Our Best Plans are Not Always Best
LYNN COWELL
King Ahab's first thought after encountering the prophet Elijah may well have been, Of all the nerve! Just who does this guy think he is? Bursting onto the scene out of nowhere, Elijah confronted Israel's wicked king with a message that would soon disrupt life throughout the entire region.
The validity of the revelation rested with the Source, not the mouthpiece. Elijah was a man of great faith who believed what God told him; he could boldly speak with authority because he knew and trusted the One who gave the message. He spent time alone with the Lord and listened as he stood before Him.
Our Father doesn't speak to us in exactly the same manner that He spoke to the Old Testament prophets, but the process of receiving His message hasn't changed. It begins with being alone in His presence and involves listening as He speaks through His Word. But it shouldn't end there.
Prophets had the responsibility of telling the people what the Lord revealed to them. Similarly, we are to share with others what we learn from God's Word. Devotional time with the Lord is not just about our own interests and needs. The Father reveals His treasures to us so that we can share them with others.
Begin each day alone with God in His Word and in prayer, listening as He speaks to your heart. Believe what He says in Scripture, apply it to your life, and then share with someone else what He has revealed. Be bold and remember that the authority of your message comes from Him.
The Priority of Obedience
John 14:23-26
The Creator gave two commands to Adam and Eve-first, to fill the earth and rule over it, and second, not to eat from a certain tree in the Garden (Gen. 1:28; 2:17). Because they chose to disobey, their relationship with God was broken, and they had to leave Eden.
The first couple's rebellion not only impacted their own lives but also had far broader implications: all future generations have suffered. In Romans 5:12-19, the apostle Paul explained the reason. Through the trespass of one man, Adam, sin made its entrance into the world, and death resulted for all mankind. Because Adam was head of the human race, his actions affected everyone born after him. His disobedience resulted in each of us having a bent away from the Lord and a desire for self-rule.
By contrast, Jesus made conformity to the Lord's will the priority of His life. He obeyed God in both word and deed (John 8:28-29). Having lived a perfect life-one entirely without sin-He qualified to be our Savior (2 Cor. 5:21). Through the death of one man, Christ Jesus, payment was made for the transgressions of all mankind. God's acceptance of the Son's sacrifice brought us forgiveness and freedom from sin's power.
Adam's disobedience brought judgment and death upon us, whereas Jesus' obedience resulted in new life for all who believe in Him (Rom. 6:4). Our Savior calls us to deny selfish desires, live sacrificially, and follow Him (Matt. 16:24). A godly life will bring Jesus honor and influence others for Him.
The Rewards of Patience
LYNN COWELL
"'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the LORD. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.'" Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)
I woke up from my dream feeling shaken and terrified. In it, my oldest daughter had gotten married and I had no part in it.
Not in the proposal. Not in the planning. No part whatsoever. In the dream, I sat in the back of the church watching. As her favorite music began to play, my mind began to swirl. My girl is getting married! Why am I just sitting here? Rushing to the bride's room, I found her. Her bridal outfit was a reflection of her unique style, completely different from anything I would have chosen.
She was fine, but I was not.
When I awoke, I knew the dream wasn't random. There was truth I needed to glean.
The hard reality is I can be one of those moms ... the ones with the built-in expectations. The ones with unspoken yet idealistic dreams of what "should be."
However, God wants me to recognize my ideals, my plans, my dreams are not always the best. But His are.
Today's key verse tells us God's thoughts and our thoughts aren't the same. His thoughts and His ways are always higher and better than our ways and thoughts.
Although I envision the perfect birthday, vacation or future wedding, God may have a different plan. A better plan. Maybe not "perfect" in the way I imagine, but perfect according to His plans and purposes.
This is especially hard as a mother. Wanting the very best for our children, we can get our hearts set on the best pre-school, middle school, high school or college. Knowing how hard it can be to make it in this world, we press in with our plans, suggesting or insisting our children pursue the degree, career or marriage choices we think are best.
The problem comes when we forget the most important part of the plans: God's thoughts and His ways.
Although there is value in our wisdom and experience, we must be intentional to give attention to God and His perfect wisdom for their future. Because without it, we can hinder the process of our children learning to hear from God for themselves.
While I can say I'm growing every day when it comes to expectations, I will always be on my knees asking God to help me. It is comforting to know, through the power of the Holy Spirit living in me, I can come to God daily and surrender my thoughts and plans to Him.
It's there I can lay down my thoughts and plans for my children as well.
Maybe like me, the idea of taking a step back from directing all of your children's ways scares you a bit. Here is where I find my comfort: my Father God is my children's Father and He loves them even more than I do.
Let's rest securely knowing when we encourage our children to follow God, His plan for them and their lives is much better than ours.
Lord, teach me to pray for Your best for myself, my family and those I love. Empower me to daily lay down my expectations. Then help me to leave expectations behind and trust You are always at work to bring Your best for Your glory. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
"When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn." Psalm 142:3 (NLT)
Have you ever had one of those late night come-to-Jesus moments where the weight of regret lays heavy across your chest?
For me, it usually happens because in the hectic pace of the day, I blew up at one of my kids, I brushed past a moment of connection with someone God put in my path, or I rushed through all the moments without stopping to enjoy any of them.
I've discovered a great source of stress, distraction and exhaustion in my life. I say yes to too many things. I take on too many good things, which causes me to miss my best things. It's so hard to say no and let go of opportunities that come my way. But if I don't learn the gift of release, I'll wrestle with a lack of peace.
I saw this visibly a few years ago when I traveled to visit a friend. As soon as she picked me up from the airport and we started driving, I saw the fallout from the storm she'd tried to describe. A massive 20-inch snow in the middle of fall.
But it wasn't the amount of snow still on the ground, or the snowmen proudly standing that grabbed my attention.
It was the broken trees. The branches were piled everywhere.
House after house. All down the street. Disastrous piles of limbs - big piles of trees - all still clinging to the leaves that hadn't dropped yet. And because the leaves hadn't dropped, the trees broke.
That's what happens when a snow comes early. The trees weren't designed to face snow before releasing their leaves. They weren't made to carry more than they should. And neither are we.
I know the weight of carrying more than I should. And usually it's because I've refused to release something before taking on something else. If I want to choose a Best Yes, it's crucial I make room for it first.
Otherwise, a Best Yes can quickly become a stressed yes. And a stressed yes is like snow on a tree that refuses to release its leaves. It causes cracks and breaks at our core.
If we refuse to release before we add, we will get overloaded.
We see how refusing to release gets people in trouble all throughout the stories in Scripture.
Eve refused to release the forbidden fruit. And because she became hyperfocused on that one thing, she missed out on the best things in paradise.
Esau refused to release his urgent need for some stew. And because he became hyperfocused on eating that soup, he missed out on his birthright.
Moses refused to release his fear that just speaking to the rock as God commanded wouldn't actually bring forth water. And because he struck the rock twice, he missed out on entering the Promised Land.
Each of these people paid a high price for their refusals to release - to let go of their ways so they could walk in the amazing way of God.
It wasn't God's desire for any of these people to suffer the consequences they did. Each of us has a free will, which means we have the freedom to make choices.
God tells us the right way to go, but we have to make the choice to do so. Choices and consequences come in package deals. When we make a choice, we ignite the consequences that can come along with it.
It was true for Eve, Esau and Moses. And it's true for you and me. Refusing to release often means refusing to have peace. I trade my peace for a weight of regret.
Release is a gift to a woman weighed down, grasping her leaves in the midst of a snowstorm, so desperate for help. She can feel the twinges and hear the creaking sounds of a splitting break about to happen.
She knows she can't take much more. She remembers Psalm 142:3, "When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn." Tears well up in her upturned, pleading eyes. "God help me. It's all too much. I'm tired and frustrated and so very worn out."
The wind whips past her, trailing a whispered, "R-e-l-e-a-s-e." She must listen or she will break. Her tree needs to be stripped and prepared for winter. But she can't embrace winter until she lets go of fall. Like a tree, a woman can't carry the weight of two seasons simultaneously. In the violent struggle of trying, she'll miss every bit of joy each season promises to bring.
I think sometimes I'm resistant to release because I fear missing out. But, in an effort to hold on to too much, I wind up stressed, exhausted and at my breaking point.
Release brings with it the gift of peace. There are some opportunities I need to decline today. There are some things I need to say no to in this current season. There are good things I need to let go of so I can make room for the best things. Then and only then can my beautiful, bare winter branch receive its snow. When we release in peace, we signal we're now ready to receive.
Receive what's next. Receive what's best. Receive what's meant for this season, right now.
I don't know what you have to release right now. But I suspect you know. Just like I do in a few areas of my life.
So let's release. With release comes more peace. I see that now. I believe that now. And soon, I pray you will too.
Dear Lord, only You can help me with this release. My heart seeks to obey You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free ..." Luke 4:18 (NIV)
Surely I'm not the only one who notices glaring differences between the kids we have and the kids we were. They are dreaming different dreams, thinking different thoughts, asking different questions. We zigged right where they zag left. Ideologies I swallowed whole without blinking give my kids pause, and I'm often left going, "Wha?"
My son Caleb recently initiated a lengthy discussion on missionaries. Nestled among the invaluable wisdom I certainly bestowed, I mentioned not all missionaries can freely worship God, and in fact, some even die for their faith. The next week Caleb's teacher sent a hilarious email recounting the class discussion on future careers, and Caleb, ever eager, raised his hand and said: "When I grow up, I want to be a missionary and tell people about God. Even though my mom told me that all missionaries get murdered."
Like I tell all teachers: Let's believe half of what we hear about one another, mmmkay?
My son's intense curiosity about missionaries is a sign we are on the fault line of a huge paradigm shift in our culture ... a transition from one worldview to another. Since this is the world our kids are experiencing, it is essential to any parenting discussion. We can't parent what we don't understand.
Here's a boiled-down explanation. Modern thought was the driving worldview for the last three centuries, marked by rational linear thinking. The emphasis was on the individual's capabilities, logic and knowledge.
This affected how the Christian life was interpreted: we proved our faith through factual research, organized around biblical knowledge or discipleship.
Today, postmodern thought is the prevalent worldview. Postmodern values include spirituality, experience, community and the betterment of the world. This generation is highly skeptical of authority and won't believe or do something simply because of tradition.
Because of this desire to better the world, postmoderns are wildly attracted to those who love the unlovely and the poor. Hence my son's questions.
Guess who else loves the poor? Jesus. In fact, reaching the poor was one of His chief assignments: "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free" (Luke 4:18).
If we want to show our children the Jesus they'll follow for life, then demonstrate love for broken, poor, marginalized people.
As I've tried to apply this knowledge to my parenting, I find my kids understand God better through story, community and justice, than apologetics or dogmatic theology. And I'm discovering new opportunities to capitalize on certain postmodern ideals that line up beautifully with the Kingdom.
Since postmodern kids respond best to authentic and honest parenting, it's important to avoid any hint of a controlling, appearance-based approach. I must lead with my life, not just my lips.
Let's tell our kids, "It's okay to mess up. I don't expect you to be a perfect kid, as I'm certainly not a perfect parent." With the Lord's help we can create a house of grace. To model what to do with failure: to apologize, try again, try a different way, learn from it, and don't regret every mistake.
It's not always easy for me to trust God is playing a crucial role in my kids' lives. I'm just one piece of their story. Thankfully, I can fail and make all sorts of mistakes, and God is still sovereign over all.
But it is my role to teach my kids to love Jesus, not just a set of rules. To talk about His character, love, passion and heroics as much as I talk about biblical behaviors.
I believe our kids will be less likely to get lost in culture if they have experienced the dynamic, loving, radical Jesus. When they know Him in a life-changing way, they learn to engage culture as a change agent and advocate without getting tainted by its influence. This is how God designed the Kingdom. He raises up disciples and releases them on the planet.
It's easy to fear when our family colors outside the lines, wanders down unlikely roads or takes risks when everyone else takes the safe route. But if they love Jesus and contend for His glory, then they will hear one day, "Well done, good and faithful servant." And you will, too.
God, in parenting, above all else I ask for Your wisdom. Teach me to parent the children I have, not the child I was or the kids I thought I would have. Open my eyes to ways to show them Jesus every day in ordinary life. Give me Your heart for the poor and broken so that I may pass that onto my children. Lord, win over my kids to Your love and help me not focus on only winning them to Your rules. Help me raise disciples, and lead us all in the way everlasting. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
The Authority of Our Message
1 Kings 17:1King Ahab's first thought after encountering the prophet Elijah may well have been, Of all the nerve! Just who does this guy think he is? Bursting onto the scene out of nowhere, Elijah confronted Israel's wicked king with a message that would soon disrupt life throughout the entire region.
The validity of the revelation rested with the Source, not the mouthpiece. Elijah was a man of great faith who believed what God told him; he could boldly speak with authority because he knew and trusted the One who gave the message. He spent time alone with the Lord and listened as he stood before Him.
Our Father doesn't speak to us in exactly the same manner that He spoke to the Old Testament prophets, but the process of receiving His message hasn't changed. It begins with being alone in His presence and involves listening as He speaks through His Word. But it shouldn't end there.
Prophets had the responsibility of telling the people what the Lord revealed to them. Similarly, we are to share with others what we learn from God's Word. Devotional time with the Lord is not just about our own interests and needs. The Father reveals His treasures to us so that we can share them with others.
Begin each day alone with God in His Word and in prayer, listening as He speaks to your heart. Believe what He says in Scripture, apply it to your life, and then share with someone else what He has revealed. Be bold and remember that the authority of your message comes from Him.
The Priority of Obedience
John 14:23-26
The Creator gave two commands to Adam and Eve-first, to fill the earth and rule over it, and second, not to eat from a certain tree in the Garden (Gen. 1:28; 2:17). Because they chose to disobey, their relationship with God was broken, and they had to leave Eden.
The first couple's rebellion not only impacted their own lives but also had far broader implications: all future generations have suffered. In Romans 5:12-19, the apostle Paul explained the reason. Through the trespass of one man, Adam, sin made its entrance into the world, and death resulted for all mankind. Because Adam was head of the human race, his actions affected everyone born after him. His disobedience resulted in each of us having a bent away from the Lord and a desire for self-rule.
By contrast, Jesus made conformity to the Lord's will the priority of His life. He obeyed God in both word and deed (John 8:28-29). Having lived a perfect life-one entirely without sin-He qualified to be our Savior (2 Cor. 5:21). Through the death of one man, Christ Jesus, payment was made for the transgressions of all mankind. God's acceptance of the Son's sacrifice brought us forgiveness and freedom from sin's power.
Adam's disobedience brought judgment and death upon us, whereas Jesus' obedience resulted in new life for all who believe in Him (Rom. 6:4). Our Savior calls us to deny selfish desires, live sacrificially, and follow Him (Matt. 16:24). A godly life will bring Jesus honor and influence others for Him.
The Rewards of Patience
The Scriptures contain many stories of people who waited years or even decades before the Lord's promises came to pass. What modern believers can learn from the patience of biblical saints like Abraham, Joseph, David, and Paul is that waiting upon the Lord has eternal rewards.
Today let's look at Israel's most memorable monarch. David was the chosen heir to Israel's throne, but he spent years dodging King Saul's wrathful pursuit. Despite having two different opportunities for vengeance, David resisted the temptation and spared Saul's life. He chose to adhere to God's timetable for his coronation instead of dishonoring the Lord by killing the divinely anointed king. David's psalms reveal his intimate awareness of Yahweh's work in his life. The shepherd king not only achieved his objective through patience; he also observed that God's way was always best.
David left behind an incredible testimony of God's faithfulness for each of us to read and meditate upon. He was committed to waiting upon the Lord, and as a result, he had the Father's approval and blessing. We cannot underestimate the reward of living in divine favor. That isn't a special state reserved for "giants of the faith" like David. All who obediently endure until the Lord acts on their behalf abide in His favor.
David didn't receive his blessings because he was special; he was honored among men because he honored the Lord above all. And since he trusted in God's faithfulness, he endured hardship with patience. We, too, can expect to be blessed when we wait upon the Lord.
How to Hold On
Job was a man who certainly knew trouble and temptation, and yet he boldly claimed, "Though He slay me, I will hope in Him" (Job 13:15). That is commitment. Job had lost his children, his fortune, and his health, but he refused to abandon faith in God. The stricken man was determined to hold on because he trusted the Lord to do right.
Unwavering commitment to trust the Lord in all situations is a cornerstone of unshakable faith. From the vantage point of that foundation, we can focus our eyes upon God alone. It is easy to be distracted by circumstances and allow them to dictate our emotions. But if that's the case, then when life is good, we're happy; when times are tough, we're frustrated; and when hardship pours in, we're downright miserable and looking for escape.
Unlike Job, we are fortunate to have Scripture, which reveals God's nature and promises. And it is a wise believer who claims those promises when enduring hardship. For His Word tells us that our Father is always good, always just, always faithful, and always trustworthy. When we take our eyes off the whirl of day-to-day activity and concentrate on honoring Him and following in His way, we find a consistent peace that carries us through both plenty and poverty.
In order to hold on to God through any trial or temptation, commit to trust and follow Him all of your days. Lay claim to His promises: The unchanging Lord and Savior (Heb. 13:8) is committed to caring for you in all circumstances (1 Peter 5:7) and will never leave or forsake you (Heb. 13:5).
Baptism: Identifying with Christ
Christ began His public ministry with baptism. At the time, John the Baptist was calling people to confess their sins and demonstrate repentance through immersion in the river. So why did Jesus, the sinless One, ask to be baptized? At first, John actually refused, knowing Christ was the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). But Jesus wasn't demonstrating repentance; He was sacrificially identifying with sinful humankind.
As Christians, we're called to follow His example in all things, becoming more like Him as we grow in our faith. That's why baptism is the first step in following Jesus. As He was willing to identify Himself with us, we publicly identify with Him when we are baptized, which is a symbolic way of declaring, "I have trusted Jesus Christ as my Savior and believe that the debt of my sin is fully paid through His sacrifice. I believe that as He rose from the dead, I will also be resurrected through Him. I look forward to walking in God's will while I'm on the earth and living with Him throughout eternity. Since He loved me enough to identify Himself with me in my sin, I will show my love for Him by following His example right now, and for the rest of my days."
Baptism demonstrates our connection not only with Christ but also with our spiritual brothers and sisters--past, present, and future. We're joining everyone who has walked before us in faith, saying that we are members of one body, redeemed and brought to life by the same Lord.
From Disobedience to Obedience
"As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance." (1 Peter 1:14)
A graphic figure of speech often used in the Bible is the attribution of character traits to parental inheritance.
In our text, those who honor God's laws are called "obedient children"-a term conveying the same sort of message as "children of light, and the children of the day" (1 Thessalonians 5:5), as well as "children of the kingdom" (Matthew 13:38). In contrast, note Ephesians 5:6: "Because of these things [that is, the sinful practices listed in Ephesians 5:3-5] cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience." A definitive passage is 1 John 3:10: "In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother."
Those who are "by nature the children of wrath" (Ephesians 2:3) can, of course, become children of God by the new birth. This becomes the greatest of all incentives toward a godly life. The biblical terms "regeneration" and "born again" are widely misused today, but they represent wonderful, life-changing realities: "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light" (Ephesians 5:8).
Therefore, as in our text, we must no longer "fashion" ourselves according to our former lusts, but according to our new life. "Be not conformed [same Greek word as 'fashioned'] to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2). No longer in darkness and ignorance, we now "have light" as the "children of light" (John 12:36) and the "mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16) as children of wisdom (Matthew 11:19). We now have the very highest of all callings, as children of God, and we must "walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called" (Ephesians 4:1). HMM
"As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance." (1 Peter 1:14)
Born into God's Family
"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not." (1 John 3:1)
"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not." (1 John 3:1)
One of the most motivating truths of the Bible is the doctrine that we become sons of God when we are born again through faith in Christ. God then deals with us as a father does with his beloved children. We should therefore respond as obedient children who love their father.
The little epistle of 1 John has many references to this relationship and our consequent responsibilities. In the first place, "ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him" (2:29). "Whosoever is born of God doth not [habitually] commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God" (3:9).
Another attribute of our sonship is brotherly love: "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him" (5:1). "Every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God" (4:7). Furthermore, each child of God should have a victorious faith. "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith" (5:4).
All who are truly sons of God will never lose that holy relationship. "He that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not" (5:18). This is because of the fact that "greater is he that is in [us], than he that is in the world" (4:4).
There are many such references in the Bible. All stress that we should reflect the character of the Father in our lives as His children. The glorious, ultimate promise is this: "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is" (3:2). HMM
Living Stones in the Holy Temple
"And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house. . . . And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building." (1 Kings 5:17; 6:7)
"And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house. . . . And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building." (1 Kings 5:17; 6:7)
The building of Solomon's temple was one of the most remarkable construction operations in history. Much of the temple's legendary beauty was attributed to the great stones- beautiful and costly stones, quarried from beds of white limestone-which were used in its construction.
Probably the most remarkable feature of its building was the fact that each stone was carefully cut and dimensioned while still in the quarry, so that the temple itself could be erected in silence, with each stone fitting perfectly in place as it came to the temple site. The temple, as the structure where God would meet with His people, was considered too sacred to permit the noise of construction during its erection.
In the New Testament, the physical temple is taken as a type of the mighty house of God being erected by the Holy Spirit. "[Ye] are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit" (Ephesians 2:20-22).
Each believer is like one of the beautiful temple stones, so costly that the price was the shed blood of Christ Himself. Taken out of the great pit of sin by the Holy Spirit, each person, one by one, is being placed quietly in the great spiritual temple. "Ye also, as lively [i.e., living] stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:5). HMM
So Great Salvation
"How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him." (Hebrews 2:3)
"How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him." (Hebrews 2:3)
One of the greatest words of the Bible is "salvation," and one could expound its glories at length. Our salvation is so costly that its price was nothing less than the shed blood of the Son of God. "Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, . . . But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:18-19).
Nevertheless, there are only three verses in the New Testament in which the word is preceded by an adjective. These three descriptive terms are, therefore, very significant. The first of these is the one in our text-"so great" salvation. The adjective here is used only one other time in the New Testament, where it is translated "so mighty" (Revelation 16:18), describing a cataclysm so great that every island and mountain will disappear from the earth!
Not only is our salvation infinitely costly, but unlike everything else in our lives, it is unending: "And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him" (Hebrews 5:9). Salvation is not merely the impartation of a better life in this life; it is everlasting life in the future life, in the presence of its divine "author" (or "cause").
The third adjective is quite different. "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation" (Jude 3). Our salvation is also common! This same word is applied by Paul to "the common faith" (Titus 1:4). Basically, it means "ordinary." Thus, despite the infinite and eternal values associated with our great salvation, it is also very common and ordinary! Salvation is for anyone, and whosoever will may come! HMM
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What Christ's Death Meant to Him
"[Christ] gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2:14)
"[Christ] gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2:14)
If one were to ask why Jesus died, the average evangelical would usually say that He died to save us from our sins. It is true that "Christ died for our sins" (1 Corinthians 15:3), but this is not the whole answer, by any means. Too many Christians think of the death of Christ only in terms of what it means for them-not what it meant to Him.
Our text says that He died for us and redeemed us from iniquity, not just to keep us from going to hell, but to "purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." Paul says: "For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and the living" (Romans 14:9). He wants a people who will have Him as Lord of their lives. "Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; . . . That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish" (Ephesians 5:25-27).
"He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again" (2 Corinthians 5:15). "How much more shall the blood of Christ . . . purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Hebrews 9:14). Finally, the apostle Peter reminds us that the Lord Jesus Christ "bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness" (1 Peter 2:24), "that henceforth we should not serve sin" (Romans 6:6).
We who have been saved by the redeeming death of Christ for our sins often thank Him for what He has done for us-and we should. But we also should praise Him for what He has thereby done for Himself, and then seek always to live in such a way that His holy purpose is accomplished in our lives. HMM
The Order of Melchizedek
"The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek." (Psalm 110:4)
"The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek." (Psalm 110:4)
The importance of this intriguing verse is indicated both by the fact that it is the central verse of a great Messianic Psalm (quoted at least 12 times in the New Testament) and also because this one verse constitutes one of the main themes of chapters 5-7 of Hebrews, where it is quoted no fewer than five times (Hebrews 5:6, 10; 6:20; 7:17, 21), and where Melchizedek himself is mentioned nine times. It refers to the fascinating personage glimpsed briefly in Genesis 14:18-20. Melchizedek (meaning "King of Righteousness") is said to have been "King of Salem" (or "Peace"), but there is no record, either in secular history or elsewhere in the Bible, that there ever was such a city or earthly king. He was also called the "priest of the most high God" (Hebrews 7:1), and he suddenly appeared, then disappeared as suddenly as he had come.
Commentators mostly have assumed that Melchizedek was the chieftain of a small settlement of which we have no record, but this hardly does justice to the exalted descriptions of him in Scripture. He was obviously greater than Abraham (Hebrews 7:4), as well as Aaron, the founder of the Levitical priesthood. Furthermore, he was "without father, without mother, . . . having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually" (Hebrews 7:3). Such language is hardly appropriate merely because no genealogy is recorded.
If one takes the Bible literally, such statements could be true only of God Himself, appearing briefly in the preincarnate state of the Second Person, as King of all peace and righteousness. Now this same divine Person, "because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him" (Hebrews 7:24-25). HMM
To God Be the Glory
"Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake." (Psalm 115:1)
"Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake." (Psalm 115:1)
One of the great words of the Bible is the word "glory," and it should be evident that glory belongs to God, not man. Indeed, the very "heavens declare the glory of God" (Psalm 19:1). Not only do the heavens declare His glory, but "his glory [is] above the heavens" (113:4), and "the glory of the LORD shall endure for ever" (104:31). In heaven the mighty hosts of angels "give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name" (29:2).
It is thus singularly inappropriate for God's servants on Earth to seek glory for themselves. "Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD" (Jeremiah 9:23-24).
This Old Testament exhortation is echoed in the New. "God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; . . . That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 1:27, 29-31).
As our text reminds us, God manifests His glory to us today in both mercy and truth, mercifully saving us in Christ, who is Himself God's truth (John 14:6). Thus, in Christ "mercy and truth are met together" (Psalm 85:10), and we shall "praise thy name for thy lovingkindness [same word as 'mercy'] and for thy truth" (Psalm 138:2). HMM
| Crucified with Christ "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." (Galatians 5:24) |
Be Truly Converted
"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord." (Acts 3:19)
"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord." (Acts 3:19)
To be "converted" can mean many things. The Greek word simply means to "turn" or "change directions." Christian conversion, however, refers to turning away from the whole world system and turning to God through Christ. Similarly, to "repent," in the Greek, means essentially to "think differently" and, in a Christian context, to change one's whole thought process from worldly reasoning to spiritual, as centered in Christ and the Scriptures. Genuine Christian repentance and conversion result in having one's "sins . . . blotted out" and thus true "times of refreshing" from the Lord.
But without real repentance and conversion, there is no salvation. Jesus said: ". . . except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3, 5), and He also said: "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3).
There are, sad to say, multitudes of men and women who think they are Christians but are not. This is evidenced by the lack of real change in their thinking and living from the beliefs and practices of the world. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Christ Himself has warned that "many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, . . . And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you" (Matthew 7:22-23). Therefore it behooves all who profess Christ to seriously review their personal belief and behavior in terms of their conformity to the world of men or to the Word of God. As Paul exhorted: "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves" (2 Corinthians 13:5). HMM
The Dreadful Day of the Lord
"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD." (Malachi 4:5)
"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD." (Malachi 4:5)
This is the next-to-last verse of the Old Testament and so marks the final mention in the Old Testament of the fearsome theme of the Day of the Lord. As the text says, it will be a "great and dreadful day."
This phrase occurs frequently in the Bible, reminding us over and over again that although God is merciful and longsuffering, He will not remain silent forever. Man's "day" will end someday, and the day of the Lord will come.
Note some of the other prophecies: "Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! . . . the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light" (Amos 5:18). "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come" (Joel 2:31). "The great day of the LORD . . . is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness" (Zephaniah 1:14-15). "Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger" (Isaiah 13:9).
The phrase also is repeated in the New Testament, most awesomely of all in 2 Peter 3:10: "The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up" (see also 1 Thessalonians 5:2, etc.).
Without trying to sort out the precise sequences and events associated with all such prophecies, it is obvious that the Day of the Lord is a coming time of terrible judgment on all who have rejected or ignored the God who created them. But God's faithful believers can take great comfort, for then "the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD" (Zechariah 14:9). HMM
John's Creator/Savior
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." (John 1:1-3)
It is remarkable how many names and titles are associated with Jesus Christ (meaning "anointed Savior") in the first chapter of John's gospel. In verse 9, He is called "the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." He is "the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" in verse 14, and "the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father" in verse 18. John the Baptist called Him "the Lord" in verse 23, "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" in verse 29, and "the Son of God" in verse 34. The disciples then called Him "Master" in verse 38 and "Messias" in verse 41, as well as "Jesus of Nazareth" in verse 45. Nathanael acknowledged Him as "King of Israel" in verse 49, and Jesus called Himself "the Son of man" in verse 51.
But the very first title ascribed to Him by John, as he introduced his gospel, was simply "the Word" (v. 1), from a word hard to translate in its fullness. In the New Testament, it is rendered by "word," "reason," "communication," "doctrine," speech," and many others. With reference to Christ, it tells us that He is always the One who reveals, speaks for, manifests, explains, and incarnates the Heavenly Father.
John 1:1 even takes us back before Genesis 1:1, where we learn that the pre-incarnate Christ created all things (c.f. Colossians 1:16). "In the beginning" He was, before He created! All things were made by Him. "By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth" (Psalm 33:6).
As the eternal, omnipotent Word of God, the pre-incarnate Christ spoke all things into being. Jesus Christ is the Word; and the Word is God! HMM
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." (John 1:1-3)
Prosperity Preaching: Deceitful and Deadlyby John Piper
When I read about prosperity-preaching churches, my response is: "If I were not on the inside of Christianity, I wouldn't want in." In other words, if this is the message of Jesus, no thank you. Luring people to Christ to get rich is both deceitful and deadly. It's deceitful because when Jesus himself called us, he said things like: "Any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:33). And it's deadly because the desire to be rich plunges "people into ruin and destruction" (1 Timothy 6:9). So here is my plea to preachers of the gospel.
1. Don't develop a philosophy of ministry that makes it harder for people to get into heaven.
Jesus said, "How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" His disciples were astonished, as many in the "prosperity" movement should be. So Jesus went on to raise their astonishment even higher by saying, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." They respond in disbelief: "Then who can be saved?" Jesus says, "With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God" (Mark 10:23-27).
My question for prosperity preachers is: Why would you want to develop a ministry focus that makes it harder for people to enter heaven?
2. Do not develop a philosophy of ministry that kindles suicidal desires in people.
Paul said, "There is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content." But then he warned against the desire to be rich. And by implication, he warned against preachers who stir up the desire to be rich instead of helping people get rid of it. He warned, "Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs" (1 Timothy 6:6-10).
So my question for prosperity preachers is: Why would you want to develop a ministry that encourages people to pierce themselves with many pangs and plunge themselves into ruin and destruction?
3. Do not develop a philosophy of ministry that encourages vulnerability to moth and rust.
Jesus warns against the effort to lay up treasures on earth. That is, he tells us to be givers, not keepers. "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal" (Matthew 6:19).
Yes, we all keep something. But given the built-in tendency toward greed in all of us, why would we take the focus off Jesus and turn it upside down?
4. Don't develop a philosophy of ministry that makes hard work a means of amassing wealth.
Paul said we should not steal. The alternative was hard work with our own hands. But the main purpose was not merely to hoard or even to have. The purpose was "to have to give." "Let him labor, working with his hands, that he may have to give to him who is in need" (Ephesians 4:28). This is not a justification for being rich in order to give more. It is a call to make more and keep less so you can give more. There is no reason why a person who makes $200,000 should live any differently from the way a person who makes $80,000 lives. Find a wartime lifestyle; cap your expenditures; then give the rest away.
Why would you want to encourage people to think that they should possess wealth in order to be a lavish giver? Why not encourage them to keep their lives more simple and be an even more lavish giver? Would that not add to their generosity a strong testimony that Christ, and not possessions, is their treasure?
5. Don't develop a philosophy of ministry that promotes less faith in the promises of God to be for us what money can't be.
The reason the writer to the Hebrews tells us to be content with what we have is that the opposite implies less faith in the promises of God. He says, "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'" (Hebrews 13:5-6).
If the Bible tells us that being content with what we have honors the promise of God never to forsake us, why would we want to teach people to want to be rich?
6. Don't develop a philosophy of ministry that contributes to your people being choked to death.
Jesus warns that the word of God, which is meant to give us life, can be choked off from any effectiveness by riches. He says it is like a seed that grows up among thorns that choke it to death: "They are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the . . . riches . . . of life, and their fruit does not mature" (Luke 8:14).
Why would we want to encourage people to pursue the very thing that Jesus warns will choke us to death?
7. Don't develop a philosophy of ministry that takes the seasoning out of the salt and puts the light under a basket.
What is it about Christians that makes them the salt of the earth and the light of the world? It is not wealth. The desire for wealth and the pursuit of wealth tastes and looks just like the world. It does not offer the world anything different from what it already believes in. The great tragedy of prosperity-preaching is that a person does not have to be spiritually awakened in order to embrace it; one needs only to be greedy. Getting rich in the name of Jesus is not the salt of the earth or the light of the world. In this, the world simply sees a reflection of itself. And if it works, they will buy it.
The context of Jesus' saying shows us what the salt and light are. They are the joyful willingness to suffering for Christ. Here is what Jesus said, "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. You are the salt of the earth. . . . You are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:11-14).
What will make the world taste (the salt) and see (the light) of Christ in us is not that we love wealth the same way they do. Rather, it will be the willingness and the ability of Christians to love others through suffering, all the while rejoicing because their reward is in heaven with Jesus. This is inexplicable on human terms. This is supernatural. But to attract people with promises of prosperity is simply natural. It is not the message of Jesus. It is not what he died to achieve.
Pastor John
There is No Such Thing as a Perfect Decision
LYSA TERKEURST
1. Don't develop a philosophy of ministry that makes it harder for people to get into heaven.
Jesus said, "How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" His disciples were astonished, as many in the "prosperity" movement should be. So Jesus went on to raise their astonishment even higher by saying, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." They respond in disbelief: "Then who can be saved?" Jesus says, "With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God" (Mark 10:23-27).
My question for prosperity preachers is: Why would you want to develop a ministry focus that makes it harder for people to enter heaven?
2. Do not develop a philosophy of ministry that kindles suicidal desires in people.
Paul said, "There is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content." But then he warned against the desire to be rich. And by implication, he warned against preachers who stir up the desire to be rich instead of helping people get rid of it. He warned, "Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs" (1 Timothy 6:6-10).
So my question for prosperity preachers is: Why would you want to develop a ministry that encourages people to pierce themselves with many pangs and plunge themselves into ruin and destruction?
3. Do not develop a philosophy of ministry that encourages vulnerability to moth and rust.
Jesus warns against the effort to lay up treasures on earth. That is, he tells us to be givers, not keepers. "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal" (Matthew 6:19).
Yes, we all keep something. But given the built-in tendency toward greed in all of us, why would we take the focus off Jesus and turn it upside down?
4. Don't develop a philosophy of ministry that makes hard work a means of amassing wealth.
Paul said we should not steal. The alternative was hard work with our own hands. But the main purpose was not merely to hoard or even to have. The purpose was "to have to give." "Let him labor, working with his hands, that he may have to give to him who is in need" (Ephesians 4:28). This is not a justification for being rich in order to give more. It is a call to make more and keep less so you can give more. There is no reason why a person who makes $200,000 should live any differently from the way a person who makes $80,000 lives. Find a wartime lifestyle; cap your expenditures; then give the rest away.
Why would you want to encourage people to think that they should possess wealth in order to be a lavish giver? Why not encourage them to keep their lives more simple and be an even more lavish giver? Would that not add to their generosity a strong testimony that Christ, and not possessions, is their treasure?
5. Don't develop a philosophy of ministry that promotes less faith in the promises of God to be for us what money can't be.
The reason the writer to the Hebrews tells us to be content with what we have is that the opposite implies less faith in the promises of God. He says, "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'" (Hebrews 13:5-6).
If the Bible tells us that being content with what we have honors the promise of God never to forsake us, why would we want to teach people to want to be rich?
6. Don't develop a philosophy of ministry that contributes to your people being choked to death.
Jesus warns that the word of God, which is meant to give us life, can be choked off from any effectiveness by riches. He says it is like a seed that grows up among thorns that choke it to death: "They are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the . . . riches . . . of life, and their fruit does not mature" (Luke 8:14).
Why would we want to encourage people to pursue the very thing that Jesus warns will choke us to death?
7. Don't develop a philosophy of ministry that takes the seasoning out of the salt and puts the light under a basket.
What is it about Christians that makes them the salt of the earth and the light of the world? It is not wealth. The desire for wealth and the pursuit of wealth tastes and looks just like the world. It does not offer the world anything different from what it already believes in. The great tragedy of prosperity-preaching is that a person does not have to be spiritually awakened in order to embrace it; one needs only to be greedy. Getting rich in the name of Jesus is not the salt of the earth or the light of the world. In this, the world simply sees a reflection of itself. And if it works, they will buy it.
The context of Jesus' saying shows us what the salt and light are. They are the joyful willingness to suffering for Christ. Here is what Jesus said, "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. You are the salt of the earth. . . . You are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:11-14).
What will make the world taste (the salt) and see (the light) of Christ in us is not that we love wealth the same way they do. Rather, it will be the willingness and the ability of Christians to love others through suffering, all the while rejoicing because their reward is in heaven with Jesus. This is inexplicable on human terms. This is supernatural. But to attract people with promises of prosperity is simply natural. It is not the message of Jesus. It is not what he died to achieve.
Pastor John
There is No Such Thing as a Perfect Decision
LYSA TERKEURST
"In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." Proverbs 3:6 (ESV)
Recently I surveyed people through Twitter and Facebook with this question: What do you think is the biggest reason people struggle to make decisions?
Overwhelmingly, fear was the answer.
. Fear of the unknown
. Fear of failure
. Fear of getting hurt
. Fear of what others will think
. Fear of rejection
. Fear of missing out on something better
. Fear of making the wrong decision
. Fear of failure
. Fear of getting hurt
. Fear of what others will think
. Fear of rejection
. Fear of missing out on something better
. Fear of making the wrong decision
I absolutely understand all these fears. I wrestle with them myself. And some wrestling with fear is good. It can keep us from making poor choices. For example, my kids' fear of being restricted often keeps them from missing curfews.
That kind of wrestling with fear is good. But then other times I can still feel like I'm wrestling with fear to the point where I'm paralyzed from moving forward.
Do you have a decision to make right now where uncertainty is making you feel stuck?
I often get analysis paralysis trying to figure out which choice is the perfect decision. And if I can't discern the perfect choice I feel paralyzed.
Here's the thing that keeps me from staying stuck: There is no such thing as a perfect decision.
Perfection is an illusion.
Are there good choices and bad choices? Yes, of course. But at this point in my life, I'm not getting tripped up as much in the good versus the bad decisions.
More often now, I find myself stuck between a good choice and another good choice, trying to figure out which one is perfect.
Should I let my girls take dance lessons they would love but that would require us to eat on the run? Or tell them no so we can have family dinners at home? Good and good.
Should I teach that Bible study every Tuesday night at church or be at home to help my kids with their homework? Good and good.
Should my 20-year-old daughter go on a date with the guy from our church or just keep things between them on a friendship level? Good and good.
What about bigger good and good things?
Should I go on a mission trip or to a marriage conference? Good and good.
Should I quit my job to start that ministry I keep talking about or bring more of a ministry-heart into my existing job? Good and good.
These good and good decisions happen every day. But here's a secret answer you must know when trying to pick the perfect choice: There is no choice that will turn out perfectly in every way.
As long as you desire to please God with your decisions, no decision you make will be completely awful. Nor will any decision you make be completely awesome.
Every decision is a package deal of both.
In other words, since there is no perfect choice, I don't have to be paralyzed by the fear that I'm not making the exact right decision.
Again, I want to please God with this decision. Our key verse, Proverbs 3:6, promises that He will make our paths straight if we acknowledge Him in all we do. So I also want to demonstrate my trust in Him by actually making a decision - having made peace with the fact it won't all be perfect.
There is no perfect job.
There is no perfect school.
There is no perfect spouse.
There is no perfect church.
There is no perfect way to raise kids.
There is no perfect decision.
There is no perfect school.
There is no perfect spouse.
There is no perfect church.
There is no perfect way to raise kids.
There is no perfect decision.
Each of these choices will have just enough imperfections to make them some combination of good and not so good.
So here's where the certainty is: My imperfections will never override God's promises. God's promises are not dependent on my ability to always choose well, but rather on His ability to use well.
Dear Lord, I trust You beyond any fear I have of making the wrong decision. Today, I hand over all my uncertainties to You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Abusing God's Patience
Have you ever ignored the press of conviction upon your heart? Maybe you rationalized your wrongdoing with the thought that if God were really upset, He'd put a stop to things by disciplining you. Psalm 50:21 reminds us that the silence of heaven does not mean approval. Remaining in sin is an abuse of the Lord's patience.
When God seems slow to react, we might hope He's overlooking our transgressions--we'd like to continue in sin because the momentary pleasure is more appealing than obedience. But thankfully, the Father knows our weaknesses, our innate carnality, and the state of our spiritual growth, and He therefore measures His response. Motivated by love and a desire to gently restore His children to righteousness, God refrains from doling out immediate punishment. Instead, He waits for the Holy Spirit's proddings to impact the believer's heart. The weight of conviction is actually an invitation to turn from wrongdoing and return to godliness.
However, we're a stubborn people. There are times when we persist in sin because the sentence against an evil deed isn't executed quickly (Eccl. 8:11). In this dangerous situa-tion, it's possible to immerse ourselves in sin and harden our hearts against the Lord. Then the Holy Spirit's call to repentance falls on spiritual ears rapidly going deaf.
As we learn and understand more about God and His ways, we are increasingly responsible to live righteously. The Lord is not slow; He's patient. Do not abuse His patience with callous disregard for His statutes. Repent and be holy in the sight of the Lord.
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