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
I was at the airport a few days ago to meet my niece who is spending a week with me. The Arrivals Board indicated her flight had landed and bags were being delivered. I made my way to the doors where arriving travelers would enter the terminal and chose a spot to wait for Helen.
As I waited, a young man stood near. Suddenly there was a waving of hands and I looked toward the object of his happiness. A young woman, pushing a stroller with toddler strapped in, was coming toward him. The woman was smiling and then the toddler, instantly recognizing her father, leaned forward with her little arms outstretched. Immediately he knelt down, unstrapped her and lifted her up. Her smile was wide and her eyes dancing with merriment. Her father kissed her and hugged her and she giggled in delight and wrapped her arms tightly around him. I glanced at the mother. She stood wiping tears from her eyes. Then her husband drew her near and kissed her firmly. What sheer delight to observe this trio. I was also wiping tears from my eyes at the loving sight before me.
As they walked away, all entangled in continued embraces, my eyes continued to fill with tears. One day, I thought to myself, one day the promise will be fulfilled; one day a glorious reunion will take place.
“…Jesus has been taken away from you into heaven. And someday, just as you saw Him go, He will return!” Acts 1:11
“It will happen in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, the Christians who have died will be raised with transformed bodies. And then we who are living will be transformed so that we will never die.” II Corinthians 15:52
“And now, dear children, continue to live in fellowship with Christ so that when He returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from Him in shame.” I John 2:28
The book of Genesis is among my favorites. I never tire of reading the first verses about God’s work on earth. It excites me to read that the act of creating is the first thing we are told about God.
“In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.” Genesis 1:1-3
Isn’t it absolutely amazing to read that darkness was everywhere? Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. He created something out of nothing.
Do you ever feel like a nothing? Does darkness seem to linger through your days?
Remember, God has been creating from the beginning of time as we know it; He is still creating in the hearts of mankind, bringing His light, dispelling the dark. Remember too, God has done some of His most beautiful work in the dark.
“You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, Oh God! They are innumerable! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake in the morning, you are still with me.!” Psalm 139:15-18
My mother is visiting me for two weeks in the UK. This week we’re spending time with some dear friends in Wales. Today we were out sightseeing. I especially loved the views of the Wye Valley with colors of plowed earth that looked purple and acres of bright yellow raipseed plants which are used to make cooking oil. We drove from one little village to another, sometimes going down country lanes only big enough for one car. The hedges stood about ten feet high on either side. What fun we had when we met a tractor and had to back up for a mile before we could let it pass! It’s been a day of much adventure, beautiful views, and many laughs.
As the day was coming to a close, we decided it was time to head back home to a nice cup of tea and an evening meal. Evenings are relaxing at home times with our friends and their sweet, playful dog – Buddy the staffordshire terrier.
We were only about an hour’s drive from their home but were in a place we had never been before. One person suggested we go in a certain direction while the other felt strongly we should go the opposite way. An agreement could not be found until finally it was remembered that they have a GPS system in their car. The home address was entered and we were pulling in their drive within the hour. The GPS had been available all along but it wasn’t until we were truly lost that anyone thought about it.
It’s the same in our spiritual world. The Holy Spirit is our built-in GPS system. We often don’t realize how much we need Him until all our own attempts fail us.
“Don’t lean to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6
“For You are great and perform wonderful deeds. You alone are God.” Psalm 86:10
Have you ever really listened to yourself when someone asks, “How are you doing?” Have you heard yourself answer, “I’m doing pretty good under the circumstances?” I thought of that this week when I was offered a piece of cake. I know – what on earth does a piece of cake have to do with how one is feeling?
My friend was cutting several pieces of cake and my mouth was watering in anticipation. While the pieces were basically the same, there was one piece slightly bigger than the rest. There was another piece with some of the icing smudged off. I was glad no one could read my thoughts. I wanted the bigger piece and was definitely hoping the smudged one didn’t come my way. The pieces were passed around and wouldn’t you know it – I was given the smudged one. Hiding my disappointment, I resigned myself to my fate and took a bite of what was on my plate. Ummm! Delicious! Suddenly, neither the size nor the appearance mattered. It was definitely what was on the inside that counted.
Have you ever felt like that misshapen piece of cake? You feel you don’t measure up to the task at hand. You’re not as skilled as others. You feel a failure time and time again. You have one difficulty in life after another to face and you’re tired. You’re just a smudged up, little piece of cake that doesn’t amount to much, but you’re hanging in there and pressing on and even managing to smile while being “under the circumstances.”
Good news, everyone! God doesn’t want us living under the circumstances. He wants us living above any circumstance that comes our way and we can as long as we remember our ingredients. Father God has given us His own Spirit to guide us along the way. He has given us His own courage and stamina to face anything. He has put inside of us, His peace to bring us through all life’s hurts and disappointments. He has given us a quiet joy that bubbles softly even in the midst of our deepest grief.
We may look like – a smudged up, piece of not much – but it’s what’s on the inside that counts. When we pay more attention to our ingredients than we do to our circumstances, then we can get through anything.
“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13
Remember, if Father God doesn’t give up on us, we have no right to give up on ourselves.
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