On a trip yesterday, my Tom-Tom®, a GPS unit, indicated that I should turn left off of the highway onto a side road. I did. Soon the side road turned into a gravel road, then a one lane road through the northern Pennsylvania woods. 4 miles later I came onto a main highway again, on the way to Montrose, PA. The ‘brain’ in that little unit had used the satellite signals and the maps stored in memory to take me on a 10 minute mini-adventure along a road I am unlikely to travel again. What fun!
An unpredictable series of events led me to Montrose Bible Conference center yesterday. It started with an email to the editor of a magazine for pastors offering a critique of an article. It continued with an unexpected reply from one of the author’s of the article who responded to me with gentle grace! He invited me to meet him at a Christian writer’s gathering. I thought about it and set it aside because I was ‘too busy.’ Then, last Friday, a member of the congregation ‘just happened’ to let me know she would be attending a conference with that same author. When she greeted Torry on Sunday and mentioned me, he wrote me again and renewed his invitation for me to drive up for an afternoon. Wasn’t the Lord persistent in getting me to take His lead? I am convinced that yesterday’s afternoon of networking with new acquaintances and planting seeds of a new friendship was all in the plan of God. To what ultimate purpose is yet to be revealed.
God, my fail-safe Guide, sometimes prompts me to leave the main road of life, just like my GPS did yesterday. Usually, His leading is not so dramatic, just a tug of the Spirit to make a call, to pick up a book, to change up the routine of the day. Other times He uses people or situations to re-direct my way. I’d love to tell you that I always respond readily, joyfully; I don’t! Sometimes I resist His leading. Sometimes I am so committed to my agenda I ignore Him. But, when I say ‘yes, Lord,’ I discover His faithfulness again and later on (days, weeks, years!) I can see more clearly why He changed my course.
Remember Israel’s journey from Egypt to the Promised Land? God gave them His Presence to lead them – a pillar of fire by night and cloud by day. He led them and He fed them. We would think that their faith would have become so strong that they would have followed Him without question. They didn’t! When they came to Canaan and sent in the scouts, the report of the obstacles facing them caused great fear. Full of doubt, they "grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The entire community was in on it: “Why didn’t we die in Egypt? Or in this wilderness? Why has God brought us to this country to kill us? Our wives and children are about to become plunder. Why don’t we just head back to Egypt? And right now!” (Numbers 14:2-3, The Message) They missed an opportunity and that entire generation died during the next 40 years of living as nomads in the wilderness!
Let’s commit ourselves to full faith and trust! When the Holy Spirit nudges us, whispers to us, speaks to us with the Word; may we be quick to say – “Yes, Lord! Let’s go!” My experience parallels what I find in the Word about the way He generally leads. He does not usually show us more than this day! He unfolds His plan only as we are obedient to walk in it day by day.
It’s a faith adventure, so "Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives." (Galatians 5:25, NLT)
____________________
Sweet are the promises,
Kind is the word,
Dearer far than any message
Man ever heard;
Pure was the mind of Christ,
Sinless, I see;
He the great example is,
And pattern for me.
Sweet is the tender love
Jesus hath shown,
Sweeter far than any love
That mortals have known;
Kind to the erring one,
Faithful is He;
He the great example is,
And pattern for me.
Where He leads I'll follow,
Follow all the way;
Where He leads I'll follow,
Follow Jesus ev'ry day.
Where He Leads I'll Follow
Ogden, William A.© Public Domain
Friday, July 24, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Contending with Humility
NOVA, a news documentary program on PBS TV, aired a program called,
“Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial.” It told the story of the fight in Dover, PA public schools in 2005 over the teaching of Darwinian theory of the origin of the species. Once again, Christians were not portrayed in a very attractive light! Lacking first-hand information, I cannot say if that was because of biased reporting. It did seem to me that those Believers who were elected to the school board, who pursued the goal of bringing an alternative theory of Man’s origins to the classroom, were often very unwise. The Christians who flexed their political muscle showed a lack of genuine humility as they contended for what they believe to be the truth.
I felt the sting of conscience as I remembered my own struggles with public school teachers and principals 15 years ago. In the heat of ‘battle,’ I sometimes failed to remain as ‘harmless as a dove’ as Jesus taught. In one instance, my daughters then in 7th grade, came home to tell about being “instructed” about the proper use of a flavored condom quite graphically with a banana as a prop by high-school aged peer facilitators! I felt then and still believe that the topic and presentation was inappropriate for a group of middle-schoolers. But, I regret that I immediately adopted a posture of hostility towards the school’s officials that hindered open dialogue that might have led to greater understanding and lasting change. Instead, in my ‘moral crusade’ I grasped for a place of power that would force immediate change. Short-term, I was successful, but I doubt my fiery letters and threats changed any minds. Most tragic of all, I am sure I did not present Jesus Christ in a winsome loving way to those that came under my verbal assaults! Oh, Lord, I repent and ask your grace!
In an increasingly secular culture, those who love God and His Truth find themselves at odds with policies, laws, and attitudes of the majority. In many situations it is not just about a preference, it is about a basic truth. The questions are real and potentially divisive!
“Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial.” It told the story of the fight in Dover, PA public schools in 2005 over the teaching of Darwinian theory of the origin of the species. Once again, Christians were not portrayed in a very attractive light! Lacking first-hand information, I cannot say if that was because of biased reporting. It did seem to me that those Believers who were elected to the school board, who pursued the goal of bringing an alternative theory of Man’s origins to the classroom, were often very unwise. The Christians who flexed their political muscle showed a lack of genuine humility as they contended for what they believe to be the truth.
I felt the sting of conscience as I remembered my own struggles with public school teachers and principals 15 years ago. In the heat of ‘battle,’ I sometimes failed to remain as ‘harmless as a dove’ as Jesus taught. In one instance, my daughters then in 7th grade, came home to tell about being “instructed” about the proper use of a flavored condom quite graphically with a banana as a prop by high-school aged peer facilitators! I felt then and still believe that the topic and presentation was inappropriate for a group of middle-schoolers. But, I regret that I immediately adopted a posture of hostility towards the school’s officials that hindered open dialogue that might have led to greater understanding and lasting change. Instead, in my ‘moral crusade’ I grasped for a place of power that would force immediate change. Short-term, I was successful, but I doubt my fiery letters and threats changed any minds. Most tragic of all, I am sure I did not present Jesus Christ in a winsome loving way to those that came under my verbal assaults! Oh, Lord, I repent and ask your grace!
In an increasingly secular culture, those who love God and His Truth find themselves at odds with policies, laws, and attitudes of the majority. In many situations it is not just about a preference, it is about a basic truth. The questions are real and potentially divisive!
- Did God create the world or did the earth and her inhabitants emerge from random events?
- Is life sacred and therefore to be protected or may a woman choose to abort her unborn child?
- Is marriage a covenant for a man and woman or should we celebrate a formal union of same-sex couples?
- What does compassion for the poor involve and how should compassion shape public policies, if at all?
- Is war a just response to assure our standard of living?
In defense of what we believe to be ‘the Truth,’ disciples of Christ are often quick to take up ‘natural’ tools of conflict: anger, power, and shouting loudly. This becomes more tempting when the positions we adopt, based on our understanding of the Bible as the revealed Word of God, are ignored, mocked, or marginalized. In such situations we must commit ourselves to what James teaches us. "If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom." (James 3:13, NLT) In Matthew 10, there is a lengthy passage in which Jesus explains to His disciples that they will live at odds with the world. He warns that total commitment to His ways will even ‘set a man against his father,’ something that was foreign to the culture of His day that revered elders! He instructed them to live humbly, even under such pressure. “Stay alert. This is hazardous work I’m assigning you. You’re going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don’t call attention to yourselves. Be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove. … And don’t worry about what you’ll say or how you’ll say it. The right words will be there; the Spirit of your Father will supply the words." (Matthew 10: 16, 19-20, The Message)
Disciple, truth is offensive. We must not shrink of holding onto what the Word teaches even in the face of attacks. We should not think that we are failing to be Christ-like if others in our family, workplace, or community become angry when we live the Truth. (Be careful students of the Word. Many proclaim a ‘truth’ that is merely their preference or their mistaken understanding.) But, we must always seek to ‘speak the Truth in love.’
Here’s a word from the Word. Ponder it and let it shape your engagement with your world. "Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone." (Colossians 4:5-6, 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!
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
______________________
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
From the top of the mountain
On a clear Summer day in 2005 I drove the twisting road that leads to the top of Pike’s Peak, a mountain in Colorado. The summit is 14,110 feet above sea level! Standing there, like every tourist, I gushed over the vistas to the east that looked out across the Great Plains and the tops of rocky mountains that stretched to the west. There is a definite sense of exhilaration one feels when standing on top of a mountain. It is a natural ‘high,’ no pun intended! My ‘climb’ involved a couple of hours driving and still I felt a sense of accomplishment! What must those who walk to the top feel?
My walk with Christ involves climbing some mountains, too. Looking ahead, we see peaks that rise menacingly, filling the horizon, daring us to climb. Finishing school, healing a broken relationship, seeing our child through the turbulence of the teen years, beating an addiction are some of the kinds of things I have in mind. One year ago, I was climbing a mountain, so to speak, as I walked with my Dad in his illness. I knew that unless God granted a miracle, the climb would only become more steep, as his health declined; and it did! His suffering left me breathless, nearly prayerless, sometimes. When he died, it was like reaching the summit of a mountain, with new views opened to me. Death is less menacing to me having climbed that mountain. Faith is stronger now.
God summoned Moses to the mountain! "Then Moses climbed up the mountain, and the cloud covered it. And the glory of the Lord settled down on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from inside the cloud. To the Israelites at the foot of the mountain, the glory of the Lord appeared at the summit like a consuming fire. Then Moses disappeared into the cloud as he climbed higher up the mountain. He remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights." (Exodus 24:15-18, NLT) There, in God’s Presence, Moses received the Law, the plan for the Tabernacle which was the center of Israel’s worship, revelations great and wonderful. He was a changed man after his ascent to the top of Mt. Sinai.
John, too, was carried to a mountain where he gained new perspective! "And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal." (Revelation 21:10-11, NIV) From the height of his visionary mountain, John wrote of the disciple’s great hope, the promise of God’s victory over sin and suffering in a book that has encouraged and intrigued Christians for two millennia- The Revelation of Jesus Christ!
In the classic, Pilgrim’s Progress, an allegory about our journey to the Celestial City, John Bunyan wrote of the Delectable Mountains that afford the pilgrims, Christian and Hopeful, a view of their final destination. His insight is clear and instructs us well. From the heights of the mountains we have to climb along the way, we catch glimpses of God’s glory that draw us along.
Are you living in the shadows of the valley right now? Does some peak stand ahead of you, daring you to scale its heights? Or are you in the climb, feeling exhausted; seeing only more difficulty as you look ahead? Keep climbing! New vistas will appear when you get to the summit!
"People from many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob’s God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem." (Isaiah 2:3, NLT)
My walk with Christ involves climbing some mountains, too. Looking ahead, we see peaks that rise menacingly, filling the horizon, daring us to climb. Finishing school, healing a broken relationship, seeing our child through the turbulence of the teen years, beating an addiction are some of the kinds of things I have in mind. One year ago, I was climbing a mountain, so to speak, as I walked with my Dad in his illness. I knew that unless God granted a miracle, the climb would only become more steep, as his health declined; and it did! His suffering left me breathless, nearly prayerless, sometimes. When he died, it was like reaching the summit of a mountain, with new views opened to me. Death is less menacing to me having climbed that mountain. Faith is stronger now.
God summoned Moses to the mountain! "Then Moses climbed up the mountain, and the cloud covered it. And the glory of the Lord settled down on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from inside the cloud. To the Israelites at the foot of the mountain, the glory of the Lord appeared at the summit like a consuming fire. Then Moses disappeared into the cloud as he climbed higher up the mountain. He remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights." (Exodus 24:15-18, NLT) There, in God’s Presence, Moses received the Law, the plan for the Tabernacle which was the center of Israel’s worship, revelations great and wonderful. He was a changed man after his ascent to the top of Mt. Sinai.
John, too, was carried to a mountain where he gained new perspective! "And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal." (Revelation 21:10-11, NIV) From the height of his visionary mountain, John wrote of the disciple’s great hope, the promise of God’s victory over sin and suffering in a book that has encouraged and intrigued Christians for two millennia- The Revelation of Jesus Christ!
In the classic, Pilgrim’s Progress, an allegory about our journey to the Celestial City, John Bunyan wrote of the Delectable Mountains that afford the pilgrims, Christian and Hopeful, a view of their final destination. His insight is clear and instructs us well. From the heights of the mountains we have to climb along the way, we catch glimpses of God’s glory that draw us along.
Are you living in the shadows of the valley right now? Does some peak stand ahead of you, daring you to scale its heights? Or are you in the climb, feeling exhausted; seeing only more difficulty as you look ahead? Keep climbing! New vistas will appear when you get to the summit!
"People from many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob’s God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem." (Isaiah 2:3, NLT)
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
A silly superstition?
A friend died in spite of my faithful prayers. I wondered why. A man told me how he prayed for God’s intervention during that terrible day of 9/11/2001 when New York City was attacked by terrorists. He told me how his faith in God collapsed along with the second tower of the World Trade Center. Is faith supposed to create a trouble-free zone for us? Will enough prayers bring us lives of unbroken peace and astonishing prosperity until we die in our sleep at a ripe, old age? That is what some believe. But, is that what the Bible teaches?
I know people who claim to be persons of faith who treat prayer and God more like a lucky rabbit’s foot. Remember those? One of the sillier superstitions of Americana involves carrying a preserved rabbit’s foot, usually bound with a brass ring that allows it to be attached to a keychain. Various rituals, such as rubbing the fur, are alleged to bring ‘good luck’ to the owner of the totem. But, I have yet to meet a person for which the rabbit’s foot is central to life. It exists for crisis moments, hauled out to produce a win in a game of cards or to ‘help’ the deal to close! Silly? Of course. But, is it not equally foolish to think that we can ignore God and His will until we need Him to change some situation we find unpleasant or give us an advantage in a moment of competition?
Faith and prayer touch every part of my life. How I spend my money, the way I use my time, the standard by which I measure right and wrong, and more are anchored to my faith in Jesus Christ. As I drive to a meeting I breathe this prayer: “Spirit of God, use my words, my presence to make Your goodness known.” When a new day is dawning, my prayer, spoken and wordless, is to be available to Christ Jesus. There is nothing that I do that is separate from my life of faith. Yes, of course, there are lapses when I push the Lord from the picture consciously or unconsciously. On the whole faith is a thread that is woven into the fabric of my life.
Going to church, reading the Bible, active prayer, tithing, making certain to be ‘good’ are not done to earn points so we can avoid difficult situations! God doesn’t exist to be our personal good luck charm. He exercises a claim to be the Lord of life and offers us the opportunity to walk with Him through each day, come what may. The spiritual disciplines that are a part of our lives are our obedient response of living faith, expressions of our desire to know Him in a way that allows us to participate in His plans for our individual lives and His world, to live as a participant in His kingdom rule.
Did Daniel’s faith exempt him from ‘bad luck?’ Not at all. In fact, his faith caused him great difficulty in the short term by causing him to act in ways that put him in direct conflict with the edicts of the king! He lived by faith and saw God’s providence that preserved his life in the middle of the lion’s den. Paul’s faith did not exempt him from persecution, shipwreck, or suffering. He knew Christ Jesus was the hope of the world and this faith carried him through years of hard travel from one end of the Roman Empire to the other as he built the Church. He wrote that "since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." (Romans 5:1-4, NIV)
Disciple, don’t allow your faith to be reduced to the status of a silly superstition!
Make faith in God the center, that by which all things in your life are measured, from which all decisions flow. There will be moments when it will seem that God is not present, when prayers go unanswered, when nothing makes sense. Remain faithful!
Here’s a word from the Word. Live in the truth!
"Since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.
And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.
Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne." (Hebrews 12:1-2, NLT)
_____________
Am I a soldier of the cross,
A follower of the Lamb.
And shall I fear to own His cause,
Or blush to speak His name?
Sure I must fight if I would reign,
Increase my courage, Lord:
I'll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by Thy Word.
And when the battle's over
We shall wear a crown!
Yes, we shall wear a crown!
Yes, we shall wear a crown.
And when the battle's over
We shall wear a crown
In the new Jerusalem.
Wear a crown, wear a crown,
Wear a bright and shining crown;
And when the battle's over,
We shall wear a crown,
In the new Jerusalem.
When The Battle's Over
Watts, Isaac / Waters, Harriette / Lind, A.E.
© Public Domain
I know people who claim to be persons of faith who treat prayer and God more like a lucky rabbit’s foot. Remember those? One of the sillier superstitions of Americana involves carrying a preserved rabbit’s foot, usually bound with a brass ring that allows it to be attached to a keychain. Various rituals, such as rubbing the fur, are alleged to bring ‘good luck’ to the owner of the totem. But, I have yet to meet a person for which the rabbit’s foot is central to life. It exists for crisis moments, hauled out to produce a win in a game of cards or to ‘help’ the deal to close! Silly? Of course. But, is it not equally foolish to think that we can ignore God and His will until we need Him to change some situation we find unpleasant or give us an advantage in a moment of competition?
Faith and prayer touch every part of my life. How I spend my money, the way I use my time, the standard by which I measure right and wrong, and more are anchored to my faith in Jesus Christ. As I drive to a meeting I breathe this prayer: “Spirit of God, use my words, my presence to make Your goodness known.” When a new day is dawning, my prayer, spoken and wordless, is to be available to Christ Jesus. There is nothing that I do that is separate from my life of faith. Yes, of course, there are lapses when I push the Lord from the picture consciously or unconsciously. On the whole faith is a thread that is woven into the fabric of my life.
Going to church, reading the Bible, active prayer, tithing, making certain to be ‘good’ are not done to earn points so we can avoid difficult situations! God doesn’t exist to be our personal good luck charm. He exercises a claim to be the Lord of life and offers us the opportunity to walk with Him through each day, come what may. The spiritual disciplines that are a part of our lives are our obedient response of living faith, expressions of our desire to know Him in a way that allows us to participate in His plans for our individual lives and His world, to live as a participant in His kingdom rule.
Did Daniel’s faith exempt him from ‘bad luck?’ Not at all. In fact, his faith caused him great difficulty in the short term by causing him to act in ways that put him in direct conflict with the edicts of the king! He lived by faith and saw God’s providence that preserved his life in the middle of the lion’s den. Paul’s faith did not exempt him from persecution, shipwreck, or suffering. He knew Christ Jesus was the hope of the world and this faith carried him through years of hard travel from one end of the Roman Empire to the other as he built the Church. He wrote that "since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." (Romans 5:1-4, NIV)
Disciple, don’t allow your faith to be reduced to the status of a silly superstition!
Make faith in God the center, that by which all things in your life are measured, from which all decisions flow. There will be moments when it will seem that God is not present, when prayers go unanswered, when nothing makes sense. Remain faithful!
Here’s a word from the Word. Live in the truth!
"Since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.
And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.
Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne." (Hebrews 12:1-2, NLT)
_____________
Am I a soldier of the cross,
A follower of the Lamb.
And shall I fear to own His cause,
Or blush to speak His name?
Sure I must fight if I would reign,
Increase my courage, Lord:
I'll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by Thy Word.
And when the battle's over
We shall wear a crown!
Yes, we shall wear a crown!
Yes, we shall wear a crown.
And when the battle's over
We shall wear a crown
In the new Jerusalem.
Wear a crown, wear a crown,
Wear a bright and shining crown;
And when the battle's over,
We shall wear a crown,
In the new Jerusalem.
When The Battle's Over
Watts, Isaac / Waters, Harriette / Lind, A.E.
© Public Domain
Monday, July 20, 2009
Simply Trusting, not so simple!
My faith is complicated! There are a lot of questions about God, some might even call them doubts, that roll around in my head.
Do I doubt that He exists? No.
Do I doubt that He is a good God? Not at all.
Do I understand what He does? Sometimes.
Do I wonder why He allows other things to happen? Yes, most certainly!
Having my grandsons in the house for the last few days has reminded me of characteristics of my relationship with Him. Gavin and Payton understand many things about me, but at their tender age, there are many, many things that are mysteries! Even if I tried to explain, they would not ‘get it.’
A long time ago I came to the conclusion that I could spend inordinate amounts of time wrestling with my doubts and/or trying to reduce God to a size where He would fit into my life, or I could love and trust Him, fitting into His greater plan with obedience. It’s hard to do both at the same time. I am convinced that genuine faith is a choice, one we all make all the time, often without really realizing it. Every time I get into my car I put a great deal of faith in other drivers, don’t you? Every time I use a product, I am putting faith in the company that produced it. But the greatest choice of faith is to trust God and then to obey Him – even when our natural (should I say, selfish?) inclination is to do something else.
Some think that faith is only shown when we pray for things like world peace, hurricanes to be turned from cities, a friend to be healed from cancer. Certainly asking God about such things is a kind of faith. There is another faith that is quiet and persistent and much more basic to daily living. This faith shapes our actions today, tomorrow, and for the rest of our lives.
· I wrote a tithe check this month like I have for the last 35 years, because I have faith in God as my Provider and I believe He asks me to honor Him with the firstfruits of the income I receive. So, writing that check is, for me, an act of faith.
· I choose to discipline my affections, honoring my wife and our marriage covenant, in part because of faith in God, believing that His Word is right. So, loving her is, in part, an act of faith expressed in obedience.
· Through the years, I have forgiven those who have done wrong to me because God tells me to do so, a faith response. Sometimes I wanted to hate, to get even, but faith demanded a different response, one that required death to every natural desire!
Sure, I pray for the ‘big deals,’ too, but in those matters my faith is more complicated and sometimes I honestly am not all that sure I am even asking for the right things. Even then, I have faith that He will hear, but not necessarily do what I want Him to do.
James reminds us that we don’t create faith by doing right things, but that real faith always has visible evidence. Take a look.
"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder." (James 2:14-19, NIV)
The life of a disciple is a life of faith. Our lives do not center on things we can see, hold, or experience; rather we live with our hope set on the Eternal. We accept that we cannot ‘work it all out’ now, but that we can walk it out faithfully with the hope that He sees, He hears, He loves. Let me urge to you make the choice of faith today. Trust God with your life and obey. Love as He commands. Forgive, be holy, turn your eyes from things that distract. Be generous, accepting, and noble.
“O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water." (Psalm 63:1, NLT)
___________________________
You have led me
To the sadness
I have carried this pain
On a back bruised
Nearly broken
I'm crying out to You
I will sing of Your mercy
That leads me through valleys
Of sorrow to rivers of joy
When death
Like a gypsy
Comes to steal what I love
I will still
Look to the heavens
I will still seek Your face
But I fear You aren't listening
Because there are no words
Just the stillness
And the hunger
For a faith that assures
I will sing of Your mercy
That leads me through valleys
Of sorrow to rivers of joy
Alleluia, Alleluia
Alleluia, Alleluia
While we wait
For rescue
With our eyes tightly shut
Face to the ground
Using our hands
To cover the fatal cut
Though the pain
Is an ocean
Tossing us around, around, around
You have calmed
Greater waters
Higher mountains
Have come down
I will sing of Your mercy
That leads me through valleys
Of sorrow to rivers of joy
Alleluia, Alleluia
Alleluia, Alleluia
The Valley Song
Jars of Clay
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvHMjILrSJ0
Do I doubt that He exists? No.
Do I doubt that He is a good God? Not at all.
Do I understand what He does? Sometimes.
Do I wonder why He allows other things to happen? Yes, most certainly!
Having my grandsons in the house for the last few days has reminded me of characteristics of my relationship with Him. Gavin and Payton understand many things about me, but at their tender age, there are many, many things that are mysteries! Even if I tried to explain, they would not ‘get it.’
A long time ago I came to the conclusion that I could spend inordinate amounts of time wrestling with my doubts and/or trying to reduce God to a size where He would fit into my life, or I could love and trust Him, fitting into His greater plan with obedience. It’s hard to do both at the same time. I am convinced that genuine faith is a choice, one we all make all the time, often without really realizing it. Every time I get into my car I put a great deal of faith in other drivers, don’t you? Every time I use a product, I am putting faith in the company that produced it. But the greatest choice of faith is to trust God and then to obey Him – even when our natural (should I say, selfish?) inclination is to do something else.
Some think that faith is only shown when we pray for things like world peace, hurricanes to be turned from cities, a friend to be healed from cancer. Certainly asking God about such things is a kind of faith. There is another faith that is quiet and persistent and much more basic to daily living. This faith shapes our actions today, tomorrow, and for the rest of our lives.
· I wrote a tithe check this month like I have for the last 35 years, because I have faith in God as my Provider and I believe He asks me to honor Him with the firstfruits of the income I receive. So, writing that check is, for me, an act of faith.
· I choose to discipline my affections, honoring my wife and our marriage covenant, in part because of faith in God, believing that His Word is right. So, loving her is, in part, an act of faith expressed in obedience.
· Through the years, I have forgiven those who have done wrong to me because God tells me to do so, a faith response. Sometimes I wanted to hate, to get even, but faith demanded a different response, one that required death to every natural desire!
Sure, I pray for the ‘big deals,’ too, but in those matters my faith is more complicated and sometimes I honestly am not all that sure I am even asking for the right things. Even then, I have faith that He will hear, but not necessarily do what I want Him to do.
James reminds us that we don’t create faith by doing right things, but that real faith always has visible evidence. Take a look.
"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder." (James 2:14-19, NIV)
The life of a disciple is a life of faith. Our lives do not center on things we can see, hold, or experience; rather we live with our hope set on the Eternal. We accept that we cannot ‘work it all out’ now, but that we can walk it out faithfully with the hope that He sees, He hears, He loves. Let me urge to you make the choice of faith today. Trust God with your life and obey. Love as He commands. Forgive, be holy, turn your eyes from things that distract. Be generous, accepting, and noble.
“O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water." (Psalm 63:1, NLT)
___________________________
You have led me
To the sadness
I have carried this pain
On a back bruised
Nearly broken
I'm crying out to You
I will sing of Your mercy
That leads me through valleys
Of sorrow to rivers of joy
When death
Like a gypsy
Comes to steal what I love
I will still
Look to the heavens
I will still seek Your face
But I fear You aren't listening
Because there are no words
Just the stillness
And the hunger
For a faith that assures
I will sing of Your mercy
That leads me through valleys
Of sorrow to rivers of joy
Alleluia, Alleluia
Alleluia, Alleluia
While we wait
For rescue
With our eyes tightly shut
Face to the ground
Using our hands
To cover the fatal cut
Though the pain
Is an ocean
Tossing us around, around, around
You have calmed
Greater waters
Higher mountains
Have come down
I will sing of Your mercy
That leads me through valleys
Of sorrow to rivers of joy
Alleluia, Alleluia
Alleluia, Alleluia
The Valley Song
Jars of Clay
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvHMjILrSJ0
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