The Debate

Yes, I watched the Debate to the end last night and at the close I felt only heart-ache. I’ll leave the analysis to others. Those who are committed to one candidate or the other will reach their own conclusions.  The exchanges of words, to me, were mostly campaign rhetoric. A true understanding of the needs of the nation seemed largely absent, God invisible in the words and ideas expressed on that stage. Because of that,  sleep came slowly as I prayed for my country, wondering what kind of nation she will be become in another decade.

America is in a moral crisis the likes of which I have not known in my lifetime. I know that politicians are not preachers, but both ignored the root cause of the issue of our era - the spiritual bankruptcy of the nation.

Millions of us have empty hearts and exist without an anchor outside of ourselves. Indeed, the religion of America is too often the worship of the Self, the highest purpose of millions only to create a  life of self-fulfillment, to avoid both pain and sacrifice. Increasingly we live without a significant reference to God or eternity, ignoring the hunger of the soul.  So many who claim to be Christian chase the same mirage with only a veneer of religion that is described by St. Paul this way - "They will act as if they are religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly." (2 Timothy 3:5, NLT)

It is too superficial to simply say - “Jesus is the answer” though true. He is the One who heals us inside out, who bridges the yawning gap between our Father Creator and us. But, the ‘abundant life’ that He offers is much more than enough money, more food, and a great job!  He restores us to our place in the family of God, teaches us to live nobly with purpose, shows us what authentic love is, and leads us home to Heaven where there is a rich reward waiting. 

Tragically many see the failures of church and spiritual leaders and confuse that with a failure of the Gospel.  I believe whole-heartedly that the truth is that  “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.” (G.K. Chesterton)

In my 7 decades of life, He has proven Himself gracious and faithful too many times to count.
I have known failure and found Him the One who forgives and leads to life. 
Disappointments, both of my own making and of life in general, have overtaken me many times - when dreams crashed on the shoals of reality- and He has sustained me and renewed my hope!  
Death has brought grief, as it does for all, but He has been the Light of Life, the Way through the grave. 
In Him I have peace - with God, my world, and myself. 
Because of His grace and mercy I am made more than I could ever be in my own pursuit of human potential.

The gift of Christ’s good news about us is not just for a certain class of people or for one race or for one nation. He is the Savior of the world, the Hope of the ages, the Lord of man and woman, of black and white, of rich and poor, of East and West.  

 Here is how John speaks of Him. "So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father. John pointed him out to the people. He shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before I did.’ ” We have all benefited from the rich blessings he brought to us—one gracious blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ." (John 1:14-17, NLT)

You need not be a preacher or a theologian to know Him. You need not have a stellar moral record or a life of high achievement to experience His love. He comes to those who turn to Him in faith and leads to new life; indeed He describes it as being ‘born again!’   I hope you know this - America’s future will not be secured by Washington, DC, the election of either party, or continuing economic prosperity.  

 That is why I pray so earnestly as He taught - “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10, NIV) Of course, I pray for this nation, thankful to be an American, often wondering ‘why me?’  that I should enjoy such a privileged life among the billions of people on this planet.

Ah, my friend, avoid making Jesus a Therapist or confusing real Christianity with a system of ethics. He is greater - God with us. His Way is the Way to life now and eternal. Trust Him to save and let Him be Lord.

As you reflect on the debate, let these words of warning and encouragement shape your thoughts. The word from the Word -  "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm." (Psalm 20:7-8, NIV)  "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD." (Isaiah 31:1, NIV)

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(Video of this blog at this link)

 

Be Thou my Vision

Be Thou my Vision,
O Lord of my heart;
Nought 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,
And 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,
First in my heart,
High King of heaven,
My Treasure Thou art.

High King of heaven,
My victory 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.

Be Thou My Vision

Hull, Eleanor / Byrne, Mary E.
© Public Domain

When you cannot see the way

A long time ago, while working on my pilot’s license, I had to endure time ‘under the hood.’  My instructor would hand me a strange looking device that fit me like a cap with an extended tube on the front. This weird thing only allowed me to see the airplane’s instrument panel. He assured me you can  “fly this plane as long as the fuel lasts with those instruments.”   There was a purpose in the exercise, preparing me for a time when clouds would prevent me from seeing the horizon, when ‘up’ and ‘down’ would not be discerned with my natural senses. 

I learned a pattern of scanning those indicators so that I would maintain speed, keep the wings level, and control the plane’s rates of climb or descent- all without reference to anything other than the instruments. While under the hood, we would practice- “Jerry, let’s make a turn to heading 270 while descending to 3000 feet.”  What would have been so easy if I could see the horizon was more difficult for me, but quite possible using only the indicators that showed me the attitude of my airplane!

Seasons in life come that rob us of our natural reference points that keep us balanced and on course, don’t they?  We can become very sick and completely lose perspective. We can get bone-tired and our will fails.  So many things can fall over us - discouragement, criticism, conflict, doubt, fear – a bank of fog that steals our sight. Like an untrained pilot losing control of his plane in a fog, we can lose our sense of purpose and/or direction, in grave peril of crashing. We need not spin into patterns of self-destruction when the way ahead is lost in confusion, IF we know how to trust  the guidance system God provides to us.   God invites us to lean on the Spirit - to trust His ways even when they are not our ways.  

 From experience I can tell you that while flying that airplane without seeing the horizon, there were times my senses lied to me, telling me that up was down, that I was flying straight and level when I truly was not. I had to override me natural senses to trust the instruments.  The Word tells us that we thrive when we “keep step with the Spirit!”  We cannot just trust our ‘gut,’ live by  emotions, or go on instinct.

My friend that is why daily disciplines of prayer, meditation, Scripture intake, and worship are critical. They prepare us for the inevitable stormy moments when vision is obscured, when we cannot see ahead!  "Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the sheep under his care. Oh, that you would listen to his voice today!" (Psalm 95:6-7, NLT)    

Jesus invites us to come, follow. He says "My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. So no one can take them from me." (John 10:27-29, NLT)  IF we follow His lead, we need not worry about straying from the Way.

By contrast, consider this from the Word. “Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God." (Habakkuk 2:4, NLT)

From time to time, God will invite us to learn to fly ‘under the hood.’  Those moments are teachable ones, preparing us for what may come.  Learn,  listen, follow!  And if you are in the fog, remember these words from the book of Hebrews - "Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. “For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay. And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.” But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved." (Hebrews 10:36-39, NLT)

Steady on, disciple!  The word from the Word is simple and brief - "For we walk by faith, not by sight." (2 Corinthians 5:7, NKJV)  Amen.

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(Video of this blog at this link)

 

Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah

 

Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,

Pilgrim through this barren land.

I am weak but Thou art mighty,

Hold me with Thy pow'rful hand.

Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven,

Feed me now and ever more,

Feed me now and ever more.

 

Open Thou the crystal fountain

Whence the healing stream doth flow.

Let the fiery cloudy pillar,

Lead me all my journey through!

Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,

Be Thou still my strength and shield,

Be Thou still my strength and shield.

 

John Hughes | Peter Williams | William Williams

© Words: Public Domain

Adulting!

I’m sure you have heard the word recently added to our vocabulary.  Younger people speak of "adulting" when they describe ordinary tasks of modern adulthood- maintaining a vehicle, preparing meals, paying bills, keeping house, or doing laundry.  Many were unprepared because their parents took care of those tasks all through their teens, even into their early 20’s.  The lure of childish irresponsiblity lurks just below the surface in most of us, doesn’t it? 

“It’s hot, forget mowing the lawn. Who cares?”   
“If I make that payment that is due, I can’t go out for dinner tonight. Forget it.”
“The indicator on the dash has notified me of an overdue oil change for a month, but who has time? Let it go to tomorrow.”
“Be a kid, live free.”

That might be a nice idea, but those who forget to ‘adult’ generally find their lives a real mess of piled up problems!  Unmaintained engines fail, costing thousands of dollars. Interest grows like a mushroom on ballooning credit card debt. A few weeds turns the front yard into a hayfield! A body fed too much junk goes soft and the seeds of health problems in mid-life are sown. A marriage neglected finally collapses under the weight of a hundred disappointments.

“Adulting” spiritually is much like the ordinary idea of the word. So many people want to know the joy of Christ and the promise of eternal life, but without the daily investment in spiritual nurture, without making service and worship a consistent priority choice.

An author whose writing is so formative in my life is Dallas Willard. He writes of the immaturity that is an epidemic in the American church. He points to the avoidance of hard things, of difficult choices, of self-denial as the root cause.  “It’s essential… that we accept the trials of ordinary existence as the place where we experience and find the reign of God-with-us as actual reality. We’re not to try to get in a position to avoid trials. And we’re not to catastrophize and declare the end of the world when things happen.”

One of the prime indicators of maturity, both in this life and in the life of the Spirit, is the ability to be steady, to get up after we are knocked down and move on, to take on life with purpose and hope, God helping us!

Paul wrote to Timothy urging him to ‘adult.’  The words are true for us, as well.  I’m quoting from a contemporary paraphrase of the Bible, called The Message.  "You’re going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food—catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They’ll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. But you—keep your eye on what you’re doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God’s servant." (2 Timothy 4:3-5)

Let’s not make the mistake of chasing suffering for it’s own sake. We need not be like the medieval monks who lived on hard, cold stone slabs, who wore flea-infested clothing, who deprived themselves of creature comforts in vain attempts to ‘suffer with Christ.’  That kind of misery, as a means of spiritual growth, is a twisted expression of Self. The focus is not on Jesus, but on us!

However, WHEN we put Christ first in our choices, inviting Him to be Lord of life, we will find ourselves wrestling with the choice of the ‘narrow Way’ to which Jesus calls. That ‘suffering’ that results from intentionally saying “yes, Lord” and “no, Me” allows us to experience the joy of the Spirit as we grow in grace!

Strangely enough, sometimes spiritual maturity begins to take shape in our worst failures, when we truly begin to grasp our spiritual bankruptcy and embrace the grace of God in sheer desperation!

David knew the Lord God all of his life and wrote beautiful songs (Psalms) about Him. But, only after he had disgraced himself and failed God in the most miserable ways, did he discover something of the mercy and grace of the Lord. Only a man who truly understood his own depravity could write the song of Psalm 51. There we hear a man confess his brokenness and express his realization of the steadfast love of the Lord. He came to see that all his own religiosity and sacrifices were no substitute for a life of worship. "You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." (Psalm 51:16-17, NIV)

Do you want to know the real Jesus and grow up spiritually?  Too many churches in America won’t be of much assistance in your quest. They’re too focused on keeping things light and happy, on helping people find the path to the American dream, and providing psychological explanations in place of spiritual transformation! The core issues of sin and salvation, the centerpiece of grace - the Cross – while talked about are often not spoken about at much length. Confession is seldom mentioned.  Silence is unknown, replaced by endless happy songs that stir the emotions.  More likely you will find Jesus in the cancer wing of the hospital, in the place of forgotten service, or in the heart of the one who has struggled to trust Him through huge disappointment, in the person who has been rejected, or in that one who has learned to walk faithfully with Him in obscure places.

Let’s grow up. The paradox of ‘adulting’ is that when a person consistently lives responsibly and maturely, they find greater peace, stability, and rewards in life they could not have imagined existed in the daily decisions.

Meditate on this word from the Word. May it bring real change, deep commitment into being in us. "So let us stop going over the basics of Christianity again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start all over again with the importance of turning away from evil deeds and placing our faith in God." (Hebrews 6:1, NLT) "No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it is painful! But afterward there will be a quiet harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way." (Hebrews 12:11, NLT)

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(Video of this blog at this link)

True-hearted whole-hearted

True-hearted whole-hearted faithful and loyal
King of our lives by Your grace we'll stay true
Under Your standard exalted and royal
Strong in Your strength we will battle for You

Peal out the watchword and silence it never
Song of our spirits rejoicing and free
True-hearted whole-hearted now and for ever
King of our lives by Your grace we will be

True-hearted whole-hearted fullest allegiance
Yielding each day to our glorious King
Valiant endeavour and loving obedience
Freely and joyously now would we bring

True-hearted Saviour You know all our story
Weak are the hearts that we lay at Your feet
Sinful and treacherous yet for Your glory
Heal them and cleanse them from sin and deceit

True-hearted whole-hearted Saviour all glorious
Take Your great power and You reign alone
Over our wills and affections victorious
Freely surrendered and wholly Your own

Frances Ridley Havergal

Our Father

There’s no title I love more than being called “Dad.”  The joy of being my kid’s father is unique among those things in which I find happiness. I celebrate their successes, pray for them, and sometimes worry over them because they are my children, though they have not actually been ‘children’ for decades.  A father’s responsibilities includes making provision for his family and giving protection to those in his care. These roles  are not exclusive to men or fathers, but they are primary. 

When I was a child, I rested unconsciously in the security of my Dad’s care for us. I was never anxious about the next meal, nor did I fear the external threats of danger. Why? Because I had a Dad, who was, at that stage in my life, a superhero. With maturity I realized he was a mere mortal, but I still sought his counsel.  His values shaped me, even in ways that I did not consciously choose, in large part making me who I am today.  His God became my God. His love for others formed real compassion in me. His sense of responsibility for his family and his world grew in me as I became a man, a husband, and a father.

I believe that the ongoing celebration of “Father’s Day” is evidence of the persistent desire in all of us for the love of a father.  In a culture that is confused about familial roles and relationships, a real hunger for fathering remains.  Where fathers are absent because of death, abandonment, or abuse - we often observe very real results - emotional starvation, lack of direction, insecurity, and frustration over the future.  Though there are certainly exceptions, one of the prime predictors of a healthy transition into adulthood is the presence of an engaged father in the family.

The Scripture reveals God as Father.

Jesus spoke of God as His Father and ours, too.  He taught us to pray, not to the nameless universe, nor to some impersonal force, but to “Our Father, Who is in Heaven!”

The Psalmist celebrates the Father’s care. "Father to the fatherless, defender of widows— this is God, whose dwelling is holy." (Psalm 68:5, NLT)

On this Monday morning, let God be your Father!  By faith receive the offer of God’s gift, given in Christ Jesus, that restores you to your place as a child of the Heavenly Father. The Word tells us that "you should not be like cowering, fearful slaves. You should behave instead like God’s very own children, adopted into his family—calling him “Father, dear Father.”" (Romans 8:14-15, NLT)  Other translations include the original text - “Abba” which indicates the intimate, loving relationship - like a child who addresses his father as “Daddy.” 

We are reminded that our Father is not like a sentimental old Grandpa who finds it hard to see his grandchildren shaped by their parent’s discipline. He loves us enough to let us go through situations that form character, that make us whole and holy. "My child, don’t ignore it when the Lord disciplines you, and don’t be discouraged when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes those he accepts as his children.” As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Whoever heard of a child who was never disciplined? If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children after all. Since we respect our earthly fathers who disciplined us, should we not all the more cheerfully submit to the discipline of our heavenly Father and live forever?" (Hebrews 12:5-9, NLT)

Unlike we who are Dads here, He never gets it wrong, never ‘disciplines’ us just because He’s had a bad day.  He acts always in love, for our very best.  Trust your Father!

His love is boundless, dear friend. Luke 15 tells my favorite story - the one of a lost and wayward son who finally returns home. Though he plans to negotiate a place only as a hired hand so he can eat, his estranged father will have none of that.  "While he was still a long distance away, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’ “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger, and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening in the pen. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ “ (Luke 15:20-24, NLT)  Yes, this is for you and for me - an invitation to come home to Our Father in Heaven, who waits with open arms!

Take this word from the Word with you today. Reflect on it, letting the promise wrap you in the love He gives to us. "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." (1 John 3:1-2, NIV)

Pray with me as I end this reflection -

“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’" (Matthew 6:9-13, NIV)

AMEN!

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(Video of this blog at this link)

  Good, Good Father
 (listen, learn, and worship at this link)

I've heard a thousand stories
Of what they think You’re like
But I've heard the tender whisper
Of love in the dead of night
You tell me that You’re pleased
And that I'm never alone

You're a Good Good Father
It's who You are
It's who You are
It's who You are
And I'm loved by You
It's who I am
It's who I am
It's who I am

I've seen many searching for answers
Far and wide
But I know we're all searching for answers
Only You provide
Because You know just what we need
Before we say a word
You are perfect in all of Your ways
You are perfect in all of Your ways
You are perfect in all of Your ways to us

Love so undeniable I can hardly speak
Peace so unexplainable I can hardly think
As You call me deeper still
As You call me deeper still
As You call me deeper still
Into love love love
You're a Good Good Father
It's who You are
It's who You are
It's who You are
And I'm loved by You
It's who I am
It's who I am
It's who I am

Anthony Brown | Pat Barrett © 2014 Capitol CMG Paragon (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Common Hymnal Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
CCLI License # 810055

Our Assurance

Yesterday, after a couple of difficult calls,  I went to bed with heart-ache, not from my own troubles, for I am amazingly blessed, but weighed down by the suffering, trials, and distress that people are going through right now. A friend is struggling with his recent divorce. Another is caught up in the web of addiction, despairing of the future. Some are broken by death’s visit to their family, trying to survive the grief.  A few are making on-going choices that I know are dragging them away from their Heavenly Father.  Then, too, there is this world’s suffering, children dying in war, famine and poverty the plight of millions. As I went to prayer, there was a deep sigh and I found myself confessing that I could not meet any of those needs on my own. Even my prayers seemed weak and ineffective. 

Then, I remembered this passage that brought blessed assurance - "But if we look forward to something we don’t have yet, we must wait patiently and confidently. And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don’t even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." (Romans 8:25-28, NLT)   With this promise I committed my friends and family members, name after name, to the One who works in ways beyond my comprehension, Who is active and present.  The ache lessened and I was able to rest.  

Do I have a responsibility to be faithful in prayer?
Absolutely. 
May God ask me to become part of His answer to prayer? 
Yes, He may, and that may cost me. 

But, the core truth is that He is faithful and always at work to restore and redeem those who turn to Him.

Compassion is costly! What a  joy, however, to know that you and I can be partners with the Eternal God in accomplishing His purposes!  Yes, it is a mystery of faith that the all-knowing, all-powerful God asks us to pray, but He does, so we must, but not with desperation. Instead, we come confidently, to speak His word, to seek His will, and to make the invisible Kingdom visible in our words and actions.

Jesus reminded us of our Counselor, a comfort, a guide, the One who would be present with us in this life.  His words are familiar yet worthy of our reflection yet again. " I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. … The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:16-18, 26-27, NIV)

Are you feeling the weight of the world?  Lean on the Spirit.

Are you struggling to know how to pray for another?  Trust the Spirit.

Does the temptation to just ‘give up’ stalk you?  Recommit yourself to the Spirit.

There is assurance that He will do what we cannot even imagine. When we cannot see the way ahead, He knows and will guide IF we will quietly trust Him, even praying for the faith we need! 

Think on this, letting the promise renew your faith, then go today and live, pray, and serve fearlessly!  Here is the word from the Word. " Therefore, brothers (and sisters), since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus … do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. … So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can (people) do to me?” (Hebrews 10:19, 25: 13:6, NIV)

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(Video of this blog at this link)

 

Trust In God

Blessed assurance

Jesus is mine

He's been my fourth man in the fire

Time after time

Born of His Spirit

Washed in His blood

And what He did for me on Calvary

Is more than enough

 

I trust in God

My Savior

The One who will never fail

He will never fail

 

Perfect submission

All is at rest

I know the author of tomorrow

Has ordered my steps

So this is my story

And this is my song

I’m praising my risen King and Savior

All the day long

 

I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered

I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered

I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered

That’s why I trust Him

That’s why (I trust Him)

 

Brandon Lake, Chris Brown, Mitch Wong, Steven Furtick

© Brandon Lake Music; Music by Elevation Worship Publishing; A Wong Made Write Publishing; Integrity's Praise! Music

CCLI License #810055

Entitled or Thankful? You Choose!

It’s been a long time since I parented teens but I still remember trying to teach them to value what they were given, to show gratitude to the people with whom they ‘did life!’  It is quite common for those for whom everything has been provided throughout childhood to slip into the idea that that food falls from the sky and that laundry magically makes it way from hamper to washer and back to dresser drawer.   

We can each develop a sense of entitlement, beginning to believe that we “deserve” privileges and/or recognition for things that we did not earn, that we are owed a the life others enjoy without applying ourselves with effort. People who feel entitled are often miserable - inwardly and among their friends and family members. They do not know the joy of true accomplishment. They are seldom satisfied and want ‘more,’ even to the point of demanding to be served.

Here's a key question for us as Christians. Are we approaching God like spoiled teenagers, quick to complain about what we perceive as lack and failing to express genuine gratitude?

One day ten men in a desperate situation approached Jesus. They were ‘lepers,’ meaning they had some skin disease that required them to live completely isolated from the community and family. It was a kind of living death!  They had heard about Jesus’ healing work and when he came by where they lived, they yelled “Have mercy on us!”  He directed them to an act of faith. “Go show yourself to the priest.”  If a person’s skin issue cleared up, the priest could certify that and allow them to return to society. They had to act to receive what He offered!

Let’s pick up Luke’s storyline: "And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?" (Luke 17:14-17, NIV)  God met their faith and obedience with healing, which was, as you can imagine, a really big deal!  They could go home, resume life, reconnect with family.  But, this fact stuns me …  just one of the ten saw fit to go back and express his gratitude. Luke includes the detail that he was another kind of social outcast, a Samaritan; not a ‘true child of God’ in the opinion of the majority of people at that time.

Have you ‘returned’ to give thanks?  Did you start your day with gratitude for your salvation, for God’s love, that you are included in His family? OR, do you simply take such things for granted?

The foundation of true worship is praise, genuine appreciation of God in all of His mystery, wonder, and majesty. The Psalm says -

“Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations." (Psalm 100:1-5, NIV)

In your prayers, occasionally do not ask for anything, but rather thank God … for people, for past joys, for mercy, for grace. Find a Psalm and read it as your prayer. Sing along with your favorite worship song. Overflow with thankgiving.  Something wonderful may happen. Faith will grows that allows you to present Him your needs and concerns without a demanding sense of entitlement!

Luke tells us that the Samaritan who returned to give thanks was effusive - ‘praising God in a loud voice.’  He was yelling, pointing at his new skin, jumping up and down, and crying. He didn’t kneel reverently when he found Jesus. He threw himself at His feet in an expression of complete humility, realizing he deserved nothing and received everything.  I hope my gratitude to God runs that deep, stirs me to a similar joy.  How about you?

Here’s a word from the Word, an ancient song sung by those who recalled the Lord’s mercies in restoring His people to their land and faith after a long time in captivity. Make it your song today.

"When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream!
We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy.
And the other nations said, “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.”
Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy!

Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert.

Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy.
They weep as they go to plant their seed,
but they sing as they return with the harvest." (Psalm 126, NLT)

Don’t be one of the 9 who forgot to give thanks!
Be the 1 who worshipped!

____________

(Video of this blog at this link)

Goodness Of God

 

I love You Lord

Oh Your mercy never fails me

All my days

I've been held in Your hands

From the moment that I wake up

Until I lay my head

I will sing of the goodness of God

 

All my life You have been faithful

All my life You have been so so good

With every breath that I am able

I will sing of the goodness of God

 

I love Your voice

You have led me through the fire

In darkest night

You are close like no other

I've known You as a father

I've known You as a friend

I have lived in the goodness of God

 

Your goodness is running after

It’s running after me

Your goodness is running after

It’s running after me

With my life laid down

I’m surrendered now

I give You everything

Your goodness is running after

It's running after me

 

Ben Fielding, Brian Johnson, Ed Cash, Jason Ingram, Jenn Johnson

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