A friend of mine posted this on Facebook today. It is such a beautiful story of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that I thought I would share it with you here. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
A Journey Worthy of Repeating
Isaiah 53:1-12 and John 19:1-19
It is summer and the long, hot days bring thoughts of vacations spent on warm, sunny beaches, camping and fishing in the mountains, or touring sites that offer us endless recreational opportunities. The majority of Americans are only able to afford a week or two to take a holiday from the daily grind. The rest of the summer is spent playing during the short weekends, taking brief jaunts not too far from home. However, there are some who have scrimped and saved to take a unique, once-in-a-lifetime trip they know will never be repeated. Perhaps you have planned to visit another country or take an extended trip across our own in order to become acquainted with its history and diversity. When the money that was targeted for this vacation is gone, all that remains are photos stored on a hard-drive or placed in a photo album, a few trinkets, and memories that are tucked away to revisit when they are stumbled upon. We think we were fortunate to have been able to accomplish this dream vacation that we know will happen only once.
The lasting effect of vacations can be rewarding, especially when family is gathered and relationships renewed and encouraged. Our children and grandchild are, perhaps, the greatest beneficiary of such times together. I have my own special childhood memories of vacations and weekends spent with my family. But even they are apt to forget, storing away in their mind’s souvenir box the special times spent on trips far from home, only bringing them out and dusting them off when prodded to do so. As our children grow, they will plan vacations and trips with their own children, continuing the practice of escaping the doldrums of work and home, and their children will also store away the memories to gather the dust of everyday life.
But there is a journey that all of us are capable of taking, one that does not require the extra efforts of saving money, taking time off from work, and attempting to cram as much sight-seeing and recreation into the little time we have. It is a journey that is free of cost and one that can be taken at any moment we are so inclined. The journey can be long and arduous, sometimes even heartbreaking, but the benefits of it far outweigh any discomfort you may experience. It crosses all boundaries, requires no passport, and the time you are able to spend there is limitless.
The photos you take will forever remain fresh and vivid in your mind. The souvenirs you gather are made with the finest, purest gold and adorned with precious and brilliant gems - and they are free. You will never tuck them away in a box where only you will be able to view them, for you will want all you know to see them, handle them, and desire them for themselves.
When you come to a certain part of the journey where you believe the end of it is near, you will not despair like you do when most vacations come to a close and you have to return to the drudgery that awaits you back home. At a crossroad along the way, there stands a cross. It calls out to all who come to take a moment and contemplate its importance. It is there where the most rewarding part of your trip waits because, if you choose to continue, it promises it is only the beginning of a lifetime of wonders, beauty, inspiration and joy that knows no end. You will find new and exciting things at each bend and curve in the road; the road that extends throughout eternity. You will drink from the purest waters and dine with others from a table spread with the richest fare. And you will be in the company of the One Who has made it all possible.
I hope you will consider taking this journey. It has already been mapped, planned, and paid for by Another. Nothing is required of you except pausing a moment to consider it and taking your first step on the pathway. As you travel along the road, open your eyes to the scenery around you and delight in what was placed there for your benefit. I am sure that when you do, you will find it is a journey worthy of repeating.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Standing the Test
Oh, how I dreaded tests in school! Especially pop quizzes that took me by surprise. If the subject at hand was one that did not grab my interest, what I was instructed usually went in one ear and out the other. I would read the assignment and the information it gave fell into a dark hole somewhere in my brain. Retaining certain data was definitely not my forte, so much so that when it came to the testing stage, I often panicked and would frantically try to recall the correct answers. I did well in school, graduating with honors, but it was accomplished with music, literature, and the arts, not math, science, or any of the others that stressed my intellect.
As I opened my Bible this morning to 2Corinthians 13:5-11, it reminded me of the responsibility we have to study God’s Word and how crucial it is to retain it. The Bible is not full of secular, humanist theories. It is intended to instruct us about Jesus Christ, why He came, and what to expect as we spiritually mature. In other words, it is a text book that contains within it all that is necessary to understand God’s plan for mankind. From beginning to end, the Bible speaks of the science of creation, the establishment of governments, and the history of warfare. It broadly lays out what is essential to maintain civil societies and even speaks of the arts, music, industry, trade and commerce. Not one subject is missing from its time-honored pages, for within it lays the wisdom of God.
The apostle, Paul, encourages Christians to be vigilant in their study of the Scriptures. He exhorts us to read it every day and apply it to our lives. The Bible is our only source of knowledge for understanding salvation. It is also the only instruction manual available to us that clearly defines and outlines what it means to claim our Christian title and, most importantly, to live it. There are far too many professors of faith in Jesus Christ today who continually and wantonly fail to do their homework or, worse yet, search out other sources that mislead them.
“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.” (v5)
We should give ourselves pop quizzes from time to time. We are no longer school children who put off reading our assignments because we would rather do something else. We are now children of God and are under His tutelage. There is an eternal wealth of knowledge waiting at our fingertips if we will only take the time to study it and then apply it to our lives. There is no greater advanced degree than what can be achieved through God’s Word.
One day in our future, there will be a final examination. Our departure from this world will bring one last pop quiz that will reveal how much we learned and applied while we were here. The most vital question we can ask ourselves before that happens will be whether or not we will stand the test. We will not be graded on the curve. Each of us will receive what we deserve.
I am not willing to fail my final exam. I have enrolled in the most prestigious university and have sought out the best teachers who are divinely equipped to instruct me from the greatest textbook in history - and I am studying for an “A+”. How about you?
Matthew 5:6
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Behold Your God!
John 1:1-18
No portion of the New Testament speaks more clearly and more precisely to me of the person of Jesus Christ than John’s description in his beginning verses. I am not saying that the accounts of the other disciples do not hold as much weight as John's, nor do they have less value, less truth. All were eyewitnesses of the life Jesus led while He walked the earth, and what the men who faithfully followed Him beheld with their eyes and heard with their ears is accurately preserved and in harmony with one another. But John gives us an account that is filled with greater intimacy, and his words convey unequalled wonder and awe over Who Jesus Christ was, and still is.
In just eighteen verses, John effectively provides us with proof of Jesus’ preexistence and His plan to redeem mankind from the fall that cursed them and separated them from God. In the first three verses, John declares that the Word, Jesus Christ, was not only from the beginning of all creation, but that He was the Creator and was before the beginning, eternally and divinely God in the flesh. It is no wonder John writes with such passion, for the literal translation of verse one is “face-to-face with God.”
John understood that the man he walked with, ate with, slept alongside, and reclined upon at the Passover meal was more than just a man with a message or a cause. He grasped the full extent of Jesus’ uniqueness. John comprehended the magnitude of Christ’s divine nature and the reason for Him stepping down from His throne and becoming human. In verse fourteen, the verb “became” does not signify being created as natural man is created. Instead it implies that God emptied Himself upon the person of Jesus Christ, becoming flesh with every human attribute, yet maintaining His sovereignty and holiness in perfect unity with Jesus (Phil. 2:6-11).
There are key words within these verses that speak of the nature of Jesus Christ. John refers to Him as “the Word” Who was “with God” and “was God” (v. 1). He is the “life” that all men so desperately need for redemption (v. 4). He is the “light” to those standing in darkness, the “light” that shines gloriously upon the pathway He provided to salvation (v. 4 and 5). And to all of those who have believed the Word, He has given “the right to become children of God” by being “born of God” through God's Son, Jesus Christ (v. 12 and 13). With great effectiveness and in one simple, yet profound, statement, John declares that God is a just God and He is also a merciful one (v. 17).
As he continues to build upon the person and character of Jesus, John confirms his testimony by stating that God, through the person of Jesus, had “made His dwelling among” them. God did so, not in a tabernacle built by human hands, but by appearing in flesh and blood, in human form. John professes that even in His human state, God revealed Himself to them and His glory was unmistakable. “God the One and Only” now stood among them and had made Himself “known” to the world (v. 14). And to a world steeped in sin and darkness, “grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (v. 17)
I invite you to re-read these verses through John’s eyes. We sometimes forget the divine nature of our Lord. All too often, we whittle Him down to fit our individual perception of Him and forget Who He really is. There will come a day when all men will finally see Him in His glory and realize their mistake. But for now, behold your God! Stand in awe with John and see Jesus as he saw Him. He is the same as He has always been from before the beginning and always will be throughout eternity. He is I Am, Jesus Christ, the Living God!
In just eighteen verses, John effectively provides us with proof of Jesus’ preexistence and His plan to redeem mankind from the fall that cursed them and separated them from God. In the first three verses, John declares that the Word, Jesus Christ, was not only from the beginning of all creation, but that He was the Creator and was before the beginning, eternally and divinely God in the flesh. It is no wonder John writes with such passion, for the literal translation of verse one is “face-to-face with God.”
John understood that the man he walked with, ate with, slept alongside, and reclined upon at the Passover meal was more than just a man with a message or a cause. He grasped the full extent of Jesus’ uniqueness. John comprehended the magnitude of Christ’s divine nature and the reason for Him stepping down from His throne and becoming human. In verse fourteen, the verb “became” does not signify being created as natural man is created. Instead it implies that God emptied Himself upon the person of Jesus Christ, becoming flesh with every human attribute, yet maintaining His sovereignty and holiness in perfect unity with Jesus (Phil. 2:6-11).
There are key words within these verses that speak of the nature of Jesus Christ. John refers to Him as “the Word” Who was “with God” and “was God” (v. 1). He is the “life” that all men so desperately need for redemption (v. 4). He is the “light” to those standing in darkness, the “light” that shines gloriously upon the pathway He provided to salvation (v. 4 and 5). And to all of those who have believed the Word, He has given “the right to become children of God” by being “born of God” through God's Son, Jesus Christ (v. 12 and 13). With great effectiveness and in one simple, yet profound, statement, John declares that God is a just God and He is also a merciful one (v. 17).
As he continues to build upon the person and character of Jesus, John confirms his testimony by stating that God, through the person of Jesus, had “made His dwelling among” them. God did so, not in a tabernacle built by human hands, but by appearing in flesh and blood, in human form. John professes that even in His human state, God revealed Himself to them and His glory was unmistakable. “God the One and Only” now stood among them and had made Himself “known” to the world (v. 14). And to a world steeped in sin and darkness, “grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (v. 17)
I invite you to re-read these verses through John’s eyes. We sometimes forget the divine nature of our Lord. All too often, we whittle Him down to fit our individual perception of Him and forget Who He really is. There will come a day when all men will finally see Him in His glory and realize their mistake. But for now, behold your God! Stand in awe with John and see Jesus as he saw Him. He is the same as He has always been from before the beginning and always will be throughout eternity. He is I Am, Jesus Christ, the Living God!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Just One Word: חַי, היה בחיים
How can there be so much power in just one small and seemingly insignificant word? Translated from Hebrew to English, four letters are formed into a verb of divine action, one that bears all the majesty and might of our omnipotent God.
With a single word, God created all that is seen and unseen. From an empty and dark void, He breathed forth all the universal elements, set in place the starry hosts, and made man from the very dust He created from nothing. What a magnificent God we have Who would, with one word, display His far-reaching and abundant love so eloquently!
“There speaks a God! Who but He could thus venture to deal with life and dispense it with a single syllable?” (Charles H. Spurgeon, Evening By Evening, pg. 197)
But man fell from the Grace God so richly poured out upon him. Sin entered man’s heart, defiling the perfection of all creation. The sentence imposed upon the first man for his disobedience was passed on to every man born from the first seed. And with it came death and a vast, expansive separation from the Living God.
Some will say that man’s fall from Grace was not in God’s eternal plan. But they are wrong. Our omniscient Creator always knew beforehand that sin and disobedience would come. And when it did, He also had a plan from before the beginning to redeem man back to Himself. Although there are times when it feels as though the chasm that separates us from Him is impassable, His omniscient eyes see us wallowing in our guilt and shame. God, Himself, crosses the vast expanse to pause and hover over us. And as He looks upon us “kicking about in [our] blood,” He speaks the single word that is able to restore us and bring us back to life.
With His voice uttering a single command, our condemnation is reversed, bringing with it a pardon and release from the sentence imposed upon sinful man. Even in the midst of the shadows of death, the Lord’s voice is still heard and man may rise to eternal glory.
One simple word uttered by our Almighty God is the single most important word man will ever hear. But to heed it is the single most vital action man will ever make in his earthly life. His ears will not hear it spoken ever again after his last breath here. The choice now, not later, must be made while he dwells in his earthly body, and that choice will determine his eternal destination.
The word is a command by God, one that is spoken to redeem His children who are living in sin and darkness and to present them to His Son as His Bride; washed and cleansed by His atoning blood. It is a call to rise up from our depraved state and be renewed and restored to perfection as it was meant to be.
It is for God’s honor and glory, for His Name’s sake, that He cries out to His children this one small word that bears such great significance:
With a single word, God created all that is seen and unseen. From an empty and dark void, He breathed forth all the universal elements, set in place the starry hosts, and made man from the very dust He created from nothing. What a magnificent God we have Who would, with one word, display His far-reaching and abundant love so eloquently!
“There speaks a God! Who but He could thus venture to deal with life and dispense it with a single syllable?” (Charles H. Spurgeon, Evening By Evening, pg. 197)
But man fell from the Grace God so richly poured out upon him. Sin entered man’s heart, defiling the perfection of all creation. The sentence imposed upon the first man for his disobedience was passed on to every man born from the first seed. And with it came death and a vast, expansive separation from the Living God.
Some will say that man’s fall from Grace was not in God’s eternal plan. But they are wrong. Our omniscient Creator always knew beforehand that sin and disobedience would come. And when it did, He also had a plan from before the beginning to redeem man back to Himself. Although there are times when it feels as though the chasm that separates us from Him is impassable, His omniscient eyes see us wallowing in our guilt and shame. God, Himself, crosses the vast expanse to pause and hover over us. And as He looks upon us “kicking about in [our] blood,” He speaks the single word that is able to restore us and bring us back to life.
With His voice uttering a single command, our condemnation is reversed, bringing with it a pardon and release from the sentence imposed upon sinful man. Even in the midst of the shadows of death, the Lord’s voice is still heard and man may rise to eternal glory.
One simple word uttered by our Almighty God is the single most important word man will ever hear. But to heed it is the single most vital action man will ever make in his earthly life. His ears will not hear it spoken ever again after his last breath here. The choice now, not later, must be made while he dwells in his earthly body, and that choice will determine his eternal destination.
The word is a command by God, one that is spoken to redeem His children who are living in sin and darkness and to present them to His Son as His Bride; washed and cleansed by His atoning blood. It is a call to rise up from our depraved state and be renewed and restored to perfection as it was meant to be.
It is for God’s honor and glory, for His Name’s sake, that He cries out to His children this one small word that bears such great significance:
“ חַי, היה בחיים ... LIVE!”
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
The Coming Storm
It is Tuesday evening and I am sitting at the computer listening to a loud generator give me the chance to write this, and waiting for the power to come back on. Monday night at 9:00 p.m., my husband rushed inside, hollering for me to close up all the windows as we watched the air turn yellow from the huge pollen cloud the winds were picking up.
A huge storm was blowing in, bringing with it winds ferocious enough to snap two trees on our lot in half. One of them partially supported a big swing my husband had hung last year for our grandbabies. Precariously hanging in the top of the other support tree, it will have to come down to prevent injury to the kids. The other tree, another 3-foot thick lodge pole on the north end of the lot, snapped in two like a flimsy toothpick. The loud crack that accompanied it sent my husband flying to the window, fearing it was one of the many that surrounds the large snow roof our 5th-wheel is parked beneath.
As the sky grew darker and the lightening flashed around us, the power sputtered a few times, then went completely out. We watched as the horrific winds whipped the towering trees in 20-30 foot circles. We were amazed that any of the hundreds of trees in the old subdivision were able to withstand the onslaught. I thought of the birds that were perched in them, clinging with all their might to the branches. If they failed to hold on, the wind would sweep their tiny bodies far away from the small bit of safety their home provided. Our dog cowered beneath our feet, the roar of the wind and the booming thunder terrifying her. An occasional pat on the head and our soothing voices brought brief solace to her as the storm raged on.
Although we have experienced similar storms in intensity in our mountain valley, this particular one stretched on much longer. Almost an hour later, the winds finally subsided and the rain began to fall, washing the pollen and dirt from the air. Opening the door, I breathed in the rain's scent and the cool air brushed across my face. I was thankful for the storm's end. In the morning we would survey the damage it brought and, hopefully, the region-wide power outage would be remedied.
Over twenty six hours later on a Tuesday evening, we are still without power. According to Idaho Power's phone message Monday night, the damage the storm created covered hundreds of square miles, leaving a path of destruction in its wake. Over 18,000 people in the small communities that make up West Central Idaho lost power, and only about half of them have had it restored. Although I often wish we were back in a house of our own, there are definitely advantages to living in an RV, especially in circumstances such as these. I cooked dinner for our son and his wife and four children tonight, and the kids had warm showers and jumped into their pajamas. It was reassuring to them to know that amidst the mess the storm had created were small comforts to make them feel safe. As long as our propane, our now half-filled clean water holding tank, and the drinking water bottles I filled today hold out, we are better off than many. I know there are people feverishly working to restore the power we so take for granted and that, eventually, it will come back on. But I am still praying for patience.
In light of the temporary discomforts we face when man-made electricity is taken from us, I am reminded of a far greater Power that can never be taken away. He revealed Himself in the storm last night. It was a reminder to me that God is greater than anything man is capable of accomplishing. Perhaps last night's storm was God's way of once again revealing His almighty power to us; a reminder He is still in control of the universe and its elements (Isaiah 40:12-31).
I think God is working overtime in one last attempt to bring men back where they need to be - in awe and worship of our Great Creator. The disasters that have recently come upon the world give credence to this belief. His ways are unknown to us. His majesty is yet unseen by us. We only get a glimpse of His might and strength from time to time. But one day, He will reveal to all mankind His almighty and glorious power. There will be no mistaking it when He does.
The storm that is brewing and waiting in the heavenly realms will be unequaled to and unlike any the world has ever witnessed (Jeremiah 25:32; Matt. 24:26-29; Luke 21:25-28; Rev. 6:12-14). It will be a storm to end all storms. And riding on the clouds will come our Lord, our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. His voice will be carried on the raging winds to every corner of the earth, and His omnipotence, His power, will at last be known to all men (1Thess. 4:13-18; Phil. 2:9-11).
Are you ready for the last and great coming storm? Are you prepared to face the Bringer of the storm Who will test the faith of each and every person on earth? If not, be forewarned. The storm is coming and it is coming soon. Only this time, no power on earth will be able to stand against it and no power known to man will be able to subdue it.
The roots of sin will be ripped from the earth and cast into the fire reserved for them. The rains of righteousness will cleanse the earth of all depravity and sinfulness and the darkness that now covers the earth will be replaced by the glory of Christ's light. And when the storm is at last over and all things are renewed, our Lord Jesus will reign forever and ever (Rev. 21:1-21).
As unprepared as we were for the storm that hit our Idaho home, we are ready for the coming storm that will sweep across the entire earth. It will be the final one, great and terrifying to all who have not embraced Jesus Christ.
Have you readied yourself for the last, great storm God will bring upon this earth? Are you prepared for what it will bring? I pray you have and that you will join those who will be spared from the horror the violent winds carry with them as they pour out God's wrath upon the earth and the men who dwell upon it. I also pray you are ready for the judgment that follows. If you have not yet done so, yield to the call of the Holy Spirit, repent of your sinfulness, and embrace your Savior and the salvation He is offering you - for Christ is standing and preparing Himself for the coming storm.
(It is now Wednesday, 1:33 p.m., almost 40 hours after the storm, and the power was finally restored to our small community about 30 minutes ago. Praise God! I am thankful for His ever-faithful care, protection, and providence!)
Friday, June 25, 2010
Life's Renewal
1 Corinthians 15:35-57
Last year, my grandson, Kieran Reed, gave me a small clay pot filled with dirt. Inside it, he said, was a “mystery” seed that he had planted. I posted the story “here” of how it struggled until I replanted it in a larger pot, and then watched it grow into beautiful yellow gladioli.
In the fall before the harsh frost brought an end to warm and sunny days, I carefully followed the directions I found on the internet and prepared the new bulb that had grown for winter storage. Attached to the considerably larger new bulb was the original one. As I looked at it, I was amazed that a 4-foot tall plant could grow from such a small seed. Because my knowledge of gladioli was limited, I was not sure if the original bulb would continue to live. However, as the larger bulb dried in preparation, the original bulb shrank and withered, eventually breaking away. From a tiny one-inch bulb had grown tall and slender stalks arrayed with glorious flowers. But all of the life that the first small seed contained had been passed onto another bulb that was at least two inches in diameter. Life had been faithfully preserved, but its appearance had dramatically changed.
After the required drying time was completed, I carefully placed the bulb in a plastic bag and tucked it away in a cupboard. Hoping I had done all that was necessary to sustain it over the winter, I would plant the seed again the following summer.
Winter and Spring were long and harsh and I looked forward to the warmth of summer. When it finally appeared it was safe to do so, I began filling hanging baskets and pots with perennial flowers. They were a cheerful sight and as Summer struggled to begin, I kept a close eye on the thermometer so they would not get nipped by the night frost. A few days afterward, I remembered the bulb that waited in my cupboard. Going to the internet one more time for instructions on how deep to plant it, the bulb was lovingly placed in its earthy nest. There were a couple of cold nights that caused me to worry over it because they are very sensitive to frost, but I placed it in the sun each day and waited for the light to call it from its sleep.
A few days ago, I rose to brilliant sunshine. Stepping outside my door, I moved my flower baskets and pots from the shade where they hang and sit and into the sun. This practice is my feeble attempt to give them a much-needed boost in our short growing season. Shade from the roof and the pine trees on the lot fail to provide the flowers with suitable sunshine, and the cool nights stunt their growth. As I reached down to pick up the pot in which I had planted the bulb, my blurry unbespectacled eyesight caught a glimpse of pale green poking up about ¼-inch from its center. Ever so gently, I reached down and touched it and was delighted to discover that the bulb was beginning to sprout.
Life was being renewed. From a perishable seed sown with great love by the hands of my grandchild was raised an imperishable one by the hand of God. In its beginning weakness and its struggle to survive and grow into what it is designed by God to be, it had to first die to find new life. Its original body was transformed into a new body filled with greater strength, clothed with more vibrant beauty, and faithfully given the promise of continued life.
I will be diligent and careful in tending the gladioli this summer. I will watch it grow, stake its tall, slender stalks to prevent them from breaking, and delight in its budding beauty. It will be a constant reminder of my grandson’s love for me and greater still, of God’s love, His faithful providence, and the continuance of His gift of life. And when it is time to store it away for another winter sleep, I will sing praises to my God that “Death has been swallowed up in victory” as I wait for its life to begin anew.
In the fall before the harsh frost brought an end to warm and sunny days, I carefully followed the directions I found on the internet and prepared the new bulb that had grown for winter storage. Attached to the considerably larger new bulb was the original one. As I looked at it, I was amazed that a 4-foot tall plant could grow from such a small seed. Because my knowledge of gladioli was limited, I was not sure if the original bulb would continue to live. However, as the larger bulb dried in preparation, the original bulb shrank and withered, eventually breaking away. From a tiny one-inch bulb had grown tall and slender stalks arrayed with glorious flowers. But all of the life that the first small seed contained had been passed onto another bulb that was at least two inches in diameter. Life had been faithfully preserved, but its appearance had dramatically changed.
After the required drying time was completed, I carefully placed the bulb in a plastic bag and tucked it away in a cupboard. Hoping I had done all that was necessary to sustain it over the winter, I would plant the seed again the following summer.
Winter and Spring were long and harsh and I looked forward to the warmth of summer. When it finally appeared it was safe to do so, I began filling hanging baskets and pots with perennial flowers. They were a cheerful sight and as Summer struggled to begin, I kept a close eye on the thermometer so they would not get nipped by the night frost. A few days afterward, I remembered the bulb that waited in my cupboard. Going to the internet one more time for instructions on how deep to plant it, the bulb was lovingly placed in its earthy nest. There were a couple of cold nights that caused me to worry over it because they are very sensitive to frost, but I placed it in the sun each day and waited for the light to call it from its sleep.
A few days ago, I rose to brilliant sunshine. Stepping outside my door, I moved my flower baskets and pots from the shade where they hang and sit and into the sun. This practice is my feeble attempt to give them a much-needed boost in our short growing season. Shade from the roof and the pine trees on the lot fail to provide the flowers with suitable sunshine, and the cool nights stunt their growth. As I reached down to pick up the pot in which I had planted the bulb, my blurry unbespectacled eyesight caught a glimpse of pale green poking up about ¼-inch from its center. Ever so gently, I reached down and touched it and was delighted to discover that the bulb was beginning to sprout.
Life was being renewed. From a perishable seed sown with great love by the hands of my grandchild was raised an imperishable one by the hand of God. In its beginning weakness and its struggle to survive and grow into what it is designed by God to be, it had to first die to find new life. Its original body was transformed into a new body filled with greater strength, clothed with more vibrant beauty, and faithfully given the promise of continued life.
I will be diligent and careful in tending the gladioli this summer. I will watch it grow, stake its tall, slender stalks to prevent them from breaking, and delight in its budding beauty. It will be a constant reminder of my grandson’s love for me and greater still, of God’s love, His faithful providence, and the continuance of His gift of life. And when it is time to store it away for another winter sleep, I will sing praises to my God that “Death has been swallowed up in victory” as I wait for its life to begin anew.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
"Have You Come To 'When' Yet?" - Oswald Chambers
Although there is a two-fold message within the text, as I was reading this Oswald Chamber's devotion this morning, it came to me that it ties in with the previous post. At least in the sense that we are called to stand firmly on the foundation God has placed us upon, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and be in intercessory prayer for those we know who are either lost in darkness because of unbelief, or the ones who are being led astray by the constant onslaught occurring within the church.
Because the Lord expects His children to desire to carry His message to others, it is necessary that we always keep them in our hearts and minds, but most importantly in our prayers. When discord appears between us because of the things we see as falsehoods that our friends and family are falling prey to, we are called to make every effort to turn them back to God's truth through intercessory prayer. Sometimes the circumstances make us uncomfortable, or the impact of their rejection can break our hearts. But the battle is not ours. It solely belongs to the Lord. We feel the sting of the arrows being flung our way, but the war that is being waged is a spiritual one. That is when we are called to pray with fervency, for "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 5:16 - KJ), meaning the Lord will hear them.
If we keep ourselves acutely attuned to the prodding of the Holy Spirit, we will know when He is asking us to intercede in prayer for others. We should never make it our own work, but ask Him to work in the hearts of those we love. After all, we are not being assaulted, but Him. His honor and glory are at stake, not our wounded pride or self-interest. It is then that the "when" of the circumstances comes into play: when we put ourselves aside and lay others before the throne of God. And it is then that we will see what Job realized when he did the same.
"And the Lord turned the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends."
Job 42:10
"The plaintive, self-centered, morbid kind of prayer, a dead-set that I want to be right, is never found in the New Testament. The fact that I am trying to be right with God is a sign that I am rebelling against the Atonement. 'Lord, I will purify my heart if You will answer my prayer; I will walk rightly if You will help me.' I cannot make myself right with God, I cannot make my life perfect; I can only be right with God if I accept the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ as an absolute gift.
Am I humble enough to accept it? I have to resign every kind of claim and cease from every effort, and leave myself entirely alone in His hands, and then begin to pour out in the priestly work of intercession. There is much prayer that arises from real disbelief in the Atonement. Jesus is not beginning to save us, He has saved us, the thing is done, and it is an insult to ask Him to do it [again, and again!].
If you are not getting the hundredfold more, not getting insight into God's word, then start praying for your friends, enter in the ministry of the interior. 'The Lord turned the captivity of Job 'when he prayed for his friends.' The real business of your life as a saved soul is intercessory prayer. Where God puts you in circumstances, pray immediately, pray that His Atonement may be realized in other lives as it has been in yours. Pray for your friends now; pray for those with whom you come in contact now." (Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest, June 20)
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Standing Firmly On Your Foundation
“If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.”
Isaiah 7:9(b)
When we first believe in Jesus Christ and invite Him into our hearts and as Master of our lives, a foundation is laid by which God’s remaining structure is built. The Holy Spirit Who dwells within every true believer, pours the cement of God’s Truth upon solid rock, insuring that no shifting sands will undermine what He builds and topple it to the ground (Matt. 7:24-27; 1Cor. 3:10). He then guides us to Godly men who will teach us the Word of God and all it contains, and who will erect the impenetrable walls of God’s divine will and purpose. He establishes bulwarks against the raging sea of false doctrines that are devised by men who malevolently attempt to tear down what He has built. If we are not guarding ourselves closely, it is at this critical juncture that we find ourselves in peril of deception and being led astray (Matt. 7:15-19; 2Cor. 11:1-15).
Within each structure that is built, doorways are added in order to gain entry. Each one is usually equipped with a heavy lock or alarm system that prevents thieves from entering and stealing what you possess (Matt. 6:19-21; Luke 12:35-40). Some walls have watchtowers and stationed upon each one is a watchman whose eyes are constantly scanning the horizon for the enemy’s approach (Matt 24:36-44; 26:41). But if the door is opened to a stranger, or the watchman falls asleep and the wall is breached, access is gained by the enemy and those whose wish it is to lure us from the safety of God’s harbor and into the dangerous seas of false and damning doctrines.
The apostle Paul warned the Corinthians about being over-confident about their faith and encouraged them to run from people and things they knew were wrong. He concluded his warning by exhorting them to turn to God for help when temptations come (1Cor. 10:11-13). God has the strength to help us avoid being led astray by deceivers. But we must first have the desire to allow Him to point out the deception. Once we have allowed Him to reveal falsehoods that are perpetrated by charlatans, He will, by His power, give us the strength and wisdom to turn from them. “Our lives derive all their strength from God; if He deigns to make us strong, we cannot be weakened by all the schemes of the adversary." (C.H. Spurgeon, Evening by Evening, pg. 176)
The apostle John wrote: (1John 2:24) He realized that there were ravenous wolves that had slipped in amongst the flock of new believers. These depraved men were stirring up false arguments with the intention of tearing down God’s beginning foundation which He established among them. John warned them about those who were bringing a “See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you.”“counterfeit” gospel (1John 2:26-27) that would lead them from the Truth they had originally received. If we allow the Holy Spirit’s voice to penetrate our hearts and minds, we are divinely guarded from the danger of being overtaken by lies and deception. We are further strengthened by yielding to Him and His counsel so that the next time we are assaulted by false teachers and those who would pervert the Word of God, we are better-equipped to turn from them and return to our beginning as established by the Lord.
It is in every Christian’s eternal best interest to always stand firmly upon the foundation which God has established. We are to equip ourselves through diligent and tireless study of God’s Word that is meant to provide us with the necessary armor against the endless onslaught of those who are perverting the Truth (Eph. 6:10-20). And we are also called to “point these things out to the brothers” (1Tim. 4:6) so that they will not “abandon the faithand follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons” (1Tim. 4:1).
We have an obligation to gently, yet firmly, correct our brothers and sisters, especially in the age in which we live where the church is being ruthlessly invaded by frauds and deceivers bent on preaching lies to line their pockets, and to suit themselves and their sinfulness. We should be willing to encourage others to “test the spirits” for subtle and damning heresies and fine-sounding arguments that would lead them from Scriptural Truth, regardless of how your encouragement is received by them (Jude 1-2). There will be those who will stubbornly refuse to hear what you are attempting to bring them, those who will be willing to believe the myriad untruths and maze of lies so prevalent in today's Christian community. They may even react with vitriol, striking out at you and condemning you with their own brand of condemnation and, sadly, hatred. In light of the trouble that is brewing within today’s church, this can be expected. But we must “press on toward the goal to win the prize” and to “live up to what we have already attained” (Phil. 3:14). If we are obedient to God’s urgings to remain fearless and faithful, the man who truly possesses the Spirit of God will see his error, heed your warning, and return to his beginnings (2Tim. 4:2-5; Titus 2:15; Rev. 3:19).
“Stand firm and hold to the teachings” that have been passed onto you by the mouth of God (2Thes. 2:15). Look to His Holy Spirit to properly guide and instruct you in the Truth so that the foundation that has been laid will stand solidly throughout all of eternity.
There is no spare time available to fear offending a brother or sister in Christ who has strayed from Spiritual Truth. Their very soul depends upon you remaining faithful and helping them return to the Rock on which their foundation began.
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.” (Rev. 3:11)
Within each structure that is built, doorways are added in order to gain entry. Each one is usually equipped with a heavy lock or alarm system that prevents thieves from entering and stealing what you possess (Matt. 6:19-21; Luke 12:35-40). Some walls have watchtowers and stationed upon each one is a watchman whose eyes are constantly scanning the horizon for the enemy’s approach (Matt 24:36-44; 26:41). But if the door is opened to a stranger, or the watchman falls asleep and the wall is breached, access is gained by the enemy and those whose wish it is to lure us from the safety of God’s harbor and into the dangerous seas of false and damning doctrines.
The apostle Paul warned the Corinthians about being over-confident about their faith and encouraged them to run from people and things they knew were wrong. He concluded his warning by exhorting them to turn to God for help when temptations come (1Cor. 10:11-13). God has the strength to help us avoid being led astray by deceivers. But we must first have the desire to allow Him to point out the deception. Once we have allowed Him to reveal falsehoods that are perpetrated by charlatans, He will, by His power, give us the strength and wisdom to turn from them. “Our lives derive all their strength from God; if He deigns to make us strong, we cannot be weakened by all the schemes of the adversary." (C.H. Spurgeon, Evening by Evening, pg. 176)
The apostle John wrote: (1John 2:24) He realized that there were ravenous wolves that had slipped in amongst the flock of new believers. These depraved men were stirring up false arguments with the intention of tearing down God’s beginning foundation which He established among them. John warned them about those who were bringing a “See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you.”“counterfeit” gospel (1John 2:26-27) that would lead them from the Truth they had originally received. If we allow the Holy Spirit’s voice to penetrate our hearts and minds, we are divinely guarded from the danger of being overtaken by lies and deception. We are further strengthened by yielding to Him and His counsel so that the next time we are assaulted by false teachers and those who would pervert the Word of God, we are better-equipped to turn from them and return to our beginning as established by the Lord.
It is in every Christian’s eternal best interest to always stand firmly upon the foundation which God has established. We are to equip ourselves through diligent and tireless study of God’s Word that is meant to provide us with the necessary armor against the endless onslaught of those who are perverting the Truth (Eph. 6:10-20). And we are also called to “point these things out to the brothers” (1Tim. 4:6) so that they will not “abandon the faithand follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons” (1Tim. 4:1).
We have an obligation to gently, yet firmly, correct our brothers and sisters, especially in the age in which we live where the church is being ruthlessly invaded by frauds and deceivers bent on preaching lies to line their pockets, and to suit themselves and their sinfulness. We should be willing to encourage others to “test the spirits” for subtle and damning heresies and fine-sounding arguments that would lead them from Scriptural Truth, regardless of how your encouragement is received by them (Jude 1-2). There will be those who will stubbornly refuse to hear what you are attempting to bring them, those who will be willing to believe the myriad untruths and maze of lies so prevalent in today's Christian community. They may even react with vitriol, striking out at you and condemning you with their own brand of condemnation and, sadly, hatred. In light of the trouble that is brewing within today’s church, this can be expected. But we must “press on toward the goal to win the prize” and to “live up to what we have already attained” (Phil. 3:14). If we are obedient to God’s urgings to remain fearless and faithful, the man who truly possesses the Spirit of God will see his error, heed your warning, and return to his beginnings (2Tim. 4:2-5; Titus 2:15; Rev. 3:19).
There is no spare time available to fear offending a brother or sister in Christ who has strayed from Spiritual Truth. Their very soul depends upon you remaining faithful and helping them return to the Rock on which their foundation began.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Who Ya Gonna Call?
Where does faith flee in times of trouble? When we become overwhelmed with concern or dread over certain situations that appear to be beyond our control, do we stubbornly continue to attempt to solve it through our own efforts? Do we run and hide from it? Do we waste precious time moving through the list of "experts", hoping we find one with the answer? Or do we turn to the One Who has all the wisdom, strength and power necessary to restore order and remedy the situation? As I write this, I am reminded of the silly movie, “Ghost Busters,” and its sound track that asks the question, “Who ya gonna call?” Sadly, more often then not, God is the last One we call upon for help.
I have been listening to the so-called "experts" and watching the reactions of those who have been searching for an answer to the recent British Petroleum oil well failure. Five miles below the surface of the sea, oil is continuing to gush, threatening livelihoods, wildlife, and patience. While men scramble to provide a solution to stop it, blame is cast like stones being thrown and the oil continues to pour from the well.
Politicians, environmentalists, and elites are calling for BP’s blood to be shed. Poorly choosing his words (or, perhaps, revealing his true nature), our President is looking for “necks” to place his "boot" upon and the appropriate “ass to kick” for causing all of the trouble. In the meantime, he has refused to privately meet with BP's CEO. His inaction speaks multitudes of his inability to mediate our nation's problems.
Although it was an unfortunate and tragic accident, our administration’s first response was to send Attorney General Eric Holder to the Gulf and examine the legal consequences. We then were subjected to the politicization of the disaster; men attempting to elevate themselves with special interests groups. Threats of felony charges are being considered before a thorough investigation is completed to determine if there is blame to be levied. Continued demands have been made that all recovery costs be paid by BP, even though BP has already promised to do so. Tort attorneys have converged upon the area like a flock of vultures, soothing the locals and assuring them they will squeeze every ounce of blood they can from BP for their losses in income.
Many viable and reasonable solutions have been offered, but those who perhaps have a workable solution unfortunately fall out of the circle of elites who are in control. The powers that be have no time for them; therefore, those who may have had a solution to the immediate problem at its onset are ignored and rejected.
My frustration does not lie with the disaster itself. It is solely based upon man’s stubborn unbelief in a Creator Who has held the balance of the universe in His capable hands since He formed it (Genesis 1:1-31), and Who continues to do so. My disappointment has everything to do with man’s unwillingness to turn to the Creator of the oil and the sea for His help and guidance in stopping the flow. There is even a failure I see within the Christian community to return to faith and petition the Lord for understanding and solutions. Instead, they place creation above its Creator and wring their hands wondering what can be done. After it all boils down, the dregs left in the bottom of the pot are a stubborn, stiff-necked nation and a complete and utter disbelief in an all-powerful, Almighty God. There is very little, if any, faith or trust in His ability to bring the disaster to an end. And because we have become a nation of unbelievers and Christians with weak faith, we are seeing the results.
When God destroyed mankind in the flood, did He not also cause the waters to recede, restoring the earth and providing a habitable place for Noah and his descendants, promising that the earth would “endure” and never cease until the final judgment? (Genesis 8:1-22)
Jesus called His disciples those “of little faith” as they struggled to row their boat against the raging sea (Matthew 8:23-27). Cannot He who created the sea and all that is in it, and Who calmed the stormy waters, also calm the gushing oil and heal what it has damaged?
If we had “faith as small as a mustard seed,” as Jesus promised, “Nothing [would] be impossible for [us]” (Matthew 17:20). Just as no mountain would be unmovable, the gushing oil would also cease and the well would close tight. But because we have further limited our faith by our arrogance, stubbornness, greed for power and control, our hatred for what God has blessed us with, and our unwillingness to ask God for help, He has turned His face from this disaster - and He is also turning His face from us.
God will not continue to allow His children to minimize His omnipotence or to shelve Him as a last resort. He will eventually reveal Himself and His sovereignty and power. But for now, His desire is that we first look to Him for help, that we call out to Him when things like this happen. His arm is not too short when disaster strikes or when we need Him (Numbers 11:23). He is mighty to cleanse, to heal, to provide, and to save us from calamity. But we must choose Him as our First Responder instead of shoving Him into the back of the line, as we so often do.
As long as we continue along the path of no faith, or weak faith at best, the oil will continue to plague the Gulf and other disasters, tragedies and crises will continue to come upon us. We must choose wisely Who we are going to call for help when they do occur and not take our time doing so. The end results will heavily rely upon the choice we make.
Additional reading:
I have been listening to the so-called "experts" and watching the reactions of those who have been searching for an answer to the recent British Petroleum oil well failure. Five miles below the surface of the sea, oil is continuing to gush, threatening livelihoods, wildlife, and patience. While men scramble to provide a solution to stop it, blame is cast like stones being thrown and the oil continues to pour from the well.
Politicians, environmentalists, and elites are calling for BP’s blood to be shed. Poorly choosing his words (or, perhaps, revealing his true nature), our President is looking for “necks” to place his "boot" upon and the appropriate “ass to kick” for causing all of the trouble. In the meantime, he has refused to privately meet with BP's CEO. His inaction speaks multitudes of his inability to mediate our nation's problems.
Although it was an unfortunate and tragic accident, our administration’s first response was to send Attorney General Eric Holder to the Gulf and examine the legal consequences. We then were subjected to the politicization of the disaster; men attempting to elevate themselves with special interests groups. Threats of felony charges are being considered before a thorough investigation is completed to determine if there is blame to be levied. Continued demands have been made that all recovery costs be paid by BP, even though BP has already promised to do so. Tort attorneys have converged upon the area like a flock of vultures, soothing the locals and assuring them they will squeeze every ounce of blood they can from BP for their losses in income.
Many viable and reasonable solutions have been offered, but those who perhaps have a workable solution unfortunately fall out of the circle of elites who are in control. The powers that be have no time for them; therefore, those who may have had a solution to the immediate problem at its onset are ignored and rejected.
My frustration does not lie with the disaster itself. It is solely based upon man’s stubborn unbelief in a Creator Who has held the balance of the universe in His capable hands since He formed it (Genesis 1:1-31), and Who continues to do so. My disappointment has everything to do with man’s unwillingness to turn to the Creator of the oil and the sea for His help and guidance in stopping the flow. There is even a failure I see within the Christian community to return to faith and petition the Lord for understanding and solutions. Instead, they place creation above its Creator and wring their hands wondering what can be done. After it all boils down, the dregs left in the bottom of the pot are a stubborn, stiff-necked nation and a complete and utter disbelief in an all-powerful, Almighty God. There is very little, if any, faith or trust in His ability to bring the disaster to an end. And because we have become a nation of unbelievers and Christians with weak faith, we are seeing the results.
When God destroyed mankind in the flood, did He not also cause the waters to recede, restoring the earth and providing a habitable place for Noah and his descendants, promising that the earth would “endure” and never cease until the final judgment? (Genesis 8:1-22)
Jesus called His disciples those “of little faith” as they struggled to row their boat against the raging sea (Matthew 8:23-27). Cannot He who created the sea and all that is in it, and Who calmed the stormy waters, also calm the gushing oil and heal what it has damaged?
If we had “faith as small as a mustard seed,” as Jesus promised, “Nothing [would] be impossible for [us]” (Matthew 17:20). Just as no mountain would be unmovable, the gushing oil would also cease and the well would close tight. But because we have further limited our faith by our arrogance, stubbornness, greed for power and control, our hatred for what God has blessed us with, and our unwillingness to ask God for help, He has turned His face from this disaster - and He is also turning His face from us.
God will not continue to allow His children to minimize His omnipotence or to shelve Him as a last resort. He will eventually reveal Himself and His sovereignty and power. But for now, His desire is that we first look to Him for help, that we call out to Him when things like this happen. His arm is not too short when disaster strikes or when we need Him (Numbers 11:23). He is mighty to cleanse, to heal, to provide, and to save us from calamity. But we must choose Him as our First Responder instead of shoving Him into the back of the line, as we so often do.
As long as we continue along the path of no faith, or weak faith at best, the oil will continue to plague the Gulf and other disasters, tragedies and crises will continue to come upon us. We must choose wisely Who we are going to call for help when they do occur and not take our time doing so. The end results will heavily rely upon the choice we make.
Additional reading:
- Genesis 1:1-6
- 1 Chronicles 29:10-13
- Psalm 19:1-6; 46:1; 65:5-13; 89:13
- Romans 1:20, 25
- 1 Corinthians 1:25
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