Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the LORD, and when he heard them his anger was aroused (Numbers 11:1).
I heard a story about a monk who joined a monastery and took a vow of silence. After the first ten years, his superior called him in and asked, “Do you have anything to say?” The monk replied “Food bad.” After another ten years the monk again had opportunity to voice his thoughts. He said, “Bed hard.” Yet another ten years went by, and again he was called in before his superior. When asked if he had anything to say, he responded, “I quit.” “It doesn’t surprise me a bit,” said his superior. “You’ve done nothing but complain ever since you got here.”
A humorous story, but seriously, it is easy to spiral into the complaining mode. It’s raining. It’s too hot. It’s too cold. I’m so tired of winter; I’m tired of this heat. My husband don’t . . . my wife won’t. On and on we fuss, grumbling about things we can’t change and things God doesn’t change.
It has been well said, “If He Who can does not, it is better so.” Meaning, if God doesn’t change our circumstances—we must trust that they don’t need to be changed—at least for the moment. They may change in God’s time—but not ours.
Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13). Salt adds flavor. Salt also retards corruption. Perhaps in our world when we hear complaining we should make it our goal to retard the complaining spirit that is so prevalent. We could add “flavor” to the conversation and uplift the person who is bothered by the weather, an ingrown toenail, a tailgater—you get the picture.
One rainy day as I was shopping with one of my sisters, I began to notice how many people were complaining. The Lord had been speaking to my heart about negative words, so I was on guard and watchful in my spirit.
I was perplexed when a woman approached me in a major department store and began complaining about the weather. Her monologue soon spiraled into complaining about her son.
Apparently he did not live up to her expectations, and she gave me an earful. I couldn’t have gotten a word in if I had tried (no small feat I assure you). Eventually she cut off the conversation, leaving me completely baffled as to why she had confided in me—a total stranger—with such negative words about her son.
Grumbling often reminds me of the story of the Israelites. Through mighty miracles God delivered them from slavery in Egypt. Yet they had barely left Egypt when they began to complain (Exodus 14). They complained all the way through the desert—for forty years (Deuteronomy 1-2). We read the story and wonder why they didn’t just trust God. But then—do we?
The Israelites complained about the very essence of life: they were trapped at the edge of the Red Sea with the Egyptians rolling down upon them on horse drawn chariots; they had no water for three days; there was no meat to eat, and they grew tired of the taste of manna; the giants inhabiting the countryside were too big for their god!
On and on it went. Surely God would understand their dilemma. He didn’t understand—nor was He happy with their complaining and lack trust. In fact, He grew very weary of it (Numbers 11). He isn’t happy with our complaining either!
There are some powerful lessons God has taught me about complaining. I’ll share three of them with you:
Leave it with the Lord:
Many times when I pray for something, God is testing me (Exodus 15:25; 16:2-4). When I allow my heart to cry out against my circumstances, I run the risk of falling into discontentment and unbelief. God considers this complaining.
Therefore, when I pray, I am to leave my requests with God and depart His throne room with a quiet heart. He wants me to trust that He will answer in His time and in His way, doing His very best for me (Romans 8:28), and gaining glory for Himself (Exodus 15:1-21). How could I ask for more than that?
Be prepared for the desert:
God hears and answers my prayers, but rarely does He answer the way I anticipate. Many times when He answers, it sends me into the desert, where I must trust that He has a plan…
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered for a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast (I Peter 5:10).
The deserts of our lives are difficult and oftentimes painful. They require perseverance which grows us and gives us strength for our journey.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).
Trust God for His answer:
It is our choice to trust God—or not. We are not to trust based on our feelings. Rather, our trust must be based upon the Word of God. We are not to take something to the Lord in prayer, then complain to friends as though the circumstance is arduous and cumbersome, and by doing so, try to manipulate God into answering our prayer—our way.
God gives us desires, wants, and hopes, then uses them to draw us to Himself in prayer. He wants to grant us wonderful things, but God’s wonderful things have His eternal plan in mind, not our temporal one.
As we look ahead, let’s do so with a heart purposed not to complain. Let’s look for ways to be salt and light to others; perhaps in doing so we can help check the spirit of complaining and negativity that seems to pervade our society. By doing so we will do that for which we were created—give God glory (Isaiah 43:7).
What about you, dear friend? How is your heart today? Are you trying to manipulate God by praying, then complaining to others in hopes that God will hear your complaint and answer your prayer in your time—instead of His? He has your eternal interests at heart.
Did you know that God had the very first tattoo, and it has your name on it?
“I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands” (Isaiah 49:15-16).
Peace or turmoil—it’s a choice!
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you (Isaiah 26:3).
Further Study
Numbers 11
Numbers 12
Numbers 14
Numbers 16
Numbers 17
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Friday, October 2, 2009
Perseverance
Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD (Psalm 27:4).
I hate to wait—don’t you? I want what I want when I want it—sort of like everyone else in America. I have never been good at waiting, and just when I think I’m improving, I get thrown back into one of life’s many challenges.
The apostle Paul, said, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation. . . .” (— Philippians 4:12).
Paul was speaking from experience.
In that culture there were secret, exclusive clubs. When a man was invited to join, he had to complete a series of secret initiations. He would be given something to do—but it was a secret—he could tell no one. When he had completed enough initiations to satisfy the demands of the club, he was allowed to join. Paul was saying that he had been secretly initiated into God’s “Contentment Club.”
What were Paul’s secret initiations? He had worked harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged with thirty-nine lashes five different times, beaten with a rod three times, stoned once (left for dead), shipwrecked, spent a night and day in the open sea, gone without sleep, food, and water, and exposed to death again and again (II Corinthians 11:21-20).
And if this wasn’t enough, Paul was given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger from Satan—that tormented him. Paul pleaded with God three times to remove the thorn, but God said to him,
“My grace is sufficient for you, My power is made perfect in weakness” (— II Corinthians 12:7-10).
We want patience, but we don’t want to wait for it. We want all of the good things that God has to offer but we don’t want to suffer or pay the price for them. Fortunately for all of us, that isn’t the way God leads.
Sometimes He leads through fiery trials; “Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed” (— I Pet. 4:12-13).
I wonder if it’s significant that in context, both of these passages are dealing with pride. Since God hates pride, and we seem to gravitate towards it, perhaps it is possible to avoid some of our trials if we work at keeping our hearts humble? God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (I Pet. 5:5).
Whether our trials are caused by something in our lives, or God has a specific lesson for us, we should not want to miss the lesson. According to chapters one and two of Job, Satan reports to God on a regular basis and he must ask permission before he can afflict our family, our finances or us.
God sets boundaries and Satan must operate within those boundaries. God allows our adversity for His glory and our good. At the end of Job’s trial, God prospered him twice as much as he had prospered before (Job 42:10).
God has rich blessings in store for us—if we endure patiently. We don’t want to be like the Israelites, who rebelled and complained against the Lord’s direction and spent the rest of their lives in the desert. They never entered the rest God had for them. Rebelling and complaining against the Lord’s leading is unbelief and will keep us from rest.
The Scripture tells us, Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert? And to whom did God swear that they were not able to enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief (Hebrews 3:16-19).
There was a time when I found myself in a very trying circumstance that seemed to go on and on—and on! I had been asking God to deliver me for quite some time, but I became tired of waiting.
One morning I journaled a prayer for deliverance. I dumped it all on God—again. As I began to get ready for work that morning I heard the Lord speak very clearly to my heart, “You’re praying the wrong prayer.” I should have been praying for strength to endure, for growth, to give honor during my trial, and most importantly, to offer God a sacrifice of praise (Hebrews 13:15).
I immediately repented, but unfortunately, I didn’t heed the Lord. I didn’t wait too much longer, and then I got myself out of the situation. Alas, instead of persevering and reaping the blessings from being obedient, I have endured the consequences of my actions. Like Jonah, I ran from God’s instructions! But also like Jonah, I paid for my rebellion.
Yes—going against God’s commands is rebellion!
When Jonah rebelled against the Lord’s instructions he was swallowed by a great fish. In trying to digest Jonah, the gastric juices in the belly of the great fish would have turned his skin a yucky yellowish-brown color, and caused the hair all over his body to fall out.
And if that were not enough, imagine the sheer terror of being thrown into the sea, swallowed by a great fish, and being inside its belly—for three days! Jonah must have looked a sight when he entered Nineveh. With no body hair and weird skin color—he must have looked a mess! No wonder several hundred thousand people repented.
So, dear friend, are you in a trial that is testing your faith in the Lord? If you’re not in one, hang in there—one is coming. Trials come to all of us who name the Name of Jesus, Lord. When it comes, snuggle into God’s arms through His Word and prayer, and enjoy the intimacy that only comes through trials. There are wonderful blessings in persevering through a trial that simply cannot be learned any other way.
Blessings or consequences—perseverance is a choice!
As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy (James 5:11).
Further Study
Psalm 62:1
Psalm 25:4-5
Psalm 27:14
Psalm 33:18-22
Psalm 37:34
Psalm 40:1
Psalm 104:27-35
Psalm 130:5-6
Psalm 145:14-15
I hate to wait—don’t you? I want what I want when I want it—sort of like everyone else in America. I have never been good at waiting, and just when I think I’m improving, I get thrown back into one of life’s many challenges.
The apostle Paul, said, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation. . . .” (— Philippians 4:12).
Paul was speaking from experience.
In that culture there were secret, exclusive clubs. When a man was invited to join, he had to complete a series of secret initiations. He would be given something to do—but it was a secret—he could tell no one. When he had completed enough initiations to satisfy the demands of the club, he was allowed to join. Paul was saying that he had been secretly initiated into God’s “Contentment Club.”
What were Paul’s secret initiations? He had worked harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged with thirty-nine lashes five different times, beaten with a rod three times, stoned once (left for dead), shipwrecked, spent a night and day in the open sea, gone without sleep, food, and water, and exposed to death again and again (II Corinthians 11:21-20).
And if this wasn’t enough, Paul was given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger from Satan—that tormented him. Paul pleaded with God three times to remove the thorn, but God said to him,
“My grace is sufficient for you, My power is made perfect in weakness” (— II Corinthians 12:7-10).
We want patience, but we don’t want to wait for it. We want all of the good things that God has to offer but we don’t want to suffer or pay the price for them. Fortunately for all of us, that isn’t the way God leads.
Sometimes He leads through fiery trials; “Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed” (— I Pet. 4:12-13).
I wonder if it’s significant that in context, both of these passages are dealing with pride. Since God hates pride, and we seem to gravitate towards it, perhaps it is possible to avoid some of our trials if we work at keeping our hearts humble? God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (I Pet. 5:5).
Whether our trials are caused by something in our lives, or God has a specific lesson for us, we should not want to miss the lesson. According to chapters one and two of Job, Satan reports to God on a regular basis and he must ask permission before he can afflict our family, our finances or us.
God sets boundaries and Satan must operate within those boundaries. God allows our adversity for His glory and our good. At the end of Job’s trial, God prospered him twice as much as he had prospered before (Job 42:10).
God has rich blessings in store for us—if we endure patiently. We don’t want to be like the Israelites, who rebelled and complained against the Lord’s direction and spent the rest of their lives in the desert. They never entered the rest God had for them. Rebelling and complaining against the Lord’s leading is unbelief and will keep us from rest.
The Scripture tells us, Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert? And to whom did God swear that they were not able to enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief (Hebrews 3:16-19).
There was a time when I found myself in a very trying circumstance that seemed to go on and on—and on! I had been asking God to deliver me for quite some time, but I became tired of waiting.
One morning I journaled a prayer for deliverance. I dumped it all on God—again. As I began to get ready for work that morning I heard the Lord speak very clearly to my heart, “You’re praying the wrong prayer.” I should have been praying for strength to endure, for growth, to give honor during my trial, and most importantly, to offer God a sacrifice of praise (Hebrews 13:15).
I immediately repented, but unfortunately, I didn’t heed the Lord. I didn’t wait too much longer, and then I got myself out of the situation. Alas, instead of persevering and reaping the blessings from being obedient, I have endured the consequences of my actions. Like Jonah, I ran from God’s instructions! But also like Jonah, I paid for my rebellion.
Yes—going against God’s commands is rebellion!
When Jonah rebelled against the Lord’s instructions he was swallowed by a great fish. In trying to digest Jonah, the gastric juices in the belly of the great fish would have turned his skin a yucky yellowish-brown color, and caused the hair all over his body to fall out.
And if that were not enough, imagine the sheer terror of being thrown into the sea, swallowed by a great fish, and being inside its belly—for three days! Jonah must have looked a sight when he entered Nineveh. With no body hair and weird skin color—he must have looked a mess! No wonder several hundred thousand people repented.
So, dear friend, are you in a trial that is testing your faith in the Lord? If you’re not in one, hang in there—one is coming. Trials come to all of us who name the Name of Jesus, Lord. When it comes, snuggle into God’s arms through His Word and prayer, and enjoy the intimacy that only comes through trials. There are wonderful blessings in persevering through a trial that simply cannot be learned any other way.
Blessings or consequences—perseverance is a choice!
As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy (James 5:11).
Further Study
Psalm 62:1
Psalm 25:4-5
Psalm 27:14
Psalm 33:18-22
Psalm 37:34
Psalm 40:1
Psalm 104:27-35
Psalm 130:5-6
Psalm 145:14-15
Friday, September 11, 2009
The Art of Making Pearls
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. — I John 3:14
When a foreign irritant gets inside the shell of an oyster, a pearl is formed. The irritant is covered with layers of a substance called nacre. When the foreign irritant (sort of like us getting a splinter under our fingernail) invades the oyster’s soft inner parts, the natural reaction is to cover the irritant to protect itself from the constant pain. To alleviate the pain, the oyster wraps the foreign object with secretions, eventually creating a pearl. Not all pearls turn out well. Some are oddly shaped and are not as valuable as those of perfect shape.
In the parable of the pearl (Matthew 13:45-46), the fine pearls represent those who have accepted the call to salvation provided by Jesus Christ. The merchant (Jesus) went away (died on the cross) and bought the pearl (believers Hebrews 12:2).
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed (purchased) from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. — I Peter 1:18-19
What would happen if every time an irritant gets under our skin, rather than trying to get rid of it we secreted this strange substance around it—called love. The irritant enters our sphere; we begin to immediately wrap love around the irritant until it becomes a pearl. Some beautiful, some not so beautiful; but love would at worst relieve the irritant—at best make a beautiful pearl that we could enjoy the rest of our lives.
I have a feeling that the degree of true and sincere love of Christ we would wrap around an irritating person would determine the luminosity of that person. The more love—the more beauty.
There are Christians who have not turned out well, and shall we say—are oddly shaped, and thus not as valuable as they could be. Perhaps that’s because they were not wrapped in love in their formative years. Wrapping an irritant in love doesn’t negate the lost art of lovingly rebuking those who are clearly wrong.
Paul told Timothy, “Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning” (I Tim. 5:20); and… “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge; preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction.” — II Timothy 4:1-2
Some well-meaning people say they just want to lead with love like Jesus did, clearly forgetting that Jesus rebuked Peter quite harshly at one time (Mark 8:33); on numerous occasions Jesus accused His disciples of having little or no faith; he told them they were dull (Matthew 15:16); he called the Pharisees hypocrites (Matthew 22:18); and twice He cleared the temple—with whips! (John 2:13-16; Matthew 21:12-13).
Jesus wasn’t a weak-minded, willy-nilly man who allowed sin to run rampant in the lives of those around Him. Clearly, He led with strength—in love.
Everyone needs boundaries and parameters. Without Godly boundaries we descend into an unhappy and disorderly behavior pattern. This is vividly portrayed in the indulgent lives of the offspring of Eli, Samuel and King David. Due to the lack of correction and Godly training, their children grew up quite dysfunctional. Each parent reaped untold grief due to their lack of Godly directional leadership with their children.
Like some pearls that don’t turn out well—odd shaped and less valuable than they should be to the Body of Christ—some churches are oddly shaped and less valuable than they should be, as well. Instead of thriving, they sometimes fail due to the lack of loving Godly leadership.
When this happens there will be those who are hurt or disillusioned. As you come into contact with these people and listen to their stories, wrap each one with the loving instruction of the Word of God. While we can’t allow ourselves to become dumping grounds for their bitterness, we must hear their heart and give them loving instruction, as set forth in the Scriptures.
Don’t let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. — Ephesians 4:29
Bottom line—wrap all situations with love. We love with encouragement. We love with instruction. We love with exhortation. We love with discipline—but we love!
Not everyone will respond positively and become beautiful pearls—some will leave, and some will be “odd shaped” and less valuable to the fellowship. Nevertheless, what we cover with love, God will keep from irritating us. It is up to Him what kind of pearl He makes.
As God’s people, we must grow up to maturity in Christ. We must encourage everyone who comes within our sphere to grow up, as well. We simply cannot continue to have baby Christians—remain babies.
Let’s wrap every irritant with the pure love of Jesus, and each of us do our part to make the bride of Christ a beautiful pearl, worthy of His high calling. Of course, this will require “older Christians” to spend time in the Word of God so they know how to train younger Christians.
Are you doing your part?
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation. — I Peter 2:2
Further Study
Matthew 5
Matthew 6
Matthew 7
I Corinthians 3
I Corinthians 4
I Corinthians 6
When a foreign irritant gets inside the shell of an oyster, a pearl is formed. The irritant is covered with layers of a substance called nacre. When the foreign irritant (sort of like us getting a splinter under our fingernail) invades the oyster’s soft inner parts, the natural reaction is to cover the irritant to protect itself from the constant pain. To alleviate the pain, the oyster wraps the foreign object with secretions, eventually creating a pearl. Not all pearls turn out well. Some are oddly shaped and are not as valuable as those of perfect shape.
In the parable of the pearl (Matthew 13:45-46), the fine pearls represent those who have accepted the call to salvation provided by Jesus Christ. The merchant (Jesus) went away (died on the cross) and bought the pearl (believers Hebrews 12:2).
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed (purchased) from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. — I Peter 1:18-19
What would happen if every time an irritant gets under our skin, rather than trying to get rid of it we secreted this strange substance around it—called love. The irritant enters our sphere; we begin to immediately wrap love around the irritant until it becomes a pearl. Some beautiful, some not so beautiful; but love would at worst relieve the irritant—at best make a beautiful pearl that we could enjoy the rest of our lives.
I have a feeling that the degree of true and sincere love of Christ we would wrap around an irritating person would determine the luminosity of that person. The more love—the more beauty.
There are Christians who have not turned out well, and shall we say—are oddly shaped, and thus not as valuable as they could be. Perhaps that’s because they were not wrapped in love in their formative years. Wrapping an irritant in love doesn’t negate the lost art of lovingly rebuking those who are clearly wrong.
Paul told Timothy, “Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning” (I Tim. 5:20); and… “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge; preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction.” — II Timothy 4:1-2
Some well-meaning people say they just want to lead with love like Jesus did, clearly forgetting that Jesus rebuked Peter quite harshly at one time (Mark 8:33); on numerous occasions Jesus accused His disciples of having little or no faith; he told them they were dull (Matthew 15:16); he called the Pharisees hypocrites (Matthew 22:18); and twice He cleared the temple—with whips! (John 2:13-16; Matthew 21:12-13).
Jesus wasn’t a weak-minded, willy-nilly man who allowed sin to run rampant in the lives of those around Him. Clearly, He led with strength—in love.
Everyone needs boundaries and parameters. Without Godly boundaries we descend into an unhappy and disorderly behavior pattern. This is vividly portrayed in the indulgent lives of the offspring of Eli, Samuel and King David. Due to the lack of correction and Godly training, their children grew up quite dysfunctional. Each parent reaped untold grief due to their lack of Godly directional leadership with their children.
Like some pearls that don’t turn out well—odd shaped and less valuable than they should be to the Body of Christ—some churches are oddly shaped and less valuable than they should be, as well. Instead of thriving, they sometimes fail due to the lack of loving Godly leadership.
When this happens there will be those who are hurt or disillusioned. As you come into contact with these people and listen to their stories, wrap each one with the loving instruction of the Word of God. While we can’t allow ourselves to become dumping grounds for their bitterness, we must hear their heart and give them loving instruction, as set forth in the Scriptures.
Don’t let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. — Ephesians 4:29
Bottom line—wrap all situations with love. We love with encouragement. We love with instruction. We love with exhortation. We love with discipline—but we love!
Not everyone will respond positively and become beautiful pearls—some will leave, and some will be “odd shaped” and less valuable to the fellowship. Nevertheless, what we cover with love, God will keep from irritating us. It is up to Him what kind of pearl He makes.
As God’s people, we must grow up to maturity in Christ. We must encourage everyone who comes within our sphere to grow up, as well. We simply cannot continue to have baby Christians—remain babies.
Let’s wrap every irritant with the pure love of Jesus, and each of us do our part to make the bride of Christ a beautiful pearl, worthy of His high calling. Of course, this will require “older Christians” to spend time in the Word of God so they know how to train younger Christians.
Are you doing your part?
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation. — I Peter 2:2
Further Study
Matthew 5
Matthew 6
Matthew 7
I Corinthians 3
I Corinthians 4
I Corinthians 6
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
God is the God of the Darkness
He made darkness His secret place; His canopy around Him was dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. From the brightness before Him, His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire. — Psalm 18:11-12 NKJV
I’ve always been afraid of the dark. As a child and even into adulthood, the moment the light went out, darkness seemed to pervade my very soul. Evil that wasn’t present in the light seemed to lurk just beyond my reach in the darkness—I could feel it!
Trials and difficulties are sometimes like the darkness. When they come and we can’t see our way, there seems to be evil lurking all around us.
The presence of the tempter is real and frightening. We know we should combat the evil one as the Lord did by using the Word of God (Matthew 4:1-11).
But sometimes . . . sometimes, we are just too beaten by the pain of the moment, and it’s all we can do just to keep our head above water and function with some modicum of normalcy.
But God is the God of the darkness.
The Bible says, The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was. — Exodus 20:21
God is the God who dwells in the darkness!
The Hebrew word for darkness is araphel—and it means to drip; to drop. It means literally that the heavens are lowering or drooping—hence to drip or drop down.
How do we understand this? How does a God who lives in unapproachable light (I Timothy 6:16) also live in darkness? Could it mean that darkness is only dark to us, and there is really no such thing as darkness to God?
King David said, “If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” — Psalm 139:11-12
Is that why Jesus waited until the darkest hour of the night and then came walking on the water during the fourth watch (3:00-6:00 a.m.), while the storm and water were raging? Did He want to show Peter and the others that He was the God of the raging storm in the darkness? Peter was doing fine walking on the water—until he saw the wind (Matthew 14:30).
Perhaps that’s the lesson. To walk through our darkness, our raging storms, knowing that Jesus is already there, walking before us, protecting us from behind (Isaiah 52:12), and holding tightly to us with His Right Hand (Psalm 139:10).
The Right Hand of God is none other than Jesus Christ (Psalm 80:15). With this truth, we should not fear the darkness; Jesus is holding tightly to us. Our darkness may also be for others.
The LORD said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense (dark) cloud so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.”
— Exodus 19:9, emphasis mine
Since the literal definition of the word for darkness means to drip down heaven, God was saying, “I am going to drip down heaven to you so that the people see Me and know that I am with you, and they will trust you.”
There was thunder, lightening, and darkness on Mount Sinai when God called Moses to come up.
The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. — Exodus 19:20
The children of Israel were afraid of the thunder, lightening, and darkness. They did not want God to speak to them directly (Exodus 20:18-19), yet Moses braved the darkness to approach God. There on the mountain, in the darkness, Moses experienced fellowship and the blessing of God’s Presence. There God spoke to him face to face (Exodus 33:11).
Could the darkness that comes into our lives literally be God dripping heaven (Himself) down to us? Could the thunder, lightening, and darkness in our storms be God’s way of getting our attention, welcoming us to know Him more deeply? Perhaps even honoring us in the sight of others as He did Moses, Joshua, Joseph, David, Paul, and others?
If it is, He is waiting in the darkness, and He invites us to dwell with Him—in the darkness! Just as He was there to welcome Moses to the top of Mount Sinai and bid Peter to “Come” and walk to Him on the water, He sometimes bids us into the darkness to be with Him as well.
The darkness will never be too dark; the storm will never rage too severely. The Master mixes the cup of suffering (the darkness) specifically for us.
According to Philippians 1:29 God grants us the suffering (darkness) as a wonderful gift, wrapped especially for us. God considers suffering a very special and gratuitous gift (favor) to us.
But oftentimes, we shun the darkness and despise God’s gift of “favoring” a gift He gives to accomplish His perfect purpose in our lives.
Like Moses, Paul welcomed the darkness. He had learned the lesson well (Philippians 4:12), and he considered everything dung (rubbish) that in any way hindered him from knowing Christ more intimately (Philippians 3:1-14). He considered suffering the very thing that kept him close to Christ (II Corinthians 12:7-10; Philippians 3:10).
Which of us would not go if we received a personal invitation to meet with God at a specific place and time? If I received such an invitation, I would be giddy with anticipation. Being a normal female, my first thought would be, “what shall I wear?” Second, “what do I want to ask God?”
But in the process of preparing my heart to meet Jehovah El Roi, The God Who Sees (deep into my soul), what I wore or said would become inconsequential; I would want simply to bask in His Presence. Everything else would become trivial and unimportant. His Presence would be all that mattered. Yet when the invitation comes in the form of darkness, I must admit that my initial reaction is fear and dread.
It is easy to see God in what we consider to be good and wonderful things in life. Get a great job or promotion—praise God! The Lord blesses us with healing, a wonderful mate, a prime parking place, or some other wonderful gift—praise the Lord!
But darkness—a wonderful gift? Few of us welcome the darkness of pain by praising the Lord. But darkness is to be welcomed. Darkness is God’s invitation to come away with Him—just Him and me. No one else can dwell in my darkness or yours.
Friends and family can encourage us; they can listen; but they can’t experience our darkness. The cup of suffering is mixed for each of us individually, and God means it to be our alone time with Him—just the two of us enjoying intimate time together that excludes everyone else and everything else.
So, dear friend, are you so afraid of the darkness that you choose to live life less than abundantly? Are you satisfied with just enough of God to save you and give you all the good things of life, but not enough to throw off everything that hinders you from an incredible intimacy with the Lord?
If God gave you a choice, would you welcome the darkness where He is over the comfort of your own choices? That is the choice.
Remember—God is the God of the darkness!
The darkness is only dark on the outside. Within the darkness we discover, as Moses did, that God exists in a brightness that is only visible after we have entered His darkness (Psalm 104:2).
In His Presence we shed our fears, and delight in the awesome intimacy of dwelling with our Creator (Exodus 34:29-35).
“I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things.” — Isaiah 45:3, 7
Further Study
Psalm 74
Psalm 88
Psalm 89
Psalm 104
I’ve always been afraid of the dark. As a child and even into adulthood, the moment the light went out, darkness seemed to pervade my very soul. Evil that wasn’t present in the light seemed to lurk just beyond my reach in the darkness—I could feel it!
Trials and difficulties are sometimes like the darkness. When they come and we can’t see our way, there seems to be evil lurking all around us.
The presence of the tempter is real and frightening. We know we should combat the evil one as the Lord did by using the Word of God (Matthew 4:1-11).
But sometimes . . . sometimes, we are just too beaten by the pain of the moment, and it’s all we can do just to keep our head above water and function with some modicum of normalcy.
But God is the God of the darkness.
The Bible says, The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was. — Exodus 20:21
God is the God who dwells in the darkness!
The Hebrew word for darkness is araphel—and it means to drip; to drop. It means literally that the heavens are lowering or drooping—hence to drip or drop down.
How do we understand this? How does a God who lives in unapproachable light (I Timothy 6:16) also live in darkness? Could it mean that darkness is only dark to us, and there is really no such thing as darkness to God?
King David said, “If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” — Psalm 139:11-12
Is that why Jesus waited until the darkest hour of the night and then came walking on the water during the fourth watch (3:00-6:00 a.m.), while the storm and water were raging? Did He want to show Peter and the others that He was the God of the raging storm in the darkness? Peter was doing fine walking on the water—until he saw the wind (Matthew 14:30).
Perhaps that’s the lesson. To walk through our darkness, our raging storms, knowing that Jesus is already there, walking before us, protecting us from behind (Isaiah 52:12), and holding tightly to us with His Right Hand (Psalm 139:10).
The Right Hand of God is none other than Jesus Christ (Psalm 80:15). With this truth, we should not fear the darkness; Jesus is holding tightly to us. Our darkness may also be for others.
The LORD said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense (dark) cloud so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.”
— Exodus 19:9, emphasis mine
Since the literal definition of the word for darkness means to drip down heaven, God was saying, “I am going to drip down heaven to you so that the people see Me and know that I am with you, and they will trust you.”
There was thunder, lightening, and darkness on Mount Sinai when God called Moses to come up.
The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. — Exodus 19:20
The children of Israel were afraid of the thunder, lightening, and darkness. They did not want God to speak to them directly (Exodus 20:18-19), yet Moses braved the darkness to approach God. There on the mountain, in the darkness, Moses experienced fellowship and the blessing of God’s Presence. There God spoke to him face to face (Exodus 33:11).
Could the darkness that comes into our lives literally be God dripping heaven (Himself) down to us? Could the thunder, lightening, and darkness in our storms be God’s way of getting our attention, welcoming us to know Him more deeply? Perhaps even honoring us in the sight of others as He did Moses, Joshua, Joseph, David, Paul, and others?
If it is, He is waiting in the darkness, and He invites us to dwell with Him—in the darkness! Just as He was there to welcome Moses to the top of Mount Sinai and bid Peter to “Come” and walk to Him on the water, He sometimes bids us into the darkness to be with Him as well.
The darkness will never be too dark; the storm will never rage too severely. The Master mixes the cup of suffering (the darkness) specifically for us.
According to Philippians 1:29 God grants us the suffering (darkness) as a wonderful gift, wrapped especially for us. God considers suffering a very special and gratuitous gift (favor) to us.
But oftentimes, we shun the darkness and despise God’s gift of “favoring” a gift He gives to accomplish His perfect purpose in our lives.
Like Moses, Paul welcomed the darkness. He had learned the lesson well (Philippians 4:12), and he considered everything dung (rubbish) that in any way hindered him from knowing Christ more intimately (Philippians 3:1-14). He considered suffering the very thing that kept him close to Christ (II Corinthians 12:7-10; Philippians 3:10).
Which of us would not go if we received a personal invitation to meet with God at a specific place and time? If I received such an invitation, I would be giddy with anticipation. Being a normal female, my first thought would be, “what shall I wear?” Second, “what do I want to ask God?”
But in the process of preparing my heart to meet Jehovah El Roi, The God Who Sees (deep into my soul), what I wore or said would become inconsequential; I would want simply to bask in His Presence. Everything else would become trivial and unimportant. His Presence would be all that mattered. Yet when the invitation comes in the form of darkness, I must admit that my initial reaction is fear and dread.
It is easy to see God in what we consider to be good and wonderful things in life. Get a great job or promotion—praise God! The Lord blesses us with healing, a wonderful mate, a prime parking place, or some other wonderful gift—praise the Lord!
But darkness—a wonderful gift? Few of us welcome the darkness of pain by praising the Lord. But darkness is to be welcomed. Darkness is God’s invitation to come away with Him—just Him and me. No one else can dwell in my darkness or yours.
Friends and family can encourage us; they can listen; but they can’t experience our darkness. The cup of suffering is mixed for each of us individually, and God means it to be our alone time with Him—just the two of us enjoying intimate time together that excludes everyone else and everything else.
So, dear friend, are you so afraid of the darkness that you choose to live life less than abundantly? Are you satisfied with just enough of God to save you and give you all the good things of life, but not enough to throw off everything that hinders you from an incredible intimacy with the Lord?
If God gave you a choice, would you welcome the darkness where He is over the comfort of your own choices? That is the choice.
Remember—God is the God of the darkness!
The darkness is only dark on the outside. Within the darkness we discover, as Moses did, that God exists in a brightness that is only visible after we have entered His darkness (Psalm 104:2).
In His Presence we shed our fears, and delight in the awesome intimacy of dwelling with our Creator (Exodus 34:29-35).
“I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things.” — Isaiah 45:3, 7
Further Study
Psalm 74
Psalm 88
Psalm 89
Psalm 104
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Created for God's Glory
“I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.” — Psalm 146:2
There is a small island in the Gulf of Mexico that calls me back from time to time to enjoy the splendor of God’s creation. There on this tiny strip of land, I find respite for my soul.
There’s something magical about rising early, just before daylight, and heading for the beach, barefoot, with the high anticipation of watching God paint one of His special sunrises.
It takes about an hour for Him to unveil the full picture. The sky is His canvas; and the paint is the lavish morning colors in another glorious sunrise. They are different every day. I’m not sure how He does that—seems a sunrise is a sunrise—but not on this island. There, God paints a different one every single day!
As I walk along the beach, I marvel at the skill of a small bird (called a Skimmer) that flies just above the rolling waves skimming the water for its daily food. I always catch my breath fearful a wave will take one of the small creatures under, but it never does. It’s as though they have sensors in their wings. You see, God created them to catch their food just before daylight, skimming along just above the water line, beak in the water, snatching tiny aquatic delights for their breakfast.
I can hardly wait for evening to enjoy dinner at a quaint little restaurant that floats on the water on the opposite side of the island. I order my food, find a table next to the water, and watch as a different specie of bird dives deep in the channel for its food. Again, I find myself holding my breath, watching in anticipation for it to surface.
Another kind of bird flies near the restaurant deck, hoping someone will toss it food. This group of beggars hangs out just beyond a boundary of fishing line stretched to keep them from annoying the paying customers while the birds vie for “people food.” We’ve all been annoyed by these birds from time to time.
Still another large bird stands in the shallow water across the channel waiting for its next meal to swim by. The herons stab fish with their pointy beaks, holding it until it stops wiggling; then they toss it in the air, catching it so that it enters their open mouth head first—they swallow it whole. Each fish takes several minutes to swallow. They will eat three fish each time they feed and no more (some of us need a dose of their self control).
Enjoying these sights, I ponder the different ways God has designed these birds to feed; the way the undulating ocean waves continue to roll in, and even the sand fleas that sometimes swarm and bite the back of my legs.
I am smitten by the fact that all of these things do what God has created them to do—without question. Day after day the birds feed in their own way, the sand fleas bite, and the waves just keep rolling in. There is no question and no choice.
The heron does not decide to dive in the channel for its food, nor does the skimmer decide to stand in shallow water and stab a fish or dive in the channel for shrimp. Each of them knows the way they are designed to live—and they do it.
The sun doesn’t make the decision to shine at night, nor does the moon decide to shine during the day or not shine at all. All of God’s creation does the thing for which they were created—with one exception.
God has given humans a choice—to do what we were created to do—or not!
The LORD has said, “Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made” (Isaiah 43:7).
We humans have the awesome privilege of choosing to glorify our Creator when we do what we are created to do. It is a daily choice to live for Christ—or live for self. Do what the Bible tells me to do—or do what I want to do. Serve others—serve self.
But we belong to Elohim, the Almighty God. We have been purchased by the precious blood of His Son, and our life is to be lived in worship of Him.
The great Bible Teacher, Kay Arthur said, “His Name is Elohim, the Almighty God, our Creator. We have been created for His glory, for His pleasure. Our life is to be lived in such a way as to reflect Him. To show the world the character of God, His love, His peace, His mercy, His gentleness. We are to live for Him, to accomplish His will. To miss this is to miss fulfillment. It is to have existed rather than to have lived.”2
The question is—do you want to live?
“I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Everyday I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.” — Psalm 145:1, 2; 150:6
Further Study
Philippians 2
Philippians 4:1-9
Job 38-42
Isaiah 42:5-9
Isaiah 43:1-5
Isaiah 45:2-7
Daniel 2:20-23
There is a small island in the Gulf of Mexico that calls me back from time to time to enjoy the splendor of God’s creation. There on this tiny strip of land, I find respite for my soul.
There’s something magical about rising early, just before daylight, and heading for the beach, barefoot, with the high anticipation of watching God paint one of His special sunrises.
It takes about an hour for Him to unveil the full picture. The sky is His canvas; and the paint is the lavish morning colors in another glorious sunrise. They are different every day. I’m not sure how He does that—seems a sunrise is a sunrise—but not on this island. There, God paints a different one every single day!
As I walk along the beach, I marvel at the skill of a small bird (called a Skimmer) that flies just above the rolling waves skimming the water for its daily food. I always catch my breath fearful a wave will take one of the small creatures under, but it never does. It’s as though they have sensors in their wings. You see, God created them to catch their food just before daylight, skimming along just above the water line, beak in the water, snatching tiny aquatic delights for their breakfast.
I can hardly wait for evening to enjoy dinner at a quaint little restaurant that floats on the water on the opposite side of the island. I order my food, find a table next to the water, and watch as a different specie of bird dives deep in the channel for its food. Again, I find myself holding my breath, watching in anticipation for it to surface.
Another kind of bird flies near the restaurant deck, hoping someone will toss it food. This group of beggars hangs out just beyond a boundary of fishing line stretched to keep them from annoying the paying customers while the birds vie for “people food.” We’ve all been annoyed by these birds from time to time.
Still another large bird stands in the shallow water across the channel waiting for its next meal to swim by. The herons stab fish with their pointy beaks, holding it until it stops wiggling; then they toss it in the air, catching it so that it enters their open mouth head first—they swallow it whole. Each fish takes several minutes to swallow. They will eat three fish each time they feed and no more (some of us need a dose of their self control).
Enjoying these sights, I ponder the different ways God has designed these birds to feed; the way the undulating ocean waves continue to roll in, and even the sand fleas that sometimes swarm and bite the back of my legs.
I am smitten by the fact that all of these things do what God has created them to do—without question. Day after day the birds feed in their own way, the sand fleas bite, and the waves just keep rolling in. There is no question and no choice.
The heron does not decide to dive in the channel for its food, nor does the skimmer decide to stand in shallow water and stab a fish or dive in the channel for shrimp. Each of them knows the way they are designed to live—and they do it.
The sun doesn’t make the decision to shine at night, nor does the moon decide to shine during the day or not shine at all. All of God’s creation does the thing for which they were created—with one exception.
God has given humans a choice—to do what we were created to do—or not!
The LORD has said, “Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made” (Isaiah 43:7).
We humans have the awesome privilege of choosing to glorify our Creator when we do what we are created to do. It is a daily choice to live for Christ—or live for self. Do what the Bible tells me to do—or do what I want to do. Serve others—serve self.
But we belong to Elohim, the Almighty God. We have been purchased by the precious blood of His Son, and our life is to be lived in worship of Him.
The great Bible Teacher, Kay Arthur said, “His Name is Elohim, the Almighty God, our Creator. We have been created for His glory, for His pleasure. Our life is to be lived in such a way as to reflect Him. To show the world the character of God, His love, His peace, His mercy, His gentleness. We are to live for Him, to accomplish His will. To miss this is to miss fulfillment. It is to have existed rather than to have lived.”2
The question is—do you want to live?
“I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Everyday I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.” — Psalm 145:1, 2; 150:6
Further Study
Philippians 2
Philippians 4:1-9
Job 38-42
Isaiah 42:5-9
Isaiah 43:1-5
Isaiah 45:2-7
Daniel 2:20-23
Monday, August 10, 2009
God Prepares a Lavish Table
You provide delicious food for me in the presence of my enemies. You have welcomed me as your guest; blessings overflow! (Psalm 23:5 The Book).
I love entertaining. My husband, Glenn, and I used to have get-togethers, with upwards of thirty people in our yard and on our deck, sitting at tables under trees overlooking the river. It was wonderful. It was such fun preparing everything so that every guest would enjoy themselves.
Glenn would make sure the yard was lovely and the deck clean. He would also help me strategically organize the tables so that guests who wanted to have private conversations could do so. Other tables we arranged close enough together so that there was great fellowship among the guests.
It was fun making sure there were a variety of things to drink, salty snacks and sweet snacks. Sour dough French bread prepared in a variety of ways, and an assortment of cheeses and crackers were always delightful.
Dinner came later after everyone had plenty of time for catching up. We always prepared a varied assortment of foods to satisfy even the guest who might be a bit picky. . . .
Of course, we always made a couple of flavors of homemade ice cream. And just in case someone didn’t care for ice cream, we had a couple of other luscious desserts.
I must confess, I never gave one thought to whether a guest needed all of what I was preparing. My objective was always that there was an array of foods and that every guest had a wonderful time. When departure time came they left replete—lavished with good and sumptuous things.
Ah, those times were so enjoyable. . . . But you know, just as I enjoyed those times of entertaining, God enjoys entertaining us.
He provides delicious food for us and welcomes us as His guest! (Psalm 23:5)
Think about it . . . the Sovereign Ruler—Creator and Sustainer of all things, Elohim—entertains us lavishly. We are His special guest. And He welcomes us with open arms!
My mind cannot wrap itself around that. I wish I had a better grasp of the English language in order to expound on the wonder of it. . . .
The KJV of Psalm 23:5 is wonderful because it tells us that God not only provides this lavish feast—He prepares it—Himself!
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
The word anoint literally means to fatten, hence to satisfy abundantly.
Not only does the Lord prepare a lavish feast for us, He anoints our head with oil. Remember when the sinful woman anointed Jesus in the house of Simon the Pharisee? (Luke 7:36-50). It was a lavish thing she did.
It was the custom to anoint the head of special guests. Everyday guests were not necessarily anointed, but they were greeted with a kiss and their feet were washed.
If you wanted to be lavish with a special guest, you would anoint them with oil. That’s what the sinful woman did. Her heart was so full of love for Jesus that she lavished Him with very expensive oil.
That’s the thought in Psalm 23:5. King David is saying that God prepares the finest table for us, a very lavish table.
How cool is that?
For God to send His Son to die for my sins is amazing indeed and far exceeds anything my simple mind can grasp. But for Him to personally prepare a table for me—to lavishly prepare a feast just for me—wow! That both humbles me and fills my spirit with an awe that simple words cannot express.
Keep in mind, this is not just the absence of need, or even want. No, God makes sure our cup overflows. This is not just a cup that is full, but a cup overflowing with His goodness so that it will hold nothing else. And He does it just for us. Each of us is His special guest.
This brings to mind Numbers 6:24-26:
“The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
The LORD turn His face toward you
and give you peace.”
King David sang, “You give me your shield of victory; you stoop down to make me great. You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn.” (Samuel 22:36-37)
And so I ask, dear friend, are you at peace?
Is your soul at rest?
Are you basking in God’s love and provision?
Are you enjoying the table God has lavishly prepared just for you?
Life is a one-time trip through this world that will soon be over. At best your life will last seventy, or perhaps eighty years. Wouldn’t it be great to view life as God does, a lavish dinner party, with Him as your Host? He is exactly that.
And face it, since He created all of this and heaven too, and He knitted you together just as He wants you, don’t you think that He knows exactly what you love and need to prepare you to live with Him in the place He is building just for you?
Are you willing to settle for a hot dog or leftovers when God has a lavish feast prepared especially for you? I want all that He has to offer, all that He has prepared specifically for me. He knows what I love and He provides lavishly for me.
I have seen some of His most remarkable creations. Spring flowers in the Ozarks. Beautiful colors as the fall chill prepares the trees for winter. Winter blizzards with snow-flakes, not one of which is identical. That in itself is amazing.
I’ve watched as God painted a lavish sunrise so beautiful it took my breath away. I walked along in awe of His majesty, and since often I’m the only one walking on the beach, the wonder of it is that He is painting it just for me.
I’ve seen ocean water so clear and beautiful that a friend remarked, “I thought water like this was just painted in brochures, I didn’t know it actually existed.”
I’ve seen fish so strange and beautiful they had to be uniquely designed by a God Who is lavish with His creation, and Whose imagination far surpasses what any mere human could think up.
I’ve gazed on the Grand Teton Mountains, and caught my breath as I peered over the railing at the Colorado River rushing through the Grand Canyon.
And I’ve been a bit claustrophobic, but enraptured, several stories beneath the ground exploring various caverns across America, that God carved out just for our enjoyment.
The wonder and majesty of Niagara Falls is unparalleled. Only God could design something so powerful and awesome.
Or how about the Great Gorge a few miles down stream, where all that water flowing from the falls has been channeled into a much narrower river? The river makes a sudden double bend and the sound made by the force of the water is deafening.
Only God could do that.
I could go on and talk about the Indian Paint Pots and the Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone National Park, or the incredible wildlife in Denali National Park in Alaska.
What about the majestic White Cliffs of Dover in England, or the beautiful green countryside of Ireland?
Yes, the same God Who created all of the wonders of our world just for our enjoyment prepares a lavish table for us and anoints our head with oil. Wow!
Shouldn’t we trust in the God Who has designed and created these things? Since He created such magnificence just for our enjoyment, shouldn’t we trust in what He personally prepares for our life while we’re here on this earth?
Just imagine what He is designing for our eternal life? My mind goes blank and I’m at a loss for words—that alone is a wonder!
But I do know that while I’m here, I want to dine at the table of the life He has prepared because I know He lavishes His creation with what He knows we need.
One day we will get to behold this God Who is so wonderful our finite mind cannot fathom Him. We will get to thank Him for the life He prepared uniquely for us. And then we will see our cup as He sees it—overflowing with His wonderful things.
Let’s not miss it, my friend. We get one shot at this life of abundance God has prepared for us.
And if all of this were not enough, we have a standing invitation to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb . . . and-it-will-be-incredible (Revelation 19:7-9).
Imagine dinner with all of the saints of the ages. . . . The fellowship will be thrilling.
What questions will we ask. . . ? But the One Who will dominate our focus will be Jesus. We will get to see Him face to face, kiss the nail-scarred hands, and bow on our knees and cry,
“HOLY, HOLY, HOLY. . . .”
I can hardly wait. The thought takes my breath away.
Are you enjoying the bounty God has prepared specifically for you?
God has prepared a lavish table—are you hungry?
Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35)
He got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. (John 13:4-5)
Recommended Reading
Psalm 23
Psalm 52:8-9
Psalm 89:1-26
Psalm 91:14-16
Psalm 92:10
Isaiah 43:1-4
Isaiah 58:8, 11, 14
Isaiah 61:10
I love entertaining. My husband, Glenn, and I used to have get-togethers, with upwards of thirty people in our yard and on our deck, sitting at tables under trees overlooking the river. It was wonderful. It was such fun preparing everything so that every guest would enjoy themselves.
Glenn would make sure the yard was lovely and the deck clean. He would also help me strategically organize the tables so that guests who wanted to have private conversations could do so. Other tables we arranged close enough together so that there was great fellowship among the guests.
It was fun making sure there were a variety of things to drink, salty snacks and sweet snacks. Sour dough French bread prepared in a variety of ways, and an assortment of cheeses and crackers were always delightful.
Dinner came later after everyone had plenty of time for catching up. We always prepared a varied assortment of foods to satisfy even the guest who might be a bit picky. . . .
Of course, we always made a couple of flavors of homemade ice cream. And just in case someone didn’t care for ice cream, we had a couple of other luscious desserts.
I must confess, I never gave one thought to whether a guest needed all of what I was preparing. My objective was always that there was an array of foods and that every guest had a wonderful time. When departure time came they left replete—lavished with good and sumptuous things.
Ah, those times were so enjoyable. . . . But you know, just as I enjoyed those times of entertaining, God enjoys entertaining us.
He provides delicious food for us and welcomes us as His guest! (Psalm 23:5)
Think about it . . . the Sovereign Ruler—Creator and Sustainer of all things, Elohim—entertains us lavishly. We are His special guest. And He welcomes us with open arms!
My mind cannot wrap itself around that. I wish I had a better grasp of the English language in order to expound on the wonder of it. . . .
The KJV of Psalm 23:5 is wonderful because it tells us that God not only provides this lavish feast—He prepares it—Himself!
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
The word anoint literally means to fatten, hence to satisfy abundantly.
Not only does the Lord prepare a lavish feast for us, He anoints our head with oil. Remember when the sinful woman anointed Jesus in the house of Simon the Pharisee? (Luke 7:36-50). It was a lavish thing she did.
It was the custom to anoint the head of special guests. Everyday guests were not necessarily anointed, but they were greeted with a kiss and their feet were washed.
If you wanted to be lavish with a special guest, you would anoint them with oil. That’s what the sinful woman did. Her heart was so full of love for Jesus that she lavished Him with very expensive oil.
That’s the thought in Psalm 23:5. King David is saying that God prepares the finest table for us, a very lavish table.
How cool is that?
For God to send His Son to die for my sins is amazing indeed and far exceeds anything my simple mind can grasp. But for Him to personally prepare a table for me—to lavishly prepare a feast just for me—wow! That both humbles me and fills my spirit with an awe that simple words cannot express.
Keep in mind, this is not just the absence of need, or even want. No, God makes sure our cup overflows. This is not just a cup that is full, but a cup overflowing with His goodness so that it will hold nothing else. And He does it just for us. Each of us is His special guest.
This brings to mind Numbers 6:24-26:
“The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
The LORD turn His face toward you
and give you peace.”
King David sang, “You give me your shield of victory; you stoop down to make me great. You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn.” (Samuel 22:36-37)
And so I ask, dear friend, are you at peace?
Is your soul at rest?
Are you basking in God’s love and provision?
Are you enjoying the table God has lavishly prepared just for you?
Life is a one-time trip through this world that will soon be over. At best your life will last seventy, or perhaps eighty years. Wouldn’t it be great to view life as God does, a lavish dinner party, with Him as your Host? He is exactly that.
And face it, since He created all of this and heaven too, and He knitted you together just as He wants you, don’t you think that He knows exactly what you love and need to prepare you to live with Him in the place He is building just for you?
Are you willing to settle for a hot dog or leftovers when God has a lavish feast prepared especially for you? I want all that He has to offer, all that He has prepared specifically for me. He knows what I love and He provides lavishly for me.
I have seen some of His most remarkable creations. Spring flowers in the Ozarks. Beautiful colors as the fall chill prepares the trees for winter. Winter blizzards with snow-flakes, not one of which is identical. That in itself is amazing.
I’ve watched as God painted a lavish sunrise so beautiful it took my breath away. I walked along in awe of His majesty, and since often I’m the only one walking on the beach, the wonder of it is that He is painting it just for me.
I’ve seen ocean water so clear and beautiful that a friend remarked, “I thought water like this was just painted in brochures, I didn’t know it actually existed.”
I’ve seen fish so strange and beautiful they had to be uniquely designed by a God Who is lavish with His creation, and Whose imagination far surpasses what any mere human could think up.
I’ve gazed on the Grand Teton Mountains, and caught my breath as I peered over the railing at the Colorado River rushing through the Grand Canyon.
And I’ve been a bit claustrophobic, but enraptured, several stories beneath the ground exploring various caverns across America, that God carved out just for our enjoyment.
The wonder and majesty of Niagara Falls is unparalleled. Only God could design something so powerful and awesome.
Or how about the Great Gorge a few miles down stream, where all that water flowing from the falls has been channeled into a much narrower river? The river makes a sudden double bend and the sound made by the force of the water is deafening.
Only God could do that.
I could go on and talk about the Indian Paint Pots and the Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone National Park, or the incredible wildlife in Denali National Park in Alaska.
What about the majestic White Cliffs of Dover in England, or the beautiful green countryside of Ireland?
Yes, the same God Who created all of the wonders of our world just for our enjoyment prepares a lavish table for us and anoints our head with oil. Wow!
Shouldn’t we trust in the God Who has designed and created these things? Since He created such magnificence just for our enjoyment, shouldn’t we trust in what He personally prepares for our life while we’re here on this earth?
Just imagine what He is designing for our eternal life? My mind goes blank and I’m at a loss for words—that alone is a wonder!
But I do know that while I’m here, I want to dine at the table of the life He has prepared because I know He lavishes His creation with what He knows we need.
One day we will get to behold this God Who is so wonderful our finite mind cannot fathom Him. We will get to thank Him for the life He prepared uniquely for us. And then we will see our cup as He sees it—overflowing with His wonderful things.
Let’s not miss it, my friend. We get one shot at this life of abundance God has prepared for us.
And if all of this were not enough, we have a standing invitation to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb . . . and-it-will-be-incredible (Revelation 19:7-9).
Imagine dinner with all of the saints of the ages. . . . The fellowship will be thrilling.
What questions will we ask. . . ? But the One Who will dominate our focus will be Jesus. We will get to see Him face to face, kiss the nail-scarred hands, and bow on our knees and cry,
“HOLY, HOLY, HOLY. . . .”
I can hardly wait. The thought takes my breath away.
Are you enjoying the bounty God has prepared specifically for you?
God has prepared a lavish table—are you hungry?
Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35)
He got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. (John 13:4-5)
Recommended Reading
Psalm 23
Psalm 52:8-9
Psalm 89:1-26
Psalm 91:14-16
Psalm 92:10
Isaiah 43:1-4
Isaiah 58:8, 11, 14
Isaiah 61:10
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Friends
“O LORD, you have searched me and you know me” (Psalm 139:1).
I had lunch a few days ago with a dear friend. I could say “old friend,” but being female I’ll refrain from saying “old.”
I’ve known Pat for over forty years. Actually, I met her when I met my husband’s family. Her family had been long-term friends with his family. It has been a wonderful relationship through the years.
We don’t get together often, but when we do, we chatter for as many hours as we can glean from our schedule that day, knowing that it has to last until we meet again.
There is no want for words. No silences in the conversation. We pick up on phrases from each other and just continue talking.
It’s not that we necessarily always agree. In fact, it is common for us to disagree on various topics—and we cover a plethora of topics during our time together. But we disagree amicably, stating our view, with the other stating their view, and then moving on to another topic.
She is a dear friend that I value very highly. I think the length of time I’ve known her contributes greatly to that value. No cover-ups. No hiding anything. She knows me well.
I have another dear friend whom I’ve known for over thirty years. Lorna, too, is a highly valued friend. She is a completely different personality than Pat.
But the same wonderful conversations develop between us. Again, there is no want for words.
No lapses in conversation. No silences. We don’t always agree on every topic either, but there is a mutual love and respect between us that is of infinite worth.
Both of these women have brought something very special to my life. I am blessed, and I am better for having known them. Both of these women have known me long before I accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord.
They knew me when. . . .
Both of these women know me so well that either of them would be able to defend my character and my morals. Because they know how I think, they would be able to defend my thought process.
If they were to hear something about me that was untrue, they would be able to say, “Oh, no, I don’t believe that, Peggy would not do that.”
Likewise I would be able to defend either of these women. I know them well. I know how they think. I know their integrity. I know what they would and would not do in any given circumstance.
Now, I’m not naïve. I know there are things within each of our hearts that we can never know about another person. But I have known these women for a long time, and I’ve watched how they’ve weathered their many storms, and they have watched as I’ve weathered mine.
Watching each other persevere in very trying circumstances through the years has established a respect for the character of the other. Wonderful!
I am so fortunate to have these two women in my life.
I’ve read that if we have one true friend, a bosom friend, a kindred spirit, one who knows us and loves us “warts and all,” then we are truly blessed. Since I have two such friends, I am indeed abundantly blessed.
Did I mention they are “dear friends?”
And then I have my Best Friend. I haven’t known Him as long as I’ve known Lorna and Pat, but He has known me since before the creation of the world. (Ephesians 1:4).
Actually I know Him better than I know Lorna and Pat. The reason I know Him better in a shorter period of time is because He has written all about Himself in His personal Love Letter to me. Not only has He told me all about Himself, but He tells me all about me, too, warts and all (Hebrews 4:12).
Again, there is no want for conversation between us. I don’t even have to call Him on the phone or meet Him for lunch. I just have to think, and He knows exactly what I’m thinking.
“Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely . . .” (Psalm 139: 4).
The amazing thing is that He can and does read my mind even before I know the thought is there, and He loves me anyway. Don’t be shocked. He loves you too, in spite of some of the things you think!
One of the wonderful things about good friends is they never intrude. They value each other’s space and privacy, so they don’t tire of one another.
Because Jesus is my very Best Friend, I spend a great deal more time with Him than I spend with anyone else. Of course, He spends every second of every day 24/7 with me and He never tires of me, nor do I tire of Him. He never gets bored with our conversation, nor do I.
I want to know everything about Him. So, I’ve set apart time each morning to spend with Him. I talk to Him throughout the day. I study a great deal. I discuss everything with Him. And I do nothing without first consulting Him.
The reason I value Him so highly and spend so much time with Him is because He loves me and values me highly (Ephesians 1:1-6). In fact, He loves me enough to die for me—and He did—for you too.
Think about it. Before we were ever born, God died for us.
He created a perfect world. We sinned. (I can say “we” because if Adam and Eve had not sinned, and the world would have been perfect down through the centuries, when I was born I would have been the one who sinned—and so would you.)
But God loved us so much that He left His beautiful heaven to come to earth and live as one of us and die for our sin. There was only one way for us to get to heaven, and that was for us to be perfect every minute of every day of every year of our lifetime here on this earth.
Since we can’t be perfect for even a few minutes, the likelihood of us getting to heaven was nil. So God did it for us. Heaven is frosting on our already delicious cake.
Knowing God is without equal.
As much as I value my friends, and they value me, earthly relationships pale in comparison with our relationship with Jesus, our Best Friend.
Of course, the wonder of my Best Friend is that He died for me so that He could have me with Him forever—the same reason He died for you.
But of nearly equal importance is how much He loves us, knows each of us, searches our inmost spirit, and then provides exactly what we need. How amazing is that?
Think about it.
The Best Friend we have knows us from the inside out. We can tell Him anything—because He knows it already.
For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account (Hebrews 4:12-13).
In this world there are many sorrows, hurts, pain, disillusionment, rejection, and the list goes on and on. But we have a Best Friend Who lives on the inside of us, Who constantly searches our spirit, and then communes with God what He sees there (Romans 8:27), and then takes appropriate measures to satisfy our deepest desires.
How cool is that?
There are times when I don’t know what I want. I try to think things through as best I can with my limited knowledge. But when it’s all said and done, I rely on my Best Friend to search me, cleanse me, purify me and make me whole.
He knows all things, controls all things, and His love is infinitely greater than we can fathom, we can depend upon Him to work out our lives for our good and His glory.
After all, that is why we were created (Isaiah 43:7).
My Best Friend knows me better than anyone else, even my long-term friends. He knows my character, my morals, and He knows how my mind works.
He defends me against the enemy, and He is always interceding for me (Hebrews 7:25). He is my Refuge, my Shield and my Rampart (Psalm 91).
He never listens to gossip. He always knows truth. He doesn’t always agree with me, but when He shares His view, I always agree with Him. What a wonderful Best Friend. I rest in His Presence.
What about you? Do you know my Best Friend? How much time do you spend with Him? Is the time you spend with Him commensurate with someone you would claim to be your best friend?
Do you read His Love Letter to you? It is filled with wonderful truths about Him that cannot be gleaned any other way. Do you remain in constant prayer all day—every day with your Best Friend?
Are you resting in Him?
Remember, life isn’t about what is going on around you that is tangible and temporal. Life is simply the means by which we establish our destiny with our Best Friend.
Just a thought, but if you don’t want to spend time with Him here on earth—are you really sure you want to go to heaven?
Heaven will be all about Him.
“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being” (Revelation 4:11).
Loving His Presence now is evidence that we have made our reservation with Him—forever.
Are you anticipating eternity with Him?
Don’t let anyone or anything cause you to lose your eternal focus. And don’t let anyone or anything intrude upon the most valuable relationship of life.
Jesus, your Best Friend. Your closest Friend. He is your Advocate, your Defender, your Protector, your Shield, and He is your Refuge.
He is the very best part of life—don’t miss Him. Don’t settle for the mundane and mediocre of this life. Don’t settle for a bologna sandwich when you can have Fillet Mignon.
So, do you know my best friend?
You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name (John 15:14-16).
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 3:1-6
Hebrews 4:14-16
Hebrews 8:1-6
Hebrews 9:11-15
Hebrews 10:19-39
Hebrews 12:1-11
Hebrews13:15-16
I had lunch a few days ago with a dear friend. I could say “old friend,” but being female I’ll refrain from saying “old.”
I’ve known Pat for over forty years. Actually, I met her when I met my husband’s family. Her family had been long-term friends with his family. It has been a wonderful relationship through the years.
We don’t get together often, but when we do, we chatter for as many hours as we can glean from our schedule that day, knowing that it has to last until we meet again.
There is no want for words. No silences in the conversation. We pick up on phrases from each other and just continue talking.
It’s not that we necessarily always agree. In fact, it is common for us to disagree on various topics—and we cover a plethora of topics during our time together. But we disagree amicably, stating our view, with the other stating their view, and then moving on to another topic.
She is a dear friend that I value very highly. I think the length of time I’ve known her contributes greatly to that value. No cover-ups. No hiding anything. She knows me well.
I have another dear friend whom I’ve known for over thirty years. Lorna, too, is a highly valued friend. She is a completely different personality than Pat.
But the same wonderful conversations develop between us. Again, there is no want for words.
No lapses in conversation. No silences. We don’t always agree on every topic either, but there is a mutual love and respect between us that is of infinite worth.
Both of these women have brought something very special to my life. I am blessed, and I am better for having known them. Both of these women have known me long before I accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord.
They knew me when. . . .
Both of these women know me so well that either of them would be able to defend my character and my morals. Because they know how I think, they would be able to defend my thought process.
If they were to hear something about me that was untrue, they would be able to say, “Oh, no, I don’t believe that, Peggy would not do that.”
Likewise I would be able to defend either of these women. I know them well. I know how they think. I know their integrity. I know what they would and would not do in any given circumstance.
Now, I’m not naïve. I know there are things within each of our hearts that we can never know about another person. But I have known these women for a long time, and I’ve watched how they’ve weathered their many storms, and they have watched as I’ve weathered mine.
Watching each other persevere in very trying circumstances through the years has established a respect for the character of the other. Wonderful!
I am so fortunate to have these two women in my life.
I’ve read that if we have one true friend, a bosom friend, a kindred spirit, one who knows us and loves us “warts and all,” then we are truly blessed. Since I have two such friends, I am indeed abundantly blessed.
Did I mention they are “dear friends?”
And then I have my Best Friend. I haven’t known Him as long as I’ve known Lorna and Pat, but He has known me since before the creation of the world. (Ephesians 1:4).
Actually I know Him better than I know Lorna and Pat. The reason I know Him better in a shorter period of time is because He has written all about Himself in His personal Love Letter to me. Not only has He told me all about Himself, but He tells me all about me, too, warts and all (Hebrews 4:12).
Again, there is no want for conversation between us. I don’t even have to call Him on the phone or meet Him for lunch. I just have to think, and He knows exactly what I’m thinking.
“Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely . . .” (Psalm 139: 4).
The amazing thing is that He can and does read my mind even before I know the thought is there, and He loves me anyway. Don’t be shocked. He loves you too, in spite of some of the things you think!
One of the wonderful things about good friends is they never intrude. They value each other’s space and privacy, so they don’t tire of one another.
Because Jesus is my very Best Friend, I spend a great deal more time with Him than I spend with anyone else. Of course, He spends every second of every day 24/7 with me and He never tires of me, nor do I tire of Him. He never gets bored with our conversation, nor do I.
I want to know everything about Him. So, I’ve set apart time each morning to spend with Him. I talk to Him throughout the day. I study a great deal. I discuss everything with Him. And I do nothing without first consulting Him.
The reason I value Him so highly and spend so much time with Him is because He loves me and values me highly (Ephesians 1:1-6). In fact, He loves me enough to die for me—and He did—for you too.
Think about it. Before we were ever born, God died for us.
He created a perfect world. We sinned. (I can say “we” because if Adam and Eve had not sinned, and the world would have been perfect down through the centuries, when I was born I would have been the one who sinned—and so would you.)
But God loved us so much that He left His beautiful heaven to come to earth and live as one of us and die for our sin. There was only one way for us to get to heaven, and that was for us to be perfect every minute of every day of every year of our lifetime here on this earth.
Since we can’t be perfect for even a few minutes, the likelihood of us getting to heaven was nil. So God did it for us. Heaven is frosting on our already delicious cake.
Knowing God is without equal.
As much as I value my friends, and they value me, earthly relationships pale in comparison with our relationship with Jesus, our Best Friend.
Of course, the wonder of my Best Friend is that He died for me so that He could have me with Him forever—the same reason He died for you.
But of nearly equal importance is how much He loves us, knows each of us, searches our inmost spirit, and then provides exactly what we need. How amazing is that?
Think about it.
The Best Friend we have knows us from the inside out. We can tell Him anything—because He knows it already.
For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account (Hebrews 4:12-13).
In this world there are many sorrows, hurts, pain, disillusionment, rejection, and the list goes on and on. But we have a Best Friend Who lives on the inside of us, Who constantly searches our spirit, and then communes with God what He sees there (Romans 8:27), and then takes appropriate measures to satisfy our deepest desires.
How cool is that?
There are times when I don’t know what I want. I try to think things through as best I can with my limited knowledge. But when it’s all said and done, I rely on my Best Friend to search me, cleanse me, purify me and make me whole.
He knows all things, controls all things, and His love is infinitely greater than we can fathom, we can depend upon Him to work out our lives for our good and His glory.
After all, that is why we were created (Isaiah 43:7).
My Best Friend knows me better than anyone else, even my long-term friends. He knows my character, my morals, and He knows how my mind works.
He defends me against the enemy, and He is always interceding for me (Hebrews 7:25). He is my Refuge, my Shield and my Rampart (Psalm 91).
He never listens to gossip. He always knows truth. He doesn’t always agree with me, but when He shares His view, I always agree with Him. What a wonderful Best Friend. I rest in His Presence.
What about you? Do you know my Best Friend? How much time do you spend with Him? Is the time you spend with Him commensurate with someone you would claim to be your best friend?
Do you read His Love Letter to you? It is filled with wonderful truths about Him that cannot be gleaned any other way. Do you remain in constant prayer all day—every day with your Best Friend?
Are you resting in Him?
Remember, life isn’t about what is going on around you that is tangible and temporal. Life is simply the means by which we establish our destiny with our Best Friend.
Just a thought, but if you don’t want to spend time with Him here on earth—are you really sure you want to go to heaven?
Heaven will be all about Him.
“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being” (Revelation 4:11).
Loving His Presence now is evidence that we have made our reservation with Him—forever.
Are you anticipating eternity with Him?
Don’t let anyone or anything cause you to lose your eternal focus. And don’t let anyone or anything intrude upon the most valuable relationship of life.
Jesus, your Best Friend. Your closest Friend. He is your Advocate, your Defender, your Protector, your Shield, and He is your Refuge.
He is the very best part of life—don’t miss Him. Don’t settle for the mundane and mediocre of this life. Don’t settle for a bologna sandwich when you can have Fillet Mignon.
So, do you know my best friend?
You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name (John 15:14-16).
Recommended Reading
Hebrews 3:1-6
Hebrews 4:14-16
Hebrews 8:1-6
Hebrews 9:11-15
Hebrews 10:19-39
Hebrews 12:1-11
Hebrews13:15-16
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
The Cross
“If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” — Matthew 16:24
The story is told about a man who went to the Lord and complained that his cross was too heavy to bear. The Lord showed him a room where He stored the crosses and told the man to choose the cross of his liking. The man searched and searched all around the room but all of the crosses were large and cumbersome. Finally, completely dejected, he spotted a small cross near the door where he had entered. Hurrying over to it he exclaimed, “Lord, I’ll take this one!” “My child,” the Lord said gently, “that is the cross you brought in.” Author unknown
By its very definition a cross is cursed. It is difficult. It is cumbersome. It is hurtful. And we will bend under the load of it unless we are following our Lord. Reread what Jesus said, “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” The cross then, is the denial of our self, the denial of anything and everything that prevents us from following Christ. How difficult that is unless we die to self—daily (I Corinthians 15:31).
In the context of the verse, Jesus had just told His disciples He was going to die, and Peter had taken Him aside and rebuked Him. Peter loved Jesus and he didn’t want Him to suffer. Peter was trying to get Jesus to bypass the cross and choose the easy way. But Jesus chose the cross, and Hebrews 12:2 tells us He endured it with joy—just for us.
So, if Jesus endured the cross for us with joy, should it not be our joy to endure our cross for Him? What then does that look like walked out in shoe leather? It is the denial of our self. When someone hurts us, we deny our self the quick retort that immediately springs to mind. We allow others to go before us. We think of others before we think of ourselves. We think how they will feel if we do or say what we are thinking—and we deny ourselves—and love them in return.
Simply put, we walk through life with a gentle spirit. We settle our spirit down so that our outward walk manifests the quiet spirit that is within. This does not come overnight nor does it come easily. It comes with prayer and practice. When we fail, we ask forgiveness and begin again in the strength of the Lord.
Denying ourselves and taking up our own cross is admitting that we are no longer our own person. We now belong to Christ. We are a gift from our Father to His Son (John 17:6). We were bought at a very high price—God’s only Son. Since we no longer own ourselves, we are not entitled to defend ourselves. We have no rights. Everything we have belongs to God. Indeed, all of our being belongs to God. We “follow after Christ” and it is up to Him to take care of us, give us strength to carry our cross, feed us, clothe us, and provide all that we need for today (Matthew 6:25-34).
For the joy that is set before you, pleasing your Father, take up your cross today and follow after Christ. And tonight take anything that has hurt you and everything that you have overcome, and offer it up to God as a wonderful sacrificial bouquet. And then, lay your head down on your pillow and rest, knowing that your life today has been a pleasing aroma to your Lord (Exodus 29:18).
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
— Matthew 5:3
Recommended Reading
Matthew 10:37-39
Romans 8:5-11; 12:1-2
Philippians 2:1-11; 3:7-14
Revelation 22:12
Copyright © 2009 by Peggy Britt. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.
The story is told about a man who went to the Lord and complained that his cross was too heavy to bear. The Lord showed him a room where He stored the crosses and told the man to choose the cross of his liking. The man searched and searched all around the room but all of the crosses were large and cumbersome. Finally, completely dejected, he spotted a small cross near the door where he had entered. Hurrying over to it he exclaimed, “Lord, I’ll take this one!” “My child,” the Lord said gently, “that is the cross you brought in.” Author unknown
By its very definition a cross is cursed. It is difficult. It is cumbersome. It is hurtful. And we will bend under the load of it unless we are following our Lord. Reread what Jesus said, “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” The cross then, is the denial of our self, the denial of anything and everything that prevents us from following Christ. How difficult that is unless we die to self—daily (I Corinthians 15:31).
In the context of the verse, Jesus had just told His disciples He was going to die, and Peter had taken Him aside and rebuked Him. Peter loved Jesus and he didn’t want Him to suffer. Peter was trying to get Jesus to bypass the cross and choose the easy way. But Jesus chose the cross, and Hebrews 12:2 tells us He endured it with joy—just for us.
So, if Jesus endured the cross for us with joy, should it not be our joy to endure our cross for Him? What then does that look like walked out in shoe leather? It is the denial of our self. When someone hurts us, we deny our self the quick retort that immediately springs to mind. We allow others to go before us. We think of others before we think of ourselves. We think how they will feel if we do or say what we are thinking—and we deny ourselves—and love them in return.
Simply put, we walk through life with a gentle spirit. We settle our spirit down so that our outward walk manifests the quiet spirit that is within. This does not come overnight nor does it come easily. It comes with prayer and practice. When we fail, we ask forgiveness and begin again in the strength of the Lord.
Denying ourselves and taking up our own cross is admitting that we are no longer our own person. We now belong to Christ. We are a gift from our Father to His Son (John 17:6). We were bought at a very high price—God’s only Son. Since we no longer own ourselves, we are not entitled to defend ourselves. We have no rights. Everything we have belongs to God. Indeed, all of our being belongs to God. We “follow after Christ” and it is up to Him to take care of us, give us strength to carry our cross, feed us, clothe us, and provide all that we need for today (Matthew 6:25-34).
For the joy that is set before you, pleasing your Father, take up your cross today and follow after Christ. And tonight take anything that has hurt you and everything that you have overcome, and offer it up to God as a wonderful sacrificial bouquet. And then, lay your head down on your pillow and rest, knowing that your life today has been a pleasing aroma to your Lord (Exodus 29:18).
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
— Matthew 5:3
Recommended Reading
Matthew 10:37-39
Romans 8:5-11; 12:1-2
Philippians 2:1-11; 3:7-14
Revelation 22:12
Copyright © 2009 by Peggy Britt. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.
Monday, July 20, 2009
The Prisoner
“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” (Ephesians 4:1)
The cell is small, cold and dark—barely wide enough to lie down—not high enough to stand up. The dampness penetrates the old man’s bones. He shivers, suffering greatly, deprived of even the barest necessities.
The food is almost inedible, gruel mostly. Moldy bread when he is lucky. Nothing to drink. No coat. No blanket. No pen or parchments. Deserted by friends and family, it is dangerous to be seen with him now. The dungeon at best—death sentence at worst.
Paul, the prisoner of Christ, is alone.
He is counting on Timothy, his son in the faith, to come for a visit. Timothy will bring his coat and his parchments, and John Mark. He can hardly wait to see them.
Paul is lonely. He has had only the Roman Elite Guard for company, to whom he is chained 24/7. There are the other prisoners, a few of whom are still violent, but many of whom are converted now. If you are fortunate enough to be in Paul’s company you will learn about his Lord—the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“Will Timothy and Mark make it before I go?” he ponders audibly, longing to see them one last time. The Lord has made it clear to Paul that he will soon make his final move—to heaven.
Ah, the blessedness of that thought. He’s been there—to the third heaven. Saw inexpressible things. Things that mortal man cannot utter (II Corinthians 12:1-10). Any day now he will go to be with the Lord, and-he-can-hardly-wait. To see the Lord Jesus and hear the angels sing again . . . ah, the rapture of it.
He shivers again from the cold and dampness.
He has nearly finished his race. He has written the letters the Lord Jesus instructed him to write. He has corrected doctrine, encouraged the brethren, and rebuked those who were leaving grace and returning to Law. He has reminded everyone to live a life worthy of the high calling of Christ Jesus.
Yeah, he has completed his course.
Life is behind him now. He will soon be poured out like a drink offering. The anticipation is welling up in his heart. Any day now, he-will-see-Jesus. He would not have to return to this old world again. This time, he will remain in the Presence of the Lord—forever.
He shivers again. This time it is not from the cold, but from the sheer glory of knowing that he will soon leave his old body behind and make his final move.
He begins to hum. Then he breaks out in a song. The other prisoners come to full consciousness. Even though Paul’s voice is old and raspy now, it sounds beautiful to them. They can hardly believe what they’re hearing. This old man is a Christian. All Christians have a death sentence on their head. . . .
Why on earth is he singing?
The guards and the prisoners try to join in. They are new to the Way, so they don’t know the words—but they try to hum along.
They can’t quite believe how joyful he is. But they know this old gentleman, and they have learned to love him and admire his amazing courage. They are now personally acquainted with Paul’s God.
The prisoner of Christ is ready to go home.
What about you, my friend—are you ready to go home? Have you lived a life worthy of the calling you have received? If today was your last day on earth, would you be able to meet the Lord Jesus with a clear conscience that you had completed all that He had given you to do?
Are you a prisoner of Christ—seeking His kingdom—first? We all belong to someone. Whose prisoner are you? Who pulls your chain? Someone has you shackled and firmly in their grip.
Is it Christ Jesus? Or is it the enemy?
You can tell who you’re serving by whom or what occupies the majority of your time and thought. You can tell by how much joy you have in your heart—or how much turmoil.
Are you in a spiritual prison? An emotional prison? Are you shackled by unforgiveness and bitterness? Maybe your prison is an abusive spouse who continually batters and bruises you, physically, emotionally, or both. Are you in the prison of financial difficulties? Is your prison a job you don’t like or a boss you can’t follow?
You may be in the prison of mediocrity. You know the one. You do your own thing and wonder why God isn’t blessing you. You don’t give appropriately. You don’t attend church regularly. You aren’t involved. You don’t work in your gifted area—you don’t even know what your spiritual gift is.
Ah, someone else will volunteer. . . .
Whatever your prison, God is able to give you a song. He doesn’t always deliver us out of our prisons. But He will always give us strength to overcome them. He will always give us a song in the night. And when you can’t find God, remember, He hasn’t moved. You will find Him when you seek Him with all of your heart (Jeremiah 29:11-13).
God doesn’t play second fiddle!
Paul never complained about the cold, the dampness, or the bad food. We gain insight into the conditions he suffered from historical writings.
While Paul was enduring the extremely severe conditions of a Roman prison, and shackled 24/7 to the Roman Elite Guards, he wrote several epistles, and shared the gospel with everyone within hearing, including those in Caesar’s household. And as a result all of them came to believe in the Jesus Paul knew.
What are you doing for the Lord in your prison?
Are you fulfilling your calling? Are you sharing Christ with those in your sphere of influence? Are you teaching? Helping with the children? Cleaning the church? Giving, perhaps to those who are less fortunate? Writing cards of encouragement to others who are hurting? Are you praying for the needs of others? Are you doing whatever you can. . . ?
I learned many years ago that encouraging others is wonderful therapy and an antidote for suffering. I was house bound for six years as caregiver for my mom, my husband, and then his mom.
There were days that I was so lonely for outside fellowship, but I couldn’t leave the house and my ailing charges. I learned to sit down at my desk, open my Bible to the Psalms, and write cards of encouragement to those I knew were struggling.
It is impossible to write cards of encouragement from the Word and remain in a prison of discouragement. When I had finished, my heart was singing and I was joyful in the Lord. My circumstances had not changed, but my shackles were loosed and my prison doors had flown open.
I was free—and soaring like an eagle!
And so, my friend, unlock those shackles that have you bound. You are a prisoner of the Lord Jesus Christ! That is a high and lofty calling that sets you free from the cares of this old world. Go ahead, pour your life into others—and give God praise for setting you free.
Praise the Name of the Lord. Praise Him for Who He is. Praise Him for His wonders. Praise Him for His plans for you—they are wonderful plans.
Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; Praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; Praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, Praise him with the harp and lyre, Praise him with tambourine and dancing, Praise him with the strings and flute, Praise him with the clash of cymbals, Praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.
(Psalm 150)
Recommended Reading
Ephesians 1:1-11
Ephesians 2:1-10
Ephesians 3:1, 7, 14-21
Ephesians 4:1-6, 24-32
Copyright © 2009 by Peggy Britt. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.
The cell is small, cold and dark—barely wide enough to lie down—not high enough to stand up. The dampness penetrates the old man’s bones. He shivers, suffering greatly, deprived of even the barest necessities.
The food is almost inedible, gruel mostly. Moldy bread when he is lucky. Nothing to drink. No coat. No blanket. No pen or parchments. Deserted by friends and family, it is dangerous to be seen with him now. The dungeon at best—death sentence at worst.
Paul, the prisoner of Christ, is alone.
He is counting on Timothy, his son in the faith, to come for a visit. Timothy will bring his coat and his parchments, and John Mark. He can hardly wait to see them.
Paul is lonely. He has had only the Roman Elite Guard for company, to whom he is chained 24/7. There are the other prisoners, a few of whom are still violent, but many of whom are converted now. If you are fortunate enough to be in Paul’s company you will learn about his Lord—the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“Will Timothy and Mark make it before I go?” he ponders audibly, longing to see them one last time. The Lord has made it clear to Paul that he will soon make his final move—to heaven.
Ah, the blessedness of that thought. He’s been there—to the third heaven. Saw inexpressible things. Things that mortal man cannot utter (II Corinthians 12:1-10). Any day now he will go to be with the Lord, and-he-can-hardly-wait. To see the Lord Jesus and hear the angels sing again . . . ah, the rapture of it.
He shivers again from the cold and dampness.
He has nearly finished his race. He has written the letters the Lord Jesus instructed him to write. He has corrected doctrine, encouraged the brethren, and rebuked those who were leaving grace and returning to Law. He has reminded everyone to live a life worthy of the high calling of Christ Jesus.
Yeah, he has completed his course.
Life is behind him now. He will soon be poured out like a drink offering. The anticipation is welling up in his heart. Any day now, he-will-see-Jesus. He would not have to return to this old world again. This time, he will remain in the Presence of the Lord—forever.
He shivers again. This time it is not from the cold, but from the sheer glory of knowing that he will soon leave his old body behind and make his final move.
He begins to hum. Then he breaks out in a song. The other prisoners come to full consciousness. Even though Paul’s voice is old and raspy now, it sounds beautiful to them. They can hardly believe what they’re hearing. This old man is a Christian. All Christians have a death sentence on their head. . . .
Why on earth is he singing?
The guards and the prisoners try to join in. They are new to the Way, so they don’t know the words—but they try to hum along.
They can’t quite believe how joyful he is. But they know this old gentleman, and they have learned to love him and admire his amazing courage. They are now personally acquainted with Paul’s God.
The prisoner of Christ is ready to go home.
What about you, my friend—are you ready to go home? Have you lived a life worthy of the calling you have received? If today was your last day on earth, would you be able to meet the Lord Jesus with a clear conscience that you had completed all that He had given you to do?
Are you a prisoner of Christ—seeking His kingdom—first? We all belong to someone. Whose prisoner are you? Who pulls your chain? Someone has you shackled and firmly in their grip.
Is it Christ Jesus? Or is it the enemy?
You can tell who you’re serving by whom or what occupies the majority of your time and thought. You can tell by how much joy you have in your heart—or how much turmoil.
Are you in a spiritual prison? An emotional prison? Are you shackled by unforgiveness and bitterness? Maybe your prison is an abusive spouse who continually batters and bruises you, physically, emotionally, or both. Are you in the prison of financial difficulties? Is your prison a job you don’t like or a boss you can’t follow?
You may be in the prison of mediocrity. You know the one. You do your own thing and wonder why God isn’t blessing you. You don’t give appropriately. You don’t attend church regularly. You aren’t involved. You don’t work in your gifted area—you don’t even know what your spiritual gift is.
Ah, someone else will volunteer. . . .
Whatever your prison, God is able to give you a song. He doesn’t always deliver us out of our prisons. But He will always give us strength to overcome them. He will always give us a song in the night. And when you can’t find God, remember, He hasn’t moved. You will find Him when you seek Him with all of your heart (Jeremiah 29:11-13).
God doesn’t play second fiddle!
Paul never complained about the cold, the dampness, or the bad food. We gain insight into the conditions he suffered from historical writings.
While Paul was enduring the extremely severe conditions of a Roman prison, and shackled 24/7 to the Roman Elite Guards, he wrote several epistles, and shared the gospel with everyone within hearing, including those in Caesar’s household. And as a result all of them came to believe in the Jesus Paul knew.
What are you doing for the Lord in your prison?
Are you fulfilling your calling? Are you sharing Christ with those in your sphere of influence? Are you teaching? Helping with the children? Cleaning the church? Giving, perhaps to those who are less fortunate? Writing cards of encouragement to others who are hurting? Are you praying for the needs of others? Are you doing whatever you can. . . ?
I learned many years ago that encouraging others is wonderful therapy and an antidote for suffering. I was house bound for six years as caregiver for my mom, my husband, and then his mom.
There were days that I was so lonely for outside fellowship, but I couldn’t leave the house and my ailing charges. I learned to sit down at my desk, open my Bible to the Psalms, and write cards of encouragement to those I knew were struggling.
It is impossible to write cards of encouragement from the Word and remain in a prison of discouragement. When I had finished, my heart was singing and I was joyful in the Lord. My circumstances had not changed, but my shackles were loosed and my prison doors had flown open.
I was free—and soaring like an eagle!
And so, my friend, unlock those shackles that have you bound. You are a prisoner of the Lord Jesus Christ! That is a high and lofty calling that sets you free from the cares of this old world. Go ahead, pour your life into others—and give God praise for setting you free.
Praise the Name of the Lord. Praise Him for Who He is. Praise Him for His wonders. Praise Him for His plans for you—they are wonderful plans.
Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; Praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; Praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, Praise him with the harp and lyre, Praise him with tambourine and dancing, Praise him with the strings and flute, Praise him with the clash of cymbals, Praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.
(Psalm 150)
Recommended Reading
Ephesians 1:1-11
Ephesians 2:1-10
Ephesians 3:1, 7, 14-21
Ephesians 4:1-6, 24-32
Copyright © 2009 by Peggy Britt. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
The Crowds
Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them (Matthew 5:1).
The crowds were a mess!
Some were blind. Some were lame. Some had leprosy. Some were hungry. Some needed a miracle. Some wanted to see a miracle. Most just wanted food. But they all wanted—something.
They didn’t want the Kingdom of God.
They just wanted. . . .
Need wine at a wedding? Call Jesus. Need to feed a large crowd? Call Jesus. Need someone raised from the dead? Call Jesus. Need the temple cleared? Call Jesus. Need your storm calmed? Call Jesus. Need. . . ? Call Jesus.
The crowds wanted a magician . . . they needed a Savior.
Jesus was going to teach the Precepts of His Kingdom to His disciples. They would shepherd the crowds in due time. So His disciples came to Him to learn.
They didn’t really have in mind the things of God either. That would take them some time . . . and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Then they would set the world on fire with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
For now, Jesus was content to teach His disciples. He knew they would step up to the plate—in His timing. Jesus looked out beyond His disciples at the crowd and He had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36).
Jesus still looks at the crowds today. He looks into my life and all of those I come into contact with. And He looks into your life and those in your sphere of influence. He sees the people, harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. And He has compassion on them . . . do you?
Do you see people within your sphere of influence as sheep, harassed and helpless, in need of a shepherd?
The great Bible Teacher, Kay Arthur says:
“Sheep are the dumbest of all animals. They are helpless, timid, and feeble. They require constant attention and meticulous care. Sheep have little means of self-defense. If they do not have the constant care of a shepherd, they will go the wrong way, unaware of the dangers at hand. They have been known to nibble themselves right off a mountainside. If they are not led to proper pastures, they will obliviously eat or drink things that are disastrous to them. Not only that, they will literally live their lives in a rut if the shepherd does not lead them to new pastures. Sheep easily fall prey to other animals; when they do, they are virtually defenseless without their shepherd to protect them. Sheep can also become cast down and, in that state, panic and die. And so, because sheep are sheep, they need shepherds to care for them!”1
People need a Shepherd too. When they have no Shepherd they are defenseless from predators, vulnerable to disease, and susceptible to their own worldly thought processes.
Look at the world around you. It is a mess!
The enemy is rampant. Paul’s words to Timothy could be written today in the local newspaper in Any City, USA.
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them” (II Timothy 3:1-5).
Peter warned us: “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (I Peter 5:8).
The enemy is destroying lives. Suicide is on the increase, as is divorce, child abuse, spousal abuse, elder abuse, murder, rape, robbery, and every other sort of crime. But we have a Shepherd Who watches over us. He leads—we follow. When we stray or wander away from Him, we, too, become vulnerable to the tactics of the enemy.
Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand” (John 10:14-15, 27-29).
So, my friend, are you following your Shepherd? If so, you will think as He thinks. You will look upon the crowds, those within your sphere of influence, as harassed and helpless sheep without a Shepherd, and see them with compassion.
We are to listen to the voice of the Master Shepherd so that we may influence the crowds around us. We are to stay close to our Shepherd by spending time in His Word and prayer, so that we can impact the crowds in our world for the kingdom.
Perhaps you feel like one of the crowd, harassed and beaten up. Your world may have fallen apart and the enemy has attacked you on every hand. Maybe you have been on the receiving end of abuse, unforgiveness and slander.
The Shepherd has an abundance of grace and peace for you.
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help you in your time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
Or maybe you have wandered away from your Shepherd like the sheep Kay Arthur spoke of. If so, there is an easy way back. It’s called repentance. It is making a U-turn and running toward your Shepherd. He is always watching and waiting, and He will welcome you with open arms.
“So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him” (Luke 15:20, emphasis mine).
Wow—to be kissed by God. . . !
Don’t accept the lie of the enemy that no one loves you, that God is angry with you, or any such nonsense that he dishes out. He is a liar and the father of lies. It is his native tongue (John 8:44). He is a thief and robber (John 10:1), and he comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10).
Christ Jesus, Jehovah Raah, is our Shepherd. He laid down His life for us (John 10:11). The cross forever proves His love. Guilt will drive us from the cross. Humility will drive us to it. Know who you are, dear friend; a sheep of the Master Shepherd.
He will care for you—and you in turn will care for the crowds. . . .
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
for His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
for you are with me;
Your rod and Your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
Forever (Psalm 23).
Recommended Reading
Romans 1:26-30
I Thessalonians 1:4-10
I Thessalonians 3:12-13
I Thessalonians 4:1-12
I Thessalonians 5:12-28
II Thessalonians 1:3
II Thessalonians 2:13-17
Notes
1. Kay Arthur, LORD, I Want to Know You
Copyright © 2009 by Peggy Britt. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.
The crowds were a mess!
Some were blind. Some were lame. Some had leprosy. Some were hungry. Some needed a miracle. Some wanted to see a miracle. Most just wanted food. But they all wanted—something.
They didn’t want the Kingdom of God.
They just wanted. . . .
Need wine at a wedding? Call Jesus. Need to feed a large crowd? Call Jesus. Need someone raised from the dead? Call Jesus. Need the temple cleared? Call Jesus. Need your storm calmed? Call Jesus. Need. . . ? Call Jesus.
The crowds wanted a magician . . . they needed a Savior.
Jesus was going to teach the Precepts of His Kingdom to His disciples. They would shepherd the crowds in due time. So His disciples came to Him to learn.
They didn’t really have in mind the things of God either. That would take them some time . . . and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Then they would set the world on fire with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
For now, Jesus was content to teach His disciples. He knew they would step up to the plate—in His timing. Jesus looked out beyond His disciples at the crowd and He had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36).
Jesus still looks at the crowds today. He looks into my life and all of those I come into contact with. And He looks into your life and those in your sphere of influence. He sees the people, harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. And He has compassion on them . . . do you?
Do you see people within your sphere of influence as sheep, harassed and helpless, in need of a shepherd?
The great Bible Teacher, Kay Arthur says:
“Sheep are the dumbest of all animals. They are helpless, timid, and feeble. They require constant attention and meticulous care. Sheep have little means of self-defense. If they do not have the constant care of a shepherd, they will go the wrong way, unaware of the dangers at hand. They have been known to nibble themselves right off a mountainside. If they are not led to proper pastures, they will obliviously eat or drink things that are disastrous to them. Not only that, they will literally live their lives in a rut if the shepherd does not lead them to new pastures. Sheep easily fall prey to other animals; when they do, they are virtually defenseless without their shepherd to protect them. Sheep can also become cast down and, in that state, panic and die. And so, because sheep are sheep, they need shepherds to care for them!”1
People need a Shepherd too. When they have no Shepherd they are defenseless from predators, vulnerable to disease, and susceptible to their own worldly thought processes.
Look at the world around you. It is a mess!
The enemy is rampant. Paul’s words to Timothy could be written today in the local newspaper in Any City, USA.
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them” (II Timothy 3:1-5).
Peter warned us: “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (I Peter 5:8).
The enemy is destroying lives. Suicide is on the increase, as is divorce, child abuse, spousal abuse, elder abuse, murder, rape, robbery, and every other sort of crime. But we have a Shepherd Who watches over us. He leads—we follow. When we stray or wander away from Him, we, too, become vulnerable to the tactics of the enemy.
Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand” (John 10:14-15, 27-29).
So, my friend, are you following your Shepherd? If so, you will think as He thinks. You will look upon the crowds, those within your sphere of influence, as harassed and helpless sheep without a Shepherd, and see them with compassion.
We are to listen to the voice of the Master Shepherd so that we may influence the crowds around us. We are to stay close to our Shepherd by spending time in His Word and prayer, so that we can impact the crowds in our world for the kingdom.
Perhaps you feel like one of the crowd, harassed and beaten up. Your world may have fallen apart and the enemy has attacked you on every hand. Maybe you have been on the receiving end of abuse, unforgiveness and slander.
The Shepherd has an abundance of grace and peace for you.
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help you in your time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
Or maybe you have wandered away from your Shepherd like the sheep Kay Arthur spoke of. If so, there is an easy way back. It’s called repentance. It is making a U-turn and running toward your Shepherd. He is always watching and waiting, and He will welcome you with open arms.
“So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him” (Luke 15:20, emphasis mine).
Wow—to be kissed by God. . . !
Don’t accept the lie of the enemy that no one loves you, that God is angry with you, or any such nonsense that he dishes out. He is a liar and the father of lies. It is his native tongue (John 8:44). He is a thief and robber (John 10:1), and he comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10).
Christ Jesus, Jehovah Raah, is our Shepherd. He laid down His life for us (John 10:11). The cross forever proves His love. Guilt will drive us from the cross. Humility will drive us to it. Know who you are, dear friend; a sheep of the Master Shepherd.
He will care for you—and you in turn will care for the crowds. . . .
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
for His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
for you are with me;
Your rod and Your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
Forever (Psalm 23).
Recommended Reading
Romans 1:26-30
I Thessalonians 1:4-10
I Thessalonians 3:12-13
I Thessalonians 4:1-12
I Thessalonians 5:12-28
II Thessalonians 1:3
II Thessalonians 2:13-17
Notes
1. Kay Arthur, LORD, I Want to Know You
Copyright © 2009 by Peggy Britt. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.
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