17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. Isaiah 32:17 (KJV)
What a great verse for the start of yet another busy week of work, meetings, social commitments, and other time grabbers. Peace, quietness, and assurance: Three things lacking in many lives.
This verse does not promise a challenge free week. It does not guarantee a problem free day. We could find ourselves in the midst of trouble within the next hour. But this verse, like so many others, offers believers the hope of peace in spite of trouble. Calm within regardless of the storms swirling around us.
Righteousness brings quiet. Assurance follows righteousness.
I believe this refers to more than just our positional righteousness that comes with salvation. When we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, we have eternal, positional righteousness with God. However, we still must, to the best of our ability, choose to live a righteous life here on earth.
The peace referenced in Isaiah 32:7 cannot be found in a self-directed life. Christians who ignore the spiritual disciplines are not likely to find quietness. Calm assurance will not characterize those believers who ignore God's conviction.
But start each day with prayer, confession, meditation, and follow that still small voice and you will receive peace, quiet, and assurance in all that you do.
Monday, June 30, 2014
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Thursday, June 19, 2014
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Burdened or Worried? 6/17/14
In the 15th chapter of Matthew, Jesus reminds his followers how the birds and flowers don't worry or toil, but still have their needs met by God. He goes on to tell those listening that if they will "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." However, we also find scripture replete with times where Jesus was burdened for the things of this earth.
Jesus would find solitude to pray. I imagine that many of these prayer times were burdened with concerns for his disciples and an earnest seeking of the will of God.
I cannot imagine that Jesus' entire ministry was just a happenstance affair. He had to have a strategic plan that required prayer, study, and effort.
Tears. Fervent prayer. Sweat like drops of blood. Forty days of fasting. Monumental, Satan-directed temptations.
There is a fine line between worrying and being burdened. Anxiety vs. concern.
It is impossible to live life without concerns, cares, and conundrums. But I believe the secret to a worry-free (or at least a worry-reduced) life is to follow the model of our Lord and Savior.
Each day find the time necessary to take our plans, concerns, aspirations, etc. to Him in prayer and anticipation. Get to a quiet place. Block out time. Let Him speak to you.
Once He has spoken then we can step out with confidence, not apprehension.
What about those things that come up during the day. If we have nurtured a deep, abiding relationship with Him, it will be a natural reaction to turn to God immediately for guidance. Our thoughts and reactions will be directed by Him if we are committing time to Him each day. Our public lives will be controlled by our private time with Him.
The be-like-the-flower-and-birds advice sounds lovely, happy, and joyful. But that can only be accomplished through the daily discipline of seeking the kingdom of God first.
Jesus would find solitude to pray. I imagine that many of these prayer times were burdened with concerns for his disciples and an earnest seeking of the will of God.
I cannot imagine that Jesus' entire ministry was just a happenstance affair. He had to have a strategic plan that required prayer, study, and effort.
Tears. Fervent prayer. Sweat like drops of blood. Forty days of fasting. Monumental, Satan-directed temptations.
There is a fine line between worrying and being burdened. Anxiety vs. concern.
It is impossible to live life without concerns, cares, and conundrums. But I believe the secret to a worry-free (or at least a worry-reduced) life is to follow the model of our Lord and Savior.
Each day find the time necessary to take our plans, concerns, aspirations, etc. to Him in prayer and anticipation. Get to a quiet place. Block out time. Let Him speak to you.
Once He has spoken then we can step out with confidence, not apprehension.
What about those things that come up during the day. If we have nurtured a deep, abiding relationship with Him, it will be a natural reaction to turn to God immediately for guidance. Our thoughts and reactions will be directed by Him if we are committing time to Him each day. Our public lives will be controlled by our private time with Him.
The be-like-the-flower-and-birds advice sounds lovely, happy, and joyful. But that can only be accomplished through the daily discipline of seeking the kingdom of God first.
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Opossum or Bear 6/10/2014
10 Who among you fears the Lord
and obeys the voice of his servant?
Let him who walks in darkness
and has no light
trust in the name of the Lord
and rely on his God.
Isaiah 50:10 (ESV)
Last weekend Kristi, Roxie, and I went camping at Mount Magazine in Arkansas. We had a great time. (Visit http://martinscamp.blogspot.com/ for pictures of the trip.)
On Thursday night, Roxie and I decided to take a walk. I quickly realized that with no street lights, Git N Go Signs, and car headlights it gets pretty dark at night. But we were doing okay on the campground roads. Then we decided to go off road and hike one of the many tree-covered trails.
Dark reached a whole other level. Roxie's sense of alert heightened. Rustling of underbrush in the distance. The remembrance of the sign at the campsite, "Bears in the area. Keep all food in cars at night." Needless to say, Roxie and I made it but a short distance down the trail before we turned and scurried back to the road.
The unknown is frightening. Dark is scary. Opossum noises can conjure up an image of a black bear. We want to know what is our there. What lurks around the next curve?
Reality is that none of can know next week, tomorrow, or even what will happen the next 60 seconds of our life. Luckily for us, God knows. God plans. God directs.
and obeys the voice of his servant?
Let him who walks in darkness
and has no light
trust in the name of the Lord
and rely on his God.
Isaiah 50:10 (ESV)
Last weekend Kristi, Roxie, and I went camping at Mount Magazine in Arkansas. We had a great time. (Visit http://martinscamp.blogspot.com/ for pictures of the trip.)
On Thursday night, Roxie and I decided to take a walk. I quickly realized that with no street lights, Git N Go Signs, and car headlights it gets pretty dark at night. But we were doing okay on the campground roads. Then we decided to go off road and hike one of the many tree-covered trails.
Dark reached a whole other level. Roxie's sense of alert heightened. Rustling of underbrush in the distance. The remembrance of the sign at the campsite, "Bears in the area. Keep all food in cars at night." Needless to say, Roxie and I made it but a short distance down the trail before we turned and scurried back to the road.
The unknown is frightening. Dark is scary. Opossum noises can conjure up an image of a black bear. We want to know what is our there. What lurks around the next curve?
Reality is that none of can know next week, tomorrow, or even what will happen the next 60 seconds of our life. Luckily for us, God knows. God plans. God directs.
Monday, June 9, 2014
Which is it? 6/9/2014
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that
leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate
is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it
are few." Matthew 7:13-14 (ESV)
29 "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:29-30 (ESV)
If I were using a red-letter addition of the Bible, both verses above would be scarlet. Both were spoken by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ within four chapters of each other. If Christ spoke them, then they both must be true. So why the apparent contradiction?
If my life were any indication, Matthew 7 would seem to have the upper hand. I have not found the Christian life to be particularly easy and light for two reasons.
First, as my relationship with God grows, so does the awareness of areas in which I fall short. There are constantly areas for growth. Paul even writes about his on-going struggle with sin. "15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate." Romans 7:15 (ESV)
Second, as move close to God, I find my concern for others increases. We are instructed in Galatians to "2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2 (ESV)
I am somehow missing the easy yoke and light burden Jesus mentions in Matthew. Does that mean I am sorry I have chosen to follow Christ? Emphatically, "NO!" The peace, guidance, and reassurance I receive from Him through the Holy Spirit and Biblical promises far outweigh the burdens.
29 "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:29-30 (ESV)
If I were using a red-letter addition of the Bible, both verses above would be scarlet. Both were spoken by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ within four chapters of each other. If Christ spoke them, then they both must be true. So why the apparent contradiction?
If my life were any indication, Matthew 7 would seem to have the upper hand. I have not found the Christian life to be particularly easy and light for two reasons.
First, as my relationship with God grows, so does the awareness of areas in which I fall short. There are constantly areas for growth. Paul even writes about his on-going struggle with sin. "15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate." Romans 7:15 (ESV)
Second, as move close to God, I find my concern for others increases. We are instructed in Galatians to "2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2 (ESV)
I am somehow missing the easy yoke and light burden Jesus mentions in Matthew. Does that mean I am sorry I have chosen to follow Christ? Emphatically, "NO!" The peace, guidance, and reassurance I receive from Him through the Holy Spirit and Biblical promises far outweigh the burdens.
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Words into Deeds 6/3/2014
20 Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good,
and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. Proverbs 16:20 (ESV)
Words into deeds. So often I return to this thought when studying scripture. Proverbs reminds us that the key to a blessed life is trust in the Lord. This idea is prevalent throughout scripture. I agree completely with this. However, I think that too often people's trust stops short of being a lifestyle.
I can say I trust the Lord, but do I let Him guide my financial decisions? Do I allow my trust to guide my conversations with those at work? Does my trust extend to how I allocate my time?
If my trust does not affect my action, it is of little value. If my life is not lived out based on trust in the Lord, will I be blessed?
Action must follow belief.
and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. Proverbs 16:20 (ESV)
Words into deeds. So often I return to this thought when studying scripture. Proverbs reminds us that the key to a blessed life is trust in the Lord. This idea is prevalent throughout scripture. I agree completely with this. However, I think that too often people's trust stops short of being a lifestyle.
I can say I trust the Lord, but do I let Him guide my financial decisions? Do I allow my trust to guide my conversations with those at work? Does my trust extend to how I allocate my time?
If my trust does not affect my action, it is of little value. If my life is not lived out based on trust in the Lord, will I be blessed?
Action must follow belief.
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