I had no idea when I started this blog that it would become so personal, so encompassing. I had no idea what a struggle it would become to be in the Word on a regular basis. I thought this was just going to be a fun adventure. I should have known...No true study of God's Word, no commitment to it, is just a fun adventure. But even more than that, no true study of God's Word goes unnoticed by our enemy. More to the point, no true commitment to obey goes unnoticed by our enemy. I remember being told when I was in high school that I would know I was doing what God wanted me to do if I found myself plagued by attacks from Satan. Intense insecurity in every facet of life, frustrating and overwhelming circumstances, temptation to go back to sins I thought I had left far behind, being constantly reminded of life's unfairnesses. These and more have been my situation lately.
Quite often, the God we serve asks things of us that we think are too big, too hard, and even sometimes too ridiculous. But He gives us what we need to do what He asks. And when we reach out and take the tools He hands us, we can be sure that Satan will do everything he can to bind our hands and keep us from using them. But the God we serve is greater and more powerful than all the evil in the world and all the evil that is thrown in our paths (1 John 4:4)! Familiar verses from Romans 8 come to mind as I think about this - verses 37-39: Nothing can separate us from our God; verse 26: The Spirit helps us in our weakness; verse 28: God works for the good of those whom He has called; and the kicker, verse 31: If God is for us, who can be against us?
Are you being asked to do something that is so far beyond you that you don't even know where to start? Are you in the middle of a task you know you've been given and find yourself frustrated, unsure of your abilities, tempted, or just scared to keep going? Take my word for it, God will help you finish the work He has given you to do. He wants to see us succeed. He wants to see us soar like the eagles we are. Trust Him. Renew your commitment to obey Him every chance you get. Know that you are safe and free to obey because you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13 -14) (think really strong ziplock bag). And finally, believe that "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6). Aren't you glad you don't have to do this on your own?
Monday, April 28, 2008
Friday, April 18, 2008
On Spring Cleaning
I don't know about where you are, but here, it's been such a warm, beautiful spring week and I couldn't be happier about it. All of my windows have been open and I've begun doing some cleaning. (I have done a little cleaning and have thought about doing a lot of cleaning, so I think that should count for something). Our verses today talk about someone who did some serious cleaning. I don't know if it was Spring or not, but it was definitely cleaning that lead to a new beginning.
2 Chronicles 34 tells the story of Josiah, king of Judah from 640-609 BC. At this point in history, God's people are divided into two kingdoms - Israel and Judah. The two kingdoms have had separate kings, and each has had its share of problems. In the case of Judah, the problems were mainly in the form of idolatry. Prior to Josiah becoming king (at the wise old age of 8, no less), Judah had had 15 kings in about 350 years. In those 350 years, the people of Judah had picked up some bad habits. In fact, they had gone so far from God that His temple had fallen into disrepair as the people (and their kings) worshipped other gods instead. Different kings throughout the years had tried to bring the people back to God, but had not made complete attempts - they all kept remnants and reminders of the idols in the kingdom in the form of "high places" and Asherah poles (sacred poles set up to honor the goddess Asherah - think "Mother Earth" and you've got the basic idea).
So Josiah comes along and when he was 16, he decided to obey God instead of continuing the legacy left by his relatives. Like his predecessors, he destroyed idols, got rid of corrupt priests and told the people to turn back to God. Unlike his predecessors, he did some serious cleaning and took down the high places and the Asherah poles. In fact, he did such a good job that God blessed him and allowed him to die before He punished His people for their many years of idolatry by sending them into exile in Babylon (see Daniel for that part of the story).
What's even more significant about the cleaning Josiah did was that while the high priest of the temple was cleaning, he found the Book of the Law. (Imagine how bad it must have been in the temple that the Book of the Law had even been lost in the first place!) The high priest brought the book to Josiah who then had it read out loud to the people before he rededicated them to their God. (Another pretty big thing Josiah did was reinstate the celebration of Passover.)
Like the people of Judah, we all have seasons of backsliding - it's human nature. But how do those seasons end? I'm pretty sure that if you're anything like me, they only end when we do some intense "spring cleaning". But how does that happen? Well, first, we have to realize that something is dirty in the first place. That is the work of the Holy Spirit - conviction of sin. Then we have to decide that our relationship with God is worth the effort. For me, sometimes I make that decision because of the amount of "dirt" that has built up and is bothering me. Other times, I make the decision knowing that it will be hard work, but also knowing that I'll feel so much better when it's done (who doesn't like a clean house?).
Once the choice is made, we then have to reach for our cleaning tool. Not the vacuum, not the toilet brush, not that cool thing Mr. Clean makes that helps you reach all the way around the tub and shower. Nope, our cleaning tool is (what, Kids?) the Bible! When we read the story of Josiah, we see that it wasn't until the Book of the Law had been read that he ordered the removal of the idols, high places and poles. As is always the case, the Word brought the change.
So the question today is simply, how clean is your "house"? Maybe you've been backsliding a bit, or just struggling with your faith or with obedience on some issue. It's time to start cleaning. Maybe you've been cleaning for a little while, and you feel like you've done a lot. Good job! Thank God for helping you to do that. But then, take a step that could be a little scary: ask Him "what's next?"
Until we reach our full completion and receive our glorified bodies (I Corinthians 15:42-44), I'm afraid there will always be something to "clean". Even though we're redeemed, as humans, we are still subject to temptation, and we all fall. A habitual sin always starts with just one act of surrender to temptation. Think of it this way (and this will probably frustrate you the way it frustrates me): as soon as you finish vacuuming under the bed, the dust starts to settle again. If left unattended, those little dust particles start clinging together and before you know it, you've got an entire colony of cute, cuddly dust bunnies living quite happily under there. Sin is the same way - if you let even just a little one go, it will soon cling to other "little" sins and before you know it, you're dealing with habitual sin, or even worse, deliberate sin.
The key is to reach for the only tool we have (which, fortunately is also the only tool we need!) - God's Word. Regular cleaning of our minds and hearts by thinking on things that are "true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy" (Philippians 4:8) will keep us from unconfessed, habitual and deliberate sin. The Bible is clear: "Do not give the devil a foothold" (Ephesians 4: 27). When it comes to avoiding habitual sin that can quickly build up if we do not heed this advice, the best thing we can do is claim the promise in 1 John 1:9 as soon as we realize we've sinned - "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and will forgive us our sins and purify [cleanse] us from all unrighteousness".
I challenge you today, as an act of faith and spiritual "spring cleaning" to take a look at your life and make any changes you feel you need to make in your attitudes and behaviors. Then ask God to take a look at your life and give you the strength and courage you need to change the things He points out that need to be changed. It's hard work, I know, but think of how much better you'll feel when it's done!
2 Chronicles 34 tells the story of Josiah, king of Judah from 640-609 BC. At this point in history, God's people are divided into two kingdoms - Israel and Judah. The two kingdoms have had separate kings, and each has had its share of problems. In the case of Judah, the problems were mainly in the form of idolatry. Prior to Josiah becoming king (at the wise old age of 8, no less), Judah had had 15 kings in about 350 years. In those 350 years, the people of Judah had picked up some bad habits. In fact, they had gone so far from God that His temple had fallen into disrepair as the people (and their kings) worshipped other gods instead. Different kings throughout the years had tried to bring the people back to God, but had not made complete attempts - they all kept remnants and reminders of the idols in the kingdom in the form of "high places" and Asherah poles (sacred poles set up to honor the goddess Asherah - think "Mother Earth" and you've got the basic idea).
So Josiah comes along and when he was 16, he decided to obey God instead of continuing the legacy left by his relatives. Like his predecessors, he destroyed idols, got rid of corrupt priests and told the people to turn back to God. Unlike his predecessors, he did some serious cleaning and took down the high places and the Asherah poles. In fact, he did such a good job that God blessed him and allowed him to die before He punished His people for their many years of idolatry by sending them into exile in Babylon (see Daniel for that part of the story).
What's even more significant about the cleaning Josiah did was that while the high priest of the temple was cleaning, he found the Book of the Law. (Imagine how bad it must have been in the temple that the Book of the Law had even been lost in the first place!) The high priest brought the book to Josiah who then had it read out loud to the people before he rededicated them to their God. (Another pretty big thing Josiah did was reinstate the celebration of Passover.)
Like the people of Judah, we all have seasons of backsliding - it's human nature. But how do those seasons end? I'm pretty sure that if you're anything like me, they only end when we do some intense "spring cleaning". But how does that happen? Well, first, we have to realize that something is dirty in the first place. That is the work of the Holy Spirit - conviction of sin. Then we have to decide that our relationship with God is worth the effort. For me, sometimes I make that decision because of the amount of "dirt" that has built up and is bothering me. Other times, I make the decision knowing that it will be hard work, but also knowing that I'll feel so much better when it's done (who doesn't like a clean house?).
Once the choice is made, we then have to reach for our cleaning tool. Not the vacuum, not the toilet brush, not that cool thing Mr. Clean makes that helps you reach all the way around the tub and shower. Nope, our cleaning tool is (what, Kids?) the Bible! When we read the story of Josiah, we see that it wasn't until the Book of the Law had been read that he ordered the removal of the idols, high places and poles. As is always the case, the Word brought the change.
So the question today is simply, how clean is your "house"? Maybe you've been backsliding a bit, or just struggling with your faith or with obedience on some issue. It's time to start cleaning. Maybe you've been cleaning for a little while, and you feel like you've done a lot. Good job! Thank God for helping you to do that. But then, take a step that could be a little scary: ask Him "what's next?"
Until we reach our full completion and receive our glorified bodies (I Corinthians 15:42-44), I'm afraid there will always be something to "clean". Even though we're redeemed, as humans, we are still subject to temptation, and we all fall. A habitual sin always starts with just one act of surrender to temptation. Think of it this way (and this will probably frustrate you the way it frustrates me): as soon as you finish vacuuming under the bed, the dust starts to settle again. If left unattended, those little dust particles start clinging together and before you know it, you've got an entire colony of cute, cuddly dust bunnies living quite happily under there. Sin is the same way - if you let even just a little one go, it will soon cling to other "little" sins and before you know it, you're dealing with habitual sin, or even worse, deliberate sin.
The key is to reach for the only tool we have (which, fortunately is also the only tool we need!) - God's Word. Regular cleaning of our minds and hearts by thinking on things that are "true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy" (Philippians 4:8) will keep us from unconfessed, habitual and deliberate sin. The Bible is clear: "Do not give the devil a foothold" (Ephesians 4: 27). When it comes to avoiding habitual sin that can quickly build up if we do not heed this advice, the best thing we can do is claim the promise in 1 John 1:9 as soon as we realize we've sinned - "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and will forgive us our sins and purify [cleanse] us from all unrighteousness".
I challenge you today, as an act of faith and spiritual "spring cleaning" to take a look at your life and make any changes you feel you need to make in your attitudes and behaviors. Then ask God to take a look at your life and give you the strength and courage you need to change the things He points out that need to be changed. It's hard work, I know, but think of how much better you'll feel when it's done!
Saturday, April 12, 2008
On Love (especially when we just don't want to)
I'm cheating a little today. I didn't find today's verse - it found me. I've been working on a Bible study for the past few months, and I'm just two days away from finishing it. I have to admit, I've honestly grown more since I started this study than I think I have at any other point in my life (thanks, Mom).
Some of you know that I've been having a really hard time dealing with a situation that has plagued me for the past year or so and has recently intensified. In the last week especially, I've run the gamut of emotions from sadness to disappointment to anger to hopelessness. It turns out that the heart of the issue (no pun intended) is this: I was not in a very loving mood. (For those of you who don't know what's been going on, don't worry, I'm sure you've had a similar experience at one point or another. Read on, my friends.)
The study I've been doing is about what it means to truly believe God, not just believe in Him. And this week, there were times when I was asking myself "What's the point? Just because I believe God doesn't mean life has gotten any better, and in fact, in some ways, it feels like it's gotten worse." And then I sat down to do today's part of the study and was smacked in the face (in a Godly, loving way of course) by the words of Galatians 5:6. "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." I was then directed to read the description of love that has been read, I think, at every Christian wedding since it was written. I Corinthians 13:4-8 "Love is patient, kind, content, humble, not rude, not self-seeking, not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs...it protects, trusts, hopes and perseveres."
I've heard people talk about being grieved by their sin, but I'm not sure I ever really knew what they meant. Until today. Today, I read those words and tears came to my eyes. The only thing I could say to God was "not even close". I haven't been anywhere in the hemisphere of that definition of love this week. I'm not even completely sure I've been on the same planet with it. Can you relate at all? I'm sure if you're honest with yourself, you'll admit, I'm not alone here.
But you know what? God came up with that definition of love because that's what His love is like. He is patient and kind with us. He is not easily angered when we sin. And the best part? He keeps no record of wrongs. Good thing, huh? But it's way easier to like that definition of love when it's directed at us than when we're in a situation where we are supposed to be directing it at someone who, quite frankly, doesn't deserve it. But now, we're faced with the ugly reality that we don't deserve it either. And that leads to this, rather obvious, question: who are we to decide who deserves love and who doesn't? God doesn't pick and choose who to love, and we have no right to either. In fact, the person who we feel deserves it the least, probably needs it the most right now.
So how do we get to the point where we can love people the way God loves us? The answer is found in the verse I chose as my life's verse when I was in Junior High: Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." I can't love someone "unlovable" on my own. But if I submit my will to God's, and cling to Christ who loved me enough to die for me, I will be given the strength I need to do the right thing. On my own, I can do nothing. Through Christ, I can do anything, especially the very thing I feel is completely impossible. God does not ask us to do something unless He has given us the tools to get the job done. And for that, today, I praise Him!
Some of you know that I've been having a really hard time dealing with a situation that has plagued me for the past year or so and has recently intensified. In the last week especially, I've run the gamut of emotions from sadness to disappointment to anger to hopelessness. It turns out that the heart of the issue (no pun intended) is this: I was not in a very loving mood. (For those of you who don't know what's been going on, don't worry, I'm sure you've had a similar experience at one point or another. Read on, my friends.)
The study I've been doing is about what it means to truly believe God, not just believe in Him. And this week, there were times when I was asking myself "What's the point? Just because I believe God doesn't mean life has gotten any better, and in fact, in some ways, it feels like it's gotten worse." And then I sat down to do today's part of the study and was smacked in the face (in a Godly, loving way of course) by the words of Galatians 5:6. "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." I was then directed to read the description of love that has been read, I think, at every Christian wedding since it was written. I Corinthians 13:4-8 "Love is patient, kind, content, humble, not rude, not self-seeking, not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs...it protects, trusts, hopes and perseveres."
I've heard people talk about being grieved by their sin, but I'm not sure I ever really knew what they meant. Until today. Today, I read those words and tears came to my eyes. The only thing I could say to God was "not even close". I haven't been anywhere in the hemisphere of that definition of love this week. I'm not even completely sure I've been on the same planet with it. Can you relate at all? I'm sure if you're honest with yourself, you'll admit, I'm not alone here.
But you know what? God came up with that definition of love because that's what His love is like. He is patient and kind with us. He is not easily angered when we sin. And the best part? He keeps no record of wrongs. Good thing, huh? But it's way easier to like that definition of love when it's directed at us than when we're in a situation where we are supposed to be directing it at someone who, quite frankly, doesn't deserve it. But now, we're faced with the ugly reality that we don't deserve it either. And that leads to this, rather obvious, question: who are we to decide who deserves love and who doesn't? God doesn't pick and choose who to love, and we have no right to either. In fact, the person who we feel deserves it the least, probably needs it the most right now.
So how do we get to the point where we can love people the way God loves us? The answer is found in the verse I chose as my life's verse when I was in Junior High: Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." I can't love someone "unlovable" on my own. But if I submit my will to God's, and cling to Christ who loved me enough to die for me, I will be given the strength I need to do the right thing. On my own, I can do nothing. Through Christ, I can do anything, especially the very thing I feel is completely impossible. God does not ask us to do something unless He has given us the tools to get the job done. And for that, today, I praise Him!
Thursday, April 10, 2008
On Hope
Today's point is very simple: "it is impossible for God to lie" (Hebrews 6:18b). I love the first verse of chapter 6. The writer of Hebrews says, "ok, we've covered the basics, lets get into some deeper stuff. You all know about saving faith, but let's talk about what kind of faith comes after that" (I'm paraphrasing, of course). He (or she, who knows?) then talks about the promise God made to Abraham that he would be the father of multitudes and that through him all generations would be blessed. Check back in Genesis 22 and you'll see that God really, really meant what He said when He made this promise. He meant it so much that He swore an oath. Now when we swear oaths, say, in court, we swear on the Bible, a.k.a. God's Word. When God swore an oath to Abraham, He swore on the only thing powerful enough to back up His word - Himself. Does that blow your mind a little?
So in a nutshell, what God says goes and the way we know that is 1) when He promised Christ to the world (the biggest, most important promise He made), He swore an oath in his own name, which the writer of Hebrews points out in the first part of verse 18, made the promise twice as secure, and 2) God can not lie.
But what does that mean for us? We know about Christ's saving atonement for our sins, so we know that God kept this particular promise. But what about other promises He made? He promised that we'll never be without Him (Hebrews 13:5). He promised to make a way for us to escape temptation (1 Corinthian 10:13). He promised that one day, we will reign with Him in a perfect world, free from all of the things that make us sad, angry, anxious, fearful, frustrated, and all those other negative emotions we experience day in and day out (2 Timothy 2:12). Will He keep those promises? 2 Corinthians 1:20 has the unbelievably amazing answer: "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through Him, the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God." Amen!!!
So in a nutshell, what God says goes and the way we know that is 1) when He promised Christ to the world (the biggest, most important promise He made), He swore an oath in his own name, which the writer of Hebrews points out in the first part of verse 18, made the promise twice as secure, and 2) God can not lie.
But what does that mean for us? We know about Christ's saving atonement for our sins, so we know that God kept this particular promise. But what about other promises He made? He promised that we'll never be without Him (Hebrews 13:5). He promised to make a way for us to escape temptation (1 Corinthian 10:13). He promised that one day, we will reign with Him in a perfect world, free from all of the things that make us sad, angry, anxious, fearful, frustrated, and all those other negative emotions we experience day in and day out (2 Timothy 2:12). Will He keep those promises? 2 Corinthians 1:20 has the unbelievably amazing answer: "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through Him, the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God." Amen!!!
Thursday, April 3, 2008
On Victory
I'm laughing as I write today because my appreciation of God's grace and sense of humor is so strong right now. It's been a pretty rough week for me, and I've been struggling to keep my head above the waters of fear, guilt, anxiousness, and doubt. As I was summing up my day with God last night and again just now, I told Him that I don't feel particularly victorious. As God would have it, today's verse makes me shake my head in amazement - this is "Flip and Point" at its best, I think. "What's today's verse?" you ask. Well, it's Romans 8:37 "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." Seriously, God just cracks me up sometimes!
But wait, it gets better. I looked up this verse in Strong's Dictionary* and laughed again. Here's part of the definition of the Greek word for "conqueror" (which, by the way, in case you're curious is hupernikao): "To gain a surpassing victory". Not just a victory - a surpassing victory. Not just conquerors, more than conquerors.
And here's why we are more than conquerors and have surpassing victory: When Jesus rose from the dead, He conquered sin and death, and passed that victory on to us through His blood. We have Christ's victory! But we have something else too. Ephesians 1:18-20 tells us that we have great power at our disposal - we have the same power that God used to raise Christ from the dead. I'm pretty sure that much power is enough to overcome whatever comes our way. Don't you agree?
Because of all of this, we can know that no matter what happens or what kind of day we're having, it is in God's powerful hands and through Christ, we can indeed live victoriously through it. Kinda puts our troubles in perspective, doesn't it?
*I really would like to find the copyright information for this, but as far as I can tell, it's Public Domain. Hope I'm right...
But wait, it gets better. I looked up this verse in Strong's Dictionary* and laughed again. Here's part of the definition of the Greek word for "conqueror" (which, by the way, in case you're curious is hupernikao): "To gain a surpassing victory". Not just a victory - a surpassing victory. Not just conquerors, more than conquerors.
And here's why we are more than conquerors and have surpassing victory: When Jesus rose from the dead, He conquered sin and death, and passed that victory on to us through His blood. We have Christ's victory! But we have something else too. Ephesians 1:18-20 tells us that we have great power at our disposal - we have the same power that God used to raise Christ from the dead. I'm pretty sure that much power is enough to overcome whatever comes our way. Don't you agree?
Because of all of this, we can know that no matter what happens or what kind of day we're having, it is in God's powerful hands and through Christ, we can indeed live victoriously through it. Kinda puts our troubles in perspective, doesn't it?
*I really would like to find the copyright information for this, but as far as I can tell, it's Public Domain. Hope I'm right...
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