Generally speaking, we don't like not knowing what the plan is before we undertake something. If someone wants us to go with them, we want to know to where and for what purpose. If asked to do something, we want to know to what end and what will be required of us. We, like the Boy Scouts, want to be prepared before we act. It just seems sensible.
Our Lord, however, often does not give us all the details or share the final outcomes or destinations when he bids us to do his will. Do you recall what he said to Abraham when he called him out of Ur? "Go from your country, your people and your father's land to a land I will show you" (Gen 12:1). And when Jesus disciples asked what they were to do about the Passover preparations, he replied, "“Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him..." (Mark 14:13). He didn't give them an address or reveal what would be available when they got there specifically.
When I felt called into ministry. I knew I had to leave the military and believed I should go to Harding University for preparation, but I didn't know how I would be able to provide for my family while there or where I might go afterwards, only that I was to go. I had no idea, only that God said "go."
Following God is not about having it all detailed, financed and exit plan in place. Following God is about having an ear to hear the Lord and a heart to obey. You may not be sure why you feel so strongly about talking to a street person, but if God is laying it on your heart, just say hello and see what comes next. Leaving your career to start a mission in a third-world country and not knowing how you will live sounds crazy, but many crazy missionaries are out there
Walking by faith is precisely that - faith in what God will do rather than by seeing what we can manage. Scary good stuff. Jus' Sayn.
Friday, March 21, 2014
Thursday, March 20, 2014
No Fear
In chapter 8, verses 23 - 27, Matthew tells about a time when Jesus and his disciples were in a boat when a storm came up. Jesus went to sleep and then a violent storm came up. The disciples feared they would all be drowned and cried out to Awaken Jesus, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” (v. 25).
Jesus, awoken by their cries, replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm …" (v. 26).
It is interesting to note that the disciples thought Jesus could somehow save them but were more moved by their fear of the storm than their faith in the Savior. Knowing that Jesus was with them in the storm ought to have provided them peace. Did they really think the one who could save them was oblivious to their plight?
Did they really think that the one they were crying out to was going to be swallowed up by the storm they were expecting him to somehow manage? Why would they fear so when the Messiah was in their midst?
The same reason we panic when the storms of our lives start to swirl around us. When we don't have the mortgage money, don't have a job, have just heard the "c" word, our cad is broke down, etc. Jesus promises never to leave us as orphans (cf. John 14:18) and yet, we panic, thinking He is sleeping on thee job.
We will have storms. It is reasonable to concern ourselves with. It is a lack of faith that causes us to fear. Talk to The Lord about what you are experiencing and ask what you desire from Him, but do not panic. God is in the storm with you and He will not sleep through your crisis. He may not appear to jump right to it in the manner we expect, but He will act on your behalf. Jus' Sayn.
Jesus, awoken by their cries, replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm …" (v. 26).
It is interesting to note that the disciples thought Jesus could somehow save them but were more moved by their fear of the storm than their faith in the Savior. Knowing that Jesus was with them in the storm ought to have provided them peace. Did they really think the one who could save them was oblivious to their plight?
Did they really think that the one they were crying out to was going to be swallowed up by the storm they were expecting him to somehow manage? Why would they fear so when the Messiah was in their midst?
The same reason we panic when the storms of our lives start to swirl around us. When we don't have the mortgage money, don't have a job, have just heard the "c" word, our cad is broke down, etc. Jesus promises never to leave us as orphans (cf. John 14:18) and yet, we panic, thinking He is sleeping on thee job.
We will have storms. It is reasonable to concern ourselves with. It is a lack of faith that causes us to fear. Talk to The Lord about what you are experiencing and ask what you desire from Him, but do not panic. God is in the storm with you and He will not sleep through your crisis. He may not appear to jump right to it in the manner we expect, but He will act on your behalf. Jus' Sayn.
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Giving
While many, even some very close to me, would disagree, I don't believe that God requires a tithe from his children in the Christian Era. My belief is based both on the negative that neither Jesus nor his apostles ever directed anyone to tithe and the positive in which the Spirit gave specific directions on how we are to give.
In 2 Corinthians 9:7, the Spirit says, "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." Notice He says to give as we decide not a pre-determined 10% and not under compulsion, while the tithe was compulsory.
I do think 10% is a good bench mark but it does not necessarily match the prosperity level of the giver, which is a qualifier of an acceptable gift according to the Spirit: "On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income" (1 Cor 16:2).
Is the prosperity level or ability to give the same in two people making the same dollar amount but one having six children and the other single? 10% for one may be a real challenge but for the other hardly noticed. And, where is the room for one to cheerfully decide how much he can and wants to give in tithing?
A couple of reasons, by the way, for purposeful and generous giving based on your desire and personal prosperity level are: 1) "whoever sows generously will also reap generously" (2 Cor 9:6) and 2) "God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work" (2 Cor 9:8).
Purposeful and generous giving not only showers you with Gid's blessings but it causes that blessing to overflow upon others, for "God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Cor 9:7b). It is the giving out of a thankful, appreciative heart that moves God, not the dollar amount. Jus' Sayn.
In 2 Corinthians 9:7, the Spirit says, "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." Notice He says to give as we decide not a pre-determined 10% and not under compulsion, while the tithe was compulsory.
I do think 10% is a good bench mark but it does not necessarily match the prosperity level of the giver, which is a qualifier of an acceptable gift according to the Spirit: "On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income" (1 Cor 16:2).
Is the prosperity level or ability to give the same in two people making the same dollar amount but one having six children and the other single? 10% for one may be a real challenge but for the other hardly noticed. And, where is the room for one to cheerfully decide how much he can and wants to give in tithing?
A couple of reasons, by the way, for purposeful and generous giving based on your desire and personal prosperity level are: 1) "whoever sows generously will also reap generously" (2 Cor 9:6) and 2) "God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work" (2 Cor 9:8).
Purposeful and generous giving not only showers you with Gid's blessings but it causes that blessing to overflow upon others, for "God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Cor 9:7b). It is the giving out of a thankful, appreciative heart that moves God, not the dollar amount. Jus' Sayn.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
The Day of Trouble
If there is one thing in this life you can be certain of it's that change happens - things do not stay the same forever. And often, the day of change is a day of trouble. Even for the Christian, the day of trouble is on the horizon.
God never promised us a life of ease, what he promised was, "I will never leave you as orphans" (John 14:18). The promise is not that we will be problem free but that he would not abandon us in times of trouble.
Conversely He says, "...call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me (Psa 50:15). In this passage, we discover that we can expect the day of trouble, that we need to call on God and that He will provide reason for us to praise Hm.
God does not expect or even want us to go it alone or pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps. He wants us to call on Him, He wants us to be God-dependent not self-reliant. God does not give us more than we can handle as long as we lean on or, as Jesus put it, "be yoked with" (Matt 11:28-30) Him.
The day of trouble has likely already visited you and it is invariably coming again. Times and circumstances are always changing and often not for the better. But God does not change and He will not leave us. We can calmly face the day of trouble knowing God will deliver us when we call upon Him and we will praise Him for His deliverance.
Jus' Sayn.
God never promised us a life of ease, what he promised was, "I will never leave you as orphans" (John 14:18). The promise is not that we will be problem free but that he would not abandon us in times of trouble.
Conversely He says, "...call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me (Psa 50:15). In this passage, we discover that we can expect the day of trouble, that we need to call on God and that He will provide reason for us to praise Hm.
God does not expect or even want us to go it alone or pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps. He wants us to call on Him, He wants us to be God-dependent not self-reliant. God does not give us more than we can handle as long as we lean on or, as Jesus put it, "be yoked with" (Matt 11:28-30) Him.
The day of trouble has likely already visited you and it is invariably coming again. Times and circumstances are always changing and often not for the better. But God does not change and He will not leave us. We can calmly face the day of trouble knowing God will deliver us when we call upon Him and we will praise Him for His deliverance.
Jus' Sayn.
Monday, March 17, 2014
360 Forgiveness
When Jesus gave thee model prayer to his disciples, it included "And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors" (Matt 6:12). After the conclusion of the prayer, he added, "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins" (vv. 14-15).
What becomes clear is that forgiveness of others is an extremely important component in communication between man and God - that God's willingness to hear our pleas is mirrored with our willingness to hear the pleas of others.
What is not always so clear is the direct connection of our unwillingness to forgive and Satan's hold on our lives. In-between verses 12 and 14, lies verse 13, which is normally seen as a separate item: "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."
However, did you notice the "For" in verse 14? Let me connect a few dots for you. "....forgive us...as we have forgiven...deliver us from the evil one...For if you forgive...your Heavenly Father will forgive..."
God's forgiveness is 360 degrees, Satan tempts us to rely on 180 degrees of forgiveness. The evil one wants us to expect God's unconditional forgiveness of all our sins while we conditionally forgive only some sins. God's forgiveness goes full circle as it produces a gratitude of grace. Satan's pseudo forgiveness only goes one way - it is, like he is, self-centered and selfish.
He tempts us to expect forgiveness while not extending it to others, which can only happen when we don't really believe in or accept the premise of grace-filled forgiveness. How could we truly accept His forgiveness if we don't really believe in it? Jus' Askn.
What becomes clear is that forgiveness of others is an extremely important component in communication between man and God - that God's willingness to hear our pleas is mirrored with our willingness to hear the pleas of others.
What is not always so clear is the direct connection of our unwillingness to forgive and Satan's hold on our lives. In-between verses 12 and 14, lies verse 13, which is normally seen as a separate item: "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."
However, did you notice the "For" in verse 14? Let me connect a few dots for you. "....forgive us...as we have forgiven...deliver us from the evil one...For if you forgive...your Heavenly Father will forgive..."
God's forgiveness is 360 degrees, Satan tempts us to rely on 180 degrees of forgiveness. The evil one wants us to expect God's unconditional forgiveness of all our sins while we conditionally forgive only some sins. God's forgiveness goes full circle as it produces a gratitude of grace. Satan's pseudo forgiveness only goes one way - it is, like he is, self-centered and selfish.
He tempts us to expect forgiveness while not extending it to others, which can only happen when we don't really believe in or accept the premise of grace-filled forgiveness. How could we truly accept His forgiveness if we don't really believe in it? Jus' Askn.
Sunday, March 16, 2014
The Watchman
The prophet Habakkuk wrote, "I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give" (Hab 2:1).
Habakkuk was using the analogy of an ancient sentry, standing on the city wall, looking about, listening in the night, waiting and watching for a warning or a word of good news to deliver to the people. What was most important for the watchman was that he stay alert and pay attention to what was being communicated by the sights and sounds of the watch.
Should we continue as usual or take special precautions today? Should we go to the fields or stay under cover? Should we take up tools of our trade or implements of war? What answer shall the watchman give? Hopefully the watchman was not sleeping or distracted during his watch.
Habakkuk's point is that we are all watchmen, responsible for warning or informing others of God's Word for them. To whom you are responsible for communicating ths Word depends on your sphere of influence. It may be just your family. It may be that you are a teacher with students you are responsible for or a church leader with members to give an answer. It may be the many friends you have or perhaps it is just you.
Regardless of to whom you are personally responsible for, you are tasked with listening to the Lord speak and warning those in your sphere of influence. To do this, you must be faithful to your watch. You must be spending time in prayer, giving yourself to the study of God's Word, listening to the Spirit within, paying attention to the words of faithful Christians and even the circumstances around you.
"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful...so that you may know how to answer everyone" (Col 2:2-6). Jus' Watchn.
Habakkuk was using the analogy of an ancient sentry, standing on the city wall, looking about, listening in the night, waiting and watching for a warning or a word of good news to deliver to the people. What was most important for the watchman was that he stay alert and pay attention to what was being communicated by the sights and sounds of the watch.
Should we continue as usual or take special precautions today? Should we go to the fields or stay under cover? Should we take up tools of our trade or implements of war? What answer shall the watchman give? Hopefully the watchman was not sleeping or distracted during his watch.
Habakkuk's point is that we are all watchmen, responsible for warning or informing others of God's Word for them. To whom you are responsible for communicating ths Word depends on your sphere of influence. It may be just your family. It may be that you are a teacher with students you are responsible for or a church leader with members to give an answer. It may be the many friends you have or perhaps it is just you.
Regardless of to whom you are personally responsible for, you are tasked with listening to the Lord speak and warning those in your sphere of influence. To do this, you must be faithful to your watch. You must be spending time in prayer, giving yourself to the study of God's Word, listening to the Spirit within, paying attention to the words of faithful Christians and even the circumstances around you.
"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful...so that you may know how to answer everyone" (Col 2:2-6). Jus' Watchn.
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Killing Moses
One of the most revered figures in Israel's antiquity and the Lawgiver and first leader of the nation. Set aside from birth as God's chosen one to deliver Israel from Egyptian oppression and one of only two to appear with Christ in a glorified state on the Mt of Transfiguration. Moses was God's number one man in his day and God was about to kill him: "the Lord met Moses and was about to kill him" (Exodus 4:24).
OK Moses, what horrible thing did you do to motivate God to kill his chosen one? What on earth could you have done that was so terrible that the appropriate response from God was your death? The answer - Nothing. Moses did nothing when he was supposed to do something as the leader of God's people, in particular: he did not circumcise his own son.
Circumcision was the covenant sign given of God to Abraham, the Father of the Faithful: "You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised" (Gen 17:11).
Moses, for whatever reason, chose not to initiate that covenant between God and his own son. God chose to remove Moses from leadership and life. But not for his wife, Zipporah, Moses would have been stricken: "But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ feet with it. “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,” she said. So the Lord let him alone" (Exodus 4:25-26).
Moses was guilty of what s called the sin of omission: "If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them" (James 4:17). Moses, the leader of God's people, was choosing not to lead then in the Covenant Path. What was he thinking? Are you a leader in your church or community or home? What are you thinking or doing or not doing? Jus' Askn.
OK Moses, what horrible thing did you do to motivate God to kill his chosen one? What on earth could you have done that was so terrible that the appropriate response from God was your death? The answer - Nothing. Moses did nothing when he was supposed to do something as the leader of God's people, in particular: he did not circumcise his own son.
Circumcision was the covenant sign given of God to Abraham, the Father of the Faithful: "You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised" (Gen 17:11).
Moses, for whatever reason, chose not to initiate that covenant between God and his own son. God chose to remove Moses from leadership and life. But not for his wife, Zipporah, Moses would have been stricken: "But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ feet with it. “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,” she said. So the Lord let him alone" (Exodus 4:25-26).
Moses was guilty of what s called the sin of omission: "If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them" (James 4:17). Moses, the leader of God's people, was choosing not to lead then in the Covenant Path. What was he thinking? Are you a leader in your church or community or home? What are you thinking or doing or not doing? Jus' Askn.
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