It's a Matter of Timing

"There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens."

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Death.  Change.  Speaking up.  Keeping silent.  Agony of the heart.  Healing and wholeness.  Ending relationships.  Forming bonds.  Lamentation.  Rejoicing.  Generosity.  Wise stewardship.  Supporting.  Letting go.  Entering the battle.  Keeping the peace.  Loving.  Hating.  

Life is filled with all kinds of activities, choices and opportunities.  In fact, it's not whether something or another will happen in life, rather, it's a matter of when it will occur.  How do I know if the time is right?  When do I resist and when do I give in?  What's appropriate?  

It depends; not on me, but on God.  Timing is His, and His is perfect.

Wait.  Most Americans are proactive, wanting to nip issues in the bud before they become too big to handle.  As a culture, we like to keep busy, thinking that the more we do, the more important and meaningful are our lives.  We are also big on taking the bull by the horns and getting things done.  No sense waiting around.  It's better to do something, anything, rather than delaying action, sitting around waiting for something to happen.  We think we must make our own opportunities, create our own destinies, fulfill our own plans in order to taste success.

God has a different outlook.  He created all things to operate in a different manner.  He designed the earth and all that is in it to be directed by Himself.  When I wait on His cues, depending not on my own sense of timing but on His, I find myself going in a different direction and at a different pace than I'd choose for myself, sitting out from many of the activities I would normally wear myself out doing, and slowing down so that I can actually enjoy each moment He's given to me.  Instead of bearing the responsibility of coming up with my own plans and figuring out how to pull them off, I can rest in what He's already accomplished, trusting Him to lead me where He wants me to go, when He wants me to begin (Isaiah 40:31).  His way is always better than mine.

When I wait on God's lead, I'm demonstrating my faith in Him as the One who sees the big picture and holds all the pieces in His hands.

Run.  I've always heard I must learn to walk before I can run.  There is a progression of sorts.  Once I become proficient at the easy stuff, I can move on to the more difficult.  When I try to apply this approach to my faith, however, I find it doesn't always line up to God's way of doing things.  He calls me to run my race, exerting myself, striving hard, no matter how far along I am.  This is not a wimpy proposition, this faith walk.  Instead, its a test of endurance and takes a feat of strength that comes from God's never-ending provision.  

God has marked out a specific course for me to follow so that I compete not against others but only to do my best for His glory.  The path He has specified for me to follow is different than the course designed for those around me.  I have a unique race to run which necessitates that I focus my attentions on Jesus as the One who initiated my faith in the first place and who is in charge of bringing it to completion when He returns again (Philippians 1:6, Hebrews 12:1-2).  As I do, I will find that I can trust Him to equip me as I go, proving that He has perfectly prepared me for every good work as I set myself aside for His use (2 Timothy 2:21).

I can run my own race with confidence, trusting God to ready me for whatever He has planned for me.

Beauty.  I love to watch butterflies fluttering around our flower garden.  As they dip and soar in a haphazard pattern, I often think of their humble beginnings as a caterpillar.  When they enter their cocoon to begin their transformation into such a beautiful winged creature, there is nothing I can do to speed up this process.  Even though I may want to hurry it along, helping the new creature emerge from it's silky covering so it can fly free among the blooms, I would kill it by doing so.  The delicate creature can only reveal it's beauty at just the right time.

It's the same with life.  The good, excellent and appropriate things I long to see manifested in my own life or in the lives of those I love will only come about at the proper time, and it is different for each of us (Ecclesiastes 3:11).  Some are late bloomers while others blossom quicker.  This beauty cannot be forced in the same way the emergence of a butterfly cannot be hurried along.  Instead, God must be allowed to fulfill His own purposes in His own time, not in mine. And it's important to note that He does not need my help to do so (Acts 17:24-25, Ecclesiastes 3:14). 

Allowing God to have free reign to bring about the beauty He has planned for each of His children releases me of that responsibility.

I face a variety of happenings in this life and it's often hard to know when the time is right.  While I think I'd rather be the one in charge of the timetable, God holds this responsibility.  As I trust Him, I find I can wait on His lead, confidently run my own race with gusto, and allow Him to bring about the beauty for which I long.  As I trust God more each day, I realize making the right choice at the right time is not so much about common sense or smarts.  Instead, It's a matter of waiting for His timing.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God to orchestrate my life.

When do I insist on getting my own way?

How am I trusting more in my sense of timing than in God's?


Originally published on June 22, 2015

          

Go! But first. . .

Then God said to Jacob,

'Go up at once to Bethel and live there.

Make an altar there to God,

who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.'

So Jacob told his household and all who were with him,

'Get rid of the foreign gods you have among you.

Purify yourselves

and change your clothes.

Let us go up at once to Bethel.

Then I will make an altar there to God,

who responded to me in my time of distress

and has been with me wherever I went.'"

Genesis 35:1-3

My daughter was so excited to begin her trip to New York City for a fashion and talent convention.  Her modeling school was taking a group of students to compete in the International Modeling and Talent Association's annual scouting event and she spent a lot of time preparing.  Before she could go, however, I had required that she finish her homeschool studies thus earning her high school degree.  Even though her heart was set on NYC, there were some details to which she had to attend before she would be ready.

It is not so different with me in my walk with the Lord.  He may call me to a particular mission, a certain ministry or a specific task.  Before I can jump in with both feet, however, I would be wise to consider a few items of preparation.

Purge

Finally the water was turned back on after some repairs had been completed to the pipes in our cul-de-sac.  The worker told me to run the water in the sinks for a few minutes to purge the lines from built up air and any debris that might have contaminated the lines.  As the water ran, I could see what he meant as the steady flow was interrupted by sputtering and knocking as the trapped air pockets left the system.  Soon, our water was flowing smoothly again.

In the same way that these air pockets can interrupt the flow of water into my home, so can attitudes, hobbies, relationships, careers, or a myriad of other pursuits come between me and God.  Anything that hampers the flow of the Holy Spirit into my life is considered to be an idol.

I can make anything a god when I give it more attention than I do the Lord.  Exercise used to be an idol for me.  While running and working out is beneficial to my health, it is not helpful when it takes up more space in my thoughts than does my Father.  

When I thought about how I could improve the time on my upcoming run more than I meditated on the sacrifice of Jesus, then I realized I had an idol problem.  When the new exercises I could include in my routine monopolized my thoughts instead of the mysterious ways of God, then what was considered as healthy and good had turned into a god.  When I found myself daydreaming about how great it felt when my feet were hitting the pavement and my lungs were breathing in the fresh air instead of focusing my mind on a particular passage of scripture, then it became apparent it was time to get rid of my obsession.

While many things can be beneficial, almost anything can become a passion that steals my thoughts, efforts and heart away from the Lord.  He is to be my one, true love.  

Before I can answer the call of God, it is vital that I purge my life of any and all idols.

Purify

Sometimes, water lines can become contaminated with bacteria or viruses.  In these rare cases, public health authorities issue a boil-water advisory, recommending to local residents that they boil drinking water for one-minute before using it.  This practice effectively kills these harmful organisms, producing a liquid that is safe for consumption.

While everyone wants clean water to drink and use for cooking, not many of us think about the purity of our hearts.  God reminds me of the importance of protecting the center from which everything in my life flows in Proverbs 4:23.  "Guard your heart with all vigilance, for from it are the sources of life." (NET)

In this day and age, it is easy to let sinful attitudes, selfish motivations, and indulgent pursuits monopolize my heart.  Then, I find myself driven by my own fleshly desires instead of the will of God.  

Therefore, I must be careful with how I spend my time.  If I have a little extra, I can either find something with which I can amuse myself on social media, or I can seek out wisdom to enrich my soul.

While I'm completing my work for the day, I can either think about what I'm going to do when I finish, or I can dwell on the scripture passage that stood out to me in my morning reading.  

When I'm driving to and from work, on my way to appointments or running errands, I can either take a walk down memory lane and listen to some golden oldies on the radio, or I can use the time to worship the Creator of all things through song.  In this life I can expect to reap what I sow:  Whatever I allow in will eventually come out in one way or another.

Before I can answer the call of God, it is vital that I purify myself of that which leads me astray.

Put On

It is said that I should dress the way I want to be addressed since I live in a world that judges by appearances.  While it may be important to make a good first impression, God is more concerned about a different kind of clothing.

Paul gave some great advice to me as I live in a time that is moving quickly toward the day of my salvation.  He reminds me how important it is to live decently, avoiding the dark temptations that lurk all around me, sticking instead to the light.  Instead of putting on some kind of superhero costume to help me negotiate the shadows where my enemy prowls, however, I am called to clothe myself with Christ Jesus Himself (Romans 13:11-14).

Replacing my own sinful desires with my true identity in Christ is a necessary daily practice.  Instead of thinking of myself as my own to treat as I see fit, to go where I want to go, and to act in the way that seems right to me, I must remember I belong to Christ (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).  

When I find it natural to put myself down, I must remember I am infinitely valuable as one who was made in the very image of God (Genesis 1:27). In place of letting myself go down to the pit of despair as I think of all the wrongs I have committed, I can remember that I am redeemed and nothing can separate me from His great love (1 Peter 1:18-19, Romans 8:38-39).

Before I can answer the call of God, I must put on the Lord Jesus Christ.

God has a great plan for my life.  When He calls me to move forward in faith, I want to be ready.  Before I jump, however, it is important that I purge myself of all idols, purify myself of anything that could distract, and clothe myself with Christ Jesus.  In these ways I will prepare myself to answer His great call.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can take the time to prepare before I jump ahead.

When do I let sinful attitudes seep into my consciousness?

In what ways do I forget my identity in Christ? 


Originally published on August 28, 2013

To Know Him Better

"I pray for you constantly,

asking God,

the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

to give you spiritual wisdom and insight

so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.

I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light

so that you can understand the confident hope he has given

to those he called--

his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

I also pray that you will understand

the incredible greatness of God's power

for us who believe him.

This is the same mighty power that raised Christ

from the dead and seated him in the place of honor

at God's right hand in the heavenly realms.

Now he is far about any ruler or authority

or power or anything else--

not only in this world but also in the world to come."

Ephesians 1:16b-21 NLT

To be known and loved; that is the cry of every human heart.  We desire to enjoy intimacy with another in such a way that we are fully understood, yet completely accepted and embraced.  Knowing that we were created in the image of God, I can safely assume that this desire must originate with the Creator himself.  

He desires that we know Him, as well.  Not as a distant God who rules benevolently over us, but as an intimate Father who walks beside us, guiding and directing our paths in His ways, loving our silly quirks and enjoying the delight of our heart.  To be known and loved is the cry of every human that comes from the heart of God.

Enlightenment

I see things through the eyes of a sinful, jaded human who has been hurt, has fallen many times, and who suffers from many fears.  Consequently, I mostly see the product of sin all around me; noticing all the pain and suffering, dangerous pitfalls, and threats that loom.

When I ask God to open the eyes of my heart, as the worship song declares, I begin to come into the light.  It is then that I see the tender care of a mother for her autistic child instead of the unfairness of a disability that I used to notice, or the kindness of a stranger ministering to the outcast where I used to see only futility, or the power of God changing the heart of a loved one where all I once saw was stubborn insolence. 

As I learn more about God, I find that He opens the eyes of my heart to see with His eyes.

Riches

Treasures beyond compare.  The resources to buy anything I want.  Enough income to be able to splurge on luxuries.  The ability to go where I want, when I want.   Many people think of something like this when they see the word "riches."

God, however, has something far more valuable in mind when He uses the word "prosperity."  To Him, His people are His treasured possession (Deuteronomy 7:6).  The fact that He loved me enough to send Jesus to die so that I can inherit His kingdom gives me hope and God pleasure (Colossians 1:12,19-20).

Remembering this wealth that God has bestowed upon me helps when I'm down in the trenches sweating it out.  What I have to look forward to far outweighs any suffering I can endure here on earth, and this gives me incentive to keep moving forward toward what I cannot see but know is there (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).

As I learn more about God, I grow in the hope I have in the eternal heritage I can claim through Jesus Christ.

Power

I could hear the energy crackling and humming as it surged through the giant power lines raised high above the ground.  Walking under the enormous robot-like structures, I considered all the energy that was being delivered to thousands of people so they could run their appliances, heat their homes and burn their lights.  The amount of power located above my head was awe-inspiring.

This power, however, is nothing compared to the might of God.  Not only can He speak the world into existence (Genesis 1), part the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21-22) and raise the dead to life (Luke 24:5-6), but He can also transform a heart of stone (Ezekiel 36:26), mend a broken marriage (Psalm 34:18), and break the bonds of debt.

As I learn more about God, I realize the incomparable mighty strength He pours into my life.

Just as I want to be known and loved, God shares this desire even though He is in need of nothing.  As I walk with Him, getting to know Him better and growing in my love for Him, He opens the eyes of my heart, reminds me of the hope I have in Him, and provides a continuous flow of His incomparable power.  To know Him better is the cry of my heart!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can seek to know God with all of my heart.

When do I look at situations using my eyes instead of God's?

How does His strength make a difference in my life?  

Originally published on March 15, 2013

Shifting Value Scale

"For we who worship by the Spirit of God

are the ones who are truly circumcised.

We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us.

We put no confidence in human effort. . .

I once thought these things were valuable,

but now I consider them worthless

because of what Christ has done.

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared

with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

For his sake I have discarded everything else,

counting it all as garbage,

so that I could gain Christ and become one with him.

I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law;

rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ.

For God's way of making us right with himself 

depends on faith.

I want to know Christ

and experience the mighty power that raised him

from the dead.

I want to suffer with him,

sharing in his death,

so that one way or another

I will experience the resurrection from the dead!"

Philippians 3:3,7-11 NLT

I used to live for the sport of bodybuilding.  Every waking moment was spent devoted to increasing my knowledge about training, posing and competing.  Whenever I had a spare moment, I used it to think of ways in which I could tighten up my schedule, opening up more time for preparation, or I would visualize myself on stage going through my posing routine, or I would research new information on nutrition that could give me the edge over my competition.  In short, I ate, slept and breathed bodybuilding.

Now that I live for Christ, however, those things seem trivial and unimportant.  While I still work out, it is not what drives me each day.  As I slowly submit more and more of myself over to the Lord, I see how He takes those parts and transforms them so that I desire Him and Him alone.   Everything else fades in comparison with the awesomeness of knowing Christ.

Confidence

He seemed so cocky, this little boy dressed in shepherd's garb.  The man he so boldly confronted was a fighting machine; over 9-feet tall and dressed from head to foot in armor.  This giant of a man was accustomed to killing because it was his profession.  When he talked smack, he had something with which to back it up.  David, on the other hand, only had a sling and five pebbles.

While it may seem David was over-confident and in way over his head, the truth was that he had faith in God.  He knew in his heart that the same God who gave him victory over the lions and bears that attacked his sheep would conquer Goliath.  In fact, this ordinary lad believed this so sincerely that he was willing to back up his faith with action.  David had confidence in God (1 Samuel 17).

Where once I thought I needed more self-confidence, God has shown me I only need the heart of David.  The world-taught principle that I must believe I can do anything I put my mind to has yielded to a kingdom understanding that all things are possible with God(Luke 1:37).

As I grow in my relationship with God, He exchanges my old reliance on self for a new-found God-confidence.

Merit

Her beauty drew the once mighty king into adultery, treachery and murder.  She knew she deserved nothing but suffering for the part she played in this horrible drama.  No matter how much her heart ached with pain over the death of her beloved Uriah, she had to admit the love growing in her heart for the handsome king.  It's hard to deny the advances of such a virile and powerful man (2 Samuel 11)!

Bathsheba must have struggled with the breakdown of her own moral character.  Despite the fact that she was used by David to quench his own sexual appetite, she must have felt some kind of responsibility for the whole affair. Incredibly, God takes this woman who was at the center of such scandal and deception and not only gives her a son who would become king and the designated builder of God's temple, but also one of the few women mentioned in the lineage of Jesus(1 Chronicles 28:5-6, Matthew 1:6).

Once I enter into God's family through faith in Jesus Christ, I, like Bathsheba, am judged not on my own merit, but through the lenses of the grace of a loving God.  By way of the blood of Jesus, I am seen as righteous by holy God.  The blood of the perfect Lamb covers over all my sin, making me appear as white as snow (Isaiah 1:18).  Consequently, God can give me the hope of eternal life with Him and the blessings of His favor even though I do not deserve it based on my own merit (Romans 3:21-22).

As I grow in my relationship with God, He exchanges my own lack of virtue with the righteousness that comes by faith in Jesus Christ.

Suffering

He told the truth, but it was a reality they couldn't bear to face.  Infuriated by the accusations, they lashed out in anger.  How could they, the prestigious leaders in the temple, men of God, be accused of the death of a trouble-maker?  They had done their religion a favor in disposing of the one Stephen blasphemously called the Messiah.

As Stephen died a martyr's death, he asked God to not hold the sin of those murderers against them.  Filled with the Holy Spirit before his death, he even was given a glimpse of the glory of God in heaven and Jesus standing in His rightful place of honor.  Never had suffering at the hand of such evil men seem so glorious(Acts 7:51-60)!

Suffering is something I naturally try to avoid at all costs.  As I grow closer to God, however, my heart will become more like Stephen's who considered persecution as an honor and a way to share in the suffering of Christ (1 Peter 4:13).

As I grow in my relationship with God, He exchanges my aversion to suffering with a desire to know Him more intimately by going through difficulties.

The life I used to live before I knew Jesus is radically different than the one I live now.  I, however, can't take credit for this change as it is a work of God's Spirit within my heart.  He has turned my world upside down as He has exchanged my self-confidence, dependence on my own worth, and attention to personal safety and comfort with a new-found God-confidence, righteousness by faith, and an open mind when it comes to pain and affliction.  In this way, God is supernaturally shifting my value scale to line up with His.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can easily let go of parts of my old life which God is calling me to release.

How often do I hold onto old beliefs instead of taking on God's ways?

When am I most apt to rely on my own wherewithal instead of God's power?


Originally published on March 26, 2013

Choose Life

"'Today I have given you the choice between life and death,

between blessings and curses.

Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the 

choice you make.

Oh, that you would choose life,

so that you and your descendants might live!

You can make this choice by loving the LORD your God,

obeying him,

and committing yourself firmly to him.

This is the key to your life.

And if you love and obey the LORD,

you will live long in the land the LORD swore

to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.'"

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 NLT

Paper or plastic.

With or without nuts.

30- or 15-year fixed.

Sell or rent.

Caffeine or no caffeine.

Now or later.

Life is full of choices.  I make dozens each day, some without even thinking.  Others take much prayer and consideration.  

When God drew me to Jesus, enlightening me of my need for a Savior, I invited Him in as Lord of my life(John 6:44). As a result, I received the free gift of eternal life (John 3:16). Once I became a part of God's family through faith, I may have thought my choice had been made.  While my salvation is secure, I still have a decision to make that will result in blessing or trouble. Will I choose life or death?  

Words

I'll never be able to do that!

"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26).

Why even try?  I'm a failure at everything I do.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9).

I can't touch them or see them but they have the power to bring life or death into a situation.  As a follower of Christ, I have the option of either using my words to tear myself and others down, or I can apply them to edify, encourage and inspire greatness.  

Before I prefer life through my speech, however, I will need to get control of my thought life.  I find it easy to think negative thoughts, worry about what may or may not happen, and analyze my circumstances in an effort to find a suitable solution.  

Instead, to begin choosing life, I must strain my thought life through the filter of Christ.  If a thought doesn't honor Him and line up with His principles, it doesn't belong in my mind (2 Corinthians 10:5).  If my way of thinking is negative and self-defeating, it must be replaced with lovely, pure and praise-worthy ideas (Philippians 4:8). If I tend to think more like the world than like God, then I must intentionally cooperate with the Lord as He transforms my mind (Romans 12:2).

Once I'm on the path to pure thinking, my words will tend to take more of a godly slant.  Soon, I will find myself pointing others to the life-giving words of Christ, encouraging them to carry on despite the difficulties of their circumstances.  I may even notice a change in the way I speak to myself, choosing to preach the truth of the Gospel to myself in an effort to spur on my faith.

I have the power to choose either life or death in the way I speak to myself and others.

Actions

"Actions speak louder than words."

"Talk doesn't cook rice."  Chinese proverb

"Talk is cheap."

"A barking dog is often more useful than a sleeping lion." Washington Irving

"Don't just talk the talk but walk the walk."

"Well done is better than well said." Benjamin Franklin

The world is filled with wisdom regarding the power of action.  God also has much to say about the influence of my actions on the world around me.  He says mere knowledge of Him and His ways is not enough.  When it comes to His Word, He wants me to be more of a doer than just a listener (James 1:22).

Therefore, when He says that love is of the utmost importance, I better pay attention to not just doing what God calls me to do, but to saturate my obedience with love (1 Corinthians 13).  It also means I must do more than just memorize the scripture that teaches me to value others above myself, but to show Him that I believe what He said by respecting all humans as His image bearers (Philippians 2:3).  In addition, I can't just study about forgiveness and letting go of hurt, but I am called to make it a practice to extend the mercy and grace I am so freely given (Matthew 6:14-15).

When I take the option to do as God says, He will use me to bind wounds, soften hearts and promote healing.  In these ways my actions have resulted in life, with God getting all the glory for the great things He has done. 

   

I have the power to choose either life or death through my actions.

Heart

"I left my heart in San Francisco." Douglass Cross/Tony Bennett

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched--they must be felt with the heart."  Helen Keller

"Keep love in your heart.  A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead." Oscar Wilde

"Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eye." H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Everyone knows the heart is important; it determines my actions and sets the path for my feet.  If my heart is not in it, the work I do will not be my best.  

Samuel, the prophet and judge, learned how important the heart is to God when he was searching for the king who would replace the defiant Saul as the leader of Israel.  As he followed God's lead, travelling to Bethlehem in order to meet Jesse, he examined all of this man's fine-looking sons.  Judging by appearances, he determined the oldest as the one who must be God's chosen king.  Much to his dismay, however, God rejected each of the men until he got to the youngest, a lad named David who God saw as a man after His own heart  (Acts 13:22).

It is the heart that is important to God.  While I tend to size someone up based on their skills, abilities and stature, God pays attention to something of more value(1 Samuel 16:7).  Therefore, if I am to choose the way of life, I must also take note of the condition of my heart.  What do I treasure?  Who do I value?  How do I spend my time?  In what do I invest my money?  These are all questions that can help me determine where my heart is located (Matthew 6:19-21).  

If I'm more concerned with my bank account, making my own retirement of utmost importance, then my heart is rooted in the temporal.  If, however, I'm intent on using my financial resources to build God's kingdom, I'm treasuring the eternal.

If I hold my own rights as vital, then I'll jeopardize relationships and opportunities to give a testimony in order to defend my selfish interests.  If I replace that desire to uphold my own liberties with a regard for furthering the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I'll unveil my heavenly value system. 

If my focus is on pleasing myself and indulging in my own sensual desires, then I'll live a shallow life.  If, instead, I am centered on pleasing God and following His lead, my life will be rich and full.

I have the power to choose either life or death in the attitude of my heart.

God created His masterpieces with the ability to choose.  As a result, I must decide whether I'll pick life or death in the words I speak, the actions I take and the incline of my heart.  In these areas, it is my desire that I make the effort to choose life.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can remember the power of my words.

When do I speak carelessly, tearing myself or others down without a second thought?

How can I better honor God in the direction of my focus?

Originally posted on February 13, 2014

Face the Facts

"The LORD said to Joshua,

'Stand up!

What are you doing down on your face?

Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, 

Which I commanded them to keep.

They have taken some of the devoted things;

they have stolen,

they have lied,

they have put them with their own possessions.

That is why the Israelites 

cannot stand against their enemies;

they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction.

I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy

whatever among you is devoted to destruction.

Go, consecrate the people.  

Tell them, "Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the LORD, 

the God of Israel says:

There are devoted things among you, Israel.

You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them."'"

Joshua 7:10-13

He must have felt like the world was against him.  The hearts of the people turned away from him, favoring instead the younger, likable lad who it seemed could do no wrong.  He was tormented in his soul, finding no peace even in the solace of beautiful music, seductive women or mind-numbing wine.  What once was a life to be envied now became a tortuous quest to kill the one who seemed to be the root of all his troubles.  If only he could extinguish David, Saul believed everything would fall back in place and things would begin to go his way(1 Samuel 18-20).

Unfortunately, Saul was deceived in his own mind.  What he may have perceived as injustice and unfairness was really the result of his own disobedience to God.  Once Saul ceased yielding to God and His ways, instead choosing to rule the kingdom of Israel in the way he saw fit, everything went downhill(1 Samuel 13:13-14). Saul found out the hard way that it is impossible to succeed without God's blessing.

While it may be easy to blame circumstances, bad luck or even God for the mess my life has become, I had better take a lesson from Saul.  While Saul never returned to the favor of God, Joshua did heed the warning.  In today's scripture reading, Joshua groveled before the Lord, lamenting the defeat of his army.  God, however, brought the new leader of His people back to reality with the thought that the sin of the people is what brought destruction upon themselves.  In the same way that Saul had no one to blame but himself for the downward spiral his life had become, Joshua needed to look no further than the disobedience of Achan to find the root of their problem.

In a similar way, I must face the facts.  When I live in sin, failing to repent of its destructive ways, there are consequences.

Bought at a Price

His agony was palpable as He hung on the cruel cross.  Blood caking to his body, streaming from his hands and feet and pouring forth from a gash on his head:Blood seemed to best represent the harsh scene. The moans of this man who was so much more than mere appearances suggested pierced the heart of even the harshest soldiers who stood by observing the scene.  The suffering of Christ as He withstood the punishment meant for me cannot be denied.  He paid a steep price to free me from the death sentence my sins have earned me(Isaiah 53:4-6, 2 Corinthians 5:21). 

As a result of the sacrifice Jesus made for me, I enjoy new life that will last an eternity.  As I live each moment with the hope of such glorious riches, I must remember that the way I choose to live is no longer a choice that belongs solely to me.  Instead, my life has been bought at a price so I am called to honor God in the decisions I make(1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Even though I may view my body and the blood that pumps through it as my very own to do with as I please, the price Jesus paid to redeem me back from the grave gives Him a kind of entitlement to my every moment.

Most of the time, though, I admit that I do what I want in order to please myself. I don't often think of the price Jesus paid for me, instead taking for granted the precious gift of life I've been given.  Instead of living in a way that honors His sacrifice, I often minimize His suffering by doing things that I know are displeasing to God. True worship of the One who makes life possible, however, is to offer my very life as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1).

The fact I must face is that, as a follower of Christ, my life is no longer mine to do with as I please.

Judge Rightly

I live in a world that despises judgement of any kind.  If I say a certain lifestyle is wrong, I am said to be intolerant.  If I don't embrace the latest liberal agenda, I am called a bigot.  If I stand up for what is right, I am ridiculed.  

Since I am discouraged from making any kind of judgement call in today's free-wheeling society, it would be easy to cut myself some slack as well.  After all, I'm only human, right?  I may console myself with the idea that nobody's perfect; we all make mistakes.

The problem with this attitude is that I end up giving myself leniency as a result.  God has called me to strive for holiness because He is a holy God(1 Peter 1:13-16).  If I am to judge myself rightly, using God's intended purpose for my life as a measure, I will know whether or not I'm on the right track (Romans 12:3).  If, however, I use my own kind of ruler, I will either think I'm doing better than I am or I will judge myself as worthless.  Either way, I'm way off.

I remember one of the many moves my family made as a part of my husband's military career.  When we arrived at our new home, we discovered several boxes were missing.  I called the moving company, describing the contents which included a slow cooker.  I talked about how I didn't want to do without that particular piece and looked forward to using it again.  The company representative later called to tell me that they had located our belongings and would have them brought over to our home.

When that day finally came, I excitedly opened up the boxes, feeling like a kid on Christmas morn.  I could not wait to see my precious belongings.  With the picture of the gleaming Crock Pot firmly ingrained in my mind, I carefully removed the packing material in order to free my favorite cooking appliance from it's prison.  As the man from the moving company watched, I lifted the cooker from it's nest of paper.  Much to my surprise, the item I held in my hand did not match the memory I held in my mind.  Instead of a shiny, polished pot, what I saw was a dingy, brown antique. My recollection of the condition of that Crock Pot was not accurate.

This is what normally happens when I think of myself, as well.  I tend to see myself as better than I really am.  If I want to judge rightly, then, I'll need to use the faith God has given me to see myself through His eyes.  Then I will know more accurately the ways I have offended God with the sin I allow into my life, kind of like when I saw my slow cooker with new eyes; it wasn't as great as I thought it was.

The fact I must face is that, as a follower of Christ, I must judge myself rightly.

Examine my Heart

I felt perfectly justified in my anger.  After all, my family had given so much to the boy.  We welcomed him in as one of our own, spent time helping him with his schoolwork, taking him to church and giving him a ride when needed.  My husband and I loved him as one of our very own; there was nothing we wouldn't do for him.

It hurt all the more, then, to see him go downhill, succumbing to the pressures of the group of boys he chose to hang out with.  When he rang our bell one night at midnight, high on drugs and pushing his way into our home in order to clean a wound he received from a street fight, I felt nothing but anger.  How could he treat us this way after all we've done for him?

Later, when I asked the Lord to examine my heart, He pointed out my own selfish point-of-view.  In the same way that God loves freely, I am expected to do the same.  His love is not conditional nor is it earned.  As a result, this young man's behavior should in no way diminish the compassion I have for him.  Instead, I expected him to reciprocate with gratitude and a show of respect.

There are many times when doing things God's way will result in poor treatment from others.  While I may think I'm justified in my disappointment, only God can show me where my attitude is wrong.  Once He points out the error of my thinking, then, I can turn away from my wicked, selfish ways and let Him show me the path He would have me take.

This could mean that others will think I'm a pushover as I show grace and mercy to those who don't deserve it.  Other times, it could result in making a decision that seems risky and foolish as I let God give me His perspective.  I could even end up moving toward pain and suffering when I'm naturally inclined to avoid it at all costs.  Whatever the path, though, I can be sure that letting God reveal my selfish motives will end in pleasing Him.

The fact I must face is that, as a follower of Christ, only God can accurately read my motives.

It's easy for me to think the difficulties I find in my life are unfair.  While I can complain to God, begging Him to take away the suffering, there are times when I must face the facts.  Sometimes, my current circumstances are nothing more than a consequence of sin.  Instead of blaming others, then, I had better buck up and come to terms with the truth.  I must remember that I'm bought at a price and therefore cannot live just any old way, I must see myself with accurate, godly eyes, and I must let God examine my heart to reveal my true motives.  In these ways, I'll be facing the facts that will bring me back in a right relationship with God.  While my circumstances may not change, at least I'll be walking with my Father who loves me too much to leave me the way I am.  

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can stop fooling myself into thinking I'm good enough just the way I am.

When do I cut myself slack instead of asking God what He thinks about my current choices?

How do I live just any old way instead of intentionally choosing to honor the sacrifice Jesus made for me?


Originally published on March 5, 2014