Right on Cue Part 2

A few weeks ago when I was really impacted by the timing of my devotional for the day, there were actually two big things that stuck out to me. Here is number two:

Romans 4:20-21: "He [Abraham] did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform."

On the surface, I would look at these verses and take encouragement that, like Abraham, God will give me what I'm hoping for (i.e., a wife) if I just believe and have patience. But as I looked at this verse deeper, I realized that there was a BIG difference between Abraham and me: God has not promised me a wife. He did promise Abraham that he would be the father of many nations (Genesis 17:5) and that his descendants would be as many as the stars (Genesis 15:5), so Abraham had every right to believe it would come true. However, the hard reality is that God has not promised me a wife. If I try to force the truth of believing God's promises into a box of my wishes, disappointment is inevitable.

So as I looked at this verse that morning, trying to gather some hope out of the bleakness of my realization, God pointed me to what He has promised me: that all things will work together for good (Romans 8:28). Basically, God has promised that He will do what is best for me. So wife or no wife, either way I am assured of God's best for me--and who knows better how to give good gifts than God? (Matt 7:11).

Now if I can just put this into action... When I focus on God's Word and believing His promises, I have every reason to have certainty and contentment in my life as God has planned it. However, if I take my eyes off of Him and His Word--looking to compare myself to others, worrying about the expectations of others, focusing on my own will and desires above God's--then I'm going to struggle with contentment. "Lord, put blinders on my eyes so that I may focus only on Your promises and be fully contented in seeing them fulfilled in my life, Amen."

Psalm 51:1-4

Too many times I find myself knowing how I have just sinned and submitting to the inevitable reaping what I have sown. Seldom do I go to the One I have sinned against and beg His forgiveness, requesting, as David does in this passage, for Him to blot out my transgressions. Not that I believe that those actions will save me from what is coming to me, but it is righteous and holy to do so.
Last night after study I got a phone call from a brother that I am helping through some morality issues and the passage this morning seems especially apropos. Pray that I am able to help him in love and understanding.

Backing Away or Running Away?

Galatians 4:8-12
"8 Before you Gentiles knew God, you were slaves to so-called gods that do not even exist. 9 So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you), why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world? 10 You are trying to earn favor with God by observing certain days or months or seasons or years. 11 I fear for you. Perhaps all my hard work with you was for nothing. 12 Dear brothers and sisters,[f] I plead with you to live as I do in freedom from these things, for I have become like you Gentiles—free from those laws."

This passage reminds me of a very true saying for us Christians, "Why do we slowly back away from Hell, rather than turn our backs and run as fast as we can toward Heaven?" I have many bad habits and sin temptations that I can easily return to, and often am tempted to fall back in because I deep down am lazy and tired of working so hard to maintain. I think I focus TOO much sometimes on how hard it is, rather than realize how much pain/agony/self-loathing/negative consequences/HELL I'm saved from by persisting in keeping my guard up. I should be thankful, and not feeling like I'm missing the party so to speak. Lord, strengthen my resolve and attitude to see the blessings in continuing to run this race for you. Amen.

Proverbs 16:12,13

It is my understanding that these verses were not intended to be describing attributes of God, but that is how I took them in my study today. As servants of the King, doesn't our wrongdoing diminish the glory of His throne in the eyes of the unsaved? If we truly wish to increase the kingdom we need to keep a sharp eye on ourselves and ask others to do the same. The speck in my eye still needs to come out. I don't care if a man with a plank in his helps me do it, I will be that much better for other's efforts.
Contrasting that with the concept of a well-behaved and honest citizen. As ambassadors of the Kingdom if we are well known for the honesty and truth that we speak, our council will be sought out and valued.
Goals to shoot for.

Romans 12:9-12

So many good things in today's passage, I just had to cut it down to the parts I want to talk about.
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love is the start of verse 10. I have seen and felt that devotion many times in our small group and in the body of believers at large. I also have seen a lack of that love more often than I would like. If we are to be a light to the world and an encouragement to each other we need to work on that more. Honor one another above yourself, go that extra mile not just for me who you know, but for those you don't know.
Never be lacking in zeal is the area that I think I could use the most improvement at this time. My 'zeal-o-meter' is seldom pegged, often hovering around the mid-point mark dependant on how my day is going. That isn't right, my joy for the Lord shouldn't depend on what I feel He has done for me lately or my earthly worries.
Lord, thank you for your faithfulness even in the midst of my unfaithfulness.

Is He in you?

Galatians 2:20-21
20 My old self has been crucified with Christ.[a] It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.

"Often I've skimmed over this passage, but on wednesday I stopped and really meditated on this. Specifically that I no longer live but Christ in me - to literally picture my will, desires, attitudes, motivations, etc. all being controlled & inline with God. Such an intimidating seemingly impossible task (why didn't he just ask me to cure cancer, seriously?)! However, I know he's growing me and conforming me to him as I continue to submit. So I plan on trying to meditate and pray on this more regularly. I think alot of my frustrations, pain, struggles, and joy all will be best served to "dying" and living in him. Lord, although a sinner, help me to press in to dying to self, and living in your Holy Spirit, amen."

Deuteronomy 32:44-47

[Moses] said to them, "Take to heart all the words by which I am warning you today, that you may command them to your children, that they may be careful to do all the words of this law. For it is no empty word for you, but your very life, and by this word you shall live...

How is it that sometimes I'll read the Word and not think there is much in it for me? Seriously, I have to admit that I'll read certain things and ask, "Does this relate to me?", "Do I really want to live this out?", "Why should I even care?". But the truth is that when I do live out the Word even when there isn't much expectation, God reveals to me that there is nothing more satisfying... that it was not an empty word for me... that it is my very life... and that it is the life I am to live...

Right on cue

I had just been journaling about how I feel so helpless to pull the right "fish" out of the Christian dating pond. I finished up the journal entry with this comment, "I know that I need to pull some faith out of the bag for this one, but right now I seem to be grabbing more doubt than faith." Slightly discouraged, I opened God's Word to the next verse on my trek through Romans: "And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old)...he did not waiver at the promise of God through unbelief" (4:19-20a). So amazing how God spoke to me about faith just seconds after I was lamenting my lack of it! If Abraham was keeping the faith for a son at 100 years old, why can't I keep the faith for a wife at 30?! "Thank you Father, for giving me a timely word from the Bible this morning. Thank you for what you taught me in those 2 verses, and for the way that turned my whole day around."

Romans 5:1-5

Focusing in on the first two verses, the phrase 'justified through faith'. The idea here is that we have been declared guiltless, washed clean of sin, due to our faith in our relationship with Christ. Nothing groundbreaking for those who are on to the more 'meat' of the relationship but still good to be reminded of when you are feeling attacked, feeling unworthy of salvation.

Holy Wedding: Our role reversal

2 For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride[a] to one husband—Christ. 3 But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent.

So in my quiet time my paradigm shifted. I started thinking about how as a man I want my bride to look and be ideally. Radiant, captivating, pleasing to me in everyway. . . This is what as Christ's bride I need to strive to be for him. I'm Christ's bride, so how do I want my Lord to see me? My purity I know was accomplished at the cross; however my devotion to Christ - this is what I do control. Lord, help me to truly be your Pure Bride. Show me areas that maybe aren't so pure in my devotion to you. Thank you for the purity you gave me on the Cross, and Lord help me to strive to keep my devotion to you pure as if each day was a new wedding ceremony. Amen.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

Often times I prefer to "work independently" because I believe that I can handle the task on my own. I don't always consider the benefits of having a helper or the possibility of failing. I wonder if this is a result of self-sufficiency and pride on my part. God's Word tells me to work with others because it produces a greater result and a helping hand when in need.

Isaiah 60

Verse 5 hits me. I'm sure you all have had that 'swelling of joy' feeling, and the way it is written in the NIV brings that feeling back to me. That is how we should feel while in fellowship with the Lord!

Romans 3:4

"Let God be true but every man a liar."

How many times are we sure that we are right--that it's the other guy who's off-track and not seeing things clearly? Well, we can never pull this card with God...He's ALWAYS right. When I read this verse, I sense the urgency of His superiority. It says to me, "even if it FEELS that you might be right on a given issue, if your view clashes with God, then it's no contest--He is right." It's so important that He be right, that it's better for me to see myself as nothing but a liar if my views don't square with His. This is a slap in the face to my pride, but maybe that's what my pride needs. Beyond a slap in the face to my pride, I actually take great comfort in knowing that He's always right. There's a comfort in constancy. Knowing that He is right all the time means that He is the ultimate measuring stick, and that He can ALWAYS be trusted.

Galatians 5:22-23

This passage hit me with two things today, one being the Fruit of the Spirit line. All of the listed attributes are fruit of the Spirit. They are not things that we can force or fake. If you 'hot-house' the fruits of the Spirit they will appear fake as real hot-house fruit tastes fake. It will be missing something; a real earthiness that honest fruit has.

As we work towards closeness with God we will begin displaying more of these. When we see another brother displaying these attributes we should not get discouraged, down on ourselves, or jealous. We should rejoice in their faith and walk. We should be encouraged by the progress that our brother has made.

The other part that stuck out to me was the statement 'Against such things there is no law'. It seemed ridiculous until I thought about what it would look like if these fruits were outlawed. It has happened in the past and it will happen again in the future. When it does happen, that should be a warning to Christians and non-Christians alike that our leadership are rebelling against God and we, as God-fearing people, should withdraw our support lest His wrath fall upon us.

Housekeeping! Want me fluff your pillow?

2 Corinthians 7 (new living translation)
1 Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.

I love this verse! I ask myself how's my house cleaning going? I know in terms of lust, I'm doing well, but what about my heart attitudes towards others? My language? Bad habits? I'm almost SCARED to ask God to bring me to complete holiness because there are some things I'm unwilling to give up right now.

Lord, help me to move toward complete holiness. Help me to cleanse myself of EVERYTHING that can defile me, give me the courage and willingness to clean those things out no matter what they may be. Amen.

Isaiah 48:11

For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this.
How can I let myself be defamed?
I will not yield my glory to another.

Romans 6:3-4

One aspect of this passage that didn't strike me until today was the idea that we were baptized into death. Sure it is Christ's death, and without it you wouldn't have the resurrection, but it is still death. Death is a scary and usually painful thing. Our baptism, either spiritual or physical(there is debate on this), ties us to that. So if we know that we are tied to Christs death shouldn't that be a freeing thing?
Sometimes I find the thought of death to be very peaceful. I know where I'm going and I feel secure in that. I feel sorry for those who will mourn me, but I'm not going to have any more pain or worries. No more feelings of rejection. No more chemicals that aren't quite working the way they should.
Just a series of rambling thoughts today.

Thoughts and Meditations

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (New Living Translation)
17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”.

Acts 1:8 (New Living Translation)
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The subject of last night's sermon at Frontline is something that I've been meditating on lately. I picked a couple bible passages here, but there are plenty of others that convey the same message. From these passages I gather that God saved us, reconciled us, and gave us His Spirit for the expressed and sole purpose of being witnesses/ambassadors for Christ. Rhetorically, I've been asking myself... "If God made me a new creation for the sole purpose of witnessing for Christ, yet I am comfortable with my concealed/under-cover faith, then am I really a new creation? If I were a new creation, I would live differently -- and not in the same way as I had previously, right?"

Lord, thank you for reconciling me to you through your Son and granting me the Holy Spirit. I pray that I would live a new life as a new creation -- as an ambassador of Jesus Christ. I pray that the Spirit will fill me with boldness and confession as I share my faith with this world. Amen.

Romans 2:25-29

"but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter;"

Spiritually, it's what's inside that counts. I can get so focused on how I look to others or doing all the right things, but what really pleases God is the condition of my heart. My focus should not be on what I do, but what drives what I do. If my heart is well taken care of and on-track with God, then my life will reflect that. Living a life for God's glory starts from the heart.

Isaiah 16:5

5 In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it — one from the house of David — one who in judging seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness.

This made me think about how fine a line there is between judging others rightly versus judging others wrongly. Do I judge others out of a desire to edify them, or do I do it out of selfish ambition or conceit? It's so easy for me to judge others because it boosts my own ego, makes me feel better about myself, or validates deficiencies I see in myself. All of us have been on either side of this -- we know how painful and destructive it can be to be judged wrongly by someone, but on the other side of the coin, how helpful and encouraging it can be for a friend to judge us out of care and concern.

Lord, help me to discern properly the situations and relationships where I am to judge others. When I do so, let me be motivated by a selfless desire to edify others rather than for my own gain. Amen.