On the fence?

Do you live intentionally?  Let me ask it a little differently. Do you have a set of goals for your life, for this day? Does life ‘just happen’ to you or are you purposeful? Not for one moment would I tell you that you are the master of your universe, that you can control every circumstance of your life. The person who attempts that is destined for disappointment and in the process will be an incredible pain in the neck to everyone with whom they are connected. We used to call such people ‘control freaks.’  Controlling people seldom know what they are doing because they believe so strongly that the world would be better off if only people would do what they think best. There is, however, strength to be found in making ‘first’ choices that are developed around principles.

As Joshua, the leader of Israel, was nearing death, he called the nation’s leaders together and challenged them to intentional living!  He said “So honor the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. But if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:14-15, NLT)

Some people get so bewildered by the multiple choices in life that they get ‘stuck,’ unable or unwilling to move ahead. Yesterday when grocery shopping, I went to the aisle where I find my favorite hot sauce. (Cholula Chipotle)  The supermarket has literally dozens of options in that one section: different brands and flavors within those brands. My selection took just seconds because I knew what I wanted.  Another man stood looking at the display, picking up bottles, looking at labels. When I passed that aisle a few minutes later, he was still standing there looking at hot sauces, apparently confused by the array of choices that faced him. I hope he found one that he will enjoy.

We make the best choices when we know our God, when we have set our sights on loving and serving Him as a priority intention. That is why Joshua said to Israel - “Fear God. Worship him in total commitment. . . . If you decide that it’s a bad thing to worship God, then choose a god you’d rather serve—and do it today. . . . As for me and my family, we’ll worship God.”  He was not going to wait for the crisis moment to decide. God was Lord of yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Elijah, a few generations later, called the leaders of Israel together for a show-down and demanded a choice –  “How long are you going to waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” 1 Kings 18:21, NLT)

Jesus challenged 12 men to “Come, follow me!”  They had to leave behind their work, their families, their own interests. He asks the same of us. His words are simple and clear: “No one can serve two masters.”  If we answer His call with an unequivocal, "Yes!" we will find great freedom and new direction for life. The wondering and wandering will be over for us. Life will be purposeful. There will be moments of stress, times when we may wonder if we have taken the right way, but if we keep focused on Him, we will not fall or falter, for the choice is made.

Is your choice made, or are you still 'on the fence?'
Are you trying to protect all your options and as a consequence doing little or nothing for the Lord and His work?
Are you miserable because you are trying to keep one foot in the things of this world and the other in the Kingdom of God?

Choose!
If you are not ready to make Him Lord of all, then do not attempt to make Him Lord at all! He is a jealous God and will not allow you to share your affections with other gods.

For those who attempt a life on the fence, Christianity is deeply unsatisfying. Many want Him to be their Savior. They want the assurance that God is there for them, that Heaven's door will be open to them when the last act is played - but they want to hang onto their autonomy, to say and do what they want, without seeking or submitting to the Lord God. James says that people who live without intentionality become "unstable in all their ways." They cannot enjoy anything because they are trying to own everything. So, choose today! If God is really God, then serve Him. Consider these words of Jesus and I pray that they will compel you to choose Him as Lord of life.

The word from the Word invites us to get off the fence. Jesus spoke to a young man who was trying to have life both ways. "Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:61-62, NIV)  

Lord, I’m yours: all I am, all I’m not, all I hope to be. Amen.

 

(Video of this blog at this link)

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Be Thou My Vision

Be Thou my vision
O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me
Save that Thou art
Thou my best thought
By day or by night
Waking or sleeping
Thy presence my light

Be Thou my wisdom
Be Thou my true Word
I ever with Thee
And Thou with me Lord
Thou my great Father
I Thy true son
Thou in me dwelling
And I with Thee one

Riches I heed not
Nor man's empty praise
Thou mine inheritance
Now and always
Thou and Thou only
Be first in my heart
High King of heaven
My treasure Thou art

High King of heaven
When vict'ry is won
May I reach heaven's joys
O bright heaven's Sun
Heart of my own heart
Whatever befall
Still be my vision
O Ruler of all

 

Eleanor Henrietta Hull | Mary Elizabeth Byrne

© Words: Public Domain

 

You are with me

 

Faith Discovery Church, where I served for many years as pastor, meets in a large building. It has beautiful laminate wood trusses supporting a deck roof that reaches 40 feet at its peak. When the wind blows the building seems to come alive with sounds, creaks and groans. I have been in that sanctuary for thousands of hours and know every inch of it well. However, when I am in that large room at night and hear those sounds, see the shadows on the walls, I feel uneasy in the darkness. In the light of day in that very same sanctuary, I feel no fear whatever even on the stormiest day. What’s the difference? Light!

Sometimes we find ourselves walking in the dark, in spite of having a beautiful life, don’t we?

Confusion, uncertainty, multiple challenges that exhaust us, combine to hide the ‘light’ of our soul and in that moment we may feel fear creeping up on us.

Matthew tells us about Jesus telling His friend that He was about to go Jerusalem and there He would die!  Peter objected that such awful things could not be God’s will. Jesus severely reprimanded Peter: "Get behind me, Satan!"  He told him that he would deny knowing Him, to which Peter boldly replied: "Maybe those other guys, but NOT me!"   We know the story. 

In the dark, when fear took hold, Peter failed spectacularly, even openly denying his Lord, not once, but three times!  When Jesus was taken into custody for an illegal midnight trial. Filled with fear, his friends deserted Him scattering into the night. That week ended with His crucifixion. John tells us that the disciples hid behind locked doors, deeply shaken and fearful. And you think you've had a bad week?

Sometimes God's people walk through dark times! The Psalmist reminds us, however, that (23:4 NLT) "Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid..." Why? "...for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me." God’s promise is true. Even when we cannot see Him - He is with us. When we are walking through the dark rooms of death, disappointment, or even demonic attack He is with us. Why doesn’t He take us out of such situations? I don’t know! That’s the faith part of the equation. Years after his own fearful failure, a mature Peter urged Christians to be steady, even when they are walking in the dark.  He tells us "Don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—because these trials will make you partners with Christ in his suffering, and afterward you will have the wonderful joy of sharing his glory when it is displayed to all the world." 1 Peter 4:12-13 NLT

Are you in the dark today? In Acts 16, we read a story of faith in the darkness! After doing much good in the city of Philippi, Paul and Silas, were accused of disturbing the peace, beaten by the authorities, and chained to a wall in a filthy jail! Sounds like a good time to complain, doesn’t it? “What’s up with this, Lord? Here we are trying to do what you want us to do. And, then you let us end up here in the dark, hurting and bleeding.” That’s not what they did. They overcame the temptation to fear with a different choice.  "Along about midnight, Paul and Silas were at prayer and singing a robust hymn to God. The other prisoners couldn’t believe their ears." (Acts 16:25, The Message) You know the rest of the story… an earthquake shook open the doors; the jailer’s heart was opened by the sincere faith he saw in these two evangelists; and the Light broke through!

If the sun is shining brightly at this moment in your life, be thankful and strengthen your relationship with God, through faith and worship. And, if you are living in the dark so to speak, remember that He is not far away, though you may not see Him in the moment. Instead of running, kneel. Instead of wailing, sing about the faithfulness of God. Sing like Paul and Silas sang at midnight! (Acts 16)

The Light will shine on you again.

Here is a word from the Word.
"Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you." (Psalm 139:7-12, NIV)

(Video of this blog at this link)

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I Know Who Holds Tomorrow

I don't know about tomorrow
I just live from day to day
I don't borrow from its sunshine
For its skies may turn to gray
I don't worry o'er the future
For I know what Jesus said
And today I'll walk beside Him
For He knows what is ahead

Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand

Ev'ry step is getting brighter
As the golden stairs I climb
Ev'ry burden's getting lighter
Ev'ry cloud is silver-lined
There the sun is always shining
There no tear will dim the eye
At the ending of the rainbow
Where the mountains touch the sky

I don't know about tomorrow
It may bring me poverty
But the One who feeds the sparrow
Is the One who stands by me
And the path that is my portion
May be through the flame or flood
But His presence goes before me
And I'm covered with His blood

 

Ira Stanphill

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