As we look upon the beginning of yet another year… another decade even… I wonder what it would be like if we decided to live responsively instead of reactionary.
2019 was a hard year for a lot of people.
I was struck by the thought the other day of how many individuals I’ve heard express their discontent with this past year, and I have read plenty of posts on social media from people who have wrestled through severe conflict, devastating losses, and significant hardships.
And the truth really is that all of it seems to be so contrary and in direct opposition to the nature and character of Jesus.
Because He only did what He saw the Father doing. He only said what He heard the Father saying.
I have been on a journey of sorts to unpacking the revolutionary nature of Jesus. And I cannot find anything in His life that bears witness to compromised character that lives subserviently. I cannot find where He gave in to a reactionary attitude toward the evil sought to destroy Him.
And you and I have no business adopting character traits that cannot be found in the life of Christ.
There will always be circumstances that threaten to consume us… situations that aim at our utter destruction…conditions that leave us feeling crippled and defeated.
But the Christian life requires a different way of seeing.
It demands a better way of living.
And in the coming year, we have a choice between living reactionary to every strike of the enemies sword, or to live in response to the nature and the character of Jesus Christ.
Living responsively is to know who He is and to purposefully resolve to a healthier way of living that promotes enough spiritual strength to withstand any storm proposed by the devourer.
It’s a battlefield that we are stepping out onto, and our weapon that guarantees us ultimate victory is refusing to be a slave to our emotions that aid in our destruction, and feelings that lie to us by causing us to experience unnecessary pain.
We must RISE ABOVE circumstances, living in response to who He is, not in reaction to how we feel.
He is good. All the time.
HE is good.
He is GOOD.
ALL the time!
ALL THE TIME.
It is absolutely inconsistent for us to live contrary to the nature of the One who died for us. To say we believe in the price He paid for us, and then deny it’s effect on our being by the life we choose to live, is abuse of our salvation.
Our privilege, as believers of the Gospel, and as sons and daughters of the Most High, is to actively demonstrate to a world of onlookers, what Jesus is really like!
And the greatest gift we can give ourselves as we head into the new year is to decide in advance to live in direct response to the nature and character of Jesus. To remember who He is and what He has done. And to keep it before us every day of our lives so that we don’t fall victim to destructive thought patterns that leave us weak and unproductive.
2020… let’s do this.
Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Monday, December 30, 2019
Bless The Lord O My Soul!
I remember studying Psalm 103 many years ago. I put many of the verses from this chapter to memory and since then I have returned to this portion of scripture often for encouragement.
David had a secret.
He had THE secret.
And we unpack this secret here within the first 2 verses of the chapter.
Verses 1-2 say this, “Bless the Lord O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.”
David is speaking to His soul here and He is commanding his emotions and his mind and his will to come into alignment with who God is. While he had plenty of reasons to feel defeat and depression over circumstances out of his human control, we see him denying the depravity a place of influence in his life. We see his great resolve here: BLESS the Lord, soul! BLESS Him with ALL you have, soul, including mind, body, and spirit! BLESS the Lord, soul, and don’t you dare forget all He has done for you!
You and I have the beautiful honor and privilege of managing our emotions this way too, and insisting upon a better way of living - for ourselves and for those around us! By simply commanding our soul to behave differently, to think differently, and to respond with action differently.
We also see David making a commitment to remember all that God has done for Him. We've got to do the same. One of the surest ways to slip into sin and bitterness is to forget all that He has done for us... all that He has brought us through... the price He paid!
Verse 3-5 begins to list out the absolutes about God. I heard one pastor once call these verses the "All Benefits", as they are absolute truths about the Lord and include the word ALL when referencing them.
These benefits… the ones we get from blessing His name… include:
He forgives
He heals
He redeems
He crowns
He satisfies
These are the things Jesus paid for on the cross. These are the things promised to those who live for Him - fully and completely. And by us living in response to these truths… these absolutes… Jesus gets what He paid for!
You and I cannot afford to forget who He is. We must remind ourselves as often as we can!
Maybe it’s time to begin directing our soul into a lifestyle of worship that leads us directly to the Father’s heart.
David had a secret.
He had THE secret.
And we unpack this secret here within the first 2 verses of the chapter.
Verses 1-2 say this, “Bless the Lord O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.”
David is speaking to His soul here and He is commanding his emotions and his mind and his will to come into alignment with who God is. While he had plenty of reasons to feel defeat and depression over circumstances out of his human control, we see him denying the depravity a place of influence in his life. We see his great resolve here: BLESS the Lord, soul! BLESS Him with ALL you have, soul, including mind, body, and spirit! BLESS the Lord, soul, and don’t you dare forget all He has done for you!
You and I have the beautiful honor and privilege of managing our emotions this way too, and insisting upon a better way of living - for ourselves and for those around us! By simply commanding our soul to behave differently, to think differently, and to respond with action differently.
We also see David making a commitment to remember all that God has done for Him. We've got to do the same. One of the surest ways to slip into sin and bitterness is to forget all that He has done for us... all that He has brought us through... the price He paid!
Verse 3-5 begins to list out the absolutes about God. I heard one pastor once call these verses the "All Benefits", as they are absolute truths about the Lord and include the word ALL when referencing them.
These benefits… the ones we get from blessing His name… include:
He forgives
He heals
He redeems
He crowns
He satisfies
These are the things Jesus paid for on the cross. These are the things promised to those who live for Him - fully and completely. And by us living in response to these truths… these absolutes… Jesus gets what He paid for!
You and I cannot afford to forget who He is. We must remind ourselves as often as we can!
Maybe it’s time to begin directing our soul into a lifestyle of worship that leads us directly to the Father’s heart.
Sunday, December 29, 2019
He Is Conditioning Me
I had this thought the other day as I was talking with a friend about all I have seen God do in and through me this last year.
And I realize that for many, 2019 has been a challenging year. In fact, very sadly I read someone's post on FB the other day that read, "So ready for this awful year to be over."
And I get it.
I feel as though my 2018 was like that.
I wasn't really "sad" to see it end.
But as believers in Jesus - the One raised to life on our behalf - we have to see with different eyes! And if we can't, we must learn how to ask Him for a better perspective.
This word popped in my head as I was chatting with my friend who was sweetly and sincerely asking me what I feel God has been doing in this season of my life and the word was "conditioning."
I feel as though He is conditioning me for the next season. Preparing me for all He has for me.
Take a look at the word conditioning. By definition it means this = "to heighten or improve the flavor of, to give certain character to, to mature/toughen."
Yes, and maybe you feel a little like me in that God has been "conditioning" you for a long time. Maybe you find yourself saying, "I'm ready now! Come on with it already!"
But the fact truly is that His timing is perfect. He is never late. Hab 2:3, in part, says this, "If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed."
And so the position we must maintain is readiness. Eagerness. Willingness. Confidence.
You and I are being conditioned for all He has for us. He is heightening us, improving the flavor of us, giving us certain characters needed for our next season, maturing us, toughening us.
Your season of preparation might seem long and grueling and even burdensome, but hold tight to the promise that what He has begun, He will see to completion!! (Phil 1:6)
It's like I said to a good friend on Friday.. "He is a good Father... He doesn't know how to be anything else."
Are you allowing God to condition you for 2020? It's worth taking the time to really contemplate.
Saturday, December 28, 2019
Shine Upon Me, God!
Psalm 31:16 says this, “Let Your favor shine on Your servant. In Your unfailing love, rescue me.” (NLT). The Passion Translation says it like this, “Smile on me, Your servant. Let Your undying love and glorious grace save me from all my gloom.”
David knew something about suffering. His hardship included physical pain and mental illness. They were severe in nature, and they were very injurious to his health.
And the Lord in His kindness, allowed David to feel the weight of his own depravity that aroused from a consciousness of sin guilt. He allowed him to experience a measure of discomfort from his own poor choices and from the mistreatment of other people.
However, we can live impressed by one major theme in the life of David and that was his confidence in God.
David knew that acceptance, favor, protection, and salvation resides in the face of our Lord.
Three times in Psalm 80 we see this one request, “Turn us again to Yourself, O God. Make Your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved.” (verses 3, 7, and 19)
Three times they begged Him to turn them toward Him and to show them His radiant beauty that was, alone, their saving grace.
Take a look at verse 2. There are three names mentioned here: Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh. These were three individuals who served just behind the Ark of Glory being transferred from one place to another (Ark of the Glory was where God’s presence rested). They became known as the representatives of everyone who followed after the glory of the Lord… the first ones to have His glory shine down… the chosen ones who benefited the greatest from His brilliant light.
And everything changes when we see the meanings of each of these appointed vessels:
Ephraim means, “doubly fruitful.”
Benjamin means, “son of my right hand.”
Manasseh means, “you made me forget.”
So then could it be that it is the ones who follow closely after The Glory are the ones who will be doubly fruitful, sons of God’s right hand, and who forget their previous life and prior ways into a fully surrendered life?
Ahh… yes.
I become fruitful when I seek the Face of God.
In the Face I am accepted, favored, protected, and rescued.
And so stepping into the new year we can choose to position ourselves directly behind the Ark of Glory and step into the fruitful life of intimacy He desires for us.
Oh friends… He’s such a good, good Father!
David knew something about suffering. His hardship included physical pain and mental illness. They were severe in nature, and they were very injurious to his health.
And the Lord in His kindness, allowed David to feel the weight of his own depravity that aroused from a consciousness of sin guilt. He allowed him to experience a measure of discomfort from his own poor choices and from the mistreatment of other people.
However, we can live impressed by one major theme in the life of David and that was his confidence in God.
David knew that acceptance, favor, protection, and salvation resides in the face of our Lord.
Three times in Psalm 80 we see this one request, “Turn us again to Yourself, O God. Make Your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved.” (verses 3, 7, and 19)
Three times they begged Him to turn them toward Him and to show them His radiant beauty that was, alone, their saving grace.
Take a look at verse 2. There are three names mentioned here: Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh. These were three individuals who served just behind the Ark of Glory being transferred from one place to another (Ark of the Glory was where God’s presence rested). They became known as the representatives of everyone who followed after the glory of the Lord… the first ones to have His glory shine down… the chosen ones who benefited the greatest from His brilliant light.
And everything changes when we see the meanings of each of these appointed vessels:
Ephraim means, “doubly fruitful.”
Benjamin means, “son of my right hand.”
Manasseh means, “you made me forget.”
So then could it be that it is the ones who follow closely after The Glory are the ones who will be doubly fruitful, sons of God’s right hand, and who forget their previous life and prior ways into a fully surrendered life?
Ahh… yes.
I become fruitful when I seek the Face of God.
In the Face I am accepted, favored, protected, and rescued.
And so stepping into the new year we can choose to position ourselves directly behind the Ark of Glory and step into the fruitful life of intimacy He desires for us.
Oh friends… He’s such a good, good Father!
Friday, December 27, 2019
The Pause
We all find ourselves in a season of waiting at one point or another.
Waiting for the doctor report.
Waiting for the marriage to be restored.
Waiting for the financial breakthrough.
Waiting for a directional assignment.
Waiting for clarity over a decision that has to be made.
Waiting is hard.
And this morning I said the words again. The ones that have been on repeat for this wanderer: “We can’t know what You’re doing, but we can trust You in the process.”
Yes. That!
And in that moment He would ask that I’d look that word up. Because sometimes we think we know a meaning, but there’s deeper revelation in it. More He’s willing to expose to a willing recipient.
The word process. It means this... “a systematic series of actions directed to some end; a series of changes taking place in a definite manner; the condition of being carried on; sometimes to undergo an aptitude examination before the termination of a period of time; to convert into marketable form by a special series of steps; prepared or modified; a series of progressive and interdependent steps by which an end is attained."
Yes!
The process!
Your aim, God, is always heart transformation. The pause is always to make us profitable.
And so you and I can trust the process. The process that is directed at an end... the process that reminds us that we never go in it alone - but rather we are carried on. The process that allows conversion by way of steps that are safeguarded by the One who knows the benefit that will be ultimately produced by consistent determination to stay in the game no matter what.
He’s preparing you even now in the waiting, for bigger things than you can ever imagine!
Hang on sweet friend. Embrace the process. Trust the process. He’s in the middle just waiting for your full surrendered heart.
And He’s all you’ll ever need to make it through to the end.
Waiting for the doctor report.
Waiting for the marriage to be restored.
Waiting for the financial breakthrough.
Waiting for a directional assignment.
Waiting for clarity over a decision that has to be made.
Waiting is hard.
And this morning I said the words again. The ones that have been on repeat for this wanderer: “We can’t know what You’re doing, but we can trust You in the process.”
Yes. That!
And in that moment He would ask that I’d look that word up. Because sometimes we think we know a meaning, but there’s deeper revelation in it. More He’s willing to expose to a willing recipient.
The word process. It means this... “a systematic series of actions directed to some end; a series of changes taking place in a definite manner; the condition of being carried on; sometimes to undergo an aptitude examination before the termination of a period of time; to convert into marketable form by a special series of steps; prepared or modified; a series of progressive and interdependent steps by which an end is attained."
Yes!
The process!
Your aim, God, is always heart transformation. The pause is always to make us profitable.
And so you and I can trust the process. The process that is directed at an end... the process that reminds us that we never go in it alone - but rather we are carried on. The process that allows conversion by way of steps that are safeguarded by the One who knows the benefit that will be ultimately produced by consistent determination to stay in the game no matter what.
He’s preparing you even now in the waiting, for bigger things than you can ever imagine!
Hang on sweet friend. Embrace the process. Trust the process. He’s in the middle just waiting for your full surrendered heart.
And He’s all you’ll ever need to make it through to the end.
Thursday, December 26, 2019
My Motivation is Found in The Father's Movement
My sweet little fur baby, Isabel, knows my movements well.
Every morning she sits with me in my office when I have my quiet time.
She knows my routine.
She is very familiar to my ways.
Habitual by nature, I tend to same methods every day.
I wake up very early.
I get my coffee.
I walk to the basement.
I turn on my computer.
I put in my Air Pods.
I open my bible and my journal.
And I spend time in my office sometimes for many hours before starting my day.
And all the while, my Isabel lays comfortably on her blanket and she naps.
But the moment I click closed the case of my Air Pods, she knows I am wrapping things up. She’s become so familiar to my ways that she understands the movement that will directly follow the closing up of that case. She knows I will head back upstairs and the start to my day will begin.
And I realized something the other day.
While she is “sleeping”, she’s not really asleep.
She's simply resting.
Resting with her momma.
Resting in the knowledge that this posture is only temporary.
Resting with the understanding that when her beloved parent moves, she is to move.
She trusts me.
She knows me.
And she just longs to be where I am.
Jesus, who is our model, only did what He saw the Father doing, and He only said what He heard the Father saying (John 5:19).
He lived in such a way that the movements of His Father were so well known to Him, that it made following something that was simply automatic to Him.
He understood the nature of His Father, and was so intimately aware of His ways, that it made conforming to His character that much more effortless.
Pursuing Jesus is easier when we find out where He’s walking and insist to travel in a co-laboring manner.
“Where you go, I’ll go… where you stay, I will stay.” (Ruth 1:6)
The question becomes, for me, “Do I know the Father intimately… His works and His ways? Am I so familiar with His nature and His character, that the moment of movement, I, too, am compelled to move?”
My prayer has been, “God, I don’t want to be one step outside of Your will. I don’t want to be where You are not. So help me to know You so well, and be prepared so well, that when You move, I am not only willing, but ready to go where You’re leading. I just want to be where you are!”
“O LORD, what great works You do! And how deep are Your thoughts.” (Psalm 92:5)
Awaken my senses to Your ways.
Acquaint me to Your mannerisms.
Condition my feet to Your movement.
I cannot survive one day outside of Your presence.
My motivation is found in the Father’s movement.
Every morning she sits with me in my office when I have my quiet time.
She knows my routine.
She is very familiar to my ways.
Habitual by nature, I tend to same methods every day.
I wake up very early.
I get my coffee.
I walk to the basement.
I turn on my computer.
I put in my Air Pods.
I open my bible and my journal.
And I spend time in my office sometimes for many hours before starting my day.
And all the while, my Isabel lays comfortably on her blanket and she naps.
But the moment I click closed the case of my Air Pods, she knows I am wrapping things up. She’s become so familiar to my ways that she understands the movement that will directly follow the closing up of that case. She knows I will head back upstairs and the start to my day will begin.
And I realized something the other day.
While she is “sleeping”, she’s not really asleep.
She's simply resting.
Resting with her momma.
Resting in the knowledge that this posture is only temporary.
Resting with the understanding that when her beloved parent moves, she is to move.
She trusts me.
She knows me.
And she just longs to be where I am.
Jesus, who is our model, only did what He saw the Father doing, and He only said what He heard the Father saying (John 5:19).
He lived in such a way that the movements of His Father were so well known to Him, that it made following something that was simply automatic to Him.
He understood the nature of His Father, and was so intimately aware of His ways, that it made conforming to His character that much more effortless.
Pursuing Jesus is easier when we find out where He’s walking and insist to travel in a co-laboring manner.
“Where you go, I’ll go… where you stay, I will stay.” (Ruth 1:6)
The question becomes, for me, “Do I know the Father intimately… His works and His ways? Am I so familiar with His nature and His character, that the moment of movement, I, too, am compelled to move?”
My prayer has been, “God, I don’t want to be one step outside of Your will. I don’t want to be where You are not. So help me to know You so well, and be prepared so well, that when You move, I am not only willing, but ready to go where You’re leading. I just want to be where you are!”
“O LORD, what great works You do! And how deep are Your thoughts.” (Psalm 92:5)
Awaken my senses to Your ways.
Acquaint me to Your mannerisms.
Condition my feet to Your movement.
I cannot survive one day outside of Your presence.
My motivation is found in the Father’s movement.
Tuesday, December 24, 2019
My Position Conditions
I remember the time well. I had just started a brand new job. Honestly I think I was only about 2 months in when I tripped carrying a heavy box down a few small steps and I twisted my ankle.
And how many know that a sprain can be just as bad… if not worse… than a break in the bone? Oh and it was. And I was fully out of commission for a good couple weeks.
I cried a lot in that season.
I was mostly frustrated at the fact that I was incapable of doing much and had to rely heavily on those around me for even the small tasks of daily life.
But I was also sad for so much down time.
I don’t do “still” well, and for me this “force of the pause button” was unexpected and certainly unwelcomed.
I felt it again last year. That same uneasiness surrounding an unforeseen, unanticipated, abrupt interruption in our family’s life.
Hard circumstances that left us in a very dry season of unavoidable rest.
And the difficult season found us sometimes in a state of worry and fear. Panic almost.
It was a pause.
It was a delay.
A suspension.
And it was often messy and tough to navigate.
But it served a good purpose in our preparation.
Because in both instances we allowed our eyes to see with a different perspective.
We didn’t always get it right, and we may not have had the words then to properly articulate what was happening, but looking back God was pruning and cleaning and trimming.
John 15:3 says this, “Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.”
Jesus explains here that all of life is sustained in His voice. In His words. His message.
And He is inviting us into a lifestyle where we find ourselves in a posture of clinging to Him.
We oftentimes want to put blame upon the circumstances of our life.
“If this wouldn’t have happened…”
“If that didn’t take place…”
“If I would have been allowed to do it this way…”
And the truth really is that God doesn’t bring us in to circumstances to blame the condition. The condition is often intentioned to wake us up.
The circumstance is simply an invitation to hear better and see clearer.
God puts us in circumstances that don’t always feel good in an effort to get us to listen.
Why?
Because life is found in the word… in His voice.
I am ALIVE because He breathed on me.
And I am sustained in this life because He continues to speak.
And sometimes these situations I feel forced into are simply there because He’s speaking. And the pause button on all of the noise that surrounds me allows me to position myself closer to the Savior, and ask Him to, “speak, Your servant is listening.” (1 Sam 3:10)
Do you find yourself in a difficult position today?
Are you in a season of waiting?
Do you feel overwhelmed by the conditions that surround you?
Are you in the middle of a challenging circumstance?
It could be that He’s allowing this for the purpose of speaking life into dry bones.
And if we come with yielded hearts to hear, He will lavishly provide.
The discovery is in His voice.
He doesn’t hide Himself from those who hunger for Him.
And how many know that a sprain can be just as bad… if not worse… than a break in the bone? Oh and it was. And I was fully out of commission for a good couple weeks.
I cried a lot in that season.
I was mostly frustrated at the fact that I was incapable of doing much and had to rely heavily on those around me for even the small tasks of daily life.
But I was also sad for so much down time.
I don’t do “still” well, and for me this “force of the pause button” was unexpected and certainly unwelcomed.
I felt it again last year. That same uneasiness surrounding an unforeseen, unanticipated, abrupt interruption in our family’s life.
Hard circumstances that left us in a very dry season of unavoidable rest.
And the difficult season found us sometimes in a state of worry and fear. Panic almost.
It was a pause.
It was a delay.
A suspension.
And it was often messy and tough to navigate.
But it served a good purpose in our preparation.
Because in both instances we allowed our eyes to see with a different perspective.
We didn’t always get it right, and we may not have had the words then to properly articulate what was happening, but looking back God was pruning and cleaning and trimming.
John 15:3 says this, “Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.”
Jesus explains here that all of life is sustained in His voice. In His words. His message.
And He is inviting us into a lifestyle where we find ourselves in a posture of clinging to Him.
We oftentimes want to put blame upon the circumstances of our life.
“If this wouldn’t have happened…”
“If that didn’t take place…”
“If I would have been allowed to do it this way…”
And the truth really is that God doesn’t bring us in to circumstances to blame the condition. The condition is often intentioned to wake us up.
The circumstance is simply an invitation to hear better and see clearer.
God puts us in circumstances that don’t always feel good in an effort to get us to listen.
Why?
Because life is found in the word… in His voice.
I am ALIVE because He breathed on me.
And I am sustained in this life because He continues to speak.
And sometimes these situations I feel forced into are simply there because He’s speaking. And the pause button on all of the noise that surrounds me allows me to position myself closer to the Savior, and ask Him to, “speak, Your servant is listening.” (1 Sam 3:10)
Do you find yourself in a difficult position today?
Are you in a season of waiting?
Do you feel overwhelmed by the conditions that surround you?
Are you in the middle of a challenging circumstance?
It could be that He’s allowing this for the purpose of speaking life into dry bones.
And if we come with yielded hearts to hear, He will lavishly provide.
The discovery is in His voice.
He doesn’t hide Himself from those who hunger for Him.
Monday, December 23, 2019
Be On Guard. Watch and Pray.
One of the things I have a habit of doing throughout my day is praying against spiritual warfare and temptation of evil.
Because I know the tendency of my fragile human heart.
I’ve seen the result of a backslidden soul.
And I have experienced the deep pain of a life that has, over time, grown dull and cold.
Luke 11 records a miracle of Jesus casting a demon out of a man who couldn’t speak. While scripture records that some, “… were amazed” (vs 14) by what He had done, others were not as impressed, and concluded that Jesus, was indeed, operating under the influence of Satan himself.
Knowing their thoughts He addresses their skeptical cynicism. He says in verse 23, “Anyone who isn’t with Me opposes Me, and anyone who isn’t working with Me is actually working against Me.”
He continues.
“When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, searching for rest. But when it finds none, it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds its former home is all swept and in order. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before.’” (vs 24-26)
The truth really is that the enemy is after you. He’s after your soul.
And especially once you have determined to follow hard after Jesus, and now have committed to following Him with your whole heart… you are his target.
Maybe you’ve been there.
You’re ignited by passion to follow Him.
You’re in the Word daily.
You’re feeling more alive than you have in years.
And then suddenly something happens.
It’s a slow fade, really. It happens in subtleties.
You become uninfluenced by grace. Untouched by the love of God.
You become silent in your prayers.
You become more aware of worldliness and less aware of heaven.
You participate in ungodly speech.
You worry far too much about your reputation and concern yourself less with His in you.
And all of a sudden you grow cold to things that matter most.
You stop reading, stop studying, stop engaging with soul-inspiring matters.
You become fueled by unnecessary conflict and defensiveness.
You develop unruly bitterness and insist on become paranoid with unpopularity.
What’s happened?
My once occupied “home” has been “swept and cleaned”. Compromised. Found empty of all goodness that once occupied it Decorated nicely and warm to an invitation of evil. And I have unknowingly invited the evil one to take back up residence. I have become a professor of Jesus, but a practicing atheist. I have given the enemy a place of easy access.
And Scripture warns against the easiness of “returning” to a godly state once, “those who were once enlightened…. turn away from God.” (Heb 6:4-6). The Bible even says that it is, “impossible to bring such people back to repentance” (vs 6), and even goes on further by saying that, “they themselves are nailing Him (Jesus) to the cross once again and holding Him up to public shame.”
My commentary says, “Far more hopeless is the condition of the human soul that has drifted away from Christ, than the one that has never heard of His name or never been impressed with His claims.”
And so what are we to do?
“Watch and pray.”
It’s what Jesus taught His close ones in the Garden just before His arrest, trial, and death on the cross.
“Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen…” Luke 21:36
We must be on guard. We must watch. We must pray that God would not allow us to fall into sin. Pray that He will keep us safe. Pray that our fiery passion will stay fueled for Him. Pray that we will resist the devil and his evil plot to kill and destroy us.
We must be on guard. We must know our human tendencies to fall away from the things that don’t always “feel good”, so that we can be rightly used by God, and so that we don't find ourselves in a state of hopelessness.
Be on guard.
Watch and pray.
It’s far more important than we can EVER imagine.
Because I know the tendency of my fragile human heart.
I’ve seen the result of a backslidden soul.
And I have experienced the deep pain of a life that has, over time, grown dull and cold.
Luke 11 records a miracle of Jesus casting a demon out of a man who couldn’t speak. While scripture records that some, “… were amazed” (vs 14) by what He had done, others were not as impressed, and concluded that Jesus, was indeed, operating under the influence of Satan himself.
Knowing their thoughts He addresses their skeptical cynicism. He says in verse 23, “Anyone who isn’t with Me opposes Me, and anyone who isn’t working with Me is actually working against Me.”
He continues.
“When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, searching for rest. But when it finds none, it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds its former home is all swept and in order. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before.’” (vs 24-26)
The truth really is that the enemy is after you. He’s after your soul.
And especially once you have determined to follow hard after Jesus, and now have committed to following Him with your whole heart… you are his target.
Maybe you’ve been there.
You’re ignited by passion to follow Him.
You’re in the Word daily.
You’re feeling more alive than you have in years.
And then suddenly something happens.
It’s a slow fade, really. It happens in subtleties.
You become uninfluenced by grace. Untouched by the love of God.
You become silent in your prayers.
You become more aware of worldliness and less aware of heaven.
You participate in ungodly speech.
You worry far too much about your reputation and concern yourself less with His in you.
And all of a sudden you grow cold to things that matter most.
You stop reading, stop studying, stop engaging with soul-inspiring matters.
You become fueled by unnecessary conflict and defensiveness.
You develop unruly bitterness and insist on become paranoid with unpopularity.
What’s happened?
My once occupied “home” has been “swept and cleaned”. Compromised. Found empty of all goodness that once occupied it Decorated nicely and warm to an invitation of evil. And I have unknowingly invited the evil one to take back up residence. I have become a professor of Jesus, but a practicing atheist. I have given the enemy a place of easy access.
And Scripture warns against the easiness of “returning” to a godly state once, “those who were once enlightened…. turn away from God.” (Heb 6:4-6). The Bible even says that it is, “impossible to bring such people back to repentance” (vs 6), and even goes on further by saying that, “they themselves are nailing Him (Jesus) to the cross once again and holding Him up to public shame.”
My commentary says, “Far more hopeless is the condition of the human soul that has drifted away from Christ, than the one that has never heard of His name or never been impressed with His claims.”
And so what are we to do?
“Watch and pray.”
It’s what Jesus taught His close ones in the Garden just before His arrest, trial, and death on the cross.
“Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen…” Luke 21:36
We must be on guard. We must watch. We must pray that God would not allow us to fall into sin. Pray that He will keep us safe. Pray that our fiery passion will stay fueled for Him. Pray that we will resist the devil and his evil plot to kill and destroy us.
We must be on guard. We must know our human tendencies to fall away from the things that don’t always “feel good”, so that we can be rightly used by God, and so that we don't find ourselves in a state of hopelessness.
Be on guard.
Watch and pray.
It’s far more important than we can EVER imagine.
Saturday, December 21, 2019
Inadequacy and Increase
And I wonder how many more giants of the faith would be produced if the assembly of believers would rise up declaring life and goodness in others? I wonder how many moments have been missed and how many beautiful outcomes have been prematurely interrupted by Christians, even, who’s very ill-spoken, dishonoring words have extinguished the once burning flame of passion in another soul.
I was with someone a few years ago who was vocally advocating the shameful insults being heaved upon a portion of society responsible for significant moral failure. This individual was hurling accusations with a sincere mindset that it would somehow bring revelation to those suffering the consequences of their choices, when in reality it was only serving to emphasize the believers judgement, gross antipathy, and a lack of godly love.
And the truth really is that right now the one you’ve been praying and believing heart-change for may be far from where they need to be. The one you’ve been wanting change from and at the same time spewing hatred toward, could be sinking more into the pit you’ve pushed then in because of your inability to believe for a better result.
Maybe it’s a wayward child. And you’ve prayed for the breakthrough, but one doesn’t seem to ever come, and so you find yourself saying it… declaring it with your mouth… “He will never change.”
And so he doesn’t.
Maybe it’s a co-worker. And you’ve been believing for the miracle that would lead them to Jesus, but you wonder if your prayers are simply being ignored, because the one you had hope for, you've now become cynical to, and you find yourself saying it, “She won’t be better.”
And so she isn’t.
And could it be that maybe it’s a president, even. And you’ve been praying for a better nation, a more God-honoring government, an improved representative for our nation. And you find yourself saying it, “This is a joke. He’s a joke. This country deserves better. He will always be a failure.”
And so he is.
Ungoverned speech… often produces untimely demise.
But the fault might not be them… the fault might reside with us.
In Mark, chapter 9, Jesus was presented with a man who’s son needed both a healing and a deliverance from a devil-possession. In verse 22 the man says to the Son of Man, “… Have mercy on us if you can.”
It’s one of the lowest recorded demonstrations of faith found in scripture.
“If you can.”
And of course He can. And He’s willing.
And Jesus performs the miracle.
He performs the miracle despite the poor representation of faith. Why? Because He’s Jesus and He never allowed a lack of faith to be the reason a miracle was denied. He addressed unbelief so that it would bring about an awareness in the individual of what He was doing, but for the purpose of stepping into a greater amount of faith He designed for them to live in.
James 5:15 says this, “Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.”
Who is responsible for having the faith that healing will come?
The one who is doing the praying.
Blaming the person needing the healing… needing the heart change… needing a transformation in their life… is pointless.
Blaming someone who is living with unbelief and who doesn’t know the power of the resurrection for their own life doesn't usher them to Jesus and increase their faith.
Pointing to all a person without faith lacks doesn’t bring them into fullness of Christ, because the shame their carry is too heavy. And we add to that burden by belittling.
We will never win a soul to Jesus by bringing rise to their deficiencies.
That wayward son will not change if we insist on pointing to failures.
That co-worker will not be won for Jesus if we maintain an ugly disposition toward their defects.
That president will not step into His assignment ordained by God if we consistently pray only for removal and not for authentic, radical, heart-change that could positively alter the course of history if we believed in a God who is still on the throne and still has the whole world in the palm of HIS hands.
Highlighting inadequacy doesn’t generate increase.
Criticizing doesn’t develop champions.
We must live victorious over the enemy who seeks to kill, steal, and destroy. We can’t let Him win the battle for souls… theirs AND ours.
The price we pay is too costly.
Choose the speech which brings life.
It really, really, REALLY matters.
I was with someone a few years ago who was vocally advocating the shameful insults being heaved upon a portion of society responsible for significant moral failure. This individual was hurling accusations with a sincere mindset that it would somehow bring revelation to those suffering the consequences of their choices, when in reality it was only serving to emphasize the believers judgement, gross antipathy, and a lack of godly love.
And the truth really is that right now the one you’ve been praying and believing heart-change for may be far from where they need to be. The one you’ve been wanting change from and at the same time spewing hatred toward, could be sinking more into the pit you’ve pushed then in because of your inability to believe for a better result.
Maybe it’s a wayward child. And you’ve prayed for the breakthrough, but one doesn’t seem to ever come, and so you find yourself saying it… declaring it with your mouth… “He will never change.”
And so he doesn’t.
Maybe it’s a co-worker. And you’ve been believing for the miracle that would lead them to Jesus, but you wonder if your prayers are simply being ignored, because the one you had hope for, you've now become cynical to, and you find yourself saying it, “She won’t be better.”
And so she isn’t.
And could it be that maybe it’s a president, even. And you’ve been praying for a better nation, a more God-honoring government, an improved representative for our nation. And you find yourself saying it, “This is a joke. He’s a joke. This country deserves better. He will always be a failure.”
And so he is.
Ungoverned speech… often produces untimely demise.
But the fault might not be them… the fault might reside with us.
In Mark, chapter 9, Jesus was presented with a man who’s son needed both a healing and a deliverance from a devil-possession. In verse 22 the man says to the Son of Man, “… Have mercy on us if you can.”
It’s one of the lowest recorded demonstrations of faith found in scripture.
“If you can.”
And of course He can. And He’s willing.
And Jesus performs the miracle.
He performs the miracle despite the poor representation of faith. Why? Because He’s Jesus and He never allowed a lack of faith to be the reason a miracle was denied. He addressed unbelief so that it would bring about an awareness in the individual of what He was doing, but for the purpose of stepping into a greater amount of faith He designed for them to live in.
James 5:15 says this, “Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.”
Who is responsible for having the faith that healing will come?
The one who is doing the praying.
Blaming the person needing the healing… needing the heart change… needing a transformation in their life… is pointless.
Blaming someone who is living with unbelief and who doesn’t know the power of the resurrection for their own life doesn't usher them to Jesus and increase their faith.
Pointing to all a person without faith lacks doesn’t bring them into fullness of Christ, because the shame their carry is too heavy. And we add to that burden by belittling.
We will never win a soul to Jesus by bringing rise to their deficiencies.
That wayward son will not change if we insist on pointing to failures.
That co-worker will not be won for Jesus if we maintain an ugly disposition toward their defects.
That president will not step into His assignment ordained by God if we consistently pray only for removal and not for authentic, radical, heart-change that could positively alter the course of history if we believed in a God who is still on the throne and still has the whole world in the palm of HIS hands.
Highlighting inadequacy doesn’t generate increase.
Criticizing doesn’t develop champions.
We must live victorious over the enemy who seeks to kill, steal, and destroy. We can’t let Him win the battle for souls… theirs AND ours.
The price we pay is too costly.
Choose the speech which brings life.
It really, really, REALLY matters.
Friday, December 20, 2019
Time To Withdraw
I
received a devastating message from a friend several months ago. After
years of marriage and children, her husband was leaving her, stating he
was no longer in love and was filing for divorce.
We immediately prayed. And even in the midst of heartbreak and loss, we have continued to pray for the restoration of her marriage and the reconciliation of her family.
She wrote me yesterday to tell me that she feels as though God is asking her to take a social media fast. It seems every time she’s scrolling through Facebook, she is confronted with photos of her now ex-husband and his new girlfriend, and it’s proving, of course, to be more than she can handle. Especially when she’s still contending for the resurrection of her disintegrated relationship.
And I immediately thought of the scriptures that warn us about interacting with evil of any kind… those verses that press us to withdraw from the company of evildoers, and in an effort to keep our peace of mind intact, remove ourselves from the damaging affects of those who choose habitual misconduct.
1 Thess 3:6 commands us to, “withdraw from believers who live idle lives.”
This is so interesting to me.
To withdraw here means to stay away from their company.
Believers here is just that - those brothers and sisters in the faith. Not those outside of the body of Christ, as those people are to be handled much differently, but this command is specific to those who claim Christ as their own.
Idle lives here is a military term meaning “walk disordering” or “out of rank.”
Take a look at the word Idle. It means this = doing nothing, vacant, not occupied, remaining unused, unfruitful, barren, not tending to edification.
Now take a look at Prov 22:24-25, “Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people, or you will learn to be like them and endanger your souls.”
The word endanger means this = threaten, expose, risk… to expose to danger.
And I wonder if that’s what we’re doing when we remain in close communion with people who aren’t serving the Lord - even those who say they are. I wonder if that’s what we’re doing when we stay in current conditions that are unhealthy and leave us feeling discontent.
I was talking with someone recently who was sharing a situation she’s currently in with a co-worker and she said, “I don’t like who I am when I am with her. I don’t act the same way I normally do. I am defensive and negative and I don’t know what to do.”
My advice: maybe it’s time to withdraw.
And I would say the same to my friend contemplating a Facebook fast: maybe it’s time to withdraw.
Why?
Because the distraction is too costly.
Because you’re facing soul endangerment.
The warning has been given, “… or you will be like them.”
And the price we pay, we pay with our peace, our contentment, and our joy. Our spiritual advancement is at stake, and we cannot afford to live in a condition where our heart is compromised.
So I encourage you today.. know when it’s time to withdraw.
It’s not about excommunication…. we are called to love everyone.
But know your bent. Know what kills your joy and robs you of the peace you've worked so hard to attain.
Recognize the tendencies of your human frailty, and then make adjustments necessary to strive for righteousness. “And this righteousness will bring peace. Yes, it will bring quietness and confidence forever.” Is 32:17
We immediately prayed. And even in the midst of heartbreak and loss, we have continued to pray for the restoration of her marriage and the reconciliation of her family.
She wrote me yesterday to tell me that she feels as though God is asking her to take a social media fast. It seems every time she’s scrolling through Facebook, she is confronted with photos of her now ex-husband and his new girlfriend, and it’s proving, of course, to be more than she can handle. Especially when she’s still contending for the resurrection of her disintegrated relationship.
And I immediately thought of the scriptures that warn us about interacting with evil of any kind… those verses that press us to withdraw from the company of evildoers, and in an effort to keep our peace of mind intact, remove ourselves from the damaging affects of those who choose habitual misconduct.
1 Thess 3:6 commands us to, “withdraw from believers who live idle lives.”
This is so interesting to me.
To withdraw here means to stay away from their company.
Believers here is just that - those brothers and sisters in the faith. Not those outside of the body of Christ, as those people are to be handled much differently, but this command is specific to those who claim Christ as their own.
Idle lives here is a military term meaning “walk disordering” or “out of rank.”
Take a look at the word Idle. It means this = doing nothing, vacant, not occupied, remaining unused, unfruitful, barren, not tending to edification.
Now take a look at Prov 22:24-25, “Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people, or you will learn to be like them and endanger your souls.”
The word endanger means this = threaten, expose, risk… to expose to danger.
And I wonder if that’s what we’re doing when we remain in close communion with people who aren’t serving the Lord - even those who say they are. I wonder if that’s what we’re doing when we stay in current conditions that are unhealthy and leave us feeling discontent.
I was talking with someone recently who was sharing a situation she’s currently in with a co-worker and she said, “I don’t like who I am when I am with her. I don’t act the same way I normally do. I am defensive and negative and I don’t know what to do.”
My advice: maybe it’s time to withdraw.
And I would say the same to my friend contemplating a Facebook fast: maybe it’s time to withdraw.
Why?
Because the distraction is too costly.
Because you’re facing soul endangerment.
The warning has been given, “… or you will be like them.”
And the price we pay, we pay with our peace, our contentment, and our joy. Our spiritual advancement is at stake, and we cannot afford to live in a condition where our heart is compromised.
So I encourage you today.. know when it’s time to withdraw.
It’s not about excommunication…. we are called to love everyone.
But know your bent. Know what kills your joy and robs you of the peace you've worked so hard to attain.
Recognize the tendencies of your human frailty, and then make adjustments necessary to strive for righteousness. “And this righteousness will bring peace. Yes, it will bring quietness and confidence forever.” Is 32:17
Atmosphere Of Heaven
Deuteronomy
28:3-14, records a listing of blessings promised by God to the
Israelites as a condition of obedience and adherence to the covenant
given.
In verses 1 and 2 Moses addresses the nation by saying, “If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully keep all His commands that I am giving you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the world. You will experience all these blessings if you obey the Lord your God.”
He goes on to list 12 blessings that will be the result of full and careful obedience.
And He says something that stood out to me among the rest in verse 6. He says this, “Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be blessed.”
So - IF I obey His commands I will be blessed wherever I go?
If I obey His commands I will be blessed whatever I do?
Yes.
Could this mean that I get to determine the type of environment I live in?
Could this mean that I must determine to bring the atmosphere of heaven to every room I enter and to every action step I take?
To bring HIS world to MY world until MY world looks like HIS?
When I obey the Lord and walk in His ways, I am choosing to live the atmosphere of heaven. I’m choosing to live with radical faith that doesn’t deny the existence of a problem, but refuses to give it a place of authority and influence in my life.
When I obey the Lord fully and completely then I get to walk in confidence that wherever I go will be blessed because of the presence I carry into that environment.
This means that when I step into my position of employment - my workplace is blessed because I carry Jesus and the atmosphere of heaven into the room.
This means that when I step into the grocery store - the establishment I’m visiting is blessed because I carry the Savior and His redemptive solutions into the building.
This means that when I serve at church or at a homeless shelter or love my spouse with un-compromised commitment - my actions are blessed because I am choosing to invite the King of Kings and Lord of Lords to govern my behavior.
It’s my choice. I get to decide which world I present as most superior to those around me. I get to demonstrate a fallen world filled with death and decay, or a world that hosts the Presence of the living, miracle-working God… one that breathes life into all who experience it for themselves.
I will chose to live the atmosphere of heaven.
Because it really really matters!
In verses 1 and 2 Moses addresses the nation by saying, “If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully keep all His commands that I am giving you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the world. You will experience all these blessings if you obey the Lord your God.”
He goes on to list 12 blessings that will be the result of full and careful obedience.
And He says something that stood out to me among the rest in verse 6. He says this, “Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be blessed.”
So - IF I obey His commands I will be blessed wherever I go?
If I obey His commands I will be blessed whatever I do?
Yes.
Could this mean that I get to determine the type of environment I live in?
Could this mean that I must determine to bring the atmosphere of heaven to every room I enter and to every action step I take?
To bring HIS world to MY world until MY world looks like HIS?
When I obey the Lord and walk in His ways, I am choosing to live the atmosphere of heaven. I’m choosing to live with radical faith that doesn’t deny the existence of a problem, but refuses to give it a place of authority and influence in my life.
When I obey the Lord fully and completely then I get to walk in confidence that wherever I go will be blessed because of the presence I carry into that environment.
This means that when I step into my position of employment - my workplace is blessed because I carry Jesus and the atmosphere of heaven into the room.
This means that when I step into the grocery store - the establishment I’m visiting is blessed because I carry the Savior and His redemptive solutions into the building.
This means that when I serve at church or at a homeless shelter or love my spouse with un-compromised commitment - my actions are blessed because I am choosing to invite the King of Kings and Lord of Lords to govern my behavior.
It’s my choice. I get to decide which world I present as most superior to those around me. I get to demonstrate a fallen world filled with death and decay, or a world that hosts the Presence of the living, miracle-working God… one that breathes life into all who experience it for themselves.
I will chose to live the atmosphere of heaven.
Because it really really matters!
He Will Establish and Confirm
Deuteronomy 29 is a rich and powerful text in the Old Testament.
God had given Moses an assignment to convey the terms of the covenant to the people of Israel. In obedience, Moses summoned the people together and gave them the specific outline, detailing the terms and encouraging their adherence and obedience.
He reminds the people of the Lord’s kindness during their time in the wilderness, including the great tests of strength, the miraculous signs they had been a witness to, and the amazing wonders of provision they had experienced.
In verse 13 Moses says these powerful words, “By entering into the covenant today, He will establish you as His people, and confirm that He is your God, just as He promised you and as He swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
The terms of the covenant were obedience. Even though the stubborn Israelites had weak minds, sore eyes, and dull ears, they had Moses who had been called to rescue them by remembrance.
The Israelites had been commanded to remember that in 40 years their clothing hadn’t worn out, nourishment for their physical bodies had been provided for, and that they had just successfully and victoriously defeated their enemies while taking possession of the portion of land that belonged to them.
And in remembering… they were charged with obedience. By doing so, the Lord would establish them and confirm them. Establish them as HIS people, and confirm that He was their God.
The word establish is an interesting choice of words. We don't see it often, and we likely do not use it often. It means this = to bring into being on a firm and stable basis; to settle in a position; prove; to cause to be accepted or recognized; to bring about prematurely; verify; to make secure; to free from doubt; to be accepted.
Oh that’s such good news for us, friends!
For those who hold tightly to their relationship with God - for those who live in obedience to all He requires - He will establish us.
He will bring us into a firm, stable, and settled position
He will prove us to an onlooking world.
He will recognize and accept us.
He will verify us as His sons and daughters.
He will make us secure.
And what about this one - He will bring us about prematurely.
This one stood out to me the most. To me there’s such hope here:
He will bring us about prematurely. Before we’ve had a chance of unworthiness. Before we’ve done anything “deserving” or “commendable”.
Why?
Because He knows how He’s created us and He knows the potential that lies beneath the surface.
The Israelites didn’t have deep rooted knowledge and understanding. They often couldn’t see what was right in front of their eyes. And they had grown cold, many times, to the voice that had been leading them to victory the entire time. But they could remember.. and in remembering they were granted another chance.
“Remember and obey” was the order.
Jesus had said it once before to His unbelieving disciples, “Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember?” (Mark 8:18)
I know you have eyes that can’t see now.
I know you have ears that can’t hear now.
But can you remember?
We can.
And when we do, He will establish us… He will prematurely place us in a settled position of security and claim us as His own.
And there’s nothing I can desire more than this!
God had given Moses an assignment to convey the terms of the covenant to the people of Israel. In obedience, Moses summoned the people together and gave them the specific outline, detailing the terms and encouraging their adherence and obedience.
He reminds the people of the Lord’s kindness during their time in the wilderness, including the great tests of strength, the miraculous signs they had been a witness to, and the amazing wonders of provision they had experienced.
In verse 13 Moses says these powerful words, “By entering into the covenant today, He will establish you as His people, and confirm that He is your God, just as He promised you and as He swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
The terms of the covenant were obedience. Even though the stubborn Israelites had weak minds, sore eyes, and dull ears, they had Moses who had been called to rescue them by remembrance.
The Israelites had been commanded to remember that in 40 years their clothing hadn’t worn out, nourishment for their physical bodies had been provided for, and that they had just successfully and victoriously defeated their enemies while taking possession of the portion of land that belonged to them.
And in remembering… they were charged with obedience. By doing so, the Lord would establish them and confirm them. Establish them as HIS people, and confirm that He was their God.
The word establish is an interesting choice of words. We don't see it often, and we likely do not use it often. It means this = to bring into being on a firm and stable basis; to settle in a position; prove; to cause to be accepted or recognized; to bring about prematurely; verify; to make secure; to free from doubt; to be accepted.
Oh that’s such good news for us, friends!
For those who hold tightly to their relationship with God - for those who live in obedience to all He requires - He will establish us.
He will bring us into a firm, stable, and settled position
He will prove us to an onlooking world.
He will recognize and accept us.
He will verify us as His sons and daughters.
He will make us secure.
And what about this one - He will bring us about prematurely.
This one stood out to me the most. To me there’s such hope here:
He will bring us about prematurely. Before we’ve had a chance of unworthiness. Before we’ve done anything “deserving” or “commendable”.
Why?
Because He knows how He’s created us and He knows the potential that lies beneath the surface.
The Israelites didn’t have deep rooted knowledge and understanding. They often couldn’t see what was right in front of their eyes. And they had grown cold, many times, to the voice that had been leading them to victory the entire time. But they could remember.. and in remembering they were granted another chance.
“Remember and obey” was the order.
Jesus had said it once before to His unbelieving disciples, “Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember?” (Mark 8:18)
I know you have eyes that can’t see now.
I know you have ears that can’t hear now.
But can you remember?
We can.
And when we do, He will establish us… He will prematurely place us in a settled position of security and claim us as His own.
And there’s nothing I can desire more than this!
Saturday, December 14, 2019
Respond to His Goodness, Don't React to The Godless
By nature, I am a feeler.
I can walk into a room and immediately identify the presence of any kind of evil.
I can distinguish between a stress-free environment and a tarnished atmosphere, where malignancy is literally “felt” on the skin before a word is even uttered.
And at times, unfortunately, it has kept me in a state of skepticism and apprehension. I have a tendency to allow it much more influence on my experiences than I care to admit.
And I can imagine the Old Testament character, Nehemiah, was much the same.
Nehemiah was a powerful leader living in Judea following the exile. He was known for having improved the morale and strength of God’s people, and as governor of Judea for 12 years, was responsible for having lead the Jewish people in the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem.
While Nehemiah had the support of the Persian King, he faced much opposition from the inhabitants of the land. Oftentimes this resistance caused minor set-backs and delays in his progressing forward.
We see a great example of the bitterness and hostility that mounted against him in chapter 6 of the book that bears his name. In an attempt to intimidate and eliminate Nehemiah, there was a group of men who asked to meet with him. And yet scripture tells us in verse 2-3, “I realized they were plotting to harm me, so I replied by sending this message to them: ‘I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?’”
Four times the men sent the same message, and each time Nehemiah gave them the same reply. And even yet a fifth time would come, pressing the issue greater than the others, filled with a very bullying publication. They accused him of wrong-doing and tried their hardest to throw him off course.
Verse 9 says, “They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination.”
I love verse 13 that continues, “They were hoping to intimidate me and make me slip. Then they would be able to accuse me and discredit me.”
Oh friends… there is such richness in these passages… and so much for us to learn!
I found myself giving this advice to so many in the last few years, and I said it to a loved one just the other day: You can’t afford the distraction.
The truth is that not everyone is for your good. Not everyone has right motives and pure intentions when it comes to your well-being. Some are more obvious about their plan of destruction, while others’ attempts are almost masked by the false perception of concern.
And we’ve gotta learn to recognize the difference.
Because the work is too important (“I am engaged in a great work.”)
Your spiritual prosperity has GOT to be taken into consideration when engaging with evil of any kind. And we must resolve to press forward despite opposition and intimidation (“I continued the work with even greater determination.”)
There’s a quote I’ve had tacked to the bulletin board in my office for years. It says this, “Live in such a way that if anybody were to talk bad about you, nobody would believe it.”
We’ve gotta discern wrong motives and remain pure in attitude.
Because our representation of a good Father is determined by our denial of any entanglement with wickedness (“Then they would be able to accuse me and discredit me.”)
I think about Abigail in 1 Samuel 25 who helped David and his men who were in harms way when her husband was seeking to kill them. The would-be King David was tempted to involve himself in a battle he wasn’t entitled to fight.
I will never forget the words she spoke to him on the day she aided his escape. She said, “Don’t let THIS be a blemish on your record.”
She knew the price was too costly.
She understood that to retaliate would be catastrophic.
And so I say it to me and to you today - don’t let this be a blemish on your record.
The work of spiritual growth you’re engaged with is too great.
The reputation of a good God is at stake.
We cannot afford the distraction.
Keep pressing with great determination.
And to do that, it’s going to require you to realign your focus, and while resisting evil, you respond only to His goodness.
You and I can determine to walk into any compromised and contaminated atmosphere responding to His goodness without reacting to the godless.
And when we do that… it changes absolutely everything!
I can walk into a room and immediately identify the presence of any kind of evil.
I can distinguish between a stress-free environment and a tarnished atmosphere, where malignancy is literally “felt” on the skin before a word is even uttered.
And at times, unfortunately, it has kept me in a state of skepticism and apprehension. I have a tendency to allow it much more influence on my experiences than I care to admit.
And I can imagine the Old Testament character, Nehemiah, was much the same.
Nehemiah was a powerful leader living in Judea following the exile. He was known for having improved the morale and strength of God’s people, and as governor of Judea for 12 years, was responsible for having lead the Jewish people in the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem.
While Nehemiah had the support of the Persian King, he faced much opposition from the inhabitants of the land. Oftentimes this resistance caused minor set-backs and delays in his progressing forward.
We see a great example of the bitterness and hostility that mounted against him in chapter 6 of the book that bears his name. In an attempt to intimidate and eliminate Nehemiah, there was a group of men who asked to meet with him. And yet scripture tells us in verse 2-3, “I realized they were plotting to harm me, so I replied by sending this message to them: ‘I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?’”
Four times the men sent the same message, and each time Nehemiah gave them the same reply. And even yet a fifth time would come, pressing the issue greater than the others, filled with a very bullying publication. They accused him of wrong-doing and tried their hardest to throw him off course.
Verse 9 says, “They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination.”
I love verse 13 that continues, “They were hoping to intimidate me and make me slip. Then they would be able to accuse me and discredit me.”
Oh friends… there is such richness in these passages… and so much for us to learn!
I found myself giving this advice to so many in the last few years, and I said it to a loved one just the other day: You can’t afford the distraction.
The truth is that not everyone is for your good. Not everyone has right motives and pure intentions when it comes to your well-being. Some are more obvious about their plan of destruction, while others’ attempts are almost masked by the false perception of concern.
And we’ve gotta learn to recognize the difference.
Because the work is too important (“I am engaged in a great work.”)
Your spiritual prosperity has GOT to be taken into consideration when engaging with evil of any kind. And we must resolve to press forward despite opposition and intimidation (“I continued the work with even greater determination.”)
There’s a quote I’ve had tacked to the bulletin board in my office for years. It says this, “Live in such a way that if anybody were to talk bad about you, nobody would believe it.”
We’ve gotta discern wrong motives and remain pure in attitude.
Because our representation of a good Father is determined by our denial of any entanglement with wickedness (“Then they would be able to accuse me and discredit me.”)
I think about Abigail in 1 Samuel 25 who helped David and his men who were in harms way when her husband was seeking to kill them. The would-be King David was tempted to involve himself in a battle he wasn’t entitled to fight.
I will never forget the words she spoke to him on the day she aided his escape. She said, “Don’t let THIS be a blemish on your record.”
She knew the price was too costly.
She understood that to retaliate would be catastrophic.
And so I say it to me and to you today - don’t let this be a blemish on your record.
The work of spiritual growth you’re engaged with is too great.
The reputation of a good God is at stake.
We cannot afford the distraction.
Keep pressing with great determination.
And to do that, it’s going to require you to realign your focus, and while resisting evil, you respond only to His goodness.
You and I can determine to walk into any compromised and contaminated atmosphere responding to His goodness without reacting to the godless.
And when we do that… it changes absolutely everything!
Friday, December 13, 2019
From Inheritance to Imitation
Peter's second letter to the Christians was written to address many of the problems they were facing in their day. It was written to teach them, and in doing so teaches us, the importance of living a holy, God-honoring, faith-filled life.
Chapter 1, verses 3-4 say this, "By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the One who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence. And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.”
The King James version of verse 4, in part, says it like this, “… that through these [God’s promises], ye may become partakers of the Divine nature.”
And isn’t that what it’s really all about anyway?
Adopting His nature?
Letting it form so completely within us that it affects the way we think, the way we speak, and the way we act?
And the teaching here is not so much about our current God-like nature. Scripture tells us that we were, “made in the image of God.” (Gen 1:27) and that, “We are his offspring.” (Acts 17:28). But what Peter is here making reference to is our potential. He’s speaking in regard to what, with our God-like nature, we may BECOME.
The Bible tells us what’s in store for those who have accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior: “… because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God.”
An inheritance means this = “property passing at the owner's death to the heir or those entitled to succeed; legacy.”
Because we belong to Jesus, we share in His Sonship by inheritance. All that He has, we have the privilege of enjoying.
But look at the meaning in depth a bit more, “the genetic characters transmitted from parent to offspring; something, as a quality or characteristic, received from predecessors as if by succession.”
By inheritance, those who belong to Jesus possess the God-like qualities of the Father. And yet it is only by imitation of those characteristics that we become partakers in His Divine nature.
God becomes more and more established internally and more visible externally, in proportion to our allowing His nature to unfold and be manifest in and through us.
Scripture says that we are to be imitators of Christ. 1 Peter 2:21 says, “For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in His steps.” Ephesians 5:1, “Therefore be imitators of God.” 1 John 2:6, “Whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.”
And so the call is certain. The assignment is clear.
Learn as much as we can about God’s nature, and the life of Christ, and be that.
Allow it to be the supreme ambition of our lives.
I have a choice every day to partake in His Divine nature. By allowing His character to affect my character, until my character begins to look more like His.
It’s the absolute aim of my life.
This is more than who we are by inheritance, but who we can become by imitation.
And it matters more than we know.
Chapter 1, verses 3-4 say this, "By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the One who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence. And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.”
The King James version of verse 4, in part, says it like this, “… that through these [God’s promises], ye may become partakers of the Divine nature.”
And isn’t that what it’s really all about anyway?
Adopting His nature?
Letting it form so completely within us that it affects the way we think, the way we speak, and the way we act?
And the teaching here is not so much about our current God-like nature. Scripture tells us that we were, “made in the image of God.” (Gen 1:27) and that, “We are his offspring.” (Acts 17:28). But what Peter is here making reference to is our potential. He’s speaking in regard to what, with our God-like nature, we may BECOME.
The Bible tells us what’s in store for those who have accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior: “… because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God.”
An inheritance means this = “property passing at the owner's death to the heir or those entitled to succeed; legacy.”
Because we belong to Jesus, we share in His Sonship by inheritance. All that He has, we have the privilege of enjoying.
But look at the meaning in depth a bit more, “the genetic characters transmitted from parent to offspring; something, as a quality or characteristic, received from predecessors as if by succession.”
By inheritance, those who belong to Jesus possess the God-like qualities of the Father. And yet it is only by imitation of those characteristics that we become partakers in His Divine nature.
God becomes more and more established internally and more visible externally, in proportion to our allowing His nature to unfold and be manifest in and through us.
Scripture says that we are to be imitators of Christ. 1 Peter 2:21 says, “For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in His steps.” Ephesians 5:1, “Therefore be imitators of God.” 1 John 2:6, “Whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.”
And so the call is certain. The assignment is clear.
Learn as much as we can about God’s nature, and the life of Christ, and be that.
Allow it to be the supreme ambition of our lives.
I have a choice every day to partake in His Divine nature. By allowing His character to affect my character, until my character begins to look more like His.
It’s the absolute aim of my life.
This is more than who we are by inheritance, but who we can become by imitation.
And it matters more than we know.
Thursday, December 12, 2019
Let's Promote Potential
From the Archives...
I was with a friend for a short time the other day who is such a JOY to be around. Not just because she's joyful - she IS! Not just because she is enthusiastic - she IS! Not just because she is strong and faithful and smart and fun - she IS all of these things. No… the number one reason I love being around her so much is for her ability to SEE my potential and SPEAK LIFE into these dry bones!
I thought about it this morning as I was reading through 1 Samuel, chapter 25.
A woman by the name of Abigail, married to a bad man named Nabal, would become an important role in the life of David. In Nabal’s time of provision, David and his men would come to his aid, however, when the tables were turned and David was in need, Nabal forgot about David and refused him help. Enraged by this, and maintaining a spirit of fighting so traditionally known to this man after God’s own heart, David ordered his men to get their swords and prepare for battle.
Ahh.. but Abigail.
In a quick and witty act of humility, Abigail risked her life by attending to the needs of David and his men herself, personally atoning for the sins of her husband, to spare them of certain trouble. But what I love the most is found in verses 30 and 31, that tell us these words spoken from a determined woman, “When then Lord has done all He has promised and has made you leader of Israel, don't let this be a blemish on your record.”
Two things strike me here: “WHEN the Lord has done it.” Ah - the confidence she had in the Lord to DO what He said He would do.
And the other: “Don’t let this be a blemish on your record.”
I don’t know for sure, but I can assume that Abigail believed in the would-be-King’s potential. She knew that this involvement with Nabal would not be worth the risk of losing any amount of his reputation. And she was willing to remind David WHO He was and to WHOM He belonged.
I think if we can look around and find in our own lives at least a few people like this - we are BLESSED beyond words!
Because we all need encouragers. We all need people who see past our problems and point to our potential. We all need people in our corner who are willing to risk their own comfort to ensure that we don’t risk our own calling. Those who love us enough to see that our worth is so much greater than we could ever see on our own.
Surround yourself with people who promote your potential.
I was with a friend for a short time the other day who is such a JOY to be around. Not just because she's joyful - she IS! Not just because she is enthusiastic - she IS! Not just because she is strong and faithful and smart and fun - she IS all of these things. No… the number one reason I love being around her so much is for her ability to SEE my potential and SPEAK LIFE into these dry bones!
I thought about it this morning as I was reading through 1 Samuel, chapter 25.
A woman by the name of Abigail, married to a bad man named Nabal, would become an important role in the life of David. In Nabal’s time of provision, David and his men would come to his aid, however, when the tables were turned and David was in need, Nabal forgot about David and refused him help. Enraged by this, and maintaining a spirit of fighting so traditionally known to this man after God’s own heart, David ordered his men to get their swords and prepare for battle.
Ahh.. but Abigail.
In a quick and witty act of humility, Abigail risked her life by attending to the needs of David and his men herself, personally atoning for the sins of her husband, to spare them of certain trouble. But what I love the most is found in verses 30 and 31, that tell us these words spoken from a determined woman, “When then Lord has done all He has promised and has made you leader of Israel, don't let this be a blemish on your record.”
Two things strike me here: “WHEN the Lord has done it.” Ah - the confidence she had in the Lord to DO what He said He would do.
And the other: “Don’t let this be a blemish on your record.”
I don’t know for sure, but I can assume that Abigail believed in the would-be-King’s potential. She knew that this involvement with Nabal would not be worth the risk of losing any amount of his reputation. And she was willing to remind David WHO He was and to WHOM He belonged.
I think if we can look around and find in our own lives at least a few people like this - we are BLESSED beyond words!
Because we all need encouragers. We all need people who see past our problems and point to our potential. We all need people in our corner who are willing to risk their own comfort to ensure that we don’t risk our own calling. Those who love us enough to see that our worth is so much greater than we could ever see on our own.
Surround yourself with people who promote your potential.
Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Guard Me Against Lukewarmness
I have been on a journey this year… and the reoccurring theme for a lot of my study has been on the subject of full-out abandonment of the Gospel. I’ve spent a lot of time witnessing the “falling away” from Christianity, and have taught on the radical importance of “staying” close to Jesus in my classes this year.
But there’s one area that is of utmost concern and that is this idea of “lukewarmness.”
Revelation 3:16 in the KJV says this, “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”
The definition for lukewarm is this = “moderately warm, tepid, not ardent not zealous, cool, and indifferent.”
And let’s face it. None of us has a preference for “lukewarm.”
When I order coffee I want it to be hot. Lukewarm is highly undesirable.
When I eat a piece of pie I want it to be hot or cold. Lukewarm is simply not an option.
My commentary say that, “lukewarm religion is a direct insult to the Lord Jesus Christ.”
The lukewarm Christian - the one who is neither hot nor cold - does the most damage to the reputation of Christ, and compromises the Lord before the eyes of an onlooking, unbelieving world in all they do and say.
Listen to what theologian Charles Spurgeon warns about the affects of lukewarm Christians. He says, “The lukewarm Christian neutralizes any effect on even the most earnest minister of the Gospel, because the world will judge the church (Christ follower) not by the standard of the pulpit so much as by the level of the pew.”
And so could it be that our lukewarmness is actually what waters down, or worse yet nullifies, the Gospel message, making it most difficult for those outside the family of Christ to make Him theirs for themselves?
This journey with Jesus... this Christian profession… requires ALL of us, not just some of us.
And the thing that seems most dangerous about those in a lukewarm position is that they are overwhelmingly poor in spirt, poverty-stricken in soul, and they don’t even know it. They are blind, even though they believe they have sight. They see nothing wrong with their imbalanced, insecure living, and so they remain the hardest to reach. My commentary says, “Had they even been outwardly worse, had they defiled themselves with overt transgression, then the Spirit might have pointed out the blot and convicted them there and then.”
The truth is that when we don't see our depravity, when we don’t view Jesus as the most supreme Being, when we don’t fear God, and revere His Word with obedience, we make no attempts for improvement… we make no heart-felt confessions in prayer… no cries to heaven for the close examination of heart and removal of all that would separate us from a FULL life in Christ.
My commentary continues to define lukewarmness as one of, “mournful indifference and carelessness. They are not infidels, yet they are not earnest believers; they do not oppose the Gospel, neither do they defend it; they are not working mischief, neither are they doing any great good.”
And what does Jesus tell us that He will do to those who are lukewarm? “I will spue thee out of My mouth.”
I can’t think of anything… anything… worse than the rejection of our Lord.
We give false witness to Christ and to Christianity when we remain in a lukewarm state… and we position ourselves for elimination of intimacy with Jesus.
We cannot afford to be lukewarm.
It’s perilous.
It leads to death.
And it destroys everything in it’s path.
Oh God, that You would guard us against lukewarmness.
Keep us on fire for You!
The price we pay for declination is too dangerous.
But there’s one area that is of utmost concern and that is this idea of “lukewarmness.”
Revelation 3:16 in the KJV says this, “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”
The definition for lukewarm is this = “moderately warm, tepid, not ardent not zealous, cool, and indifferent.”
And let’s face it. None of us has a preference for “lukewarm.”
When I order coffee I want it to be hot. Lukewarm is highly undesirable.
When I eat a piece of pie I want it to be hot or cold. Lukewarm is simply not an option.
My commentary say that, “lukewarm religion is a direct insult to the Lord Jesus Christ.”
The lukewarm Christian - the one who is neither hot nor cold - does the most damage to the reputation of Christ, and compromises the Lord before the eyes of an onlooking, unbelieving world in all they do and say.
Listen to what theologian Charles Spurgeon warns about the affects of lukewarm Christians. He says, “The lukewarm Christian neutralizes any effect on even the most earnest minister of the Gospel, because the world will judge the church (Christ follower) not by the standard of the pulpit so much as by the level of the pew.”
And so could it be that our lukewarmness is actually what waters down, or worse yet nullifies, the Gospel message, making it most difficult for those outside the family of Christ to make Him theirs for themselves?
This journey with Jesus... this Christian profession… requires ALL of us, not just some of us.
And the thing that seems most dangerous about those in a lukewarm position is that they are overwhelmingly poor in spirt, poverty-stricken in soul, and they don’t even know it. They are blind, even though they believe they have sight. They see nothing wrong with their imbalanced, insecure living, and so they remain the hardest to reach. My commentary says, “Had they even been outwardly worse, had they defiled themselves with overt transgression, then the Spirit might have pointed out the blot and convicted them there and then.”
The truth is that when we don't see our depravity, when we don’t view Jesus as the most supreme Being, when we don’t fear God, and revere His Word with obedience, we make no attempts for improvement… we make no heart-felt confessions in prayer… no cries to heaven for the close examination of heart and removal of all that would separate us from a FULL life in Christ.
My commentary continues to define lukewarmness as one of, “mournful indifference and carelessness. They are not infidels, yet they are not earnest believers; they do not oppose the Gospel, neither do they defend it; they are not working mischief, neither are they doing any great good.”
And what does Jesus tell us that He will do to those who are lukewarm? “I will spue thee out of My mouth.”
I can’t think of anything… anything… worse than the rejection of our Lord.
We give false witness to Christ and to Christianity when we remain in a lukewarm state… and we position ourselves for elimination of intimacy with Jesus.
We cannot afford to be lukewarm.
It’s perilous.
It leads to death.
And it destroys everything in it’s path.
Oh God, that You would guard us against lukewarmness.
Keep us on fire for You!
The price we pay for declination is too dangerous.
Monday, December 9, 2019
This Is How They Know Me
I’ve been asking God a lot lately to give me a better perspective, especially when it comes to other people. Because the truth really is that this time of year can especially be difficult.
My husband and I went shopping this weekend. The malls were packed, the traffic was hectic, the lines were long, and the irritation level seemed to be at an all time high. Admittedly there were a couple times where I could feel my impatience level increase, and discouragement rear it’s ugly head.
But then I remembered the prayer I had been praying - “Give me eyes to see like You Jesus. Help me to love them the way You do. Help me to be an atmosphere shifter.”
Because it really changes everything. When we choose to live with intention to serve others, love everyone equally, and represent Him well with every fiber of our being.
We were in a particular store yesterday and we were interacting with a young lady who had been helping us rather extensively on getting the “right size” for something we were purchasing as a gift. My bent is always to assume I am being a bother, and so I found myself apologizing many times for my expanding requests. She didn’t seemed bothered, but I could tell it likely wasn’t something she was used to. Oh how I can only imagine the frustration she faces dealing with masses of entitled and over-demanding people - especially during the busiest season of the year.
And I don’t always get it right. I have been the impatient shopper. I have been the problematic patron. And I have done my share of misrepresenting the very Jesus I strive hard to honor daily.
But in that moment I felt God whisper to my heart - “THIS is how they know Me.”
And in that moment I realized how important my role as a Christ follower is.
Because I believe with everything in me that there’s a whole different atmosphere that exists among those who know Jesus, trust God, and are seeking after righteousness as though their very life depended on it. There is absolutely no denying an authentic worshipper of the One true God. The Gospel they protect affects the atmosphere they project, and in turn positively influences every environment they enter.
I cannot love Jesus well and complain about the paths of inconvenience He leads me in.
I cannot love Jesus well and fight with those who don’t think like I do or live according to my standard.
I cannot love Jesus well and maintain an irritable spirit of discontent with others He radically loves and died to save.
I cannot love Jesus well while crafting impossible demands on others who don’t yet know His love for themselves.
Let’s BE the Jesus people today.
Let’s choose to love like Him - even when it’s hard.
Let’s determine to be kind and offer grace to every soul.
Let’s extend patience and pause long enough to engage in community.
Let’s re-present Him to a world that’s tarnished His reputation by irrational living.
It matters!
<3
My husband and I went shopping this weekend. The malls were packed, the traffic was hectic, the lines were long, and the irritation level seemed to be at an all time high. Admittedly there were a couple times where I could feel my impatience level increase, and discouragement rear it’s ugly head.
But then I remembered the prayer I had been praying - “Give me eyes to see like You Jesus. Help me to love them the way You do. Help me to be an atmosphere shifter.”
Because it really changes everything. When we choose to live with intention to serve others, love everyone equally, and represent Him well with every fiber of our being.
We were in a particular store yesterday and we were interacting with a young lady who had been helping us rather extensively on getting the “right size” for something we were purchasing as a gift. My bent is always to assume I am being a bother, and so I found myself apologizing many times for my expanding requests. She didn’t seemed bothered, but I could tell it likely wasn’t something she was used to. Oh how I can only imagine the frustration she faces dealing with masses of entitled and over-demanding people - especially during the busiest season of the year.
And I don’t always get it right. I have been the impatient shopper. I have been the problematic patron. And I have done my share of misrepresenting the very Jesus I strive hard to honor daily.
But in that moment I felt God whisper to my heart - “THIS is how they know Me.”
And in that moment I realized how important my role as a Christ follower is.
Because I believe with everything in me that there’s a whole different atmosphere that exists among those who know Jesus, trust God, and are seeking after righteousness as though their very life depended on it. There is absolutely no denying an authentic worshipper of the One true God. The Gospel they protect affects the atmosphere they project, and in turn positively influences every environment they enter.
I cannot love Jesus well and complain about the paths of inconvenience He leads me in.
I cannot love Jesus well and fight with those who don’t think like I do or live according to my standard.
I cannot love Jesus well and maintain an irritable spirit of discontent with others He radically loves and died to save.
I cannot love Jesus well while crafting impossible demands on others who don’t yet know His love for themselves.
Let’s BE the Jesus people today.
Let’s choose to love like Him - even when it’s hard.
Let’s determine to be kind and offer grace to every soul.
Let’s extend patience and pause long enough to engage in community.
Let’s re-present Him to a world that’s tarnished His reputation by irrational living.
It matters!
<3
Sunday, December 8, 2019
Guard Your Heart Above Everything Else
Proverbs 4:23 says this, “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”
Oh the heart is a weak thing. A sinful thing. And prone to lead us astray, abandoning all for the sake of self-promotion, self-preservation, and self-absorption. In the Old Testament it represents the center of all emotions.… the place where true self is formed and developed. It serves as most critical in the battle between righteousness and evil, and cannot be trusted.
Hebrews 12:15 says, in part, “… Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grow up to trouble you, corrupting many.”
I’ve read this verse probably more than four dozen times. In fact it’s probably safe to say that my bible is worn down in this section from returning to it for insight and reminders.
The Message version says it this way, “Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time.”
The King James Version uses a unique word to illustrate the result of subjecting yourself to bitterness. It’s this word, “defile.” “… Lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.”
To defile means to stain, pollute, corrupt, contaminate.
Bitterness is contagious. It causes pollution. It corrupts. And it contaminates.
You know this to be true.
You can walk into an environment where the bitterness of another is present and suddenly there’s a shift in the atmosphere. Suddenly there’s a palpable disturbance that wasn’t present before. Suddenly you begin to feel yourself in a stressful state-of-mind that leaves you feeling irritated and sometimes even physically sick.
Why? What happened?
The bitterness in a person pollutes the atmosphere by which even those seeking after holiness will become contaminated and infected. It’s as though the disease in which they have been affected by escalates in power and influence, infecting us and leaving us stained and polluted in the process.
And there are absolutely some situations we have no control over. Some individuals that we must stay engaged with regularly for the purpose of family or a working relationship. But we must stay alert to what’s going on. We’ve got to stay awake and seek wisdom from God on how to handle these situations - “lest [we] become defiled.”
Contamination kills. And often we are “guilty by association."
Contamination means this = making something impure or unsuitable by contact with something unclean or bad; rendering something harmful or unusable.
Wow.
I could be rendered unusable by the association I keep with evil and destructive persons?
Yes.
And this is why we must guard our hearts above everything else.
We’ve got to understand our “bent” toward these types of people and these kinds of environments. We must recognize the things that, by association, keep us in a pattern of impurity. We must properly identify the disease and stay immune to the infection by refusing involvement that serves as a setback to our spiritual growth.
Scripture defines the bitterness as a “root”. And when that root is allowed to grow it begins to alter our actions and attitudes and following a slow-fade we have become the very thing we set out to guard ourselves against.
Keep vigilant over the matters of your heart. Protect yourself at all cost from the damaging affect of bitterness and evil of any kind. Be alert!
It matters more than we even know!
It should be our prayer daily: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.“ Psalm 51:10
Oh the heart is a weak thing. A sinful thing. And prone to lead us astray, abandoning all for the sake of self-promotion, self-preservation, and self-absorption. In the Old Testament it represents the center of all emotions.… the place where true self is formed and developed. It serves as most critical in the battle between righteousness and evil, and cannot be trusted.
Hebrews 12:15 says, in part, “… Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grow up to trouble you, corrupting many.”
I’ve read this verse probably more than four dozen times. In fact it’s probably safe to say that my bible is worn down in this section from returning to it for insight and reminders.
The Message version says it this way, “Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time.”
The King James Version uses a unique word to illustrate the result of subjecting yourself to bitterness. It’s this word, “defile.” “… Lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.”
To defile means to stain, pollute, corrupt, contaminate.
Bitterness is contagious. It causes pollution. It corrupts. And it contaminates.
You know this to be true.
You can walk into an environment where the bitterness of another is present and suddenly there’s a shift in the atmosphere. Suddenly there’s a palpable disturbance that wasn’t present before. Suddenly you begin to feel yourself in a stressful state-of-mind that leaves you feeling irritated and sometimes even physically sick.
Why? What happened?
The bitterness in a person pollutes the atmosphere by which even those seeking after holiness will become contaminated and infected. It’s as though the disease in which they have been affected by escalates in power and influence, infecting us and leaving us stained and polluted in the process.
And there are absolutely some situations we have no control over. Some individuals that we must stay engaged with regularly for the purpose of family or a working relationship. But we must stay alert to what’s going on. We’ve got to stay awake and seek wisdom from God on how to handle these situations - “lest [we] become defiled.”
Contamination kills. And often we are “guilty by association."
Contamination means this = making something impure or unsuitable by contact with something unclean or bad; rendering something harmful or unusable.
Wow.
I could be rendered unusable by the association I keep with evil and destructive persons?
Yes.
And this is why we must guard our hearts above everything else.
We’ve got to understand our “bent” toward these types of people and these kinds of environments. We must recognize the things that, by association, keep us in a pattern of impurity. We must properly identify the disease and stay immune to the infection by refusing involvement that serves as a setback to our spiritual growth.
Scripture defines the bitterness as a “root”. And when that root is allowed to grow it begins to alter our actions and attitudes and following a slow-fade we have become the very thing we set out to guard ourselves against.
Keep vigilant over the matters of your heart. Protect yourself at all cost from the damaging affect of bitterness and evil of any kind. Be alert!
It matters more than we even know!
It should be our prayer daily: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.“ Psalm 51:10
Friday, December 6, 2019
Seek FIRST His Kingdom
Matthew 6:33 remains one of my favorite passages in scripture. It says this, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.”
I read a story about a man who was caricature artist. He was talking about his profession and he said this, “Never draw a caricature. By the long practice of it I have lost the enjoyment of beauty.” He went on to say, “By constantly looking at the dark, altered side of their life - it’s distorted and unpleasant aspect - I lose the power to appreciate the blessings which are theirs. I never see a face but distorted.”
Reading this story reminded me of so many who willingly choose to see only the distorted side of life.
I was with someone recently who could say nothing positive in our entire conversation. Every single thing that left the mouth of my companion was harsh and crude and, quite honestly, painful to me, the listener. At one point I was tempted to say, “Can you not even think of ONE good thing to say?”
And the truth really is that so many times that’s me.
We can get so easily tangled up in negativity that it swallows us right up whole! And before we know it, or even realize it, we are in the pit of despair.
And what’s happening when we insist on speaking poorly about our circumstances? We’ve failed to SEEK FIRST the kingdom and His righteousness.
And look at what we’re missing when we do! “All these things added” to us! (all our needs, according to verses 31-32.)
So many find themselves in cycles of defeat stemming from the perspectives they keep and the words they speak that are only a reflection of what’s really in the heart.
Forecasting sorrow, affliction, and difficulty does so much more irreparable damage than we realize. Anticipating hardship:
1.) causes us to forget our present and past blessings.
2.) makes us unfit for the present day’s duties.
3.) gives us practical denial of Christianity.
4.) has a profound saddening affect on others in our presence.
5.) keeps us in a manner of constant “suspicion” for all that lies ahead.
You and I have been given an assignment, and that is to seek FIRST and FOREMOST the kingdom of God. And when we do this we can be sure that the temptation to foresee and foretell of impending doom will be removed.
Show me someone who remains in the constant pattern of destructive speech and deliberate expectancy of future misfortune and misery, and I will show you someone who has abandoned the order of seeking first God’s kingdom.
And the result is far too dangerous. The assignment is too precious.
He has more for us than we could ever dare to dream or imagine for ourselves, but will withhold to those who cannot see the goodness and His faithfulness in all things.
Forecasting affliction makes us unsuitable for the assignment.
Seek first. Seek primarily. Seek with great passion and determination… His Kingdom.
I read a story about a man who was caricature artist. He was talking about his profession and he said this, “Never draw a caricature. By the long practice of it I have lost the enjoyment of beauty.” He went on to say, “By constantly looking at the dark, altered side of their life - it’s distorted and unpleasant aspect - I lose the power to appreciate the blessings which are theirs. I never see a face but distorted.”
Reading this story reminded me of so many who willingly choose to see only the distorted side of life.
I was with someone recently who could say nothing positive in our entire conversation. Every single thing that left the mouth of my companion was harsh and crude and, quite honestly, painful to me, the listener. At one point I was tempted to say, “Can you not even think of ONE good thing to say?”
And the truth really is that so many times that’s me.
We can get so easily tangled up in negativity that it swallows us right up whole! And before we know it, or even realize it, we are in the pit of despair.
And what’s happening when we insist on speaking poorly about our circumstances? We’ve failed to SEEK FIRST the kingdom and His righteousness.
And look at what we’re missing when we do! “All these things added” to us! (all our needs, according to verses 31-32.)
So many find themselves in cycles of defeat stemming from the perspectives they keep and the words they speak that are only a reflection of what’s really in the heart.
Forecasting sorrow, affliction, and difficulty does so much more irreparable damage than we realize. Anticipating hardship:
1.) causes us to forget our present and past blessings.
2.) makes us unfit for the present day’s duties.
3.) gives us practical denial of Christianity.
4.) has a profound saddening affect on others in our presence.
5.) keeps us in a manner of constant “suspicion” for all that lies ahead.
You and I have been given an assignment, and that is to seek FIRST and FOREMOST the kingdom of God. And when we do this we can be sure that the temptation to foresee and foretell of impending doom will be removed.
Show me someone who remains in the constant pattern of destructive speech and deliberate expectancy of future misfortune and misery, and I will show you someone who has abandoned the order of seeking first God’s kingdom.
And the result is far too dangerous. The assignment is too precious.
He has more for us than we could ever dare to dream or imagine for ourselves, but will withhold to those who cannot see the goodness and His faithfulness in all things.
Forecasting affliction makes us unsuitable for the assignment.
Seek first. Seek primarily. Seek with great passion and determination… His Kingdom.
Thursday, December 5, 2019
Jesus Longs To Hear Your Voice!
There’s a cute little quote floating about Pinterest land that says, “If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.”
And while it’s humorous and somewhat accurate, I don’t know that it’s 100% theologically sound.
The operative word here might be “plans”, and to that I would tend to partially agree.
We make plans all the time for things that might not “align” with His will for our lives.
But there’s, what I believe to be, a “more true” truth which resides on the same side of the coin.
And that is this: I believe God longs to hear what we’re dreaming about.
I remember in the early days of my ministry. Looking back it feels so much like a “striving.”
And maybe it was.
Striving to know His will.
Striving to hear His voice.
Striving to understand His plan.
Certainly what I was NEVER in lack of was passion and zeal.
But in my constant pursuit of what HE wanted, I failed to see it through the lens of my own desires. The ones HE had planted there.
While He doesn’t need to know our plans, is surely not impressed by our demands, and not necessarily influenced by our requests, He is, I believe, affected by our dreams, and longs to hear our voice.
Scripture tells us all throughout the Bible of God listening to His children. Attentively. Deliberately. Faithfully. Vigilantly.
Once Jesus asked those closest to Him what others were saying about Him. Not because He needed to know. He was fully God. But because He was interested in his students communicating perspective.
Psalm 66:19 says this, “But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer.”
John 9:31 says, “… He is ready to hear those who worship Him and do His will.”
1 John 5:15 says, “And since we know He hears us when we make our requests, we also know that He will give us what we ask for.”
He is a good Father.
And like so many good earthly Fathers He longs to hear from His children.
When my daughter was little and she would share her dreams with me, it delighted me to know her heart. It gave me great joy to know that in her very soul resided goals and hopes and dreams for a beautiful future. I didn’t turn her away and tell her that it didn't align with all I had planned for her. And no matter how ridiculous the desire of her heart might have been, I faithfully encouraged her to pursue what she wanted with great diligence. Why? Because I love her. And because the heart of a parent is always to support dreams any way they can.
He longs to hear from you today. He longs to know what you’re thinking about… what you’re dreaming about… what kinds of ambitions and desires you possess. After all - He put them there.
He doesn’t ask to know - but He longs to hear you speak!
And while it’s humorous and somewhat accurate, I don’t know that it’s 100% theologically sound.
The operative word here might be “plans”, and to that I would tend to partially agree.
We make plans all the time for things that might not “align” with His will for our lives.
But there’s, what I believe to be, a “more true” truth which resides on the same side of the coin.
And that is this: I believe God longs to hear what we’re dreaming about.
I remember in the early days of my ministry. Looking back it feels so much like a “striving.”
And maybe it was.
Striving to know His will.
Striving to hear His voice.
Striving to understand His plan.
Certainly what I was NEVER in lack of was passion and zeal.
But in my constant pursuit of what HE wanted, I failed to see it through the lens of my own desires. The ones HE had planted there.
While He doesn’t need to know our plans, is surely not impressed by our demands, and not necessarily influenced by our requests, He is, I believe, affected by our dreams, and longs to hear our voice.
Scripture tells us all throughout the Bible of God listening to His children. Attentively. Deliberately. Faithfully. Vigilantly.
Once Jesus asked those closest to Him what others were saying about Him. Not because He needed to know. He was fully God. But because He was interested in his students communicating perspective.
Psalm 66:19 says this, “But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer.”
John 9:31 says, “… He is ready to hear those who worship Him and do His will.”
1 John 5:15 says, “And since we know He hears us when we make our requests, we also know that He will give us what we ask for.”
He is a good Father.
And like so many good earthly Fathers He longs to hear from His children.
When my daughter was little and she would share her dreams with me, it delighted me to know her heart. It gave me great joy to know that in her very soul resided goals and hopes and dreams for a beautiful future. I didn’t turn her away and tell her that it didn't align with all I had planned for her. And no matter how ridiculous the desire of her heart might have been, I faithfully encouraged her to pursue what she wanted with great diligence. Why? Because I love her. And because the heart of a parent is always to support dreams any way they can.
He longs to hear from you today. He longs to know what you’re thinking about… what you’re dreaming about… what kinds of ambitions and desires you possess. After all - He put them there.
He doesn’t ask to know - but He longs to hear you speak!
Wednesday, December 4, 2019
Let Disappointments Develop You
In John 4:34 Jesus says this, “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God who sent Me, and from finishing His work.”
Jesus.
He only did what He saw the Father do and He only said what He heard the Father say.
And He left us with an example and a commission to do the same.
To do the will of God as He did. To be employed by God to do His work… to make an actual business out of it.
And here Jesus is telling us that we obtain the nourishment we need by doing His will.
Job 23:12 says, “I have treasured His Word more than daily food.”
Our nourishment comes from His living Word… His voice. His will.
I was talking with a friend recently who is going through a very tough time emotionally. It is very painful and the process in which God is walking her through is very difficult. But she also realizes that in order to grow, she must go through it. In an effort to strengthen her spiritual life, she understands the necessary path of obedience she must walk.
But it’s hard.
And I wonder, often, if instead of full surrender, we choose less satisfying roads to avoid hardship and inconvenience.
Because the truth really is that we have an idea of how we think things should be. And as humans we tend to avoid discomfort at all cost.
But what if the main purpose of life isn’t to avoid pain and difficulty? What if there is actually more to life than the perpetual pursuit of temporal pleasure? What if God wants to be more than a burden-lifter for us? What if He actually desires for us to use disadvantages and disappointments to develop us?
Because what I know to be true in my own life is that it’s always been the painful situations that have positioned me to grow stronger in my faith.
Perhaps instead of seeking to “get out of” the painful situations I find myself in, I need to learn what it means to effectively endure them with deeper trust and greater confidence that leads to ultimate victory. Just maybe there’s more to gain spiritually by learning to properly navigate tough waters, than to seek avoidance of danger altogether if it means gaining more of Jesus in the process and experiencing safety on shore!
We can become bitter on our way to spiritual advancement if we allow disadvantages, defeat, and disappointments to damage our already fragile heart.
Let’s make a determination today that we will allow all of what God gives us to not destroy us, but develop us. It is by this process alone that we will be supplied with all the nourishment we should ever need.
Jesus.
He only did what He saw the Father do and He only said what He heard the Father say.
And He left us with an example and a commission to do the same.
To do the will of God as He did. To be employed by God to do His work… to make an actual business out of it.
And here Jesus is telling us that we obtain the nourishment we need by doing His will.
Job 23:12 says, “I have treasured His Word more than daily food.”
Our nourishment comes from His living Word… His voice. His will.
I was talking with a friend recently who is going through a very tough time emotionally. It is very painful and the process in which God is walking her through is very difficult. But she also realizes that in order to grow, she must go through it. In an effort to strengthen her spiritual life, she understands the necessary path of obedience she must walk.
But it’s hard.
And I wonder, often, if instead of full surrender, we choose less satisfying roads to avoid hardship and inconvenience.
Because the truth really is that we have an idea of how we think things should be. And as humans we tend to avoid discomfort at all cost.
But what if the main purpose of life isn’t to avoid pain and difficulty? What if there is actually more to life than the perpetual pursuit of temporal pleasure? What if God wants to be more than a burden-lifter for us? What if He actually desires for us to use disadvantages and disappointments to develop us?
Because what I know to be true in my own life is that it’s always been the painful situations that have positioned me to grow stronger in my faith.
Perhaps instead of seeking to “get out of” the painful situations I find myself in, I need to learn what it means to effectively endure them with deeper trust and greater confidence that leads to ultimate victory. Just maybe there’s more to gain spiritually by learning to properly navigate tough waters, than to seek avoidance of danger altogether if it means gaining more of Jesus in the process and experiencing safety on shore!
We can become bitter on our way to spiritual advancement if we allow disadvantages, defeat, and disappointments to damage our already fragile heart.
Let’s make a determination today that we will allow all of what God gives us to not destroy us, but develop us. It is by this process alone that we will be supplied with all the nourishment we should ever need.
Tuesday, December 3, 2019
Remember, Recall, Be Ready
Psalm 13:5 has become one of my go-to verses.
David says this, “… but I will trust in Your unfailing love and rejoice because You rescued me.” The Passion translation says it this way, “I will yet celebrate with passion when Your salvation lifts me up.”
And I would write it my bible at the beginning of 2019. “Expectation.”
Because my word for this year has been the word “watch.”
“Watch” in expectation for all God is doing, wants to do, and will do.
It’s a shift in mindset.
I was talking to someone last night at dinner and told them what I have been preaching to self all year long. I said this, “If you’re having a hard time discerning what God is doing, focus for a time on what you've seen Him do.”
Jesus was talking to His disciples one time and frustratingly asked them why it was they couldn’t perceive the things of heaven. And in talking with them He used a word that has become an anthem for me over the last several months and it’s this word “remember.” Jesus says to His students and to you and I today, “Can you remember?” (See Mark 8.)
In other words… I know you can’t see what I’m doing, but can you remember what I’ve done?
It’s what David is doing here in Psalm 13.
He’s reminding himself of God’s unfailing love.
And he’s choosing words of life over his discontent.
My commentary says had David doubted the reality of his trust in God, he would’ve blocked up one of the windows through which the sun of heaven delights to shine.
David chose to remember God’s faithfulness in past rescue and recall it to memory. And in the remembering and recalling, he was readying himself for the outflow of blessing God was preparing.
And that’s the truth really, isn’t it?
God has so much more in store for you and I. More than we could ever dream up or imagine for ourselves. But we limit the effectiveness of His work so often times by refusing to remember all He’s brought us through.
I was asked once years ago how I knew God was real and in part my answer was, “because His fingerprints all over my life are undeniable.”
I have watched Him rescue me from the pit.
I have seen Him restore brokenness.
I have been a witness to financial breakthrough.
I have experienced radical healing.
We’ve got to remember what He’s done, recall it to memory as often as we can, repeat it out loud for all to hear, and then be ready for all He wants to do in us and through us.
Remember…. Recall… and be Ready!
David says this, “… but I will trust in Your unfailing love and rejoice because You rescued me.” The Passion translation says it this way, “I will yet celebrate with passion when Your salvation lifts me up.”
And I would write it my bible at the beginning of 2019. “Expectation.”
Because my word for this year has been the word “watch.”
“Watch” in expectation for all God is doing, wants to do, and will do.
It’s a shift in mindset.
I was talking to someone last night at dinner and told them what I have been preaching to self all year long. I said this, “If you’re having a hard time discerning what God is doing, focus for a time on what you've seen Him do.”
Jesus was talking to His disciples one time and frustratingly asked them why it was they couldn’t perceive the things of heaven. And in talking with them He used a word that has become an anthem for me over the last several months and it’s this word “remember.” Jesus says to His students and to you and I today, “Can you remember?” (See Mark 8.)
In other words… I know you can’t see what I’m doing, but can you remember what I’ve done?
It’s what David is doing here in Psalm 13.
He’s reminding himself of God’s unfailing love.
And he’s choosing words of life over his discontent.
My commentary says had David doubted the reality of his trust in God, he would’ve blocked up one of the windows through which the sun of heaven delights to shine.
David chose to remember God’s faithfulness in past rescue and recall it to memory. And in the remembering and recalling, he was readying himself for the outflow of blessing God was preparing.
And that’s the truth really, isn’t it?
God has so much more in store for you and I. More than we could ever dream up or imagine for ourselves. But we limit the effectiveness of His work so often times by refusing to remember all He’s brought us through.
I was asked once years ago how I knew God was real and in part my answer was, “because His fingerprints all over my life are undeniable.”
I have watched Him rescue me from the pit.
I have seen Him restore brokenness.
I have been a witness to financial breakthrough.
I have experienced radical healing.
We’ve got to remember what He’s done, recall it to memory as often as we can, repeat it out loud for all to hear, and then be ready for all He wants to do in us and through us.
Remember…. Recall… and be Ready!
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