I have to admit this was one of those days that I just did not want to take the time to blog. If we were all honest, I think we'd admit we all have days where we don't want to spend time with God. We just want to be in a bad mood and try to satisfy our longings with earthly things--temporal things. But, you know, I've come to the place where I know that temporal things will not satisfy. The eternal part of me couldn't stand it and so I whispered a little prayer of help to God. I needed a serious attitude adjustment. I didn't want to complete the tasks for the day that were set before me, and I needed His help. You know what, he gave it to me. I didn't really notice the answered prayer until later in the day when I discovered I had a completely different outlook on life--I had received a little spiritual boost under my wings.
I'm reminded again of how easily I let the temporal things around me take precedence over the eternal things. Here's a question. How much do you think about heaven? How much do you think about the eternal life with God that is given to us through Christ? I have to admit I go through times when I just don't think about it at all, and even more, when I do think about it, it doesn't change the way I live here and now. But, it should. If I am actively believing that my future in heaven is more real than what I see now, my days will be a whole lot different---more effective, for sure.
Having said that, we begin our next person in the hall of faith. We are going to have several days with him... and rightly so. We have lots to learn by his example.
"By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith, he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to a city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God."
These verses are great because they give us insight into Abraham's faith. What was it about God that Abraham was believing that caused him to obey and go to Canaan? Look at the last sentence. Abraham was looking forward to heaven. He believed God had a place for him in eternity. This is what motivated obedience from Abraham. I love the writer of Hebrews. I hope he is revealed to us in heaven! Notice that the writer makes a point of contrasting the temporal home Abraham dwelt in in Canaan with a city that has foundations! Tent vs. City with foundations! Temporary vs. Permanent.
Abraham knew that no matter where God called him to go, it would only be a temporal place. He may live there for the rest of his life on earth, but it is still temporal. Abraham believed God.
This wholehearted trust in the future God had for him motivated immediate obedience. If you look in the Genesis account, Abraham doesn't ask questions. He gets up and goes--he and is entire family, livestock, etc.
So, lets think about this a minute. Has our obedience ever been motivated by a trust in what God has for us after this life is over? Does our hope of heaven cause us to obey God?
You know, I am a person who likes to settle down. I want to stay in one place for a long period of time. Many of you reading this who know our family's recent moves may be laughing right now! :)
At some point, I want to live somewhere for the rest of my life. But, who knows how long that is going to be? I may not be here tomorrow! I think this is what Abraham understood. He thought that God could call him to move around anywhere--that was okay, because he knew what would eventually come. He knew at some point, he would have a permanent home in heaven with God and that everything else paled in comparison.
Paul had this same belief. Just read 2 Corinthians and you will discover that he had an eternal perspective. That is why he endured all of the suffering he experienced. He knew what was ahead, and he wanted as many people as possible to have that same assurance.
Guess who else had this kind of perspective? Jesus Christ. Hebrews 12:2 says, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." I know we will all think about what Jesus endured on the cross in the coming days. Ponder it, and remember this verse.
So what is our excuse? Think about all the excuses we come up with in order to put off obedience to God! I can think of several!
"Lord, I'm just not ready yet. Give me another year and I'll do whatever you ask."
"Lord, I'm not prepared, I don't know enough. I don't feel equipped."
"Lord, I'm scared."
"Lord, I'm not good enough. I can't do that!"
"Lord, just get me through this next important thing in my life, and then I'm yours!"
Abraham didn't make these statements. He just got up and put feet to his faith.
As I have said so many times in these blogs, all to often it is the opinions of others that keep me from obeying God. I care much more about their temporal, fleeting thoughts than I do the reality of what God offers! I really want to get to the point where I just obey immediately--no questions asked! Maybe if we all meditated a little on what our future holds, and the reality of what we have in Christ right now, our days would be different.
I'm reminded of this great hymn. If you know it, sing it to Him! We have received so great a salvation, the least we can do is trust and obey!
Blessed assurance
Jesus is Mine!
O, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God
Born of His Spirit
Washed in His blood.
This is my story
This is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
"As in the days of Noah...."
Heb. 11:7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
The phrases that strike me are:
"when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark"
"By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith."
Wow, what great insight into Noah's character and trust in God.
I'm trying to put myself in Noah's position. Would I have obeyed God as he did?
Here is how Genesis 6 describes Noah:
"Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God."
Lets, just for a moment, insert our own names into this equation. Would this be a true statement if your name appeared instead of Noah's?
"Kristin is a righteous woman, blameless among the people of her time, and she walks with God."
Boy, I'd really love for that to be what is written on my tombstone and what is said of me when I leave this earth. I think the part I struggle with the most is "she walks with God." I know there have been so many times in my life when I have chosen not to walk with Him. Also, am I blameless among the people of my time? I know that because I am in Christ, God sees me as holy and righteous--but it is a righteousness that comes from Him and is not my own. Noah didn't have the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. Yet, he made choices that clearly point to a deep and abiding faith in God.
For one, Noah was blameless among a people who were full of violence and lust. Sound familiar? I think our society can be described as violent and full of lust. Do we partake in any of that in any way?
As for me and my family, we try very hard to keep the violence and lust that permeates TV, radio, and internet out of our home. I firmly believe that if I am watching shows that promote and condone lustful behavior and violence toward others, I am indulging and participating in sinful behavior. I used to be a huge fan of Law and Order SVU. Now, I can't even stand to watch it. It gives me a sick feeling.
I find that when I abstain from all of that, my thoughts are blameless. When I watch things I shouldn't, my thought life is not blameless. I think we as Christians have become far too accepting of what comes into our homes via the media. Also, if I am watching a lot of TV and surfing the net, I am not walking with my God.
I believe that Noah was truly and totally set apart. He was different than everyone else around him.
Can you imagine the ridicule he received when he started to build a huge ark? Yet, he trusted God and kept going. In fact, the scripture says that "Noah did everything just as God commanded Him." He didn't just to some things, he did EVERYTHING God commanded Him. Would I have done that?
I am so concerned about what others think of me---would I have ignored all the ridicule? Would I have not only built the ark, but brought all the animals in as well? What a task!!
This just makes me realize, even as I am typing this, that those who are totally trusting God and obeying Him will have amazing tasks to complete. He is going to test our allegiance to Him. I have a feeling that we, like Noah will have to endure some rejection and ridicule from those around us. But, out of "holy fear", Noah obeyed every command God gave Him.
Holy fear and fear of man are two totally different types of fear. The Hebrew word for "holy fear" means reverence and awe. There are countless passages in scripture that refer to "Fear of the Lord". This type of reverence brings wisdom, discernment, and obedience. When we are fearing what others think and say about us, we are definitely not acting out of reverence--but out of doubt. This type of fear results in disobedience.
I am ashamed to say that there have been way too many times when I have allowed my "fear of man" to take precedence over my "fear of God." I have been praying so much lately about this tendency in me. I do not want to be like that. I do not want to put the opinions of others above God--but I have done it in the past. This was not Noah's struggle. We don't even see him question God in this passage in Genesis. He just obeys all that God commands. Wow.
Okay, here's another point that convicts me. Can you imagine God coming to you and saying, "“I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth." Would that change the way you live your life? Would you then start begging those around who are lost to turn from their wicked ways and follow Christ?
I guess you all know where I'm going with this. In fact, Jesus has told us this. We know that the future for those who have not believed on Christ as Savior and Lord is eternal suffering and anguish. Not only that, but Jesus Christ actually compares the last days to "the days of Noah" in Matthew 24. Here is what Jesus says:
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
I listened to a couple of sermons (via podcast) this week of Francis Chan. The Holy Spirit used his message to really convict me of the fact that I am not anguishing over the lost like I should be. I anguish over the little inconveniences of life more than I do those who are perishing. THIS SHOULD NOT BE! I am more concerned about how those people will respond to me than I am their eternal soul! Needless to say I am begging God to change my heart and to bestow on me the deep love He has for those who are lost and dying in their sin. 2 Peter 2 also talks about the days of Noah, Sodom and Gomorrah, and other days of judgement. Peter mentions that Noah was a preacher of righteousness before the flood, and that Lot "was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard" from the ungodly people around him.
I truly believe that many of us who claim to be followers of Christ ARE NOT preaching righteousness and we are not tormented in our souls about the lawless deeds we see and hear. Heck, we watch Desperate Housewives and COUNTLESS other shows on TV that are full of lust and violence and talk about the episodes in our workplaces and classrooms and on Facebook without flinching an eye.
I might be stepping on some toes here, but please know that I am confessing my own sin too. I don't watch those TV shows, but I also don't have holy anguish for those who are lost. Francis Chan made the point that we have made the Noah story so cute and cuddly--"Aww look at the cute boat with all the cute animals in it." He said that most people who paint a picture of the Ark on their nursery walls don't include the people who are drowning and dying in the waters below. The story of Noah is a story about salvation AND judgement!
We have been given such a great salvation---such GREAT news! Why are we not telling others about this good news? For me, it all boils down to faith. I am not trusting God's Word. I am not trusting that he will deliver me from any shame and accusation when I speak His truth. (See 2 Peter 2: 7-9). There is a passage in Isaiah that just floored me when I read it. It is our LORD God Almighty speaking to Jerusalem, i.e. His people--the Israelites (The Jews) and we who are in Christ, are also God's children, so we can apply this word to ourselves, I believe. Oh, bride of Christ, read these words as though they were written for you---because they ARE written for you! Read this slowly and soak in every word.
“Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities. “Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. For your Maker is your husband — the LORD Almighty is his name — the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth. The LORD will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit — a wife who married young, only to be rejected,” says your God. “For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back. In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” says the LORD your Redeemer. “To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again. Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you. “O afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted, I will build you with stones of turquoise, your foundations with sapphires. I will make your battlements of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones. All your sons will be taught by the LORD, and great will be your children’s peace. In righteousness you will be established: Tyranny will be far from you; you will have nothing to fear. Terror will be far removed; it will not come near you. If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing; whoever attacks you will surrender to you. “See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer to work havoc; no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the LORD.
God offers this promise to ANYONE who turns to Him in faith and accepts the gift of His Son. This is what we should be telling those around us who are perishing. This could be their inheritance--their future. How can we keep it from them? As believers, we have the promise that we have NOTHING to fear.
O God, please ignite my heart and bestow on me the kind of faith Noah possessed. Give me holy anguish over those around me who do not know you or who have rejected you. Help me to plead with them urgently and gently--pointing them to the true possessor of unfailing love. Help me to enlarge my tents---to set my stakes wide, and reach all those around me who need you. Impress upon me, and all your people the seriousness of your call to preach the Good News! You are ready and waiting to offer your arm of salvation to anyone who turns to you in faith--anyone who believes on Christ as their savior and Lord. You will lift them out of the pit---out of the floodwaters, and keep them safe in the palm of your hand. O God help us overcome our unbelief! Give us Holy Fear! Help us to obey your call! Help ME to obey your call!
Thanks for bearing with me through this one. I know it was long and rather bold. But, God has been convicting me this week and I do not believe it was a coincidence that Hebrews 11:7 was tonight's scripture. He is so faithful. I hope that the Holy Spirit will use the word he has given me to ignite a passion in you.
Think about those around you who you are pretty certain do not know Jesus Christ. Call them, write to them, meet with them. I am going to do the same!
The phrases that strike me are:
"when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark"
"By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith."
Wow, what great insight into Noah's character and trust in God.
I'm trying to put myself in Noah's position. Would I have obeyed God as he did?
Here is how Genesis 6 describes Noah:
"Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God."
Lets, just for a moment, insert our own names into this equation. Would this be a true statement if your name appeared instead of Noah's?
"Kristin is a righteous woman, blameless among the people of her time, and she walks with God."
Boy, I'd really love for that to be what is written on my tombstone and what is said of me when I leave this earth. I think the part I struggle with the most is "she walks with God." I know there have been so many times in my life when I have chosen not to walk with Him. Also, am I blameless among the people of my time? I know that because I am in Christ, God sees me as holy and righteous--but it is a righteousness that comes from Him and is not my own. Noah didn't have the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. Yet, he made choices that clearly point to a deep and abiding faith in God.
For one, Noah was blameless among a people who were full of violence and lust. Sound familiar? I think our society can be described as violent and full of lust. Do we partake in any of that in any way?
As for me and my family, we try very hard to keep the violence and lust that permeates TV, radio, and internet out of our home. I firmly believe that if I am watching shows that promote and condone lustful behavior and violence toward others, I am indulging and participating in sinful behavior. I used to be a huge fan of Law and Order SVU. Now, I can't even stand to watch it. It gives me a sick feeling.
I find that when I abstain from all of that, my thoughts are blameless. When I watch things I shouldn't, my thought life is not blameless. I think we as Christians have become far too accepting of what comes into our homes via the media. Also, if I am watching a lot of TV and surfing the net, I am not walking with my God.
I believe that Noah was truly and totally set apart. He was different than everyone else around him.
Can you imagine the ridicule he received when he started to build a huge ark? Yet, he trusted God and kept going. In fact, the scripture says that "Noah did everything just as God commanded Him." He didn't just to some things, he did EVERYTHING God commanded Him. Would I have done that?
I am so concerned about what others think of me---would I have ignored all the ridicule? Would I have not only built the ark, but brought all the animals in as well? What a task!!
This just makes me realize, even as I am typing this, that those who are totally trusting God and obeying Him will have amazing tasks to complete. He is going to test our allegiance to Him. I have a feeling that we, like Noah will have to endure some rejection and ridicule from those around us. But, out of "holy fear", Noah obeyed every command God gave Him.
Holy fear and fear of man are two totally different types of fear. The Hebrew word for "holy fear" means reverence and awe. There are countless passages in scripture that refer to "Fear of the Lord". This type of reverence brings wisdom, discernment, and obedience. When we are fearing what others think and say about us, we are definitely not acting out of reverence--but out of doubt. This type of fear results in disobedience.
I am ashamed to say that there have been way too many times when I have allowed my "fear of man" to take precedence over my "fear of God." I have been praying so much lately about this tendency in me. I do not want to be like that. I do not want to put the opinions of others above God--but I have done it in the past. This was not Noah's struggle. We don't even see him question God in this passage in Genesis. He just obeys all that God commands. Wow.
Okay, here's another point that convicts me. Can you imagine God coming to you and saying, "“I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth." Would that change the way you live your life? Would you then start begging those around who are lost to turn from their wicked ways and follow Christ?
I guess you all know where I'm going with this. In fact, Jesus has told us this. We know that the future for those who have not believed on Christ as Savior and Lord is eternal suffering and anguish. Not only that, but Jesus Christ actually compares the last days to "the days of Noah" in Matthew 24. Here is what Jesus says:
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
I listened to a couple of sermons (via podcast) this week of Francis Chan. The Holy Spirit used his message to really convict me of the fact that I am not anguishing over the lost like I should be. I anguish over the little inconveniences of life more than I do those who are perishing. THIS SHOULD NOT BE! I am more concerned about how those people will respond to me than I am their eternal soul! Needless to say I am begging God to change my heart and to bestow on me the deep love He has for those who are lost and dying in their sin. 2 Peter 2 also talks about the days of Noah, Sodom and Gomorrah, and other days of judgement. Peter mentions that Noah was a preacher of righteousness before the flood, and that Lot "was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard" from the ungodly people around him.
I truly believe that many of us who claim to be followers of Christ ARE NOT preaching righteousness and we are not tormented in our souls about the lawless deeds we see and hear. Heck, we watch Desperate Housewives and COUNTLESS other shows on TV that are full of lust and violence and talk about the episodes in our workplaces and classrooms and on Facebook without flinching an eye.
I might be stepping on some toes here, but please know that I am confessing my own sin too. I don't watch those TV shows, but I also don't have holy anguish for those who are lost. Francis Chan made the point that we have made the Noah story so cute and cuddly--"Aww look at the cute boat with all the cute animals in it." He said that most people who paint a picture of the Ark on their nursery walls don't include the people who are drowning and dying in the waters below. The story of Noah is a story about salvation AND judgement!
We have been given such a great salvation---such GREAT news! Why are we not telling others about this good news? For me, it all boils down to faith. I am not trusting God's Word. I am not trusting that he will deliver me from any shame and accusation when I speak His truth. (See 2 Peter 2: 7-9). There is a passage in Isaiah that just floored me when I read it. It is our LORD God Almighty speaking to Jerusalem, i.e. His people--the Israelites (The Jews) and we who are in Christ, are also God's children, so we can apply this word to ourselves, I believe. Oh, bride of Christ, read these words as though they were written for you---because they ARE written for you! Read this slowly and soak in every word.
“Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities. “Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. For your Maker is your husband — the LORD Almighty is his name — the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth. The LORD will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit — a wife who married young, only to be rejected,” says your God. “For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back. In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” says the LORD your Redeemer. “To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again. Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you. “O afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted, I will build you with stones of turquoise, your foundations with sapphires. I will make your battlements of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones. All your sons will be taught by the LORD, and great will be your children’s peace. In righteousness you will be established: Tyranny will be far from you; you will have nothing to fear. Terror will be far removed; it will not come near you. If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing; whoever attacks you will surrender to you. “See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer to work havoc; no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the LORD.
God offers this promise to ANYONE who turns to Him in faith and accepts the gift of His Son. This is what we should be telling those around us who are perishing. This could be their inheritance--their future. How can we keep it from them? As believers, we have the promise that we have NOTHING to fear.
O God, please ignite my heart and bestow on me the kind of faith Noah possessed. Give me holy anguish over those around me who do not know you or who have rejected you. Help me to plead with them urgently and gently--pointing them to the true possessor of unfailing love. Help me to enlarge my tents---to set my stakes wide, and reach all those around me who need you. Impress upon me, and all your people the seriousness of your call to preach the Good News! You are ready and waiting to offer your arm of salvation to anyone who turns to you in faith--anyone who believes on Christ as their savior and Lord. You will lift them out of the pit---out of the floodwaters, and keep them safe in the palm of your hand. O God help us overcome our unbelief! Give us Holy Fear! Help us to obey your call! Help ME to obey your call!
Thanks for bearing with me through this one. I know it was long and rather bold. But, God has been convicting me this week and I do not believe it was a coincidence that Hebrews 11:7 was tonight's scripture. He is so faithful. I hope that the Holy Spirit will use the word he has given me to ignite a passion in you.
Think about those around you who you are pretty certain do not know Jesus Christ. Call them, write to them, meet with them. I am going to do the same!
Friday, March 26, 2010
Without faith...
Writing this blog has been so good for me. It is keeping me in the Word and it is making my dialogue with God more consistent. I am realizing more and more how much I need Him--his presence, his strength, his wisdom. I'm also realizing that I am praying "Lord, help me overcome my unbelief--increase my faith!"
Lets pick up where we left off in Hebrews 11. I absolutely love the next two verses.
"By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:5-6
Here is the Genesis 5 passage on Enoch:
When Jared had lived 162 years, he became the father of Enoch. And after he became the father of Enoch, Jared lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. And after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.
Enoch was descended from Adam's son Seth (the son he had after Cain killed Abel). The actual lineage is Adam, Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch. (To continue in the line it was Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, and then Noah). Just FYI did you know that this is Jesus' geneology too? Check out Luke 3. You will find a lot of righteous people in this line--righteous by their faith.
There is another intriguing passage on Enoch, taken from the book of Jude in the NT.
"Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”
By these verses, we can infer that Enoch walked with God, was righteous, and was some kind of prophet. Needless to say, Enoch's life was pleasing to God. Why? Because of his faith.
Then, the writer of Hebrews seems to interject into his "Hall of Faith" a reminder to the reader,
"And without faith it is impossible to please God..."
Read that statement again and speak it out loud. Without faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God. The Greek word for impossible also translates, "powerless." In other words, all of our "good deeds" and "righteous acts" are completely powerless and ineffective when it comes to pleasing God. All that God requires is our faith. And, interestingly enough, when we have real, active faith, the righteous acts follow. We cannot turn the equation around and put works before faith. Works FOLLOW genuine faith. Without faith, our works are DEAD.
I have known this truth for sometime now, but I still catch myself trying to please God with my actions, rather than just simply trusting Him. I find that sometimes its easier to be busy doing ministry (righteous acts) while I am stubbornly holding on to areas of unbelief. So, the people around me may think I'm some "great" Christian, but God knows better.
Here is an example:
I may give money to the poor, but I won't give sacrificially unless I am trusting God to provide for my needs. That is why we don't tithe like we should. Sure we give a little each month to our church, but we don't give what He requires because we feel like we won't have enough money. God is not pleased with that.
I may sit down and have a short quiet time with God, and check that off my list as having pleased Him. But, if I don't live out and apply what I just read and prayed about, then is that genuine faith? If I really believe what I read, then I will live it out. I should read my Bible out of a love for Him and out of a child-like faith that wants to spend time with Him. My daughter Caroline just wants her mommy and daddy to play with her-she wants time with us more than anything else. I should want that with my God.
I must constantly remind myself that my "righteous acts" are as filthy rags. Is. 64:6 "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags..." Okay, all you men reading this...be warned...the definition of "filthy rags" in this verse is not a pretty one. Ready for some hard hitting truth?? Did you know that the Hebrew word for filthy literally translates "menstruation" and rags translates "clothing/garment". Enough said.
Righteous acts that are not outgrowths of faith are nothing better than menstrual cloths. Sorry, I know that is gross, but I think God is trying to make a point here through Isaiah.
When will we get it through our thick heads that God wants our trust and love more than anything else. Ephesians 2:8-9 shows us another reason God wants faith rather than "filthy rag righteousness".
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast." Why is salvation not achieved through works? "so that no one can boast." In other words, so GOD gets the glory NOT us.
When we are fully trusting Him, the actions and works that flow out of us give Him glory! When we are just performing religious acts of so-called righteousness, we are in it for our own glory. I have often noticed that when I do something "good" pride can easily slip in. That is why God designed salvation to be based on FAITH not WORKS. This is true in both the Old and New Testaments.
I'm not saying that God doesn't use our "filthy rag righteousness"--because he does--out of his grace. But to truly make a difference for the kingdom, we have to trust Him first and THEN obey.
If we are earnestly seeking Him, then he will give us reward. This reward is so much better than man's praise, which is temporal and fleeting. This reward is eternal in nature.
So, join me in examining our daily "good deeds" and see if they pass the faith test. Or, I guess you could also call it, the Enoch test. If my actions are self serving in any way, they don't pass the test.
Paul, in talking about the Israelites in Romans 10, said:
Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: “The man who does these things will live by them.” ....That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”
I close with one of my favorite verses in Scripture. Paul has just finished telling the Philippians all the religious acts that he has performed, and why, in man's eyes he should be commended. But Paul's regard for these "righteous acts" is as though they are rubbish--pure trash.
Let's make this our motto:
Phil. 3:8 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ — the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith."
O Lord, increase our faith!
Lets pick up where we left off in Hebrews 11. I absolutely love the next two verses.
"By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:5-6
Here is the Genesis 5 passage on Enoch:
When Jared had lived 162 years, he became the father of Enoch. And after he became the father of Enoch, Jared lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. And after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.
Enoch was descended from Adam's son Seth (the son he had after Cain killed Abel). The actual lineage is Adam, Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch. (To continue in the line it was Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, and then Noah). Just FYI did you know that this is Jesus' geneology too? Check out Luke 3. You will find a lot of righteous people in this line--righteous by their faith.
There is another intriguing passage on Enoch, taken from the book of Jude in the NT.
"Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”
By these verses, we can infer that Enoch walked with God, was righteous, and was some kind of prophet. Needless to say, Enoch's life was pleasing to God. Why? Because of his faith.
Then, the writer of Hebrews seems to interject into his "Hall of Faith" a reminder to the reader,
"And without faith it is impossible to please God..."
Read that statement again and speak it out loud. Without faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God. The Greek word for impossible also translates, "powerless." In other words, all of our "good deeds" and "righteous acts" are completely powerless and ineffective when it comes to pleasing God. All that God requires is our faith. And, interestingly enough, when we have real, active faith, the righteous acts follow. We cannot turn the equation around and put works before faith. Works FOLLOW genuine faith. Without faith, our works are DEAD.
I have known this truth for sometime now, but I still catch myself trying to please God with my actions, rather than just simply trusting Him. I find that sometimes its easier to be busy doing ministry (righteous acts) while I am stubbornly holding on to areas of unbelief. So, the people around me may think I'm some "great" Christian, but God knows better.
Here is an example:
I may give money to the poor, but I won't give sacrificially unless I am trusting God to provide for my needs. That is why we don't tithe like we should. Sure we give a little each month to our church, but we don't give what He requires because we feel like we won't have enough money. God is not pleased with that.
I may sit down and have a short quiet time with God, and check that off my list as having pleased Him. But, if I don't live out and apply what I just read and prayed about, then is that genuine faith? If I really believe what I read, then I will live it out. I should read my Bible out of a love for Him and out of a child-like faith that wants to spend time with Him. My daughter Caroline just wants her mommy and daddy to play with her-she wants time with us more than anything else. I should want that with my God.
I must constantly remind myself that my "righteous acts" are as filthy rags. Is. 64:6 "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags..." Okay, all you men reading this...be warned...the definition of "filthy rags" in this verse is not a pretty one. Ready for some hard hitting truth?? Did you know that the Hebrew word for filthy literally translates "menstruation" and rags translates "clothing/garment". Enough said.
Righteous acts that are not outgrowths of faith are nothing better than menstrual cloths. Sorry, I know that is gross, but I think God is trying to make a point here through Isaiah.
When will we get it through our thick heads that God wants our trust and love more than anything else. Ephesians 2:8-9 shows us another reason God wants faith rather than "filthy rag righteousness".
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast." Why is salvation not achieved through works? "so that no one can boast." In other words, so GOD gets the glory NOT us.
When we are fully trusting Him, the actions and works that flow out of us give Him glory! When we are just performing religious acts of so-called righteousness, we are in it for our own glory. I have often noticed that when I do something "good" pride can easily slip in. That is why God designed salvation to be based on FAITH not WORKS. This is true in both the Old and New Testaments.
I'm not saying that God doesn't use our "filthy rag righteousness"--because he does--out of his grace. But to truly make a difference for the kingdom, we have to trust Him first and THEN obey.
If we are earnestly seeking Him, then he will give us reward. This reward is so much better than man's praise, which is temporal and fleeting. This reward is eternal in nature.
So, join me in examining our daily "good deeds" and see if they pass the faith test. Or, I guess you could also call it, the Enoch test. If my actions are self serving in any way, they don't pass the test.
Paul, in talking about the Israelites in Romans 10, said:
Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: “The man who does these things will live by them.” ....That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”
I close with one of my favorite verses in Scripture. Paul has just finished telling the Philippians all the religious acts that he has performed, and why, in man's eyes he should be commended. But Paul's regard for these "righteous acts" is as though they are rubbish--pure trash.
Let's make this our motto:
Phil. 3:8 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ — the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith."
O Lord, increase our faith!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Trusting God in times of discipline
I have to confess that this afternoon has been a tough one for me. Can I just say that parenting is HARD. For those of you reading this who are parents, I can hear a hearty "Amen!" My oldest is only 3 (almost 4), but I feel like sometimes we are fighting battles that are supposed to happen when she is 13! (I have heard it said that this is the first adolescence!) We had one of those moments today. With Caroline, there is no hiding her emotions or filtering her heart condition. She was just flat out defiant--and not just once! Usually in times like that I can feel myself warm up with anger. It was one of those times when I stopped and cried out for wisdom from God, but you know what?...I didn't wait for an answer--I just dove right in and tried to rectify the situation as I saw fit. Needless to say the immediate outcome was not what I wanted. Sometimes I forget that she is just 3. James is so right in saying that the tongue is a powerful and deadly weapon. I am reminded that I must constantly guard my tongue when I get upset. After I disciplined Caroline I felt an immediate need for us to have a few moments of reconciliation, and to assure her that I loved her very much and was proud of her in so many ways. After a few hugs and kisses I put her to bed for a nap and I came downstairs and immediately opened my Bible.
I was still searching for answers and wisdom from God. It occurred to me that I shouldn't go searching through the Bible for scriptures on discpiline, but just look to Jesus Christ as my example. I started to read John 8-9 and as I was reading God convicted me of something. In a blog that I wrote just a few days ago, I talked about how we look at the behavior of people (and ourselves) and try and fix problems that way, rather than looking at the heart. If you remember, I wrote that we need to stop doing that and look at the heart as God does. Well, God showed me that I was being a hypocrite!! With Caroline, I was trying to correct the behavior without looking at the heart and asking questions that would bring out what was in her heart. Jesus CONSTANTLY did this. The questions and retorts that he would give back to the Pharisees always pointed to their depraved hearts--their prideful hearts.
Even with the general public, Jesus was all about a person's heart condition. When the person trusted God with his/her heart and believed Him, healing would take place.
The other scripture that came to mind was in Matthew 7 when Christ said:“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"
I know how much I want good for my girls and yet I'm imperfect. Just imagine how much more God wants for me (and them)...and He is perfect!! When I discipline Caroline, I often talk with her about trusting that I am wanting what is best for her. Yet, I make mistakes sometimes in my discipline. But, you know what?...God NEVER MESSES UP when He is disciplining us. He is Holy. So, how much more should we be trusting Him when he disciplines us? I love Hebrews 12. This passage immediately follows Chapter 11, the "Hall of Faith" chapter that we are studying. Chapter 12 speaks on God's discipline:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."
I can definitely look back on my life (especially in recent years) and see how God disciplined me. It was extremely painful at the time, but I now realize that holiness was and IS his goal. Discipline trains and teaches us. We must also remember that He never treats us as our sins deserve (Psalm 103:10). So, even when He disciplines us there is such grace intertwined!! Praise God we are His children! It would be worse not to be His child.
I want so much for Caroline to trust me--even when I discipline her. It hurts when I sense that she isn't trusting my heart. Oh, how much God wants us to trust Him, even in seasons of discipline. Even though he disciplines, he will never remove his love from us and He will always be faithful!
(Psalm 89:31-33) (We should also tell our children this--especially after a discipline session! They need to know that no matter what, we will always love them and that God loves them unconditionally.)
Another point that struck me as I was reading John 8-9 was the truth that Jesus is the Good Shepherd of our hearts. Jesus describes himself that way, and refers to us as His sheep. "My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me." He IS the shepherd of our hearts. Likewise, I should shepherd my child's heart. (There is a great book with this title, by the way--an excellent and Biblical book on parental discipline). Jesus tests our hearts to prove us genuine (1 Peter), He disciplines and makes us aware (through the Holy Spirit) of behaviors that reflect unbelief and pride.
These are the things He taught me today. It all boils down to faith.
"God is too wise to be mistaken. God is to good to be unkind. So, when you don't understand, when you don't see His plan, when you can't trace His hand, TRUST HIS HEART."
I was still searching for answers and wisdom from God. It occurred to me that I shouldn't go searching through the Bible for scriptures on discpiline, but just look to Jesus Christ as my example. I started to read John 8-9 and as I was reading God convicted me of something. In a blog that I wrote just a few days ago, I talked about how we look at the behavior of people (and ourselves) and try and fix problems that way, rather than looking at the heart. If you remember, I wrote that we need to stop doing that and look at the heart as God does. Well, God showed me that I was being a hypocrite!! With Caroline, I was trying to correct the behavior without looking at the heart and asking questions that would bring out what was in her heart. Jesus CONSTANTLY did this. The questions and retorts that he would give back to the Pharisees always pointed to their depraved hearts--their prideful hearts.
Even with the general public, Jesus was all about a person's heart condition. When the person trusted God with his/her heart and believed Him, healing would take place.
The other scripture that came to mind was in Matthew 7 when Christ said:“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"
I know how much I want good for my girls and yet I'm imperfect. Just imagine how much more God wants for me (and them)...and He is perfect!! When I discipline Caroline, I often talk with her about trusting that I am wanting what is best for her. Yet, I make mistakes sometimes in my discipline. But, you know what?...God NEVER MESSES UP when He is disciplining us. He is Holy. So, how much more should we be trusting Him when he disciplines us? I love Hebrews 12. This passage immediately follows Chapter 11, the "Hall of Faith" chapter that we are studying. Chapter 12 speaks on God's discipline:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."
I can definitely look back on my life (especially in recent years) and see how God disciplined me. It was extremely painful at the time, but I now realize that holiness was and IS his goal. Discipline trains and teaches us. We must also remember that He never treats us as our sins deserve (Psalm 103:10). So, even when He disciplines us there is such grace intertwined!! Praise God we are His children! It would be worse not to be His child.
I want so much for Caroline to trust me--even when I discipline her. It hurts when I sense that she isn't trusting my heart. Oh, how much God wants us to trust Him, even in seasons of discipline. Even though he disciplines, he will never remove his love from us and He will always be faithful!
(Psalm 89:31-33) (We should also tell our children this--especially after a discipline session! They need to know that no matter what, we will always love them and that God loves them unconditionally.)
Another point that struck me as I was reading John 8-9 was the truth that Jesus is the Good Shepherd of our hearts. Jesus describes himself that way, and refers to us as His sheep. "My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me." He IS the shepherd of our hearts. Likewise, I should shepherd my child's heart. (There is a great book with this title, by the way--an excellent and Biblical book on parental discipline). Jesus tests our hearts to prove us genuine (1 Peter), He disciplines and makes us aware (through the Holy Spirit) of behaviors that reflect unbelief and pride.
These are the things He taught me today. It all boils down to faith.
"God is too wise to be mistaken. God is to good to be unkind. So, when you don't understand, when you don't see His plan, when you can't trace His hand, TRUST HIS HEART."
Saturday, March 20, 2010
A Better Sacrifice
As I've studied the next verse in Hebrews 11, I really had to go deeper and do some "whole Bible" investigating. Here's the verse:
"By faith, Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead." Hebrews 11:4
Let's find the original text of this story back in Genesis 4:
"Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man.” Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” The LORD said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”
Most of us know the story of Cain and Abel, but I think few of us think about why Cain murdered his brother. Again, we are all too easily tempted to look at the action and not examine the heart. But, as we see clearly in this passage, God was looking straight into the hearts of Cain and Abel. We see in their actions what they truly believed about God. Jesus said, "By their fruit you will recognize them": Matthew 7:20. The Bible clearly teaches that faith in God produces one kind of fruit (actions, behaviors, choices), and unbelief produces quite a different kind of fruit . It is clear that Abel was a righteous man who trusted God. He brought to God the best portions of the best of his flock. Because Abel brought forth this kind of sacrifice and offering, we can deduct that he trusted God's character, provision, and authority. 1) God's character: Abel wouldn't have brought such a costly sacrifice if he didn't believe that God deserved the best of what he had. This offering was a sacrifice, much like if we gave God the choice part of our possessions. 2) God's provision: Abel clearly trusted that God would provide for his needs, even though he was giving up the best parts of his livestock. He must have believed that God would either replenish his flock or provide for him in other ways. Try and translate it to modern times--what financial or material gift could you bring to God that would really be costly. Do we trust that he will provide? 3) Abel recognized God's authority. His sacrifice was brought out of a humble and submissive heart.
Now, lets look at Cain. There are some other scriptures that give us even more insight into Cain's heart. Look at 1 John 3:10-14. This scripture floored me when I read it.
"This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother. This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.
Whoa.
It is clear from this passage and the others that Cain did not love God and did not love his brother. In the Genesis passage, we see that he was jealous of Abel and also prideful. When God asked Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?" He was clearly probing Cain's heart. Think about your own life for a moment. Ever been so angry that you didn't want to look anyone in the eye? Think about what prompted this kind of response. For me, it was always the sin of pride. When I get angry, pride is always at the root of it.
Notice how God describes sin in Genesis 4. He tells Cain, "If you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."
I think we ought to take God's words seriously. Whenever we perceive that we are being mistreated, or when we react in anger in any way there should be some red flags that come up in our mind. Satan would like nothing better than to make a difficult situation a sinful one. I think anger is a natural response, but we must immediately take it to God. We can't let the sun go down on our anger. We should TRUST God to bind our wounds when we have been treated unjustly or in some cases show us where we have gone wrong. This is tough. I confess that there have been times in my life where I have refused to forgive. I've wanted to hold that grudge long enough for the other person to pay! According to 1 John, that isn't loving my brother or sister in Christ. Ouch, this one hurts.
And if that doesn't convict enough, here is another layer to Cain's sinful behavior:
Cain's problems didn't start when God rejected his offering. They started when he chose to bring God only a part of his crop--a part that must not have cost him much. 1 John says that Cain belonged to the evil one, so clearly, no actions on Cain's part would reflect abiding faith in God. He wanted to give God as little as possible--just enough to get him by. This verse convicts me too. Eventhough I know I am a child of God, I know that there are times when I choose to give God very little of my time, my material possessions---my love. If I'm not "faithing" Him and loving Him, then there is little chance I am truly loving others--especially those who are difficult to love. I am reminded that we are to live a LIFE of FAITH. Our entire lives should be defined by our faith in God and our trust of Him. When this is the case, we will love and we will leave the outcome to God.
Like Abel, I want my faith to still speak when I am gone. I want to leave a legacy and heritage that will tell of God's glory in my life. I want to live a life of faith. O, Lord, help me overcome my unbelief! Help me to trust you with all my possessions. Help me to trust you with difficult situations and unloving people. Remind me Lord to bring my anger before you and lay it at your feet. Help me to love others as you have loved me.
Hos. 6:6 " For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings."
"By faith, Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead." Hebrews 11:4
Let's find the original text of this story back in Genesis 4:
"Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man.” Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” The LORD said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”
Most of us know the story of Cain and Abel, but I think few of us think about why Cain murdered his brother. Again, we are all too easily tempted to look at the action and not examine the heart. But, as we see clearly in this passage, God was looking straight into the hearts of Cain and Abel. We see in their actions what they truly believed about God. Jesus said, "By their fruit you will recognize them": Matthew 7:20. The Bible clearly teaches that faith in God produces one kind of fruit (actions, behaviors, choices), and unbelief produces quite a different kind of fruit . It is clear that Abel was a righteous man who trusted God. He brought to God the best portions of the best of his flock. Because Abel brought forth this kind of sacrifice and offering, we can deduct that he trusted God's character, provision, and authority. 1) God's character: Abel wouldn't have brought such a costly sacrifice if he didn't believe that God deserved the best of what he had. This offering was a sacrifice, much like if we gave God the choice part of our possessions. 2) God's provision: Abel clearly trusted that God would provide for his needs, even though he was giving up the best parts of his livestock. He must have believed that God would either replenish his flock or provide for him in other ways. Try and translate it to modern times--what financial or material gift could you bring to God that would really be costly. Do we trust that he will provide? 3) Abel recognized God's authority. His sacrifice was brought out of a humble and submissive heart.
Now, lets look at Cain. There are some other scriptures that give us even more insight into Cain's heart. Look at 1 John 3:10-14. This scripture floored me when I read it.
"This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother. This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.
Whoa.
It is clear from this passage and the others that Cain did not love God and did not love his brother. In the Genesis passage, we see that he was jealous of Abel and also prideful. When God asked Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?" He was clearly probing Cain's heart. Think about your own life for a moment. Ever been so angry that you didn't want to look anyone in the eye? Think about what prompted this kind of response. For me, it was always the sin of pride. When I get angry, pride is always at the root of it.
Notice how God describes sin in Genesis 4. He tells Cain, "If you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."
I think we ought to take God's words seriously. Whenever we perceive that we are being mistreated, or when we react in anger in any way there should be some red flags that come up in our mind. Satan would like nothing better than to make a difficult situation a sinful one. I think anger is a natural response, but we must immediately take it to God. We can't let the sun go down on our anger. We should TRUST God to bind our wounds when we have been treated unjustly or in some cases show us where we have gone wrong. This is tough. I confess that there have been times in my life where I have refused to forgive. I've wanted to hold that grudge long enough for the other person to pay! According to 1 John, that isn't loving my brother or sister in Christ. Ouch, this one hurts.
And if that doesn't convict enough, here is another layer to Cain's sinful behavior:
Cain's problems didn't start when God rejected his offering. They started when he chose to bring God only a part of his crop--a part that must not have cost him much. 1 John says that Cain belonged to the evil one, so clearly, no actions on Cain's part would reflect abiding faith in God. He wanted to give God as little as possible--just enough to get him by. This verse convicts me too. Eventhough I know I am a child of God, I know that there are times when I choose to give God very little of my time, my material possessions---my love. If I'm not "faithing" Him and loving Him, then there is little chance I am truly loving others--especially those who are difficult to love. I am reminded that we are to live a LIFE of FAITH. Our entire lives should be defined by our faith in God and our trust of Him. When this is the case, we will love and we will leave the outcome to God.
Like Abel, I want my faith to still speak when I am gone. I want to leave a legacy and heritage that will tell of God's glory in my life. I want to live a life of faith. O, Lord, help me overcome my unbelief! Help me to trust you with all my possessions. Help me to trust you with difficult situations and unloving people. Remind me Lord to bring my anger before you and lay it at your feet. Help me to love others as you have loved me.
Hos. 6:6 " For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings."
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Do I Believe the Creator of the Universe Loves Me?
As I think about my actions and re-actions to that second devastating miscarriage I had in 2002, I know that one of the faith struggles I had was with the truth that God loves me and that He is good.
He has taught me so much and shown me so much of his character over the past 8 years and as of now,
I can say that I truly believe that God loves me and that He is good. But, again, I really struggled with this during my "crisis of belief."
I often ask myself, "If I were to lose Allen or if one of my girls contracted a terminal cancer, would I still believe this?" I have to say that this is the fear I struggle with today. Just in the past two months, I have heard about multiple cases of infant and childhood cancer. I have to say, it frightened me! I have really been praying that God would set me free from this fear---just like he has with so many other fears. I know that when I am fearing, I am doubting and if I'm doubting, that means I am not trusting Him! It means that I am specifically not trusting that He loves me with an unfailing love.
So many times in the last couple of weeks I have been thinking about God as Creator: mainly because I have been talking about it with Caroline. As we have talked about all the things God created, it struck me time and time again that he made this for US to enjoy AND for His Glory. Oops, I really should switch that: He made this for HIS glory and for US to enjoy! The fact that we are included in this equation should just bring us to our knees in gratefulness.
Does the Creator of the Universe love me?
Tonight, I want to look at Hebrews 11:3, and then share a link that I hope all who read this will watch in its entirety.
"By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible." What an awesome verse! Looking at the Greek, here is another way to write this verse: "By faith/trust we understand, see with insight, and reflect on the fact that the universe was put in order, mended together; made complete, prepared, and ordained at God's saying the word. So that what is seen was not made out of things which were visible."
I have really never doubted the creation account in Genesis. I have never doubted that this universe was created by God. I remember sitting in science classes in high school and college and hearing about the big bang theory and studying evolution. I've watched many "documentaries" on the teaching of evolution vs. creation and frankly, I just don't buy the whole evolution theory. Instead, I am confident in verses like:
For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” The wrath of God is being revealed from since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. " Romans 1:17-20
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat. Psalm 19:1-6
Is. 44:24 “This is what the LORD says — your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself.
Is. 40:26 Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
So, I haven't really struggled with the fact that there is a God and he created the universe. What I have struggled with at times is this truth: We can't forget that not only did he create the ENTIRE UNIVERSE, but it was HIS WILL and JOY to create YOU and ME!
Is. 45:18 For this is what the LORD says — he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited — he says: “I am the LORD, and there is no other."
Is. 43:1 But now, this is what the LORD says — he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
Psa. 139:13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Rev. 4:11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”
There are countless other scriptures I could quote, but you get the idea. Every creature, every flower, every mountain, the ocean, clouds---all of creation---we are supposed to see these things and ponder our God!
I am not going to write anymore tonight, because I really hope that all who read this will watch Louie Giglio's sermon on this awesome God who created the universe AND loves ME!
I'll close with this paragraph from a book called "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan, and then you can just scroll down and click on the link to hear Louie speak. After you watch this, I have a feeling your reaction will be much like mine when I saw it the first time. I had some major "on my knees" confession to do. I had to confess to God that I wasn't believing that He really loves me and I prayed for Him to help me overcome my unbelief! No matter what your past or your future holds, God loves you and he will work ALL things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose!
"Have you ever thought about how diverse and creative God is? He didn't have to make hundreds of different kinds of bananas, but He did. He didn't have to put 3,000 different species of trees within one square mile in the Amazon jungle, but He did...How about the way plants defy gravity by drawing water upward from the ground to their stems and veins? Or did you know that spiders produce three kinds of silk? When they build their webs, they create sixty feet of silk in one hour, simultaneously producing a special oil on their feet that prevents them from sticking to their own web...Coral plants are so sensitive that they can die if the water temperature varies by even one or two degrees. Did you know that when you get goose bumps, the hair in your folicles is actually helping you stay warmer by trapping body heat? Or what about the simple fact that plants take in carbon dioxide (which is harmful to you) and produce oxygen (which we need to survive)? Whatever God's reasons for such diversity, creativity, and sophistication in the universe, on earth, and in our own bodies, the point of it all is His glory...That is why we are called to worship Him. His art, His handiwork, and His creation all echo the truth that He is glorious."......."The very fact that a holy, eternal, all-knowing, all-powerful, merciful, fair, and just God loves you and me is nothing short of astonishing. The wildest part is that Jesus doesn't have to love us...He doesn't need me or you. Yet he wants us, chooses us, and even considers us His inheritance (Eph. 1:18). The greatest knowledge we can ever have is knowing God treasures us...The Holy Creator sees you as His "glorious inheritance." Francis Chan
Now, click on this link and watch the 5 segment sermon. Please, Please, Please watch it! There is nothing more important that you need to be doing, I promise! :)
Indescribable by Louie Giglio
He has taught me so much and shown me so much of his character over the past 8 years and as of now,
I can say that I truly believe that God loves me and that He is good. But, again, I really struggled with this during my "crisis of belief."
I often ask myself, "If I were to lose Allen or if one of my girls contracted a terminal cancer, would I still believe this?" I have to say that this is the fear I struggle with today. Just in the past two months, I have heard about multiple cases of infant and childhood cancer. I have to say, it frightened me! I have really been praying that God would set me free from this fear---just like he has with so many other fears. I know that when I am fearing, I am doubting and if I'm doubting, that means I am not trusting Him! It means that I am specifically not trusting that He loves me with an unfailing love.
So many times in the last couple of weeks I have been thinking about God as Creator: mainly because I have been talking about it with Caroline. As we have talked about all the things God created, it struck me time and time again that he made this for US to enjoy AND for His Glory. Oops, I really should switch that: He made this for HIS glory and for US to enjoy! The fact that we are included in this equation should just bring us to our knees in gratefulness.
Does the Creator of the Universe love me?
Tonight, I want to look at Hebrews 11:3, and then share a link that I hope all who read this will watch in its entirety.
"By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible." What an awesome verse! Looking at the Greek, here is another way to write this verse: "By faith/trust we understand, see with insight, and reflect on the fact that the universe was put in order, mended together; made complete, prepared, and ordained at God's saying the word. So that what is seen was not made out of things which were visible."
I have really never doubted the creation account in Genesis. I have never doubted that this universe was created by God. I remember sitting in science classes in high school and college and hearing about the big bang theory and studying evolution. I've watched many "documentaries" on the teaching of evolution vs. creation and frankly, I just don't buy the whole evolution theory. Instead, I am confident in verses like:
For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” The wrath of God is being revealed from since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. " Romans 1:17-20
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat. Psalm 19:1-6
Is. 44:24 “This is what the LORD says — your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself.
Is. 40:26 Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
So, I haven't really struggled with the fact that there is a God and he created the universe. What I have struggled with at times is this truth: We can't forget that not only did he create the ENTIRE UNIVERSE, but it was HIS WILL and JOY to create YOU and ME!
Is. 45:18 For this is what the LORD says — he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited — he says: “I am the LORD, and there is no other."
Is. 43:1 But now, this is what the LORD says — he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
Psa. 139:13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Rev. 4:11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”
There are countless other scriptures I could quote, but you get the idea. Every creature, every flower, every mountain, the ocean, clouds---all of creation---we are supposed to see these things and ponder our God!
I am not going to write anymore tonight, because I really hope that all who read this will watch Louie Giglio's sermon on this awesome God who created the universe AND loves ME!
I'll close with this paragraph from a book called "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan, and then you can just scroll down and click on the link to hear Louie speak. After you watch this, I have a feeling your reaction will be much like mine when I saw it the first time. I had some major "on my knees" confession to do. I had to confess to God that I wasn't believing that He really loves me and I prayed for Him to help me overcome my unbelief! No matter what your past or your future holds, God loves you and he will work ALL things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose!
"Have you ever thought about how diverse and creative God is? He didn't have to make hundreds of different kinds of bananas, but He did. He didn't have to put 3,000 different species of trees within one square mile in the Amazon jungle, but He did...How about the way plants defy gravity by drawing water upward from the ground to their stems and veins? Or did you know that spiders produce three kinds of silk? When they build their webs, they create sixty feet of silk in one hour, simultaneously producing a special oil on their feet that prevents them from sticking to their own web...Coral plants are so sensitive that they can die if the water temperature varies by even one or two degrees. Did you know that when you get goose bumps, the hair in your folicles is actually helping you stay warmer by trapping body heat? Or what about the simple fact that plants take in carbon dioxide (which is harmful to you) and produce oxygen (which we need to survive)? Whatever God's reasons for such diversity, creativity, and sophistication in the universe, on earth, and in our own bodies, the point of it all is His glory...That is why we are called to worship Him. His art, His handiwork, and His creation all echo the truth that He is glorious."......."The very fact that a holy, eternal, all-knowing, all-powerful, merciful, fair, and just God loves you and me is nothing short of astonishing. The wildest part is that Jesus doesn't have to love us...He doesn't need me or you. Yet he wants us, chooses us, and even considers us His inheritance (Eph. 1:18). The greatest knowledge we can ever have is knowing God treasures us...The Holy Creator sees you as His "glorious inheritance." Francis Chan
Now, click on this link and watch the 5 segment sermon. Please, Please, Please watch it! There is nothing more important that you need to be doing, I promise! :)
Indescribable by Louie Giglio
Monday, March 15, 2010
What is faith?
I'm thinking that now would be a good time to actually define Biblical faith. In other words, how does God define faith for the Christian?
The first passage that comes to my mind is Hebrews 11. Can I just say that I LOVE the book of Hebrews! It is truly amazing. It is a great book to read during the lent season as we look ahead to Good Friday and Easter. But, lets just look at Chapter 11 for awhile.
The chapter begins with:
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
I know many of us could quote this scripture verbatim, but have we ever really dissected it? Have we really meditated on its meaning? Lets look deeper.
The Greek word for "faith" in this verse is pistis which literally means
"faith, faithfulness, belief, trust, with an implication that actions based on that trust may follow"
So, when we talk about faith, action is implied. I may be taking this out of context a bit, but this is why I believe that we need to start paying attention to our actions and behaviors. If they aren't lining up with God's Word, then we are believing a lie. When we believe a lie, sin results. When we believe God and His Word, joy, peace, and victory results!
Okay, back to the verse. "Now FAITH (faithfulness, belief, trust, with implication of action) is being sure of what we hope for. In other words, Faith = being sure of what we hope for. The Greek word for being sure is "hypostasis" which means being confident, sure, having confidence. Faith is being confident and certain about what we hope for.
What do we hope for? I have to admit I had to do some thinking and digging! I don't think about this enough!!
That's a big question isn't it? What do we hope for as followers of Christ?
The word here for hope translates to hope, hope for, put hope in, expect, an attitude of confidently looking forward to what is good and beneficial. As Christians, what are we looking forward to (or what are we SUPPOSED to be looking forward to? Here are just some of God's promises that we hope for:
Eternal life in heaven with God! Not only will we dwell with Him for eternity but we will have bodies that will know no pain, suffering, or aging. Paul, in Romans, puts it this way: "We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."
Paul also implies in other verses that we will be completely without sin. No more struggling with obeying God and trusting Him! But even now, in this human flesh, we can experience a taste of what it will be like in heaven. PLEASE READ 2 Corinthians 3:7-4:1; 4:6-9; 4:13-18, 5:1-9. Oh, if you have a Bible PLEASE stop and read this passage. You will be so glad you did!
These verses are a perfect portrait of someone who is living out Hebrews 11:1.
I have to say that I have at times forgotten what it is I am hoping for. I just don't think about the specifics I hope for as a Christian. If you are in the same boat, just keep reading those verses and they will re-ignite your passion for all things eternal!! Eternity is our REALITY! Paul knew and understood that.
All of the stuff we strive for and all of the things we do out of believing lies will not go with us. In other words, if you are striving for success in the world's eyes: wealth, prominence, outward beauty, high achievement, etc. these things are temporal and will not go into eternity with you. So, why are we wasting so much time doing things that are essentially "dead"? UGH! I get so frustrated with myself in this area sometimes--especially when I choose to filter everything through temporal eyes rather than eternal ones.
This is essentially what the writer of Hebrews is pointing out in the second half of verse 1 of Hebrews 11. "Faith is being...certain of what we do not see."
"What we do not see" is essentially everything that is eternal. Everything we can see with our eyes is not going to last, including our bodies. So, we should start spending LESS time trying to hold onto things that aren't going to last. We should spend less time talking negatively about someone's appearance, behavior, and social status and start praying for God to show us how to reach their HEARTS/SPIRITS. Man, this one hits me between the eyes.
So often I look at the outward appearance (1 Sam. 16:7) and behaviors of someone rather than looking into their heart and having compassion on them. Wow, that could be a whole other posting!
All this to say...if anyone is still reading...when we live by the kind of faith this verse talks about, we are absolutely and positively certain about our future in heaven with Christ and we do not waste our days frivolously trying to hold on to things that are going to decay, disappear, and even burn.
I don't know about you, but a deeper look into this verse has convicted me and shown me that I need to start living my days more SPIRITUALLY focused. I'm not saying I shouldn't take care of my body and work hard at the job God has given me, but they should not be the priority.
If I live tomorrow with the Biblical definition of faith described in this verse then I will:
1) Spend more time reading the Bible INSTEAD of watching TV, surfing the net, updating Facebook, etc, or even cleaning house!
2) Make sure I am teaching my children scriptures and praying with them and talking with them about God. I will set aside time for this everyday and not just focus on Caroline's readiness for preschool!
3) Instead of fixating on loosing the last 10 pregnancy pounds, I will ask God to reveal to me the areas of my heart that he is wanting to shape into His character and likeness.
4) When I look at myself in the mirror I will speak truth from his word rather than the lies society feeds me about how I'm supposed to look.
5) I will pray for OTHERS, stay in contact and offer words of encouragement to all the people God brings to my mind. I will just stop thinking about MYSELF so much and start focusing on accomplishing God's purpose for the day.
6) I will begin the day by asking Him for HELP and will continue to ask Him for wisdom, anointing of His Spirit, and strength throughout the day. Because, none of this can be sustained in my own strength. I need Him constantly!
What will your day look like?
The first passage that comes to my mind is Hebrews 11. Can I just say that I LOVE the book of Hebrews! It is truly amazing. It is a great book to read during the lent season as we look ahead to Good Friday and Easter. But, lets just look at Chapter 11 for awhile.
The chapter begins with:
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
I know many of us could quote this scripture verbatim, but have we ever really dissected it? Have we really meditated on its meaning? Lets look deeper.
The Greek word for "faith" in this verse is pistis which literally means
"faith, faithfulness, belief, trust, with an implication that actions based on that trust may follow"
So, when we talk about faith, action is implied. I may be taking this out of context a bit, but this is why I believe that we need to start paying attention to our actions and behaviors. If they aren't lining up with God's Word, then we are believing a lie. When we believe a lie, sin results. When we believe God and His Word, joy, peace, and victory results!
Okay, back to the verse. "Now FAITH (faithfulness, belief, trust, with implication of action) is being sure of what we hope for. In other words, Faith = being sure of what we hope for. The Greek word for being sure is "hypostasis" which means being confident, sure, having confidence. Faith is being confident and certain about what we hope for.
What do we hope for? I have to admit I had to do some thinking and digging! I don't think about this enough!!
That's a big question isn't it? What do we hope for as followers of Christ?
The word here for hope translates to hope, hope for, put hope in, expect, an attitude of confidently looking forward to what is good and beneficial. As Christians, what are we looking forward to (or what are we SUPPOSED to be looking forward to? Here are just some of God's promises that we hope for:
Eternal life in heaven with God! Not only will we dwell with Him for eternity but we will have bodies that will know no pain, suffering, or aging. Paul, in Romans, puts it this way: "We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."
Paul also implies in other verses that we will be completely without sin. No more struggling with obeying God and trusting Him! But even now, in this human flesh, we can experience a taste of what it will be like in heaven. PLEASE READ 2 Corinthians 3:7-4:1; 4:6-9; 4:13-18, 5:1-9. Oh, if you have a Bible PLEASE stop and read this passage. You will be so glad you did!
These verses are a perfect portrait of someone who is living out Hebrews 11:1.
I have to say that I have at times forgotten what it is I am hoping for. I just don't think about the specifics I hope for as a Christian. If you are in the same boat, just keep reading those verses and they will re-ignite your passion for all things eternal!! Eternity is our REALITY! Paul knew and understood that.
All of the stuff we strive for and all of the things we do out of believing lies will not go with us. In other words, if you are striving for success in the world's eyes: wealth, prominence, outward beauty, high achievement, etc. these things are temporal and will not go into eternity with you. So, why are we wasting so much time doing things that are essentially "dead"? UGH! I get so frustrated with myself in this area sometimes--especially when I choose to filter everything through temporal eyes rather than eternal ones.
This is essentially what the writer of Hebrews is pointing out in the second half of verse 1 of Hebrews 11. "Faith is being...certain of what we do not see."
"What we do not see" is essentially everything that is eternal. Everything we can see with our eyes is not going to last, including our bodies. So, we should start spending LESS time trying to hold onto things that aren't going to last. We should spend less time talking negatively about someone's appearance, behavior, and social status and start praying for God to show us how to reach their HEARTS/SPIRITS. Man, this one hits me between the eyes.
So often I look at the outward appearance (1 Sam. 16:7) and behaviors of someone rather than looking into their heart and having compassion on them. Wow, that could be a whole other posting!
All this to say...if anyone is still reading...when we live by the kind of faith this verse talks about, we are absolutely and positively certain about our future in heaven with Christ and we do not waste our days frivolously trying to hold on to things that are going to decay, disappear, and even burn.
I don't know about you, but a deeper look into this verse has convicted me and shown me that I need to start living my days more SPIRITUALLY focused. I'm not saying I shouldn't take care of my body and work hard at the job God has given me, but they should not be the priority.
If I live tomorrow with the Biblical definition of faith described in this verse then I will:
1) Spend more time reading the Bible INSTEAD of watching TV, surfing the net, updating Facebook, etc, or even cleaning house!
2) Make sure I am teaching my children scriptures and praying with them and talking with them about God. I will set aside time for this everyday and not just focus on Caroline's readiness for preschool!
3) Instead of fixating on loosing the last 10 pregnancy pounds, I will ask God to reveal to me the areas of my heart that he is wanting to shape into His character and likeness.
4) When I look at myself in the mirror I will speak truth from his word rather than the lies society feeds me about how I'm supposed to look.
5) I will pray for OTHERS, stay in contact and offer words of encouragement to all the people God brings to my mind. I will just stop thinking about MYSELF so much and start focusing on accomplishing God's purpose for the day.
6) I will begin the day by asking Him for HELP and will continue to ask Him for wisdom, anointing of His Spirit, and strength throughout the day. Because, none of this can be sustained in my own strength. I need Him constantly!
What will your day look like?
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Battlefield of the Mind
"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You." Isaiah 26:3
I just happened to be studying this verse this week in my Bible study time, and thought it tied in great with what I've been thinking about for this blog.
I don't think I truly understood this verse until about 3-4 years ago. I didn't realize that the real battlefield of my life wasn't the people around me or the circumstances---it was my mind. A war was raging. If only my mind had been steadfast. In this verse, steadfast means "to sustain, to be braced, to lean upon,gain confidence, to strengthen, to refresh." This meaning is just the opposite of what my mind was like. I think a fitting definition would have been "independent, isolated, weak, frail, insecure, depressed."
Needless to say, I was believing many lies. The enemy was whispering them in my ear constantly, and I believed them. We can't forget that Satan is "a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." John 8:44. This characterization of the devil wasn't given by just anyone--it is Jesus Christ himself calling Satan the father of lies.
Eventhough I was a believer in Christ, I was letting the enemy torment me with whisperings like: "You're not good enough." "Your identity is found in how well you teach or sing." "If they think you've not met their standard, then you have failed." "You don't have pride issues---they are the problem." "They don't love you or esteem you." "God doesn't really care about your circumstances." And the lies go on and on.
I would let these thoughts enter my mind and I would meditate on them. I would mull them over time and time again. In fact, I was meditating on the lies much more than God's Word.
When God showed me what I was doing, and exposed the lies I was believing, it was like a huge relief. I now knew who my real enemy was. I knew his game, and I wasn't going to let him win any more battles. Sure, the thoughts kept coming, but I begin to learn to speak God's Word of Truth when those thoughts would come. I began to wield the sword of Truth--which is the Bible.
Did you know that the Bible is a Christian's only offensive weapon? All of the rest of the "armor of God" listed in Eph. 6 is defensive.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
I was beginning to learn how to hold up my shield of faith in one hand and my sword of Truth in the other! Isn't it cool that the shield of faith is supposed to extinguish ALL the flaming arrows of the evil one? It doesn't extinguish just some of those debilitating thoughts he puts in your mind. FAITH EXTINGUISHES EVERY SINGLE ONE! When we CHOOSE to trust God rather than the lies, the lies are destroyed. We must choose to trust Him, even when all our emotions and feelings tell us to do just the opposite. Remember, our emotions are an outgrowth of what we believe. So, for a long time, I chose to believe God even when I didn't feel like it. But, over time, my emotions and feelings began to reflect the truth I was proclaiming. My behavior and daily choices changed. Praise God! He is in the business of setting us free! It is for FREEDOM that Christ has set us free!
So, as we walk through this next week together lets be ultra aware of the thoughts that we are choosing to meditate on. Are they Truth or lies? What choices are we making that reflect our unbelief in God and His Word?
I just happened to be studying this verse this week in my Bible study time, and thought it tied in great with what I've been thinking about for this blog.
I don't think I truly understood this verse until about 3-4 years ago. I didn't realize that the real battlefield of my life wasn't the people around me or the circumstances---it was my mind. A war was raging. If only my mind had been steadfast. In this verse, steadfast means "to sustain, to be braced, to lean upon,gain confidence, to strengthen, to refresh." This meaning is just the opposite of what my mind was like. I think a fitting definition would have been "independent, isolated, weak, frail, insecure, depressed."
Needless to say, I was believing many lies. The enemy was whispering them in my ear constantly, and I believed them. We can't forget that Satan is "a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." John 8:44. This characterization of the devil wasn't given by just anyone--it is Jesus Christ himself calling Satan the father of lies.
Eventhough I was a believer in Christ, I was letting the enemy torment me with whisperings like: "You're not good enough." "Your identity is found in how well you teach or sing." "If they think you've not met their standard, then you have failed." "You don't have pride issues---they are the problem." "They don't love you or esteem you." "God doesn't really care about your circumstances." And the lies go on and on.
I would let these thoughts enter my mind and I would meditate on them. I would mull them over time and time again. In fact, I was meditating on the lies much more than God's Word.
When God showed me what I was doing, and exposed the lies I was believing, it was like a huge relief. I now knew who my real enemy was. I knew his game, and I wasn't going to let him win any more battles. Sure, the thoughts kept coming, but I begin to learn to speak God's Word of Truth when those thoughts would come. I began to wield the sword of Truth--which is the Bible.
Did you know that the Bible is a Christian's only offensive weapon? All of the rest of the "armor of God" listed in Eph. 6 is defensive.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
I was beginning to learn how to hold up my shield of faith in one hand and my sword of Truth in the other! Isn't it cool that the shield of faith is supposed to extinguish ALL the flaming arrows of the evil one? It doesn't extinguish just some of those debilitating thoughts he puts in your mind. FAITH EXTINGUISHES EVERY SINGLE ONE! When we CHOOSE to trust God rather than the lies, the lies are destroyed. We must choose to trust Him, even when all our emotions and feelings tell us to do just the opposite. Remember, our emotions are an outgrowth of what we believe. So, for a long time, I chose to believe God even when I didn't feel like it. But, over time, my emotions and feelings began to reflect the truth I was proclaiming. My behavior and daily choices changed. Praise God! He is in the business of setting us free! It is for FREEDOM that Christ has set us free!
So, as we walk through this next week together lets be ultra aware of the thoughts that we are choosing to meditate on. Are they Truth or lies? What choices are we making that reflect our unbelief in God and His Word?
Friday, March 12, 2010
"Fear of Man"
No, not fear of men...fear of MAN. :)
In other words, fear of what people think about you!
Anybody out there have this fear?
For many years it was the primary fear of my life.
It consumed my thoughts daily. I wasted many hours of many days trying to please everyone around me. I tried to do everything within my power to make sure my peers, students, friends, and family were happy with me and liked me. The acceptance of those around me became my primary focus. I believed the lie that their approval was more important than God's. I began to define myself based on what others said of me. My identity was caught up in the minds of others. If I could sense that they thought I failed at something, then I considered myself a failure. If they thought I did a good job, then I was successful. Needless to say, my life was pretty miserable. For one thing, we can't control what others think about us, and second, human beings will always fail us in one way or another. People can like you one week and dislike you the next. My own likes and dislikes can be like shifting sand.
I even found myself assuming what people were thinking about me---and my assumptions were usually completely off base. If someone didn't compliment me on my singing, or on one of my student's singing, then they must have hated my performance.
Can you see what I miserable life I led during those years?
So what does this have to do with faith?
Well, I believe that anytime we fear something (or someone), its because we are choosing to believe a lie rather than God's truth.
Here is what the Bible has to say about this type of fear:
Prov. 29:25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.
Is. 51:7 “Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have my law in your hearts: Do not fear the reproach of men or be terrified by their insults. For the moth will eat them up like a garment; the worm will devour them like wool. But my righteousness will last forever, my salvation through all generations.”
Psa. 56:4 In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I will not be afraid.
What can mortal man do to me?
Psa. 118:6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
Jesus said to the Pharisees: John 5:44 How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?
Jesus also said: “So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Whoever acknowledges me before men, I But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven."
I recently heard a sermon on this topic by a guest pastor at the Village Church in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, and he read an exerpt from a book entitled "When People are Big, God is Small: Overcoming Peer Pressure, Codependancy, and the Fear of Man" by Ed Welch. Read these questions and see if it fits you. It was me to a T!
1. Do you crave compliments?
2. Do you say derogatory things about yourself in order to compel others to praise you?
3. Are you ever afraid that you might be exposed as an impostor?
4.Is your life spent managing your reputation and other people's impressions of you?
5. Are you overly concerned with how you look, how much you weigh, etc. Do you look at yourself in the mirror--or in the glass windows of shops as you walk down the street?
6. Do you think about your self worth alot?
7. Do you feel unappreciated?
8. Do you make excuses for your mistakes?
9. Do you blame others for your mistakes because you can't stand the thought of failing before other people?
10. Do you show favoritism? If someone can increase your reputation, do you show favoritism to them, while neglecting those who don't have a "name" for themselves?
11. Are you over-committed? Can you not say no?
12. Do you compare yourself to others and feel really great when your competitor fails?
Let me just say that at one time I could answer a hardy YES to every question. I was in bondange to the fear of man. There are still times when I struggle with #9.
Why?
Because I trust the opinion of people more than I trust the opinion of God.
I wasn't truly believing what God said about me in the Bible. I could not
believe the statement by Beth Moore: "I am Who God Says I am". His favor
was not enough for me.
Finally, God allowed me to become so sick of my daily life that I ran to Him and to
His Word for answers. I studied the book, "The Search for Significance" and "Approval Addiction" and began to beg for God to set me free from my unbelief.
Even though there are moments here and there that I still struggle with this, by and large I can say that I am free from the fear of man.
How did I get to this place?
MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE: This was a huge help! One scripture I memorized right away was
1Sam. 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
EPHESIANS 1 is a great chapter to study and learn. There is such great truth there about who we are in Christ! We are accepted, chosen, justified, pure and holy...and many more truths!
Once God's Word is inscribed on your heart, you will begin to believe His truth over the lies of the enemy and your life will change!
PRAYER: "God help me! Show me in my life and daily thoughts when I am not believing your Word."
ACCOUNTABILITY: Ask a close friend or mentor to pray for you and hold you accountable when they see this manifesting itself in your life.
OTHER BOOKS: The Search for Significance; Approval Addition by Joyce Meyer; Breaking Free by Beth Moore, Praying God's Word by Beth Moore, When People are Big and God is Small by Ed Welch.
I think God also showed me that when I was doing this, I was essentially slapping Him in the face. I was denying Christ's love for me and giving little worth to the pain and suffering he endured in order to make me holy and pure before God.
This is grievous sin.
So, if this is your struggle, too then pray for God to set you free! HE WILL!!
But you have to cooperate. Cooperating is the hard part!!
It all boils down to believing God and how much he loves you.
He loves you with an unfailing love. No matter how many times you fail or sin,
his love for you never decreases. You cannot earn his love. He is love and he is
crazy about you.
Psa. 90:14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
Psa. 143:8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.
Is. 54:10 Though the mountains be shaken
and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed,”
says the LORD, who has compassion on you.
In other words, fear of what people think about you!
Anybody out there have this fear?
For many years it was the primary fear of my life.
It consumed my thoughts daily. I wasted many hours of many days trying to please everyone around me. I tried to do everything within my power to make sure my peers, students, friends, and family were happy with me and liked me. The acceptance of those around me became my primary focus. I believed the lie that their approval was more important than God's. I began to define myself based on what others said of me. My identity was caught up in the minds of others. If I could sense that they thought I failed at something, then I considered myself a failure. If they thought I did a good job, then I was successful. Needless to say, my life was pretty miserable. For one thing, we can't control what others think about us, and second, human beings will always fail us in one way or another. People can like you one week and dislike you the next. My own likes and dislikes can be like shifting sand.
I even found myself assuming what people were thinking about me---and my assumptions were usually completely off base. If someone didn't compliment me on my singing, or on one of my student's singing, then they must have hated my performance.
Can you see what I miserable life I led during those years?
So what does this have to do with faith?
Well, I believe that anytime we fear something (or someone), its because we are choosing to believe a lie rather than God's truth.
Here is what the Bible has to say about this type of fear:
Prov. 29:25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.
Is. 51:7 “Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have my law in your hearts: Do not fear the reproach of men or be terrified by their insults. For the moth will eat them up like a garment; the worm will devour them like wool. But my righteousness will last forever, my salvation through all generations.”
Psa. 56:4 In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I will not be afraid.
What can mortal man do to me?
Psa. 118:6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
Jesus said to the Pharisees: John 5:44 How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?
Jesus also said: “So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Whoever acknowledges me before men, I But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven."
I recently heard a sermon on this topic by a guest pastor at the Village Church in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, and he read an exerpt from a book entitled "When People are Big, God is Small: Overcoming Peer Pressure, Codependancy, and the Fear of Man" by Ed Welch. Read these questions and see if it fits you. It was me to a T!
1. Do you crave compliments?
2. Do you say derogatory things about yourself in order to compel others to praise you?
3. Are you ever afraid that you might be exposed as an impostor?
4.Is your life spent managing your reputation and other people's impressions of you?
5. Are you overly concerned with how you look, how much you weigh, etc. Do you look at yourself in the mirror--or in the glass windows of shops as you walk down the street?
6. Do you think about your self worth alot?
7. Do you feel unappreciated?
8. Do you make excuses for your mistakes?
9. Do you blame others for your mistakes because you can't stand the thought of failing before other people?
10. Do you show favoritism? If someone can increase your reputation, do you show favoritism to them, while neglecting those who don't have a "name" for themselves?
11. Are you over-committed? Can you not say no?
12. Do you compare yourself to others and feel really great when your competitor fails?
Let me just say that at one time I could answer a hardy YES to every question. I was in bondange to the fear of man. There are still times when I struggle with #9.
Why?
Because I trust the opinion of people more than I trust the opinion of God.
I wasn't truly believing what God said about me in the Bible. I could not
believe the statement by Beth Moore: "I am Who God Says I am". His favor
was not enough for me.
Finally, God allowed me to become so sick of my daily life that I ran to Him and to
His Word for answers. I studied the book, "The Search for Significance" and "Approval Addiction" and began to beg for God to set me free from my unbelief.
Even though there are moments here and there that I still struggle with this, by and large I can say that I am free from the fear of man.
How did I get to this place?
MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE: This was a huge help! One scripture I memorized right away was
1Sam. 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
EPHESIANS 1 is a great chapter to study and learn. There is such great truth there about who we are in Christ! We are accepted, chosen, justified, pure and holy...and many more truths!
Once God's Word is inscribed on your heart, you will begin to believe His truth over the lies of the enemy and your life will change!
PRAYER: "God help me! Show me in my life and daily thoughts when I am not believing your Word."
ACCOUNTABILITY: Ask a close friend or mentor to pray for you and hold you accountable when they see this manifesting itself in your life.
OTHER BOOKS: The Search for Significance; Approval Addition by Joyce Meyer; Breaking Free by Beth Moore, Praying God's Word by Beth Moore, When People are Big and God is Small by Ed Welch.
I think God also showed me that when I was doing this, I was essentially slapping Him in the face. I was denying Christ's love for me and giving little worth to the pain and suffering he endured in order to make me holy and pure before God.
This is grievous sin.
So, if this is your struggle, too then pray for God to set you free! HE WILL!!
But you have to cooperate. Cooperating is the hard part!!
It all boils down to believing God and how much he loves you.
He loves you with an unfailing love. No matter how many times you fail or sin,
his love for you never decreases. You cannot earn his love. He is love and he is
crazy about you.
Psa. 90:14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
Psa. 143:8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.
Is. 54:10 Though the mountains be shaken
and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed,”
says the LORD, who has compassion on you.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Crisis of Belief
I must confess that since I finished the last sentence of my blog last night, I have not stopped thinking and praying about how I should START the blog tonight! There are so many different things going through my head. So many possibilities. The prayer I have said over and over again is, "Lord, where do you want me to begin..."
I have tossed around different things like starting at the very beginning, in the garden of Eden. There is no doubt that the first sin ever committed stemmed from doubt and unbelief. I've also thought about defining what faith is---how we define it and how the Bible defines it. I think I definitely will do these things at some point, but throughout the day I kept coming back to the phrase "Crisis of Belief." This is a phrase that appears in Henry Blackaby's "Experiencing God." Its a great Bible study that has been around for years and really was a revolutionary study in its time.
I can't discuss what a crisis of belief is unless I share my story--my testimony.
Many who are reading this know a good bit of it, and where God has brought me in my faith journey this last decade of my life. But, I think I should share it again in hopes to provide a foundation for future postings. Hopefully this will help everyone understand where I am coming from and why I believe what I believe.
WARNING: This will be a longer blog than usual! Hang in there!
If, like me, you have been going to church your entire life and accepted Christ as your Savior and Lord when you were young, today's posting will make total sense to you (I hope). If you came to know Jesus Christ later in life, then your experience may be a little different and you may not have experienced a "crisis of belief" yet.
Or, maybe it was a crisis that made you choose Christ! Or, you may have never really gone to church and never really thought much about God at all. If that is the case then please don't hesitate to email me with questions.
When I first went through the "Experiencing God" study I'm pretty sure I was in high school. I had been a Christian for about 6-7 years or so. As I look back now, I realize I had no clue what a crisis of belief really was. I could understand what Blackaby was saying in my reasoning/logical mind, but had no real heart relation to the true meaning of it. I think the same could be said of my faith. Don't get me wrong, I had undoubtedly experienced what we call "saving faith." I believed that Jesus was the Son of God who came to earth and died for my sin and rose again. I knew that I could not spend eternity with God on my own merit--it was only by His grace. I firmly believed these truths and confessed them. (Romans 10:9, Ephesians 2:8-9). There is no doubt that I had experienced a heart transformation or spiritual regeneration as theologians call it.
But the kind of faith the Bible talks about isn't just "acknowledging something to be true...or having a deep emotional resonance with something. The biblical concept of believing involves action." William Mounce.
Okay, if you just breezed through that statement without thinking about it much, read it again. Think about it.
There are countless scriptures that support this statement, and in future blogs I will cover them all, but I didn't really realize until I was in my late 20s that I had been coasting along in my Christianity. I was very comfortable, very lukewarm, and not exercising much faith. I know God had been calling me to go deeper with Him and to step out of my comfort zone and start doing some kind of ministry work. Needless to say, I resisted Him---for years.
I experienced a crisis of belief when I was 27 years old. I guess you could also call it a testing of my faith. There is no doubt that the circumstances of September 12, 2001 and June 18, 2002 were meant for refining my faith in the FIRE.
I'm sure as you read through the first date I listed, many of you thought of 9/11.
In addition to the horrible events that took place in our nation, 9/11 was a crushing tragedy of our own.
I was 7 months pregnant with the baby that was to be our first child--Allen Ross Hightower IV. We were going to call him Ross. I only had 8 weeks left in my pregnancy. As I think about that today, realizing that Julianne was born 4 weeks premature, I realize just how close we were to bringing Ross home. But, in the early hours of Sept. 12, Ross died in utero. Words cannot describe that day for me.
I will say that in the midst of everything, God's peace and strength were undoubtedly felt. Just when I didn't think I could do what I had to do over the next hours, (deliver a stillborn baby), God gave me the strength and peace to do it.
Can I just say here that GOD IS FAITHFUL even when we are NOT!
Even though this loss devastated us, Allen and I did not lose hope for one second.
We knew we would try again soon. Sure enough, in April of 2002, I was pregnant again. Although I was a little fearful, deep down I thought that nothing would or could go wrong. The first time was just a fluke. When I was 12 weeks along, I went to my OBGYN for a checkup. This is usually the appointment when you hear the baby's heartbeat for the first time. During that checkup I went from nervousness to apprehension to utter devastation as we realized it had happened AGAIN.
This was not supposed to happen to me. I remember telling God that Allen and I were two godly people who followed Him. We DESERVED a baby. "Why, God? Why did you allow this to happen?"
In the following weeks everything I had believed and held on to for all those years was feeling shaky. My faith was rocked to its core.
Did God really exist?
If so, why did he allow this to happen?
Does God really love me?
I went from grief to denial to anger at God, and every step in between. I didn't pray. I didn't read my Bible. I didn't want to hear anybody quote scripture to me.
I knew all the right answers in my head, but my heart would not accept them.
I didn't lose my faith, but there is no doubt I began to ask some SERIOUS questions.
There you have it...a crisis of belief...a testing of my faith. Was my faith genuine? (1 Peter 1:6-7).
At the time, I was not certain. But now, almost 8 years later I know with out a doubt that my faith needed refining. What is refining? Just think about a person who works with silver or gold. When a refiner first begins to work with these, they are dirty and full of impurities. So what does the refiner do---he sticks them into the fire. It has to be a fire, for fire will burn off the impurities. The refiner
pulls out the silver takes a look at it and sees that there are still impurities.
So, he shoves it back in the fire. This process goes on and on until he takes out
the silver and can see his reflection in it.
As a Christian, our faith is refined in much the same way. Now, let me be clear that when you accept Christ, God sees you as pure and holy. You do not have to earn his favor by trying to "do good." Jesus' blood covers our sin. But, there is no
doubt that when we accept Christ we still sin. God has a purpose for our lives. He has a ministry planned for each and every one of us who follow Him. He wants us to grow in Him, to become more like Christ in what we do, think, say, and believe.
So, he is going to allow and ordain times of testing of our faith. This happens over and over again until we are taken home to be with Him---and then we will see clearly and fully understand what He was about while we were here on earth.
"Though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in ALL KINDS of trials. These have come so that your faith---of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire---may be proved genuine AND may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." 1 Peter 1: 6-7
We could all make a huge list of trials and testings we and those we love have experienced. You may be grieving the loss of a loved one, or desperately trying to find a new job, or having troubles in your relationships. Please take heart in knowing that there is a purpose in them. For those who are in Christ, God promises that "in all things he works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose." There is JOY ahead!!
I will never forget the day, about 3 years after my faith crisis when I told my small group of college women that if I could go back and change what happened, I wouldn't. Why? Because the growth and joy that resulted is exponentially more than any grief, anger, or hurt that I experienced. For one thing, I would not be writing this blog. :) I would not be passionate about mentoring and sharing Christ with college women. I would not be determined daily pray that my children love God with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength. My marriage would not be what it is today.
I know this was a little long, but I just wanted to share a little of what God has taught me through difficult times. I'm sure I have more crisis moments ahead, and I pray that my faith will prove genuine when I walk through the fire. Honestly, I still doubt. I still fear that I won't come out of the next one as good as I've come out this time. Well, there you have it---an area of unbelief! FEAR!
We will address that in the next time....
Thanks for hanging in there and reading my ramblings!
For other scriptures about this faith topic read:
James 1
2 Corinthians 4-5, 12:1-10
Romans 5
The story of Joseph in Genesis Chapters 37-42
I have tossed around different things like starting at the very beginning, in the garden of Eden. There is no doubt that the first sin ever committed stemmed from doubt and unbelief. I've also thought about defining what faith is---how we define it and how the Bible defines it. I think I definitely will do these things at some point, but throughout the day I kept coming back to the phrase "Crisis of Belief." This is a phrase that appears in Henry Blackaby's "Experiencing God." Its a great Bible study that has been around for years and really was a revolutionary study in its time.
I can't discuss what a crisis of belief is unless I share my story--my testimony.
Many who are reading this know a good bit of it, and where God has brought me in my faith journey this last decade of my life. But, I think I should share it again in hopes to provide a foundation for future postings. Hopefully this will help everyone understand where I am coming from and why I believe what I believe.
WARNING: This will be a longer blog than usual! Hang in there!
If, like me, you have been going to church your entire life and accepted Christ as your Savior and Lord when you were young, today's posting will make total sense to you (I hope). If you came to know Jesus Christ later in life, then your experience may be a little different and you may not have experienced a "crisis of belief" yet.
Or, maybe it was a crisis that made you choose Christ! Or, you may have never really gone to church and never really thought much about God at all. If that is the case then please don't hesitate to email me with questions.
When I first went through the "Experiencing God" study I'm pretty sure I was in high school. I had been a Christian for about 6-7 years or so. As I look back now, I realize I had no clue what a crisis of belief really was. I could understand what Blackaby was saying in my reasoning/logical mind, but had no real heart relation to the true meaning of it. I think the same could be said of my faith. Don't get me wrong, I had undoubtedly experienced what we call "saving faith." I believed that Jesus was the Son of God who came to earth and died for my sin and rose again. I knew that I could not spend eternity with God on my own merit--it was only by His grace. I firmly believed these truths and confessed them. (Romans 10:9, Ephesians 2:8-9). There is no doubt that I had experienced a heart transformation or spiritual regeneration as theologians call it.
But the kind of faith the Bible talks about isn't just "acknowledging something to be true...or having a deep emotional resonance with something. The biblical concept of believing involves action." William Mounce.
Okay, if you just breezed through that statement without thinking about it much, read it again. Think about it.
There are countless scriptures that support this statement, and in future blogs I will cover them all, but I didn't really realize until I was in my late 20s that I had been coasting along in my Christianity. I was very comfortable, very lukewarm, and not exercising much faith. I know God had been calling me to go deeper with Him and to step out of my comfort zone and start doing some kind of ministry work. Needless to say, I resisted Him---for years.
I experienced a crisis of belief when I was 27 years old. I guess you could also call it a testing of my faith. There is no doubt that the circumstances of September 12, 2001 and June 18, 2002 were meant for refining my faith in the FIRE.
I'm sure as you read through the first date I listed, many of you thought of 9/11.
In addition to the horrible events that took place in our nation, 9/11 was a crushing tragedy of our own.
I was 7 months pregnant with the baby that was to be our first child--Allen Ross Hightower IV. We were going to call him Ross. I only had 8 weeks left in my pregnancy. As I think about that today, realizing that Julianne was born 4 weeks premature, I realize just how close we were to bringing Ross home. But, in the early hours of Sept. 12, Ross died in utero. Words cannot describe that day for me.
I will say that in the midst of everything, God's peace and strength were undoubtedly felt. Just when I didn't think I could do what I had to do over the next hours, (deliver a stillborn baby), God gave me the strength and peace to do it.
Can I just say here that GOD IS FAITHFUL even when we are NOT!
Even though this loss devastated us, Allen and I did not lose hope for one second.
We knew we would try again soon. Sure enough, in April of 2002, I was pregnant again. Although I was a little fearful, deep down I thought that nothing would or could go wrong. The first time was just a fluke. When I was 12 weeks along, I went to my OBGYN for a checkup. This is usually the appointment when you hear the baby's heartbeat for the first time. During that checkup I went from nervousness to apprehension to utter devastation as we realized it had happened AGAIN.
This was not supposed to happen to me. I remember telling God that Allen and I were two godly people who followed Him. We DESERVED a baby. "Why, God? Why did you allow this to happen?"
In the following weeks everything I had believed and held on to for all those years was feeling shaky. My faith was rocked to its core.
Did God really exist?
If so, why did he allow this to happen?
Does God really love me?
I went from grief to denial to anger at God, and every step in between. I didn't pray. I didn't read my Bible. I didn't want to hear anybody quote scripture to me.
I knew all the right answers in my head, but my heart would not accept them.
I didn't lose my faith, but there is no doubt I began to ask some SERIOUS questions.
There you have it...a crisis of belief...a testing of my faith. Was my faith genuine? (1 Peter 1:6-7).
At the time, I was not certain. But now, almost 8 years later I know with out a doubt that my faith needed refining. What is refining? Just think about a person who works with silver or gold. When a refiner first begins to work with these, they are dirty and full of impurities. So what does the refiner do---he sticks them into the fire. It has to be a fire, for fire will burn off the impurities. The refiner
pulls out the silver takes a look at it and sees that there are still impurities.
So, he shoves it back in the fire. This process goes on and on until he takes out
the silver and can see his reflection in it.
As a Christian, our faith is refined in much the same way. Now, let me be clear that when you accept Christ, God sees you as pure and holy. You do not have to earn his favor by trying to "do good." Jesus' blood covers our sin. But, there is no
doubt that when we accept Christ we still sin. God has a purpose for our lives. He has a ministry planned for each and every one of us who follow Him. He wants us to grow in Him, to become more like Christ in what we do, think, say, and believe.
So, he is going to allow and ordain times of testing of our faith. This happens over and over again until we are taken home to be with Him---and then we will see clearly and fully understand what He was about while we were here on earth.
"Though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in ALL KINDS of trials. These have come so that your faith---of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire---may be proved genuine AND may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." 1 Peter 1: 6-7
We could all make a huge list of trials and testings we and those we love have experienced. You may be grieving the loss of a loved one, or desperately trying to find a new job, or having troubles in your relationships. Please take heart in knowing that there is a purpose in them. For those who are in Christ, God promises that "in all things he works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose." There is JOY ahead!!
I will never forget the day, about 3 years after my faith crisis when I told my small group of college women that if I could go back and change what happened, I wouldn't. Why? Because the growth and joy that resulted is exponentially more than any grief, anger, or hurt that I experienced. For one thing, I would not be writing this blog. :) I would not be passionate about mentoring and sharing Christ with college women. I would not be determined daily pray that my children love God with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength. My marriage would not be what it is today.
I know this was a little long, but I just wanted to share a little of what God has taught me through difficult times. I'm sure I have more crisis moments ahead, and I pray that my faith will prove genuine when I walk through the fire. Honestly, I still doubt. I still fear that I won't come out of the next one as good as I've come out this time. Well, there you have it---an area of unbelief! FEAR!
We will address that in the next time....
Thanks for hanging in there and reading my ramblings!
For other scriptures about this faith topic read:
James 1
2 Corinthians 4-5, 12:1-10
Romans 5
The story of Joseph in Genesis Chapters 37-42
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Okay here goes...
Ask anyone who knows me well, and they will tell you that they are surprised I've decided to blog. Frankly, I'm horrible at writing notes, keeping a journal, etc. etc., but I really do believe God is leading me to write on a regular basis and this seems to be a great way to start. I will say that if this blog continues with consistency for a long period of time you can know that it is a GOD thing. Why? Because Kristin Hightower, in her own power cannot and will not see it through. So, to God be the glory---already!!
So, here goes...
By now you've noticed the title of this blog, "It All Boils Down to Faith." My husband has been hearing me spout off this phrase several times the last few years. It is a phrase that has come to my mind over and over again as I have studied the Bible and heard various sermons on faith. Very recently I have come to the realization that when you peel the layers back one by one, what is at the center of every Christian (or even non-Christian for that matter) is what he/she believes.
We all have faith in something or someone. Some believe in God, but don't believe He loves us or is capable of being in relationship with us. Others believe there is no God. Many profess to believe in Christ, but that is where it stops. And there are still others who not only believe in Jesus, but trust Him with every moment of every day and live only to know Him more. Many of us believe IN God, but, as Beth Moore puts it, don't believe God. We believe He exists, but don't really believe that he loves us with an unfailing love. We believe some of His words, but not all of them. We believe some of His characteristics, but not others.
What I have come to believe (yes, BELIEVE!) is that every action, reaction, behavior, choice, and emotion we experience is a RESULT of what we truly believe. These are only the surface--the tip of the iceberg if you will. I have begun to look at all of my actions and choices through the filter of faith. I have begun to ask questions like: Why did I make this decision? When this circumstance arose, why did I respond this way? Often, it isn't the circumstances that are the problem, it is how we respond to the circumstances, and what we do is a reflection of our core beliefs.
I'm not exactly sure how this blog is going to be organized. For now, I plan to share some of the truths God has taught me about my own faith struggles. My hope is that it will be an encouragement to at least one person out there. There is so much truth that can be discovered in God's Word. This is THE Truth that, if we believe it, will radically change the way we live--RADICALLY.
Finally, please pray for me in this endeavor. Busyness and fatigue will be the primary tools the enemy will use to keep me from writing. These are the two things that keep me from my daily quiet time with God. Pray that I persevere and daily rely on God's strength and wisdom. Even if I don't post everyday, I plan to post fairly consistently. I'm sure there will be spurts of inspiration some days and other days that need silence. I'm totally stepping out on faith for this...
I'm excited to see what God is going to do in the coming months.
For now, my daily prayer is "Lord, help me overcome my unbelief." Mark 9:24
In Him,
Kristin
So, here goes...
By now you've noticed the title of this blog, "It All Boils Down to Faith." My husband has been hearing me spout off this phrase several times the last few years. It is a phrase that has come to my mind over and over again as I have studied the Bible and heard various sermons on faith. Very recently I have come to the realization that when you peel the layers back one by one, what is at the center of every Christian (or even non-Christian for that matter) is what he/she believes.
We all have faith in something or someone. Some believe in God, but don't believe He loves us or is capable of being in relationship with us. Others believe there is no God. Many profess to believe in Christ, but that is where it stops. And there are still others who not only believe in Jesus, but trust Him with every moment of every day and live only to know Him more. Many of us believe IN God, but, as Beth Moore puts it, don't believe God. We believe He exists, but don't really believe that he loves us with an unfailing love. We believe some of His words, but not all of them. We believe some of His characteristics, but not others.
What I have come to believe (yes, BELIEVE!) is that every action, reaction, behavior, choice, and emotion we experience is a RESULT of what we truly believe. These are only the surface--the tip of the iceberg if you will. I have begun to look at all of my actions and choices through the filter of faith. I have begun to ask questions like: Why did I make this decision? When this circumstance arose, why did I respond this way? Often, it isn't the circumstances that are the problem, it is how we respond to the circumstances, and what we do is a reflection of our core beliefs.
I'm not exactly sure how this blog is going to be organized. For now, I plan to share some of the truths God has taught me about my own faith struggles. My hope is that it will be an encouragement to at least one person out there. There is so much truth that can be discovered in God's Word. This is THE Truth that, if we believe it, will radically change the way we live--RADICALLY.
Finally, please pray for me in this endeavor. Busyness and fatigue will be the primary tools the enemy will use to keep me from writing. These are the two things that keep me from my daily quiet time with God. Pray that I persevere and daily rely on God's strength and wisdom. Even if I don't post everyday, I plan to post fairly consistently. I'm sure there will be spurts of inspiration some days and other days that need silence. I'm totally stepping out on faith for this...
I'm excited to see what God is going to do in the coming months.
For now, my daily prayer is "Lord, help me overcome my unbelief." Mark 9:24
In Him,
Kristin
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