It is always my desire to take the events of my life, good or bad, and use them to draw nearer to the Lord. I'd like to encourage you to do the same...
Think back to the last time you were hurt...really hurt. For some of us, we won't need to look back to far to find it. Think of the last time you were upset, angry, cried (or wanted to cry). Think of your last big physical or emotional pain. Think of the person or situation that caused the pain. What were you thinking about that person or situation when you were going through that hurt? What was your very first, your initial reaction?
A few days ago, I ended up getting myself pretty well wounded. Like a world renown doctor on a mission I was able to pinpoint the source of the pain, and I diagnosed it. I determined the pain was caused by a person. I determined the cure to be expressing my feelings, and even speaking poorly about that individual (I had a right to after all, didn't I? I was devastated!), and I felt that once I had acted on that cure that my prognosis was going to be good. I was hurt, I saw a way to lessen the pain, and afterward I felt better and was ready to move along. I heal pretty quickly, so it was only a 48 hour process. No harm done on my end, right?
Wrong.
That initial reaction of mine was terrible. Not because I did anything drastic or inflicted pain on anyone else...but because of what it revealed about my relationship with the Lord.
For one thing, Proverbs 31 gives a "Description of a Worthy Woman". This was a relationship hurt, and here I was blaming the dude in the situation when right there in verse 25 was something that I needed to see. "Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future." Where was my strength, my dignity? I sure wasn't handling that situation with a smile and with hope for the future. And why not??
I began reading through the Psalms last night, and prayerfully seeking the answer to that question.
Here are some little pieces of Psalm 34, Psalm 40 and Job 1:21 :
"O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!"
"Many are the afflictions...but the Lord delivers him out of them all."
"I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, and He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God..."
"...The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."
And I had my answer. Why was I distraught instead of smiling? I know about the Lord...but how well do I really know the Lord? On a Sunday morning, I will tell you with all certainty that God will deliver us from all affliction, that He gives us hope, that He protects us, that He delivers us, that even when He takes away - it's a blessing. But my initial reaction to that abrupt hurt did not say any of those things.
It's my desire to not only know "about" God, but to know Him intimately. To not just say that I trust Him, but to actually trust Him. We don't doubt that our best friend has our back, we don't doubt that our mothers will still love us tomorrow, we don't doubt that the sun will set tonight and rise again in the morning. God is more faithful, more constant than those. The tangible things in life that we view as constant and never changing - He made those. The reason we don't doubt those other things is because we know them on a "real" level...we see them every day, we've experienced them all our lives. God's creation being a constant for us, is just a mere reminder that HE is constant.
And now I can experience real healing. Divine healing for my hurts. By drawing near to the Lord who can and will deliver me out of anything, I have allowed Him to put a new song in my mouth...a song of praise to God.
Lord, I wait patiently for you. I know you hear me. I don't want to know more about your blessings and your provisions...I want to know YOU. Change my heart and forgive me for being bitter and uncaring to another one of your creation that you care about so much. Let me be a woman of strength and dignity...of hope. One who will point others in Your direction by living a life that is wrapped up in You.
Monday, February 18, 2013
Monday, July 16, 2012
The Spiritual Half Nelson...
Once upon a time, long ago and in the book of Genesis, there was a man named Jacob. Jacob was the son of Isaac, who was the son of Abraham. (Or as I refer to him in my earlier post, Abramaham.)
Jacob was born a grasping little fellow. When his twin brother Esau was born, Jacob followed him out holding onto his brother's heel. He sneaked his way into receiving his brother's birthright when they were older by convincing Esau to sell it to him in exchange for a bowl of soup. And, listening to his mother, he even tricked his blind dad into giving him the blessing that rightfully belonged to his firstborn brother by wearing a disguise.
After reading in Genesis about how he'd wronged his brother, I was at first a little less-than-impressed by Jacob. As I continued reading about Jacob (who God later called "Israel"), I started to have a change of heart. And here's why.
When Jacob convinced Esau to sell his birthright for a bowl of soup, Esau did it. Esau could have made his own stinkin' soup, but he didn't. He was essentially saying that the birthright wasn't that important to him. And when Jacob put on that furry disguise and liked to his dad, he was proving his desperation and motivation to receive that blessing. And then in Genesis 32, Jacob changes for me. He goes from being just a deceptive man, to being a man who demonstrates a quality that I myself would like to have. Let's take a look...
In Genesis 32:24-32 Jacob has a wrestling match...with God. Well, not with "God", but with God the form of a man. (We know God's capable of doing that, not only is he GOD after all, but He did it in the form of Jesus, too).
The portion of scripture goes like this: "Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak...then he (the man) said, 'Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.' but he (Jacob) said, 'I will not let you go until you bless me'."
Now, before this wrestling match, there is no mention as to how the two of them started to wrestle. But, we do know a little bit about aggressive, sneaky, grasping Jacob. For my own personal enjoyment, I'm going to imagine it went something like this:
Jacob gets ready for bed.
Jacob spots a man he recognized as an angel or God.
Jacob hides behind some bushes.
God, in the form of this man, walks by.
Jacob jumps out and puts GOD in a half nelson.
They wrestle all night.
Jacob has been practicing his half nelson moves, and won't let go of this "man".
The man asks Jacob to let him go.
Jacob, like he did with his brother's birthright, says he will in exchange for something...a blessing from God.
From grasping baby, to grasping man. What a sneaky fellow that Jacob was! And how I want to be more like him, in this one area at least. He saw an opportunity to be blessed by God...and he went after it with aggression! Even though during this wrestling match, God "cheated" by using a tiny bit of His power to dislocate Jacob's hip, Jacob held on. He held on through the pain and left with a limp...but he also left with a blessing.
In life, there are times we really have to fight to hold on to God. Trials come up, things go wrong, we get hurt. And so, we let go. We put God on a back burner, and try to focus on getting our lives back together. We stop paying tithes so we can "focus on our finances". We stop serving others because we "don't have the time". We stop spending time with God because we want to "spend time with our families". I put all of those excuses in quotation marks, because they are things we say, but aren't necessarily true. Your finances don't improve by neglecting your tithes, your day won't magically be filled with more time by ignoring the God who is capable of making the sun stand still in the sky (yes, He did that), and you won't be a better parent by ignoring your heavenly Father. What you DO get, is to leave with a limp. In worse shape than when you started. However, when you cling to God...you leave with a limp and a blessing.
Life happens. It always will. I, personally, would rather encounter those problems in life while actively and aggressively going after the things of GOD. It's only by holding firmly onto Him that I will not only get through it, but will live a life that God will bless because of my faithfulness and obedience to Him. I want to be a person that will run toward God without a second thought, and grab onto Him for dear life and never let go. That sneaky Jacob...he got something right. No matter what happens...hold on to Him.
And because I feel like sharing random information today, here's a YouTube link on how to do an actual Half Nelson wrestling move...Half Nelson Wrestling
Jacob was born a grasping little fellow. When his twin brother Esau was born, Jacob followed him out holding onto his brother's heel. He sneaked his way into receiving his brother's birthright when they were older by convincing Esau to sell it to him in exchange for a bowl of soup. And, listening to his mother, he even tricked his blind dad into giving him the blessing that rightfully belonged to his firstborn brother by wearing a disguise.
After reading in Genesis about how he'd wronged his brother, I was at first a little less-than-impressed by Jacob. As I continued reading about Jacob (who God later called "Israel"), I started to have a change of heart. And here's why.
When Jacob convinced Esau to sell his birthright for a bowl of soup, Esau did it. Esau could have made his own stinkin' soup, but he didn't. He was essentially saying that the birthright wasn't that important to him. And when Jacob put on that furry disguise and liked to his dad, he was proving his desperation and motivation to receive that blessing. And then in Genesis 32, Jacob changes for me. He goes from being just a deceptive man, to being a man who demonstrates a quality that I myself would like to have. Let's take a look...
In Genesis 32:24-32 Jacob has a wrestling match...with God. Well, not with "God", but with God the form of a man. (We know God's capable of doing that, not only is he GOD after all, but He did it in the form of Jesus, too).
The portion of scripture goes like this: "Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak...then he (the man) said, 'Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.' but he (Jacob) said, 'I will not let you go until you bless me'."
Now, before this wrestling match, there is no mention as to how the two of them started to wrestle. But, we do know a little bit about aggressive, sneaky, grasping Jacob. For my own personal enjoyment, I'm going to imagine it went something like this:
Jacob gets ready for bed.
Jacob spots a man he recognized as an angel or God.
Jacob hides behind some bushes.
God, in the form of this man, walks by.
Jacob jumps out and puts GOD in a half nelson.
They wrestle all night.
Jacob has been practicing his half nelson moves, and won't let go of this "man".
The man asks Jacob to let him go.
Jacob, like he did with his brother's birthright, says he will in exchange for something...a blessing from God.
From grasping baby, to grasping man. What a sneaky fellow that Jacob was! And how I want to be more like him, in this one area at least. He saw an opportunity to be blessed by God...and he went after it with aggression! Even though during this wrestling match, God "cheated" by using a tiny bit of His power to dislocate Jacob's hip, Jacob held on. He held on through the pain and left with a limp...but he also left with a blessing.
In life, there are times we really have to fight to hold on to God. Trials come up, things go wrong, we get hurt. And so, we let go. We put God on a back burner, and try to focus on getting our lives back together. We stop paying tithes so we can "focus on our finances". We stop serving others because we "don't have the time". We stop spending time with God because we want to "spend time with our families". I put all of those excuses in quotation marks, because they are things we say, but aren't necessarily true. Your finances don't improve by neglecting your tithes, your day won't magically be filled with more time by ignoring the God who is capable of making the sun stand still in the sky (yes, He did that), and you won't be a better parent by ignoring your heavenly Father. What you DO get, is to leave with a limp. In worse shape than when you started. However, when you cling to God...you leave with a limp and a blessing.
Life happens. It always will. I, personally, would rather encounter those problems in life while actively and aggressively going after the things of GOD. It's only by holding firmly onto Him that I will not only get through it, but will live a life that God will bless because of my faithfulness and obedience to Him. I want to be a person that will run toward God without a second thought, and grab onto Him for dear life and never let go. That sneaky Jacob...he got something right. No matter what happens...hold on to Him.
And because I feel like sharing random information today, here's a YouTube link on how to do an actual Half Nelson wrestling move...Half Nelson Wrestling
Sunday, July 15, 2012
The Mashed Potatoes Speaketh
So...no particular scripture verse prompted this post. (If there's a verse in the Bible about mashed potatoes, I'd really like to hear about it, though! I love 'em!)
I was reminded today of a time that God spoke to me, and I just thought I'd type it up so I'd always have it somewhere and not forget it! If it's confusing, I apologize. The Holy Spirit has a way of teaching us more in an instant than we can ever truly express verbally...but I'll try to sum it up.
During a time of prayer in a Discipleship class (far away, and a long, long time ago), I had a sort of "vision". I say "vision" in quotations because although it was a vision, I couldn't see anything. I was in total and complete darkness, but I could smell the most delicious mashed potatoes as if they were right in front of my face. It was...unearthly. Although I couldn't see anything, I went forward. After a little while, I could taste mashed potatoes! It totally freaked me out to be smelling and tasting mashed potatoes in church when I obviously wasn't eating, but I went with it. After devouring the small bite, I could smell potatoes again, went forward again, and tasted them again. Each time the potatoes tasted better, and I was tasting them for longer...as if I was walking forward and eating the potato goodness and each time the potato goodness pile grew!
And through that process, God was teaching me two very important lessons.
Lesson 1.
God loves me enough, and knows me well enough, to speak to me through mashed potatoes. He knew that mashed potatoes, above all other foods, would get my attention. He cares about me enough to speak to me on my level, no matter what that is. Sometimes through dreams, sometimes through other people...He always knows the best way to reach me. Which makes me feel so humbled and honored...that my creator would take the time to know those little details about me.
Lesson 2.
He was teaching me about spiritual hunger...about passion and persistence.
There have been times in my spiritual journey that I've felt I was in a "dry spell". Felt less passionate about the things of God, felt that God was distant, or for whatever reason just wasn't as "into it" as I had been before. God was telling me (and this was true for me at the time, it may not be true for everyone always), that those "dry spells" were just me in between piles of potatoes.
Sometimes when we have an awesome experience with the Lord, we try to replicate that experience. Try to worship to the same song that the "event" occurred to, go to the same place, sit in the same seat, pray the same prayer...and God doesn't show up like He did before. Since we're doing all the same things we had done before, we may start to think God doesn't care, or maybe we've done something wrong to cause Him to withhold His presence. And while I do believe God sometimes withholds Himself (He disciplines his kiddos when they need it), I think that more often than not we are just in between potato piles.
God was teaching me that He doesn't want me to just sit there at the same little pile all the time. He doesn't want me to eat the potatoes He's given me, and then sit there in the dark with my mouth open like a stinkin' baby bird. He wants me to press onward. He wants me to seek Him, and when I've filled up...seek Him some more! To grow deeper in my relationship with Him, and to be able to handle more as I grow. When God gives me a little and I'm responsible with it, He can trust me to take care of a little more. When I have dedication and diligence by pressing forward through the darkness and potato-less times, I show Him that I'm not just in it for me. I'm not eating the mashed potatoes for the sake of mashed potatoes...or in real terms...I'm not worshiping just to feel God's love, or praying just to receive a blessing or a miracle (or whatever the "potatoes" may represent for you)...I'm showing Him that while I do enjoy all the benefits of being a child of God, my main focus is to draw closer to Him. That I'm not satisfied with the "potatoes", because I want to come face to face with the one who made them.
Our spiritual journey is so much like this little vision. God knows what's going on, and we can feel like we're wandering around in the dark sometimes. Wondering when God's going to show up, and wondering where He's leading us. Truth is, He's always there. And we DO know where we're going...we're heading toward Him, toward the open and waiting arms of our Lord, who has absolutely earned our complete faith and trust. So next time you're not feeling like reading God's word, going to church, or just spending time with Him...don't blame it on a dry spell, and definitely do NOT blame it on God...instead make a conscious decision to press forward. Trust me, you want to! The creator of the universe makes the most delicious mashed potatoes on the planet...and in the heavens too, I'd wager.
I was reminded today of a time that God spoke to me, and I just thought I'd type it up so I'd always have it somewhere and not forget it! If it's confusing, I apologize. The Holy Spirit has a way of teaching us more in an instant than we can ever truly express verbally...but I'll try to sum it up.
During a time of prayer in a Discipleship class (far away, and a long, long time ago), I had a sort of "vision". I say "vision" in quotations because although it was a vision, I couldn't see anything. I was in total and complete darkness, but I could smell the most delicious mashed potatoes as if they were right in front of my face. It was...unearthly. Although I couldn't see anything, I went forward. After a little while, I could taste mashed potatoes! It totally freaked me out to be smelling and tasting mashed potatoes in church when I obviously wasn't eating, but I went with it. After devouring the small bite, I could smell potatoes again, went forward again, and tasted them again. Each time the potatoes tasted better, and I was tasting them for longer...as if I was walking forward and eating the potato goodness and each time the potato goodness pile grew!
And through that process, God was teaching me two very important lessons.
Lesson 1.
God loves me enough, and knows me well enough, to speak to me through mashed potatoes. He knew that mashed potatoes, above all other foods, would get my attention. He cares about me enough to speak to me on my level, no matter what that is. Sometimes through dreams, sometimes through other people...He always knows the best way to reach me. Which makes me feel so humbled and honored...that my creator would take the time to know those little details about me.
Lesson 2.
He was teaching me about spiritual hunger...about passion and persistence.
There have been times in my spiritual journey that I've felt I was in a "dry spell". Felt less passionate about the things of God, felt that God was distant, or for whatever reason just wasn't as "into it" as I had been before. God was telling me (and this was true for me at the time, it may not be true for everyone always), that those "dry spells" were just me in between piles of potatoes.
Sometimes when we have an awesome experience with the Lord, we try to replicate that experience. Try to worship to the same song that the "event" occurred to, go to the same place, sit in the same seat, pray the same prayer...and God doesn't show up like He did before. Since we're doing all the same things we had done before, we may start to think God doesn't care, or maybe we've done something wrong to cause Him to withhold His presence. And while I do believe God sometimes withholds Himself (He disciplines his kiddos when they need it), I think that more often than not we are just in between potato piles.
God was teaching me that He doesn't want me to just sit there at the same little pile all the time. He doesn't want me to eat the potatoes He's given me, and then sit there in the dark with my mouth open like a stinkin' baby bird. He wants me to press onward. He wants me to seek Him, and when I've filled up...seek Him some more! To grow deeper in my relationship with Him, and to be able to handle more as I grow. When God gives me a little and I'm responsible with it, He can trust me to take care of a little more. When I have dedication and diligence by pressing forward through the darkness and potato-less times, I show Him that I'm not just in it for me. I'm not eating the mashed potatoes for the sake of mashed potatoes...or in real terms...I'm not worshiping just to feel God's love, or praying just to receive a blessing or a miracle (or whatever the "potatoes" may represent for you)...I'm showing Him that while I do enjoy all the benefits of being a child of God, my main focus is to draw closer to Him. That I'm not satisfied with the "potatoes", because I want to come face to face with the one who made them.
Our spiritual journey is so much like this little vision. God knows what's going on, and we can feel like we're wandering around in the dark sometimes. Wondering when God's going to show up, and wondering where He's leading us. Truth is, He's always there. And we DO know where we're going...we're heading toward Him, toward the open and waiting arms of our Lord, who has absolutely earned our complete faith and trust. So next time you're not feeling like reading God's word, going to church, or just spending time with Him...don't blame it on a dry spell, and definitely do NOT blame it on God...instead make a conscious decision to press forward. Trust me, you want to! The creator of the universe makes the most delicious mashed potatoes on the planet...and in the heavens too, I'd wager.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Go West, Young Woman...(and leave the map at home)
Options. Life is chuck full of them! Where to live, where to work, whether or not to accept that promotion, what to drive...and today I wanted to share a little about what I learned in regard to navigating those options.
I'm reading in Genesis (which I love, by the way), and am learning a lot through the story of Abram...um Abraham...um, Abramaham.
Here's a summary of Genesis 12...God told Abram (who He would later give the name Abraham), to leave his country and his home and go to the place that God would show him (without gps or a map). God said he would make Abram a great nation, and would bless him. So, because Abram had more faith and is more obedient than I, he did as God said without needing to know the end destination (Genesis 12:4). He took his wife, Sarai and his nephew, Lot. They traveled on and made a stop in Egypt, where Abram(aham) made a dumb decision before they all made a fancy exit by being escorted out of town by Pharaoh's men.
And after that highly accurate and in-depth summary of chapter 12, we arrive at Genesis 13. Abram was very rich...lots of livestock, silver and gold. He and Lot had acquired so much that they couldn't live in the same place anymore because the area couldn't support that much livestock. So, to keep the peace and the good relationship between them (and the livestock from croaking), Abram told Lot that they should separate but that Lot could choose where he wanted to go. Lot could take the first pick, and Abram would take whatever Lot didn't want. He presented Lot with one of those options that sometimes comes along in life.
Lot did what most of us would do. "Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere...like the garden of the Lord...So Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan..." (Genesis 13:10-11)
To the normal dude, this probably seems like the wisest choice he could possibly make. He needs to feed the livestock, he's been given a choice...why not make the choice that was obviously best by picking the land that was well watered, right? Yeah...it's only the best choice to a normal dude. As Christians, we're not supposed to be going through life "normally". Picking the best land also meant that Lot was choosing to live near Sodom, the Old Testament's "City of Sin". (And what happened in Sodom did not stay in Sodom, it's been published in the most popular book on the planet.) He was choosing the best land...but he may not have realized that in doing so he was essentially choosing man's ways over God's ways. Choosing to throw himself (and his "lot", get it?) in with the crud, all for the sake of a watering hole. And what did the Lord say to Abram, after Lot went on his merry way? "Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are...for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever..." (verses 14-15).
How like God to wait until Lot had left to share this prime little piece of info with Abram(aham). How like God to wait and see what we're going to do, how like Him to give us a chance to execute our free will. He didn't say "go this way and keep all the land, go that way to Sodom and get baked like a brownie" (See my "Truth Proof" blog regarding Sodom and Gomorrah)...He let them make the decision and then the consequences of each was revealed to each, either directly by God or just through the unfolding of life.
When options present themselves, we gravitate toward the ones that seem the best "logically". Best watered, best gas mileage, best location, best pay, best hours...But God's ways are higher. Instead of looking around to survey the possible outcomes with our natural eyes, we need to be able to stop and lift our eyes to the Lord. To see things through His eyes, and not only that, but to accept his direction without question.
Genesis 15:6 says this of Abram, "Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness." God credited Abram with being righteous because of his belief. Instead of trying to pursue righteousness by doing A B and C, we are righteous through our belief. When we believe God, we walk in His ways and are not only blessed for our obedience, but we end up living lives that reflect Christ naturally.
We need to weigh our options...not against the world's standards, but against God's. And when we receive that direction from the Lord, we need to stick to it. In Genesis 16, Sarai, Abram's wife, was tired of waiting for the children God had promised her (she was barren), and she took matters into her own hands. It didn't quite work out the way she'd planned, and maybe that could have been the end of it. "And so, Sarai and Abramaham screwed up again, this time losing all the promises of the Lord and were doomed to go join Lot in the disco 'inferno'." But nope...through God's mercy and grace they were able to get their focus back on God, back on His plan, and God blessed them even though they'd taken an unfortunate detour.
After reading these scriptures, I'm encouraged to continue to seek God in my decisions. And after I've made them, to stick by them. Other people, who see things "normally", may not understand them. May not understand why I haven't accepted that promotion at work, or why I live where I do. But that's because I'm waiting. Waiting on the Lord, because I'd rather go where He leads the first time than have to run back to Him to fix my mistakes. I've gone that route before and it's painful. I want to be someone that God can depend on to be obedient, and who He credits with righteousness, not with unbelief.
I'm reading in Genesis (which I love, by the way), and am learning a lot through the story of Abram...um Abraham...um, Abramaham.
Here's a summary of Genesis 12...God told Abram (who He would later give the name Abraham), to leave his country and his home and go to the place that God would show him (without gps or a map). God said he would make Abram a great nation, and would bless him. So, because Abram had more faith and is more obedient than I, he did as God said without needing to know the end destination (Genesis 12:4). He took his wife, Sarai and his nephew, Lot. They traveled on and made a stop in Egypt, where Abram(aham) made a dumb decision before they all made a fancy exit by being escorted out of town by Pharaoh's men.
And after that highly accurate and in-depth summary of chapter 12, we arrive at Genesis 13. Abram was very rich...lots of livestock, silver and gold. He and Lot had acquired so much that they couldn't live in the same place anymore because the area couldn't support that much livestock. So, to keep the peace and the good relationship between them (and the livestock from croaking), Abram told Lot that they should separate but that Lot could choose where he wanted to go. Lot could take the first pick, and Abram would take whatever Lot didn't want. He presented Lot with one of those options that sometimes comes along in life.
Lot did what most of us would do. "Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere...like the garden of the Lord...So Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan..." (Genesis 13:10-11)
To the normal dude, this probably seems like the wisest choice he could possibly make. He needs to feed the livestock, he's been given a choice...why not make the choice that was obviously best by picking the land that was well watered, right? Yeah...it's only the best choice to a normal dude. As Christians, we're not supposed to be going through life "normally". Picking the best land also meant that Lot was choosing to live near Sodom, the Old Testament's "City of Sin". (And what happened in Sodom did not stay in Sodom, it's been published in the most popular book on the planet.) He was choosing the best land...but he may not have realized that in doing so he was essentially choosing man's ways over God's ways. Choosing to throw himself (and his "lot", get it?) in with the crud, all for the sake of a watering hole. And what did the Lord say to Abram, after Lot went on his merry way? "Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are...for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever..." (verses 14-15).
How like God to wait until Lot had left to share this prime little piece of info with Abram(aham). How like God to wait and see what we're going to do, how like Him to give us a chance to execute our free will. He didn't say "go this way and keep all the land, go that way to Sodom and get baked like a brownie" (See my "Truth Proof" blog regarding Sodom and Gomorrah)...He let them make the decision and then the consequences of each was revealed to each, either directly by God or just through the unfolding of life.
When options present themselves, we gravitate toward the ones that seem the best "logically". Best watered, best gas mileage, best location, best pay, best hours...But God's ways are higher. Instead of looking around to survey the possible outcomes with our natural eyes, we need to be able to stop and lift our eyes to the Lord. To see things through His eyes, and not only that, but to accept his direction without question.
Genesis 15:6 says this of Abram, "Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness." God credited Abram with being righteous because of his belief. Instead of trying to pursue righteousness by doing A B and C, we are righteous through our belief. When we believe God, we walk in His ways and are not only blessed for our obedience, but we end up living lives that reflect Christ naturally.
We need to weigh our options...not against the world's standards, but against God's. And when we receive that direction from the Lord, we need to stick to it. In Genesis 16, Sarai, Abram's wife, was tired of waiting for the children God had promised her (she was barren), and she took matters into her own hands. It didn't quite work out the way she'd planned, and maybe that could have been the end of it. "And so, Sarai and Abramaham screwed up again, this time losing all the promises of the Lord and were doomed to go join Lot in the disco 'inferno'." But nope...through God's mercy and grace they were able to get their focus back on God, back on His plan, and God blessed them even though they'd taken an unfortunate detour.
After reading these scriptures, I'm encouraged to continue to seek God in my decisions. And after I've made them, to stick by them. Other people, who see things "normally", may not understand them. May not understand why I haven't accepted that promotion at work, or why I live where I do. But that's because I'm waiting. Waiting on the Lord, because I'd rather go where He leads the first time than have to run back to Him to fix my mistakes. I've gone that route before and it's painful. I want to be someone that God can depend on to be obedient, and who He credits with righteousness, not with unbelief.
Friday, July 6, 2012
Let's Have an Argument! Uh...Oops.
If you're a Christian you probably are one, at least in part, because of someone else. Whether it was your parents, a co-worker, a pastor or a combination of many people...at some point a seed of truth was sown in your heart, and God drew you to Him. For me, I know that the seeds were sown by my parents, who taught me about Christ and God's word. Although I accepted what they taught me as truth, when I was older I had to reevaluate my beliefs and come to accept or reject them on my own.
So, as a Christian, you probably understand the importance of sharing the gospel message with others. Whether you're the one sowing the seeds, answering questions or "reaping the harvest". Also, as a Christian, you are somewhat obligated to be a witness. I mean, God's not going to physically shove you into someone's doorstep to share His Word...but He's already asked you to go.
1 Peter 3:14-16 talks about this "...And do not fear their intimidation...always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence..."
I haven't heard that many messages on being an "effective witness", so I did a tiny, tiny bit of reading and felt I learned a few things. Since God tells us to be ready with an answer, and even our buddy in Psalm 119:46 says "I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be ashamed.", I think it's worth our investigation to be able to do this thing the Lord expects us to do as well as we can. We want to do everything well for the Lord.
Colossians 4:5-6 (NASB) says "Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person."
When we're sharing the gospel message with people who maybe aren't as familiar with it as we are, we should make sure that we are always speaking in grace and love. Speaking in grace (versus being demeaning and argumentative), will make our words as "though seasoned with salt". I don't think Paul's saying that our words should be so salty they make people wince...but salt is something we use to bring flavor to our food. Speaking in grace will make our message palatable, tasty, easily consumed. It makes sense. The end of verse 6 reads "so that you will know how you should respond to each person". Unless you're listening to those you are sharing with, and speaking in grace (instead of your well thought out "argument") how do you know what that person needs to hear? I don't think that handing out the same glossy tract to every person is going to be the most effective. People are unique. They have different ideas about spirituality, and they have different life experiences. We need to approach outsiders with wisdom, being able to not only speak effectively, but in accordance with what God would have us say. The point of being a witness isn't to earn extra credit in heaven for giving the same 4 point speech over and over to every stranger we encounter. We want to be effective in ministry, carefully sowing seeds, carefully building on a foundation, otherwise there is no point.
1 Corinthians 3 talks about those who plant, those who water...and in verse 10 says "But each man must be careful how he builds on it." If it's not built in Christ, it won't last...it'll be tested by fire and only that which was sown and built in Christ will remain. Not only that but (verse 14) "If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss..." Yikes.
1 Corinthians 1:17 (NASB) says, "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void."
I think that's a mistake I've made in the past...trying to convince someone of the gospel message through my own cleverness. By making a persuasive argument, I'm actually risking making the cross of Christ void (uh, ouch). The message of salvation in Christ stands on it's own. It doesn't need me to "fancy it up". It needs me to present it, and to present it in a way that is clear and easy to understand. 1 Corinthians 3:7 says "So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth." We can't take credit for the power of the gospel message.
This is also mentioned earlier in 1 Corinthians, in 2: 2-5.
"For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God."
And that's where my heart is today. I want others to know the hope that is mine in Christ Jesus, but I want them to receive it because of faith that rests on "the power of God", not in "the wisdom of men". When people turn to faith because of a man's wisdom, then they will continue to look to men for their spiritual answers and their spiritual growth. Ick. They need to know from the beginning to go to God in all things.
Personally, I'm pretty ecstatic that I don't have to worry about having all the answers, knowing how to debate every variation of theology. All I have to know is Christ. If I'm serving Him, living in Him, and speaking with grace of Him...that's enough to start. God makes the thing grow. (And if you're looking for a good explanation of grace and salvation, read Romans!)
Now something else that we need to be careful of when witnessing. People of other religions will try to make a persuasive argument and punch you in the face with knowledge to prove you wrong. So, we need to guard our hearts. There's a place for knowledge, but as I mentioned earlier...convincing someone of something because of your big words and opinions on theology only convinces them that you can use big words and that you have opinions on theology. Whereas I want to promote Christ, not enhance my self-esteem by making someone thing I'm a genius (haha, like I could ever do that anyway!). I want to teach in a way that the person I'm talking to can't help but understand.
Because people will possibly argue with you, try to confuse you, and try to convert you to something crazy...here are a few verses to think about when you're absorbing what they have to say:
1 Timothy 6:3-4 "If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrines conforming to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions..."
The early church was a church of witnessing. They have loads of advice on how to be effective, and what to protect our hearts against. If someone says something to us for the sake of arguing, we need to test it against what Christ has said before accepting it. And they should test what we say the same way, if they claim to be Christians. In Christian religions, Christ is our High Priest, and final authority. That's why his name is in their religious title, right?
Colossians 2:8-10 says "See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority."
If you want to be an effective witness, you need to know what Christ is like and what He has said. Read the gospels, yo.
And if someone tries to convince you that your faith needs to be about more than Christ (Christ + Works, or Christ + Religious Traditions, etc) watch out!
Colossians 2:20-23, "If you have died with Christ, to the elementary principles of the world, why as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, Do not handle, do not taste, do do not touch! (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)-in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion..."
Ok...so this blog was exceptionally long and not quite as lighthearted as some of my others...but that's usually because I'm being motivated by conviction. And again today, I am. I can be awfully good at letting other people tell me about their beliefs, and then because I'm afraid of offending someone...I let them walk away with their faith in a self-made religion. The early church grew because God added to their numbers daily...but they were active in that process. They were not intimidated, they were willing to die for their faith, and many of them did. So why, then, do I avoid speaking the truth in love? I have no excuse. If I love people as Christ did, I will be willing to suffer greatly (and find joy in it) for the advancement of His kingdom. Christ died for my salvation, and for theirs...am I really going to be unwilling to have someone look at me funny for a few minutes? How prideful.
So, as a Christian, you probably understand the importance of sharing the gospel message with others. Whether you're the one sowing the seeds, answering questions or "reaping the harvest". Also, as a Christian, you are somewhat obligated to be a witness. I mean, God's not going to physically shove you into someone's doorstep to share His Word...but He's already asked you to go.
1 Peter 3:14-16 talks about this "...And do not fear their intimidation...always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence..."
I haven't heard that many messages on being an "effective witness", so I did a tiny, tiny bit of reading and felt I learned a few things. Since God tells us to be ready with an answer, and even our buddy in Psalm 119:46 says "I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be ashamed.", I think it's worth our investigation to be able to do this thing the Lord expects us to do as well as we can. We want to do everything well for the Lord.
Colossians 4:5-6 (NASB) says "Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person."
When we're sharing the gospel message with people who maybe aren't as familiar with it as we are, we should make sure that we are always speaking in grace and love. Speaking in grace (versus being demeaning and argumentative), will make our words as "though seasoned with salt". I don't think Paul's saying that our words should be so salty they make people wince...but salt is something we use to bring flavor to our food. Speaking in grace will make our message palatable, tasty, easily consumed. It makes sense. The end of verse 6 reads "so that you will know how you should respond to each person". Unless you're listening to those you are sharing with, and speaking in grace (instead of your well thought out "argument") how do you know what that person needs to hear? I don't think that handing out the same glossy tract to every person is going to be the most effective. People are unique. They have different ideas about spirituality, and they have different life experiences. We need to approach outsiders with wisdom, being able to not only speak effectively, but in accordance with what God would have us say. The point of being a witness isn't to earn extra credit in heaven for giving the same 4 point speech over and over to every stranger we encounter. We want to be effective in ministry, carefully sowing seeds, carefully building on a foundation, otherwise there is no point.
1 Corinthians 3 talks about those who plant, those who water...and in verse 10 says "But each man must be careful how he builds on it." If it's not built in Christ, it won't last...it'll be tested by fire and only that which was sown and built in Christ will remain. Not only that but (verse 14) "If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss..." Yikes.
1 Corinthians 1:17 (NASB) says, "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void."
I think that's a mistake I've made in the past...trying to convince someone of the gospel message through my own cleverness. By making a persuasive argument, I'm actually risking making the cross of Christ void (uh, ouch). The message of salvation in Christ stands on it's own. It doesn't need me to "fancy it up". It needs me to present it, and to present it in a way that is clear and easy to understand. 1 Corinthians 3:7 says "So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth." We can't take credit for the power of the gospel message.
This is also mentioned earlier in 1 Corinthians, in 2: 2-5.
"For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God."
And that's where my heart is today. I want others to know the hope that is mine in Christ Jesus, but I want them to receive it because of faith that rests on "the power of God", not in "the wisdom of men". When people turn to faith because of a man's wisdom, then they will continue to look to men for their spiritual answers and their spiritual growth. Ick. They need to know from the beginning to go to God in all things.
Personally, I'm pretty ecstatic that I don't have to worry about having all the answers, knowing how to debate every variation of theology. All I have to know is Christ. If I'm serving Him, living in Him, and speaking with grace of Him...that's enough to start. God makes the thing grow. (And if you're looking for a good explanation of grace and salvation, read Romans!)
Now something else that we need to be careful of when witnessing. People of other religions will try to make a persuasive argument and punch you in the face with knowledge to prove you wrong. So, we need to guard our hearts. There's a place for knowledge, but as I mentioned earlier...convincing someone of something because of your big words and opinions on theology only convinces them that you can use big words and that you have opinions on theology. Whereas I want to promote Christ, not enhance my self-esteem by making someone thing I'm a genius (haha, like I could ever do that anyway!). I want to teach in a way that the person I'm talking to can't help but understand.
Because people will possibly argue with you, try to confuse you, and try to convert you to something crazy...here are a few verses to think about when you're absorbing what they have to say:
1 Timothy 6:3-4 "If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrines conforming to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions..."
The early church was a church of witnessing. They have loads of advice on how to be effective, and what to protect our hearts against. If someone says something to us for the sake of arguing, we need to test it against what Christ has said before accepting it. And they should test what we say the same way, if they claim to be Christians. In Christian religions, Christ is our High Priest, and final authority. That's why his name is in their religious title, right?
Colossians 2:8-10 says "See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority."
If you want to be an effective witness, you need to know what Christ is like and what He has said. Read the gospels, yo.
And if someone tries to convince you that your faith needs to be about more than Christ (Christ + Works, or Christ + Religious Traditions, etc) watch out!
Colossians 2:20-23, "If you have died with Christ, to the elementary principles of the world, why as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, Do not handle, do not taste, do do not touch! (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)-in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion..."
Ok...so this blog was exceptionally long and not quite as lighthearted as some of my others...but that's usually because I'm being motivated by conviction. And again today, I am. I can be awfully good at letting other people tell me about their beliefs, and then because I'm afraid of offending someone...I let them walk away with their faith in a self-made religion. The early church grew because God added to their numbers daily...but they were active in that process. They were not intimidated, they were willing to die for their faith, and many of them did. So why, then, do I avoid speaking the truth in love? I have no excuse. If I love people as Christ did, I will be willing to suffer greatly (and find joy in it) for the advancement of His kingdom. Christ died for my salvation, and for theirs...am I really going to be unwilling to have someone look at me funny for a few minutes? How prideful.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
You're Such A "Baby"...
Ahhh, the feeling of conviction. How warm and fuzzy it makes me feel. Oh, how I love it.
Ok, so feeling convicted isn't really my most favorite of experiences. I recognize how important it is to my spiritual growth, but the truth is...it's embarrassing. And what do I do with embarrassing things that happen to me? I publish them on the internet, of course! Let's begin...
Hebrews 5:12-14 (NASB) says this:
"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil."
Enter conviction.
Before reading these verses I probably wouldn't have considered myself a spiritual "infant". I knew I was still learning and growing, but I probably would've classified myself as at least a spiritual "4th Grader", or a "tall-for-my-age-toddler" at the very least. And then I again read the last sentence, which is verse 14:
"But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil."
Ok...so if you're not having solid food, which is for the mature, you are having milk. If you are having milk, then you are an infant. And how do we identify who the mature/solid food/non infant ones are? Well, they are the ones who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. Practice. Practice. Not who "because of church attendance, active listening skills or the ability to read scriptures"...those who practice.
Just for fun, here's the definition of practice as a verb:
"Perform (an activity) or exercise (a skill) repeatedly or regularly in order to improve or maintain one's proficiency."
And as a noun (which I unfortunately found even more convicting):
"The actual application or use of an idea, belief, or method as opposed to theories about such application or use."
So Google has confirmed it, then. If I'm not fully practicing my Christianity, I'm not mature in it. I know this is obvious stuff, no big hidden mystery here...but it's something worth taking a moment to think about. If you immediately think "well yes, I'm a practicing and therefore mature Christian", you should have no problem listing all the places that you're known to be "practicing" at. Do your coworkers known you're a Christian, not because you've told them, but because of the way you live? Does that slow, annoying employee at the gas station know you're a Christian because of the patience and love you consistently display? How often do you randomly give to someone in need? Do you gossip at work with your coworkers like a practicing non-Christian? How are you serving others? How often does God use you to deliver a message?
If an athlete is training for the Olympics, the people who come in contact with them will probably have some idea of what's going on. What they eat and drink will probably vary from what the Average Joe consumes. The neighbors are probably fully aware of their diligence and determination in training. Strangers have probably observed them doing things to get ready, and have maybe even been inspired to do some sit ups themselves because of it. They're practicing. We're supposed to be practicing, too.
We're not to gain the ability to discern good and evil by listening to our preacher. I think I've sometimes had the idea that I would absorb and learn information, sit in a pew and let it fester for a while, and then one day God would ask me to do something super cool like build an Ark to save humanity and I'd be ready because of all the festering I'd done. Ummm, not so. God's going to ask the one out there "practicing" their faith to build the Ark...they've already got the muscles for it, after all.
(P.S. if you think that God communicates with you primarily by giving you a "good feeling", then you could be mistaking His presence for His confirmation or communication...the Noah and the Ark story is a pretty good example of God's ability to communicate and give extremely clear instruction. He invented communication after all, and Noah didn't hover his hand over his tools waiting for a "good feeling" to know which one to use next. Just a random side note.)
Hebrews 6:7-8 (NASB) Says:
"For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned."
Not only is my festering without action (why do I keep using the word "fester"!?) not helpful to my spiritual growth at all, but my receiving "rain" and then doing nothing with it makes me "worthless and close to being cursed"...it ends up being burned. I know two things for certain today...I don't want to be burned...And I also don't want to make it to Heaven and instead of God saying "Well done!" have him say "Yeah, you were awfully close to being cursed." Awkward.
...Lord, forgive me for often being a Christian who is content to sit on the sidelines. Forgive me for allowing myself to be deceived into thinking that "learning" about you is the path to spiritual maturity. Your word says that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ. Help me to seek Christ above knowledge of Christ, and to live a life that will be a blessing to you and to those around me.
Exit Conviction.
Ok, so feeling convicted isn't really my most favorite of experiences. I recognize how important it is to my spiritual growth, but the truth is...it's embarrassing. And what do I do with embarrassing things that happen to me? I publish them on the internet, of course! Let's begin...
Hebrews 5:12-14 (NASB) says this:
"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil."
Enter conviction.
Before reading these verses I probably wouldn't have considered myself a spiritual "infant". I knew I was still learning and growing, but I probably would've classified myself as at least a spiritual "4th Grader", or a "tall-for-my-age-toddler" at the very least. And then I again read the last sentence, which is verse 14:
"But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil."
Ok...so if you're not having solid food, which is for the mature, you are having milk. If you are having milk, then you are an infant. And how do we identify who the mature/solid food/non infant ones are? Well, they are the ones who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. Practice. Practice. Not who "because of church attendance, active listening skills or the ability to read scriptures"...those who practice.
Just for fun, here's the definition of practice as a verb:
"Perform (an activity) or exercise (a skill) repeatedly or regularly in order to improve or maintain one's proficiency."
And as a noun (which I unfortunately found even more convicting):
"The actual application or use of an idea, belief, or method as opposed to theories about such application or use."
So Google has confirmed it, then. If I'm not fully practicing my Christianity, I'm not mature in it. I know this is obvious stuff, no big hidden mystery here...but it's something worth taking a moment to think about. If you immediately think "well yes, I'm a practicing and therefore mature Christian", you should have no problem listing all the places that you're known to be "practicing" at. Do your coworkers known you're a Christian, not because you've told them, but because of the way you live? Does that slow, annoying employee at the gas station know you're a Christian because of the patience and love you consistently display? How often do you randomly give to someone in need? Do you gossip at work with your coworkers like a practicing non-Christian? How are you serving others? How often does God use you to deliver a message?
If an athlete is training for the Olympics, the people who come in contact with them will probably have some idea of what's going on. What they eat and drink will probably vary from what the Average Joe consumes. The neighbors are probably fully aware of their diligence and determination in training. Strangers have probably observed them doing things to get ready, and have maybe even been inspired to do some sit ups themselves because of it. They're practicing. We're supposed to be practicing, too.
We're not to gain the ability to discern good and evil by listening to our preacher. I think I've sometimes had the idea that I would absorb and learn information, sit in a pew and let it fester for a while, and then one day God would ask me to do something super cool like build an Ark to save humanity and I'd be ready because of all the festering I'd done. Ummm, not so. God's going to ask the one out there "practicing" their faith to build the Ark...they've already got the muscles for it, after all.
(P.S. if you think that God communicates with you primarily by giving you a "good feeling", then you could be mistaking His presence for His confirmation or communication...the Noah and the Ark story is a pretty good example of God's ability to communicate and give extremely clear instruction. He invented communication after all, and Noah didn't hover his hand over his tools waiting for a "good feeling" to know which one to use next. Just a random side note.)
Hebrews 6:7-8 (NASB) Says:
"For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned."
Not only is my festering without action (why do I keep using the word "fester"!?) not helpful to my spiritual growth at all, but my receiving "rain" and then doing nothing with it makes me "worthless and close to being cursed"...it ends up being burned. I know two things for certain today...I don't want to be burned...And I also don't want to make it to Heaven and instead of God saying "Well done!" have him say "Yeah, you were awfully close to being cursed." Awkward.
...Lord, forgive me for often being a Christian who is content to sit on the sidelines. Forgive me for allowing myself to be deceived into thinking that "learning" about you is the path to spiritual maturity. Your word says that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ. Help me to seek Christ above knowledge of Christ, and to live a life that will be a blessing to you and to those around me.
Exit Conviction.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Grace for Sale!
Good Friday and Easter are fast approaching, and I've been thinking a lot this week about what occurred at Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. On Good Friday we remember that Christ was crucified upon the cross for our sins...it's not something I take very lightly. It's something I think about with reverence, sadness, and even conviction. My sins weigh on me a little bit more heavily this time of year, as I take the time to think about the One who died to remove them and wash me clean. I'm not for living our lives in shame (as I wrote about in my Shamelessly Redeemed post), but it's also important that we don't take our salvation for granted. There's a delicate line there, between understanding the true weight our sins carry, and living in the freedom that was purchased for us on the cross. Of course on Easter, the mood has slightly shifted. From sadness at the sacrificial death of our King, to joy at His sweet resurrection! We serve a God who lives, and gives us life in Him! (Insert "Hallelujah!" here.)
It was with this train of thought that I found myself reading in the scriptures a little about grace this week. Defining grace, trying to better understand it, and taking a closer look at my heart in regards to it.
For me, it is sometimes difficult to accept the free gift of grace. I have a good understanding of my shortcomings and my sins, to the point of sometimes struggling with feelings of shame and condemnation...it's hard for me to accept that someone has loved me through all of that, loved me relentlessly - to the point of dying a gruesome, painful death to be a covering for me. I have to be careful that I'm not making my salvation "about me". I'm an American after all...I know that "nothing is free" (unless you buy one first), and that "if it seems too good to be true, it probably is". Not so with God...he's not an American. He's not a person. He's beyond my understanding. You see, it's not about what I have done, what I am doing, or what I will do. My salvation is not dependent on my tithes, or the good deeds I'm doing for others. It's not about how many sign-up sheets I put my name on at church, or how loudly I sing during worship service.
Romans 6:23 says "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (NASB)
It's so easy to fully believe the "wages of sin is death" part, but I think many of us aren't fully understanding the "free gift of God" part. FREE. GIFT. OF GOD. Those are some important words, ya'll.
I've heard others talk about a verse of scripture that says "faith without works is dead". They are under the impression that works are somehow a requirement for salvation. I can't begin to tell you how sad, and angry that makes me. Sad because of the bondage that must come, the weight that must come with "earning" your salvation through works. The insecurity of never knowing when you've truly done enough to be saved. And angry because it takes away from what my savior did on that cross. It makes Him and His sacrificial free gift not enough. Who am I to say that God isn't capable of doing enough to save me? If anyone can save me, isn't it Him? If you were standing at the foot of the cross, seeing Christ suffer for you and your salvation...would you look up and say to Him "What you're doing isn't enough for me! YOU are not enough!" ? Of course we wouldn't say that to His face. But sometimes...by our actions and our hearts...we are doing just that.
The verse they're referring to when making those comments is in James chapter 3. But I'm assuming they didn't read through Romans on their way there, or didn't read the rest of James.
I do believe that faith without works is dead...but I'm saved by the free gift of grace. There's nothing I could ever do myself to deserve any measure of heaven, but I'm given it all -I am a joint heir in the kingdom with Christ, because of what He has given me freely. Our works and our obedience shouldn't come from a place of somehow trying to make ourselves worthy of heaven. Nothing we can do ourselves will ever make us worthy of an ounce of it. When we accept salvation through Jesus Christ, we are accepting that what HE has done really was enough. Our sins are washed away, and God remembers them no more. Then, because of the transformation of our hearts by God's complete, redeeming love, the works flow naturally. When we understand His love, His grace, His salvation, we desire to serve and follow Him. We keep His commandments because we love Him. We help our neighbor because the love He has freely poured over us is in such an abundance that it naturally overflows into the lives of others. The works prove that the faith and the free gift were real. If we're not living in that overflow of love, we need to look at our hearts and see if maybe we haven't had a real encounter with Christ and His Grace.
Romans 3:23-24 says "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is Christ Jesus".
It's a good time of year to make sure we aren't trying to purchase our salvation from God, that we aren't trying to buy His love or grace, or make ourselves worthy of them. It's a good time of year to accept that gift, and allow Him to transform us into His image. In His image we were created - sinless, perfect. And that is what we should desire to be transformed into through Jesus Christ.
And in regards to Christ... "..there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12, NASB)
Lord Jesus, thank you for a the free gift of your grace. Please help me to accept it, and to truly believe that you are enough. You are more than enough for me.
"..if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)