To Temper the Goodness

1.21.2010

Luke 21:34 34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. ESV

There’s a book on my shelf called The Power of Focus. I’ve never read it but I bought it with the intention of doing so. At the time I thought I needed to focus more on what is important and so I bought it with the intention of reading it and learning perhaps what to pay attention to and what to ignore… Apparently it didn’t work, I got distracted and didn’t read it. Sigh, that’s my life…

Over and over in the Gospels, Jesus speaks of paying attention to the times, the signs and what is truly important. Over and over in the Bible, the emphasis to the reader is to pay attention to God, ourselves, others, and the world around us. But what happens in the midst of this is life – kids, appointments, dreams, plans, debts, investments, pay raises and on and on it goes. If we’re not careful our hearts can be weighed down with unimportant stuff and we’ll forget about the important stuff. Jesus has one word for us: FOCUS.

If there’s one thing I struggle with it’s focus. If there’s one thing I’m distracted with, it’s distractions. I’m lousy at the one, and good at the other. I’m lousy with the important and good and the non-essentials. But every day I try to temper that ‘goodness’ by focusing on my lousy-ness by reading and paying attention to God’s word. It helps. It helps me to see what to pay attention to and what to leave out of the equation.

Father in Heaven,

May my life be one of Focus. May I see what is truly important and grow ever closer to that and may I learn to let the non-essentials be the non-essentials. Help me to stay focused on the Kingdom and the redemption of my fellow man and to not get caught up all weighted down by cares or carelessness. Thank You. Amen.

Blown Away

1.20.2010

Psalm 8:4 4 “…what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” ESV

It’s a pretty safe bet that David saw things that many others didn’t see. I’m not saying he was the only spiritual person in Israel, but he did have some incredible insight and he did have some influence. He also had his critics. I think there were those around him who really got weary of David’s ‘insight’.

I also think David was a thinker. I think he thought a lot about God and godly things. I think his thinking is what led him to ask the question, “God, what do You care about man? What’s the big deal?” I think David looked upon the Grand Experiment of God that man could come to know Him, and was flatly blown away.

But his asking makes me ask, God why do You care about me? What’s the big deal with my faults, frailties, and failures; my foolishness and folly? Why do You continue to faithfully love me and care for me despite all the dumb things I do?

And here it is: I think God does that because He knows how good He is and knows how blessed I’ll be when I get it. He knows how much I need Him and He knows how far I’ve fallen. Who am I that God cares about me? I am His property and a vessel within whom He has purposed to dwell. Wow! No wonder David was so blown away – I am too.

Father,

I know You care and I know Your caring goes infinitely beyond what I can think or imagine. But here’s the deal: Thank You. May I know You better and better. May I respond more and more. And may Your plans, purposes, and promises be mine in this life and in the life to come – I pray in Jesus’ Name, amen.

With My Sword and Bow

1.19.2010

Genesis 48:22 22 Moreover, I have given to you rather than to your brothers one mountain slope that I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow.” ESV

I almost feel like saying, “Why Jacob, you old warrior, you! Who knew you even had a sword and a bow?” But let’s not kid ourselves, Jacob and his people knew how to fight and attack and defend; it was a necessity of life back then. Fortunately the Bible doesn’t focus on such exploits but it does drop hints that the patriarchs were not just a bunch of simple shepherds – they were trained fighters; they had to be or else they’d be dead shepherds.

What is worth fighting for in the life of the modern believer? What is worth fighting for and learning how to fight for? What happens if I don’t fight, attack and defend? I wind up being a dead believer, or certainly an ineffective one. The apostle Paul once wrote, “…For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.” (2 Corinthians 10:4 ESV) He also wrote, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7 ESV) Paul fought and warred against all that stood opposed to God. The same is required of you and me if we call ourselves believers.

I have two choices only: to be a living (fighting) believer or a dead one. My faith does not come easy nor is it safe from the assault of the world, the flesh and the devil. To win, to finish well, I must fight against all that stands against God and persuade as many who will listen to do the same.

Father God,

You are the warrior King and a battle rages that I mostly do not see. But the attacks are real and the stakes are life and death. Help me to fight, attack, and defend all that is mine in Christ – through Christ – and to teach others to do the same; I pray in Jesus’ Name, amen.

Where When or How

1.18.2010

Genesis 45:8 8 So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. ESV

Joseph’s story is perhaps one of the most interesting stories in all the Bible and it culminates with an old man being reunited with his long lost son – a son that for many years he thought was dead. What’s important in this story is God is given proper credit for all the circumstances that happened including the changing of some hearts.

Joseph’s story is one that tells of injustice and justice, cruelty and kindness, and hate and love among other things. But the lesson we cannot let go of is that God used all of the circumstances to preserve His people in the midst of earthly trials so that He could maintain His promise to one individual – not Joseph, but Israel. Joseph spoke the truth when he said, “So it was not you who sent me here, but God…” Like it or not, God is in control of all of all our lives and He determines how each of us will be reached, where, when, and how.

Joseph never seemed to lose sight of God’s hand in his life no matter his circumstances and the lesson for me is to do what Joseph did: keep my eyes fixed upon the One who reaching for me and not worry about where, when or how. By doing so my faith is built and God’s plans are carried out.

Father God,

You loved these people and You saw to it they would survive and they did. Joseph spoke the truth when he said what he said and may I have the same kind of faith he did – faith that honors You and trusts You no matter what. Thank You for this story and for what You are doing in my life, I pray in Jesus’ Name, amen.

God Strives

1.17.2010

Genesis 43:14b And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved. ESV

One of the stellar attributes of the Christian is teachability; to be teachable is worth more than riches or position; it is to be sough with all one’s might.

Jacob had his name changed by God from supplanter, (or he strives) to Israel (or God strives. (see Genesis 35.10)) Jacob was the consummate control freak and the account of his early life shows he did whatever it took to try to control his circumstances and life; and it didn't matter how many bodies were left in his wake. There is nothing wrong with trying to guide one’s life and do the right things but when the right things are only according to one’s own interpretation is when the rub come. Jacob rubbed most people the wrong way because he only saw his way as right. But Jacob became teachable in the long run.

And just because your name gets changed right away doesn’t mean your personality changes right away; the personality is a slow learner. What’s important is that it learns…

As we read through the account of the famine and the buying grain and the consequence of bumping into Joseph whom the brothers had all but forgotten (Genesis 41ff), we see the impact of Israel’s former life and the backwaters of control still present in his life – but this statement in chapter 43 shows that Israel was learning about that which was out of his control, and that God was faithfully seeing to it. It is God who strives in our lives for good and for righteousness; if it weren’t for Him, we’d all be supplanters…

Father in Heaven,

You lovingly, faithfully run us through the ringer over and over again so that we can learn and ‘get it’. We learn that we are not in control and we get it that You are. I pray for mercy but I also pray that I be sorely convicted whenever I scheme to try to get ahead. Help me to be humble and teachable and remember that it is You who strives in my life for my good and for my success in living the Kingdom life; I pray in Jesus’ Name, amen.

Part of the Solution

1.16.2010

Genesis 41:37 37 This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. ESV

It is always better to come to authority with a solution than with a complaint; or if a complaint is coming, bring with it a solution. Leaders seem to like that. They may not do anything with it or they may say, “Wow, what a good idea! You it! Go do it!”

Joseph, I believe was an optimistic, upbeat guy. I think he’d learned how to shine it on. He could’ve sulked about being in prison; he could’ve pouted. I don’t even think he was applying for a job when he gave Pharaoh the proposal; I think he was just being himself – and being Joseph, he was always looking to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem.

I believe this is the call of God upon His children. I notice God did not change Joseph’s circumstances but was with Joseph through them all. I think He treats us the same way – “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Heb. 13.5)

So I am to imitate and emulate a guy like Joseph whose life is an example to me of someone who wouldn’t be untrue to God or untrue to himself. I like that!

Father in Heaven,

You blessed Your servant Joseph and kept putting him in situations where he glorified You. May I have the grace this day to simply do the same – to remain upbeat, positive, hopeful and faithful; and no matter what happens I will believe that You will never leave me nor forsake me – in Jesus’ Name, amen.

God Never Forgets

1.15.2010

Luke 15:13 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. ESV

What sort of expression do you suppose was on the face of the father in this story in Luke 15, the day the younger son loaded up his truck and he moved to Beverly – Hills that is, swimmin’ pools; movie stars…? Was he smiling or sad; was he eager or remorseful? Did anything change in the relationship between him and his son?

I realized in reading this story that the father never forgot who the son was and the father never ceased to consider the son any differently than who he was. The son’s sins were all self-inflicted and yet the father never seemed to notice and never thought of his child any differently than he always was; his son.

God never sees His children any other than what they are: His children. I know that is hard for some to believe – those suffering from the consequences of self-inflicted sins or those who cannot fully embrace God’s leadership in our lives; He is either in complete control and unfazed by our choices or He’s not. If He’s not, He’s not God. If He is, He knows and uses our choices to affect righteousness in our lives – God is not absent in the parable of the lost son…

This story and its truth build my faith and increase my trust in God who deals with the self-inflicted. This helps me to deal with my own children differently and to let (to a degree) whatever happens happen. God never changes His mind about me and has proven over and over that He is for me for my success in living the redeemed life He has promised and purposed. Praise His Name!

Father in Heaven,

You love me despite the mistakes I make and You use those mistakes to teach me, mold me, and help me. Thank You. Thank You that I am, and always will be, Your child and that You are working out Your plan and purpose through Jesus Christ in me every moment of every day. Amen.