Grace Isn't Lenience - Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org
"But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out." -Numbers 32:23
Sometimes we confuse God's grace with lenience or maybe even ignorance. Because we don't face the immediate consequences of our actions, we might think we are getting away with it.
But the Bible says, "Your sin will find you out" (Numbers 32:23). If we were to go back and translate that from the original Hebrew, it would say, "Your sin will find you out." And what that means is your sin will find you out.
When Jonah went and preached to the Ninevites, he warned them, "Forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" (Jonah 3:4) Actually there was hope in that message, because the fact they were being warned by God implied there could be forgiveness if they turned from their sin. When God brought His judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah, there was no warning. There was no prophet Jonah walking through the streets, preaching to them. It came on them unexpectedly. In Nineveh's case, however, God gave them a chance.
God does give a lot of chances. We might sin and then tell ourselves, "Nothing happened. Maybe God wasn't paying attention. Maybe God doesn't care." Or worse yet, we'll deceive ourselves into thinking that God is okay with it. God isn't okay with it. God never will contradict His Word. We are going to face the consequences of our sin, but God may be giving us the opportunity to repent. As Ecclesiastes 8:11 says, "When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong" (NLT).
We will reap what we sow, no matter what. It may be ten years. It may be a year. It may be a month. It may be a week. It could be ten minutes. But it will happen. The wheels of God's justice may grind slowly, but they grind surely.
No Complaints
�And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.� (Numbers 11:1)
�And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.� (Numbers 11:1)
The Lord is not pleased when we complain about our circumstances, no matter how grievous they may seem to us. Our example is Christ, always. �For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps� (1 Peter 2:21).
The children of Israel complained once too much. Forgetting all of God�s blessings in miraculously freeing them from slavery and providing all their needs, they repeatedly complained about their lot, one thing after another. �But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. . . . Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer� (1 Corinthians 10:5-6, 10).
God may not deal with a complaining Christian as severely as He did with His chosen people, Israel, but we can be sure He is displeased when we, who have received the blessing of eternal salvation by His gracious gift through Christ, forget His benefits and complain about His testing. �Do all things without mumurings and disputings,� He has commanded (Philippians 2:14)�that is, without complaining and arguing about our treatment.
We can be confident that He is allowing these difficulties for some good purpose in preparing us for our service for Him in eternity. We should not forget what happened to the complainers in ancient Israel. �Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition� (1 Corinthians 10:11). HMM
The Reverend God
�He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.� (Psalm 111:9)
�He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.� (Psalm 111:9)
It is most interesting that the adjective �reverend� is used only this once in the entire King James Bible. And there it applies to God, not to any man!
However, the Hebrew word so translated in this verse (y�r��) occurs therein frequently, usually being translated (some 30 times) as �terrible.� The first time it is applied to God was by Moses. �Thou shalt not be affrighted at them: for the LORD thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible� (Deuteronomy 7:21). Note also Moses� testimony in Deuteronomy 10:17: �For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward.�
For those who would deny or oppose Him, �it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God� (Hebrews 10:31). But God is also uniquely a God of love. He is a merciful and forgiving God; He is �the God of all grace� (1 Peter 5:10) and of many other wonderful attributes.
�He looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth� (God is thus omnipresent). �He fashioneth their hearts alike� (He is omnipotent). �He considereth all their works� (He is omniscient) (Psalm 33:14-15).
�In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.� If a person truly believes the first verse of the Bible, he should be able to believe all other verses in the Bible, no matter what men or devils can say to the contrary. Our God, who has also become our Redeemer and Savior, is �eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God� (1 Timothy 1:17).
He is indeed a God of many attributes. HMM
Behavior Checklist
�Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.� (Philippians 2:14-15)
�Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.� (Philippians 2:14-15)
The Holy Spirit makes sure that we do not take lightly the obligation to live godly lives. This �list� contains both warnings and promises.
Everything is to be done without �murmurings� and �disputings.� Both words are very interesting synonyms of heart attitudes that produce ungodly behavior. The Greek word translated �murmur� is goggusmos, and it is almost an onomatopoeia (sounds like what it actually is)�a secret debate, muttering to oneself. The �dispute� (Greek dialogismos) suggests a logical debate with oneself.
We are commanded to excise that kind of behavior from ourselves so that we may well be blameless and harmless as the �sons of God,� living �without rebuke.� These words are powerful in their description of God�s expectations for us.
The blameless condition is first an eternal promise that comes with salvation: �To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God� (1 Thessalonians 3:13). That condition �works out� in this life as a faultless reputation that is harmless. Paul uses the term this way: �I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil� (Romans 16:19).
Finally, if we eliminate �murmuring and disputings� from our inner thoughts and actively seek to be �blameless and harmless� with our external behavior, we will be �without rebuke� in the middle of this sadly sinful world. �Be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless� (2 Peter 3:14). HMM III
Doing God's Pleasure
�Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.� (Philippians 2:12-13)
In this passage with an unusual play on words, we are told to give our salvation a �workout.� The Greek word is katergazomai, an interesting compound word that means to �perform.� When we are told that God is working in us, the Greek word is energe�, which is the �energy� to do work.
Paul puts it this way: �Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh [energe�] in us� (Ephesians 3:20). This �energizing� is an internal and spiritual resource, demonstrated most poignantly by �the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working [energe�] of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead� (Ephesians 1:19-20). Since the energy to produce comes from the same Creator who saved us by grace, He has every right to expect us to �will and to do of his good pleasure.�
Peter taught us that God provided �all things that pertain unto life and godliness� (2 Peter 1:3). The Thessalonican church was told that �the word of God . . . effectually worketh also in you that believe� (1 Thessalonians 2:13). And of course, �all scripture . . . is profitable. . . . That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works� (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Our objective, having been supernaturally supplied by the One who saved us, is to �walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness� (Colossians 1:10-11). HMM III
�Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.� (Philippians 2:12-13)
Abiding Words
�If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.� (John 15:7)
�If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.� (John 15:7)
In order for the words of the Lord really to abide in us, it seems clear that we should commit as many of them to memory�not only in our minds but in our hearts�as we possibly can. �Thy word have I hid in mine heart,� the psalmist said, �that I might not sin against thee� (Psalm 119:11).
There are many promises of blessing to those who have God�s Word in their hearts. �For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips� (Proverbs 22:18). �My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; . . . Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God� (Proverbs 2:1, 5).
Both the apostle Paul and the apostle Peter have noted the importance of Scripture memorization. Paul says: �Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord� (Colossians 3:16).
Peter�s exhortation is as follows: �This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets [i.e., the Old Testament Scriptures], and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour [i.e., the New Testament Scriptures]� (2 Peter 3:1-2). The words �be mindful� mean essentially �recall to mind.�
Since the Scriptures cannot be recalled to mind unless they�ve first been installed in the mind, and since they cannot abide in our hearts unless we first hide them in our hearts, it is surely pleasing and honoring to God that we learn �by heart� as much of His Word as we can. HMM
Working Out Salvation
�Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.� (Philippians 2:12)
�Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.� (Philippians 2:12)
This verse is sometimes used by those who would insist that our salvation requires �works� either to obtain or to maintain the �new birth.� Even a casual reading of the New Testament does not support that view (John 5:24; 6:37; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 4:24; etc.).
This passage, both in context and by specific word choices of the Holy Spirit, is focused on what we are to do with our salvation�obey and produce! The writer of the Hebrews letter spoke of �things that accompany salvation� (Hebrews 6:9). And even the Old Testament prophet Isaiah insisted that we should �draw water out of the wells of salvation� (Isaiah 12:3).
Two parables speak specifically to this work: the gift of the talents and the gift of the pounds. God illustrated His grace by the gift of �talents� (Matthew 25:14-30) to His workers, as well as His expectation of their productivity for the profit of the Owner. Differing amounts were given to the servants based on their abilities, and judgment was based on their efficiency, or the percent of their return. In the gift of the pounds (Luke 19:13-27), God is the investor and His servants are all of us who receive (John 1:12) the gift of salvation. What we do with this gift is our responsibility. The same amount was given to each servant, without the mention of abilities. Judgment was then based on the servants� effectiveness, or gain.
It is no wonder, then, that Paul exhorted us to �work out� the priceless salvation that has been given to us with �fear and trembling.� God is �working� in us, and He expects us to �will and to do his good pleasure� (Philippians 2:13). HMM III
The Meek of the Earth
�Seek ye the LORD all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD�s anger.� (Zephaniah 2:3)
�Seek ye the LORD all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD�s anger.� (Zephaniah 2:3)
This phrase, �the meek of the earth,� occurs three times in the Bible (see also Psalm 76:9, which promises their salvation; and Isaiah 11:4, which assures them justice). Our text promises deliverance from God�s wrath.
�Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth� (Matthew 5:5), said Jesus, referring to the promise of Psalm 37:11: �But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.�
There are many other similar promises: �The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way� (Psalm 25:9). �He will beautify the meek with salvation� (Psalm 149:4), so we need to put on �the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price� (1 Peter 3:4).
That meekness is not weakness is made clear from the first use of the word in the Bible. �Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth� (Numbers 12:3). Moses was strong and courageous, but also deeply humble and self-sacrificing; a man of prayer and trust in the Word of God, willing to defend it at all costs. The Lord Jesus defined meekness in terms of His own human character: �Learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart� (Matthew 11:29).
A meek spirit enables a Christian to maintain composure in the face of opposition, to accept adversity without complaint, promotion without arrogance, demotion without resentment. It produces a peace that no trouble can disturb and that no prosperity can puff up. Therefore, as our text commands: �Seek meekness!� HMM
In the Midst
�And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.� (John 20:26)
Jesus, in His earthly life, was often �in the midst� of things. At the age of 12 He was found in the temple, �sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions� (Luke 2:46). Then, early in His adult ministry, His hometown enemies at Nazareth attempted to kill Him, �but he passing through the midst of them went his way� (Luke 4:30). Later, in Jerusalem, a group of Pharisees sought to stone Him, but He simply went �through the midst of them, and so passed by� (John 8:59).
Finally, however, they were able to put Him to death, and as a bitter testimony of their hatred, they had Him crucified with two common criminals, �on either side one, and Jesus in the midst� (John 19:18). Three days later, the tomb was emptied, and He would never again be in the midst of enemies. Instead, He met His disciples in the upper room.
There, �when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you� (John 20:19). Eight days later, with Thomas present, Jesus once again appeared in their midst and greeted them with reassuring words of peace.
Though now in heaven, His presence still speaks peace to us through His Holy Spirit, for He promised: �Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them� (Matthew 18:20). Even in the ages to come, He will be in our midst, for John says, describing that scene: �In the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain,� and then all creation will sing �unto the Lamb for ever and ever� (Revelation 5:6, 13). HMM
�And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.� (John 20:26)
Waiting on God
Psalms 37:1-9 Waiting on God is an important spiritual discipline in our walk of faith. King David�s life teaches us about the value of following the Lord�s plan and the danger in moving ahead of Him.
When David was a young shepherd boy, the prophet Samuel anointed him as Israel�s next king. Yet he did not become the ruler for many years. Waiting for the Lord to place him on the throne was made more difficult because the current king, Saul, turned against David and repeatedly tried to take his life. Despite the opportunity to take matters into his own hands and kill his enemy, David held back. He wouldn�t allow anyone else to attack Saul either (1 Sam. 24:1-7). He waited on God and was greatly blessed for his obedience.
King David also knew what it was like to move ahead without the Lord. One year he chose not to join his troops in battle, even though that was one of his duties (2 Sam. 11:1). During the time he stayed home, he noticed Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, and he coveted her. Acting upon his desires, he conceived a child with her and then tried to cover up his sin. What a mess he made of his life. Instead of following the Lord�s plan and being blessed, he experienced divine chastisement and much heartache.
As believers, we want to obey the Lord, but there may be situations when intense desire propels us forward without waiting for His direction. Like David, we will experience the blessing of obedience or the heartache of disobedience. Be sure to seek out God�s plan before you act.
Our Caring and Able Father
2 Chronicles 20:1-4
Everyone faces challenges in life. Whether our struggles are financial, vocational, relational, or physical, we can be certain that nobody is exempt. Fortunately, we serve a God who is both interested in our problems and able to take care of them.
When trouble looms, prayer is always a good first step to take. But having a foundation upon which to build our prayers also makes a difference. Jehoshaphat, the King of Judah, faced an enormous challenge. Three different tribes--the Moabites,Amonites, and Meunites--simultaneously waged war against him. Most leaders would have crumbled under such pressure, or at the very least taken drastic measures, but Jehoshaphat was a wise king. Though afraid, he did not strike out against his enemies.Instead, knowing that God was interested in his dilemma, he "turned his attention to seek the Lord" and proclaimed a fast throughout the land (2 Chron. 20:1-3).
Jehoshaphat also knew that God, who was greater than any earthly problem, had done miraculous things for Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, and Daniel. That same God would help him, too, in his hour of need. We should never underestimate the Lord's interest in our affairs. He helped our ancestors in the Bible, and He can and will help His children today.
It's easy to think our problems are unimportant in the eyes of God, but He doesn't feel that way at all. Whatever concerns us concerns Him. If we, like Jehoshaphat, turn right to God and proclaim His power, He will intervene. And no matter how great our challenges are, God is greater.
Strength in Waiting
Isaiah 40:28-31
God has a purpose and plan for your life, and His timing is perfect. Sometimes He answers our prayers with "yes" or "no." But at other times, He says "not now"--when that is the case, we can avail ourselves of the rich rewards that come when we wait.
One very practical blessing is that God strengthens us as we lean on Him during delays. Isaiah 40:31 tells us that "those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength." We are given the metaphor of an eagle with wind beneath his wings. It is interesting to note that the words "wind" and "spirit" come from the same Greek word--pneuma. The spirit of God lifts us up, and His energy and strength sustain us as we abide in Him.
When we are facing a difficult decision, the real key is learning to wait. There is no verse of Scripture that tells us to take control and fight our own battles. God is the one who fights them on our behalf (2 Chron. 20:15). We are to be patient and trust in Him.
When David faced his greatest battles, he waited upon the Lord. God delivered him from destruction and set his feet on solid ground. (Ps. 40:1-3) He will do the same for you. When you abide in Him, He gives supernatural energy to accomplish the things He requires of you--His Spirit does for you what you cannot do for yourself.
In reading through the Scriptures, we see that every time one of God's saints gains a victory, he or she is waiting and trusting in the Lord. You can likewise experience triumph in your life. When you have the omnipotent Creator of the universe acting on your behalf, you can't lose.
The Reason We Serve
Colossians 3:23-24
In His Word, God commands us to serve one another. However, there will inevitably be difficult people in life who make this mandate challenging.
Thankfully, a biblical definition of service can help us obey the Lord's instruction, no matter who the recipient may be. And the reason is that God is actually the One whom we serve.
When we have this motivation underlying everything we do, it will impact the quality of our work and keep us from becoming discouraged. Then, whatever our task--whether we lead a country, teach children, or do something that seems unattractive--if our goal is to glorify God, we will do our best in His strength. And we trust Him to use us for His purposes, even if our labor should appear fruitless to us or to others.
When I was a child, I had to wake up before daylight to deliver newspapers. Even in rain or snow, I still had to complete the job. This was hard for me to do. Then the Lord impressed upon my heart that I was not merely bringing papers to people in my town; I was serving Jesus. As I understood this truth more, waking up and working was purposeful and doable. Truthfully, I still did not always feel like facing the work, but feelings were no longer relevant. I was serving my Maker.
Whomever God calls us to serve, and whatever He tells us to do, we can obey with joyful hearts when it's done for Jesus. If this is our motivation, we won't need worldly approval or evidence of impact. We need to know only that God is pleased and promises to reward those who serve Him (Heb. 11:6).
Requirements of Waiting
Psalms 25:3-5
Waiting for God's timing is neither passive nor idle--it takes discipline and commitment. I can think of four basic requirements for successful waiting.
Faith. The Lord's ways and timing are nothing like ours (Isa. 55:8-9). From a human standpoint, He usually does things in a totally different way than we expect. But as we trust Him more, we'll discover that His approach isn't so strange after all. And when we live in harmony with God's will, His timing starts to make sense.
Humility. To wait for the Lord, you must be convinced of your need for Him. Submission to His divine will requires humility--you cannot charge ahead with your own plans and at the same time be fully surrendered to God.
Patience. Are you willing to remain in your current position until you receive clear divine direction? Pausing for clarity from God does not mean that you disengage and allow circumstances to fall apart around you. Waiting upon the Lord is a deliberate decision that requires patience.
Courage. Waiting for God often takes courage, especially when there is pressure to act. If you're not careful, you might stop listening to the Lord and follow other advice. So keep your ear attuned to the voice of Almighty God, and you won t go wrong.
Waiting upon the Lord is one of the wisest, most important decisions we make in life. And contrary to popular assumptions, it is an active endeavor that requires faith, humility, patience, and courage. When you rely upon God and wait for His timing, the various facets of life fall into place.
God Goes Before You and Follows You
WENDY POPE
Upon arriving in the school parking lot, he would unbuckle, put on his backpack, get out of the van and wait for me. Together, we looked for cars and decided whether it was safe to cross. While I remained next to the van, he crossed the parking lot. Little did he know that I kept my eyes on him the whole time and quickly followed at a distance � far enough behind so he didn�t see me.
My son thought he was "the stuff." It was wonderful to see his confidence soar. He followed the same path each day and I protected him without his knowledge.
Our heavenly Father walks behind us too. Psalm 139:5 reminds us, �You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.�
Psalms 37:1-9 Waiting on God is an important spiritual discipline in our walk of faith. King David�s life teaches us about the value of following the Lord�s plan and the danger in moving ahead of Him.
When David was a young shepherd boy, the prophet Samuel anointed him as Israel�s next king. Yet he did not become the ruler for many years. Waiting for the Lord to place him on the throne was made more difficult because the current king, Saul, turned against David and repeatedly tried to take his life. Despite the opportunity to take matters into his own hands and kill his enemy, David held back. He wouldn�t allow anyone else to attack Saul either (1 Sam. 24:1-7). He waited on God and was greatly blessed for his obedience.
King David also knew what it was like to move ahead without the Lord. One year he chose not to join his troops in battle, even though that was one of his duties (2 Sam. 11:1). During the time he stayed home, he noticed Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, and he coveted her. Acting upon his desires, he conceived a child with her and then tried to cover up his sin. What a mess he made of his life. Instead of following the Lord�s plan and being blessed, he experienced divine chastisement and much heartache.
As believers, we want to obey the Lord, but there may be situations when intense desire propels us forward without waiting for His direction. Like David, we will experience the blessing of obedience or the heartache of disobedience. Be sure to seek out God�s plan before you act.
Our Caring and Able Father
2 Chronicles 20:1-4
Everyone faces challenges in life. Whether our struggles are financial, vocational, relational, or physical, we can be certain that nobody is exempt. Fortunately, we serve a God who is both interested in our problems and able to take care of them.
When trouble looms, prayer is always a good first step to take. But having a foundation upon which to build our prayers also makes a difference. Jehoshaphat, the King of Judah, faced an enormous challenge. Three different tribes--the Moabites,Amonites, and Meunites--simultaneously waged war against him. Most leaders would have crumbled under such pressure, or at the very least taken drastic measures, but Jehoshaphat was a wise king. Though afraid, he did not strike out against his enemies.Instead, knowing that God was interested in his dilemma, he "turned his attention to seek the Lord" and proclaimed a fast throughout the land (2 Chron. 20:1-3).
Jehoshaphat also knew that God, who was greater than any earthly problem, had done miraculous things for Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, and Daniel. That same God would help him, too, in his hour of need. We should never underestimate the Lord's interest in our affairs. He helped our ancestors in the Bible, and He can and will help His children today.
It's easy to think our problems are unimportant in the eyes of God, but He doesn't feel that way at all. Whatever concerns us concerns Him. If we, like Jehoshaphat, turn right to God and proclaim His power, He will intervene. And no matter how great our challenges are, God is greater.
Strength in Waiting
Isaiah 40:28-31
God has a purpose and plan for your life, and His timing is perfect. Sometimes He answers our prayers with "yes" or "no." But at other times, He says "not now"--when that is the case, we can avail ourselves of the rich rewards that come when we wait.
One very practical blessing is that God strengthens us as we lean on Him during delays. Isaiah 40:31 tells us that "those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength." We are given the metaphor of an eagle with wind beneath his wings. It is interesting to note that the words "wind" and "spirit" come from the same Greek word--pneuma. The spirit of God lifts us up, and His energy and strength sustain us as we abide in Him.
When we are facing a difficult decision, the real key is learning to wait. There is no verse of Scripture that tells us to take control and fight our own battles. God is the one who fights them on our behalf (2 Chron. 20:15). We are to be patient and trust in Him.
When David faced his greatest battles, he waited upon the Lord. God delivered him from destruction and set his feet on solid ground. (Ps. 40:1-3) He will do the same for you. When you abide in Him, He gives supernatural energy to accomplish the things He requires of you--His Spirit does for you what you cannot do for yourself.
In reading through the Scriptures, we see that every time one of God's saints gains a victory, he or she is waiting and trusting in the Lord. You can likewise experience triumph in your life. When you have the omnipotent Creator of the universe acting on your behalf, you can't lose.
The Reason We Serve
Colossians 3:23-24
In His Word, God commands us to serve one another. However, there will inevitably be difficult people in life who make this mandate challenging.
Thankfully, a biblical definition of service can help us obey the Lord's instruction, no matter who the recipient may be. And the reason is that God is actually the One whom we serve.
When we have this motivation underlying everything we do, it will impact the quality of our work and keep us from becoming discouraged. Then, whatever our task--whether we lead a country, teach children, or do something that seems unattractive--if our goal is to glorify God, we will do our best in His strength. And we trust Him to use us for His purposes, even if our labor should appear fruitless to us or to others.
When I was a child, I had to wake up before daylight to deliver newspapers. Even in rain or snow, I still had to complete the job. This was hard for me to do. Then the Lord impressed upon my heart that I was not merely bringing papers to people in my town; I was serving Jesus. As I understood this truth more, waking up and working was purposeful and doable. Truthfully, I still did not always feel like facing the work, but feelings were no longer relevant. I was serving my Maker.
Whomever God calls us to serve, and whatever He tells us to do, we can obey with joyful hearts when it's done for Jesus. If this is our motivation, we won't need worldly approval or evidence of impact. We need to know only that God is pleased and promises to reward those who serve Him (Heb. 11:6).
Requirements of Waiting
Psalms 25:3-5
Waiting for God's timing is neither passive nor idle--it takes discipline and commitment. I can think of four basic requirements for successful waiting.
Faith. The Lord's ways and timing are nothing like ours (Isa. 55:8-9). From a human standpoint, He usually does things in a totally different way than we expect. But as we trust Him more, we'll discover that His approach isn't so strange after all. And when we live in harmony with God's will, His timing starts to make sense.
Humility. To wait for the Lord, you must be convinced of your need for Him. Submission to His divine will requires humility--you cannot charge ahead with your own plans and at the same time be fully surrendered to God.
Patience. Are you willing to remain in your current position until you receive clear divine direction? Pausing for clarity from God does not mean that you disengage and allow circumstances to fall apart around you. Waiting upon the Lord is a deliberate decision that requires patience.
Courage. Waiting for God often takes courage, especially when there is pressure to act. If you're not careful, you might stop listening to the Lord and follow other advice. So keep your ear attuned to the voice of Almighty God, and you won t go wrong.
Waiting upon the Lord is one of the wisest, most important decisions we make in life. And contrary to popular assumptions, it is an active endeavor that requires faith, humility, patience, and courage. When you rely upon God and wait for His timing, the various facets of life fall into place.
God Goes Before You and Follows You
WENDY POPE
�You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.� Psalm 139:5 (NLT)
My 4-year-old had become quite insistent about walking into school alone. He adamantly declared that he could go from the parking lot to the school by himself. But I knew that an independent, spirited preschooler and a busy parking lot did not mix. Griffin couldn�t understand why I had to walk with him. Trying not to extinguish his self-sufficient spirit, I came up with a plan that ensured his safety and still let him think he was walking by himself.Upon arriving in the school parking lot, he would unbuckle, put on his backpack, get out of the van and wait for me. Together, we looked for cars and decided whether it was safe to cross. While I remained next to the van, he crossed the parking lot. Little did he know that I kept my eyes on him the whole time and quickly followed at a distance � far enough behind so he didn�t see me.
My son thought he was "the stuff." It was wonderful to see his confidence soar. He followed the same path each day and I protected him without his knowledge.
Our heavenly Father walks behind us too. Psalm 139:5 reminds us, �You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.�
In moments of confusion and busyness, God knows which way we are going and is there to protect us � even when we can�t see Him, just as I protected my son without his knowledge.
Whether you�re waiting in a doctor�s office, at work, riding the bus or sitting at home � God has made a way for you to get through the diagnosis, project, busyness and responsibilities. Whatever you face today, God has already gone before you and will guard you from behind.
This truth is especially comforting to me as my children grow up. We can�t always stand in the �parking lot� of life and watch our kids everywhere they go. But we can trust that their heavenly Father is there with them, leading the way and bringing up the rear. Whether they�re facing a tough exam, driving for the first time alone or dealing with a bully at school, God is with them.
In the circumstances that surround you and your kids today, in the events that are scheduled on your calendar, take comfort in knowing God is there. He has gone before you � and your children � and follows you, too.
Lord, thank You for this tender reminder that You are always with me. Forgive me for foolishly carrying the weight of my path, forgetting that Your guiding hand is always upon me. Help me guide my children in this path as well. In Jesus� Name, Amen.
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