The vise of government bureaucracy tightened around the little family. False accusations, broken promises, and abused power destroyed their home, brought financial ruin, driving them to the edge of sanity. As we talked the woman asked, “Why would people do this to us? Is there any justice?” Their story of abuse at the hands of the powerful is not unique. It’s been repeatedly billions of times in history!
David, the shepherd boy from Bethlehem, was called into the service of King Saul. He did his best, serving the king with skill and faithfulness. The people came to love the young man for his leadership and praised him in the streets singing of his exploits. Jealousy took root in Saul’s heart and gradually drove the old king into madness. Again and again, he attempted to kill David. There was no justice, no reason for Saul’s fears. In one of the dramatic stories of the Bible, we learn that David had an opportunity to settle the score. Take a look.
"Saul chose 3,000 elite troops from all Israel and went to search for David and his men near the rocks of the wild goats. At the place where the road passes some sheepfolds, Saul went into a cave to relieve himself. But as it happened, David and his men were hiding farther back in that very cave! “Now’s your opportunity!” David’s men whispered to him. “Today the Lord is telling you, ‘I will certainly put your enemy into your power, to do with as you wish.’ ” So David crept forward and cut off a piece of the hem of Saul’s robe." (1 Samuel 24:2-4, NLT)
With that piece of the king’s robe in his hand, David waited until Saul had started to move on, then he stepped out and challenged the king saying, "This very day you can see with your own eyes it isn’t true. For the Lord placed you at my mercy back there in the cave. Some of my men told me to kill you, but I spared you. For I said, ‘I will never harm the king—he is the Lord’s anointed one.’" (1 Samuel 24:10, NLT)
It’s is David’s prayer that we need to memorize for it reveals a heart fully trusting in God’s appointed time of justice. "Let’s decide which of us is in the right. God may avenge me, but it is in his hands, not mine. ….God is our judge. He’ll decide who is right. Oh, that he would look down right now, decide right now—and set me free of you!” (1 Samuel 24:15,The Message)
Are you waiting for justice?
Has some cruel person made your life a nightmare, visiting their crazy worldview on you, trying to destroy you without cause?
Cry out to your Advocate! Plead with Him for justice!
But, be careful about taking matters into your own hands. Our hearts are prone to sin and even though we may feel justified in settling the score, we risk sinning ourselves if we let ourselves go down that road. Better to let God judge! When He decided, it is perfect justice. Until then, we must be guided by our Lord’s instructions.“You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. … But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike." (Matthew 5:44-45, NLT)
Waiting for God’s justice gives us great freedom. It allows us to live without fear, trusting the One who knows for our security and vindication. Will you choose to live in faith today?
Friday, November 20, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Superman, anyone?
Yesterday I wanted to be Superman! Just for a day or two I would enjoy having his unique qualities. Forget the flying. It would be fun, but basically useless. It’s the ability to work fast, to be unstoppable, and invincibility that appeals to me. There are a few challenges sitting on the periphery of my life which I’d like to wipe away with a single swing of super strength. Yes, I know, it’s just a story, but we all slip into daydreams occasionally. Since this Clark Kent isn’t going to be a super-hero, I chose another guy for inspiration today, Eleazar, son of Dodai. Never heard of him? He gets a couple of lines in the Bible that are memorable to me. In the book of 2 Samuel, there is a review of the ‘mighty men’ that stood with David, Israel’s warrior king. One of the men of renown is the aforesaid Eleazar. His big moment in life is included in the list. "Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim for battle. Then the men of Israel retreated, but he stood his ground and struck down the Philistines ‘till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword." (2 Samuel 23:9-10, NIV)
That’s quite a line, froze to the sword! The other soldiers retreated as the Philistines advanced, but Eleazar stood his ground, unwilling to give an inch, swinging his sword in deadly arcs that continued, over and over, until a pile of dead and wounded enemies lay around him. As the din of battle subsided when the Philistines finally broke and ran, the Israeli warriors crept back to see their friend standing there exhausted and bloody. Most remarkably, he was unable to release his grip on his sword! He had fought with such ferocity that his tendons were locked. His fellow warriors gathered around him and pried open his fingers, one by one, until the sword fell to the ground and Eleazar finally knew it was over! It’s not my intent to glorify the violence, but rather to let his tenacity inspire us. He wouldn’t give up.
It’s silly to dream about being Superman, but I can aspire to be an Eleazar. Even if those who stand alongside of me retreat from the battle of life, the struggle for that which is of God, it is my aspiration to keep swinging the "sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6:17, NIV) I want to finish with my grip on His Truth intact, my love for His will the overarching notable quality of my life. How about you?
Challenges will keep coming. When we beat back one temptation, another arises. When we solve one problem, another appears. Master a skill and new demands will require yet more adaptation. That’s the nature of life! We have only a brief respite to savor the victories, before the next wave rolls toward us. There is a promise for would-be Eleazars. God, the Spirit, never leaves us on our own. We need not try to stand in our strength. The Word says that He will "strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:16-19, NIV)
As I dealt with my Superman fantasy yesterday, I knelt to pray and took the offer of His strength, thanking Him that HE would not let me fall, asking Him for level ground and steady endurance. If you’re weary, let me encourage you to do the same. Thank Him, renew your appreciation of His grace, breathe in the life and love of Christ, then stand ‘til your hand freezes to the sword!
_______________________
Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,
I've no cause for worry or for fear.
He, whose heart is kind beyond all measure,
Gives unto each day what He deems best,
Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.
Every day the Lord Himself is near me,
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me,
He whose name is Counsellor and Pow'r.
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
"As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,"
This the pledge to me He made.
Help me then, in every tribulation,
So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith's sweet consolation,
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E'er to take, as from a father's hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
‘Till with Christ the Lord I stand.
Lina Sandell
Public Domain
That’s quite a line, froze to the sword! The other soldiers retreated as the Philistines advanced, but Eleazar stood his ground, unwilling to give an inch, swinging his sword in deadly arcs that continued, over and over, until a pile of dead and wounded enemies lay around him. As the din of battle subsided when the Philistines finally broke and ran, the Israeli warriors crept back to see their friend standing there exhausted and bloody. Most remarkably, he was unable to release his grip on his sword! He had fought with such ferocity that his tendons were locked. His fellow warriors gathered around him and pried open his fingers, one by one, until the sword fell to the ground and Eleazar finally knew it was over! It’s not my intent to glorify the violence, but rather to let his tenacity inspire us. He wouldn’t give up.
It’s silly to dream about being Superman, but I can aspire to be an Eleazar. Even if those who stand alongside of me retreat from the battle of life, the struggle for that which is of God, it is my aspiration to keep swinging the "sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6:17, NIV) I want to finish with my grip on His Truth intact, my love for His will the overarching notable quality of my life. How about you?
Challenges will keep coming. When we beat back one temptation, another arises. When we solve one problem, another appears. Master a skill and new demands will require yet more adaptation. That’s the nature of life! We have only a brief respite to savor the victories, before the next wave rolls toward us. There is a promise for would-be Eleazars. God, the Spirit, never leaves us on our own. We need not try to stand in our strength. The Word says that He will "strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:16-19, NIV)
As I dealt with my Superman fantasy yesterday, I knelt to pray and took the offer of His strength, thanking Him that HE would not let me fall, asking Him for level ground and steady endurance. If you’re weary, let me encourage you to do the same. Thank Him, renew your appreciation of His grace, breathe in the life and love of Christ, then stand ‘til your hand freezes to the sword!
_______________________
Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,
I've no cause for worry or for fear.
He, whose heart is kind beyond all measure,
Gives unto each day what He deems best,
Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.
Every day the Lord Himself is near me,
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me,
He whose name is Counsellor and Pow'r.
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
"As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,"
This the pledge to me He made.
Help me then, in every tribulation,
So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith's sweet consolation,
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E'er to take, as from a father's hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
‘Till with Christ the Lord I stand.
Lina Sandell
Public Domain
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
The why of the what
Do you ever forget why you do what you do?
On Monday, while my urologist was working on me doing the biopsy, I asked him why he chose his particular specialty. He laughed and said, “Because I like to sleep through the night and enjoy my weekends. There aren’t many urological emergencies!” Good answer and one that an obstetrician could not give! Both kinds of physicians offer needed care, but for very different reasons. Why do you do what you do? The short answer might be: to pay the bills, or it’s the first job I was offered, or I married into the company, or I couldn’t afford college and ended up doing this job. Others might remember a passion for children that led them to education, or a desire to make money that pulled them towards a career they saw as lucrative, a love of music that drew them to perform, or a calling from God that was irresistible.
With time’s passing, many might say, “I stopped asking why a long time ago! I just have to keep making the donuts now because the luxury of choice is in the past.” That’s what too many think. Obligations can cause us to lose sight of why we started out doing what we do. When that happens, a kind of desperation lurks that can drive a person to many a foolish decision! Think about ‘why’ beyond your job or career.
In all of life, it is important to stay aware of the ‘why’ that shapes the ‘what.’ Why did you get married? Why do you stay married? Why do you go to the church you attend, relate to others the way you do, do the ministry you do, act the way you do towards others? It’s easy to slide into passivity, to let circumstances and experiences define us, settling into a rut of routine. We will not live the adventure that is possible for those full of faith in God if we are living by default instead by intention! The Bible says, "Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." (Romans 12:2, The Message)
A marriage kept intact ‘for the kids’ cannot know the deepening intimacy of one nurtured by unselfish love.
A job done ‘just for the money,’ will not be done with the same quality as one done ‘as unto Christ.’ (Eph. 6.5)
A ministry done to gain recognition or for self-fulfillment will never have the same sweetness or pure results as one done for God’s glory alone!
As we ask ourselves ‘why’ we might conclude that the only answer is to abandon responsibility or to up end our lives with some radical choice for self-fulfillment. In truth, we have woven webs of obligation to family, church, community, and God that we must not break simply because we have become unhappy or dissatisfied. It is possible to redefine the ‘why’ of our present circumstances by bringing God into our situation and seeking His will. He makes ‘all things new.’ He can give us a new vision that changes us in place and allows us to begin to redefine the way we act. The so-called ‘geographical cure’ for life’s problems, that old lie that promises happiness if only we can find some new place, never works precisely because our greatest problem travels with us! That is ourselves. Without inner transformation, we almost always recreate the same problems that plagued us in the past even when we change spouses, jobs, or locations.
Change the storyline you’re telling yourself! Even a fable starts to sound true if it is told long enough. Ask the Lord to give you courage to face the truth, for the insight to know yourself, for the creativity to re-tell the story of your life in the way that honors His purposes.
"God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything,
more than just ready to do what needs to be done. …
This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you.
He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God,
wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God." (2 Corinthians 9:8-11, The Message)
On Monday, while my urologist was working on me doing the biopsy, I asked him why he chose his particular specialty. He laughed and said, “Because I like to sleep through the night and enjoy my weekends. There aren’t many urological emergencies!” Good answer and one that an obstetrician could not give! Both kinds of physicians offer needed care, but for very different reasons. Why do you do what you do? The short answer might be: to pay the bills, or it’s the first job I was offered, or I married into the company, or I couldn’t afford college and ended up doing this job. Others might remember a passion for children that led them to education, or a desire to make money that pulled them towards a career they saw as lucrative, a love of music that drew them to perform, or a calling from God that was irresistible.
With time’s passing, many might say, “I stopped asking why a long time ago! I just have to keep making the donuts now because the luxury of choice is in the past.” That’s what too many think. Obligations can cause us to lose sight of why we started out doing what we do. When that happens, a kind of desperation lurks that can drive a person to many a foolish decision! Think about ‘why’ beyond your job or career.
In all of life, it is important to stay aware of the ‘why’ that shapes the ‘what.’ Why did you get married? Why do you stay married? Why do you go to the church you attend, relate to others the way you do, do the ministry you do, act the way you do towards others? It’s easy to slide into passivity, to let circumstances and experiences define us, settling into a rut of routine. We will not live the adventure that is possible for those full of faith in God if we are living by default instead by intention! The Bible says, "Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." (Romans 12:2, The Message)
A marriage kept intact ‘for the kids’ cannot know the deepening intimacy of one nurtured by unselfish love.
A job done ‘just for the money,’ will not be done with the same quality as one done ‘as unto Christ.’ (Eph. 6.5)
A ministry done to gain recognition or for self-fulfillment will never have the same sweetness or pure results as one done for God’s glory alone!
As we ask ourselves ‘why’ we might conclude that the only answer is to abandon responsibility or to up end our lives with some radical choice for self-fulfillment. In truth, we have woven webs of obligation to family, church, community, and God that we must not break simply because we have become unhappy or dissatisfied. It is possible to redefine the ‘why’ of our present circumstances by bringing God into our situation and seeking His will. He makes ‘all things new.’ He can give us a new vision that changes us in place and allows us to begin to redefine the way we act. The so-called ‘geographical cure’ for life’s problems, that old lie that promises happiness if only we can find some new place, never works precisely because our greatest problem travels with us! That is ourselves. Without inner transformation, we almost always recreate the same problems that plagued us in the past even when we change spouses, jobs, or locations.
Change the storyline you’re telling yourself! Even a fable starts to sound true if it is told long enough. Ask the Lord to give you courage to face the truth, for the insight to know yourself, for the creativity to re-tell the story of your life in the way that honors His purposes.
"God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything,
more than just ready to do what needs to be done. …
This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you.
He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God,
wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God." (2 Corinthians 9:8-11, The Message)
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
So, you’re talking about me behind my back?
Good health, overall, has been one of God’s ways of blessing me. Mostly, I have avoided hospitals and physicians. The few times I had to deal with medical tests or pain were quickly forgotten. Several weeks ago, a routine screening brought new knowledge of my physical body’s weakness and mortality. Yesterday I went through a prostate biopsy, a procedure I tremendously dreaded! And now, I have to wait for the determination. Is it cancer or not? (Results will be given to me next Monday.) Anytime the possibility of cancer exists, we shudder, don’t we? No matter the statistics, the advances in treatments, and the assurances of medical personnel, that word is still ominous.
There is one thing that sustained me yesterday: prayer! Hundreds of people from California to Massachusetts talked about me behind my back - to the Lord. Notes that told me about it were amazingly comforting. This past Sunday, several church leaders gathered ‘round me, laying their hands on me in prayer and I wept; in part from love I felt, and in part because the safety of that moment allowed the very real fear I held inside to leak out! I have no idea how many people I have prayed for in my lifetime, but it has to be thousands! I can only hope that my prayers were as comforting to them as the prayers offered on my behalf are to me at this time.
Prayer is more than emotionally therapeutic. It is powerful!
The Bible tells us to "Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with." (James 5:16, The Message) I cannot explain all the reasons that an All-knowing, All-powerful Purposeful God wants us to pray, but He does. The Bible make that abundantly clear. Personal prayer involves listening that allows Him to direct us. That’s not all there is to prayer, however. There is a Biblically mandated prayer of petition that we cannot and must not ignore. "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7, NLT)
The Word urges us to ask boldly, ask faithfully, and trust Him radically. Know this! Faith is important, a God-focused faith. He doesn’t answer prayers just because we’re good enough, loud enough, eloquent, or even earnest. He hears our pleas when they are offered in the attitude like that of a child who asks favor from a loving father. No good Dad gives his son everything he asks for because his wisdom knows that not all things desires are the best. Our Father does what is best for us.
Disciple, we need to pray for one another – not just from a distance – but in person. This must be a regular practice that does not wait for a crisis time. Go ahead and talk about me behind my back, to God. You can even criticize me to Him! You can, and should, ask Him to change me, to correct me. I’ll do the same for you! And God will put it all in the right perspective and use our prayers to accomplish His will and purposes. When we pray for each other, we must go beyond – “Lord, bless Pete, Sally, and Sam.” Let’s get specific, praying for financial provision, for specific guidance, for restoration of love in marriages, and for all those things that real people experience. I asked people to pray specifically for me to have courage and peace as I went through yesterday’s procedure. I know their prayers were specifically answered! I did not feel stressed, had no adverse reactions. In fact, I fell asleep in the waiting room and my wife had to wake me up. Thanks be to Jesus for His wonderful peace.
Let me pray for you now borrowing Paul’s amazing prayer for the Ephesians, a prayer that is one of my favorite passages in the Word.
"When I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus
and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus,
I couldn’t stop thanking God for you—
every time I prayed, I’d think of you and give thanks.
But I do more than thank.
I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—
to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally,
your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do,
grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers,
oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!" (Ephesians 1:15-19, The Message)
To the praise and honor of our wonderful Lord. Amen!
_________________
I have a Savior,
He's pleading in glory,
A dear, loving Savior,
Though earth friends be few;
And now He is watching
In tenderness o'er me,
And oh, that my Savior
Were your Savior, too!
I have a Father:
To me He has given
A hope for eternity,
Blessed and true;
And soon will He call me
To meet Him in heaven,
But oh, that He'd let me
Bring you with me, too!
For you I am praying,
For you I am praying,
For you I am praying,
I'm praying for you.
I have a peace:
It is calm as a river,
A peace that the friends
Of this world never knew:
My Savior alone is
Its author and giver,
And, oh, could I know
It was given for you!
For you I am praying,
For you I am praying,
For you I am praying,
I'm praying for you.
I Am Praying For You
Cluff, Samuel O'Malley / Sankey, Ira D.
© Public Domain
There is one thing that sustained me yesterday: prayer! Hundreds of people from California to Massachusetts talked about me behind my back - to the Lord. Notes that told me about it were amazingly comforting. This past Sunday, several church leaders gathered ‘round me, laying their hands on me in prayer and I wept; in part from love I felt, and in part because the safety of that moment allowed the very real fear I held inside to leak out! I have no idea how many people I have prayed for in my lifetime, but it has to be thousands! I can only hope that my prayers were as comforting to them as the prayers offered on my behalf are to me at this time.
Prayer is more than emotionally therapeutic. It is powerful!
The Bible tells us to "Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with." (James 5:16, The Message) I cannot explain all the reasons that an All-knowing, All-powerful Purposeful God wants us to pray, but He does. The Bible make that abundantly clear. Personal prayer involves listening that allows Him to direct us. That’s not all there is to prayer, however. There is a Biblically mandated prayer of petition that we cannot and must not ignore. "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7, NLT)
The Word urges us to ask boldly, ask faithfully, and trust Him radically. Know this! Faith is important, a God-focused faith. He doesn’t answer prayers just because we’re good enough, loud enough, eloquent, or even earnest. He hears our pleas when they are offered in the attitude like that of a child who asks favor from a loving father. No good Dad gives his son everything he asks for because his wisdom knows that not all things desires are the best. Our Father does what is best for us.
Disciple, we need to pray for one another – not just from a distance – but in person. This must be a regular practice that does not wait for a crisis time. Go ahead and talk about me behind my back, to God. You can even criticize me to Him! You can, and should, ask Him to change me, to correct me. I’ll do the same for you! And God will put it all in the right perspective and use our prayers to accomplish His will and purposes. When we pray for each other, we must go beyond – “Lord, bless Pete, Sally, and Sam.” Let’s get specific, praying for financial provision, for specific guidance, for restoration of love in marriages, and for all those things that real people experience. I asked people to pray specifically for me to have courage and peace as I went through yesterday’s procedure. I know their prayers were specifically answered! I did not feel stressed, had no adverse reactions. In fact, I fell asleep in the waiting room and my wife had to wake me up. Thanks be to Jesus for His wonderful peace.
Let me pray for you now borrowing Paul’s amazing prayer for the Ephesians, a prayer that is one of my favorite passages in the Word.
"When I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus
and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus,
I couldn’t stop thanking God for you—
every time I prayed, I’d think of you and give thanks.
But I do more than thank.
I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—
to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally,
your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do,
grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers,
oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!" (Ephesians 1:15-19, The Message)
To the praise and honor of our wonderful Lord. Amen!
_________________
I have a Savior,
He's pleading in glory,
A dear, loving Savior,
Though earth friends be few;
And now He is watching
In tenderness o'er me,
And oh, that my Savior
Were your Savior, too!
I have a Father:
To me He has given
A hope for eternity,
Blessed and true;
And soon will He call me
To meet Him in heaven,
But oh, that He'd let me
Bring you with me, too!
For you I am praying,
For you I am praying,
For you I am praying,
I'm praying for you.
I have a peace:
It is calm as a river,
A peace that the friends
Of this world never knew:
My Savior alone is
Its author and giver,
And, oh, could I know
It was given for you!
For you I am praying,
For you I am praying,
For you I am praying,
I'm praying for you.
I Am Praying For You
Cluff, Samuel O'Malley / Sankey, Ira D.
© Public Domain
Monday, November 16, 2009
Real guts!
Men were standing around the room after an event, talking. A commotion caught my attention, just in time to see two grown men one near 40, the other 10 years younger, grab each other in what looked like a desperate confrontation! Seconds later they were on the floor. Grunting with exertion they rolled under a table, tipping it over as they wrestled. They mixed it up, testing each other’s strength for about a minute, then they got up, smoothed their clothes and shook hands. One had blood coming from his nose, the other from his lip. And, they were laughing! “A friendly fight” they called it! They weren’t angry, just men acting like boys. I’ve never been one of those men who liked to fight for the fun of it.
For me, a real demonstration of strength involves integrity, doing the right thing even when it’s hard, making the right choice when fatigued or pressed. I am not all that impressed with the displays of testosterone that are offered up as a show of courage!
Being a disciple of Jesus Christ demands real guts! The world around us, the sinful nature in us, and the devil who opposes God and good will ‘bring it on’ from time to time. Sometimes our Adversary shows up as that ‘roaring lion’ and plants himself in our path. “You’ll fail. You’re weak,” he roars. Sometimes we just start to look around at others and we feel the pressure to cave in, to adopt their way of life, to work for those things that would make us successful by societal measures. And, worst of all, are those temptations that arise from our inner thoughts, that find a root in our fears, that poke at our most vulnerable spots.
Joshua’s charge to ancient Israel is one we need to hear. “Be very strong; be careful to obey all … without turning aside to the right or to the left. … But you are to hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have until now.” Joshua 23:6 (NIV) To state the obvious- one does not need to be heavily muscled, male, young, or an athlete to take up that charge. We will need courage, however. What passes for Christianity is often an ‘all you need is love,’ emotion-centered experience. Jesus Christ is given a feminine likeness. We unconsciously start to think of Him rather like our grandma who cajoled us with sweet words. Truth is that He is Lord, strong and mighty, who says unapologetically, “Take up your cross and follow Me!” I hear those words not in the wheedling tones of a Mommy speaking to a toddler, but in the command voice of a man leading a squad of soldiers!
Here’s a word from the Word that challenges us to a robust faith, full of courage. Meditate on it. "Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. … Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 2:1,3, NIV) Do you see the Source of our true strength? It is not our personality, our education, our innate intelligence, or our muscle! We are made strong by an infusion of Divine Goodness bought for us and made available to us by Jesus. It’s time to say, “I can stand because He gives me real guts. I can face the Devil and move forward to defeat him. I can resist pressure to conform to the norms of my world because He leads me along a different path. I will be courageous enough even to deal with my own weakness with discipline!”
"So we can say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6, NLT)
_______________
For me, a real demonstration of strength involves integrity, doing the right thing even when it’s hard, making the right choice when fatigued or pressed. I am not all that impressed with the displays of testosterone that are offered up as a show of courage!
Being a disciple of Jesus Christ demands real guts! The world around us, the sinful nature in us, and the devil who opposes God and good will ‘bring it on’ from time to time. Sometimes our Adversary shows up as that ‘roaring lion’ and plants himself in our path. “You’ll fail. You’re weak,” he roars. Sometimes we just start to look around at others and we feel the pressure to cave in, to adopt their way of life, to work for those things that would make us successful by societal measures. And, worst of all, are those temptations that arise from our inner thoughts, that find a root in our fears, that poke at our most vulnerable spots.
Joshua’s charge to ancient Israel is one we need to hear. “Be very strong; be careful to obey all … without turning aside to the right or to the left. … But you are to hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have until now.” Joshua 23:6 (NIV) To state the obvious- one does not need to be heavily muscled, male, young, or an athlete to take up that charge. We will need courage, however. What passes for Christianity is often an ‘all you need is love,’ emotion-centered experience. Jesus Christ is given a feminine likeness. We unconsciously start to think of Him rather like our grandma who cajoled us with sweet words. Truth is that He is Lord, strong and mighty, who says unapologetically, “Take up your cross and follow Me!” I hear those words not in the wheedling tones of a Mommy speaking to a toddler, but in the command voice of a man leading a squad of soldiers!
Here’s a word from the Word that challenges us to a robust faith, full of courage. Meditate on it. "Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. … Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 2:1,3, NIV) Do you see the Source of our true strength? It is not our personality, our education, our innate intelligence, or our muscle! We are made strong by an infusion of Divine Goodness bought for us and made available to us by Jesus. It’s time to say, “I can stand because He gives me real guts. I can face the Devil and move forward to defeat him. I can resist pressure to conform to the norms of my world because He leads me along a different path. I will be courageous enough even to deal with my own weakness with discipline!”
"So we can say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6, NLT)
_______________
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