Understand Your Badness

Today's reading comes from my new book, 52 Days of Grace, available now on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle.

Understand Your Badness

“But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.  God ‘will repay each person according to what they have done.’  To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.   But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.  There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.   For God does not show favoritism.”  (Romans 2:5-11)

We live in a world where who we know is more important than what we know.   Even a poorly qualified kid with a bad attitude and poor work ethic can get his foot in the door of virtually any corporation or organization with the right connections.   It is an attempt to fool Human Resources into thinking this individual would be an asset to their company, and the youngster may even believe that himself.

God is showing us in this passage how different His economy is to the world’s.  He judges us solely on our heart: our intentions, our attitudes or the direction we turn our face.  He knows whether we are seeking our own selfish desires or His.  He reads our hearts and identifies whether we follow Him or follow evil.  He takes a look at our attitudes and discerns if we have truly accepted the Truth or if we are following a lie.  We can’t bluff our way past God.

It is easy to read this passage and think, I’m not following evil.  Maybe I’m not fully committed to Jesus, but I’m not evil.  The scriptures tell us differently.  Either we are for Him, or against Him. (Matthew 12:30)  Either He is master, or something or someone else is. (Matthew 6:24) 

Consider the words of C.S. Lewis, author and 20^th Century Christian intellectual, “When a man is getting better, he understands more and more clearly the evil that is still left in him.  When a man is getting worse, he understands his own badness less and less.”  Each time we rely on our own judgment of ourselves and our behavior instead of God’s, we are following evil. 

For example, when I justify the nasty tone when speaking to my husband with the thought that he deserved that because of how he hurt me this morning, I am setting my own standards and thus claiming to be my own god.  If instead I turn over those feelings of hurt to Jesus and ask Him to show me where I am wrong, I am submitting to His lordship.  He will accordingly give me His perspective which sheds light on my own faulty line of reasoning.  It is not about being perfect, but about wanting to please my Father more than I want to protect my own feelings.  It is about submitting myself to God and letting Him defend me instead of thinking I have to protect myself.  This attitude shows how much I trust God.

God isn’t impressed with our connections or credentials; we can’t fool Him.  He is pleased with a heart that is fully committed to Him and a willingness to see our sin for what it is.  There is no way to sugar-coat disobedience and rebellion in God’s Kingdom. 

My heart reveals my motives for which

God will hold me accountable.

How are you guilty of sugar-coating your sin, calling it a “mistake,” a “blunder” or an “oversight”?

Are you honest with God, or do you try to bluff your way through prayer, pretending to be something you’re not?

Do you believe that God can handle the truth about you, and that He will never forsake you because of the blood of Christ?  There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!

Heavenly Father,

I see Your goodness and I know Your standards, yet I try to pretend I’m something I’m not when I’m spending time with You. Thank You for the abundance of Your grace.   I ask Your help in dropping the pretenses and being honest and authentic in my relationship with You.  I know You love me with a love that will never end.  Help me to accept Your unconditional love.

In Jesus’ Name I pray,

Amen

For more information on ordering your own copy of 52 Days of Grace, click on the image of the book below:

From the Lord

"But some evil troublemakers among David's men said,

'They didn't go with us,

so they can't have any of the plunder we recovered.

give them their wives and children,

and tell them to be gone.'

But David said,

'No, my brothers!

Don't be selfish with what the LORD has given us.

He has kept us safe

and helped us defeat the band of raiders that attacked us.'"

1 Samuel 30:22-23 NLT

They fought a hard battle and came back to camp exhausted yet elated in their victory.  We did it!  We rescued all our wives, sons, daughters and even our livestock.  Everything that belonged to us is back in our possession.  This is a great day indeed!

The men of war strutted back into camp with their heads held high, their valiant efforts rewarded with victory.  Then they caught sight of the men who stayed behind, too exhausted to stand by their sides in battle.  Some thought, who are they to join in our celebrations?  They did nothing to help us regain our families.  Why should they share in the plunder?  They don't even deserve to get their wives and children back, pathetic as they are. (1 Samuel 30:16-22)

David, however, set these wayward men straight.  He reminded them to whom the battle belonged.  He knew better than to give into such foolish talk.  His belief that the battle belonged to the Lord was revealed in his response.

I am often faced with equally as challenging circumstances when I am tempted to take credit for a success, or use the world's system of justice as my own, or to base my giving on what I think others deserve.  In so doing, I am forgetting that everything I have is from the Lord.  When I remember this simple yet profound truth, my actions will reflect that belief.

Generosity

Our bodies are naturally inclined to be stingy.  If I need to lose weight, it seems rational to me that the less I eat, the more fat I will lose.  In reality, dipping below a certain calorie threshold will result in my body going into survival mode in order to prepare for a supposed upcoming famine. In an attempt to hold onto the fat it currently holds, this mechanism is meant to protect me in times of want, but ends up working against me when the starvation is self-imposed and I'm simply trying to shed some pounds.

This safe-guard mechanism reminds me of my own self-centered fleshly response to the thought of giving.  When I am faced with an opportunity to give to another in need, I tend to want to hang onto what I have just in case things turn bad for me.  What if I lose my job, or suffer a pay cut, or fall on hard times?  Wouldn't I be more wise to tuck this money away for such a rainy day?

In reality, everything in my possession comes from God.  He directs my paths, provides for my needs and is the source of all the good in my life.  As the One who owns the cattle on a thousand hills, He has no need of my pitiful offerings.  Still, it is His desire that I learn to trust Him with what is to come by being willing to open my hand in generosity to those in need around me.  And I am able to do so when I truly realize the vast resources of my Father in heaven and buy into His generous nature.

If I take on the attitude that there is plenty more where that came from, I will easily be able to share what I have with others. (2 Corinthians 8:9, Romans 8:32 ) If I live in fear of losing the little I have, I will struggle with giving even a pittance.

If I fully grasp the truth that my Father loves to give good things to those who ask, I will look for ways to share this same mindset. (Matthew 7:8-11,Romans 11:35-36) If I think He only gives if I earn it, I will develop a stingy heart that is rooted in judgementalism.

If I believe that the Lord cares for me in ways I cannot fathom, I will desire to give rather than receive. (Matthew 6:24-34, Acts 20:35) If I fear for my own welfare, sure that destruction is right around the corner, I will hang onto what I have as if my life depended on it.

Believing that God is the source of all good things leads to a generous heart.

Courage

The ability to step forward despite the fear that grips my heart.

Strength in the face of pain or grief.

The confidence it takes to act in accordance to one's beliefs.

The cowardly lion craved it, many-a-soldier has used it, and I often need it to face what frightens me.  Courage.  It is not something that comes naturally, but can be found as a by-product of trusting in God's provision.

When I'm afraid I will lose everything I have, reminding myself that God is the source of all good things gives me courage to step forward in faith. (James 1:17)  

When I don't think I can carry on in the face of all that I have lost, knowing that the God of compassion is with me, ready to deliver His loving comfort whenever I need it gives me courage to rise out of bed another day. (2 Corinthians 1:3) 

When it seems the world around me has gone mad and I'm the only one who stands for what is right, remembering the constant presence of the One who promised to never leave me nor forsake me gives me the courage to speak the truth in love. (Deuteronomy 31:6)

Believing that God is always with me leads to a heart of courage.

Confidence

I step forward timidly, unsure in my heart if I truly belong in such a magnificent place.  My sin weighs heavily upon me, giving me a feeling of unworthiness.  As a result, I keep my distance, doubting whether God would truly accept such a wounded soul as mine.

This faulty line of thinking often plagues my heart, planting seeds of doubt as to my acceptance by a loving God.  The reality of which I must constantly remind myself is that I am a sinner, yes, but a sinner who is saved by grace.  This salvation is not just so that I can live for all eternity in the place Jesus has prepared for me.  This salvation is also so that I can live in the here and now in perfect relationship with a holy God who loves me.

When Jesus took my sins upon Himself, dying a criminal's death on the unyielding cross of Calvary, He made a way for me to enter into communion with the Lord.  Instead of being considered His enemy because of my sin, I am no adopted into His family as His legitimate child.  (1 John 3:1, Romans 5:10)  When I truly grasp this unbelievable story of God's amazing grace and take it on as my own, I enter into the realm of confidence. 

This is not a confidence in who I am, but rather an assurance of who the blood of Jesus has made me to be: pure, righteous and newly whole. (1 Corinthians 1:30, 2 Corinthians 5:17)  Due to the unspeakable sacrifice of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I can boldly enter into the presence of God where I will receive everything I need to live.  (Ephesians 3:12, Hebrews 4:16)

With my newly-found confidence, I can fearlessly ask God for good things as He loves to give such gifts to those who ask.  (Matthew 7:7-8)  I need not be timid about going to God with the expectation that He will change the hardened heart of my loved one, or that He will restore my health, or that He will flood my anxious heart with peace.  Even if my request sounds absurd and many doubt my sanity, I can boldly approach my Father with whatever desire lies deep within me.  There is nowhere else where my wishes are as safe as they are with my Father who loves me freely.

Believing that I am fully accepted by God through faith in Jesus Christ leads me to a confidence in my relationship with Him.

David understood that God always provided, was always with him, and always accepted him freely.  Therefore, this man after God's own heart was able to live generously, courageously and confidently.  Knowing these truths that come from the Lord will give me a similar approach to life, and will lead me to live the abundant life Jesus came to deliver to me. (John 10:10)

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can remember that everything comes from God.

How do I live in fear because I think I have to somehow generate my own source of provision?

When do I live timidly because I'm unsure of my place in God's kingdom?     

Strengthen Yourself in the Lord

"David was greatly distressed because the men

were talking of stoning him;

each one was bitter in spirit 

because of his sons and daughters.

But David found strength in the LORD his God."

1 Samuel 30:6

Things seemed about as bad as they could get.  Their homes were destroyed by fire and all their loved ones had been taken captive.  Not one living soul remained in the city when the men returned.  The weeping was loud that day and the men even considered stoning their beloved leader.  As distressed and desperate as David must have felt, he took strength in the Lord.

I, too, can find strength in the midst of heartache and strife when I rely on the Lord.  (Isaiah 40:31)  As I depend on Him to fight my battle for me, the strength I draw will guide me forward.

Seek God's Wisdom

My dad often tells of the time when he converted our garage into a family room and extra bedroom without using any written plans or diagrams.  Instead of relying on precise measurements and calculations to determine how to build the addition, he went by instinct, using estimation and his eye to judge how to proceed.  In the end, it turned out pretty well.

While this job may have ended in good results for my dad, life is a bit more complicated than a construction project.  It boggles the mind to consider all the people, circumstances and details that must fall into place in order for my life to proceed smoothly.  Taking into account the complexity of life, it is obvious that there is a master plan behind it all.  

Therefore, if I want to know what path I am meant to take, it is vital that I develop a close relationship with the Master Planner.  Without Him, life is simply a series of coincidences based on luck.  To find out what God's purpose is for this day, then, I must seek Him wholeheartedly, believing that He is my one and only hope. (Jeremiah 29:11-13) When I look for Him in such a sincere and heartfelt way, I will find Him.  And with Him, I will discover the next step He has planned for me to take.  (Proverbs 3:5-6)

When it seems there is no way out and my life is headed down a path of destruction through no fault of my own, I can draw my strength from the Lord, believing He has a purpose for the mess in which I'm currently surrounded.  When I don't have a clue where to go next and my days seem like an exercise in futility, I can turn to God for encouragement, trusting that He has designed a purpose that lies behind the apparent pointlessness that is my life.  When everything I love has been taken away, it's easy to think God doesn't care.  If I open myself up to Him, however, and let Him comfort me, I will find the reason behind the suffering.

As I strengthen myself in the Lord, I will find it necessary to seek God's wisdom in how to proceed.

Use What God Provides

God had given him the go-ahead to conduct a rescue operation.  He had been assured that the mission would be a success.  Still, when it came time to cross over into enemy territory, he lost some of his men to exhaustion.  Could he really save his family as well as all the other women and children with only 400 men?  (1 Samuel 30:9-10)

When it comes to trusting in God, my faith is based on God's integrity not on the depth of my own resources.  It is rooted in God's ability not in my own.  It is found in God's faithfulness not on my own strength.  Therefore, I can move forward in confidence down the path on which God is leading me even if it seems I'm ill-equipped, unprepared or weak and feeble.  

As I walk in faith, then, it is necessary that I use what God has provided, no matter how thin it may seem.  If God is leading me to start a ministry but only supplied one person to help, I can step out in faith knowing that one is enough.  If God is guiding me toward a new career field but it is way outside of my area of expertise, I can walk forward confidently knowing that He will be my source of knowledge.  If God is turning me toward a cross-country relocation but I have no resources to make such a move, I can take steps toward that goal knowing that when the time is right, He will supply what is necessary.

As I strengthen myself in the Lord, I will find it necessary to proceed with what God provides.

Watch for His Hand

It seemed strange, this solitary Egyptian laying in the field.  He was weak with hunger and thirst, eagerly taking in the sustenance offered by David.  "From where do you come?  Who are your people? "  David asks, curious as to this man's whereabouts.  

"I'm the slave of an Amalekite who abandoned me here when I grew sick three days ago." (1 Samuel 30:11-14)

Soon, the reason for this man's presence became apparent.  The discarded slave led David and his men to the very people who had abducted their families.  Without this man, they may not have found their enemy so easily.  Without David's heart of compassion that led him to reach out to the foreigner, they may not have discovered the greater purpose for the slave's presence.

Who has God placed in my life that seems like an inconvenience but could in fact be a vessel of His mercy? What difficulty has God allowed into my life which appears to be nothing but a source of suffering but could in fact be the conduit of God's grace?  What struggle am I now facing which looks like just another obstacle to negotiate but could in fact be a tool used by the Master Potter to fashion me into the image of His Son? (Romans 8:28-29)

As I step forward in faith down the path which God reveals for me, using what He so graciously provides, it is important that I pay attention to signs that will point me in His direction.  While it is easy to use my own common sense to help me decide what to do, or go by advice given by godly people, it is vital to my walk of faith that I look for His sovereign work that is going on all around me.  

If I believe He is constantly at work, I will find His markers that will guide me forward.  If I think I'm left to my own devices, I will never notice how He is using people, circumstances and obstacles to direct my paths.

As I strengthen myself in the Lord, I will find it necessary to heed the Lord's direction that may come in unexpected ways.

Life is full of times when I will weep and mourn as David did upon discovering the fate of his family.  When such difficulties occur, I can strengthen myself in the Lord; seeking His wisdom, using what He provides and watching for His sovereign hand at work.  In so doing I will discover the joy of relying on the Lord for my strength.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to seek Him and Him alone.

When do I turn elsewhere to find guidance instead of trusting only in the Lord?

How am I ignorant of God's hand in my life?    

When God is Silent

"He inquired of the LORD,

but the LORD did not answer him by dreams

or Urim

or prophets.

Saul then said to his attendants,

'Find me a woman who is a medium,

so I may go and inquire of her.'"

1 Samuel 28:6-7

His trusted adviser and prophet was gone.  The one who always knew what to do and was essentially his link to God no longer lived.  Now, here he sat on the brink of another battle against an overwhelming enemy without his most trusted counselor.  What should he do?  How should he proceed?  Saul had no idea.  He was terrified at the thought of going up against the Philistines, but without the benefit of wise guidance?  Unthinkable!  He had no choice but to ask God himself. (1 Samuel 15:3-6)

When Saul didn't hear an answer from God, he immediately turned to another source for wisdom and guidance.  His response exposed the unfaithfulness found in his heart.  Similarly, the way I react when God is silent speaks volumes to the state of my own heart.

Worry

The sound of rustling leaves drew my attention to the wood line.  There I saw a bird busily scratching and pecking, dining on tasty morsels left there for him to consume.  Soon he took flight, soaring to the nearby pond where he washed his meal down with some water.  He didn't know how to live other than the way his Creator made him to live.  Therefore, no anxious thought ever crossed this little sparrow's mind.   Never did he spend any time preparing for winter or growing his own food, yet he never went without.  He was faithfully cared for by the One who made him. (Matthew 6:26)

If God takes such good care of the birds, how much more will He care for me who is made in His own image?  (Matthew 19:29-31)  As an intelligent being, however, I can conjure up all kinds of "what if" scenarios.  What if my paycheck is not enough?  What if the test comes back positive?  What if my husband does not forgive me?  

Instead of using my intellect to meditate on the greatness of God and His faithfulness to care for me, I often waste precious brainpower in analyzing possible solutions to my latest problems, or fretting over what could come to pass, or searching for answers found in my limited resources.  As a result, I spend sleepless nights tossing and turning in anxious apprehension.  

When I live in such a way, I am worse off than the lowly bird who never worries a day in his life.  How can this be?  Could it be that I have a very limited view of a small God?  

I may say that God is the source of good things, but in my heart I doubt that He can solve my impossible problems, or meet my particular needs, or overcome the enormous obstacles lying in my path.  

Words that extol the virtues of God's greatness may cross my lips but when it comes to the enormity of my own troubles, I wonder what God can do to help, thinking it is up to me to fight my own battles.  

I often say that the same God who parted the Red Sea, provided manna from heaven for his people, and breathed life into every living thing still reigns the earth today, but my heart is anxious just thinking about the impossibility of my own situation.

When I don't hear from the Lord regarding the battle I now face, I turn to worry when my image of God is small and impotent even though He is mighty to save!  (Jeremiah 32:27, Zephaniah 3:17)

Stray

The little lamb has everything she needs.  Her shepherd leads her to luscious pastures of green grass where she can graze to her heart's content.  He perceives when it's time for some water and guides her to a still place along the river where she can safely get a drink, quenching her thirst without danger of falling into the stream.  Her kind master directs her to a sheltered enclosure when the sun sinks below the horizon, giving her a safe place to slumber. (Psalm 23) Still, she tends to stray, looking for something more.

I am so much like this sheep.  Even though I have a loving and gentle shepherd who takes care of all my needs, I tend to look to other sources when things don't progress in the way I expect, or at the pace I desire, or with the outcome I imagine.  When things don't go the way I want, I tend to look elsewhere for answers.

Instead of being content to let God choose for me, I often use the free will He graciously gives me to look for other sources of wisdom, especially when things aren't going favorably for me.  How can this be?  Could it be that I view God as only one of many resources?

When I revere God as the one true source of all good things, standing in awe of His divine nature, I will gain wisdom that will guide me on the path of life. (Proverbs 9:10, Psalm 16:11) If instead I see good in other sources, believing that all roads lead to the same place, I'll find myself on a course that leads to death.  (Proverbs 16:25)

When Jesus walked among us as a man, He proclaimed Himself to be, "the way, the truth and the life."  Saying that, "No one comes to the Father except through me."  (John 14:6)  As such, He is the only way to life, the sole pathway to wisdom, and the single route to truth.  Therefore, I need never stray away from Him.

If I want to know the answer for every question I face, I need look no further than God through faith in Jesus.  When I go to Him, however, it must be without doubt, always intent on seeking His will, and using my whole heart.  (James 1:5-8, Proverbs 3:5-6, Jeremiah 29:11-13)

When I don't hear from God regarding the battle I now face, I tend to stray when I think He is but one of many sources of wisdom and guidance.

Wait

He soars high among the clouds, his wings reaching toward the sun.  Effortlessly, he glides for hours, catching the updrafts that keep him afloat.  Here in the peace that is found high above the fray, he revels in his Creator.

The eagle was made to mount up to great heights, breathing the thin air that is found so high above the ground.  

In the same way, I am promised a similar ability to rise up above the problems that plague my life when I wait on the Lord.  (Isaiah 40:31)  Instead of feeling overwhelmed with what I now face, I can come closer to God, seeking His face and honing in on His goodness.  

In the place of living down in the weeds, overcome with all the details of life that will seemingly never come together in any way that will benefit me, I can keep my eyes of Jesus, reminding myself of all the ways He has empowered me to overcome.  (Hebrews 12:2)

While I am tempted to give up or give in, I can instead stand firm, believing that God will come through in His perfect timing.  (Ecclesiastes 3:11,1 Peter 5:8-9, 1 Peter 5:6-7)

God knows my situation perfectly.  He also sees the big picture and desires to use everything I encounter to form me into the image of His Son. (Romans 8:28-29) Therefore, I can trust God to bring me through whatever I now face in the way He sees fit.  There is never a need to panic when God is at the helm of my life!  Believing these truths will give me the strength to wait on Him.

When I don't hear from God regarding the battle I now face, I wait on the Lord when I believe He is sovereign over all things.

Saul easily turned to a medium so he could consult Samuel from the afterlife.  In so doing, he betrayed his wayward heart and revealed his lack of faith in God.  I am not so different.  When the going gets tough, how often do I worry or stray to other gods?  In so doing, I betray my own small view of a God who is one of many.  Instead of believing such nonsense about my God, it is time I grasp the fact that God is able to do more than I can ask or imagine, is my strong foundation, and rules supreme.  In these ways I will be able to wait on God even when He is silent.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to stay true to Him even when I can't sense His presence.

How am I easily knocked off my foundation of faith?

When do I tend to worry most?     

Not What it Seems

"The men said,

'This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said to you,

"I will give your enemy into your hands

 for you to deal with as you wish."'

Then David crept up unnoticed

 and cut off a corner of Saul's robe.

Afterward, David was conscience-stricken

for having cut off a corner of his robe."

1 Samuel 24:4-5

It couldn't have been more perfect.  His enemy, the man who had been hunting him down like a lion stalks his prey, was finally delivered into his hands.  Unbeknownst to this persistent huntsman, his target hid in the shadows, watching his every move.  Surely this was God's providence, delivering Saul into David's hands.  Finally, David could put an end to this nonsense once and for all, killing the man who seemed to have lost his mind to anger and was obsessed with an evil intent to kill the young man he once loved. (1 Samuel 24)

It is easy to see the circumstances unfolding before me and assume that God is giving me a chance for revenge, or justice, or to defend my rights.  If I pay attention to His leading, however, I will come to the same conclusion as did David.  This man after God's own heart knew that "the battle belongs to the Lord" (1 Samuel 17:47) and that the Lord would rather His people demonstrate His mercy, love and forgiveness to a world bent on our destruction. (Hosea 6:6)

Mercy

The people pushed Him to the point of breaking, constantly doubting His provision, questioning His goodness, and wondering where He had gone, leaving them to suffer in solitude. (Exodus 16:3, 32:7-8)  In reality, God always gives His people what they need, is intent on lavishing His love upon them, and never leaves them nor forsakes them. (Ephesians 1:3, 2 Peter 1:3, 1 John 3:1, Deuteronomy 31:6)

Even though I am just like the Israelites, showing myself to be unfaithful to the God who loves me, His mercies are new every morning.  He doesn't ever give up on me even though I often give up on myself.  He never throws in the towel as if to say, "Forget it!  She's never going to trust me enough to let me give her what I want.  I'm tired of her wishy-washiness!"  He doesn't give me what I really deserve.  (Psalm 103:5)

As His child by faith in Jesus Christ, He is grooming me to exhibit these same character traits of Christ. (Romans 8:28-29)  Therefore, when I am wronged, I can extend mercy.  When my flesh cries out to enact revenge, desiring to feel whatever satisfaction I may think will come out of getting back at those who hurt me, He has another path for me to follow.  His indwelling Spirit enables me to choose mercy over revenge.

When it seems God is setting me up to take vengeance upon those who hurt me, I must realize He desires for me to instead show His mercy.

Love

From the beginning they were nothing but trouble.  They refused to do as He commanded.  His most beautiful masterpiece constantly gave Him heartache.  In fact, the sin of mankind made His image bearers out to be His enemies.  Still, He demonstrated His great love for His wayward children by sending His own Son to live a wanderer's life and die a criminal's death.  (Romans 5:8,10, 1 John 3:16)

There is no greater love than the love God showed me by giving His precious Son as a sacrifice for me.  He sent His own down to become sin, suffering greatly as a result, so that I could taste freedom. (2 Corinthians 5:21) In order to give me a chance at life, He allowed His Son to taste death.  

How, then, can I even consider my own rights?  Jesus gave up all so that I could live an abundant life, yet I often am obsessed with so much less. (John 10:10) I get caught up in defending my privileges, what I think I deserve.  I focus too much on how I'm being treated by those around me.  I lose sight of my eternal hope and instead hone in on my temporary troubles. 

Since Jesus gave all out of love, I can likewise extend His brand of love to others.  When my flesh clings to all the ways I've been wronged, His love calls me to forget.  When it is so easy for me to seek my own best interests, His love calls me to do what most helps others.  When I naturally feel a bit of satisfaction to see someone get what I think they deserve, His love calls me to show compassion for their suffering. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

When it seems God is setting me up to defend my rights, I must realize His love demands a loving response.

Forgiveness

He could not forgive such an offense.  Due to His perfectly just nature, He cannot simply extend grace and mercy, overlooking His sense of justice.  He is not able to let things slide, even out of love.  The only way God could forgive the darkness of my sin is through the blood sacrifice of His perfect Son. (Hebrews 9:22)

It is easy for me to think that God forgives me because He loves me.  Yes, He does love me beyond measure.  But it goes against His sense of justice to simply overlook how I have offended Him and continue to do so.  My sin keeps me from God. (Isaiah 59:2) 

It is only through the cleansing blood of Jesus that my sins are covered so such a holy and just God is able to look upon me with love. (1 John 1:7) Through faith in Jesus, then, I am able to boldly approach the throne of grace to receive the grace and mercy I need. (Hebrews 4:16)

With such a rich heritage of forgiveness bought for me through the costly sacrifice of Christ, I am able to extend this forgiveness to those around me. (Ephesians 4:32) Instead of seeking my own brand of justice, I can let it go, allowing the blood of Jesus to cover the offense that wounds me so deeply.  In the place of going after what seems fair to me, I can turn away from the hurt and pardon the crime committed against me.  When I am tempted to carry out a sentence I have deemed as appropriate, I can instead put my hurt in God's hand and forgive those who seek to destroy me.  

When it seems God is setting me up to defend justice, I must realize the price He paid to empower me to forgive.

There are many times when circumstances seem to be working in my favor, giving me a chance to seek revenge, defend my rights or demand justice.  A closer look at God, however, reveals a nature that demands quite the contrary.  Instead, He desires for me to extend mercy, love and forgiveness as a way to show the world that He is the Lord my God, proving that things are not always as they seem.  

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can stop going by what I perceive and instead follow God's lead.

When do I let my flesh lead me to revenge?

How can I let go of the hurt that is developing a bitter root in my heart?

Stumbling Stone

Today's Writing on the Doorframe comes from my new book, 

52 Days of Grace:

Stumbling Stone

As he says in Hosea:

“I will call them ‘my people’ who are not my people;

    and I will call her ‘my loved one’ who is not my loved one,”

and,

“In the very place where it was said to them,

    ‘You are not my people,’

    there they will be called ‘children of the living God.’”

Isaiah cries out concerning Israel:

“Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea,

    only the remnant will be saved. For the Lord will carry out

    his sentence on earth with speed and finality.”

It is just as Isaiah said previously:

“Unless the Lord Almighty

    had left us descendants,

we would have become like Sodom,

    we would have been like Gomorrah.”

What then shall we say?  That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness,

have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;

but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness,

have not attained their goal.  Why not?

Because they pursued the law as the way of righteousness,

have not attained their goal.  Why not?  

Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works.

They stumbled over the stumbling stone.

As it is written:

“See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble

    and a rock that makes them fall,

    and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”

Romans 9:25-33

A woman in our church told me the story of her family’s heritage of faith which reached back to a time before the reformation.  She went on to describe how her ancestors left the faith and that she, in the 20^th Century, was somehow returned to her descendant’s legacy through faith in Jesus Christ.  She couldn’t understand why she, out of all of her family (her unbelieving parents, aunts, uncles, siblings and cousins) was plucked from the fire.  She is committed to praying for the rest of her family, pleading God to change their hearts and draw them to Jesus. (John 6:65)

What a sobering illustration of the path of salvation.  None of us comes to the foot of the cross on our own steam.  Under the old covenant given to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, God’s people were required to do (and not to do) many things.  These actions and lifestyle were, in part, what set them apart from the rest of the world.   Their hair was different, their eating practices peculiar, their rituals of sacrifice seemed strange.  By doing as God had commanded, they were showing themselves to be God’s chosen people.  God, however, was always the One who chose His people and it was this designation that truly set them apart.

Under the new covenant, we are saved by a simple faith in Jesus.  Through this grace we receive the Holy Spirit which, in turn, produces fruit which sets us apart from the rest of the world.  But this grace is a stumbling stone because it takes us fully out of the picture and places Jesus solely in the center.  

We play no part in our salvation.  Our family heritage plays no part in our salvation.  Our ability to make a wise decision plays no part in our salvation.  To God’s glory alone, we as believers are labeled as His chosen people. (v 25-26)

The work God does in our hearts is what gives us the faith to repent and be saved.  Preacher and Civil War Chaplain Thomas Brooks illustrates this truth well.  “Saving grace makes a man as willing to leave his lusts as a slave is willing to leave his galley, or a prisoner his dungeon, or a thief his bolts, or a beggar his rags.”

God inclines our hearts toward Jesus,

shines a spotlight on the narrow gate of salvation

and propels us through to glory.

Why is it important that you understand that you played no part in your own salvation?

When is it most hard to believe that you cannot save yourself?

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the gift of salvation that comes through faith in Jesus Christ.  Without this unspeakable gift, I would be destined to live a life devoid of hope, peace and love.  Help me to keep my true identity as a sinner saved by grace always at the forefront of my mind.

In Jesus’ Name I pray,

Amen.

Click here to find out how to get your own copy of 52 Days of Grace!