Yes or No. It has to be one or the other. No one can ever say “yes” and “no” to the same question. That thought came to me this week as I was reading in the Old Testament book of Jeremiah. In the first chapter, its’ recorded that God spoke to Jeremiah in verse 5. He said, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” We are informed in this verse that God had plans for Jeremiah even before he was born! Amazing!
Guess what else this verse reveals? It gives us an obvious conclusion that, if God knew His own plans for Jeremiah, then naturally, He knows His own plans for you and me, too. We also know, because Scripture tells us so, that God’s plans are for our good. Look at what He said to Jeremiah in 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, they are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Does that mean an easy road to travel? No, it means the best road to make us strong — strong to face anything and get through it!
Jeremiah was a bit scared when he understood the plan that God Almighty had for him. He felt inadequate. Do you ever feel inadequate? He felt nervous about the task. Do you ever feel nervous about some task? What did God say to Jeremiah in response to his fears? In verse 8, He says, “Don’t be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you.” Jeremiah’s task was to speak God’s word to the people but he was afraid of their faces. What would the people think or do to him?
Our fears are no different today. Perhaps we know God is leading us in a particular direction or perhaps He is keeping us in an uncomfortable situation and we want out. “Is this my future?” we moan inwardly? “This difficult road I’m on; is it to be forever?” “What will people think of me?” It’s so easy and understandable that we focus on our immediate surroundings rather than on the promises of God for our future. Even so, we are always given freedom of choice. We may say, “Yes,” to what He allows in our lives, or we may say, “No.”
Let’s keep in mind something else that our Father said to Jeremiah in 29:12-13; His words are for us, too. “In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” We can say, “Yes, God, I believe You,” or we can say, “No, God, I don’t believe You.” It’s one or the other, but we can’t say both.
It’s okay to be scared and still choose to believe. It’s okay to doubt that brighter days will come and still choose to believe. It’s okay to come before our Father in fear and trembling. The key is — always come; always say, “Yes, Father.” Our Father will unfailingly give you everything you need to get through anything, no matter the pain, tears, and fears. It may be raining on you today but the sun always shines after every storm.
The very title of this blog entry is absurd! We know a mere grasshopper is nothing against Almighty God! The only comparison is that one is weak and imperfect while the other is strong and flawless.
I was intrigued again this week while reading the account in the Old Testament book of Numbers about the twelve men of Israel who went to spy out the land of Canaan. They came back rather upset. Out of the twelve men, ten of them were shaken. They reported that the land God had chosen for them was rich and fruitful — “flowing with milk and honey.” However, the people were giants compared to them. “We’re just like grasshoppers compared to the people of this country,” the men reported in fear and trembling, “we can never take this land.”
There were two of the twelve men who reported in chapter 14 that, yes, the people are stronger and bigger in size than them. “However,” they proclaimed in courage and with conviction, “God has led us to this land and promised it to us; He will give it to us. We must enter to receive all that He has for us.”
God had promised them all along that He would give them a wonderful land to be their own. They travelled far, faced many obstacles, got to the door of promise, and stopped, trembling in their shoes. Why? One reason and one reason alone. They took their focus off God and put it on the obstacles. Then they put themselves in the place of God and saw only grasshoppers. They forgot that the battle and promise was God’s responsibility, and took that responsibility to be their own. Rightly so, they determined that, grasshoppers could not overcome the giant obstacles that faced them.
You and I can read such an account and see the obvious. We can easily scold the ten faithless ones — but how often do you and I see obstacles to what God has told us to do and, like the above, suddenly we, too, remove our focus from Almighty God — who has never let us down — and we focus on the hurdles that seemingly block our way.
You and I are truly like grasshoppers. We can’t face and overcome the giants that block our way. How comforting that we don’t have to; Almighty God will prepare the way, lead us along each step, and give His own wisdom and strength to overcome any hurdle — no matter how humongous the giant that faces us.
I was reading in the New Testament book of Matthew this week when I came to the following verse in 16:24: “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.'”
This is a verse that I find is often misunderstood among Christians. Many interpret it to mean a current burden being carried. Perhaps someone is dealing with a failed marriage, unemployment, financial difficulty, poor health — the list of life’s dilemmas goes on. We may hear a person, in the midst of such a painful predicament, say something like, “This is my cross to bear.” Actually, it’s a difficult circumstance to bear but it’s nothing to do with Jesus challenging one to “…take up his cross and follow Me.” Jesus was not referring to life’s troubles that come upon us all. He was referring to a change of heart; an attitude that comes with total surrender to Him.
Over the years I have had the humbling pleasure of knowing many people who truly “took up their crosses to follow Jesus.” When presented with the truth of salvation, they chose to follow Jesus even though they knew they would be shunned by their families and counted as dead. They chose Jesus even though they knew they would lose their jobs. They chose Jesus even though they knew they would be ridiculed throughout the community. They chose Jesus even though they knew a time would very likely come when they would be killed for their faith in Him. They heard Jesus say, “Will you take up your cross and follow me? Will you give Me total surrender no matter what the world may do to you?” They said yes. They counted the cost, made a conscious choice to pay whatever the price might be, and they followed Jesus in total surrender.
In our western churches, very often salvation presents itself to us in the following manner: we hear a sermon, make a decision to follow Jesus, and walk down an aisle to proclaim before all that we want to receive God’s free gift of salvation. If, after walking down the church aisle, we were asked the question: “Are you willing to lose your job, family, reputation, and possibly your life, to become a Christian today?” I wonder how many would go through with the prayer, and how many would walk away to reconsider?
Counting the cost to follow Jesus isn’t a scary thing; when we truly delve into the meaning, we discover it’s a joyful thing. It’s like Jesus is saying, “Do you want to go deeper into Me and find my treasures? Do you want to know the ecstasy that comes from total trust in Me? Do you want to be free from chains of fear and fly heights of jubilation instead? Then be willing to ‘take up your cross and follow me.’”
Such a command is not a burden to bear — it’s an attitude of surrender that sets us free from anything this world may do to us.
“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, will find it.” Matthew 16:25
We know of a certainty that God is a miracle-working God. We know He can do anything. We believe His Word to be absolutely true. We are thankful that He loved us so much that He sent His only Son to die for us. We know we are not worthy, and we gratefully receive His forgiveness and acceptance of us into His family. We revel in the promise that when we leave this earth, we will live in perfect happiness with Him in heaven forever.
We happily declare the above to be true. Our desires are to live in His joy right now on earth. We know God is a loving Father and He can help us through anything. However, we sometimes find ourselves in situations that pull our rug of happiness out from under our feet. Life’s cruel circumstances fall down around us, and we become like a bird in a net flapping wildly to get out. Nothing we try, in order to free ourselves from our situation, works. In the end, like the bird who has exhausted itself with effort, we stop and stare wide-eyed in fear. We hate to admit it, and perhaps we tell no one, but deep inside we know — we are heavy-hearted — despondent.
This is where our arch enemy, Satan enters the scene. Does he feel sorry for us in our difficult circumstances? Of course not! He loves to see us fall down so he can kick us some more! He lies to us, too, big time! He says things like, “some Christian you are,” or “you’re a terrible witness,” or “failed again, huh?” or “just give it up now; you know you can’t be a winner; you’re a born loser,” or “God helps everybody but you, have you noticed?” or “God sure is being unfair not answering your prayers,” or “forget God now; He’s never going to help you.” On and on go the lies of the evil one who hates our heavenly Father with a passion, and lives for every moment to bring confusion, gloom, and anger, into the life of any Christian who will listen to him.
What a mess we are in at such times in our lives! Nothing goes right; God doesn’t seem to be listening, and on top of all that, here comes Satan to rain despair on our already dismal parades. What in the world can we do?
I find that taking a reminder from Elijah helps me when I’m down in the pits. Let’s take a look at the following true story. There was Elijah, a successful prophet, used big time by God, performing mind-blowing miracles — but one day, in spite of all his godly living, Elijah becomes demoralized — weighed down with a crushed spirit. Why? What happened? The evil Jezebel, wife of King Ahab, despises Elijah. She hates all he does in the name of God. She sends him a message. The following is found in I Kings 19:2-4, “So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: ‘May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you…’ Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, Lord,’ he said. ‘Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.'”
Goodness, gracious! Poor Elijah! Such a strong man of God, but circumstances of life pulled his rug of happiness out from under him, and now we see him running scared, even to the point of not wanting to live anymore. Can we identify with Elijah? Absolutely. When we get scared, what do we so often do? We keep to ourselves. Suddenly we don’t want to see friends, we make excuses to stay away from church, we just want to be alone in our despair. We’re down in the dumps, and like Elijah, we put ourselves into a wilderness. Being alone, we then have no one to listen to but ourselves and the lies of Satan. Before we know it, like Elijah, we too, have melancholy thoughts. Despondency and pessimism grabs us by the throat, choking away our last ounce of hope. Like Elijah, we think we may as well end it all now. What more is there to live for? On and on go the dreadful thoughts. We’re trapped and there’s no way out!
But wait! The story doesn’t end there. Read on through verse 14. You will see that during the first night of Elijah’s wilderness experience, an angel came to give him bread and water to eat. What a reminder to us that, just as God was watching over Elijah in his misery and fear, so God will watch over us, too, and provide for our needs. Further on in the story, we see God having a conversation with Elijah who pours out his woes. Way to go, Elijah! We, too, must remember that our Father is always ready to converse with us, and He wants us to pour out our hurts to Him. After Elijah tells God of all his worries, God speaks something in verse 15 that is an amazing truth that we, today, can apply to our lives in our own moments of anxiety and distress. God says to Elijah, “Go back the same way you came…” Go back? To where? Go back to the place you were with God, before life’s circumstances made you run away from Him and everybody else, into a wilderness place.
Go back and remind yourself of the blessings that God has bestowed upon you. Go back and remember the last time God helped you out of a tough spot. Go back to times you felt alone and God sent a friend. Go back to the last time you sensed God’s sweet presence; ask for a touch from Him again.
Continuing on in the wilderness only promises feelings of aloneness and despair. Going back to fellowship with Father promises hope and comfort, guidance and courage. We all get dreadfully low in spirit. We can choose the wilderness or we can choose to — go back.
The past several weeks I’ve been enjoying a personal study in the book of Ephesians. I love it that, every time we read the Word of God, there is always something fresh to discover and consider. Such was the case when I came across Ephesians 3:17, “Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.” It was while reading this verse that God spoke to me about my broom.
Do you ever get frustrated that your house isn’t as neat as you would like it to be? It seems there’s always dusting to be done, vacuuming that’s waiting, and often things get scattered about that need to be put away. It gnaws at us as we walk in the door and we tell ourselves that we must clean up a bit, but maybe we don’t. We’re tired or busy or just not motivated, so the dust thickens, the carpet screams to be vacuumed, and more things get scattered here and there. We want it neat and tidy, but we turn blind eyes and make excuses as to why we’ll clean the house tomorrow.
It’s the same in our spiritual world. I imagine it like this: When we first become a Christian, we invite Jesus to come into our house. We ask Him to forgive us for the mess we’ve made and to please come in and make our house clean. He does that very thing. The house is immaculate. However, time goes by and we let the house become cluttered again. Jesus comes to visit us but we only allow Him into the living room. We keep things generally tidy, for appearances sake, in the living room, but Jesus asks to go into all of our rooms. He wants to make a difference throughout every room of our heart.
We panic at the thought and quickly run to our bedroom to hurriedly push things under the bed so Jesus won’t see. We then let Him come in. The first thing He does is go right to the bed, kneel down and begin to pull out everything that we hid away from Him. He opens the closet too and sees that it’s a mess. We stand there in shame, exposed before Him, but He comes to us and wraps His arms around us. He tells us not to be embarrassed that we let the rooms of our heart become so full of this world’s junk. He whispers words of love and encouragements to us and reminds us that we cant’ keep our house clean by ourselves. We need Him and only He can clean perfectly.
Then, with new understanding and with joy, we give Jesus the broom and ask Him to please keep it clean all the days of our lives and to forgive us for ever letting it become so cluttered. Jesus smiles, hugs us again, forgives even the biggest of all messes, and happily begins sweeping day after day.
“He removes our sins from us as far as the east is from the west.” Psalm 103:12
It’s been a hectic week; one of those weeks where every hour is accounted for and filled. This morning I was doing a needed errand that had been on my list of things to do. Back in the car I glanced at my list for the next thing to be done — an appointment in 30 minutes. Quickly calculating time to get to my destination, I realized I had twenty minutes I could spare and on impulse I headed for the seafront. Five minutes and I was there.
I parked the car, rolled down the windows and gazed out across a light green sea. The tide was in, so every wave could be heard softly breaking on the shore. White caps danced on the waves all the way to the horizon and seagulls did swooping exercises in the breeze. I was transfixed: not a muscle moved, eyes focused across the water, and my ears enjoyed a symphony of waves and seagulls and wind. The smell of sea and wind was fresh. Drawing in a lung full of air I let it out slowly, feeling tensions of a fraught week easing away. Twenty minutes later, I was ready to continue with my list of things to do this day. Instead of feeling tense, I felt relaxed and invigorated, too. I was ready to face the rest of my day.
There is something about taking time to “smell the roses” as the saying goes. God created a lovely world of nature. He loves what He created and loves it, too, when we take the time to enjoy what He has done. Our worship of Creator God pleases Him so much, and blesses us immensely.
When we “come apart and rest awhile” (Mark 6:31) taking time to notice and enjoy what God has created around us, our inner spirits are renewed. When we rest in the mountains, perhaps we think of the verses in Psalm 121:1-2, I look up to the mountains — does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.” When we walk alongside a river, perhaps we think of the verses in Psalm 1:2-3, But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season.” When we gaze upon a wooded area, perhaps we think of Isaiah 55:12, “You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands!”
There are reminders of the love and majesty of our Father God all around us. Meditating on His majesty is always a balm to soothe our weary selves. Psalm 8 sums it up beautifully: “When I look at the night sky and see the work of Your fingers — the moon and the stars You set in place — what are mere mortals that You should think about them, human beings, that You should care for them? Yet You made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor. You gave them charge of everything You made, putting all things under their authority, the flocks and the herds and all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and everything that swims the ocean currents. Oh Lord, our Lord, Your majestic name fills the earth!”
I’ve enjoyed several Wimbledon tennis matches this week. No, I haven’t actually been there at center court, but I’ve been a very excited armchair cheerleader, calling out encouragements to my personal favorites.
As a part of the viewing, the TV station has provided background information about the top seeded players and interviews with them. I always admire the rigorous training they must adhere to if they want to hold the winner’s cup. They practice tennis for several hours every day. They exercise in the gym, and work out with a personal trainer. They sit in ice baths. Constantly, they are maintaining muscle strength, and sharpening their focus on the game. It’s imperative that they do both; exercise and focus.
They could exercise for weeks on end, then play a game with no focus, and they will most certainly lose. The opposite is also true; they can play with great exuberance and focus, but if they have not trained properly, they won’t have the strength and agility to get all the shots. To be a great athlete takes great exercise and great focus.
Such training and focus is no different in our spiritual world. We can be an avid and focused student of God’s Word, but without exercising application of what we learn, it is to no avail. One without the other will not make us great athletes in the godly race that Father asks us to run.
Take a look at the following:
Spiritual exercise – “Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise…” Colossians 3:16
“Dear children, let us stop just saying we love each other; let us really show it by our actions. It is by our actions that we know we are living in the truth.” I John 3:18-19
Focus – “Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; then stick to the path and stay safe. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.” Proverbs 4: 25-27
“Since you are risen with Christ, seek those things which are above…set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” Colossians 3:1-2
So, let’s exercise and focus, training ourselves to be godly athletes, and be filled with joy running the race.
There is a particular tree that grows not far from where I live. I’ve had my eye on it for years. It’s tall with thick branches, provides great shade in the summer, and looks majestic even in the starkness of winter. In the Spring, an amazing transformation began to take place. No, I’m not referring to the sudden appearance of leaves. I’m referring to a vine that had made it’s way up the tree.
I know that at times a vine growing up a tree is not good news. It can choke it’s growth and even kill the tree but that is not the case with this particular vine. The tree has remained very healthy and, in fact, it’s beauty is enhanced by the presence of the vine. Each year I notice that the vine is taller and fuller than it was the year before. It’s thick with pink flowers which has, at this point in time, completely hidden the trunk of the tree. It’s absolutely gorgeous!
I’m not the only enthusiast for this tree. Often in my walks I notice that others are also stopping to admire the transformation that is taking place. I have speculated that some are gardeners and perhaps wondering if they can duplicate this beauty in their own yards.
As I was contemplating my tree I was reminded of the transformation that takes place in our character from the moment we invite Jesus Christ into our lives. In the beginning of our new life in Christ, transformation may not be obvious but as the years pass by, taking on the family resemblance of Jesus begins to take shape. In time, even others start to notice. Perhaps those younger in the faith stop to admire the Christ-likeness of one who is more mature in their walk with God. The transformation of Jesus, like a flowering vine that covers a tree with it’s beauty, is an encouragement to all who observe what takes place in our lives. Isn’t it exciting to think that the way we behave in everyday life could be the very encouragement that someone needs to continue “…working toward that day when we will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved us to be and wants us to be.” (paraphrase mine) Philippians 3:12
It’s not a scary thing to think that someone may be watching us; it’s an honor and a joyful responsibility. When the vine of Jesus flowers in our lives, it’s a beauty to behold in us all.
“…we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like Him and reflect His glory even more.” II Corinthians 3:18
I turned on the TV to catch the morning news and the issue of homosexuality was being discussed. It’s a subject that’s very much in the news these days. Parliaments, congresses, and courts are debating “gay rights” throughout the western world. Many people in support argue that it’s merely a matter of love. If two people love each other, be they two women or two men, then why shouldn’t they express their love as they so feel?
I find that many Christians don’t understand the issue in the light of God’s Word. They may believe it to be an ungodly act, but they don’t exactly know why. They can’t fully explain it. Let’s explore together.
I love the verse in Luke 1:37 that reads, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” As Christians, we often encourage each other with the words that nothing is too hard for God. He can do anything. Yes, He can do anything He so desires to do in our personal circumstances or the circumstances of the world. Even so, there remains one thing that God cannot do: He cannot change Himself.
In Malachi 3:6, we read, “I am the Lord and I do not change.” There is nothing about God’s blameless character that will ever change. For example:
He is love — that will not change. “…God is love.” I John 4:8
He is Spirit — that will not change. “For God is Spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:24
He is sinless — that will not change. “But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God – who chose you to be His children – is holy.” I Peter 1:15 If it were remotely possible for God to sin, then He could never instruct us to attempt to be holy as He is holy. He is the perfection we strive to imitate. We become more like Him as we mature in our knowledge of Him and as we put His ways into practice. Final perfection is gained when we enter heaven where sin does not exist.
He is merciful to forgive all sin — that will not change. “If we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.” I John 1:9
He is also the embodiment of male and female — that will not change. “So God created people in His own image; God patterned them after Himself; male and female He created them.” Genesis 1:27.
That is why God says homosexuality is a shameful and unnatural desire. It’s unnatural for anyone to try and change Almighty God in any way. “God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. And the men, instead of having normal sexual relationships with women, burned with lust for each other.” Romans 1:26-27
God blesses the sexual relationship of a male and female in marriage for the very reason that it is a picture of Himself. God cannot change that and it is an abomination for anyone else to try and do so.
God loves everyone, whether gay or straight. Remember, His love does not change and He loves the whole world. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
Even so, it must be stressed and understood — the marriage relationship of one man and one woman is a picture of God. He can’t change His portrait. We can’t paint a different picture of Him and call it God, either.
Aren’t we glad that God cannot change? If He could change in one area, then He would be open to change in all. Forgiveness of sins would be at stake, His love would be uncertain, His comfort untrustworthy, His peace a mere wish.
What joyful assurance comes to us because we can say, “thank you Father that you do not change.”
This past Sunday I was at the church I regularly attend in England. We were having a lovely time of singing and worshipping. At one point, several people shared testimonies of things Father had recently taught them.
One lady told us that earlier in the week she had an opportunity to “go the extra mile” for another woman at work. She did this joyfully but when the recipient barely said a “thank you,” she admitted that she became “really peeved.” She had always been taught to say a word of thanks when someone did a kindness, she told us. The woman didn’t seem appreciative at all for the kindness that had been done for her.
The lady shared further that she had been contemplating this unthankful woman with great irritation in her thoughts, when something startling occurred to her; was she sometimes an unthankful lady? When it came to things our Heavenly Father did for her everyday, did she remember to say “thank you” or did she just go along her way without giving the matter any further thought.
Her words struck a chord with all of us that morning. God blesses us every day. He provides for our needs, He guides us, He causes trees and flowers to grow for our enjoyment, He protects us when we don’t even know we’re being protected, He gives us His strength and inner peace, He gives us wisdom and points the right way to go when we need it. The list of God’s blessings in our lives goes on and on.
Remembering to say thank you to our heavenly Father will bless Him with pleasure in the show of our love for Him but it will bless us too. Psalm 22:3 tells us that “God inhabits the praises of His people.” There is great joy and also power in giving thanks and praise to God. I’m thinking of Jehoshaphat in the Old Testament.
Jehoshaphat led his small army against one much greater in size and won. What was his battle plan? He led his people to, first, be thankful to God and praise Him. Then, instead of putting his greatest warriors in the front lines, he placed praise singers. They sang the following over and over: “Give thanks to the Lord; His faithful love endures forever.” II Chronicles 20:18-27
Remembering to simply say “thank you” to Father every day is like a key that opens our hearts, making it possible to receive God’s own strength and joy. When that happens, then like Jehoshaphat, we too can win any battle no matter how huge it may be.
“I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, Oh Most High.” Psalm 9:1-2
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