife had said was true.

When the angel did return, the astonished man thought he was perhaps a prophet or some other kind of man sent by God.  When the angel returned to heaven in the fire of the burnt offering that reached up toward the sky, Manoah and his wife each fell on their face, humbled and quite terrified by the fact that they'd come in contact with an angel of God.

As powerful as this experience was, it still took faith for this woman to change her lifestyle in compliance with the message in the hope that she would soon carry a child.  There was no evidence that what the angel had said was true; no quickening in her womb as a sign of what was to come, no physical verification that her time of infertility was about to end.  Instead, she had to obey God's instructions by faith, trusting that what He said would come about.

In the same way, I am called to live by faith not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7) In order to prove to God that I trust what He has told me, I will need to act, taking steps to obey without tangible evidence that what He has promised will come to pass.  I must proceed as if God is faithful to do what He said He would do, because He is.

Love

In the world in which I live, love is given with the expectation that I will receive love in return.  I love those who love me.  In God's kingdom where Jesus is king, however, love is what drives everything.  Love melts the hardest of hearts, binds together unlikely bedfellows and tears down the most well-crafted walls.  Love is the currency by which my salvation is bought, my place in God's family is secured and my sins are forgiven. (John 3:16, 1 John 3:1, Psalm 103:11-12)    Without it, no amount of good deeds or righteous work will matter. (1 Corinthians 13)

Therefore, since I am so well-loved, I am called to love. (1 John 4:19)  Sometimes it feels as if I have nothing left to give.  In such times, it takes faith to respond in love to the one who constantly treats me with disdain, or to give a friend another chance, or to turn the other cheek, opening myself up to even more abuse.  

When love is the last thing I feel, it is then that I draw from the deep well that God has poured in me.  When it seems that love is nowhere to be found it takes faith to open up the floodgates of my soul and let the compassion and kindness God has stored there spill out.  When my heart senses only pain and suffering, I must believe that God can use me as a doorway of His love.

Mother Teresa knew a little something about love.  She learned through her life's work of reaching out to the lowest of the low, the poorest of the poor, in the worst areas of India.  Those who were shunned and forgotten became the center of her attention.  There, in the slums of Calcutta, she found the source of this love that flowed through her.  She said, "I have found the paradox that if I love until it hurts, then there is no more hurt, but only more love."

God's love is not limited by my weaknesses, my inabilities or my shallow understanding of it's mysteries.  Instead, His love is a never-ending source, a bottomless well that supplies my days.  Since I cannot touch, see or often times feel this love, I must trust God at His word, believing that when I step forward in faith, His love will flow through me.  (Ephesians 3:16-19,Lamentations 3:22-23,Isaiah 58:11, Psalm 136)

It takes faith to commit to loving those who are not always easy to love, believing that God's love will never fail.

Sacrifice

It sounds like such a selfless act devoid of any pleasure.  To sacrifice means to give up something valuable in order to bring about a certain outcome, secure a particular purpose or reach a specific goal.  It involves giving up one thing in order help someone or do something else.

Parents often make sacrifices for their children, giving up certain activities that would take them away from their family, forgoing once-pleasurable pursuits to make way for more appropriate pastimes, or to do without certain luxuries to make room in the budget for the necessities of child-rearing.  As a parent, I am not unaware of sacrifice.

In my walk with God, however, I am reticent to give up much.  Instead, I often spend a lot of my time trying to preserve what I think is valuable.  To follow my Shepherd, though, it means I'll need to let go of many things that threaten to overshadow His guiding presence.  

Sometimes its my possessions that get in the way, keeping me from truly living with abandon.

If I'm to hold Him as most valuable, I must be willing to give up things that get in the way without the assurance of compensation.  

Other times it may be necessary to give up destructive friendships that fail to draw me closer to God.  Instead, these relationships tend to work as a distraction, tempting me to live as the world does or to question the very foundation of my faith.  If He's my number one relationship, I must be willing to let go of certain people without any guarantee of restoration.

Then there are times when I must release my desire to control, letting God choose for me instead of insisting on getting my own way.  If I want Him to be Lord of my life, I must be willing to let Him have His way without the security of knowing what the future holds.

In each of these instances, it takes faith to give up what I can see in order to receive the unknown God has saved up for me.  No matter how good it may be, I still must believe enough to take the step to release what I have in order to collect what He will give me.  It's kind of like letting go of the rope as I hang over the edge of a cliff so that I can grasp a hold of the hand of the rescue personnel reaching down to save me.  There is no guarantee that I won't fall to my death.  Instead, I must grab hold to my savior by faith, trusting that he will haul me up to safety.  

It takes faith to sacrifice what I have to grab hold of what I can't see, believing that God will supply more than I could ask or imagine.  (Ephesians 3:20)

Forward

The stinging in my eye was unbearable, causing tears to flow and inevitably, my nose to run.  As I attempted to accomplish the tasks on my list of things-to-do, I closed my eyes to slightly relieve the discomfort of the unseen foreign object in my left eye.  Maybe I scratched my eye, I thought.  I should have been more careful when cleaning out the garage.  I guess a fleck of dirt must have scraped across my eye.

As I attempted to negotiate the steps with my eyes closed, I realized how much slower I walked when I couldn't see where my next step would land.  I proceeded cautiously, afraid there was some hidden danger even though I knew the layout of the house like the back of my hand.  Still, without the benefit of my eyesight, I couldn't be sure.

This experience reminds me of what it's like to walk by faith.  It is hard to move forward into the darkness, not being sure of what lies ahead.  I tend to take baby-steps, shuffling forward timidly, insecure about where the Lord might be leading me.  Instead of trusting Him boldly, I'm afraid to move from the spot where I find myself rooted.

It takes faith to take God at His word and believe that He can use me in a way that is foreign.  If I'm unsure of how to teach a class of high school girls, I may hang back, waiting to see if someone else steps forward to accept the challenge.  Meanwhile, God keeps reminding me that He equips the called, not the other way around.

It takes faith to quit my job with no guarantees of a better prospect, believing that God will provide for what He is leading me to do.  If I'm afraid to live so recklessly I might hesitate, wondering how wise it is to live so irresponsibly.  Meanwhile, God keeps reminding me that He is my Father who knows my needs and will faithfully supply them.  

It takes faith to let go of my fear when facing a life-threatening illness, believing that God's sovereign plan will bring good out of the suffering.  If I listen to the doctor's prognosis, I might be tempted to mourn my circumstances and all the misery I might soon experience.  Meanwhile, God keeps reminding me that He created my body and is perfectly capable of healing what ails me.  

It takes faith to move forward into the darkness believing that God is right there by my side lighting a path for my feet.

Just as Samson's mother acted in faith when she prepared for the birth of a son she thought she'd never have, I can also take God at His word, believing Him enough to act before I have evidence of the outcome.  I can love without reciprocation, sacrifice with no guarantees, and move forward blindly.  In each instance, my faith is proved true when I leap before I can see the ground where I will land.  After all, faith without deeds is dead.  (James 2:26)

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to love those who don't love me.

When do I hold onto things as a kind of security blanket?

How is my faith proved counterfeit by my unwillingness to step forward into the darkness?   

Snare

"Gideon made the gold into an ephod,

which he placed in Ophrah, his town.

All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there,

and it became a snare to Gideon and his family.

Judges 8:27

The sight struck fear into the hearts of his men.  Three thousand enemy chariots, each armed with two fighting men.  A horde of soldiers too numerous to count blanketing the land before them.  Philistines armed to the teeth and bent on revenge.  

Saul could see the writing on the wall; his men were preparing to desert.  The time to attack was now.  Despite the fact that Samuel said he would be there within 7 days to make the obligatory sacrifice to God, he had not lived up to his word.  Saul would not go forth on such a mission without the favor of the Lord; it would be mass suicide.  He had no choice.  He must offer up the burnt offering himself (1 Samuel 13).

While Saul may have had good intentions, his actions amounted to disobedience in the eyes of a holy God.  Likewise, it probably seemed just as much of a good idea when Gideon, years before Saul, melted down some of the gold earrings his men had gathered as plunder.  The men, fresh from their victory on the battlefield, adoringly asked their commander to lead them as a nation.  Gideon rightly responded, "I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you.  The LORD will rule over you" (Judges 8:23).

Unfortunately, in his attempt to honor God by forming a golden ephod out of the jewelry, Gideon ended up dishonoring Him in his unintentional defiance.  What he had meant for good became a snare, tempting the people to turn their reverence and adoration to a mere object instead of to the Lord.

How often do I do the same?  While my intentions may be good, the result is my heart is turned away from God.

Good Works

Serving in church.

Responding in love.

Doing good.

Resisting temptation.

Forgiving those who hurt me.

The list of things I must do as a follower of Christ is long.  I put a lot of pressure on myself to perform well.  The guilt from all the times I fall short weighs me down.  How much longer can I live this way?  

When Jesus came to earth to bear my sins upon Himself, it was for freedom's sake.  He made such a sacrifice so I could enjoy eternal life with Him, yes.  But His mission was so much greater.  He came to set me free from the heavy burden of trying to do right (Matthew 11:28-30). He came to offer abundant life.(John 10:10)  He came to save me from the futility of following the law.  (Romans 6:14)

Why, then, do I try so hard to do what I think a "good Christian" should do?  Why do I feel so heavily burdened by my failures?  If God no longer condemns me because of the precious blood of Jesus that covers my transgressions, why am I so quick to convict myself? (Romans 8:1)  Why am I always on edge, as if waiting for God to say, "You know what?  I said you were my child, but you just can't seem to get it right.  Forget it!"

It's because I don't understand the love of God. (1 John 4:18) God is love.  It is in His character to love me.  Unfortunately for me, it is also in His character to abhor sin. (Psalm 7:11, Isaiah 59:2) Thankfully, He sent His precious Son to make a way for me, a helpless sinner, to live in relationship with Him now and forevermore. (1 John 3:1, Romans 3:24)  

This unspeakable gift of redemption and restoration comes free for the taking, offered by grace.  It is not something I can earn. (Ephesians 2:8-9) In fact, I can never be good enough for God, which is why I need Jesus in the first place. (Romans 3:23) Why, then, am I so quick to slip into the habit of trying to earn favor with God?  Jesus already did all that was required.  My job is to submit to His lordship and follow Him wholeheartedly.  (Romans 8:3-4, Galatians 5:18)

My efforts to earn my own salvation, or even the favor of God, can become a snare that takes me away from the grace through which I find true freedom.

Good Habits

Psychologists say it takes three weeks to form a habit.  Theoretically, then, if I want to add exercise into my daily routine, I will simply need to stick with it for 21 days before it becomes second nature.  Or, if the doctor tells me to cut salt out of my diet, I'll only need to make an effort to stay away from the salt shaker for three weeks before I get used to eating that way.  Or, if I want to break my children of the habit of watching television after school, I'll need to hound them to go outside and play for nearly a month before it will become a normal part of their routine.  

What if I take this same principle and apply it to my relationship with God?  Since I know He wants me to read His Word, I can force myself to do it for three weeks until it becomes a healthy habit.  Or I try to make it my new custom to speak kindly to those around me, even if they're mean to me.  All I need to do is respond lovingly for 21 days and then it will be ingrained within me!  Or, I find I'm weak in the prayer department so I make it my intention to keep up a regular time of talking to the Lord for 3 weeks and then I've set a good pattern that will stick with me.

While it is not bad to take this approach, there is a danger that comes with "faking it till I make it."  I am at risk of becoming just like the Israelites whom God chastised through the prophet Isaiah when he said, "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.  Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught."  (Isaiah 29:13)

I wouldn't like it if my husband only talked to me at the same time every day because he wanted to make it a habit.  I want to hear what's on my dearly beloved's heart.  If my husband only talked to me out of obligation instead of treasuring the time we have together, I would be hurt.  I want more than his actions; I want his heart.

It's the same with me and God.  He wants me to share my hurts, struggles and dreams with Him.  He loves it when I turn to Him at the lowest time of my day as well as when I'm on mountaintop.  He wants to share my life with me.  When I make spiritual disciplines simply that; disciplines, it falls short of God's desire for a relationship I can share with Him.

Therefore, let my study of His Word not become a daily ritual, but a meaningful time of searching for nuggets of wisdom He has left for me there. (Psalm 119:105) Let my weekly churchgoing not become an obligation to fulfill, but a rich time of exhortation, worship and fellowship with others who love the God I love. (Hebrews 10:25-27) Let my acts of righteousness not come as a result of my own effort, but as a wonderful outcome of my cooperation with His transforming power in my life. (Philippians 2:12-13)

My quest to form good spiritual habits can become a snare that takes my heart out of the equation.

Good Intentions

"God wants you to be happy!  He doesn't intend for you to live a life of poverty.   It's not His purpose for you to struggle.  He wants you to live a good life.  He wants you to reach for the stars, fulfilling the dreams you have in your heart."

Doesn't that just make you feel good?  This is the message I have heard from some followers of Christ.  While I don't think their intention was to steer me wrong, they simply took bits and pieces of advice they'd received and knowledge that came from their own understanding and fashioned it into a gospel that truly appeals to my sin nature: A message that is contrary to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but nonetheless is preached from the pulpit of many-a-church.

It is easy to get into the habit of encouraging others with what sounds good to me instead of sticking to the truth.  After all, the truth can sound harsh to my sinful nature.  If I truly want to point my sisters and brothers to Christ, I must stick to His Word.  Telling people what they want to hear will only lead them astray.  (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

While it may feel good to support my friend when she tells me she's leaving her husband in order to follow her heart, God's love instead burdens me to take the side of marital fidelity.  Other times I may have every good intention when I give another the advice to "let sleeping dogs lie," the God who rejoices in the truth would rather I recommend she bring all the details out into the open.  Even though it sounded good when I encouraged my husband to do what seemed best to him, a godly wife would help him to seek God's counsel.

My good intentions can turn into a snare that works to turn people away from God.

Just like Gideon's attempt to honor God in his own way ended up backfiring, my good works, habits and intentions can all work to create a snare in my spiritual life.  As a sinner whose natural tendency is to follow my own desires, it doesn't take much to drag my heart away from the Lord.  Therefore, I would be wise to avoid these traps that may seem like good ideas, but in the end can damage my relationship with the God who loves me so much.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can keep my heart wholly devoted to the Lord.

When can even good habits become gods unto themselves?

How do I unintentionally lead others astray through the advice I give?  

A Thorn in my Side

"'For your part,

you were not to make any covenants with the people

living in this land;

instead, you were to destroy their altars.

But you disobeyed my command.

Why did you do this?

So now I declare that I will no longer drive out

the people living in your land.

They will be thorns in your sides,

and their gods will be a constant temptation to you.'"

Judges 2:2-3 NLT

Every time I put my walking shoes on, something sharp would poke me in the arch of the foot.  Instead of taking the time to investigate the source of the pain, however, I rushed through my morning walk, eager to move on to the next part of my day.  Consequently, I developed a sore where the irritating little prickle stuck me each time I took a step.  

The only solution to relieve the pain that came with walking and to allow my foot to heal was to take the time necessary and attention needed to remove the culprit from my shoe.  As I examined my shoe, running my finger along its inside surface, I located the cause:  A tiny yet sharp thorn that had somehow worked itself into the fabric of my footwear.  

In the same way that my inattention to the problem of the thorn in my shoe was a constant source of irritation to me, that which I fail to crucify on the cross can become a thorn in my side and a snare to me. (Galatians 5:24)

Temptation

It was God's intention that His people remain pure.  Knowing how easily His image bearers are swayed, His plan included the necessity for the people of Israel to live separately from the people who dwelled nearby.  

Instead, the Israelites failed to drive out the indigenous people.  Their altars still stood, their pagan ways threatened to taint the ways the Lord had taught them to live and their daughters were a constant lure for the young men of Israel. (Judges 1:19-36)  In short, their unwillingness to take God at His word threatened their relationship with Him.

Similarly, my unwillingness to root sin out of my life threatens my relationship with God. (James 1:14-15) The more I entertain a fleshly thought, desire or craving, the more power it holds in my life.  Soon, I'll find myself giving into the temptation and living as if I have no Savior.  (Romans 6:12-14)

Therefore, I must take sin seriously, realizing it's insidious nature and never allowing it to take root in my heart.  When I become aware of my proclivity for gossip, then, I must turn away from my fleshly desire to share information about others.  Surrendering my natural tendencies to Christ gives me the power to only speak what will build others up.

Instead of giving in to my innate craving for sensual pleasures, I must remind myself of the richness of living in tandem with a God who provides for all my needs.  That which promises satisfaction outside of Him never delivers.  

As a replacement for worry that eats away at the peace that trusting in Jesus supplies, I can dedicate each anxious thought to the God who has all the resources necessary to lovingly care for me.

Allowing sin to dwell in my heart serves as a thorn that will constantly tempt me to succumb to it's power.

My Plan

I thought I had it all figured out.  I would earn my degree, start a career and live a life fulfilling all my dreams.  Unfortunately, I failed to consult the One who held the blueprint for my life.  If I had, I would have realized the better plan He had for me to dedicate my life to supporting my devoted husband and raising our four amazing daughters.

When I insist on making my own plans apart from God, I won't get to see His glorious purpose nor witness His awesome power at work.  As long as I hold the reigns to my life, driving in the direction I want to go, I'll miss out on the peace that comes in letting God choose for me.  As long as I think I have the wherewithal to create my own destiny, I'll fail to appreciate the purpose He has given me in Christ.  (Ephesians 2:10)  As long as I insist on doing things my way, I'll forego witnessing the work of His mighty Hand as He consistently makes a way where there is none.

Let's face it; my plan is puny in comparison to God's.  Since His ways are so much higher than mine, and His mind so far superior to what sits between my ears, I can expect great things to come from Him. (Isaiah 55:9)  When I trust Him enough to let Him have His way in my life, I will witness great and wondrous things.

I will see Him fill my empty gas tank through the thankful heart of a sister whose need had been met.  Or I will witness the way He takes what was good and transforms it into something even better.  Or I will observe the unexpected provision coming from a surprising source.

Insisting on following my own path will be a constant source of heartache as I miss out on the good God has planned for me.

Idols

There are some things that cannot be denied:  Jesus sits at the right hand of God Almighty. (Mark 16:19) He will judge all of mankind. (2 Timothy 4:1, John 5:22) In the end, every knee will bow and tongue will confess that He is Lord. (Philippians 2:8-11)  Whether or not I acknowledge these truths and give Him the honor due in the here and now is up to me.

It is easy to let other people, things and pursuits creep in and take the place of Jesus as lord of my life.  Sometimes I give more regard to those I love than I do to the One who loves me perfectly. (Luke 14:26, Matthew 12:46-50) Other times I put my all into going after that which seems to give me fulfillment instead of finding all I need at the feet of Jesus. (John 4:14, Luke 10:38-42) Sometimes I spend more time learning how to become a better employee and thus gain a promotion than I do to acknowledging the truth that will lead to godly living.  (Titus 1:1)

When I live in such a way, I risk losing the blessing that comes with walking in tandem with His Spirit.  Instead of producing fruit that leads to godliness, (Galatians 5:22-23) I will find my life becoming a testimony to the results of living according to my sinful nature.  

The lust of my flesh will rule me, dissension and quarreling will follow me, and my own selfish ambition will lead me away from the path the Lord has prepared for me. (Galatians 5:19-20) Not surprisingly, I'll sense a pulling away from God that is really just me turning away from Him.

Denying the lordship of Christ in my life will result in a loss of the blessings God has stored up for me.  (Ephesians 1:3, Deuteronomy 11:26-28)

There is much I allow in my life that can turn into a thorn in my side and a snare to my life.  Instead of ignoring such dangers, I would be wise to remove temptation that leads to sin, resist the urge to make my own plans, and constantly be on the lookout for that which can become an idol.  In these ways I'll remove that which can lead me away from Christ and take advantage of the opportunity He's given me to crucify these dangers on the life-giving cross.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will grasp hold of the indwelling power that Jesus gives me over sin.

When do I become comfortable with sin, entertaining temptation as if it were my friend?

How do I let things or people come between me and Jesus? 

   

Take Possession

"So Joshua said to the Israelites:

'How long will you wait before you begin

to take possession of the land that the LORD,

the God of your ancestors, 

has given you?'"

Joshua 18:3

"I live in constant guilt, like a cloud of condemnation is always hanging over me.  I want to live for God, but I keep getting sucked back into my old ways.  I can't stay away from the bottle.  I'm drawn to movies I know do not honor God.  I do things I shouldn't do with my boyfriend.  I feel powerless against sin.  What's wrong with me?  I thought Jesus died to give me an abundant life, but this feels like no life at all."

Can you relate?  This is the struggle of many-a-Christian.  They accept Christ as their Savior and sit back, waiting for the change that never comes.  Meanwhile, they continue living as if nothing is different.  I certainly can relate because this was similar to the pattern my own life took after accepting Jesus as my Savior.  For 18 years I lived my life like the rest of the world.  There was no peace. There was no joy.  There was no difference.

In the same way that God gave the Israelites an abundant land, He gave me life and life to the full.  (John 10:10b)  If I don't take hold of it, though, it will never be mine.  It lays subdued before me (Joshua 18:1), ripe for the picking.  What is holding me back?

Fear

What if He asks me to leave my family and live in a third world country?

What if He calls me to do something I can't do?

What if I make a fool of myself?

What if. . . .

The "what ifs" can rule my life, rendering me impotent in God's kingdom.  Fear can paralyze me, keeping me rooted in the same spot as I ponder the options that lay before me.  Either I can hold on to the illusion that I'm controlling my own life, or I can surrender to God and His plan for my life, letting Him direct my footsteps. 

I am often afraid to let go because it seems like the known is better than the unknown; the seen far superior to what I can't see.  If handing the reigns of my life over to God so that He can be in charge of the direction in which I travel means I have no idea what lies around the next bend, I balk.  Why?  Scripture tells me it's because I have no clue of the depth of God's love for me!  (1 John 4:18, Ephesians 3:17-19)

When I truly grasp the immensity of His love, it's never-ending properties and my inability to quench it's fire, I will be able to completely place myself in His hands, trusting Him fully with every part of my life.  With that kind of love, how can I disappoint Him?  With that kind of love, how could He hurt me?  With that kind of love, how could He steer me wrong?

Yes, I can trust God enough to jump into His loving arms knowing that I'll be well-cared for.  I need not worry that I will regret this decision, or that I'll wish I had retained control over my own life.  The reality is, I only fooled myself into thinking I was in control.  

God is sovereign.  He is not a bully, however, and waits for me to willingly give Him domain over my life.  As my Creator, He has full rights to me, but His gentlemanly character won't allow Him to snatch control from my hands.  Instead, He stands at the door and knocks.  It's up to me to let Him in.  (Revelation 3:20)

Jesus has offered me an abundant life, but fear often keeps me from fully surrendering to the plan God's love makes possible for me.  (Ephesians 2:10)

Worth

I sat in the crowded room at the conference soaking in all the good teachings I was hearing, but nagged by a feeling of unease.  Just under the surface lay a kind of dread; a sense that at any moment someone was going to tap me on the shoulder and ask, "What are you doing here?  You don't belong.  You need to go."

These feelings of unworthiness plagued me for years, holding me back from truly grasping hold of the plan God had for my life.  It was hard for me to answer His call because I didn't believe I was good enough to do anything worthwhile for Him.  Who did I think I was, anyway?  I would often think.

The reality is that I am not worthy. (1 Corinthians 15:9-11) That much was true.  The part that I had wrong was that my fitness or merit has anything to do with my place in God's kingdom.  Jesus' sacrifice on the cross was enough to make me right with God. (Philippians 3:9, 2 Corinthians 5:21) His blood covers all my sins, giving me full rights to His kingdom.  

The grace of God has made possible my adoption as a wholly loved child; something that can never be taken away from me. (1 John 3:1,Romans 8:38-39) There is nothing I can do to earn such an unspeakable gift. (Ephesians 2:8-9) Instead, I must humbly accept it, knowing the burden of fulfillment lies completely on Christ's shoulders.

Jesus has offered me an abundant life, but feelings of unworthiness and guilt often keeps me from fully grasping the gift of salvation that is offered by grace through faith.

Apathy

She lived in squalor.  Her life consisted of scrounging around each day to find the bare basics required for survival.  Winter temperatures brought suffering as she struggled to stay warm.    When offered clean, dry, warm shelter, she refused it, choosing instead to stick with what was familiar.

I can be just like this homeless woman who'd rather stay in the camp she and a few others built in a small stand of trees than to live with a roof over her head and face the responsibilities such a life would require her to uphold.  It's easy to be comfortable with the mediocrity of where I am than to grasp hold of the abundant of what seems just beyond my reach.

God issued a warning to the church of Laodicea that applies to today's believers as well.  He said, "You say, 'I am rich.  I have everything I want.  I don't need a thing!' And you don't realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.  So I advise you to buy gold from me--gold that has been purified by fire.  Then you will be rich.  Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.  I correct and discipline everyone I love.  So be diligent and turn from your indifference."  (Revelation 3:17-19 NLT)

When I carry an attitude of apathy, feeling comfortable right where I am, I am failing to grasp hold of the purpose for which God has created me!  It reminds me of when I played tennis in high school.  The coach would often tell me to stay in the ready position, keeping my weight forward on my toes so that when my opponent hit the ball, I'd be able to respond quickly.  When I stayed back on my heels, my reaction time was hampered.

It's the same with me in my walk with Christ.  If I hang back, preferring to stay where I am, I'm not showing Him that I'm ready to go wherever He leads me.  I don't realize that the place where I feel so at ease is not God's best for me.  He's got something so much better but I have to trust Him enough to go forward into the unknown.  

Jesus has offered me an abundant life, but my attitude of apathy often keeps me from walking forward by faith into the life God has planned for me to live.

In the same way that the Israelites failed to step forward and claim the land God had subdued for them, I often do the same with the abundant life He's promised to me.  Fear, feelings of unworthiness and an attitude of apathy often hold me back.  Instead, I must remember the power of God's love that has saved me, the grace that makes the abundant life possible for me, and the faith that will propel me into God's best.  With these tools firmly in my grasp, I can step forward and take possession of the life God is freely offering to me.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can take hold of all the good God has planned for this day.

When do I feel like I don't belong in God's kingdom?

How do I sit back, content with the anemic life to which I've grown accustomed?  

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?