Psalm 106 indicates that the people often forgot about God and what God had done for them. They got tired of their circumstances, the intense heat, the lack of water and grumbled. They grumbled against Moses and the manna they had to eat and the lack of water. They wanted to go back to slavery in Egypt rather than continue on. This was despite the fact that they had visible proof that God existed in the form of a cloud during the day and a fire at night. In one situation, Moses was afraid that they would stone him.
It is easy to be critical of the Israelites, instead of making that connection to your own life and then time when we get our eyes on our circumstances. We could try justifying ourselves by saying, "Well, if I had a pillar of fire at night then I wouldn't doubt, but I don't." But, actually human nature being what it is we would probably still grumble to. I think we should come to the place where we realize, but by the grace of God, I would do the same. I do the same. I will do the same. But, God will still forgive me. I get my eyes off the prize. I think I can handle things on my own without him. I grumble and complain and act like a child. Even after over 25 years of being a christian.
This is a part of our sin nature that wants to grumble and is so easily allowed to stray from God. But, where sin is great God is even greater. He loves us despite the fact that we are so fickle and weak. And the thing is, that he knows our weaknesses better than we do. When Peter declared that he would die for Jesus, Jesus told him that not only would he not die at that time, but he would deny him three times and he did. So, we aren't showing God something he doesn't already know when we sin and fall on our faces. He already knows all about how weak we are. In fact, he told us if we don't abide in Him we can do nothing that is spiritual or that bears fruit John 15:1-5.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
My days as a pastor
For whatever reason, I was thinking about the 5 years or so that I served two churches as pastor. I was thinking about some of the people that I use to work with in those churches and preached to and wondering where they are now. The two churches could not have been more different from each other. One was in rural East Texas, very much a area that had seen better days. There was at least 7 abandoned buildings within two blocks of the church. The other church had a fairly new sanctuary, but also a lot of baby christians who liked to fight about everything.
When I think about both churches, though I am fond of some of the people I met there, I would honestly have to say that if it had been up to me to join either church if I didn't work there I would not have. The one church seems apathetic and the other hotheaded, but both seemed to like to "play" more than pray for really live for Jesus. It reminds me of what the book of Revelations says about the church in Laodicea, the lukewarm church, they are not hot or cold, so Jesus says he will spit them out of his mouth.
One thing that I also thought about what was felt to me like an absence of the spirit of God. It felt like all of the energy to do the work was being generated by me and not by God. It seemed like power was absent from both churches. I think it is because both churches had some issues to deal with before God would bless them. But, it doesn't seem you can tell people that these days. Rather, people seem to think if you have an active youth group, or the right programs, or whatever is the thing that is being promoted at that moment then growth will happen. That growth is most often equated with more people in attendance.
I don't think there is anything wrong with wanting more people in your church. But, it seems to me that many people have their focus in the wrong place. From what I read in the Bible, if you do things God's way then God will honor you in due season. If you try to do things your own way, then you have still be blessed in some ways, but it isn't a blessing from God and it won't hold up for spiritual treasure in heaven. Sometimes it seems like we equate church activity or busy scheduled or programs with growth instead of maturity, character and surrender. But, of course, it is much harder to measure a surrendered heart than people in pews. If all I want is more people, then all I need to do is count noses. Some people would also cynically say that church leaders are interested in more noses because that means more of an offering and I have to say that I do think that is the way some in the ministry think. I tried to make it my habit not to look at who gave what, but I know the first pastor I worked with years ago would definitely be bias towards the main givers.
Don't get me wrong, as a pastor, I wanted to see more people in the pews. It is disheartening to say the least when you work all week on a message and only a few come out to hear it. It is also disheartening to go out and visit some people time and again and hear their promise to come back to church only to never seem them darken the doors of the church. But, I am also reminded that Jesus had times when he preached and people actually walked away from him. They heard him say that they should "eat his flesh and drink his blood" meaning that they should partake of him and they walked away in droves. I am not sure that Jesus would have always been viewed as a success in most church growth manuals.
It is funny the way God works. I use to think I couldn't be happy without being in a ministry position like being a pastor. Now, I wonder why in the world I thought that way. If God had not closed that door in the church, I would not be where I am today. Granted, it took me a long time to get here, but God does not waste anything. He has put me in a surprising place and I'm not sure that He is done at all. But, he has done what I didn't even know to ask for him to do. He put me in a place where I can help people in practical ways and in meaningful ways.
When I think about both churches, though I am fond of some of the people I met there, I would honestly have to say that if it had been up to me to join either church if I didn't work there I would not have. The one church seems apathetic and the other hotheaded, but both seemed to like to "play" more than pray for really live for Jesus. It reminds me of what the book of Revelations says about the church in Laodicea, the lukewarm church, they are not hot or cold, so Jesus says he will spit them out of his mouth.
One thing that I also thought about what was felt to me like an absence of the spirit of God. It felt like all of the energy to do the work was being generated by me and not by God. It seemed like power was absent from both churches. I think it is because both churches had some issues to deal with before God would bless them. But, it doesn't seem you can tell people that these days. Rather, people seem to think if you have an active youth group, or the right programs, or whatever is the thing that is being promoted at that moment then growth will happen. That growth is most often equated with more people in attendance.
I don't think there is anything wrong with wanting more people in your church. But, it seems to me that many people have their focus in the wrong place. From what I read in the Bible, if you do things God's way then God will honor you in due season. If you try to do things your own way, then you have still be blessed in some ways, but it isn't a blessing from God and it won't hold up for spiritual treasure in heaven. Sometimes it seems like we equate church activity or busy scheduled or programs with growth instead of maturity, character and surrender. But, of course, it is much harder to measure a surrendered heart than people in pews. If all I want is more people, then all I need to do is count noses. Some people would also cynically say that church leaders are interested in more noses because that means more of an offering and I have to say that I do think that is the way some in the ministry think. I tried to make it my habit not to look at who gave what, but I know the first pastor I worked with years ago would definitely be bias towards the main givers.
Don't get me wrong, as a pastor, I wanted to see more people in the pews. It is disheartening to say the least when you work all week on a message and only a few come out to hear it. It is also disheartening to go out and visit some people time and again and hear their promise to come back to church only to never seem them darken the doors of the church. But, I am also reminded that Jesus had times when he preached and people actually walked away from him. They heard him say that they should "eat his flesh and drink his blood" meaning that they should partake of him and they walked away in droves. I am not sure that Jesus would have always been viewed as a success in most church growth manuals.
It is funny the way God works. I use to think I couldn't be happy without being in a ministry position like being a pastor. Now, I wonder why in the world I thought that way. If God had not closed that door in the church, I would not be where I am today. Granted, it took me a long time to get here, but God does not waste anything. He has put me in a surprising place and I'm not sure that He is done at all. But, he has done what I didn't even know to ask for him to do. He put me in a place where I can help people in practical ways and in meaningful ways.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Traditions
In today's devotional from Oswald Chambers he says,
"God will lead you straight through every barrier into the inner chamber of the knowledge of Himself; but there is always this point of giving up convictions and traditional beliefs. Don't ask God to test you. Never declare as Peter did - "I will do anything, I will go to death with Thee." Abraham did not make any such declaration, he remained true to God, and God purified his faith."
The scripture reference was in reference to Abraham offering up Isaac as a sacrifice and how God helped him to better understand himself through that process. Not that it was a process that Abraham asked for or wanted. Nor do we get to pick our trials that God allows into our lives in order to test us and purify our faith. Not that God brings everythign into our lives himself, for sometimes we make our own bad choices and suffer the consequences. But, even in that, God can bring something good out of it if we allow him to. Romans 8:28
So, what traditions or barriers to understanding God could be removed by trials? Isn't it also true that sometimes trials can create new barriers? For example, if I trust someone who claims to be a committed christian and then hear them gossip about me or break a confidence. Or what about the christian Sunday School worker who everyone thinks highly of and then she turns out to be a child molester or some sort of wierd pervert. These things also rock our faith. But, maybe also in the rocking of our faith it removes some things? Maybe it helps us to realize that no matter how great a person must be not one of us measure up?
The thing is that this life is filled with disappointments. No sooner will you exalt someone in your mind than they fall off the pedestal you place them on. Perhaps it is because they do not belong there. In fact, that person could be considered an idol if they are exalted to an unhealthy place in your mind or heart. It reminds me of the passage where God says that he is a jealous God. We normally think of jealousy as a bad quality. But, what is God jealous of? God is jealous to be first in our lives. When we place someone or something ahead of him he may have to remove it or humble us to get us to realize that we are exalting someone or something that does not belong.
We may also come to think more of ourselves than we should. We may think we can withstand the smallest storm without God's help or that we are a teacher and have reached some sort of milestone that others have not. That was one of the sins of the gnostic. Those who thought they had secret knowledge. The fact is, that none of us are above failure when it comes to sinning. Humility is always the order of the day. God alone deserves to be exalted.
"God will lead you straight through every barrier into the inner chamber of the knowledge of Himself; but there is always this point of giving up convictions and traditional beliefs. Don't ask God to test you. Never declare as Peter did - "I will do anything, I will go to death with Thee." Abraham did not make any such declaration, he remained true to God, and God purified his faith."
The scripture reference was in reference to Abraham offering up Isaac as a sacrifice and how God helped him to better understand himself through that process. Not that it was a process that Abraham asked for or wanted. Nor do we get to pick our trials that God allows into our lives in order to test us and purify our faith. Not that God brings everythign into our lives himself, for sometimes we make our own bad choices and suffer the consequences. But, even in that, God can bring something good out of it if we allow him to. Romans 8:28
So, what traditions or barriers to understanding God could be removed by trials? Isn't it also true that sometimes trials can create new barriers? For example, if I trust someone who claims to be a committed christian and then hear them gossip about me or break a confidence. Or what about the christian Sunday School worker who everyone thinks highly of and then she turns out to be a child molester or some sort of wierd pervert. These things also rock our faith. But, maybe also in the rocking of our faith it removes some things? Maybe it helps us to realize that no matter how great a person must be not one of us measure up?
The thing is that this life is filled with disappointments. No sooner will you exalt someone in your mind than they fall off the pedestal you place them on. Perhaps it is because they do not belong there. In fact, that person could be considered an idol if they are exalted to an unhealthy place in your mind or heart. It reminds me of the passage where God says that he is a jealous God. We normally think of jealousy as a bad quality. But, what is God jealous of? God is jealous to be first in our lives. When we place someone or something ahead of him he may have to remove it or humble us to get us to realize that we are exalting someone or something that does not belong.
We may also come to think more of ourselves than we should. We may think we can withstand the smallest storm without God's help or that we are a teacher and have reached some sort of milestone that others have not. That was one of the sins of the gnostic. Those who thought they had secret knowledge. The fact is, that none of us are above failure when it comes to sinning. Humility is always the order of the day. God alone deserves to be exalted.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Exodus 4- A Strange Twist in the Story
I am reading through the story about Moses and I came to this part of the story:
"At a lodging place on the way, the Lord met Moses and was about to kill him. But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son's foreskin and touched Moses' feet with it. "Surely you are a bridgegroom of blood to me." she said. So the Lord let him alone." Exodus 4:24-26 (reference to blood referring to blood from circumsion)
It might be easy for us to pass over these verses since they seem to contradict the rest of the story. But, in thinking about this I thought to myself, "Really? God is willing to kill Moses simply because of a circumsion or lack thereof?" It seems out of character with the God that I know. Maybe it is why so many people say that the God of the Old Testament seems so much madder than the one in the new. The God of the Old Testament seems to be willing to destroy Moses, a man who he has been preparing for the last 80 years because Moses hadn't yet circumsized his boy.
It may give us an idea of how important this was to God also. That the circumsion isn't just a hygiene issue, but a sign of the covenant between the children of Abraham and God. Nevermind that God hadn't said a word in the last 400 years. This is meant to be a sign between God and man and apparently Moses never got around to it. It was only due to Moses' wife fast acting knife that kept Moses around to see another day. Interestingly, through the next 40 years, we never hear Zipporah say another word. She falls of the page and is never heard from again. But, apparently it was obvious to her why God was angry.
Critics and atheists I have spoken to online have said to me at one point or another that God's nature does seem different. I tend to identify with the angry God more than the compassionate one. I think about Jesus and how patient he was with his disciples. That even on the eve of his crucifixion were arguing about who was the greatest. Jesus has to interrupt his own last meal, pick up a towel and wash his disciples feet to make his point. No arguing or rebuking or anger there. Just a towel and some water and the act of a servant. Yet, there are also pictures throughout the Old Testament also of God being patient. So maybe the question isn't as simple as Old or New Testament. After all, it was in the New Testament that Jesus put cords together, made a whip and cleaned out the temple. That doesn't sound like a passive person to me.
"Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boast boast about this; that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight." Jeremiah 9:24
"At a lodging place on the way, the Lord met Moses and was about to kill him. But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son's foreskin and touched Moses' feet with it. "Surely you are a bridgegroom of blood to me." she said. So the Lord let him alone." Exodus 4:24-26 (reference to blood referring to blood from circumsion)
It might be easy for us to pass over these verses since they seem to contradict the rest of the story. But, in thinking about this I thought to myself, "Really? God is willing to kill Moses simply because of a circumsion or lack thereof?" It seems out of character with the God that I know. Maybe it is why so many people say that the God of the Old Testament seems so much madder than the one in the new. The God of the Old Testament seems to be willing to destroy Moses, a man who he has been preparing for the last 80 years because Moses hadn't yet circumsized his boy.
It may give us an idea of how important this was to God also. That the circumsion isn't just a hygiene issue, but a sign of the covenant between the children of Abraham and God. Nevermind that God hadn't said a word in the last 400 years. This is meant to be a sign between God and man and apparently Moses never got around to it. It was only due to Moses' wife fast acting knife that kept Moses around to see another day. Interestingly, through the next 40 years, we never hear Zipporah say another word. She falls of the page and is never heard from again. But, apparently it was obvious to her why God was angry.
Critics and atheists I have spoken to online have said to me at one point or another that God's nature does seem different. I tend to identify with the angry God more than the compassionate one. I think about Jesus and how patient he was with his disciples. That even on the eve of his crucifixion were arguing about who was the greatest. Jesus has to interrupt his own last meal, pick up a towel and wash his disciples feet to make his point. No arguing or rebuking or anger there. Just a towel and some water and the act of a servant. Yet, there are also pictures throughout the Old Testament also of God being patient. So maybe the question isn't as simple as Old or New Testament. After all, it was in the New Testament that Jesus put cords together, made a whip and cleaned out the temple. That doesn't sound like a passive person to me.
"Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boast boast about this; that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight." Jeremiah 9:24
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
A Crisis of Faith Exodus 3
If you have ever read "Experiencing God" by Henry Blackaby then you have heard him refer to Moses at the burning bush from Exodus chapters 3-4. The story goes that Moses is about 80 years old. He spent the first 40 years of his life as the adopted son of Pharoah's daughter. He lived in luxury, even though he was a Jew. Most of the Jews at the time were slaves to the Egyptians. Then, Moses decides to rescue a fellow Jew and kills a man. When it is discovered, Moses runs for his life and ends up in the desert. He spends the time mainly shepherding sheep on the back side of the mountain. Until one day that he seems a burning bush.
Moses steps aside to see the bush burn, when he realizes that though it is on fire it is not being consumed. God notices Moses has turned aside and uses the opportunity to speak to Moses about his chosen people. It is time for them to be set free from slavery. God tells Moses that he is the man to deliver them. He has been working on him for the last 80 years as leader and shepherd to prepare him to lead a people across the desert. In fact, his talents for finding water and living in such a harsh climate will come in handy.
Moses reaction to what God says is one of "shock". He says, "Who am I that I shoul dgo to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" Exodus 3:11 He then goes on to object and when he still does not get his way he asks for God to send someone else. Moses is having a crisis of faith. Moses then says, "O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in th epast nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue." Ex 4:10 He wants Aaron to speak for him. He's worried that he can't do it. Exodus 4:1 The vision is so big that Moses' response is one of fear and not faith, at least not first.
The thing is, that God often choses people who aren't beautiful or smart or talented or great in the eyes of the world. (1 Cor 1:27-29) I think that is because we have a tendency to lean on our own understanding and talent instead of him. Also, we have a tendency to worship things rather than God. If God exalted someone with a lot of talent or beauty and used that person as his spokesperson we would probably end up worshipping that person. Instead, God uses people that are humble, that know they can't do it, that are willing to pray and lean and depend on him. It seems the most dangerous place we can be when it comes to doing God's work is self-reliant.
Has God ever led you through a crisis of faith? Has he ever asked you to do something you believed you couldn't do? Are you willing to act if he asks you to or are you likely to respond as Moses did at first?
It should be noted that even though Moses objected that he did do what God said. Even though he did not get to the Promise land, he led them right to the end of the desert. In the end, Moses was called the most humble man on earth because of the crisis that God led him through (see Numbers 12:3). He was also called "the friend of God" because he came to realize that God was greater than any challenge he would face. (Exodus 33:11)
Moses steps aside to see the bush burn, when he realizes that though it is on fire it is not being consumed. God notices Moses has turned aside and uses the opportunity to speak to Moses about his chosen people. It is time for them to be set free from slavery. God tells Moses that he is the man to deliver them. He has been working on him for the last 80 years as leader and shepherd to prepare him to lead a people across the desert. In fact, his talents for finding water and living in such a harsh climate will come in handy.
Moses reaction to what God says is one of "shock". He says, "Who am I that I shoul dgo to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" Exodus 3:11 He then goes on to object and when he still does not get his way he asks for God to send someone else. Moses is having a crisis of faith. Moses then says, "O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in th epast nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue." Ex 4:10 He wants Aaron to speak for him. He's worried that he can't do it. Exodus 4:1 The vision is so big that Moses' response is one of fear and not faith, at least not first.
The thing is, that God often choses people who aren't beautiful or smart or talented or great in the eyes of the world. (1 Cor 1:27-29) I think that is because we have a tendency to lean on our own understanding and talent instead of him. Also, we have a tendency to worship things rather than God. If God exalted someone with a lot of talent or beauty and used that person as his spokesperson we would probably end up worshipping that person. Instead, God uses people that are humble, that know they can't do it, that are willing to pray and lean and depend on him. It seems the most dangerous place we can be when it comes to doing God's work is self-reliant.
Has God ever led you through a crisis of faith? Has he ever asked you to do something you believed you couldn't do? Are you willing to act if he asks you to or are you likely to respond as Moses did at first?
It should be noted that even though Moses objected that he did do what God said. Even though he did not get to the Promise land, he led them right to the end of the desert. In the end, Moses was called the most humble man on earth because of the crisis that God led him through (see Numbers 12:3). He was also called "the friend of God" because he came to realize that God was greater than any challenge he would face. (Exodus 33:11)
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Tiger Woods
I am not a person who watches a lot of golf. I have tried at various times to play the game. It looks easy when you see the pros play it, but it is not. It is a very frustrating game. I admire how someone like Phil Mickelson can play such great golf on a course like the one in Georgia where the Masters was played last week. He did a great job and it was even more memorable that his wife, who has been suffering from breast cancer, could be there with him.
I was interested as many people were how Tiger Woods would play, who has been gone for the last 5 months or so because of his personal problems. I noticed that he compared himself to Ben Hogan, who injured himself while trying to protect his wife in a car wreck. I thought it took a lot of nerve on his part to compare himself, who has reportedly cheated on his wife at least a dozen times, to a man who injured himself to protect his wife. It goes to show you the ignorance and arrogance of this man.
It also reminded me of the Beatitude where Jesus said that the one who is truly blessed are not the ones who are happy or content now, but the ones who are poor in spirit, who are humble, who are meek, who hunger and thirst for righteousness. We may think that Tiger Woods is rich beyond all dreams, since he has made so much in endorsements and in great golf play, but the Bible would declar him as poor, blind and lost. He displays that by a morally corrupt lifestyle, a absolute arrogant view of himself and a worldly view of what a truly successful person looks like.
The sad thing is that so many people still look up to this man. A man who gained his success not by living a morally outstanding life, but by hitting a golf ball. We do similiar things as a society when we elevate people like Michael Jordan or Charlie Sheen, who can't seem to keep their pants zipped up. While ignoring the contributions of those who suffer for others such as first responders during Hurricane Katrina, of which the press said almost nothing or relief workers who go to war and famine effected areas to try and create fresh drinking water or to feed the starving. It is no wonder that Jesus said that some who are first now will be last and some who are last now will be first.
What's your defintion of a role model? Who is a hero to you?
I was interested as many people were how Tiger Woods would play, who has been gone for the last 5 months or so because of his personal problems. I noticed that he compared himself to Ben Hogan, who injured himself while trying to protect his wife in a car wreck. I thought it took a lot of nerve on his part to compare himself, who has reportedly cheated on his wife at least a dozen times, to a man who injured himself to protect his wife. It goes to show you the ignorance and arrogance of this man.
It also reminded me of the Beatitude where Jesus said that the one who is truly blessed are not the ones who are happy or content now, but the ones who are poor in spirit, who are humble, who are meek, who hunger and thirst for righteousness. We may think that Tiger Woods is rich beyond all dreams, since he has made so much in endorsements and in great golf play, but the Bible would declar him as poor, blind and lost. He displays that by a morally corrupt lifestyle, a absolute arrogant view of himself and a worldly view of what a truly successful person looks like.
The sad thing is that so many people still look up to this man. A man who gained his success not by living a morally outstanding life, but by hitting a golf ball. We do similiar things as a society when we elevate people like Michael Jordan or Charlie Sheen, who can't seem to keep their pants zipped up. While ignoring the contributions of those who suffer for others such as first responders during Hurricane Katrina, of which the press said almost nothing or relief workers who go to war and famine effected areas to try and create fresh drinking water or to feed the starving. It is no wonder that Jesus said that some who are first now will be last and some who are last now will be first.
What's your defintion of a role model? Who is a hero to you?
Friday, April 9, 2010
Molds
For reading & meditation: Psalms 142:1-7
"When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who know my way." (v.3)
In Selwyn Hughes' devotional "Everyday Light" (http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/everydaylight/) he quotes the above verse. He talks about how God is the God of "remarkable surprises". God is a God who is surprising in the way that he works and sometimes in the way that he does not. At times, he seems withdrawn and remote. At other times, from what I have experienced, he seems as close as your very heartbeat. Sometimes God appears to answer a prayer almost immediately and other times the answer may be years away. Still other times, we may wish that he had ignored our requests instead of giving us what we asked for.
At different times in my christian walk, I have kept a prayer journal. Looking back on my notes, from months or years afterward, I see that God did answer prayers, sometimes remarkably fast. I think He does that to encourage us that the answers will come for those prayers that take years or months. Still other times, I see that God did not give me what I asked for, but something better or different than I asked for. Still other times, he allowed me to wrestle with it for that is when my faith was tried and tested and molded. Without that struggle my faith would not be as strong as it was, even though it is still weak quite a bit of the time.
One thing that I also notice is that prayers to God are not times when we are solely to present our wish list to God. As if we know what is best and God does not. Jesus tells us that God the Father knows what we need before we ask. But, sometimes we can be guilty if we are not careful of using our prayer time as a time to inform God of what he needs to do. Yet, when you look at the Lord's prayer you see that Jesus started with praising God and reminding us of who he is. We often need to be reminded as it turns out. We need to realize that He does not think like we. One pastor I know use to tell me, "God wants us to look at his face and not just his hands. Not just for what he can give us."
So God always seems to resist my simple minded urges to put him in a box. Whether that box be made of what my denomination believes is important or what some preacher thinks is important. God doesn't quite fit into any mold that I want him to fit into. He seems so much bigger than any concept that I have of him. He is spirit and truth, yet he is not just a spirit, not by the way I think of it. A spirit has limitations of time and space and God does not. People have limits to concepts and time and thought, but God does not. When it gets right now to it it isn't that my prayers are too hard for God to answer, but my requests are too small and limiting.
What mold have you tried to get God to fit into? How's that working for you?
"When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who know my way." (v.3)
In Selwyn Hughes' devotional "Everyday Light" (http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/everydaylight/) he quotes the above verse. He talks about how God is the God of "remarkable surprises". God is a God who is surprising in the way that he works and sometimes in the way that he does not. At times, he seems withdrawn and remote. At other times, from what I have experienced, he seems as close as your very heartbeat. Sometimes God appears to answer a prayer almost immediately and other times the answer may be years away. Still other times, we may wish that he had ignored our requests instead of giving us what we asked for.
At different times in my christian walk, I have kept a prayer journal. Looking back on my notes, from months or years afterward, I see that God did answer prayers, sometimes remarkably fast. I think He does that to encourage us that the answers will come for those prayers that take years or months. Still other times, I see that God did not give me what I asked for, but something better or different than I asked for. Still other times, he allowed me to wrestle with it for that is when my faith was tried and tested and molded. Without that struggle my faith would not be as strong as it was, even though it is still weak quite a bit of the time.
One thing that I also notice is that prayers to God are not times when we are solely to present our wish list to God. As if we know what is best and God does not. Jesus tells us that God the Father knows what we need before we ask. But, sometimes we can be guilty if we are not careful of using our prayer time as a time to inform God of what he needs to do. Yet, when you look at the Lord's prayer you see that Jesus started with praising God and reminding us of who he is. We often need to be reminded as it turns out. We need to realize that He does not think like we. One pastor I know use to tell me, "God wants us to look at his face and not just his hands. Not just for what he can give us."
So God always seems to resist my simple minded urges to put him in a box. Whether that box be made of what my denomination believes is important or what some preacher thinks is important. God doesn't quite fit into any mold that I want him to fit into. He seems so much bigger than any concept that I have of him. He is spirit and truth, yet he is not just a spirit, not by the way I think of it. A spirit has limitations of time and space and God does not. People have limits to concepts and time and thought, but God does not. When it gets right now to it it isn't that my prayers are too hard for God to answer, but my requests are too small and limiting.
What mold have you tried to get God to fit into? How's that working for you?
Saturday, April 3, 2010
If You Had Known
"If thou hadst known . . . in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes." Luke 19:42
This is the verse for the day in Oswald Chamber's devotion "My Utmost for His Highest". (Web site at http://www.myutmost.org/ ) Sometimes I read online devotions and his is one of my favorites. Not always optimistic or lighthearted, but to the point and piercing. The quote is from when Jesus was approaching Jerusalem and wept over the city. To me, the passage talks about Jesus will for these people to repent and experience his peace, but they would not accept him.
Oswald Chambers goes on to say,
"What is it that blinds me in this "my day"? Have I a strange god - not a disgusting monster, but a disposition that rules me? More than once God has brought me face to face with the strange god and I thought I should have to yield, but I did not do it. I got through the crisis by the skin of my teeth and I find myself in the possession of the strange god still; I am blind to the things which belong to my peace."
Good question. How many people do you really know that are truly content and at peace most of the time? It is so easy to allow the things of this world to rush in and become like God's to us. To rob us of our time with God and with those who we most love. To rob us of focusing on what truly is important. People put all kinds of things before God, bass boats, money, power, jobs, hobbies. I knew a family in West Virginia that put camping ahead of God. I remember another lady who was a sunday school teacher who put hunting deer ahead of God. Still others lust for things of this world and they become an idol or pride does, an unwillingness to admit wrong.
It is good to take a step back and look at our lives and priorities sometimes and ask ourselves if God is truly the center and on the throne of our lives. Or as something else creep up on God's throne and taken that spot? If so, then it is time to kick it off the throne and put God back where he belongs. It isn't that God moved, but that our hearts have moved. We are to be a living sacrifice, daily taking up our crosses and following him. If Jesus did not put his own will first, but submitted to the Father, then he gave us an example to follow. Not my will, but yours be done. Accept that we must be humble enough to realize that God knows what is best. A sinful heart disagrees with this and thinks that it knows what is best more than our Creator.
Have you allowed anything else to creep up on the throne and take control?
How has the world influenced what you think is most important?
Are you taking up your cross daily and following him?
What is keeping you from experiencing His peace?
This is the verse for the day in Oswald Chamber's devotion "My Utmost for His Highest". (Web site at http://www.myutmost.org/ ) Sometimes I read online devotions and his is one of my favorites. Not always optimistic or lighthearted, but to the point and piercing. The quote is from when Jesus was approaching Jerusalem and wept over the city. To me, the passage talks about Jesus will for these people to repent and experience his peace, but they would not accept him.
Oswald Chambers goes on to say,
"What is it that blinds me in this "my day"? Have I a strange god - not a disgusting monster, but a disposition that rules me? More than once God has brought me face to face with the strange god and I thought I should have to yield, but I did not do it. I got through the crisis by the skin of my teeth and I find myself in the possession of the strange god still; I am blind to the things which belong to my peace."
Good question. How many people do you really know that are truly content and at peace most of the time? It is so easy to allow the things of this world to rush in and become like God's to us. To rob us of our time with God and with those who we most love. To rob us of focusing on what truly is important. People put all kinds of things before God, bass boats, money, power, jobs, hobbies. I knew a family in West Virginia that put camping ahead of God. I remember another lady who was a sunday school teacher who put hunting deer ahead of God. Still others lust for things of this world and they become an idol or pride does, an unwillingness to admit wrong.
It is good to take a step back and look at our lives and priorities sometimes and ask ourselves if God is truly the center and on the throne of our lives. Or as something else creep up on God's throne and taken that spot? If so, then it is time to kick it off the throne and put God back where he belongs. It isn't that God moved, but that our hearts have moved. We are to be a living sacrifice, daily taking up our crosses and following him. If Jesus did not put his own will first, but submitted to the Father, then he gave us an example to follow. Not my will, but yours be done. Accept that we must be humble enough to realize that God knows what is best. A sinful heart disagrees with this and thinks that it knows what is best more than our Creator.
Have you allowed anything else to creep up on the throne and take control?
How has the world influenced what you think is most important?
Are you taking up your cross daily and following him?
What is keeping you from experiencing His peace?
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