Hope everyone has had a blessed and restful holiday season so far. Mine has been so blessed and so restful that I haven't posted on here for the past couple of weeks. I've been seeking the Lord about what to post, and nothing seemed to come to mind until just a few days ago. He has been dealing with me lately a great deal about remembering to use the gifts he has given me. In 1Timothy 4:16 (AMP), Paul encourages the young pastor "Do not neglect the gift which is in you, [that special inward endowment] which was directly imparted to you [by the Holy Spirit] by prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands upon you [at your ordination]. " and in 2 Timothy 1:6 (AMP), he continues this thought by reminding Timothy of the sincere faith he (Timothy) possesses and challenging him with this thought: "That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination]." It is my prayer that the thoughts I share today will challenge you to think about, pray about, listen to the Lord about, and use the gifts He has given you.
Now let's turn specifically to the text God gave me for today, Matthew 10:1 - 8 (KJV) - "And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not; But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely you have received, freely give."
With Christmas just past, most of your gift-giving and gift-receiving are probably over. Now I want to pose this question to you and you do not have to answer: Did you do any regifting this year? Although most of us might be embarrassed to admit it in public, we may have at one time or another taken a gift we received, left it in the original box or package or repackaged it, and then given it to an unsuspecting someone else. Our reasons for doing this could be varied: we didn't like the gift, we thought it was a better gift for someone else's tastes, or we had to come up with a certain amount of gifts, using a certain amount of finances, and regifting was the best way to keep ourselves in the black. Whatever the reason, we often hope and pray the recipient of the gift doesn't figure out that he or she has been "regifted". It's not that the gift may not be a good, or even great one, it's just that there seems to be a certain taboo related to giving someone else our "leftovers".
Now, how does this relate to the above text? The twelve apostles had done nothing to receive the truth, purpose, and power Jesus gave them. They didn't pay a membership fee to join His "club" or pay tuition for His teaching; they hadn't worked their way up the corporate ladder of Galilean enterprise and received access to Jesus as some sort of promotion. They received what Jesus gave because Jesus loved them and decided to give it to them. Bottom line. Now, in this text, he is asking them to approach the work of the ministry with a "regifting" attitude: "You didn't pay for any of this. These are given to you as gifts. Now give them to others." The Amplified Bible states verse 8 in this way: "Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely (without pay) you have received, freely (without charge) give." I wonder how many of us, whether we regift in the natural or not, regift in the spiritual with this selfless attitude. I know sometimes my memory is short and I can forget that I've done nothing on my own merit or in my own power to receive salvation, the new life Jesus gives, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, or any of the power, authority, and spiritual gifts He has given me.
In Acts 3, we see Peter display this regifting attitude when he allows the Holy Spirit to use his words and his hand to heal a man lame from birth. Peter tells the man in Acts 3:6 (KJV) "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk". Peter likely remembered that Jesus told him and the other apostles not to even take a purse of money or extra clothes with them on their ministry journey. He probably also remembered paying the temple tax for himself and for Jesus with money from a fish's mouth. He understood that he had done nothing to receive what Jesus had given him, he just had to receive it and give it freely to others. May we have this attitude as well. Only the Lord knows what things we will do in His name when we do.
I sense there may be some reading this who would say: "I know what my gifts are, but I don't want to use them. I don't feel qualified, worthy, or capable of using them. It's not that I don't want to help others, I'm just afraid I'm going to make a mess of it. The person I'm trying to witness to or pray for is going to reject me, just as if they knew I had regifted them a Christmas gift. I feel like I'm just handing out leftovers." Plase allow me to share two Scriptures with you along these lines. The first is found in 2 Timothy, the verse just after Paul reminds Timothy to keep the flame of his gift burning. Paul writes in 2 Timothy 1:7 (AMP) "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control". In faith, you can trust that God has given you what you need to use the gifts He has given you: power, love, calm well-balanced mind, discipline, and self-control. He didn't give you gifts because you already had these things; He gives you these things because He has given you gifts. The second verse is Romans 11:29, where Paul is referring to God's plan for the Jews, many of whom were enemies of the Gospel at the time Romans was written. Paul wanted to reassure the Roman believers that God had plans for Gentiles, but also that He had not given up on His beloved Jewish people either. In this verse, Paul writes "For God's gift and His call are irrevocable. [He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives grace or to whom He sends His call.] Praise God for that! That means God does not have a Customer Service/Returns section like most retailers. He won't take the gifts back once He gives them to you. You don't even have a receipt to show for them because you didn't buy them: He gave them to you. You can set them in the corner and try to neglect them, but I would daresay you won't be happy doing that. If you received the best material gift you can think of, would you hide it in the corner to collect dust and dirty laundry? No! Not only would you use it, but you would probably invite others to use it with you, or at least excitedly tell them about it. Now we're getting down to kingdom business.
Heavenly Father,
I want to thank you for the cross, for redemption, justification, and most of all, for Your love. All of these, along with Your Holy Spirit and the spiritual gifts you have given to me, have been given to me, not purchased by me. I recognize that You are Jehovah-Jireh, my Provider and my Source. Lord, may we not neglect the gifts you have given us, but may we discover them and use them just as freely as we received them. For those who don't yet know their gifts or are questioning them and the call You have on their lives, I pray that You will help them to discover them, that they will take confidence from You in exercising them, that they would not neglect them or even try to return them, but that their gifts would burn with intense flame within them. May we not be afraid to regift, for there are many who need the gifts that we possess. I pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen.
Happy New Year and may you have much success in regifting!
Monday, December 27, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Finding a Lesson in the Madness
I have a really great blog brewing, but apparently today still isn't the day to post it. Instead, I want to share what just happened to me and apply it to our lives. Its kind of a rabbit trail of a lesson, but it does have a point! :)
Jeff and I are the very layed-back, easy going type. A great trait in many ways, but in others it can be a hindrance. The kids run and play and make their messes, and we just remind them it will take longer to clean up at bed time. Dec draws a mural on the wall, and I shake my head as I grab the magic eraser. Those are positive sides to being layed-back, but I've come to realize that some of our easy going ways are actually causing more stress in our lives.
We live on a single income and have for many years, but we have had a very difficult time adjusting from living in the southern part of the state to being here in the northwest corner. Northwest Arkansas is so completely different from the rest of Arkansas that it could almost be its own state. Cost of living is ridiculous. Activities are abundant, and gas is guzzled.
We try very hard to be frugal and live well within our means. Unfortunately we've been here almost 6 months, and we're still trying to figure this out. This last couple of months I've been exploring a new way to save a little extra. There is an abundance of sites that help crazy moms (and dads) like me figure out how to use coupons and rewards to save money. I've read and watched for a while now, and I think I'm starting to figure them out. Now comes the time to do it myself. Now comes the part where I get very anxious.
I have spent the last couple of hours trying to make my menu and plan my shopping trips according to the principals the women use. I haven't gotten very far. Just at the point when I thought I was going to pull my hair out, throw the coupons in the trash and say forget it, I noticed a tab for the first time on a site I've grown fond of visiting. A link for newbies!!! Where has that been all this time? I felt saved from failure as it explained some of the things that the others talked about as if I should know what they meant.
Then came the God-thought...you know that little thought ties mundane life back to spiritual life.
Christians have no small amount of 'spiritual growth' books and blogs. (That is what people may see this blog as) Our book shelf has plenty on it as well, but I'll tell you a secret... God's Word has all the answers we need. I would never speak against God's anointed, but I do wonder sometimes if we're missing the point. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy a really good devotional or bible study, or reading testimonies and sermons. I just wonder if some of the other books go a little too far.
In going too far, do we confuse the would be follower or new converts? I fear that we do. One of the earliest verses I can remember memorizing was Psalms 119:11 "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might now sin against you." There has been a longing stirring in me to just put away all the books and focus on my bible. Jeff and I have discussed it. My friends and I have discussed it, and God and I have discussed it. He is drawing my focus back to where is should be.
Would you like to take this challenge with me? No, I'm not going to tell you to read the bible through in a year...definitely not in ninety days. Here is what the challenge. Lay aside all the 'extras' and for the next month, study just from the bible.
Here are some tips.
-Get a few different translations. Use your computer if you need it. Biblegateway.com is a great place to find all the different translations. Check out the amplified when you don't understand a verse.
-Find a good source for discovering the Greek and Hebrew usage for words. (sometimes words we use to mean more than one thing comes from a very specific Greek or Hebrew word)
-If you find you have questions or you don't understand, ask someone. Funny thing about ministers...we like to talk about the Bible. Ask your Pastor or a person who knows the Bible well. You can also send e-mails to titus2mentoring@Gmail.com if you would like.
Are you up for the challenge???
Jeff and I are the very layed-back, easy going type. A great trait in many ways, but in others it can be a hindrance. The kids run and play and make their messes, and we just remind them it will take longer to clean up at bed time. Dec draws a mural on the wall, and I shake my head as I grab the magic eraser. Those are positive sides to being layed-back, but I've come to realize that some of our easy going ways are actually causing more stress in our lives.
We live on a single income and have for many years, but we have had a very difficult time adjusting from living in the southern part of the state to being here in the northwest corner. Northwest Arkansas is so completely different from the rest of Arkansas that it could almost be its own state. Cost of living is ridiculous. Activities are abundant, and gas is guzzled.
We try very hard to be frugal and live well within our means. Unfortunately we've been here almost 6 months, and we're still trying to figure this out. This last couple of months I've been exploring a new way to save a little extra. There is an abundance of sites that help crazy moms (and dads) like me figure out how to use coupons and rewards to save money. I've read and watched for a while now, and I think I'm starting to figure them out. Now comes the time to do it myself. Now comes the part where I get very anxious.
I have spent the last couple of hours trying to make my menu and plan my shopping trips according to the principals the women use. I haven't gotten very far. Just at the point when I thought I was going to pull my hair out, throw the coupons in the trash and say forget it, I noticed a tab for the first time on a site I've grown fond of visiting. A link for newbies!!! Where has that been all this time? I felt saved from failure as it explained some of the things that the others talked about as if I should know what they meant.
Then came the God-thought...you know that little thought ties mundane life back to spiritual life.
Christians have no small amount of 'spiritual growth' books and blogs. (That is what people may see this blog as) Our book shelf has plenty on it as well, but I'll tell you a secret... God's Word has all the answers we need. I would never speak against God's anointed, but I do wonder sometimes if we're missing the point. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy a really good devotional or bible study, or reading testimonies and sermons. I just wonder if some of the other books go a little too far.
In going too far, do we confuse the would be follower or new converts? I fear that we do. One of the earliest verses I can remember memorizing was Psalms 119:11 "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might now sin against you." There has been a longing stirring in me to just put away all the books and focus on my bible. Jeff and I have discussed it. My friends and I have discussed it, and God and I have discussed it. He is drawing my focus back to where is should be.
Would you like to take this challenge with me? No, I'm not going to tell you to read the bible through in a year...definitely not in ninety days. Here is what the challenge. Lay aside all the 'extras' and for the next month, study just from the bible.
Here are some tips.
-Get a few different translations. Use your computer if you need it. Biblegateway.com is a great place to find all the different translations. Check out the amplified when you don't understand a verse.
-Find a good source for discovering the Greek and Hebrew usage for words. (sometimes words we use to mean more than one thing comes from a very specific Greek or Hebrew word)
-If you find you have questions or you don't understand, ask someone. Funny thing about ministers...we like to talk about the Bible. Ask your Pastor or a person who knows the Bible well. You can also send e-mails to titus2mentoring@Gmail.com if you would like.
Are you up for the challenge???
Friday, December 10, 2010
You Have Need of ...
32But be ever mindful of the days gone by in which, after you were first spiritually enlightened, you endured a great and painful struggle,
33Sometimes being yourselves a gazingstock, publicly exposed to insults and abuse and distress, and sometimes claiming fellowship and making common cause with others who were so treated.
34For you did sympathize and suffer along with those who were imprisoned, and you bore cheerfully the plundering of your belongings and the confiscation of your property, in the knowledge and consciousness that you yourselves had a better and lasting possession.
35Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward.
36For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and [e]carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised. Hebrews 10: 32- 36 (AMP)
Let me beginning by apologizing for the lateness of this blog. For the past two-plus weeks, the Ford family has been battling some form of sickness or other. For the past three days, it's been some sort of stomach bug. My days have been mostly filled with teaching English by day and helping my still-recovering wife at night with the routine of home: baths, meals, homework, etc. That hasn't left much time for blogging, but God, in His everpresent wisdom and sovereignty, knew what He wanted me to write about, and I think He allowed me a few more days to contemplate on it and pray about it.
What do you need right now? Oh, I know, with Christmas just around the corner, we all have lots of "needs": an iPad, a Kindle, a new pair of hip waders, Gore-Tex hunting boots, a North Face Denali jacket. Ok, only joking. You may have a legitimate need for any of those, but most would probably classify those as wants. Mandee and I were having a conversation the other day about Christmas shopping and she was asking what I would like to have for Christmas. I told her this may be a true Christmas of "needs, not wants" for me. I'm at the point where many of the socks I've had for the last five or six years are wearing out, some of my sweaters are looking a little frayed, and even some of my faded jeans are a little extra faded. Yes, this may be the Christmas of the practical gift, at least for anyone purchasing something for me. With this in mind, I began thinking about how, as a child, I usually got most of my wants at Christmas, and I don't remember having many needs. My wants that I received ranged from a new bicycyle when I was eight to an Atari 2600 when I was ten or eleven. I don't remember really needing new clothes or shoes because those always seemed to be there. I just can't recall a Christmas when I was in desparate need. I just now, as an adult, am realizing how blessed I was to have all the things I had growing up.
I think sometimes, though, if we are always used to getting our wants met, we forget the things we most desperately need. We take for granted that they will always be there. God has been taking me on a spiritual journey the past few months and showing me what I really and truly need: patience, humility, the faith and ability to give Him more and more control in my life, a servant's heart (on a more continual basis, not just for the few days following a sermon or Bible study on serving). In the above passage from Hebrews, the author is recognizing the types of people these Hebrew believers were: they were spiritually enlightened; they had endured struggles in which they were publicly insulted, abused, and distressed, and had continued on despite this, even having fellowship with others in the same situations; they suffered and sympathized with those in prison; and they had cheerfully endured having their possessions searched and confiscated, because they knew their great and lasting reward was elsewhere. Despite all these suffering and battle-tested saints had endured, the author still tells them "You have need of steadfast patience and endurance". He tells them they need these qualities for two reasons: 1. So they can perform and fully accomplish the will of God; 2. So they can receive, carry away, and enjoy to the full that which is promised.
You may be able to identify with the Hebrew believers. You may have had a rough year, one perhaps even riddled with insults, distress and (the Lord forbid), even abuse. On the other hand, you may have had the best year of your life personally, financially, and even spiritually. But again I ask you, what do you have need of? Henry David Thoreau is quoted as saying "The mass of men live lives of quiet desperation and go to their graves with the song still in them." What are you desperate for? Once the new Christmas gifts have been unwrapped and tinkered with, or taken out to the lake, the field, the tool shed, or the office for the first few times, what do you still need? It won't be found at Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Bass Pro, Amazon, or your wireless store, but here, in the words of Jesus:
7Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you.
8For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened.
9Or what man is there of you, if his son asks him for a loaf of bread, will hand him a stone?
10Or if he asks for a fish, will hand him a serpent?
11If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father Who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give good and advantageous things to those who keep on asking Him! Matthew 7: 7 -11 (AMP)
Heavenly Father, I thank you that you are the best gift-giver. First, you gave us your Son, then your Holy Spirit, then your word, and now all things that are necessary to be godly and to live the lives that You desire. May we know we can come to you with our wants. As a loving Father, you will guide us in determining which wants are "advantageous" and which are not. Always, always, always, You will give us what we have need of, if we will seek for it. Don't let us go on desperately, headed to the grave with something inside us we were supposed to let out, but let us live to the full in You, as we see you meeing every need we have. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
33Sometimes being yourselves a gazingstock, publicly exposed to insults and abuse and distress, and sometimes claiming fellowship and making common cause with others who were so treated.
34For you did sympathize and suffer along with those who were imprisoned, and you bore cheerfully the plundering of your belongings and the confiscation of your property, in the knowledge and consciousness that you yourselves had a better and lasting possession.
35Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward.
36For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and [e]carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised. Hebrews 10: 32- 36 (AMP)
Let me beginning by apologizing for the lateness of this blog. For the past two-plus weeks, the Ford family has been battling some form of sickness or other. For the past three days, it's been some sort of stomach bug. My days have been mostly filled with teaching English by day and helping my still-recovering wife at night with the routine of home: baths, meals, homework, etc. That hasn't left much time for blogging, but God, in His everpresent wisdom and sovereignty, knew what He wanted me to write about, and I think He allowed me a few more days to contemplate on it and pray about it.
What do you need right now? Oh, I know, with Christmas just around the corner, we all have lots of "needs": an iPad, a Kindle, a new pair of hip waders, Gore-Tex hunting boots, a North Face Denali jacket. Ok, only joking. You may have a legitimate need for any of those, but most would probably classify those as wants. Mandee and I were having a conversation the other day about Christmas shopping and she was asking what I would like to have for Christmas. I told her this may be a true Christmas of "needs, not wants" for me. I'm at the point where many of the socks I've had for the last five or six years are wearing out, some of my sweaters are looking a little frayed, and even some of my faded jeans are a little extra faded. Yes, this may be the Christmas of the practical gift, at least for anyone purchasing something for me. With this in mind, I began thinking about how, as a child, I usually got most of my wants at Christmas, and I don't remember having many needs. My wants that I received ranged from a new bicycyle when I was eight to an Atari 2600 when I was ten or eleven. I don't remember really needing new clothes or shoes because those always seemed to be there. I just can't recall a Christmas when I was in desparate need. I just now, as an adult, am realizing how blessed I was to have all the things I had growing up.
I think sometimes, though, if we are always used to getting our wants met, we forget the things we most desperately need. We take for granted that they will always be there. God has been taking me on a spiritual journey the past few months and showing me what I really and truly need: patience, humility, the faith and ability to give Him more and more control in my life, a servant's heart (on a more continual basis, not just for the few days following a sermon or Bible study on serving). In the above passage from Hebrews, the author is recognizing the types of people these Hebrew believers were: they were spiritually enlightened; they had endured struggles in which they were publicly insulted, abused, and distressed, and had continued on despite this, even having fellowship with others in the same situations; they suffered and sympathized with those in prison; and they had cheerfully endured having their possessions searched and confiscated, because they knew their great and lasting reward was elsewhere. Despite all these suffering and battle-tested saints had endured, the author still tells them "You have need of steadfast patience and endurance". He tells them they need these qualities for two reasons: 1. So they can perform and fully accomplish the will of God; 2. So they can receive, carry away, and enjoy to the full that which is promised.
You may be able to identify with the Hebrew believers. You may have had a rough year, one perhaps even riddled with insults, distress and (the Lord forbid), even abuse. On the other hand, you may have had the best year of your life personally, financially, and even spiritually. But again I ask you, what do you have need of? Henry David Thoreau is quoted as saying "The mass of men live lives of quiet desperation and go to their graves with the song still in them." What are you desperate for? Once the new Christmas gifts have been unwrapped and tinkered with, or taken out to the lake, the field, the tool shed, or the office for the first few times, what do you still need? It won't be found at Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Bass Pro, Amazon, or your wireless store, but here, in the words of Jesus:
7Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you.
8For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened.
9Or what man is there of you, if his son asks him for a loaf of bread, will hand him a stone?
10Or if he asks for a fish, will hand him a serpent?
11If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father Who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give good and advantageous things to those who keep on asking Him! Matthew 7: 7 -11 (AMP)
Heavenly Father, I thank you that you are the best gift-giver. First, you gave us your Son, then your Holy Spirit, then your word, and now all things that are necessary to be godly and to live the lives that You desire. May we know we can come to you with our wants. As a loving Father, you will guide us in determining which wants are "advantageous" and which are not. Always, always, always, You will give us what we have need of, if we will seek for it. Don't let us go on desperately, headed to the grave with something inside us we were supposed to let out, but let us live to the full in You, as we see you meeing every need we have. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
The Waiting
Hello friends and followers! I want to apologize for my lack of blogging the last couple of weeks. Traveling and holidays interfered more than I expected. I will have to plan better for things next time. As for yesterday, I simply wasn't sure what God wanted me to blog about. Finally about 10 minutes before time to leave for church it came to me. I will add a warning to this post. I have been ill today and took some medicine. I rarely take anything and meds that would normally not cause drowsiness in others seem to knock me out. If I ramble today, I am sorry.
While getting ready for church last night I was thinking of a visit with some friends and praying for a direction their lives may be taking. It brought to mind times when Jeff and I have been anxiously waiting on God to open doors for us and a time when God used a person to speak into my life something I didn't want to hear.
About five years ago, during an altar service, a minister was praying for me and spoke a word of knowledge to me. I was struggling, as usual, with the season of waiting I was enduring. I cannot remember his exact words, but he compared me to a can of food that has a shelf life and told me that God knew I was on the shelf and knew when he was going to use me. I will openly admit that I wasn't very thrilled with prospect of sitting on a shelf for any amount of time. Patients may be a virtue, but its not always a pleasant fruit to bear.
Over time, I prayed through to an understanding of why I was being shelved. I began to read about others, especially in the old testament, who were made to wait. I found I was in good company. Actually, some of the best company, and It seems that the ones who waited the longest had some of the biggest blessings in the end! Here's a few I would encourage you to read more about.
Noah waited for rain. (Gen 7)
Abraham waited for a son. (Gen 15:4; 21:1-5)
Jacob waited for a wife. (Gen 29:14-30)
Joseph waited for a dream.(Gen 37:5-11; 42:6)
The Israelites waited for deliverance. (Ex 3:7)
Joshua and Caleb waited for victory. (Joshua 14:6-12)
David waited to be king. (1Sam 16:12-13; 2Sam 5:4)
Elijah waited for rain. (1Kings 18)
Jesus waited for His ministry and sacrifice. (John 2:1-12)
Jesus was fully God and fully man. Some how, in a way only God can comprehend, He was able to be born a baby and grow up knowing, from the very beginning, why He was on this earth. I think we lose that in the jump from baby Jesus in a manger to Jesus turning water into wine. Have you not ever wondered why His mama told Him to do that? I think it was because He had been doing little things like that His whole life. I can just see, in my imagination, a chubby three year old hand reaching out to touch Joseph's smashed thumb and instantly making it better. Think about when He was twelve and inadvertently left at the temple. His response was one of surprise, "didn't you know I'd be about my Father's business?" I think in today's terms He would be saying, "Come on, Dad. You know me. Where else would I have been?" Yet, for 30 years he waited for the right moment to start His ministry that would lead to His sacrifice. All because He knew the importance of waiting.
I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.” Lamentations 3:24 (NIV)
Jesus, when I compare my time of waiting with some of the examples you've given us in the Bible, including you, I realize its only a drop in the bucket. I get restless and impatient all to often. I know Your word promises that if we wait on You, You will restore our strength and allow us to soar. Help me, as you often have to do, to remember that my shelf live is far from expiration. I want to be like wine or cheese and age to perfection in my waiting. Not that I will attain perfection on this Earth, but that I will improve with the passing of time to be exactly what you need me to be when my time on the shelf is up and the promises are brought to life. Thank you for giving me dreams and hopes to look forward to while I wait, and thank you for your presence in my life making my waiting worthwhile. I love you and seek to bless you no matter what station of life I am in currently. In your wonderful name, Amen.
While getting ready for church last night I was thinking of a visit with some friends and praying for a direction their lives may be taking. It brought to mind times when Jeff and I have been anxiously waiting on God to open doors for us and a time when God used a person to speak into my life something I didn't want to hear.
About five years ago, during an altar service, a minister was praying for me and spoke a word of knowledge to me. I was struggling, as usual, with the season of waiting I was enduring. I cannot remember his exact words, but he compared me to a can of food that has a shelf life and told me that God knew I was on the shelf and knew when he was going to use me. I will openly admit that I wasn't very thrilled with prospect of sitting on a shelf for any amount of time. Patients may be a virtue, but its not always a pleasant fruit to bear.
Over time, I prayed through to an understanding of why I was being shelved. I began to read about others, especially in the old testament, who were made to wait. I found I was in good company. Actually, some of the best company, and It seems that the ones who waited the longest had some of the biggest blessings in the end! Here's a few I would encourage you to read more about.
Noah waited for rain. (Gen 7)
Abraham waited for a son. (Gen 15:4; 21:1-5)
Jacob waited for a wife. (Gen 29:14-30)
Joseph waited for a dream.(Gen 37:5-11; 42:6)
The Israelites waited for deliverance. (Ex 3:7)
Joshua and Caleb waited for victory. (Joshua 14:6-12)
David waited to be king. (1Sam 16:12-13; 2Sam 5:4)
Elijah waited for rain. (1Kings 18)
Jesus waited for His ministry and sacrifice. (John 2:1-12)
Jesus was fully God and fully man. Some how, in a way only God can comprehend, He was able to be born a baby and grow up knowing, from the very beginning, why He was on this earth. I think we lose that in the jump from baby Jesus in a manger to Jesus turning water into wine. Have you not ever wondered why His mama told Him to do that? I think it was because He had been doing little things like that His whole life. I can just see, in my imagination, a chubby three year old hand reaching out to touch Joseph's smashed thumb and instantly making it better. Think about when He was twelve and inadvertently left at the temple. His response was one of surprise, "didn't you know I'd be about my Father's business?" I think in today's terms He would be saying, "Come on, Dad. You know me. Where else would I have been?" Yet, for 30 years he waited for the right moment to start His ministry that would lead to His sacrifice. All because He knew the importance of waiting.
I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.” Lamentations 3:24 (NIV)
Jesus, when I compare my time of waiting with some of the examples you've given us in the Bible, including you, I realize its only a drop in the bucket. I get restless and impatient all to often. I know Your word promises that if we wait on You, You will restore our strength and allow us to soar. Help me, as you often have to do, to remember that my shelf live is far from expiration. I want to be like wine or cheese and age to perfection in my waiting. Not that I will attain perfection on this Earth, but that I will improve with the passing of time to be exactly what you need me to be when my time on the shelf is up and the promises are brought to life. Thank you for giving me dreams and hopes to look forward to while I wait, and thank you for your presence in my life making my waiting worthwhile. I love you and seek to bless you no matter what station of life I am in currently. In your wonderful name, Amen.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Come and Dine
Jesus has a table spread
Where the saints of God are fed,
He invites His chosen people, “Come and dine”;
With His manna He doth feed
And supplies our every need:
Oh, ’tis sweet to sup with Jesus all the time!
Where the saints of God are fed,
He invites His chosen people, “Come and dine”;
With His manna He doth feed
And supplies our every need:
Oh, ’tis sweet to sup with Jesus all the time!
Refrain:
“Come and dine,” the Master calleth, “Come and dine”;
You may feast at Jesus’ table all the time;
He Who fed the multitude, turned the water into wine,
To the hungry calleth now, “Come and dine.”
“Come and dine,” the Master calleth, “Come and dine”;
You may feast at Jesus’ table all the time;
He Who fed the multitude, turned the water into wine,
To the hungry calleth now, “Come and dine.”
"He who feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood dwells continually in Me, and I [in like manner dwell continually] in him. Just as the living Father sent Me and I live by (through, because of) the Father, even so whoever continues to feed on Me [whoever takes Me for his food and is nourished by Me] shall [in his turn] live through and because of Me." John 6: 56-57 (AMP)
I don't know about most of you, but after the past four days, I definitely feel "burdened and heavy-laden". Not in the spiritual sense, just in the "Did I really need three helpings of the dressing and two pieces of the chocolate pie?" kind of way. Now don't get me wrong. I was and am very thankful for every morsel I ate, and I'm also very thankful I was able to see and visit with those who made these delicious dishes. I just think I probably could have been a little more discretionary about the amounts I took in. I've always pictured myself as "The Cleaner". My motto is "It's going to go to waste if someone doesn't eat it." I blame this "flaw" in my personality on two things: 1. My high metabolism, which pretty much allows me to eat however much, of whatever, whenever I want (in fact, people thought Mandee wasn't feeding me well when we were first married because I didn't gain the usual "Newlywed Guy Twenty Extra Pounds!") and 2. My parents always insisting on ordering two or three baskets of French Fries at a diner we always ate at when I was growing up and everyone counting on me to finish them off (I couldn't let those things go to waste!) However, as full as I may feel physically, a sermon our worship pastor shared this morning has caused me to think throughout today about how full I am spiritually and how often I partake of what Jesus offers: Himself.
In this passage, Jesus has finished feeding the five thousand and is now preaching on the truth that He is the Bread of Life. He is reminding His Jewish audience that their forefathers ate manna in the wilderness and yet still died, and revealing to them that they can have true life, eternal life, in Him if they will feed on His flesh and drink His blood. As you can imagine, these statements didn't go over too well with many in his audience! While many of the Jewish disciples were likely guilty of having broken some of the Jewish laws, none of them were willing to engage in cannibalism! Certainly, human beings were not listed among the creatures that God had said the Jews were allowed to eat. It is no surprise then that many of them, excluding the Twelve, turned away because of this "hard saying". Many of them were probably mumbling to themselves as they walked away, "I was with him through the 'Love your enemies'. 'Blessed are the meek', and "To gain your life, you must lose it', but I can't go in for eating my rabbi! He seemed so in his right mind! What has happened to him?" Jesus wanted to know who was willing to go beyond feeding everyone in the natural, those who would follow Him when the meals came free and easy, and those who could learn that His food was to do the will of Him who sent Him. He was looking for those who would be so consumed with Him and would so consume Him, it was as though they were feasting on Him daily. Not in the sense of cannibals, or zombies, or any other creature Hollywood and bad dreams can create, but in the sense of a dependence on Him that runs so deep, we realize and act on the fact that He is the very source of the life eternal, the life blessed, the life lived abundantly and to the full.
As I write this I must ask myself: Am I satisfied with manna alone, just seeing the hand of God when I need something, and willing to die still stuck only in that state, to pass all my years only perking up my ears and eyes and holding out my hands when the Lord offers me something free and easy? I remember that the manna couldn't remain, it rotted if the Israelites tried to keep it overnight. Am I willing to feed daily, hourly, every minute, every second on Christ so that I can live "because of and through Him?" Am I willing to endure the "hard sayings" so I can live the life He has called me to live, so I don't walk away, never to return, just confused and miserable? May I, and we, learn that He must be our source. If we try to mix anything else with Him, we will hear His rebuke, like that he gave His disciples when they asked him at the Samaritan well, "Lord, aren't you going to eat something?" His reply? "I have food you don't know about". Do we want to partake of the food that He has: Himself and His relationship with the Father and doing what the Father has called us to do? As the old song above says: "He who fed the multitude, turned the water into wine, to the hungry calleth now 'Come and dine'."
Father, I thank you for all the abundant and good food I have had the privelege to partake of this past week. It was good and nourishing to my body, and eating it meant breaking bread and enjoying fellowship with my friends and family. But Father, as Jesus revealed in the Gospel of John, there is food we don't always think about, may not even know about, that is available to us: Your Son Jesus and doing Your will within the life that You give us through Him. Help us to remain hungry for Jesus, and to never try to satisfy that hunger with any of the manna of this world, because it will only pass away and leave us wanting. Please continue to reveal Your will to us as we seek You. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.
Stay hungry! Be filled!
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Who's Your Daddy (in-law)?
Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about everything God had done for Moses and his people Israel and how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. (Exodus 18: 1, God's Word Translation)
As probably is the case with many of you, this week has already been a hectic one. My family and I are making preparations for Thanksgiving travel, coordinating with family members which particular dishes are going to be prepared by whom, and overall, just enjoying the freedom and blessings of this holiday season. That being said, my Manly Monday post this week is more of a Thanksgiving Thoughts Thursday, giving to the fact that in all the holiday planning, I've found myself hardpressed to find time to sit down and type out the thoughts that have been going through my head. Thankfully, I have a few moments this morning before we embark on our Thanksgiving festivities, so here are the thoughts the Lord has given me this week.
I knew from the start this week that I wanted to write a post about thankfulness since Thanksgiving naturally lends itself to that. I also knew that if I listed all the blessings I have to be thankful for, my post would be at least twenty pages long, if not longer. As I prayed about what to write, God showed me one partiucular group of people in my life that I should be especially thankful for this year: the Jethroes. No, not the large, not-so-bright nephew/cousin from The Beverly Hillbillies (although, if you have some of these in your life be thankful as well; they can bring a lot of laughter and humor into things), but those older men that God has placed into my life over the years. I want to use this post to express thankfulness to them. But first, let's look at today's Scripture passage.
In this passage, Moses and the Israelites have just defeated the Amalekites. Moses has built an altar on the spot and called it "Jehovah-Nissi" (The Lord is My Banner). Jethro brings Moses' wife Zipporah and Moses' two young sons Gershom and Eliezer to him at the Israelites' camp. When we read Exodus 18, we can notice three things about Jethro:
1. He was available - Exodus 18:1-8 - When Moses had to send his wife and young sons away while he dealt with the business of confronting Pharaoh and leading the Israelites, Jethro took them in and cared for them. When the time was right, he sent word to Moses that he was bringing his family back to him. Jethro was there when Moses needed him and met him at the place of his victory. Not only was Jethro physically available, but he was also emotionally available. In verses 7 and 8, Moses and Jethro ask each other how the other is, then spend time in the tent with Moses recounting all that God had done for them. What a blessing it is when a godly mentor makes himself physically and emotionally available to us.
2. He rejoiced in Moses' victories with him - Exodus 18:9 - 12 - These verses say that Jethro was delighted to hear all that God had done for the Israelites. How much do you think it strengthed Moses to hear this from his father-in-law and to watch as Jethro offered his own sacrifices to God? Then Moses, Jethro, and the other Israelite leaders shared a meal in the Lord's presence. Who of us as men has not wanted someone to be proud of us? I have a feeling that Moses knew what it was to feel proud that day.
3. He offered practical advice - Exodus 18: 13 - 26 - Jethro saw a problem in Moses' life that was affecting him and he provided solid, practical advice to help him manage and solve it. This again shows the relationship between the two men, and the respect Moses had for Jethro. Some of the best advice he offers to Moses is in verse 18 "You can't do it alone!" That could be a whole other post. By the end of the chapter, we see Moses following Jethro's advice, and this makes things a whole lot more manageable.
As I look at these three points, several men begin to come to mind from my past. Men like Audie Vaughn, who served as my first pastor when I was a child and who gave me the honor of preaching my first sermon in his pulpit; my father, who instilled in me a love of outdoors and a love of reading, both which still follow me today; Craig Eidson, a Chi Alpha pastor at Southwestern Oklahoma State University who, despite my best efforts to isolate myself in my graduate studies and my apartment, saw a calling and potential in me and began to give me opportunities to work within youth ministry; Dr. Rodney Scott, my graduate advisor who wouldn't let me take the easy way out when it came time to jump into "the real world"; Tim Broughton, my Sunday School teacher and friend who mentored me before I got married; Pastor Darren Rogers, who counseled Mandee and I before we got married and who continues to be a source of encouragement and humor as our pastor; Pastor Bob Wingo, who I had the privelege to serve with in my first youth pastor position; Pastor Jim Bales, who saw to it that his church in Warren, Arkansas took us in and who allowed us to work with a great group of youth for almost two years; and last, but certainly not least, my own father-in-law, Jeff Kennedy. From telling me it had been a while since he had beat up a guy (this was when I first approached him about courting Mandee) to showing me how to make home and auto repairs, Jeff continues to be an important mentor in my life. Which Jethroes do you have to be thankful for in your life? Maybe you will have the opportunity to thank them this Thanksgiving. Even if you don't see them, or if they are no longer living, we can offer thanks to God for them:
Father, I thank you for the godly men you have placed in my life over the years, As your word says in Proverbs 22, iron sharpens iron, and I know that you have used these men to sharpen, and continue sharpening my life. May we also make ourselves available, rejoice with others in their victories, and share solid practical advice with those younger men you place into our lives. Father, we are truly thankful for every blessing you have given us. May we use every blessing and every opportunity, to glorify Your Name and establish Your Name on this earth. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving!
As probably is the case with many of you, this week has already been a hectic one. My family and I are making preparations for Thanksgiving travel, coordinating with family members which particular dishes are going to be prepared by whom, and overall, just enjoying the freedom and blessings of this holiday season. That being said, my Manly Monday post this week is more of a Thanksgiving Thoughts Thursday, giving to the fact that in all the holiday planning, I've found myself hardpressed to find time to sit down and type out the thoughts that have been going through my head. Thankfully, I have a few moments this morning before we embark on our Thanksgiving festivities, so here are the thoughts the Lord has given me this week.
I knew from the start this week that I wanted to write a post about thankfulness since Thanksgiving naturally lends itself to that. I also knew that if I listed all the blessings I have to be thankful for, my post would be at least twenty pages long, if not longer. As I prayed about what to write, God showed me one partiucular group of people in my life that I should be especially thankful for this year: the Jethroes. No, not the large, not-so-bright nephew/cousin from The Beverly Hillbillies (although, if you have some of these in your life be thankful as well; they can bring a lot of laughter and humor into things), but those older men that God has placed into my life over the years. I want to use this post to express thankfulness to them. But first, let's look at today's Scripture passage.
In this passage, Moses and the Israelites have just defeated the Amalekites. Moses has built an altar on the spot and called it "Jehovah-Nissi" (The Lord is My Banner). Jethro brings Moses' wife Zipporah and Moses' two young sons Gershom and Eliezer to him at the Israelites' camp. When we read Exodus 18, we can notice three things about Jethro:
1. He was available - Exodus 18:1-8 - When Moses had to send his wife and young sons away while he dealt with the business of confronting Pharaoh and leading the Israelites, Jethro took them in and cared for them. When the time was right, he sent word to Moses that he was bringing his family back to him. Jethro was there when Moses needed him and met him at the place of his victory. Not only was Jethro physically available, but he was also emotionally available. In verses 7 and 8, Moses and Jethro ask each other how the other is, then spend time in the tent with Moses recounting all that God had done for them. What a blessing it is when a godly mentor makes himself physically and emotionally available to us.
2. He rejoiced in Moses' victories with him - Exodus 18:9 - 12 - These verses say that Jethro was delighted to hear all that God had done for the Israelites. How much do you think it strengthed Moses to hear this from his father-in-law and to watch as Jethro offered his own sacrifices to God? Then Moses, Jethro, and the other Israelite leaders shared a meal in the Lord's presence. Who of us as men has not wanted someone to be proud of us? I have a feeling that Moses knew what it was to feel proud that day.
3. He offered practical advice - Exodus 18: 13 - 26 - Jethro saw a problem in Moses' life that was affecting him and he provided solid, practical advice to help him manage and solve it. This again shows the relationship between the two men, and the respect Moses had for Jethro. Some of the best advice he offers to Moses is in verse 18 "You can't do it alone!" That could be a whole other post. By the end of the chapter, we see Moses following Jethro's advice, and this makes things a whole lot more manageable.
As I look at these three points, several men begin to come to mind from my past. Men like Audie Vaughn, who served as my first pastor when I was a child and who gave me the honor of preaching my first sermon in his pulpit; my father, who instilled in me a love of outdoors and a love of reading, both which still follow me today; Craig Eidson, a Chi Alpha pastor at Southwestern Oklahoma State University who, despite my best efforts to isolate myself in my graduate studies and my apartment, saw a calling and potential in me and began to give me opportunities to work within youth ministry; Dr. Rodney Scott, my graduate advisor who wouldn't let me take the easy way out when it came time to jump into "the real world"; Tim Broughton, my Sunday School teacher and friend who mentored me before I got married; Pastor Darren Rogers, who counseled Mandee and I before we got married and who continues to be a source of encouragement and humor as our pastor; Pastor Bob Wingo, who I had the privelege to serve with in my first youth pastor position; Pastor Jim Bales, who saw to it that his church in Warren, Arkansas took us in and who allowed us to work with a great group of youth for almost two years; and last, but certainly not least, my own father-in-law, Jeff Kennedy. From telling me it had been a while since he had beat up a guy (this was when I first approached him about courting Mandee) to showing me how to make home and auto repairs, Jeff continues to be an important mentor in my life. Which Jethroes do you have to be thankful for in your life? Maybe you will have the opportunity to thank them this Thanksgiving. Even if you don't see them, or if they are no longer living, we can offer thanks to God for them:
Father, I thank you for the godly men you have placed in my life over the years, As your word says in Proverbs 22, iron sharpens iron, and I know that you have used these men to sharpen, and continue sharpening my life. May we also make ourselves available, rejoice with others in their victories, and share solid practical advice with those younger men you place into our lives. Father, we are truly thankful for every blessing you have given us. May we use every blessing and every opportunity, to glorify Your Name and establish Your Name on this earth. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving!
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Blessings on the Altar of Testing
These past two weeks, I've had the privelege of teaching the junior high Sunday School class at church. The lessons have been focusing on Abraham and how God challenged and developed his faith while keeping His promises. This week's lesson was on God testing Abraham and I wanted to share a few thoughts this Monday that God shared with me.
In Genesis 22 we get a front-row seat to an interesting event in the life of Abraham. God, who up to this point promised to Abraham that he would have a son and that his descendants would inherit the land, has now provided that promised son to Abraham, even in his old age. Who of us has not marveled at the idea of a one hundred year-old man receiving a son after waiting for twenty-five years? Now here's where things get really interesting: the son that God has promised and provided is now possibly in his late teens or in his twenties and God asks this of Abraham "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains of which I will tell you." (Genesis 22:2 (AMP). In the words that the youth and I said together this morning: "Say what?"
Now, many of us could say that we have gone through periods of testing with God. Maybe you've had to seek His face for an extended length of time before receiving an answer to a prayer. Maybe circumstances, such as sickness, loss of a job or relocation, financial stress, or spiritual burdens have arisen in your life that, as you have sought God, have been revealed to be tests that God has allowed or is allowing in your life. I think sometimes during these times as much or more than any other, we can tend to question God. And while I don't think God is intimated or even put out with our "Why's", I am always astounded at Abraham's response in v. 3: "So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac, and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and then began the trip to the place of which God had told him." (AMP) How many of us, if asked by God to sacrifice the biggest blessing He has ever given us, would be able, with such fortitude, and singleness of mind not only agree to do it, but then follow through with it? I don't know if I'm to the level of Abraham yet; I might at least have to talk it over for a while with God. But, if that's what He called me to do, it is my desire that I would be able to do that which was asked of me.
Before I sound too out there, I think we can all agree that if we literally think we are hearing God telling us to sacrifice one of our children, we need to do several things: 1. Seek Him earnestly in prayer for clear understanding, 2. Read the Scriptures where He forbids the taking of life in murder, 3. Seek professional help. But I wonder, how many of us have an area of our life that has been blessed visibly by God? Maybe it's a ministry that we've waited many years for Him to provide. Maybe yours is a literal fulfillment of Abraham's promise in that you recieved a child after waiting for many years. Now the next question: How many of us are afraid that God might ask us to surrender that area wholly and completely to Him? That might mean giving him every area of our job, ministry, or family. It might mean surrendering our own hopes and dreams for that little boy or little girl and letting God's unfold, even if they don't fit within our schema. For those of us who like to maintain some degree of control over our lives, this can be a very real fear. It can be during these times of testing that we need to ask ourselves: What do I really believe about God and what does His Word reveal about His character and His promises?
Just as Abraham had to learn that God could protect him and Sarah (that he didn't have to lie two different times about her being his sister (can you imagine asking your wife to go along with that one?!)) and that God didn't need him and Sarah to bring Hagar into the picture to bring about the promised one, so we need to learn that God's character is love and that no matter what He allows us to go through, two things are always true: 1. He is going to always act according to His character and His promises, 2. It is ultimately for our good as His children (He wouldn't allow it if it wasn't). Let's look back at the verses. In verses 5 - 10, we see Abraham putting hands and feet to his faith. In verse 5, he speaks in faith that "we (he and Isaac) will come again to you" and in verse 8, he tells Isaac, "God Himself will provide a lamb for the burnt offering". Abraham trusted what God had spoken and knew that His promise was to bring about a nation of descendants through Isaac. Hebrews 11: 17 - 19 reveals that Abraham, because he had received this promise, reasoned that God was able to raise Isaac from the dead if need be. Whether he had to actually kill Isaac and then watch as God raised him from the dead or see God provide something to sacrifice in Isaac's place, Abraham's faith was founded on his relationship with his Father and the promises he had recieved from him.
Some very interesting things happen in verses 11 - 18. As Abraham stretched forth his hand and took hold of the knife to slay his son, I believe personally at the point of him having the knife poised above his son ready to deliver the killing blow, the Messenger from Heaven, the Lord Jesus Himself in preincarnate form, speaks from heaven, "Do not lay your hand on the lad or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear and revere God, since you have not held back from Me or begrudged giving Me your son, your only son." (v. 12 (AMP)) Then in verse 12, Abraham looks up and glances around, and there is a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. Why didn't Abraham see the ram when he first came to the place? I wonder if it was there yet, or the Lord placed it there after He saw the Abraham was willing to surrender the son of the promise back to him? I find it interesting that some translations actually say the ram was behind Abraham. Isn't it interesting that he didn't notice it as he walked by? Maybe it wasn't there yet, and was only revealed as the Lord said,"now I know that you fear and revere God." Following this, Abraham is able to offer the ram for the burnt offering and God reaffirms to him the covenant (verses 15 - 18).
Is there something God is asking you to sacrifice, to surrender to Him right now? Maybe a relationship, a vision, a situation? Are you offering it without question, or are you holding back and begrudging giving it to Him? Are you trusting the One Who gave it to you in the first place, or are you doubting His character and promises right now, doubting that He will give it back to you in a way that you want or replace it with something else? Remember, he may not reveal the "something else" until you have that promise, that blessing on the altar and are stretching forth your hand to "put it to death" and trust it to His keeping. The very substitute may be right behind you, but you won't see it unless you are willing to give everything to Him.
Please pray with me: Father, Your Word says you know how to give good gifts to Your children, and You have done just that in so many ways. But Father, there may be some of us that You are calling to surrender one, or even more than one, of those blessings to You. It is difficult Lord, because sometimes we are afraid of losing it, in fact, we have become so attached to that blessing that we don't want anything to happen to it and we're afraid You won't return it, or at least, that You won't return it looking the way we think it should. Please help us to trust You with everything You've given us. You've trusted us to take care of it and to give it to You if need be. Help us to remember that You are Perfect Love, and that perfect love casts out all fear. Help us to trust You, knowing that Your plans are to give us a hope and a future and You are always working everything together for the good of those who love You and who are called according to Your purpose. In Christ's Name I pray, Amen.
Have a great week!
In Genesis 22 we get a front-row seat to an interesting event in the life of Abraham. God, who up to this point promised to Abraham that he would have a son and that his descendants would inherit the land, has now provided that promised son to Abraham, even in his old age. Who of us has not marveled at the idea of a one hundred year-old man receiving a son after waiting for twenty-five years? Now here's where things get really interesting: the son that God has promised and provided is now possibly in his late teens or in his twenties and God asks this of Abraham "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains of which I will tell you." (Genesis 22:2 (AMP). In the words that the youth and I said together this morning: "Say what?"
Now, many of us could say that we have gone through periods of testing with God. Maybe you've had to seek His face for an extended length of time before receiving an answer to a prayer. Maybe circumstances, such as sickness, loss of a job or relocation, financial stress, or spiritual burdens have arisen in your life that, as you have sought God, have been revealed to be tests that God has allowed or is allowing in your life. I think sometimes during these times as much or more than any other, we can tend to question God. And while I don't think God is intimated or even put out with our "Why's", I am always astounded at Abraham's response in v. 3: "So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac, and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and then began the trip to the place of which God had told him." (AMP) How many of us, if asked by God to sacrifice the biggest blessing He has ever given us, would be able, with such fortitude, and singleness of mind not only agree to do it, but then follow through with it? I don't know if I'm to the level of Abraham yet; I might at least have to talk it over for a while with God. But, if that's what He called me to do, it is my desire that I would be able to do that which was asked of me.
Before I sound too out there, I think we can all agree that if we literally think we are hearing God telling us to sacrifice one of our children, we need to do several things: 1. Seek Him earnestly in prayer for clear understanding, 2. Read the Scriptures where He forbids the taking of life in murder, 3. Seek professional help. But I wonder, how many of us have an area of our life that has been blessed visibly by God? Maybe it's a ministry that we've waited many years for Him to provide. Maybe yours is a literal fulfillment of Abraham's promise in that you recieved a child after waiting for many years. Now the next question: How many of us are afraid that God might ask us to surrender that area wholly and completely to Him? That might mean giving him every area of our job, ministry, or family. It might mean surrendering our own hopes and dreams for that little boy or little girl and letting God's unfold, even if they don't fit within our schema. For those of us who like to maintain some degree of control over our lives, this can be a very real fear. It can be during these times of testing that we need to ask ourselves: What do I really believe about God and what does His Word reveal about His character and His promises?
Just as Abraham had to learn that God could protect him and Sarah (that he didn't have to lie two different times about her being his sister (can you imagine asking your wife to go along with that one?!)) and that God didn't need him and Sarah to bring Hagar into the picture to bring about the promised one, so we need to learn that God's character is love and that no matter what He allows us to go through, two things are always true: 1. He is going to always act according to His character and His promises, 2. It is ultimately for our good as His children (He wouldn't allow it if it wasn't). Let's look back at the verses. In verses 5 - 10, we see Abraham putting hands and feet to his faith. In verse 5, he speaks in faith that "we (he and Isaac) will come again to you" and in verse 8, he tells Isaac, "God Himself will provide a lamb for the burnt offering". Abraham trusted what God had spoken and knew that His promise was to bring about a nation of descendants through Isaac. Hebrews 11: 17 - 19 reveals that Abraham, because he had received this promise, reasoned that God was able to raise Isaac from the dead if need be. Whether he had to actually kill Isaac and then watch as God raised him from the dead or see God provide something to sacrifice in Isaac's place, Abraham's faith was founded on his relationship with his Father and the promises he had recieved from him.
Some very interesting things happen in verses 11 - 18. As Abraham stretched forth his hand and took hold of the knife to slay his son, I believe personally at the point of him having the knife poised above his son ready to deliver the killing blow, the Messenger from Heaven, the Lord Jesus Himself in preincarnate form, speaks from heaven, "Do not lay your hand on the lad or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear and revere God, since you have not held back from Me or begrudged giving Me your son, your only son." (v. 12 (AMP)) Then in verse 12, Abraham looks up and glances around, and there is a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. Why didn't Abraham see the ram when he first came to the place? I wonder if it was there yet, or the Lord placed it there after He saw the Abraham was willing to surrender the son of the promise back to him? I find it interesting that some translations actually say the ram was behind Abraham. Isn't it interesting that he didn't notice it as he walked by? Maybe it wasn't there yet, and was only revealed as the Lord said,"now I know that you fear and revere God." Following this, Abraham is able to offer the ram for the burnt offering and God reaffirms to him the covenant (verses 15 - 18).
Is there something God is asking you to sacrifice, to surrender to Him right now? Maybe a relationship, a vision, a situation? Are you offering it without question, or are you holding back and begrudging giving it to Him? Are you trusting the One Who gave it to you in the first place, or are you doubting His character and promises right now, doubting that He will give it back to you in a way that you want or replace it with something else? Remember, he may not reveal the "something else" until you have that promise, that blessing on the altar and are stretching forth your hand to "put it to death" and trust it to His keeping. The very substitute may be right behind you, but you won't see it unless you are willing to give everything to Him.
Please pray with me: Father, Your Word says you know how to give good gifts to Your children, and You have done just that in so many ways. But Father, there may be some of us that You are calling to surrender one, or even more than one, of those blessings to You. It is difficult Lord, because sometimes we are afraid of losing it, in fact, we have become so attached to that blessing that we don't want anything to happen to it and we're afraid You won't return it, or at least, that You won't return it looking the way we think it should. Please help us to trust You with everything You've given us. You've trusted us to take care of it and to give it to You if need be. Help us to remember that You are Perfect Love, and that perfect love casts out all fear. Help us to trust You, knowing that Your plans are to give us a hope and a future and You are always working everything together for the good of those who love You and who are called according to Your purpose. In Christ's Name I pray, Amen.
Have a great week!
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