Trust God Enough

"But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,

'Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites,

you will not bring this community into the land I give them.'"

Numbers 20:12

They had been there before and would probably be there again.  When they were slaves in Egypt, treated unfairly and beaten on a regular basis, they cried out to the Lord for salvation.  When God delivered them from bondage, setting them free from the cruel hand of the Egyptian taskmasters, they rejoiced for a time, that is until things didn't seem to be going the way they imagined they would go.  

As soon as the going got tough, the Israelites got to whining.  "We would have been better off if we been struck down with Korah's rebels! (Numbers 16)  At least they've been delivered from this suffering.  Even Egypt was better than this.  At least there we had grain, figs, grapes and pomegranates.  Out here in the desert, we don't even have water to drink!"  They complained to Moses and Aaron, blaming their leaders for bringing them out into the desert to die.  

Despite their bad attitudes, God heard their cries and instructed Moses to gather the people together and speak to a rock.  As soon as the words came from his mouth, God would bring forth water like a spring, supplying the people with a source of fresh water.  Instead of following God's instructions, however, Moses said, "Listen, you rebels, must we bring water out of this rock?"  In a show of dramatics, Moses then struck the rock twice.  Water gushed out and the people and livestock drank.  (Numbers 20:1-13)

As humble as Moses was, he did not take God's command seriously in this instance.  Out of frustration with the stiff-necked people under his care, he forgot the perfection and holiness of God.  As the Lord pointed out, Moses did not trust God enough to take Him at His word, instead trying to do things the way he thought was best.  Instead of doing it God's way, Moses obeyed using his own way, which is no obedience at all.

As clear as this rebellious spirit may be to me as I read the account of this event, I may not realize that I am often guilty of the same.

My Credit

I work hard, try to do the right thing and do my best to take good care of myself.  When things go well, then, it's easy for me to take credit for my promotion, the impact of a good deed, or a clean bill of health.  After all, I think to myself, I did try pretty hard; shouldn't I enjoy a pat on the back?

In reality, all good things are from the Lord. (James 1:17)  There is nothing good within me that is even capable of bringing about a result that is worthy of praise. (Romans 7:18, Jude 1:24-25)  Therefore, how can I honestly take credit for what God is doing in my life?

When Moses brought the people before the rock at Meribah, he did this very thing by taking credit for the miracle God was about to perform in bringing water out of an ordinary rock.  He said, ". . .must we bring you water out of this rock?" (Numbers 20:10)  Instead of acknowledging God as the source of the life-giving liquid, Moses tried to take credit for creating a new spring.

How often do I do the same?  I may think my financial security is due to my shrewd planning and frugal living. In reality, God gave me the ability to climb to the point where I now find myself, protecting me from ruin so I could enjoy the fruits of His grace and mercy.  

Other times I fool myself into thinking I've dodged the bullet of major health problems through exercise and good nutrition.  If the truth were told, however, my good health has more to do with genetics and God's sovereignty than with my efforts.  

Sometimes I try to take credit for my abilities, thinking it was my dedication and hard work that developed the talent and skills, completely ignoring the fact that God equipped me to do what He called me to accomplish in life.   

Whenever I am tempted to take credit for God's blessings, I would be wise to turn the praise back to the Lord, acknowledging Him in all my ways.  (Proverbs 3:5-6)

My Way

Most people are familiar with the story of Robin Hood who stole from the rich to give to the poor.  This popular medieval folk figure could have adopted the precept that, "The ends justify the means."

While my human reasoning may agree with this principle, God does not.  He is concerned not only with the outcome, but also with the method used.  The way I get from point "A" to point "B" is just as important as the fact that I arrived at the intended destination.

When Moses took matters into his own hands and decided to strike the rock instead of speaking to it as God had instructed, he decided that his way was better than God's.  He may have thought,  as long as the people are supplied with water, does it matter how I brought it about? (Numbers 20:11)

God's focus is consistently on the heart of His people.  When I insist on tweaking the method to fit my vision, I am betraying a lack of trust in God's approach.  Instead of trusting God enough to buy into His way of doing things, I am essentially telling God that I don't think His plan will work.  God may be gracious enough to bring about the same result despite my disobedience like He did with Moses, but there will be consequences for insisting on using my own method.  

For Moses, this consequence was that he would not be allowed to lead his people into the promised land.  For me, it could be the loss of a certain blessing, or the lack of trust, or a broken relationship.   True obedience pays attention to the means used to reach the intended goal.   

Whenever I am tempted to do things my way, I would be wise to pay attention to both the method as well as the outcome.

My Own Understanding

As a military wife, I came to the conclusion long ago that I would have struggled as a soldier.  There are many times when my husband was ordered to do things that simply did not make sense to me.  I could have come up with a dozen reasons why I would not obey, but my husband dutifully complied, trusting in his chain of command.  

In order to be able to follow orders, a soldier must believe that his commanders have a reason for issuing a certain piece of instruction, even if that reason is not understood or even comprehended.  This is where I struggle.  

I think that it is important for me to understand why I am doing things.  If, for instance, I am asked to dig a hole, I want to know if I'm planting a tree, making a well, or preparing for a burial.  To my mind, it makes a difference.

This kind of desire gets me in trouble when it comes to the Lord.  His ways are higher than my ways, and His thoughts exist in the stratosphere while mine are down in the weeds.  (Isaiah 55:8-9) Therefore, I cannot assume to be able understand why God is asking me to wait, expecting me to love those who hurt me, or humble myself to the point of a servant.  In my mind, it may make more sense if I got what I needed now, if I dished out what was given to me, or if I stood up for my rights.  Instead of doing what makes sense to me, however, I must trust God enough to believe He has a plan of which I know nothing.

Moses made the mistake of not holding God up before the people of Israel as One who is holy and whose ways are too profound to comprehend. (Numbers 20:12)  He did not demonstrate how to obey God implicitly without question.  Instead, he showed his people that God didn't always know what He was doing and that sometimes one needed to kick things up a notch.  It's no wonder that God took away the privilege for Moses to enter into the promised land.  I had better pay attention to the lesson found in Moses' error.

Whenever I am tempted to only obey when I agree or understand, I would be wise to submit to God's unfathomable ways.

I can say that I trust God all day long, but until I prove it by giving Him all the credit for the good in my life, choosing His way over mine, and obeying Him even if I don't understand what He is doing, my faith is not real.  This day, then, I want to take the lesson of Moses to heart and trust God enough to obey Him wholeheartedly.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can prove my faith in God by how seriously I take His commands.

When do I insist on knowing all the details before I'll commit to God's calling?

How do I try to take credit for the good God has given to me?  

New Life

"'I am the gate;

whoever enters through me will be saved.

They will come in and go out,

and find pasture.

The thief comes only to steal

and kill

and destroy;

I have come that they may have life,

and have it to the full."

John 10:9-10

I have missed meeting with you here on Writings on the Doorframe where we dig through God's precious and life-giving Word together.  You see, I have been on an incredible journey of life and love over the past couple of weeks.  Today, it is time to tell the story.

All across the land of the free, there are people who are living in bondage.  This is not a spiritual bondage, although it does touch them spiritually.  It is not an emotional bondage even though their emotions are moved.  Instead, this is a physical form of slavery in which the person is bound to a machine; a contraption that ultimately keeps them alive but also dictates their weekly schedule and restricts their ability to live a life that most of us take for granted.  This slave master is kidney failure, and the shackles are known as dialysis.

While this process of filtering one's blood and essentially doing the job of the kidney by removing waste, salt and extra water, maintaining safe levels of certain chemicals, and helping to control blood pressure does save the patient's life, it is far from flexible.  In order to keep healthy, the patient must endure these four-hour treatments three times a week as well as restrict fluid intake and maintain a healthy diet that restricts salt, potassium and phosphorus.  All in all, the life of someone with kidney failure is not easy.

Journey

Almost a year ago, I began a journey that would lead me through a roller coaster of emotions, but would ultimately give me a greater vision of God's sovereignty and His amazing plan for each of our lives.  It was last year that I first learned that my neighbor, Adrian, was seeking a living donor.  He had been diagnosed with kidney failure and began dialysis about a year-and-a-half before.  As soon as the news of the search came to my attention, I knew in my heart that God wanted me to donate my kidney to him.

Since I was a little girl, I possessed this hidden desire to donate an organ.  I couldn't explain it, and didn't share it with another soul, but I wanted to help someone out in this way.  Once I heard about the plight of this husband of a giving wife and father of two special girls who had grown up in our afterschool program, I began the process to donate my kidney.

After undergoing rigorous testing and being approved as a match for Adrian, we were scheduled for surgery in August.  This, however, proved to be a false start when God suddenly pulled the plug at the last minute due to an antibody Adrian developed toward my blood.  After many tears and prayers, my neighbor and I entered into a kidney exchange program through the MUSC Transplant Center.  

Within a few months, a match was found for my neighbor, and one for me as well.  As part of this complicated network, nine people in all were able to receive new life as part of the chain to which Adrian and I were connected.  My faith grew as I witnessed the better plan God had unveiled.

As a result, I have been recovering from surgery for the past few weeks and have been given a glimpse into the important work many dedicated people do to help save the lives of many every day.  I was also struck by the magnitude of the sacrifice Jesus Christ made to give me new life.  When He gave His life on the cross, suffering for hours under the brutal treatment of Roman soldiers whose hearts had grown cold and were accustomed to inflicting pain, He willingly gave of Himself so that I could live.  He exchanged His perfect life for my sinful one.  He took the punishment I earned through my sin so that I could live in relationship with my heavenly Father forever.  This Truth struck me in a fresh way after the surgery.

Sacrifice

As I lay in the hospital bed the first night after surgery, the pain set in.  My attentive nurse had just administered some medication and left me in peace for a time.  As I lay in the dark, listening to my dear husband's even breathing as he slept on the couch beside me, I waited for the pain to subside.  Clutching my pillow, I realized that I'd been wounded in a similar way as had my Savior.  

Instead of suffering alone, however, I'd been meticulously cared for by my husband as well as the medical staff.  My wounds were cleaned and closed, my pain was controlled and I was given every comfort possible to promote my healing.

Jesus, on the other hand, was left to suffer alone as He struggle to breathe while hanging on the cross.  The thousands of lacerations, puncture wounds and abrasions were left to bleed openly.  Every movement increased His pain until He must have nearly fainted from the intensity of it all.  Still, He chose to enter into such an act of sacrifice so that I could live.  So that you could live.  So that all who believe in His precious Name would be saved. (Romans 10:9)

While I did choose to sacrifice my kidney so another may live, it is not this act of surrender and obedience that really matters in the end.  The sacrifice that truly makes a difference in the life of any man or woman is the one that Jesus made as He died a sinner's death.  In so doing, He made a way for each of us to enjoy a full, rich life as we live in relationship with Him.  He also made a way for us to dwell in His presence forever in the eternal home which He is currently preparing for us.  (John 14:2)

Bought

I have met quite a few amazing people over the past year.  Each is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of those who are living in the bondage of kidney failure.  None, however, are as dedicated as is Christ to freeing us from the shackles that hold us to our sin nature.  I see these two, kidney donation and Jesus sacrificing His life, as one and the same in many ways.  Both give new life.  Both involve the sacrifice of one for the good of another.  Both are a kind of exchange.

Therefore, as I went through this process, it was always the spiritual new life that was more important to me.  The physical life that would come through the new kidney was merely an illustration of the new spiritual life that I hoped would come as a result.  

Here's my kidney after it was removed from my body and before it was shipped to it's new owner.

I wanted to send this message to the recipient who lives on the other side of the country.

Here is Sara preparing my kidney for transport.  She is my precious kidney coordinator who works hard to hammer out all the details involved with pulling off a successful kidney transplant.  She is a gem!

Here we are the day after surgery: Adrian, Sara and I.

I look forward to meeting with you here at Writings on the Doorframe in the days to come.  It is my hope that what I have shared of my experience touches you in a powerful way as you realize the amazing sacrifice Jesus made so that you can enjoy new life.  This abundant life is similar to what Adrian and countless others are now tasting as they enjoy the benefits paid for by another.   As you walk through each day, taking each breathe in wonder with what God has graciously given to you, may you live with abandon to the Giver of New life:  Jesus Christ our Lord!  

Korah's Rebellion, My Rebellion

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

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

and On son of Peleth--

became insolent and rose up against Moses.

With them were 250 Israelite men,

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

They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron

and said to them,

'You have gone too far!

The whole community is holy, every one of them,

and the LORD is with them.

Why then do you set yourselves 

above the LORD's assembly?'"

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

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

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

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

Perspective

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jealousy

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

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

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

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

Justification

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

When do I feel jealous of what others have?

The Profile of a Pharisee

"While the Israelites were in the wilderness,

a man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath day. . .

Then the LORD said to Moses,

'The man must die.

The whole assembly must stone him

outside the camp.'"

Numbers 15:32,35

His hand was useless, hanging limply by his side, unable to perform even the simplest of tasks.  Suddenly, Jesus was there.  "Stand up in front of everyone."  The man looked around.  Is He talking to me? the man wondered.

Meanwhile, the Pharisees were lurking in the shadows, watching Jesus intently, hoping He would heal the man so they could nail Him for working on the Sabbath.  Jesus, however, knew their thoughts and intentions.

"Which would be lawful; to do good or evil, to save life or to kill?"  No one knew what to say, but anger burned within the heart of the Healer as He surveyed their stubborn hearts.  "Stretch out your hand,"  Jesus said, and then He restored the man's hand to normal.  It was then that the Pharisees knew they must kill Jesus, and they plotted how they could do such a thing.  (Paraphrased from Mark 3:1-6)

Reading this Gospel account of the healing of a broken man, it's hard to understand why the Pharisees would be so zealous when it came to enforcing the Sabbath law.  In the context of the Old Testament passage found in today's reading, however, it's easy to see why they might have become so obsessed with this pursuit.  In their effort to protect people from the righteous wrath of God, the law grew to be more important than people.

I must be careful to avoid this same pitfall and myself become like the Pharisees in the way I think.  In an effort to uphold God's standard, I could end up missing the point.

Sin

The debate over homosexuality rages as followers of Jesus struggle to know how to handle such an affront to God's holiness.  While God is pretty clear about how He views this practice, believers don't agree on where to stand when it comes to the Gay community. (Leviticus 18:22, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11) Take a hard stand and ban practicing homosexuals from church as a way to honor God and His righteousness?  Let them worship side-by-side with others in an effort to show God's grace?  Welcome them wholeheartedly, even to the point of placing them in positions of leadership so as to demonstrate our shared sinful nature and how God can use anyone to accomplish His will?

While I'm not here to debate the issue of homosexuality in the Church, I do think this dilemma brings up a good point.  It is easy to get to the place where I am quick to condemn sin but slow to extend grace and let the truth of the Gospel convict another.

When Jesus was faced with a similar problem in the Jewish Temple, He handled it in a way that surprised everyone.  The Jewish leaders brought in a woman who was caught committing adultery, according to the Law.  As she stood before the group, these leaders said to Jesus, "Teacher, here is a woman who was caught in the act of adultery.  According to the Law of Moses, she must be stoned.  What do you say?"

Instead of responding, Jesus bent down and wrote in the dirt at their feet.  The men looked at each other, perplexed.  "Did you hear us?  What shall we do?  The Law is clear on this point!"  Slowly, Jesus stood up.  "Whoever is without sin can throw the first stone."  Then, He squatted down and again wrote in the dusty soil.

These pompous men lowered their heads.  The fight left their bodies and slowly, one by one, they dropped their stones and left, knowing that not one of them was completely innocent.  When all the accusers had left, Jesus stood and faced the woman.  "What, no one condemned you to death?"

"No one, sir."

"Then neither do I.  Go and leave your life of sin."

(paraphrased from John 8:3-11)

God did not send His precious Son down into this broken, darkened world to find us guilty.  Rather, He came to save us from the death penalty our sins earned. (John 3:17)  Therefore, I should likewise be in the business of loving people enough to share the Truth of the gospel in love, leaving the job of convicting to God.  The salvation of each individual person is what I must find important, not the kind of sin by which they are enslaved.

When I am quick to condemn sin but slow to extend grace, I am in danger of becoming like the Pharisees.

Revenge

The Pharisee invited Jesus to dine in his home.  As He reclined at His host's table, a woman approached Jesus from behind, weeping deeply.  Jesus had changed her life as she listened to His teachings, encouraging her to turn from her sinful ways and walk on the path of life.  Her gratitude was deeply felt and she looked for a way to honor Him for what He had done in her heart.

She bent and, through the tears, kissed His feet, wiping them with her hair.  Then, she produced an alabaster jar of perfume with which she proceeded to anoint His feet.  Meanwhile, Simon, the host, looked on in disgust.  If this man whom I showed kindness to by inviting Him to my table really was a prophet, He would know what kind of a woman it was who made such a shameful display, he thought, clucking his tongue.

Knowing his thoughts, Jesus addressed His host.  "Simon, suppose there were two men who owed a certain lender some money.  One owed a year-and-a-half worth of wages, while the other owed about a months' worth.  Since neither had the means with which to pay him back, the lender forgave both the debts.  Who do you think would love him more?"

"Probably the one whose debt was larger,"  Simon replied.

"Exactly, "  Jesus replied. "Ever since I came to your home, this woman has washed my feet with her tears and liberally covered them with kisses while anointing me with perfume.  You, however, did not even extend the courtesy to wash my feet, give me a kiss of greeting or anoint my head with oil.  Her great love shows how her sins have been forgiven.  Whoever has been forgiven little, loves little."  (Paraphrased from Luke 7:36-50)

Simon was quick to want God's wrath to fall on this "sinful woman," believing in his heart that she was deserving of punishment.  He did not, however, understand the darkness of his own heart and thus his own need for forgiveness.  

There is no doubt that I live in a dark world where sin runs rampant and God and His ways are consistently trampled upon.  It is easy, then, for me to develop a callousness against those who are caught up in the trap of the devil, believing the lies that sound so good to their sin nature and who are living to please themselves. (2 Timothy 2:25-26) Instead, I must understand the heart of God and His desire for each of His children to turn from their wicked ways and be saved.  He is never slow to deliver judgement, but rather merciful.  (2 Peter 3:8-9)

When I am quick to call for God to unleash His fury against a sinful world, I am in danger of becoming like the Pharisees.

Control

Jesus delivered the man who had been living in darkness since birth.  Once he could see, the Pharisees questioned him.  "How is it that you've been healed from your blindness?"

"The man they call Jesus put mud on my eyes and asked me to wash in the Pool of Siloam.  Once I did, I could see."

The Pharisees began to argue among each other, some claiming He could not be from God since He healed on the Sabbath, others acknowledging the miracle He performed.  They asked the former blind man what he thought.

"He must be a prophet."

These leaders questioned the parents and the man, trying to prove Jesus' guilt.  All they could conclude, however, was that a man once blind, now could see.  Still, they were determined to convict Jesus in some way.  When they later encountered Jesus, He told them they were the ones were truly suffered from blindness.  (paraphrased from John 9)

These Pharisees were convinced that they stood on the side of God, believing it was their job to convict those who opposed them.  Unfortunately, they had it backwards.  It was they who were guilty and completely oblivious to this fact.

I easily fall into the same trap, leading a crusade against what I judge as wrong yet completely blind to the ways I am fighting against God.  Instead of pointing the finger at others, then, I would be wise to pay more attention to the three fingers pointing back at me.  When I focus on submitting to God's leading in my life, I will be less likely to notice the sins of others.  

Proverbs 3:5-6 instructs me to not depend on my own understanding or way of thinking, but to completely submit to God's will in every area of my life.  This means that when I come up against a godly teaching that doesn't make sense to me, I must go against my own thinking and embrace what God is showing me.  When I do this, He'll make it clear where to go from there.  If I don't, however, I'll end up going out on my own, against God.

When I am quick to follow my own lead, essentially rejecting God's,  I am in danger of becoming like the Pharisees.

When I read about the Pharisees in the New Testament, it is clear how they oppose God and His ways.  I could never imagine acting in such a way, I tend to think.  In reality, however, I am always at risk of reverting to their way of thinking.  Therefore, I must value sinners above the need to condemn the sin, forgive liberally while resisting the urge to enact revenge on a dark world, and submit to God's leadership instead of insisting on doing what seems right to me.  In these ways, I'll guard against the tendency to live like a Pharisee.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can be sensitive to my sinful ways, thus realizing my need for God's mercy.

How do I focus more on the sins of others instead of my own?

When do I desire to take the lead against the sin around me instead of submitting to God's authority?  

Too Little, Too Late

Early the next morning they set out for the highest point

in the hill country, saying,

'Now we are ready to go up to the land the LORD promised.

Surely we have sinned!'"

Numbers 14:40

The land promised to them by God was filled with good things; grapes larger than they could ever imagine, luscious pomegranates, scrumptious figs.  All in all, it was just as God had said:  It was a land flowing with milk and honey.  

Unfortunately, it was also a land occupied by imposing giants, powerful tribes of threatening people and fortified cities.  In light of the bad news, the Israelites chose to ignore the good news and forget the power of the Almighty, His constant presence and faithful deliverance.  They chose to grumble against Moses and Aaron, blaming them for leading them to this place where they would surely die.  (Numbers 13-14)

The Israelites saw the error of their ways and attempted to go to this land promised to them by their faithful God.  They decided it would be better for them to obey later rather than never.  God, however, had already struck down the men who had come back with the bad report and declared that the rest of the unfaithful, wicked community would never set foot in the promised land. (Numbers 14:36-38)  Their show of faith was too little and came too late.

How often I do the same.  I know God wants me to trust Him, yet the cares of this world get in the way.  How can I avoid stubbornly taking advantage of God's grace by refusing to accept the good He has for me now, even if that good seems to be wrapped up in a package of suffering, hard times and difficulty?

Stop Complaining

Murphy's Law is a 20th Century saying that states simply, "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong."  This pessimistic point-of-view often frequented my lips as I navigated life with little faith and a worldly mindset.  As I grew closer to God, however, He showed me that my focus on the negative was a form of complaining.  I completely missed all the good because I concentrated so much on the bad.

It is easy to get caught up in a cycle of grumbling.  I live in a fallen world that is filled with difficulties and hard times.  When I choose to see only the negative, however, I am completely missing all the good that God has placed all around me.

I fall sick and I wonder if I'll ever catch a break, thinking only about the work I'll miss or the ministries I'll let down in my absence.  Meanwhile, I'm missing the point that God is forcing me to slow down and take some time to rest from my hectic schedule.  Instead of rejoicing in the fact that I have a Father who looks out for my welfare, I whine and moan about my so-called bad luck.

Other times I may struggle with paying the bills, feeling sorry for myself that I work so hard but can barely eke out a living.  Meanwhile, I'm missing the faith-building opportunity to trust my Father who knows my needs and provides in ways that reveals His power and sovereignty.  (Matthew 6:32-33)  Instead of praising God for His good provision, I object to living in a constant state of strain.

Then there are the times I seem to be living in a perpetual state of grieving as I lose one loved one after another.  I wonder what God has against me that He would take so many away at once.  Meanwhile, I'm missing the chance to experience the comfort only the Father of compassion can give as I rest in His loving arms.  (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)  Instead of soaking in His grace and mercy so that I can later use it to comfort others who are suffering, I complain about my bad state of affairs.

True faith sees the good that comes from God mixed in with all the bad.

Stop Assuming

She had never seen things happen this way.  The angel told her she would bear a child, but she had never been with a man.  It would have been easy for Mary to doubt the angel Gabriel's message based on her past experience and knowledge of how things usually work.  Instead, she believed the Word sent straight from God and trusted that everything would happen as the angel had said it would.  (Luke 1:26-38)

I often jump to conclusions, assuming if something seems impossible, then it won't happen.  If the doctor says there is no hope, I tend to agree with him, forgetting that I worship a God of the impossible.  (Matthew 6:26)  

If I watch my child travel down a road headed away from the Lord, I may think he's never coming back, forgetting that I worship a God who specializes in changing hearts.  (Ezekiel 36:26)  

If I lose my dream job, it's hard for me to imagine there could be anything better, forgetting that I worship a God who holds the blueprint of my life in His hands.  (Jeremiah 29:11-14)

True faith sees a way where there seems to be none.

Stop Fearing

She lived in a constant state of fear, worrying about the safety of her children, fretting over the darkness of this world, refusing to submit to God's calling to use her in a way that took her out of her comfort zone.  Fear paralyzed this woman to the point where God no longer ruled her life.

I live in a world with much to fear.  Terrorists seek to destroy freedom-loving people everywhere.  Killers hunt for their next victim.  Rapists stalk unsuspecting women.  Financial ruin threatens my sense of security.  If I'm not careful, fear can hamper my faith, rendering me useless in God's kingdom.

Instead, I can choose to believe that if God is for me, who could be against me? (Romans 8:31) Many could try to thwart my efforts, or steal my peace, or stand in my way, but God is bigger than all.  Even my Enemy whose mission is to steal, kill and destroy has no power against the One who created him out of nothing.  (John 10:10)

We were not created to live in fear.  (Romans 8:14-15)  Instead, we were made to walk with our Shepherd who loves us and will never let us come to ruin.  (Psalm 23, Psalm 55:22)  While Satan loves it when I am paralyzed by fear, God gave me a spirit of power, love and self-discipline to propel me through the darkness.  (2 Timothy 1:7)  I must choose to walk in this strength, however;  it does not come naturally to my weak and lowly flesh to turn away from the temptation to fear.

True faith sees only God's power and sovereignty in the midst of a world filled with frightening possibilities.

The Israelites were standing on the cusp of the Promised Land, so close to grabbing hold of the good things God had stored up for His people.  Instead, they chose to doubt, complaining and grumbling about the hardship of the path God had chosen for them.  When they finally did agree to comply, their feeble attempts to obey after the fact were too little, too late.  To avoid falling into this same trap, I must be careful to walk by faith, looking for the good mixed in with the bad, believing there is a way when circumstances seem impossible to navigate, and seeing only the hand of my mighty God in the midst of a dark and scary world.  In these ways, I will walk by faith not by sight, and please my Father who is always by my side.  

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to turn away from fear.

When do I make it a habit to live in a state of ingratitude by feeling sorry for myself?

How am I revealing my lack of faith by losing hope too soon? 

Eyes of Faith

"Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said,

'We should go up and take possession of the land,

for we can certainly do it.'"

Numbers 13:30

God promised a land flowing with milk and honey.  I'm sure each Israelite formed a picture in their own mind of what that looked like.  Some probably expected abundant fruit, others looked forward to a land to call their own, while still others anticipated peace and prosperity.  Whatever they imagined, I'm sure they didn't expect what they actually received: A land abundantly filled with rich resources yet occupied by giant, powerful people.  It wasn't quite what they envisioned.

Its not so different with me.  I read of God's promise to bring good out of every situation, but my definition of "good" differs from God's.  Therefore, when God's good is delivered, I don't recognize it but label it as difficulty, hardship or impossibility.

This Christmas, let me take on eyes of faith.  As I celebrate the most generous gift of all delivered through the lowly birth of a babe who seemed to be anything but a king but in actuality was a Savior who rescued me from eternal death and ushered me into His kingdom as the precious child of a loving God, let me see the world through kingdom eyes.

Let me see things with an eternal perspective instead of expecting to receive my reward or blessings now.  Let me notice how God is growing me, using the hard times to transform my mind and heart.  And let me see how God's definition of good is so much better than mine.

Jesus is the fulfillment of the greatest promise ever made and the perfect example of how God's good came in an unexpected package.

Attitude of Gratitude

"Now the people complained about their hardships

in the hearing of the LORD,

and when he heard them

his anger was aroused.

Then fire from the LORD burned among them

and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp."

Numbers 11:1

Christmas is the time of year when hearts turn toward giving and we are more inclined to practice generosity, acts of kindness, and hospitality.  Unfortunately, it is also a time when a spirit of discontent can rise up as I focus on all the things I don't have but would like to acquire.

The Israelites possessed this same spirit of discontent and ingratitude, inciting the fierce anger of the Lord.  What was it about their attitudes that evoked such a response from our patient and generous God?

God's people were focused more on the hardships than on the blessings, on what was missing than on what was provided, and on how it could be better than on how good it already was.    In other words, they craved more than what God had provided, thus sending Him the message that His provision was not enough.  As a result, they completely missed the chance to acknowledge the miracle of God's deliverance and subsequent provision and refused to trust God in His continuing, sovereign plan.

I'm not so different.  I complain about my health, or my finances, or my sorry state, pointing out all the things that I think are wrong instead of noticing everything that is right.  God is displeased with my negative eyes that betray my lack of thankfulness to my Father who is faithful to give me all that I need.  (Philippians 4:19, Matthew 6:32)

This Christmas, I want to take the message of Isaiah 43:18-19 to heart, leaving behind my low expectations based on my past experiences and instead look forward with gleeful anticipation to all that I believe God will do.  If I look, I will see His hand at work all around me, providing abundant blessings that I didn't expect. 

Instead of feeling sorry for myself for what I don't have, I choose to feel abundantly blessed for what I do have.  Everything I possess comes from God, so an attitude of gratitude is one that continually gives thanks to Him for His extravagant goodness.

As if to prove the point, God sent the gift of His precious Son as evidence of His abundant blessing upon me.   Jesus is the best example of God's great love for me and is the most extravagant gift of all. (Romans 5:8, Matthew 1:21)