Work at Hand

Originally published on October 6, 2014

Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate.

They dedicated it and set its doors in place,

building as far as the Tower of the Hundred,

which they dedicated,

and as far as the Tower of Hananel.

The men of Jericho built the adjoining section,

and Zakkur son of Imri built next to them.

The Fish Gate was rebuilt by the sons of Hassenaah.

They laid its beams 

and put its doors 

and bolts and bars in place.

Nehemiah 3:1-3

It was a team project.  Each group took responsibility for one section of the wall, repairing, rebuilding and reestablishing the structures and gates.  Instead of Nehemiah assigning sections to various work parties, respective families and people groups busied themselves with the area closest to them.  The rebuilding of Jerusalem was a beautiful picture of God's people working together to bring glory to Him.

Sometimes it seems I must go to some exotic, far away location to do impactful things for God's kingdom.  In reality, I can do as the people in Nehemiah's time did and busy myself with the work at hand.

See the Need.  The homeless beg for money.  The distraught search for relief.  The elderly wonder about their purpose in a lonely, isolated existence.  The driven pursue significance.  The hopeless look for a reason to carry on.  The world around me is a needy place.

When I ask God to open my eyes to see what breaks His heart, He will show me suffering.  Wherever the need is, that will be what God brings to my attention.  Either I can respond to the love of Jesus that swells up in me, letting His compassion move my feet to action, or I can turn away.  It's not necessary to start a ministry, find someone who has created a formal organization to address the needs, or be officially sent to fill the need.  I can simply join in where I see God at work.

If He opens my eyes to the mothers in my neighborhood who need support, I can offer to watch their children so they can have some time to themselves.  If God shows me how much my coworker suffers from depression, I can offer to introduce the hope found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and pray with her for deliverance.  If I'm suddenly aware of how lonely the forgotten segment of society is at the local nursing home, I can visit the sweet souls found there who crave meaningful connections with people who care.  There is no formal training, preparation or certification needed.  Instead, it only takes a willing heart.

To be used by God to impact the world for Christ, I can start where God shows me the need in my own community.

Do What I Can.  "Sometimes in life you start slow."  I heard the words spoken by a high school football player as he described their come-from-behind win and my heart was moved.I was struggling with feelings of failure and thoughts of doubt as I considered the small turnout for a Bible-study outreach I recently started.  As I listened to the godly wisdom coming from the mouth of a youngster, I realized the truth found there.  God's idea of success does not include the number of people involved.  Instead, He is concerned that I obey His calling on my life with wholehearted compliance.

Every ministry has to start somewhere.  So, I begin by doing what I can, letting God grow my faithful efforts to accomplish what He desires for His kingdom.  It doesn't have to complicated or endorsed by an official organization.  Instead, my response to God's calling just has to be sincere.  Wherever I see God at work, I can do what I can to be a part of what He is doing, walking through the door He opens, filling the need He highlights, or ministering to those He places close at hand.

To be used by God to impact the world for Christ, I can do what I can to join in where God is already working.

Lose the Expectations.  It doesn't always feel good.  Sometimes, it's downright grueling.  No one may even notice what I'm doing.  If I expect feelings of well-being, meaningful work, and some kind of recognition for my efforts, I will be disappointed as I labor with God in the mission field all around me.

In his first letter to the followers of Christ, Peter talked about the various areas I should pay attention to as the end draws near.  He concludes by encouraging God's people to use His gifts given to serve others (1 Peter 4:10-11).  

If I give my all with the understanding that it comes from Him in the first place, I will bring glory to Him.  If, however, I work in my own strength, trying hard to impress others with my dedication, find meaning for my life, or discover a sense of satisfaction, I will only end up seeking credit for myself.

To be used by God to impact the world for Christ, I can lose the expectation for any kind of selfish benefit and do it only for the glory of God.

It's easy to wait to serve with God because I think my efforts won't matter if it's not an organized mission or done in an exotic locale.  In reality, I can ask Him to open my eyes to the need all around me, joining in by doing what I can, and losing the grandiose expectations.  Then, I will impact the world for Christ as I busy myself with the work at hand.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can do everything I do, small or big, for the glory of God.

When do I wait for something better to come along instead of being faithful in the little things?

What do I reject doing because I think it's not enough to make a difference?

         

God is God. . . and I am not

Originally published on February 28, 2012

"Bow your neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon;

serve him and his people,

and you will live."

Jeremiah 27:12

Common sense is defined as, "normal, native intelligence," or "sound practical judgement that is independent of specialized knowledge, training, or the like."  I make decisions everyday based upon my common sense.  I think, If it doesn't sound logical and make sense, it must not be the right choice. 

Even Guatama Siddharta, founder of Buddhism agrees with me. He said to, "Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense."

The problem is, God calls me to, "Trust in the Lord with all (my) heart and lean not on (my) own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5)  Following God sometimes means I will do things out of obedience to God that do not make sense to me, that goes against every piece of sound logic and which looks downright irresponsible.  But God is God and I am not.  

Trusting God many times means I will go against my common sense.

Zedekiah, King of Judah

God sent a message to the King of Judah that went against Zedekiah's good judgement.  The Lord said through the prophet Jeremiah that when the Babylonian army came in to conquer and destroy his land, he was to roll over and surrender willingly.  If he did so, he would be allowed to live.  In fact, all the nations in the region were sent a similar message, saying that if they did not resist, they would be able to stay in their own land.  

What king worth his salt is going to passively stand by while a foreign army invades his land?  Even a puppet king placed in power by a foreign ruler cannot easily surrender to an invading army.  King Zedekiah did what came naturally instead of obeying God and he rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar.   Consequently, he was forced to watch his sons' violent deaths before suffering the gouging of his eyes and exile to Babylon.

Trusting God many times means I will be asked to go against my common sense.

Jim Elliot

God used the life and death of missionaries Jim Elliot, Ed McCully, Nate Saint, Roger Youderin and Peter Fleming to open up a door for the Gospel to enter the lives of the mysterious Auca tribe in Ecuador, as well as to other people groups in the region.  

These men acted recklessly, going against all standards of good judgement in making contact with such a violent and primitive tribe who regularly killed six out of every ten of their fellow tribesmen.  Not surprisingly, the five men were brutally killed upon making their first contact with the people with whom they had come to share the gospel.   But, as Steven Curtis Chapman sings in the video he shot in the same Amazon Basin jungle with descendants of Nate Saint and his killer along with other tribe members who are now followers of Jesus Christ, God is God and I am not. 

Please take a moment to watch this powerful video.

Trusting God many times means I will do things that go against my common sense.

Youcef Nadarkhani

Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani has been held under charges of apostasy in Iran since 2009 when he spoke out against Islamic indoctrination in his childrens' school. (He was released in January 2013 but since has been arrested and persecuted numerous times.) His actions go against every bit of common sense in my being.  When living in an Islamic state who is violently opposed to the message of the gospel, it is a matter of self-preservation to keep quiet about one's beliefs.  

But God inspired this young man to speak up and take a stand for Christ at risk of his life and the lives of his young family.  God is God and I am not.  Who knows what fruit will come from this act of obedience?

Trusting God many times means I will take a stand that goes against my common sense.

What is God calling me to do this very day that goes against all sound judgement?  Give away my savings?  Show love to someone who hurt me deeply?  Sell everything and go to a hostile land?  Quit my job?  Take a pay cut and a demotion?  

Whatever it is that God is calling me to do, I can rest in the knowledge that God is God and I am not.  He has a plan. . . and that plan is far in scope beyond all I can ever imagine!

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will be challenged by these stories to obey God at all costs.

When do I rely on my common sense instead of listening to and obeying God?

How does knowing that God's ways are higher than my ways inspire me to obey even when it doesn't make sense for me to do so?

Heart of Flesh

Originally published on April 30, 2012

"I will give you a new heart 

and put a new spirit in you;

I will remove from you

your heart of stone

and give you a heart of flesh."

Ezekiel 36:26

September has always been a special month for me.  Not only is it the month of my birth, but as a child and even as a homeschool mother, I always enjoyed the beginning of the new school year.  The preparation for the upcoming year brought a sense of hope and excitement to my days as I purchased new clothing and supplies, preparing myself for the challenges that lay ahead.

As the first day of school approached during my junior high and high school years, I would organize my notebook, making new dividers and filling it with fresh paper and pencils.  I then would turn my attention to my attire, deciding which outfit I would wear for the first day.  Often, I would get a pair of new shoes and somehow, this made me feel like a brand new person tackling a brand new school year.  

In the same way that my fresh, never-before-worn clothes and virgin pencils groomed me for the new classes I was about to face, the new heart of flesh that God has given me through faith in Jesus Christ prepares me for living my life as a member of the family of God.

Empowered Obedience

A friend of mine recently gave a great visual of the battle that occurs between my spirit and God's Spirit as described in Galatians 5:17.  "The sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.  They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want." 

My friend likened this contrariness, this conflict to a tug-of-war between me and God. As God's Spirit moves me in His direction, my flesh pulls back against Him, pulling me in the opposite direction. The only way for me to go in God's direction is for me to stop pulling and let Him lead me.  If I drop the rope altogether, giving up the fight and surrendering my will to Him, I can freely walk along with Him.  

As one who has been provided through Christ with a tender and responsive heart (Ezekiel 36:26), I am given the ability to withstand the temptation to do things my way.  The grace of God which constantly flows through me from His indwelling Spirit empowers me to, "offer the parts of (my) body to him as instruments of righteousness.  For sin shall not be (my) master, because (I) am not under law, but under grace." (Romans 6:13-14)  Either I choose to give myself over to the pull of God, or the influence of sin.  

Each time I sense the tug of God leading me in His direction, there will be the temptation for my flesh to fight against Him.  But thanks to God's grace abundantly found in my life and manifested through His Son's death on the cross, I have the option and ability to drop the rope, giving in to God's will.  When I submit, the fruit of the Spirit are produced and there is no law against these things! 

I don't have to try harder to be good and please God, rather I have to nail, "the passions and desires of (the) sinful nature to his cross and (crucify) them there."  (Galatians 5:24 NLT) Or, as 17th Century Puritan preacher Peter Bulkeley said, "If God be God over us, we must yield him universal obedience in all things.  He must not be over us in one thing, and under us in another, but he must be over us in everything."  

I am empowered to obey by the grace of God when I submit to Him and allow Him to lead me.

Godly Devotion

Our neighbors own a huge German Shepherd who looks quite intimidating but who is actually a big baby.  He's gentle, calm and pretty laid back. . . until his owner brings out the beloved tennis ball.  Then he turns into the fetching machine, never taking his eyes of the yellow orb.  Nothing can distract him from the job at hand; squirrels, food, other dogs, they all fade into the background as the ball takes center stage, monopolizing his attention.  He's all about his ball.

In the same way, I am called to be wholly devoted to God.  He may allow a variety of attractive belief systems or alluring distractions to come my way in order to test me "to find out whether (I) love him with all (my) heart and with all (my) soul.  It is the LORD (my) God (I) must follow, and him (I) must revere.  Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him."  (Deuteronomy 13:3-4)

This kind of devotion comes with maturity as we progressively work toward, "attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.  Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming."  (Ephesians 4:13-14)  Growing in my walk with God means I will gradually become more Christ-like, little-by-little gaining an immunity to distractions.  The goal is to become like my neighbor's dog; all about my God!

As I cultivate my personal relationship with God through faith in Christ, I will increasingly develop my devotion for Him and Him alone.

Spontaneous Love

Have you ever tried really hard to love someone, especially someone who is particularly prickly?  I have. . . and it doesn't work.  I just don't have it in me to love like God loves me!  

I like the way Oswald Chambers put it in his entry for April 30th in My Utmost for His Highest:  "Love is not premeditated, it is spontaneous, i.e., it bursts up in extraordinary ways.  There is nothing of mathematical certainty in Paul's category of love.  We cannot say--'Now I am going to think no evil; I am going to believe all things.'  The characteristic of love is spontaneity.  We do not set the statements of Jesus in front of us as a standard; but when His Spirit is having His way with us, we live according to His standard without knowing it, and on looking aback we are amazed at the disinterestedness of a particular emotion, which is the evidence that the spontaneity of real love was there.  In everything to do with the life of God in us, its nature is only discerned when it is past."

It is not my effort that produces a loving attitude or loving acts, rather it is in extension of God's Spirit working through me.  "God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."  (Romans 5:5)

As I let God's Spirit have it's way in me, I will find that the irritation I used to experience when dealing with a certain difficult personality has vanished and in it's place is patience and gentleness.

When I let go and let God, it will become apparent that my previous penchant for perfection and high expectations for others' actions has been replaced by a desire to let go of past failures and to always hope, believing with faith that things will get better.

If I follow God where He leads, I will soon see that circumstances and situations that used to anger me and send me into a tailspin now have no affect on me.  My blood does not boil and I'm no longer compelled to chew someone out, defending my position.  

Love comes as a natural extension of God Spirit as He becomes greater and I become less and will show up unprompted in ways I can't explain.  

God is the craftsman of my new heart.  Only He can, "Create in me a clean heart. . . and renew a right spirit within me."  (Psalm 51:10)  And with this heart of flesh I am empowered to obey God, to be wholly devoted to Him and to love spontaneously.  In this way, I am growing "in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church."  (Ephesians 4:15 NLT)

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will let go and let God have His way in my life this moment.

When do I insist on having my way, thus preventing God to love others through me?

How do I hang onto my own desires, refusing to nail them to the cross?

Eternal Benefit

Originally published on January 22, 2014.  Republished today in honor of my mom, who on this day one year ago realized her hope in Christ and went to live with Him for the rest of eternity.  

"When you were slaves to sin,

you were free from the control of righteousness.

What benefit did you reap at the time

from the things you are now ashamed of?

Those things result in death!

But now that you have been set free from sin

and have become slaves to God,

the benefit you reap leads to holiness,

and the result is eternal life.

For the wages of sin is death,

but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 6:20-23

He was a man who tried everything in his search for meaning and happiness.  Hundreds of women crossed the threshold of his bedroom, countless philosophers and teachers discussed the wisdom of the ages, wealth and pleasure all were his, but still he lacked peace and contentment.  His conclusion?  It's all meaningless!  Nothing in life brings genuine fulfillment.

In the end, Solomon did draw a deeper conclusion from his lifelong quest for meaning.  He said, "Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone's duty.  God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad." (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 NLT)  

God had blessed Solomon with everything most people desire.  Wisdom, wealth and honor like no other king had ever possessed belonged to him.  Still, Solomon felt empty as he explored these good things throughout his years.

This famous ruler found out the hard way that following the flesh gives no lasting benefit.  Pleasure is fleeting, happiness is transient and any meaning that is found is usually empty and ends in death.  The only thing that makes sense is to live as God intended me to exist, in submission to Him.  When I become a slave to God instead of to my own desire for happiness, I will come to the same conclusion as Solomon: I am created to live in relationship with God.

Control of Righteousness

"I can do whatever I want!"  Anyone who is the parent of a toddler or a teenager has probably heard these words at some point in their youngster's life.  We as humans have strong wills that want to have things our way.  No one knows this better than a parent with a rebellious child.  

If I'm honest with myself, though, I realize that I am no different than that preschooler throwing a fit in the grocery store aisle.  I want my way which is counter to God's way.  My Father knows what is best for me but I only care about fulfilling my own desires.  

When I've worked hard on earning a college degree, for instance, I feel it is my purpose to use that diploma to find a good job in my field.  God, however, has another plan as He waits for me to seek His will.

Then there are the times when I enjoy telling my friends or family about the struggles a sister in Christ is battling.  Instead of heeding the still, small Voice that calls for discretion, I continue exposing her hurts and pains for all to judge.

Sometimes I know that I would be better off without all the electronic gadgets that bring worldly values streaming into my home on a continual basis.  Instead of standing for what is good, however, I give in to the desire to be entertained.

As one who has been bought with a price, I can no longer think of my life as my own to do with as I please. (1 Corinthians 6:20)  Instead, I can move forward from here as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, bringing my will into submission to His. (Romans 12:1)  Allowing God to be in control means sin no longer reigns in my life.

Now I have an obligation to do what is right as one who desires to please God in thought, word and deed.  I can't separate myself from the world as a hermit in a quest for righteousness; after all, if there's no temptation, there's no sin, right?  Maybe.  But perhaps I need to consider the encouragement of Oswald Chambers when he said, "It is of no value to God to give Him your life for death.  He wants you to be a 'living sacrifice,' to let Him have all your powers that have been saved and sanctified through Jesus.  This is the thing that is acceptable to God." 

What good am I to God if I am cut off from a world that needs Jesus so desperately?   I may become more holy, but does this please God in and of itself, or does He want more from me?

Living in relationship with God brings me under the control of righteousness so that I can live to please Him.

Holiness

As artists, my daughters own brushes that are created for one thing, and one thing only; painting on canvass.  While I can see other functions for their use, such as cleaning in tight corners, touch-up painting in my living room, or dusting delicate figurines, these tools are set aside for only one specific function.  Using them otherwise would damage their delicate nature and deny their purpose.

In a similar way, I am set aside for the single purpose of glorifying God.  I can think of all sorts of other functions for which I can be used, but not all will please God.  Selfish ambition can drive me toward worldly success, leaving me with much material wealth but devoid of peace.

Strong family relationships give much satisfaction and pleasure as I strive to do my best for my husband and children.  Emptiness soon comes, however, because I have left God out of the family.

Seeking a culturally diverse existence propels me toward many religions, but none contains the truth that has the power to set me free.

As one who belongs to God, my reason for existence is found in His plan for my life.  There are many paths I can choose to follow, but until I accept that God holds the blueprint, nothing will ever make sense.  Once I seek Him with all my heart, He will give me a desire to live a life that is radically different from those around me.

Instead of working toward success, I labor alongside the Lord as His servant without regard to my accomplishments.  Or I desire to fulfill my purpose as a wife and mother in a way that makes God the center of my home.  Or my fascination with foreign people groups compels me to share the gospel with a lost world.

Living in a relationship with God illuminates the greater purpose for my life.

Eternal Life

She once lived to die.  Her life brought forth seven children and a loving husband who was the joy of her life, but also drugs, alcohol, abuse and violence.  When living to please herself, she nearly died too many times to count.  Once she came to Christ, however, her outlook changed.  Instead of seeing her life as a series of failures and trauma, she began to see it as an opportunity to live for Him.

Once my friend invited Jesus into her life, her perspective changed.  In the past, despair ruled as she wallowed in the guilt and regret of all the pain her loved ones suffered by her hand.  Now, she has hope for what is to come.  

Paul shared this same expectation for eternity that drove him to persevere through the trials that came his way.  He said, "That is why we never give up.  Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.  For our present troubles are small and won't last very long.  Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!  So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen.  For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever."  (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NLT)

As one who is a slave to God instead of sin, I have eternal life to look forward to.  Everything in this world pales in comparison to the glory of heaven!  The pain of sickness will become as a faint shadow in my memory as I enter into the presence of the glory of God.  All the hurt that is as a result of sin will only serve to showcase the greatness of our God in comparison.  Nothing I can imagine will prepare me for the magnificence and beauty of my eternal home.

Living in a relationship with God through the tough times in this fallen world gives me the hope of eternal life that will spur me on.

Solomon found out that seeking happiness ended in disappointment, but living for God results in meaning.  As I give my life to God through faith in Jesus Christ, I will find I am under the control of righteousness that leads to a life that is set aside for God's glory, and all the suffering is not in vain as I realize my final destination outshines any pleasure I can find here on earth.  Living in relationship with God ends in a rich eternal benefit that far outweighs my wildest dreams.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can stop following the flesh and begin to live as a slave to God.

How do I live as if I'm still a slave to sin?

When do I tend to give up hope, as if my problems in the here and now overshadow what I have to look forward to in eternity?

Who's My Master?

Originally published on June 30, 2015, four days after the Supreme Court legalized Gay marriage

"Hear me, you heavens! Listen, earth!

For the LORD has spoken:

'I reared children and brought them up,

but they have rebelled against me.

The ox knows its master,

the donkey its owner's manger,

but Israel does not know,

my people do not understand.'"

Isaiah 1:2-3

The past few days have been quite eye-opening.  After the news came out that the Supreme Court had narrowly decided to legalize gay marriage nationwide, I was shocked to see the opinions of many self-professing Christians who celebrated the decision.  I wondered how anyone claiming Christ as Lord and Savior could buy into such a morally corrupt belief.

While I tend to think we have reached new lows as both a society and a people of God, I read the words found in the prophecies of Isaiah and I realize there really is nothing new under the sun.  We have been here before, and the problems are quite similar as to the ones facing the nation of Israel.  While beasts of burden instinctively know who their master is, man is quite another story.

Without Excuse.  He left His mark on everything He created, giving His image-bearers clues to His character.  The consistency and predictability of the rising and setting of the sun and moon speaks to His steadfast, unchanging nature (Malachi 3:6).  The delicate intricacy of a flower reveals His love of beauty and His attention to detail (Psalm 139:14).  The joyous singing of the birds each morn gives me a glimpse of how much He adores the praise from His designed creatures (Psalm 66:4).  There are constant reminders of Himself throughout creation.

Therefore, I am without excuse when I turn away from Him and choose to follow my own darkened heart (Romans 1:20).  Even more, those who truly have repented of their sinful ways and have put on Christ Jesus as Lord experience the benefit of the Holy Spirit to guide, convict of sinful ways, and empower to live a holy life (John 7:39, Titus 2:11-12).  Consequently, I grieve His indwelling Spirit when I act as if I know no better by living according to my flesh and as if I belong to the world (Ephesians 4:30, 1 Thessalonians 5:19).

I am without excuse when I choose to believe as the world does instead of trusting in what my conscience knows is right.

Rebellion.  I've seen plenty of rebellious children in my day, some right under my own roof.  In fact, I'm so familiar with defiance because my heart often disregards the leading of God's indwelling Spirit.  But there is more to this rebellious spirit than meets the eye.  

When I fail to acknowledge God as sovereign, that He is my master through faith in Jesus Christ, I am in a sense dissenting from God's righteous judgement.  I am saying that I think my way is better than His, that I know better or can see more clearly than He can.  I am bucking His authority over me as His child and am instead bowing to a different god, one who is more like me, is socially acceptable and morally lenient:  A god with whom I am more comfortable.  This kind of idolatry, however, is not welcomed in the kingdom of God, and therefore belongs not in the heart of a Kingdom dweller (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

For example, Gay marriage is not marriage at all, but is a cheap substitute created by man to serve his sinful purposes.  Since God did not create it, I, as His child, have no business supporting it let alone rejoicing in it's lawlessness (Matthew 19:4-6, Genesis 1:27, 2:20-25).  Doing so defies the very nature of love which does not "rejoice at wrongdoing"  (1 Corinthians 13:6).  Real love did not win out that historic day, and to profess so is to blaspheme a holy God whose very nature is love (1 John 4:8).

When I as a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ turn away from God's standard of holy living, I have become rebellious against Him (1 Peter 1:14-16).

Clueless.  His ways are difficult, going against my nature, conflicting with my natural desires (Romans 7:15-25, Galatians 5:17) .  Therefore, when I come up against God's infallible wall, His standards and law, I must either adjust myself and my way of thinking until I agree with it, or I reject it.  I cannot, instead, try to conform God into someone with whom I am more comfortable, a cuddly, Father-time type character who looks the other way when it comes to the sin I welcome into my life.  This is called idolatry and it is a serious offense to God because I am creating a false god who doesn't mind my sin (1 Corinthians 10:6-14).

Who is my master if I rejoice in sinful lifestyles, refusing to warn those who are perishing of the consequences of their actions?  It may not make me popular, but can my conscience let me ignore the suffering all around me or even support those who are doomed to destruction (1 John 3:4-10, 2 Peter 2:4-10)?

I am acting as if I were clueless to God's true nature when I create an altogether false god to worship in His place.

I call myself a Christian yet do I know who my Master is?  I would be wise to let God examine my heart in terms of my response to the Supreme Court's gay marriage ruling of June 26, 2015 and all subsequent actions by its supporters, including the aggressive agenda to indoctrinate our children into believing gay marriage is a healthy alternative or the endorsement of a former president claiming Jesus would approve .  I am without excuse as to God's immutable character yet often rebel in my desire to fit in with the world, acting as if I were clueless as to the nature of God.  In these ways, beasts of burden seem to have more sense than I.  Who is my master, anyway?

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can honestly open my heart to God so He can test my intentions.

When do I support a cause without truly understanding its root or implications?

How do I follow my own understanding instead of trusting God?

Merely Man

This post was originally published in October 2015.

"This is what the LORD says:

'Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans,

who rely on human strength

and turn their hearts away from the LORD.'"

Jeremiah 17:5 NLT

It's easy to be intimidated by those who oppose my faith, especially if they have credentials, power or position to bring me down.  The time is here when more and more Christians will be called to take a stand for our beliefs.  When it is me against the entire federal government, the state officials, or even the local school board, I may feel frightened when considering what they might do to me.  But I need not be afraid, for I have the Lord my God, and they are merely men (2 Chronicles 32:8).   Here's how I can be greatly encouraged as I stand firmly within God's blessing.

Trust.  There is much in which I can place my faith.  I can trust in political insiders who support my cause, or influential leaders who come alongside me, or cunning lawyers who take my case.  While these benefits may help me, I must not place my faith in them to save me.

Ultimately, it is God who has the power, influence and wisdom to save me.  Do I believe it?  Or are these only words I say out of habit or tradition?  I must walk forward in confidence with the understanding that He goes before me, He has my back, and He envelopes me with His sovereign power (Deuteronomy 31:8).  He literally hems me in (Psalm 139:5)!  If I really believe this, I will not doubt, will not fear, will not waver.

Blessed am I when I trust fully in God alone as my Savior.

Rely.  I can depend on man to make my case before the powers that be, believing if I have a well-crafted argument, justice will prevail.  I can count on the knowledge I have about the judge who may oversee my case, depending upon him to make a wise ruling.  I can bank on the support of other believers to hold me up during a difficult time of persecution.  While it may seem most important to have such benefits, I must not rely on them to sustain me.

Ultimately, it is God who has the might, not any man-made entity.  Even if it seems I have no hope, with God there is always a way through.  He has resources I know nothing about, ways I cannot fathom, power that is not of this world.  Therefore, I must place all my weight on Him, standing on the Solid Rock that will not let me down (Psalm 62:6-8).  

Blessed am I when I rely completely in God as my source of power.

Heart.  It's easy for my heart to become tainted by the beliefs, attitudes and corruption of this world.  I may start off being motivated by a passion for Jesus and a deep love for Him until another affection begins to draw me away from Him as my true devotion.  Or I close myself off from His leading, afraid to head down the path He is taking me on, unwilling to experience such hardship for His sake.  Or I resist the painful molding process as the Potter's hands attempt to fashion me into the image of His Son, chipping away all that doesn't belong.

It is then that I can cry out to God as David did, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and restore a right spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10).  Make me loyal to You again, Lord, led by a heart that desires to please You and You alone.  A heart that does not worry about what man may do, or how unpopular I may become, or how difficult the path may be.  A heart that only is concerned with Your opinion of me, desiring to hear those coveted words, "Well done, my good and faithful servant"( Matthew 25:21).  This is the kind of heart that He will cultivate within me when I submit to Him.  

Blessed am I when my heart is fully devoted to God as my greatest delight (Psalm 37:4).

Times are getting difficult and I must be prepared to take a stand for my faith.  When I do, I may feel intimated by the powers of this world that I face, feeling overwhelmed by their authority and influence.  It is then that I will do well to trust in God alone, rely completely on Him as my strength, and be driven by a heart that is fully devoted to Him.  When I do, I will say with confidence that if God is for me, who can stand against me (Romans 8:31-34)?  Whoever tries is merely man!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that God will be my greatest hope.

When do I trust more in human power than in God's?

How am I afraid to go against the status quo?