Zachariah 1:3 This what the LORD Almighty says: 'Return to me,' declares the LORD Almighty, 'and I will return to you,' says the LORD Almighty.
Freewill. It's what sets us apart from animals and angels. God is the same "yesterday, today and forever". (Hebrews 13:8) He is steadfast, consistent. It is we who vascillate, hesitate and separate.
For the past several days, I have felt unsettled. I went through the usual checklists. Work. Caught up. Missed a birthday? Nope. Today's reading put a name to my recent dis-ease.
While I have been fairly consistent in my blog entries, that has been the extend of my time alone with God. While the blog is not a bad thing, I have neglected prayer and meditation. God is telling me, "Return to me."
The closeness of one's relationship with God is not dependent on God. Scripture shows time and again that if a person desires closeness to God, that the person must seek that closeness. James 4:8, Matthew 7:7.
God will not override our freewill in order to force a close, intimate relationship. He will not make us slow down and pray and meditate on His word. But if we desire to grow in as a Christian, we must draw near to Him. If we want the "peace that passes understanding" and a powerful, life-changing/world-changing relationship with Him, it is up to us to ask and act. God is there. God is desirous of such a connection. He promises, "Return to me, and I will return to you."
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
June 26, 2012
Acts 16:25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
Personal conviction from this verse-- Two ways ago I was doing some painting at school. I was in the basement and had the music turned up fairly loud. There was an artist up one floor working on some murals in the main hallway. At one point she mentioned she really liked my song choice. BUT all the songs being played were secular. After reading the verse from Acts, I wondered if I had a Christian playlist going perhaps a seed could have been planted or a need ministered to in this person's life.
On to Blackaby's commentary on Acts 16:25.
Joy comes from knowing God. Joy is a result of the forgiveness and love God shows His children. Far too often we allow people or circumstances to determine our joy level. Paul and Silas had been falsely accused, beaten with rods and placed in the inner cell with their feet in stocks. Yet they still prayed and sang songs to God. Now that is an example of true joy, not situational happiness.
That kind of joy can only come from truly knowing who we are in Christ. "How do we know who we are in Christ?" you ask. Spiritual disciplines, my friend. Meditation on the Word of God. Bible reading and study. Consistent and sustained prayer. Paul and Silas did not reach prison joy through a mere two-hour a week trip to the local synagogue.
It is also interesting to note that they were there to encourage each other. So many times in the Bible we find Believers who are in trouble leaning on the shoulder of other Believers. Shad, Mesh, Aben in the furnace. Paul asked for the support and encouragement of the local churches. Moses and Aaron. Jesus sent disciples out two-by-two to spread the gospel. Do you have that Christian shoulder to lean on?
Heavenly Father, please impress upon my heart today just how magnificent You are and bring to mind all You have done for me. May my joy today arise out of that knowledge, not the circumstances and situations that are a part of my life. Amen.
Personal conviction from this verse-- Two ways ago I was doing some painting at school. I was in the basement and had the music turned up fairly loud. There was an artist up one floor working on some murals in the main hallway. At one point she mentioned she really liked my song choice. BUT all the songs being played were secular. After reading the verse from Acts, I wondered if I had a Christian playlist going perhaps a seed could have been planted or a need ministered to in this person's life.
On to Blackaby's commentary on Acts 16:25.
Joy comes from knowing God. Joy is a result of the forgiveness and love God shows His children. Far too often we allow people or circumstances to determine our joy level. Paul and Silas had been falsely accused, beaten with rods and placed in the inner cell with their feet in stocks. Yet they still prayed and sang songs to God. Now that is an example of true joy, not situational happiness.
That kind of joy can only come from truly knowing who we are in Christ. "How do we know who we are in Christ?" you ask. Spiritual disciplines, my friend. Meditation on the Word of God. Bible reading and study. Consistent and sustained prayer. Paul and Silas did not reach prison joy through a mere two-hour a week trip to the local synagogue.
It is also interesting to note that they were there to encourage each other. So many times in the Bible we find Believers who are in trouble leaning on the shoulder of other Believers. Shad, Mesh, Aben in the furnace. Paul asked for the support and encouragement of the local churches. Moses and Aaron. Jesus sent disciples out two-by-two to spread the gospel. Do you have that Christian shoulder to lean on?
Heavenly Father, please impress upon my heart today just how magnificent You are and bring to mind all You have done for me. May my joy today arise out of that knowledge, not the circumstances and situations that are a part of my life. Amen.
Monday, June 25, 2012
June 25, 2012
Isaiah 5:4 What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it? When I looked for good grapes, why did it yield only bad?
Didn't enjoy today's reading quite so much.
Blackaby recounts the story in Isaiah about the man who planted a vineyard with much care and consideration- fertile soil properly prepared, best quality vines, watch tower to keep out wild animals and intruders. Yet "it yielded only bad" grapes.
Compare that to the Christian church as a whole and Christians as individuals (especially those living in America).
Saved by grace. Sin forgiven and guilt removed. Holy Spirit guide. Countless churches of every denomination and worship style. Multiple radio and television stations committed to preaching/teaching the Word. Christian books, magazines, conferences, webinars, Youtube videos. Untold numbers of seminary trained preachers and teachers. "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." (Luke 12:48)
God has blessed me with much. Am I providing His Kingdom with good or bad grapes?
Didn't enjoy today's reading quite so much.
Blackaby recounts the story in Isaiah about the man who planted a vineyard with much care and consideration- fertile soil properly prepared, best quality vines, watch tower to keep out wild animals and intruders. Yet "it yielded only bad" grapes.
Compare that to the Christian church as a whole and Christians as individuals (especially those living in America).
Saved by grace. Sin forgiven and guilt removed. Holy Spirit guide. Countless churches of every denomination and worship style. Multiple radio and television stations committed to preaching/teaching the Word. Christian books, magazines, conferences, webinars, Youtube videos. Untold numbers of seminary trained preachers and teachers. "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." (Luke 12:48)
God has blessed me with much. Am I providing His Kingdom with good or bad grapes?
Saturday, June 23, 2012
June 23, 2012
Judges 2:2-3 2b". . .and you shall not make a convenant with the people of the land, but you shall break down their altars. 'Yet you have disobeyed me. Why have you done this? 3And I have also said, 'I will not drive them out before you; they will become traps for you, and their gods will become snares for you.'"
Blackaby gets to the heart of Christians' battle with sin in his comments on today's verse. "Drive them out." God does not instruct Christians to make truces with our sinful behaviors. He does not command us to "most of the time" refrain from sin. But we are to abolish, destroy, obliterate the strongholds of sin in our lives.
No matter how intentional we are about driving sin from our lives, there will still be times we fall, but the attitude of destruction of sin in our lives will go a long way to strengthening our resolve to live a life that is pleasing to God.
So many times my prayers in the area of sin are a mealy-mouthed, milk-toast plea from a scared little rabbit of a man. "Oh please. . ." "I am so helpless. . ." "Sin is so overpowering. . ." I firmly believe that the ability to resist temptation comes only from the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives and that God must be approached with humility and reverence, but in this particular area, we can, and should, approach the Throne with the confidence and boldness of adopted children of God.
When faced with temptation, let's be one of The Avengers, not a Cabbage Patch Kid. We should be concrete, not marshmallows. Let's start breaking and smashing sin in our lives. Not hiding in fear from the temptations that assault us on a daily basis. The Creator of the universe promises us victory from sin. Let's rejoice in this promise and use it as a battering ram.
Blackaby gets to the heart of Christians' battle with sin in his comments on today's verse. "Drive them out." God does not instruct Christians to make truces with our sinful behaviors. He does not command us to "most of the time" refrain from sin. But we are to abolish, destroy, obliterate the strongholds of sin in our lives.
No matter how intentional we are about driving sin from our lives, there will still be times we fall, but the attitude of destruction of sin in our lives will go a long way to strengthening our resolve to live a life that is pleasing to God.
So many times my prayers in the area of sin are a mealy-mouthed, milk-toast plea from a scared little rabbit of a man. "Oh please. . ." "I am so helpless. . ." "Sin is so overpowering. . ." I firmly believe that the ability to resist temptation comes only from the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives and that God must be approached with humility and reverence, but in this particular area, we can, and should, approach the Throne with the confidence and boldness of adopted children of God.
When faced with temptation, let's be one of The Avengers, not a Cabbage Patch Kid. We should be concrete, not marshmallows. Let's start breaking and smashing sin in our lives. Not hiding in fear from the temptations that assault us on a daily basis. The Creator of the universe promises us victory from sin. Let's rejoice in this promise and use it as a battering ram.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
June 21, 2012
Psalm 41:12 Because of my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forever.
"Integrity"- A firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values.
"Firm"- a. securely or fixed in place; b. not weak or uncertain
Are our Christian values firm for each of us? Are they firm until a joke can get a laugh at school from the "in" crowd? Are our values "fixed in place" until our neighbor needs our help but the NBA Finals are on television? Are our values certain until tithing would mean not getting the place on the lake?
Many Christians talk of integrity and values, but how firm do we stand on those values when it is more convenient, socially acceptable, or financially advantageous to compromise? Integrity is a lifestyle, not a situational choice. David, Job, Paul, Stephen lived lives of integrity. Through life's ups and downs, through catastrophic events, even unto death, their values were "securely fixed in place". (Yes, even David- Although his sin was great in the situation with Bathseba, he confessed, repented and returned to his core values.)
How much sleep, social acceptance, and "stuff" are we willing to forego in order to maintain our personal integrity?
One final note one this verse- If integrity is firmly adhering to a moral code, I wonder how many Christians could articulate our own personal moral code. Not parroting the Beatitudes or I Corinthians 13, but in our own words, clearly and succinctly present a personal moral code. Do we know to what we are to firmly adhere?
"Integrity"- A firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values.
"Firm"- a. securely or fixed in place; b. not weak or uncertain
Are our Christian values firm for each of us? Are they firm until a joke can get a laugh at school from the "in" crowd? Are our values "fixed in place" until our neighbor needs our help but the NBA Finals are on television? Are our values certain until tithing would mean not getting the place on the lake?
Many Christians talk of integrity and values, but how firm do we stand on those values when it is more convenient, socially acceptable, or financially advantageous to compromise? Integrity is a lifestyle, not a situational choice. David, Job, Paul, Stephen lived lives of integrity. Through life's ups and downs, through catastrophic events, even unto death, their values were "securely fixed in place". (Yes, even David- Although his sin was great in the situation with Bathseba, he confessed, repented and returned to his core values.)
How much sleep, social acceptance, and "stuff" are we willing to forego in order to maintain our personal integrity?
One final note one this verse- If integrity is firmly adhering to a moral code, I wonder how many Christians could articulate our own personal moral code. Not parroting the Beatitudes or I Corinthians 13, but in our own words, clearly and succinctly present a personal moral code. Do we know to what we are to firmly adhere?
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
June 20, 2012
Romans 6:18 You have been set free and become slaves to righteousness.
"Righteous living is not an option for Christians. It is an obligation, mandatory for every child of God," writes Blackaby in response to today's verse. While technically we do have the choice to sin, it should not be considered an option for a Believer.
When we accepted Christ as Savior, we also accepted Him as Lord. As our Lord, He has the unqualified right to require righteous living from His subjects. There is never a time when it is okay to gossip, repeat an off-color joke, skip our quiet time with Him, divert tithes to a new iPad, etc. Each time we justify, rationalize, excuse, explain away or condone sin in our lives, no matter how "small", we are acting in direct disobedience to God.
If you asked the majority of Christian bread-winners if retiring from their career at age 40 was an option, most would answer, "No." You would receive the same response if you asked parents if it was okay to beat their children. Yet, Christians take advantage of God's grace and mercy multiple times a day. We smoke. We swear. We lose our tempers. We neglect alone time with God. Perhaps we bank too much on the "freedom in Christ" and not enough on the "slaves to righteousness".
For Christians, sin is not an option. Period. End of story. Final answer.
I realize this is much easier said than done, but if each Christian REALLY internalized this idea, perhaps we would be much more vigilant in our thoughts, words and actions.
"Righteous living is not an option for Christians. It is an obligation, mandatory for every child of God," writes Blackaby in response to today's verse. While technically we do have the choice to sin, it should not be considered an option for a Believer.
When we accepted Christ as Savior, we also accepted Him as Lord. As our Lord, He has the unqualified right to require righteous living from His subjects. There is never a time when it is okay to gossip, repeat an off-color joke, skip our quiet time with Him, divert tithes to a new iPad, etc. Each time we justify, rationalize, excuse, explain away or condone sin in our lives, no matter how "small", we are acting in direct disobedience to God.
If you asked the majority of Christian bread-winners if retiring from their career at age 40 was an option, most would answer, "No." You would receive the same response if you asked parents if it was okay to beat their children. Yet, Christians take advantage of God's grace and mercy multiple times a day. We smoke. We swear. We lose our tempers. We neglect alone time with God. Perhaps we bank too much on the "freedom in Christ" and not enough on the "slaves to righteousness".
For Christians, sin is not an option. Period. End of story. Final answer.
I realize this is much easier said than done, but if each Christian REALLY internalized this idea, perhaps we would be much more vigilant in our thoughts, words and actions.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
June 19, 2012
Matthew 5:1-2 1Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountaintop and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
I had always thought of the Sermon on the Mount, which begins in Matthew 5, as a sermon in the sense that Jesus "preached" to the whole crowd. After reading verses 1 and 2 of chapter 5, I wonder if the sermon was more of a teaching session just to the 12 disciples.
It appears from a closer reading of verses 1 and 2 that Jesus actually removed Himself and his disciples from the crowd so He could reveal to them some foundational truths. After reading several commentaries about the Sermon on the Mount, my interpretation is most likely incorrect, but it does point to the need for Christ's followers to get alone with the Master on a regular basis so He can speak to individuals.
Corporate worship has its place and is encouraged in Hebrews 10:25, but it cannot replace the intimacy of solitary time with Jesus.
I had always thought of the Sermon on the Mount, which begins in Matthew 5, as a sermon in the sense that Jesus "preached" to the whole crowd. After reading verses 1 and 2 of chapter 5, I wonder if the sermon was more of a teaching session just to the 12 disciples.
It appears from a closer reading of verses 1 and 2 that Jesus actually removed Himself and his disciples from the crowd so He could reveal to them some foundational truths. After reading several commentaries about the Sermon on the Mount, my interpretation is most likely incorrect, but it does point to the need for Christ's followers to get alone with the Master on a regular basis so He can speak to individuals.
Corporate worship has its place and is encouraged in Hebrews 10:25, but it cannot replace the intimacy of solitary time with Jesus.
Monday, June 18, 2012
June 18, 2012
Galatians 6:2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you fulfill the law of Christ.
Blackaby writes, "recognizing a need in someone's life can be one of the greatest invitations from God you will ever experience." However, involvement precedes recognition, and involvement is a shortcoming of mine. I like to show up at Sunday School and discuss the lesson then head to worship. Tennis is exercise and fresh air, not an opportunity to share God's grace with a friend. I am comfortable with surface friendships. Share a laugh, discuss the weather and "see ya' next week".
For years I have bashed Facebook as the sharing of the banal and trivial, but it is through those sharings that needs can be recognized and God's love shared if a person is sensitive to the Holy Spirit and willing to become involved.
God has allowed Kristi and I to be in a place where we have time and some resources to assist others who are in need, but how well are we using these gifts from God? I cannot speak for Kristi, but I know I am selfish with so much of what God has given me.
A particular area of struggle for me is in the area of finances. Kristi and I both have great jobs and have chosen to purchase a modest home, BUT lately I have been struggling with the accumulation of stuff and home projects. Nothing outlandish such as a boat or motorcycle, but $100 there and $200 there can add up in a hurry. All of a sudden any disposable income we might have to assist someone is sitting in the garage or planted in the yard. Please pray that I will become content with all that God has provided so Kristi and I will be in a position to be a financial resource for a person or a ministry if God places a need in front of us.
Blackaby writes, "recognizing a need in someone's life can be one of the greatest invitations from God you will ever experience." However, involvement precedes recognition, and involvement is a shortcoming of mine. I like to show up at Sunday School and discuss the lesson then head to worship. Tennis is exercise and fresh air, not an opportunity to share God's grace with a friend. I am comfortable with surface friendships. Share a laugh, discuss the weather and "see ya' next week".
For years I have bashed Facebook as the sharing of the banal and trivial, but it is through those sharings that needs can be recognized and God's love shared if a person is sensitive to the Holy Spirit and willing to become involved.
God has allowed Kristi and I to be in a place where we have time and some resources to assist others who are in need, but how well are we using these gifts from God? I cannot speak for Kristi, but I know I am selfish with so much of what God has given me.
A particular area of struggle for me is in the area of finances. Kristi and I both have great jobs and have chosen to purchase a modest home, BUT lately I have been struggling with the accumulation of stuff and home projects. Nothing outlandish such as a boat or motorcycle, but $100 there and $200 there can add up in a hurry. All of a sudden any disposable income we might have to assist someone is sitting in the garage or planted in the yard. Please pray that I will become content with all that God has provided so Kristi and I will be in a position to be a financial resource for a person or a ministry if God places a need in front of us.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
June 14, 2012
Luke 12:34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Blackaby adds an extra layer to this verse for me. I the past when I have heard this verse preached, time and money have generally been the focus. "Look at your checkbook (or today it would be your debit card statement). That will show your priorities."
"How many hours on the golf course (or lake or tennis court or work) compared to hours devoted to God. That determines your treasure."
BUT. . .
Blackaby add the following, "whatever dominates your conversation is what you treasure." I had never thought of conversation as an indicator of what is important to a person, but it makes perfect sense. A friend of mine has a home brewery. He loves to talk barley, malt and hops. Several coworkers are grandparents. Get them started on grandkid stories and their faces just light up.
What about Christians? Do we love to talk about the Holy Spirit, mercy and grace to others? Do our faces light up when we recount the lastest Sunday morning sermon to a coworker? If not, why? Perhaps we need to evaluate our treasure.
Blackaby adds an extra layer to this verse for me. I the past when I have heard this verse preached, time and money have generally been the focus. "Look at your checkbook (or today it would be your debit card statement). That will show your priorities."
"How many hours on the golf course (or lake or tennis court or work) compared to hours devoted to God. That determines your treasure."
BUT. . .
Blackaby add the following, "whatever dominates your conversation is what you treasure." I had never thought of conversation as an indicator of what is important to a person, but it makes perfect sense. A friend of mine has a home brewery. He loves to talk barley, malt and hops. Several coworkers are grandparents. Get them started on grandkid stories and their faces just light up.
What about Christians? Do we love to talk about the Holy Spirit, mercy and grace to others? Do our faces light up when we recount the lastest Sunday morning sermon to a coworker? If not, why? Perhaps we need to evaluate our treasure.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
June 12, 2012
Job 1:1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.
Blackaby discusses that fact that Job's blamelessness did not necessarily mean "sinless". He writes, "It (blameless) means that in every situation you do the correct thing. If you sin against someone, you confess your sin and ask for forgiveness. If you sin against God, you repent and begin to obey His word." Being blameless is a sense of trying as much as possible, with God's help, to always do the right thing. When we fail to do so, do we blame others? Rationalize? Deflect? Or do we take responsibility, seek forgiveness, make amends and get back on track? A blameless and upright life is lived with each moment focused on pleasing God to the utmost of our ability.
The last five words of today's scripture jumped out at me. Job "feared God and shunned evil". I believe that today's church has softened the fear of God in order to fill pews and lessen criticism. While God is love and grace and mercy, He is also a jealous and powerful God. His wrath has been felt through the ages. He tolerates willful sin in a believer's life only for a season. Eventually His rod of correction will be felt. I cannot image the fear that Moses must have felt when the wind and storms passed him by on Mount Sinai. How the high priests must have trembled before entering the Holy of Holies each year. Yet each Sunday, countless Christians enter sanctuaries trading fish stories, job woes and movie reviews. Christian fellowship is vital to the health of a church, but where is the reverence, awe and fear?
Second the phrase "shunned evil" speaks volumes about how a Christian should live his life. Webster defines "shun" as "to avoid deliberately and especially habitually". Living a blameless life requires a deliberate and constant avoidance of sin. Whether those sins are our thoughts, words or actions, we are called to be ever diligent and intentional in our Christian walk. How many times do we give in and listen to that off-color joke at work because we are tired of being on the outside? What about the piece of gossip we pass along "just this one time"? "Shunning" is a full-time job when it comes to living a blameless life and CANNOT be done without the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Blackaby discusses that fact that Job's blamelessness did not necessarily mean "sinless". He writes, "It (blameless) means that in every situation you do the correct thing. If you sin against someone, you confess your sin and ask for forgiveness. If you sin against God, you repent and begin to obey His word." Being blameless is a sense of trying as much as possible, with God's help, to always do the right thing. When we fail to do so, do we blame others? Rationalize? Deflect? Or do we take responsibility, seek forgiveness, make amends and get back on track? A blameless and upright life is lived with each moment focused on pleasing God to the utmost of our ability.
The last five words of today's scripture jumped out at me. Job "feared God and shunned evil". I believe that today's church has softened the fear of God in order to fill pews and lessen criticism. While God is love and grace and mercy, He is also a jealous and powerful God. His wrath has been felt through the ages. He tolerates willful sin in a believer's life only for a season. Eventually His rod of correction will be felt. I cannot image the fear that Moses must have felt when the wind and storms passed him by on Mount Sinai. How the high priests must have trembled before entering the Holy of Holies each year. Yet each Sunday, countless Christians enter sanctuaries trading fish stories, job woes and movie reviews. Christian fellowship is vital to the health of a church, but where is the reverence, awe and fear?
Second the phrase "shunned evil" speaks volumes about how a Christian should live his life. Webster defines "shun" as "to avoid deliberately and especially habitually". Living a blameless life requires a deliberate and constant avoidance of sin. Whether those sins are our thoughts, words or actions, we are called to be ever diligent and intentional in our Christian walk. How many times do we give in and listen to that off-color joke at work because we are tired of being on the outside? What about the piece of gossip we pass along "just this one time"? "Shunning" is a full-time job when it comes to living a blameless life and CANNOT be done without the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Monday, June 11, 2012
June 11, 2012
Philippians 1:12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.
"There are two ways to look at every situation: How it will affect you, and how it will affect God's kingdom."
Not being a psychiatrist, I would not even venture a guess as to how I have developed such a fatalistic attitude, but when I read a verse such as today's, I immediately wonder what will "go wrong" so that I will have the opportunity to apply the Biblical principle from the day's reading. Then my mind begins to rehash all the horrible things I have done in my life and wonder when the other shoe will fall and God will give me my just desserts.
For me, grace is an easier concept to grasp than mercy. I can understand God gifting me with blessings I do not deserve. All I have do to is look at my life to realize His grace far outreaches my "deserving". But mercy--that is much harder for me to internalize. To not receive punishment for the countless times I have sinned against God and others!? You goof up, you get whacked. It's that simple. But not for God.
For a child of God, consequences accompany sin, but punishment is not part of the equation. Discipline, redirection, yes. "Smiting", no.
Maybe this lack of mercy internalization is what is keeping me from experiencing the joy of being a child of God. Maybe that constant fear of retribution for my sin is robbing me of the contentment of my salvation.
Heavenly Father, please help me to trust in and embrace your mercy as much as I have Your grace.
"There are two ways to look at every situation: How it will affect you, and how it will affect God's kingdom."
Not being a psychiatrist, I would not even venture a guess as to how I have developed such a fatalistic attitude, but when I read a verse such as today's, I immediately wonder what will "go wrong" so that I will have the opportunity to apply the Biblical principle from the day's reading. Then my mind begins to rehash all the horrible things I have done in my life and wonder when the other shoe will fall and God will give me my just desserts.
For me, grace is an easier concept to grasp than mercy. I can understand God gifting me with blessings I do not deserve. All I have do to is look at my life to realize His grace far outreaches my "deserving". But mercy--that is much harder for me to internalize. To not receive punishment for the countless times I have sinned against God and others!? You goof up, you get whacked. It's that simple. But not for God.
For a child of God, consequences accompany sin, but punishment is not part of the equation. Discipline, redirection, yes. "Smiting", no.
Maybe this lack of mercy internalization is what is keeping me from experiencing the joy of being a child of God. Maybe that constant fear of retribution for my sin is robbing me of the contentment of my salvation.
Heavenly Father, please help me to trust in and embrace your mercy as much as I have Your grace.
Friday, June 8, 2012
June 8, 2012
A wondering---This spring there have been a couple of situations at school which have resolved themselves in such a way that it is apparent that God's hand was a work. Now here is my wonderment. . .Were these the direct result of prayer or just the sequence of events planned in eternity past and unfolded regardless of prayer? I know these types of answers will not be known this side of heaven (and maybe not even then), but it still gives me cause for pause.
Speaking of heaven, many of us have said, "When I get to heaven I want to ask God. . ." or "We'll know that when we get to heaven." A thought just occurred to me. When we get to heaven I wonder if we will be so caught up in praising God and rejoicing in His presence, all those creation, predestination, etc. questions will be so irrelevant as to not even cross our minds.
Today's verse
Matthew 18:33 "Shouldn't you have had compassion on your follow servant just as I had compassion on you?"
Mercy, a concept that is so contradictory to what the world teaches. Punishment, retribution, pay-back--that is how the world operates. Blackaby reminds us of the unparalleled mercy God shows each of us on both a daily and, for believers, an eternal basis.
Mercy is God's withholding punishment for our sins. In the past I have thought of mercy more in the eternal sense. "God will withhold eternal punishment for my sin as a result of His mercy." While this is gloriously and marvelously true, Blackaby points out that God's mercy is in effect each time we sin. Whether is is a lustful thought, a hateful word or an ignored directive from Him, God's mercy withholds deserved consequences on a daily, sometimes hourly, basis. If God can show mercy for the countless sin I have committed, surely I can show mercy to those who offend me.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
June 6, 2012
Luke 22:27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
Blackaby writes, "The world will estimate your importance by the number of people serving you. God is more concerned with the number of people you are serving."
Ridgecrest recently sent members out into the community as part of a service project day. Houses were painted, yards mowed, trees trimmed, etc. These types of projects are worthwhile, but there is a danger also. For some it can be an excuse to dodge one's personal responsibility to serve others the other 364 days of the year.
Is there a neighbor who needs a ride to the store each week? What about that s.s. member who wants to visit incessantly after church when you "need" to get home? (Listening- a form of service we may often overlook.) The coworker who sits alone at lunch because he is not quite a cool as some of the others. Does he get a lunch buddy, or is he destined to eat alone?
Service comes in all shapes and sizes. But regardless of how that service manifests itself, in God's eyes, the server is as worthy as the servee. What small, unrecognized acts of service can you perform this week? How can your hands, feet and ears make life a little better for a neighbor, family member, coworker or completer stranger? If you will ask earnestly, God will provide and equip you for those acts of service.
Monday, June 4, 2012
June 4, 2012
Joshua 4:8 So the Israelites did as Joshua commanded them. The took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the Lord had commanded Joshua; and they carried them over to their camp, where they put them down.
The focus of today's verse is the establishment of spiritual markers. This a record of the times when God has been especially decisive in your life. Perhaps it was an act of miraculous healing, or a clear message about a important decision, or perhaps an amazing series of "coincidences" that only God could orchestrate. By memorializing these times you will better understand God's activity in your life and gain a sense of direction as you face future decisions.
I don't keep a traditional journal, but over the past twenty months I have posted 227 blog entries. While these may not track all of God's movings in my life, I imagine there is an overview of my spiritual journey. Some rainy afternoon, I should look back over these postings.
Have a blessed day.
The focus of today's verse is the establishment of spiritual markers. This a record of the times when God has been especially decisive in your life. Perhaps it was an act of miraculous healing, or a clear message about a important decision, or perhaps an amazing series of "coincidences" that only God could orchestrate. By memorializing these times you will better understand God's activity in your life and gain a sense of direction as you face future decisions.
I don't keep a traditional journal, but over the past twenty months I have posted 227 blog entries. While these may not track all of God's movings in my life, I imagine there is an overview of my spiritual journey. Some rainy afternoon, I should look back over these postings.
Have a blessed day.
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