A Walk in the Dark?

Just a little light can transform fear to confidence. There are no streetlights near our home so I recently installed a 'dusk to dawn' fixture on the garage. When I come home late in the evening from a meeting it's great to get out of my car and walk to the door without stumbling, without wondering if a skunk is wandering nearby. (Yes, we really do live in the country.) If I awaken during the night, I like looking out and seeing that light spilling over our yard.

Sometimes darkness falls over our life, doesn't it? Sickness comes. Friends abandon. Finances fail. Death calls. An uncertainty can, and often does, arise. We are paralyzed wondering if there is yet another precipice in front of us over which we will tumble if we take even one more step forward. When we walk in the dark, a  sense of personal inadequacy can cause us  to wonder if we are uniquely unprepared or unequipped for life. Do others feel this same fear? Yes, they do!

The Scripture gives us this word of counsel for the dark times. "Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God. But now, all you who light fires and provide yourselves with flaming torches, go, walk in the light of your fires and of the torches you have set ablaze. This is what you shall receive from my hand: You will lie down in torment." (Isaiah 50:10-13, NIV) Trust and rely on the Lord!   Our fear must not cause us to take shortcuts on faith, to abandon the principles of the Spirit for 'solutions' of our own devising. A principled life will be tested. Many will suggest that you 'light your own fire' in the dark, that you create your own way forward. But, the end result of leaving God's Way is not true rest, but a bed in which we feel the torments of regret.

Another prophet, moved by the Spirit to speak to God's people at time of testing and darkness, spoke much the same counsel. "This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, 'We will not walk in it.'" (Jeremiah 6:16, NIV) "Hear, O earth: I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their schemes, because they have not listened to my words." (Jeremiah 6:19, NIV)

The dawn will come, the darkness of the valley will give way to the light in due time. So, we go; steady on, trusting Him! God remains the Lord of all, equally in the dark of midnight and the glory of the noon.

Here is a word from the Word. It is the declaration of the Gospel's triumph, and from it comes my encouragement to stand steady in the dark. May the Spirit use it to encourage you. "My task is to bring out in the open and make plain what God, who created all this in the first place, has been doing in secret and behind the scenes all along. Through followers of Jesus like yourselves gathered in churches, this extraordinary plan of God is becoming known and talked about even among the angels! All this is proceeding along lines planned all along by God and then executed in Christ Jesus. When we trust in him, we're free to say whatever needs to be said, bold to go wherever we need to go." (Ephesians 3:9-12, The Message)

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Here I Am To Worship

Light of the world

You stepped down into darkness

Opened my eyes let me see

Beauty that made

This heart adore You

Hope of a life spent with You

King of all days

Oh so highly exalted

Glorious in heaven above

Humbly You came

To the earth You created

All for love's sake became poor

So here I am to worship

Here I am to bow down

Here I am to say that You're my God

And You're altogether lovely

Altogether worthy

Altogether wonderful to me

Tim Hughes

© 2000 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055

Out of death, life!

Out of death, life!

Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of the Summer season, is also a time to remember.  We consciously note the sacrifices of thousands who have died defending the interests of our nation, protecting us and our way of life.  We remember that blood was spilled, tears were shed, so that our nation could exist.  My earnest hope this weekend is that we will remember the principles of liberty and justice that first inspired the formation of these United States and press those we elect to govern us to honor them so that those who died, will not have died in vain.  

Christians remember a sacrifice, too.  Jesus, at the Jewish Passover meal on the night before His death, told the disciples (and us) we must not forget the Gift of God that brought us peace. “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you." (Luke 22:15-21, NIV)

Disciple, we must not allow the ritual surrounding Communion to obscure the memory of the Cross.  Jesus died; not by accident, not solely because of political/religious intrigue, not as a martyr – but to be “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”   He gave Himself!  His death, which we remember, was foreshadowed in the ancient Passover, the night in Egypt when those households of faith, who put the blood of a lamb on their doorposts, were spared the grim visit of the death angel. (Exodus 12) The slain lamb was then prepared and the meal consumed to give them strength for the exodus that would happen the next day. They acted in faith and obedience, to receive the gift of God’s grace.  So, do we! 

Jesus offered Himself as our Lamb, sparing those who trust in Him, the judgment of God and death.  He feeds us so that we can be strong spiritually, ready for the journey from slavery to sin to joyful and holy freedom in the Spirit. And so, as we remember with saints from all the ages, we will sing and with the angels who praise Him:  “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” (Revelation 5:11-13, NIV)

If you’re an American, regardless of your political leanings, please remember on Memorial Day. Honor those who paid the ultimate price for this nation.  If you’re a Christian, remember that you are part of a “holy nation,” the people of God.  And give thanks for the Ultimate Sacrifice that makes us free from sin’s judgment, calls us to whole and holy living, and opens wide the Door to our Father’s house.

Lord, from our remembering of Your dying, may we be inspired to noble living. Amen.

Here’s a lengthy word from the Word. 

"Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them.

And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 5:13-6:2, NIV)

Still the storm? Still my soul?

I let the expectations of others and demands of myself lead me to this conclusion, from time to time. "You must produce results now!" Naturally, there is just one result - stress on top of stress.  In a time of confession and awareness this morning, I sensed the Holy Spirit’s whisper,  “Jerry, ‘Let the peace of Christ rule your heart... live in peace... be thankful!’ " (Colossians 3;15) Don't you love it when God hands you a prescription for spiritual health? He reminds me that I have a choice in how I respond to the pressure of life, and urges me to choose to receive His peace.  Peace can be an elusive quality. Pressures, conflicts, chaos, misunderstandings, disappointments;   all conspire to give us knotted muscles, furrowed brows, and restless hearts. From there is it a short trip to anger and even disillusionment.  Do you think that peace is circumstantial- coming from a change of place,  position, or greater resources?  True peace transcends our present situation!  Peace is not discovered, it grows from deep faith. It is a gift from our Abba. 

"The LORD is peace." Raiders overpowered God’s people driving them into the hills where they hid in caves. Desperation was everywhere! Gideon, who was a farmer, needed to feed his family in spite of the raids and attacks in Israel. So he ventured from the caves, down to the fields. Judges 6 tells that he was hiding out near a winepress, threshing grain, fearing for his life. Suddenly he is aware of a Presence and a voice! "The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, "Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!" {Judges 6:12 NLT} Gideon knew he was no “mighty hero!”   There he was hiding out desperate to avoid detection at that very moment.  “Lord," Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family." (Judges 6:15, NIV) He goes further and questions God's messenger about the hard times that his people are experiencing. But, when he saw the evidence of God's power and received the promise of God with faith, Gideon's heart changed. "Ah, Sovereign LORD! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!" But the LORD said to him, "Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die." So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD is Peace. (Yahweh Shalom)" {Judges 6:22-24 NIV}

 "Shalom" means more than the absence of conflict.  The Hebrew word, “shalom” includes wholeness, restfulness, and satisfaction. That quality of life is possible in any situation. The only requirement is a willingness to choose to live in the Presence of God. His Spirit produces serenity.   His gift of peace allows us to rise above situations that cause others to be full of fear or to fall apart.  “Lord, teach me to live in your holy ‘shalom,’  that I would choose to hide myself in Him, refusing to allow life's circumstances to steal His gift.  I am a slow learner in this area.  Too often I attempt to fix things and people by imposing a 'peace' of my own design.  Invariably, things get worse! When I accept His offer of peace patiently waiting to receive His wisdom, peace follows. Here’s the paradox - the situation usually remains exactly the same, but I am changed.

God does not ask us to live in a Zen-like detachment. Nor does He want us to run away from life or escape into denial. He wants us to be partners with Him to bring order to chaos, healing to the broken, and the defeat of evil wherever it makes its ugliness apparent – by allowing His grace to flow through us.  How did Jesus say it?  “Out of you will flow rivers of living water.” We can exhausted, yet serene! He stands alongside of us to steady us, to quiet our fear.  To be honest with you, it’s much easier to write than to live. Like Jesus’ disciples that stormy day on the Sea of Galilee, I want to scream, “Lord, don’t you care that we’re drowning?”  He does care.  Sometimes He stills the storm. Sometimes He stills my soul in the middle of the storm.

Today, before you engage with life's challenges, present yourself to your heavenly Abba. Meditate on His Word and give that problem, person, or pressure to Him. Invite the Spirit to impart holy ‘shalom’ to your soul.  Breathe a prayer for peace.  Here’s the word from the Word:  "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7 (NIV)

_________________

In the presence of Your infinite might,
I'm so small and frail and weak;
When I see Your pow'r and wisdom, Lord,
I have no words left to speak.

And I cry holy, holy, holy God,
How awesome is Your name,
Holy, holy, holy God,
How majestic is Your reign;
And I am changed in the presence of a holy God.

In the presence of Your glory,
All my crowns lie in the dust;
You are righteous in Your judgments, Lord,
You are faithful, true, and just.

And I cry holy, holy, holy God,
How awesome is Your name,
Holy, holy, holy God,
How majestic is Your reign;
And I am changed in the presence of a holy God.

© 1989 Integrity's Praise! Music (c/o Integrity Music, Inc.) / PDIPraise (Admin. by Integrity's Praise! Music) CCLI License No. 810055