When the Mega-Millions lottery prize climbs into the stratosphere, like it did a couple of weeks ago, with a prize of $370 million, I indulge in ridiculous escapist fantasies about what I could do with a sudden windfall of wealth of that magnitude. What would it be like to pay off the church mortgage, to be able to fund tuition for poor students, to support various ministries with gifts that would let them accomplish their mission? I think of dozens of ways that philanthropy could make a difference in the lives of people around me. It's fun, but foolish! But, I also know that there are lots of people who do the same, for I hear the chatter between members of the news media, in the coffee shop, and among my friends. Most of us think, 'if I had more, then I would be more generous.' The truth is that most of us adjust our standard of living upward when we have more resources available to us. As our income grows, we discover all kinds of 'needs' exist in our lives that must be satisfied - a larger home, a newer car, a vacation to an exotic location, higher quality clothing, and things like that. Generosity will not necessarily increase if more 'stuff' is suddenly available to us.
Generosity is an attitude that we can develop whether we are poor or rich by society's standard. All of us have something that others need: be it love, acceptance, support, time, or a listening ear. The book of the Acts tells the story of two preachers going to the Temple to pray. Their generosity is in inspiration! Take a look.
"One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John.
Then Peter said, "Look at us!" So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God." (Acts 3:1-8, NIV)
Don't lose touch with a major point of this story by focusing exclusively on the miracle! The fact that a crippled man was made whole is wonderful and usually becomes the thing we talk about in this account. However, there would have been no miracle without the willingness of Peter and John to be generous- taking note of a man's need, getting involved, and offering to help him! What if those two preachers had pretended not to notice him, embarrassed by the fact that they were too poor to give him a dime? What if they had just pulled their pockets inside out to reveal their lack of resources and shrugged off his request? But, they didn't! A generosity of heart and spirit possessed them because they knew they had a Rich Father, so they drew on His account, and shared the power of the Spirit that they did have with the man.
And we can do the same. Wait! Don't be so literal that you only read that story as indicating that we should be out healing people, though that could be what God wants you to do in a given situation. Don't limit your faith in God! Evaluate your resources and go beyond your bank account. Then, adopt the attitude of Peter and John - "What I have I give you!"
What has God given you in abundance? Hope, Love, Peace, Purpose, Eternal Life, Insight - are a few things that our Rich Father promises us. The question is - are we hoarding those blessings, or generously sharing them? Covey, in his book, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, observes that we live in one of two mentalities. Many of us have a Scarcity Mentality that sees the pie in life as limited in size. If someone gets a bigger slice, we assume it means our slice will be smaller. So we protect our resources and live defensively. Some have grasped an entirely different way of life based on God's provisions. They possess an Abundance Mentality that trusts God to make the pie bigger as we share. From a place of a sense of security and personal worth, founded on God's promise to meet their every need, they are generous - with their resources of every kind. And the Word says, "The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed." (Proverbs 11:25, NLT)
When God called Moses to leave the desert and his father-in-law's little flock of sheep, to return to Egypt to lead the Israelites out of slavery and to the Promised Land, he offered all kinds of excuses why he was incapable of obedience! "I stutter. I'm a nobody. They'll think I just made all this stuff up." The Lord asked Moses a question that I want to leave with you today. "What is that in your hand?" Moses was holding an ordinary shepherd's staff, a stick of wood! But, God used that stick to shake up the court of Pharaoh, like a scepter of authority in Israel, and even to part the Red Sea! But, when all was said and done, Moses had to give what he had before God could use it to change the world.
What is in your hand? What resources do you have? When God asks you to share, do it generously and see what He can do with what you thought was nothing!
Friday, March 23, 2007
Thursday, March 22, 2007
The Dutiful Son
One of the best stories that Jesus ever told is recorded in Luke 15, the story of a wayward son who finally comes home to discover that his Father has been waiting for his return with open arms. It's a scandalous story that doesn't include 'appropriate' punishment for the son who took advantage of his dad's generosity, squandering his inheritance on drink and prostitutes. We expect the errant son to find an angry father who, at the very least, lectures him on his failures and puts him on probation to see if his change of ways is sincere. Instead we read of a grand party, a new suit, and restored access to the family fortune. It is a grace story! And there is a part of the story that doesn't get much attention from many of us.
"All this time his older son was out in the field. When the day’s work was done he came in. As he approached the house, he heard the music and dancing. Calling over one of the houseboys, he asked what was going on. He told him, ‘Your brother came home. Your father has ordered a feast—barbecued beef!—because he has him home safe and sound.’
"The older brother stalked off in an angry sulk and refused to join in. His father came out and tried to talk to him, but he wouldn’t listen. The son said, ‘Look how many years I’ve stayed here serving you, never giving you one moment of grief, but have you ever thrown a party for me and my friends? Then this son of yours who has thrown away your money on whores shows up and you go all out with a feast!’ "
His father said, ‘Son, you don’t understand. You’re with me all the time, and everything that is mine is yours— but this is a wonderful time, and we had to celebrate. This brother of yours was dead, and he’s alive! He was lost, and he’s found!’ " (Luke 15:25-32, The Message)
Many people who have been Believers for a while, who live in obedience and serve the Lord earnestly, can identify with the anger of that dutiful son! Forgetting that they are the beneficiaries of God's grace, they close the door to 'those kind of people' who would bring their messes, their failures, and the stink of their sins into the congregation. "What would people think of Christ if they saw us allowing people like that into our membership?" they think. The mission of Christ (to save sinners!) is lost to a maintenance Christianity that is focused on church programs, conformity to rules, titles for the important, and committee work that gives the appearance of progress. These dutiful sons do some good and charitable things for those they consider beneath them, but they are careful never to extend an invitation for 'those kind of people' to enter the church, for they believe it is important to maintain the distinction between 'us and them.'
Jesus is not suggesting that the only way we can really know God's grace is to rebel royally, make a total wreck of life, and then come to God! As the Father said to the good son, "You're with me all the time, and everything that is mine is yours." A holy life has rich rewards including fellowship with God and an eternal inheritance. But, when we cross the line from realization that "but for the grace of God, there go I," to "what a good guy I am: so smart, so superior, so important to my Father," we enter the territory of ugly self-righteousness and begin to replace the beauty of true holiness with an ugly substitute called religion!
When you hear yourself speaking like a dutiful son, assuming a superior attitude, shutting another out of God's kingdom, stop and remember the pit from which God pulled you!
"Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."(1 Corinthians 1:26-31, NIV)
______________
Amazing grace,
how sweet the sound,
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now I'm found;
was blind, but now I see!
John Newton
"All this time his older son was out in the field. When the day’s work was done he came in. As he approached the house, he heard the music and dancing. Calling over one of the houseboys, he asked what was going on. He told him, ‘Your brother came home. Your father has ordered a feast—barbecued beef!—because he has him home safe and sound.’
"The older brother stalked off in an angry sulk and refused to join in. His father came out and tried to talk to him, but he wouldn’t listen. The son said, ‘Look how many years I’ve stayed here serving you, never giving you one moment of grief, but have you ever thrown a party for me and my friends? Then this son of yours who has thrown away your money on whores shows up and you go all out with a feast!’ "
His father said, ‘Son, you don’t understand. You’re with me all the time, and everything that is mine is yours— but this is a wonderful time, and we had to celebrate. This brother of yours was dead, and he’s alive! He was lost, and he’s found!’ " (Luke 15:25-32, The Message)
Many people who have been Believers for a while, who live in obedience and serve the Lord earnestly, can identify with the anger of that dutiful son! Forgetting that they are the beneficiaries of God's grace, they close the door to 'those kind of people' who would bring their messes, their failures, and the stink of their sins into the congregation. "What would people think of Christ if they saw us allowing people like that into our membership?" they think. The mission of Christ (to save sinners!) is lost to a maintenance Christianity that is focused on church programs, conformity to rules, titles for the important, and committee work that gives the appearance of progress. These dutiful sons do some good and charitable things for those they consider beneath them, but they are careful never to extend an invitation for 'those kind of people' to enter the church, for they believe it is important to maintain the distinction between 'us and them.'
Jesus is not suggesting that the only way we can really know God's grace is to rebel royally, make a total wreck of life, and then come to God! As the Father said to the good son, "You're with me all the time, and everything that is mine is yours." A holy life has rich rewards including fellowship with God and an eternal inheritance. But, when we cross the line from realization that "but for the grace of God, there go I," to "what a good guy I am: so smart, so superior, so important to my Father," we enter the territory of ugly self-righteousness and begin to replace the beauty of true holiness with an ugly substitute called religion!
When you hear yourself speaking like a dutiful son, assuming a superior attitude, shutting another out of God's kingdom, stop and remember the pit from which God pulled you!
"Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."(1 Corinthians 1:26-31, NIV)
______________
Amazing grace,
how sweet the sound,
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now I'm found;
was blind, but now I see!
John Newton
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
It is finished!
Enthusiasm runs high at the beginning of a new project. You can count on it! Everybody is psyched about the possibilities, loving the chance to be a part of the grand opening. It's getting the thing completed that is so difficult. Real character is shown, not by signing on to start something, but by sticking with it until it is finished. This applies universally through out our lives. Marriage is a classic illustration. Many unions come to a disastrous end just a few years after two wonderful kids exchanged loving vows at an altar strewn with flowers. What happens? The grind of life wears down the excitement. A mortgage, a car payment, and two kids can pour a lot of water on passion's flames! Facing the drudgery of paying the bills, dealing with bad moods, and discovery of the hard work of keeping a relationship fresh and alive can make a person forget why they said, "I do," in the first place and soon they find themselves looking for a way to say, "I don't!"
Ministry service wears us down, too. I hear some people talking about 'burn out,' and wonder if that's just a fancy excuse for quitting when the going gets tough or boredom sets in? It's not always easy or fun to serve God or others. The fact is that even the called and Spiritually equipped get weary with serving. Showing up to teach a Sunday School class week after week, collecting food for the pantry, mowing the church lawn, leading in worship, going to an outreach, taking boys on a Ranger campout - they are all exciting opportunities for a while, and then they become real work as the 'newness' wears off. Does that mean a person is 'burnt out,' just because he is not as excited about his place of ministry today as he was a year ago? Or, does it just indicate the ordinary humanness of liking things novel? I get tired of my call, from time to time. I'll admit to that. There is no doubt at all in my life about the reality of God's call to full-time pastoral service that He gave to me one Sunday night in the Summer of 1971. And, truthfully, nothing gives me more joy than introducing someone to Jesus Christ and teaching people how to find the rich life of the Spirit. But, there are weeks when I think, "No more! I cannot take another call, face another critic, sit through another meeting, or write another sermon!" The temptation to look for an exit grows strong and creates all kinds of illusions about the existence of some easier place in life, out there, somewhere.
Nobody remembers people who started strong! They remember those who finish well! Those who enter Halls of Fame are those who stick with it, who keep developing their skills, who perform well until the end. So what does it take to finish well? The Word says, "do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:" (Hebrews 10:35-36, NKJV) We need a strong faith, a real confidence that rests squarely on God's promises of eternal life and heavenly rewards. When we want to quit, it is time to call for a 'time out' and to renew our understanding of why we started, what He promises, and what He asked us to accomplish.
Then, too, a good dose of 'stick-to-itiveness' is important. We need determination that fires us to say, "I'm not quitting!" and then the stubbornness to put our heads down and go forward. Perhaps endurance is a better word, but endurance and stubbornness are surely first cousins, at least! Some days it is just pure guts that gets us through! The truth is - that's life. Hebrews tells that when we are weary, we should think of Jesus! He endured the Cross. He dug deep, sweat blood, wept real tears, and felt the cold breath of dread - but He didn't quit. Isaiah says of the Messiah - "I have set My face like a flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed. He is near who justifies Me; Who will contend with Me? Let us stand together. Who is My adversary? Let him come near Me." (Isaiah 50:7-8, NKJV) At the risk of sounding flip, I imagine that Jesus took a deep breath, looked Satan, death, and the Cross squarely in the face and said, "Bring it on!" He trusted God's promise that He would emerge from the dark into glorious Light.
And, from the Cross, He felt the curse fall on Him, knew the work of bearing the sins of the world was done, and He cried - "It is finished!" That was no whimper of regret or self-pity. It was triumphant battle cry that announced His completion of God's assignment. When I come to the end of my journey, I want to be able to throw my hands up to heaven, like a runner crossing the finish line, and yell - "It is finished, Glory to God!" Let's stay the course, dear Believer.
And, here is the Lord's Promise. Ponder it today and take heart from it.
"Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God—the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name." (Revelation 3:10-12, NLT)
__________________________________
A charge to keep I have,
A God to glorify,
A never dying soul to save,
And fit it for the sky.
To serve the present age,
My calling to fulfill;
O may it all my powr's engage
To do my Master's will!
Arm me with jealous care,
As in Thy sight to live,
And O, Thy servant, Lord, prepare,
A strict account to give!
Help me to watch and pray,
And on Thyself rely,
Assured, if I my trust betray,
I shall forever die.
A Charge To Keep I Have
Wesley, Charles / Mason, Lowell © Public Domain CCLI License No. 810055
Ministry service wears us down, too. I hear some people talking about 'burn out,' and wonder if that's just a fancy excuse for quitting when the going gets tough or boredom sets in? It's not always easy or fun to serve God or others. The fact is that even the called and Spiritually equipped get weary with serving. Showing up to teach a Sunday School class week after week, collecting food for the pantry, mowing the church lawn, leading in worship, going to an outreach, taking boys on a Ranger campout - they are all exciting opportunities for a while, and then they become real work as the 'newness' wears off. Does that mean a person is 'burnt out,' just because he is not as excited about his place of ministry today as he was a year ago? Or, does it just indicate the ordinary humanness of liking things novel? I get tired of my call, from time to time. I'll admit to that. There is no doubt at all in my life about the reality of God's call to full-time pastoral service that He gave to me one Sunday night in the Summer of 1971. And, truthfully, nothing gives me more joy than introducing someone to Jesus Christ and teaching people how to find the rich life of the Spirit. But, there are weeks when I think, "No more! I cannot take another call, face another critic, sit through another meeting, or write another sermon!" The temptation to look for an exit grows strong and creates all kinds of illusions about the existence of some easier place in life, out there, somewhere.
Nobody remembers people who started strong! They remember those who finish well! Those who enter Halls of Fame are those who stick with it, who keep developing their skills, who perform well until the end. So what does it take to finish well? The Word says, "do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:" (Hebrews 10:35-36, NKJV) We need a strong faith, a real confidence that rests squarely on God's promises of eternal life and heavenly rewards. When we want to quit, it is time to call for a 'time out' and to renew our understanding of why we started, what He promises, and what He asked us to accomplish.
Then, too, a good dose of 'stick-to-itiveness' is important. We need determination that fires us to say, "I'm not quitting!" and then the stubbornness to put our heads down and go forward. Perhaps endurance is a better word, but endurance and stubbornness are surely first cousins, at least! Some days it is just pure guts that gets us through! The truth is - that's life. Hebrews tells that when we are weary, we should think of Jesus! He endured the Cross. He dug deep, sweat blood, wept real tears, and felt the cold breath of dread - but He didn't quit. Isaiah says of the Messiah - "I have set My face like a flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed. He is near who justifies Me; Who will contend with Me? Let us stand together. Who is My adversary? Let him come near Me." (Isaiah 50:7-8, NKJV) At the risk of sounding flip, I imagine that Jesus took a deep breath, looked Satan, death, and the Cross squarely in the face and said, "Bring it on!" He trusted God's promise that He would emerge from the dark into glorious Light.
And, from the Cross, He felt the curse fall on Him, knew the work of bearing the sins of the world was done, and He cried - "It is finished!" That was no whimper of regret or self-pity. It was triumphant battle cry that announced His completion of God's assignment. When I come to the end of my journey, I want to be able to throw my hands up to heaven, like a runner crossing the finish line, and yell - "It is finished, Glory to God!" Let's stay the course, dear Believer.
And, here is the Lord's Promise. Ponder it today and take heart from it.
"Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God—the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name." (Revelation 3:10-12, NLT)
__________________________________
A charge to keep I have,
A God to glorify,
A never dying soul to save,
And fit it for the sky.
To serve the present age,
My calling to fulfill;
O may it all my powr's engage
To do my Master's will!
Arm me with jealous care,
As in Thy sight to live,
And O, Thy servant, Lord, prepare,
A strict account to give!
Help me to watch and pray,
And on Thyself rely,
Assured, if I my trust betray,
I shall forever die.
A Charge To Keep I Have
Wesley, Charles / Mason, Lowell © Public Domain CCLI License No. 810055
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Child-like trust
My kids once thought their Dad was the smartest guy in the world, could fix anything, and always knew exactly what to do. As little children, they trusted me with their lives, literally. It was my God-given responsibility (and privilege) to teach them about the world they lived in, how to interact with other people, the meaning of life, and even about God Himself. Good thing I didn't spend too much time pondering that idea, for even writing it makes me feel overwhelmed! With maturity, they have come to realize that Dad is an ordinary mortal. Sure, they call for advice now and again, but they know that I speak from a place of limited knowledge and experience. They still trust me, but not in the same way they did when they were 5; and that is a very good thing!
We should never out-grow our complete trust in God! But, often we do. As we become more sophisticated in our grasp of the teaching of Scripture, we learn to 'explain away' the promises of God. Jesus once brought a little child to the center of the circle of friends He was teaching and told them, "Unless you become like a little child, you will not enter the Kingdom of God." (Mark 10:15) How I pray for a heart that comes to my Lord with child-like simplicity, that trusts Him without arguing, that accepts each day from Him without demanding that He act differently! How about you?
Our experiences in life require that we work at trusting Him, don't they? I read a story from the life of King David today. David wanted to do a good thing and bring the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem. (The Ark was the symbolic dwelling place of God among His people.) His enthusiasm for the task outran his knowledge of the right way to do it. Instead of putting the Ark on poles, carried on the shoulders of priests, in the manner God demanded in the Law, David put the Ark in a cart. It seemed like the right thing to do, but it wasn't God's way. When the cart shook on the bumpy road, Uzzah reached out to steady it and as he touched it, God judged him and he died! Take note of how David reacted to this tragedy - "Then David got angry because of God’s deadly outburst against Uzzah. . . .David became fearful of God that day and said, "This Chest is too hot to handle. How can I ever get it back to the City of David?" (2 Samuel 6:8-9, The Message)
When God acts in ways I cannot understand and/or allows things to happen that do not make sense, I find myself angry and fearful, too. Word reached me on Sunday about a tragedy. A friend in ministry lost his 18 year old daughter in a car crash during the snow storm last Friday. I wept for Craig. And I was upset with God! "Is this the way You treat those who love and serve You? Who will ever trust You if you let things like this happen to people who give themselves wholeheartedly to You?" The Holy Spirit was gentle with me and after I spouted off, I felt His gentle whisper - "Jerry, let your mind and heart become child-like. I know what I am doing! Pray for Craig and Cindy to be sustained by faith and to take new solace from my promise of eternal life." So, I did! The sorrow I feel for that couple is mitigated by a choice to trust God's wisdom and providence in a situation that appears to have no 'up' side, at all.
On this side of Eternity, some (should I say, many?) of our 'why questions' will have no apparent answers. We can demand that God give us a reason, and remain furious with Him, cutting ourselves off from knowing His peace and comfort. Or, we can pray for a child-like trust that accepts each day from His hand with thanksgiving. That, my friend, reveals true spiritual maturity. When we trust Him like that, we show that we are growing in our understanding of His majesty and greatness. I'm not talking about the insincere, chirpy 'faith' chatter that passes for trusting God in some circles! Too often that is just a cover for great insecurity or is a perceived way to get God to do what we want Him to do by saying the right things, even those things we don't really believe.
Child-like faith admits anger and frustration with His ways, but steps over the barrier of 'why' and trusts Him anyway and shows that trust with total obedience!
Do you trust Him today? Really trust Him in a way that causes you to obey Him completely, even when the sinful nature screams to do things differently?
Here's a passage for your meditation today. May the Word inform your faith and make it strong today.
"We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him. They are the ones God has chosen for his purpose, and he has always known who his chosen ones would be. He had decided to let them become like his own Son, so that his Son would be the first of many children. God then accepted the people he had already decided to choose, and he has shared his glory with them. What can we say about all this? If God is on our side, can anyone be against us?" (Romans 8:28-31, CEV)
Amen.
We should never out-grow our complete trust in God! But, often we do. As we become more sophisticated in our grasp of the teaching of Scripture, we learn to 'explain away' the promises of God. Jesus once brought a little child to the center of the circle of friends He was teaching and told them, "Unless you become like a little child, you will not enter the Kingdom of God." (Mark 10:15) How I pray for a heart that comes to my Lord with child-like simplicity, that trusts Him without arguing, that accepts each day from Him without demanding that He act differently! How about you?
Our experiences in life require that we work at trusting Him, don't they? I read a story from the life of King David today. David wanted to do a good thing and bring the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem. (The Ark was the symbolic dwelling place of God among His people.) His enthusiasm for the task outran his knowledge of the right way to do it. Instead of putting the Ark on poles, carried on the shoulders of priests, in the manner God demanded in the Law, David put the Ark in a cart. It seemed like the right thing to do, but it wasn't God's way. When the cart shook on the bumpy road, Uzzah reached out to steady it and as he touched it, God judged him and he died! Take note of how David reacted to this tragedy - "Then David got angry because of God’s deadly outburst against Uzzah. . . .David became fearful of God that day and said, "This Chest is too hot to handle. How can I ever get it back to the City of David?" (2 Samuel 6:8-9, The Message)
When God acts in ways I cannot understand and/or allows things to happen that do not make sense, I find myself angry and fearful, too. Word reached me on Sunday about a tragedy. A friend in ministry lost his 18 year old daughter in a car crash during the snow storm last Friday. I wept for Craig. And I was upset with God! "Is this the way You treat those who love and serve You? Who will ever trust You if you let things like this happen to people who give themselves wholeheartedly to You?" The Holy Spirit was gentle with me and after I spouted off, I felt His gentle whisper - "Jerry, let your mind and heart become child-like. I know what I am doing! Pray for Craig and Cindy to be sustained by faith and to take new solace from my promise of eternal life." So, I did! The sorrow I feel for that couple is mitigated by a choice to trust God's wisdom and providence in a situation that appears to have no 'up' side, at all.
On this side of Eternity, some (should I say, many?) of our 'why questions' will have no apparent answers. We can demand that God give us a reason, and remain furious with Him, cutting ourselves off from knowing His peace and comfort. Or, we can pray for a child-like trust that accepts each day from His hand with thanksgiving. That, my friend, reveals true spiritual maturity. When we trust Him like that, we show that we are growing in our understanding of His majesty and greatness. I'm not talking about the insincere, chirpy 'faith' chatter that passes for trusting God in some circles! Too often that is just a cover for great insecurity or is a perceived way to get God to do what we want Him to do by saying the right things, even those things we don't really believe.
Child-like faith admits anger and frustration with His ways, but steps over the barrier of 'why' and trusts Him anyway and shows that trust with total obedience!
Do you trust Him today? Really trust Him in a way that causes you to obey Him completely, even when the sinful nature screams to do things differently?
Here's a passage for your meditation today. May the Word inform your faith and make it strong today.
"We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him. They are the ones God has chosen for his purpose, and he has always known who his chosen ones would be. He had decided to let them become like his own Son, so that his Son would be the first of many children. God then accepted the people he had already decided to choose, and he has shared his glory with them. What can we say about all this? If God is on our side, can anyone be against us?" (Romans 8:28-31, CEV)
Amen.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Why pray when you can worry?
Hundreds of opportunities- no, wait, make that, millions- are available to keep a person in a full state of anxiety. Just turn on your TV and be convinced! Here's what I learned recently.
Terrorists are regrouping in Afghanistan and laying new plans for attacks on America. Multiple health problems are growing threats which could develop at any time in your body, especially if you're like me, over 50! (Cut to ad for cholesterol reducing medication because high cholesterol comes from two sources, your food and your family, just ask your Dr.!) The stock market is down, along with real estate values. Could the economy be preparing for a major down turn, with lay-offs to follow? (Cut to ad from financial firm and learn that Roger has been making people secure since he was a kid.) The earth is allegedly warming and cataclysmic climate changes are certain to leave our coastal cities under water and our fertile farm land will turn into a desert that stretches from Minnesota to Mississippi! The most dangerous thing you will do today is drive. (Cut to ad for Swedish made vehicle which earned 5 stars in latest crash tests.) On the road with you are teenagers who lack skills and experience, trucks that are not properly maintained, and people talking on cell phones whose driving is impaired as much as if they had two alcoholic drinks. If they crash into your car, you may severely injured and unable to work - which will lead to your inability to pay your bills. (And, now it's time for an ad featuring the AFLAC duck!) Maybe I should worry that I watch too much television.
Yes, friend, worry flourishes in the land of so many blessings. Geraldo, Hannity, and O'Reilly (and their fellow TV 'news' reporters) make a very good living by stoking our fears with whirling graphics, ominous music, and charts in vivid colors. All of the noise and fury of our media culture keeps most of us from realizing that on the whole we live amazingly good lives in a very wonderful society. It's not Heaven, but most of our fears are tremendously overblown and exaggerated. (Read about The "Fear Industrial Complex" at http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=2898636&page=1)
For the those times and situations in our lives that really do bring us anxiety, the Bible gives each of us a tremendously wonderful invitation. This passage is a mix of realistic appraisals of the threats we face and the resources we are richly provided for dealing with those threats. "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you." (1 Peter 5:6-10, NKJV)
Jesus directs Believers to cease worrying and to choose to live under God's rule, secure in His provisions for each day. A real case can be made that when we keep on worrying, we are disobedient and displease our Heavenly Father. A friend remarked to me in a prayer meeting, "Fear is sin!" I did not like his statement because it judged my heart! I argued with him, but the more I have thought about what he said, the more truth I realized it contains! I cannot control the arrival of thoughts that tempt to me to be afraid and/or to worry, but I do have a choice about what to do with those thoughts. I can persist in worry, which is an act of disobedience and therefore, sin; (Lord, I need forgiveness. Help me in my unbelief!) or I can prayerfully present those threats and needs to my Father and, according to the promise of the Word, enjoy the gift of the 'peace of God which transcends human understanding.'
What will you do with those things, big and small, that threaten your peace and security today?
Will you worry or will you pray?
Will you praise God that He is bigger than any trouble that could come into your life or will you try to be your own god and 'manage the risks' as you grow increasingly anxious?
I'm going to pray!
_____________________________
What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry,
everything to God in prayer.
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry,
everything to God in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy-laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
In His arms He'll take and shield thee,
thou wilt find a solace there.
-Joseph Scriven, Charles Converse, Public Domain
Terrorists are regrouping in Afghanistan and laying new plans for attacks on America. Multiple health problems are growing threats which could develop at any time in your body, especially if you're like me, over 50! (Cut to ad for cholesterol reducing medication because high cholesterol comes from two sources, your food and your family, just ask your Dr.!) The stock market is down, along with real estate values. Could the economy be preparing for a major down turn, with lay-offs to follow? (Cut to ad from financial firm and learn that Roger has been making people secure since he was a kid.) The earth is allegedly warming and cataclysmic climate changes are certain to leave our coastal cities under water and our fertile farm land will turn into a desert that stretches from Minnesota to Mississippi! The most dangerous thing you will do today is drive. (Cut to ad for Swedish made vehicle which earned 5 stars in latest crash tests.) On the road with you are teenagers who lack skills and experience, trucks that are not properly maintained, and people talking on cell phones whose driving is impaired as much as if they had two alcoholic drinks. If they crash into your car, you may severely injured and unable to work - which will lead to your inability to pay your bills. (And, now it's time for an ad featuring the AFLAC duck!) Maybe I should worry that I watch too much television.
Yes, friend, worry flourishes in the land of so many blessings. Geraldo, Hannity, and O'Reilly (and their fellow TV 'news' reporters) make a very good living by stoking our fears with whirling graphics, ominous music, and charts in vivid colors. All of the noise and fury of our media culture keeps most of us from realizing that on the whole we live amazingly good lives in a very wonderful society. It's not Heaven, but most of our fears are tremendously overblown and exaggerated. (Read about The "Fear Industrial Complex" at http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=2898636&page=1)
For the those times and situations in our lives that really do bring us anxiety, the Bible gives each of us a tremendously wonderful invitation. This passage is a mix of realistic appraisals of the threats we face and the resources we are richly provided for dealing with those threats. "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you." (1 Peter 5:6-10, NKJV)
Jesus directs Believers to cease worrying and to choose to live under God's rule, secure in His provisions for each day. A real case can be made that when we keep on worrying, we are disobedient and displease our Heavenly Father. A friend remarked to me in a prayer meeting, "Fear is sin!" I did not like his statement because it judged my heart! I argued with him, but the more I have thought about what he said, the more truth I realized it contains! I cannot control the arrival of thoughts that tempt to me to be afraid and/or to worry, but I do have a choice about what to do with those thoughts. I can persist in worry, which is an act of disobedience and therefore, sin; (Lord, I need forgiveness. Help me in my unbelief!) or I can prayerfully present those threats and needs to my Father and, according to the promise of the Word, enjoy the gift of the 'peace of God which transcends human understanding.'
What will you do with those things, big and small, that threaten your peace and security today?
Will you worry or will you pray?
Will you praise God that He is bigger than any trouble that could come into your life or will you try to be your own god and 'manage the risks' as you grow increasingly anxious?
I'm going to pray!
_____________________________
What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry,
everything to God in prayer.
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry,
everything to God in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy-laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
In His arms He'll take and shield thee,
thou wilt find a solace there.
-Joseph Scriven, Charles Converse, Public Domain
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