I'm in one of those moods today, the kind of mood where you kind of look for a fight. Not physical, but mental, an argument, something like that. Already today I read multiple stories about why it's OK to trust God AND believe in evolution, why there is no place for God in schools, and so on. The rhetoric that spews from unbelievers is maddening, the complete lack of logic in their points is frustrating. So I have to do something about it, right?
Believers are amazingly cruel to one another, and it baffles me as to why. Believers in the very Word of God behave completely opposite to the command to love one another, to selflessly give of themselves to others, to put the interest of others before their very own. Something needs to be done, and now! Right?
Unbelievers with horrible life struggles have no hope, and they look at these believers I just described, and come to the conclusion that this entity we call God offers no real solutions. I mean, people calling themselves Christians are just as messed up as the rest of people.
Someone needs to stand up and make a difference. It stinks to try to do the right thing, it really does. It's hard to take the mistreatment that comes from our brother or sister in the Lord, and simply turn that other cheek. It would be understandable to become frustrated with God, or at least wonder how all this fits into His glorious plan.
Psalm 46:11 says "Cease striving, and know that I am God." Many translations say "Be still", and the best word that relates is probably "RELAX." Easier said than done. But lots of opportunities have already arisen today to see if I will truly relax and let God be God.
God will deal with the unbelievers. All I have to do is tell them the truth, firmly and gently, as though I really do care for their souls.
God will deal with believers who refuse to relent to His command. All I have to do is tell them the truth, in love, firmly and gently, as though I really do care about their Christian life.
Easy to be frustrated? Oh yeah. Indignant? You bet. Self-righteous? Never! OK, who am I kidding, of course! Believer, check yourself today, find that beam you need removed from your own eye before you inspect another's speck. And then go love someone you'd rather not. Even if you think it's undeserved.
God is God. I am not. OK, mood gone, I feel better!
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Choose Your Response
We all face trials, I'd say we all know that. James, as I've mentioned before, says to choose ahead of time how you will respond when those trials come. And quite honestly, if you want to see how the "men are separated from the boys" or "women from the girls", watch how people respond when bad times hit.
I've had the privilege to witness the potential responses, both in my own personal life and in others. I'd love to say I've always done well, and if you believe that, well, as they say, I have a bridge for sale in Brooklyn. The truth is, we can strive to grow, and grow, and grow, and you know what, when we do, we get better and better at facing trials, even if they get bigger and harder.
Boys and girls will turn to vices (drugs, alcohol, gambling, fornication, etc.), and will do so secretly, privately, while scrutinizing others while they do. Children tend to shirk responsibility, because they tend to not want people to see what's beneath the veneer. When "caught," fleeing is the typical first response. Appearance is crucial and the Bible makes clear reference to God's distaste for such behavior. Sadly, this response is greatly on display among so-called believers today. But such a reaction is actually contrary to the fruit one would expect to see that flows from salvation
David is confronted by Nathan.
Ananias and Sapphira are confronted by the apostles.
David responds by turning to the Lord.
Ananias and Sapphira respond by pretending, by lying to God, with tragic results.
Christian men and women seek the Lord, in prayer, in His Word, and do not try to force God's hand as to what He is actually saying and doing. It takes maturity to respond this way, and it's not easy. Then again, it's not easy to grow up, if you are honest about it. It also takes other mature believers to come along side those hurting, and when it would be easy to judge, they offer a caring and comforting alternative to the typical response of the world around them. They listen, they pray with them, they share that painful burden, and in all truth, it is a privilege when we get to bear one another's burdens.
If you are like me, you know someone who is hurting, who might think others don't care, and who may be afraid to say much, based on how they have seen others respond to them previously. Hopefully, we all know some hurting people who are doing the right thing, taking their complaint to the Lord, because He hears, He knows, and He cares.
Christians, it's time for the mature among us to stand up, to encourage the children to grow up, and, to the best of our ability, respond well in the face of trials. It's hard, and when it gets hard, you have a choice. Face the trial, or bury it and simply play the part. Mature believers, and more importantly, God can tell who does which, and those mature believers become life-long friends and confidants. Praise God for them! I do. I know. I've learned who will stand in support, and who will write me off when difficulty arises.
Want encouragement? Read Psalm 51 as David deals with his sin. It should bring a tear, if you realize why it was written, and how his heart was broken over his sin.
***
Holding Fast to the Name of our Creator
I've had the privilege to witness the potential responses, both in my own personal life and in others. I'd love to say I've always done well, and if you believe that, well, as they say, I have a bridge for sale in Brooklyn. The truth is, we can strive to grow, and grow, and grow, and you know what, when we do, we get better and better at facing trials, even if they get bigger and harder.
Boys and girls will turn to vices (drugs, alcohol, gambling, fornication, etc.), and will do so secretly, privately, while scrutinizing others while they do. Children tend to shirk responsibility, because they tend to not want people to see what's beneath the veneer. When "caught," fleeing is the typical first response. Appearance is crucial and the Bible makes clear reference to God's distaste for such behavior. Sadly, this response is greatly on display among so-called believers today. But such a reaction is actually contrary to the fruit one would expect to see that flows from salvation
David is confronted by Nathan.
Ananias and Sapphira are confronted by the apostles.
David responds by turning to the Lord.
Ananias and Sapphira respond by pretending, by lying to God, with tragic results.
Christian men and women seek the Lord, in prayer, in His Word, and do not try to force God's hand as to what He is actually saying and doing. It takes maturity to respond this way, and it's not easy. Then again, it's not easy to grow up, if you are honest about it. It also takes other mature believers to come along side those hurting, and when it would be easy to judge, they offer a caring and comforting alternative to the typical response of the world around them. They listen, they pray with them, they share that painful burden, and in all truth, it is a privilege when we get to bear one another's burdens.
If you are like me, you know someone who is hurting, who might think others don't care, and who may be afraid to say much, based on how they have seen others respond to them previously. Hopefully, we all know some hurting people who are doing the right thing, taking their complaint to the Lord, because He hears, He knows, and He cares.
Christians, it's time for the mature among us to stand up, to encourage the children to grow up, and, to the best of our ability, respond well in the face of trials. It's hard, and when it gets hard, you have a choice. Face the trial, or bury it and simply play the part. Mature believers, and more importantly, God can tell who does which, and those mature believers become life-long friends and confidants. Praise God for them! I do. I know. I've learned who will stand in support, and who will write me off when difficulty arises.
Want encouragement? Read Psalm 51 as David deals with his sin. It should bring a tear, if you realize why it was written, and how his heart was broken over his sin.
***
Holding Fast to the Name of our Creator
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
When We See Evil
Sometimes stuff happens around you, beyond your control. At other times, people behave in a way that could only be described as evil, and I mean that in the Biblical sense - opposite of good - with God defining those terms. Unfortunately, that behavior can come from those you believe to be allies, and the best way I can describe that is in a word - pain.
Oh, man, there are so many ways I go could with this, and even stay in the Bible doing so. So let's start with one of the most powerful Psalms I know - Psalm 37. Verse 1 spells it out, as here is what God says to those who love Him:
"Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity." (KJV)
That is a great reminder, coming from God. And really, that opening verse says it all. As painful as it can be to be on the receiving end of evil, it can be very frustrating to see the evildoers prosper in spite of their actions, and God seems to say "Please don't worry, let Me handle this." Which brings me to another great passage in Psalm 46: "Cease striving, and know that I am God." (NASB) Yeah, I know the KJV and every other translation says "Be still," but the word is literally "stop striving." Easy to read, hard to do. But it comes from God, and that is good. It doesn't get any better than God's idea of "good."
In Psalm 55, David is betrayed, hurt deeply, not by his enemies, but by a supposed close friend. It happened to him. It happens to us, and it stinks, to put it plainly. David turned to the Lord. Really, who else could He trust so deeply? Oh, he had his troubles and concerns, yet his heart stayed trained on God.
James 1 tells us to count it joy when we face trials, literally to make up our mind ahead of time to remember the joy we have in Christ when the trials come, and they will. It's not that they might come, they will, and they will hurt. And we then choose how to respond: sin, or trust in Him more. Again, easy to read, hard to do.
Some great passages to try to bring to mind when the rotten stuff of this world happens, when the rotten stuff even inside the church happens. God's justice is sufficient. Let Him handle it. Easy to say, very, very hard to do that. Pray with me that we can better trust in Him. Pray with me that those who wrong us might recognize their sin in the light of God's Word. Pray with me that those outside of Christ will find their comfort in Him and His Word and come to know Him. And pray with me that those who need to heal can find that healing in the Lord, even through the help of believers who love them, because of Him.
Holding Fast to the Name of our Creator
Oh, man, there are so many ways I go could with this, and even stay in the Bible doing so. So let's start with one of the most powerful Psalms I know - Psalm 37. Verse 1 spells it out, as here is what God says to those who love Him:
"Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity." (KJV)
That is a great reminder, coming from God. And really, that opening verse says it all. As painful as it can be to be on the receiving end of evil, it can be very frustrating to see the evildoers prosper in spite of their actions, and God seems to say "Please don't worry, let Me handle this." Which brings me to another great passage in Psalm 46: "Cease striving, and know that I am God." (NASB) Yeah, I know the KJV and every other translation says "Be still," but the word is literally "stop striving." Easy to read, hard to do. But it comes from God, and that is good. It doesn't get any better than God's idea of "good."
In Psalm 55, David is betrayed, hurt deeply, not by his enemies, but by a supposed close friend. It happened to him. It happens to us, and it stinks, to put it plainly. David turned to the Lord. Really, who else could He trust so deeply? Oh, he had his troubles and concerns, yet his heart stayed trained on God.
James 1 tells us to count it joy when we face trials, literally to make up our mind ahead of time to remember the joy we have in Christ when the trials come, and they will. It's not that they might come, they will, and they will hurt. And we then choose how to respond: sin, or trust in Him more. Again, easy to read, hard to do.
Some great passages to try to bring to mind when the rotten stuff of this world happens, when the rotten stuff even inside the church happens. God's justice is sufficient. Let Him handle it. Easy to say, very, very hard to do that. Pray with me that we can better trust in Him. Pray with me that those who wrong us might recognize their sin in the light of God's Word. Pray with me that those outside of Christ will find their comfort in Him and His Word and come to know Him. And pray with me that those who need to heal can find that healing in the Lord, even through the help of believers who love them, because of Him.
Holding Fast to the Name of our Creator
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