Responding to authority…

 

Before I became a Christian, I worked for an advertising agency, mostly doing ad layouts and running errands for my boss. Two others also worked there and when they quit, I was expected to do their work too, and without a raise in pay. At the time, this seemed unfair.

Since then, I’ve not had to work outside my home and any money earned is from being self-employed, yet I can relate to today’s devotional reading. As it says, my boss is not a person and not even me, but the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him. (Ephesians 6:5–9)

Piper says whatever I’m asked to do by a supervisor should generally be viewed as an appeal from the Lord. Back then at my job, I didn’t know the Lord, but I can see now how He used that job experience to teach me to be loyal and work hard. The Bible addresses any complaining I might have made then with this:

Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. (1 Peter 2:18–19)

And the Ephesians passage says that God actually takes care of the raise in pay, not that He gives more money for doing good work but that He blesses those who do their best because the work is done in faith. In other words, this attitude of respect and being gracious to those in authority over me comes from Him, so any goodness is from Him, done in the power and direction of the Holy Spirit. Those who live that way know that no other reward is needed! Living for the Lord and for His glory is its own blessing. As Jesus said:

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14–16)

The challenge for me is letting my light shine so others can see it in such a way that God is glorified. This is an often misunderstood concept. Usually, when myself or others are praised, it is a pat on the back. However, at a conference I praised the organizer and she said, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17) That was a pleasant surprise and a response to emulate. It is very easy to take credit and rob the rightful One to which it is due. 

LORD: How easy to work for human praise. I’ve been criticized for not ‘showing off’ my work by those who do not understand why I avoid self-glory. At the same time, You make me aware that I should never avoid good works — as long as I remember and do them in the ability You give. You say to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9–10) I also need to leave all misinterpretations in Your hands and refuse to lift up my hands to pat myself on the back.

One Step at a Time

Walking with Jesus is sometimes like walking a dark path with a flashlight in hand; the next step must be taken in order to see the one that comes after it.

In trying to understand if the idea I have is from God, I’m like a deer seeking water. I know the answer is there, but God wants me to walk to it in faith, taking one step at a time. I read the book of Esther this morning and as I read, I could sense Him telling me that waiting is good, and that I need to wait for the verification that comes from others. That is, if my idea is from Him, He will give it to godly people and they will talk to me about it. If not, I have more to learn, or He has another path for me to take. 

The Bible I used answers questions. I asked what it says about godly counsel, not so much that I present my idea to anyone (for the Spirit has already said not to talk about it), but that He will put the same idea in the minds of others who will talk to me about it.

This may sound strange, but for the past few weeks, the Sunday sermons have lined up with my prayers and devotions. Last week, the preacher even used the same two passages I studied that same morning. I know that the Holy Spirit works that way. If the ideas are from Him, He gives them to others who are also listening.

Anyway, out of dozens of passages that speak of the need to listen for verification from others, these spoke the loudest:

Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days. With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding. (Job 12:12–13)
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:1–2)
Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray. (Proverbs 10:17)
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom. (Proverbs 11:2) 
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. (Proverbs 12:15)
Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed. (Proverbs 15:22)
The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence. The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor. (Proverbs 15:31–33)
Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. (Proverbs 19:21)
Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered. (Proverbs 28:26)
And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. (Isaiah 30:21)
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:11–13)
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5:15–17)
Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. (Titus 2:3–5)
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (James 1:5)

PRAY: Jesus, it is clear to me is that I need to wait for You to tell me the next step. It might be a surprise, but it will not be to harm or shame me. Your wisdom is needed and I will wait until You bring wise words from godly people concerning the direction You desire for me.

Waiting on the Lord

 

In seeking God’s guidance about something on my heart, my first concern is making sure the idea is from God and not selfish ambition on my part. Knowing the difference is important:

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:13–18)

God keeps His promises and blesses me beyond my imagination. Yet at the same time, my priorities and trust need to be based on what He says, not on my grand ideas. I might want to do great things, but that might not be His choice for me. As David wrote, I need to have this attitude: 

O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. (Psalm 131:1–2)

For a weaned child, the hunger is there as is the source to satisfy it, but the child is quiet, not grasping to satisfy self. I often have great ideas yet if they are not from a heart that is content to let God decide, then I’ve not yet been weaned from my selfish ambitions.

Today’s reading points out that David knew that God kept His promises but he also realized that some of His faithfulness depended on keeping his side of the covenant. God does not bless me if I am disobedient, or if I want to do something for my own glory. Piper points to this psalm of David to show my part in doing anything, even if the initial leading is from God. 

“To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust” Trust God and seek Him knowing He will protect me and “Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me” because He is my God and because for Him “I wait all the day long.” David recalls His mercy and love, His forgiveness  and goodness. He knows, “Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way” and that all that happens “for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. . . . who fear the Lord. . . . “ and that “the friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him” and whose “eyes are ever toward the Lord.” God will deliver and protect him because he “takes refuge in Him” and “waits for Him.” (Psalm 25)

David is certain of God’s promises and that He desires my faith. If I am walking in the flesh, His priority is to correct that. If my doubts come from that Liar, the accuser of God’s people, God knows that too and will protect me. My part is to wait on the Lord and keep my heart soft and trusting Him, not filled with ambitious ‘I wants’ that cloud my judgment, nor let all those fleshy excuses be a reason for not trusting Him or obeying any tall order that He might give me.

This psalm says He will pluck my feet out of the net, turn to me and be gracious to me, bring me out of my distresses, consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins. Hw will also consider my foes, and the hatred of any enemies, guard my soul, and deliver me, let me not be put to shame, and redeem me out of all my troubles. Yet those blessings come only when I fulfill my part in His covenant, even though my salvation is secure because Jesus kept His part in saving me and dying for my sin.

PRAY: Lord, what can I say or do but wait on You to either send marching orders or inform me otherwise. In the meantime, I know what to do next — pray and listen and most of all, obey what You tell me what to do next… 

A Restoration Plan

 

If a church, or an individual believer’s life has fallen into disarray, the NT tells those who are walking faithfully with the Lord to call on Him and do their part to make things right:

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:1–2)

This is no easy task. Those who are spiritual cannot be judgmental or critical of those who are caught up in sin, not other persons and not even an entire church. All are tempted at times and all are vulnerable, but how can anyone restore them? Noticing the need is one thing; repairing it is the challenge, and sadly, it is easier to gossip rather than show mercy.

In reading Nehemiah today, I recall sermons where this man’s actions are similar to the battle to restore broken lives, even broken congregations. The Lord uses this to show steps that can be taken to repair small or large needs.

First, Nehemiah confessed his own sins and the sins of his people. This is vital. Then he asked God to hear his prayer and grant him success and mercy as he went for permission to do something about the damage that existed.

O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments. . . . (You said) “but if you return to me. . . . I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen. . . .” O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servants. . . . and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy. . . . (Nehemiah 1:5–11)

When he asked the king about doing this, he was granted not only to have a look but whatever he needed to do the job. But he didn’t tell anyone until he saw for himself the dire need. In other words, he didn’t listen to any talk or gossip until he had first-hand knowledge. A wise choice. Only after seeing it for himself did he speak to the leaders and others what the Lord had put on his heart. They responded and said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work." (Nehemiah 2:18)

Enlisting support was only one step. Nehemiah explained what needed to be done and how to do it, encouraging them with, “Our God will fight for us.” He gave them the plan and they went to work, each taking care of the part of the task that related to who they were and where they lived. I look at that plan and see that this leader recognized their gifts and desires and put them to work where their hearts would give them the most desire to fix the problem.

Nehemiah also realized that opposition would come, so had a plan for that too. He told the people that this would be hard work, just as Jesus tells me that serving Him in any capacity would involve sacrifice:

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (Mark 8:34)

At the same time, he also encouraged them, as Jesus encourages me, with:

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

PRAY: Lord, You have put something on my heart too, a plan that could involve restoration of that which has fallen into disrepair. However, as with Nehemiah, the first step is prayer, including confession of sin (mine and others) and worship of all that You have done. This step includes keeping quiet until You grant the go-ahead, or perhaps say this is not for me. I wait on direction from You.

Serving Gold Apples

Determined not to gossip or say negative things about her, when her name came up in conversation with another Christian, God put it on my heart to think of positive and helpful ways to deal with third person, a whiner that no one enjoys being around.

In the conversation, I remembered another Christian friend who helped me with my whining. We often traveled to a small town and when we returned, I complained about their small-town way of always gossiping, always talking about others they didn't like, and when I came home, I wound up doing the same thing that I didn’t like. Then, one day before another trip, my friend said to me, “Now you bring me back some good news.”

That changed everything. Determined to do it, I listened differently, stayed aware of the good and let the other stuff drop out of memory. Because of that ‘lesson from the Lord’ my attitude changed. Not that I’ve never fallen back into the same negativity, but I am much more aware of the power of encouraging others by looking for the good in their lives and being thankful for it. 

I’ve also learned that whining about life affects health. When every ache and problem is noted and talked about, my focus goes from being thankful to sharing my agonies too. We all know people who only talk about their poor health — all the time. I don’t want to be one of those people.

Health is influenced by words or by suffering in silence. While I need to speak in positive ways, I also need to keep short accounts with God. He reminds me of these verses:

For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah (Psalm 32:3–5)
I was mute and silent; I held my peace to no avail, and my distress grew worse. (Psalm 39:2)

If I’ve unconfessed sin, my inner heaviness affects my body. To those always complaining about their aches and pains, how can my words help them turn from that and deal with anything in their spiritual life that might be causing it? 

Sin and selfishness is usually not silent though. While it can be hidden in the heart, lack of faith in God and my selfishness (or any godliness) will eventually show up in my speech. God says:

You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (Matthew 12:34)
But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, (1 Peter 3:15)

The Bible makes it plain: “The words of a wise man’s mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him. The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is evil madness.” (Ecclesiastes 10:12–13) My heart shows up in my words. But if my words are right (because my heart is right), they can be powerful:

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. (Ephesians 4:29)
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. (Colossians 4:6)

With all this in mind, the person no one wants to be with might benefit from challenging questions, for example: “Tell me what you are thankful for today.” Or “Share one very positive thing that has happened to you this week.” Or What is the best gift you have ever received?”

PRAY: Lord, if these questions are the right things to say, helpful and encouraging, then bring to mind one of them, or anything else that might help this very negative person realize that her words are adding to her miseries. She needs Your grace and to realize that You care about her.

Gifted

As a new Christian I knew nothing about rating sins or prejudice. My dad sometimes criticized those who were lazy and my mother was a bit leery of ‘foreigners’ but nothing serious. It was a surprise when the local church held it against me because I was divorced. Little did they realize how that event was part of God’s way to bring me to the foot of the Cross.

While I didn’t fight that or even resent it, even thought it was ‘the Christian way’ it later shocked me to be accepted and welcomed by others who knew nothing about my past life. At the same time, it took years to get used to the idea that God accepted me, that Jesus died for me while I was still a sinner, and that all fall short. We have no business treating others on some sort of a sin scale.

The first were missionaries I’d financially supported. We met them and they freely offered me their kindness and support. However, I experienced the old habits of many believers who rated people, and found it an easy habit to fall into. It seemed that because God exposed my sin and urged an obedient life, I was supposed to do the same, yet doing it like God does it was beyond my ability. His gift of using all things to change lives was not how I operated. 

But He worked to change that too, and to teach me how to live in the power and grace of the Holy Spirit. This is an amazing gift from God. It comes through confession and repentance, but also by learning how to walk as Jesus walked…

Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)
For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you. . . (Romans 1:11)
For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. (Romans 11:29)
Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12:6–8)
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: (1 Peter 4:10)

Illustrations are helpful, like this one. In the 1992 Olympics, the British runner Derek Redmon tore a ligament midway through his race. The rest of the runners went on to finish, but he was  on the ground writhing in pain with his hopes and dreams shattered beside him. He first tried to run again, but after a few short strides, his legs buckled and he slowed to a walk. I know what it feels like to be down and out, without hope.

But then another man appeared on the track. Security guards tried to stop him, but he pressed on and put his arm around Derek’s shoulder, coaxing him as the crowd cheered. The two  crossed the finish line together. The man was Derek’s father.

My Father does it too, with His arm around me, with words of encouragement, with the example of others. He has gifted me with people from various walks of life who run the same race and seem to know just what I need. One was an elderly woman, a cheerleader. One is a quilting neighbor that turns gloom into sunshine, One more who encourages me with exceptional understanding. Another is a teenage boy who treats me like his very best friend. An hour with these gifted-by-God people and I am energized to keep going. 

PRAY: I thank You Jesus for giving me people who are gifted by You to show Your love and acceptance. They have been godly examples of what You are like and deepen my desire to be more like You. While that Olympic runner may not have realized it, because he relied on the help of his father, he set an example for those in the Christian race of life to do the same. The crowd may not see that I am a winner, but in the power of the Holy Spirit, You gifted me with whatever I need to do all that You have given me to do to finish my race. Thank You!

How to battle hopelessness...

 

I dreamt last night that I was in a stadium full of people who were challenged to profess the deity of Christ. One by one, they denied Him until I was the only one left. I was so discouraged that I buried the ‘proof’ of it in the ground and woke up feeling entirely hopeless.

I read until this feeling lifted then was reminded of another dream. I’m not a golfer but did have clubs and went out a few times. The dream was about playing a perfect game, even getting a hole in one. I woke up realizing why people golf. It is the hope of doing better the next time, of improving their game. 

Callaway says that each year more than 20 million people play on 13,000 courses in America and many new courses open each year to accommodate those who are hopeful. This is a bit better than describing it as a long walk. Hope is a Bible word where it is not just about a fresh start nor does it have anything to do with my goodness or ability. Instead it is believing in the unchanging promises offered to me by my Savior, Jesus Christ, promises like these: 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:3–9)

My realistic dream defined a dark, sad day, but God reminds me that He is true, even in the face of reality, never mind despairing dreams. Hope opens doors that despair slams shut. Hope looks for the good instead of the worst and turns problems into opportunities and fear into faith.

How is it recognized? I once wrote an essay on hope using the smell of cinnamon buns to illustrate that hope is like that; I cannot see the yummy buns but know they are there waiting for me. Yet hope Is no pie-in-the-sky illusion. It does not make me complacent, content to leave the world as it is by thinking about a secure future. Instead, it impels me to take hold of God’s goodness and share it with others, maybe not a stadium full of people but with those God puts in my life. 

Losing hope in a dream is not the same as losing it in reality because reality is the dwelling place of God’s promises. He tells me:

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, (Hebrews 10:22–24)

PRAY: Jesus, the way to beat this hopeless feeling is to focus on Your faithfulness and how You keep Your promises. Your goodness can turn hearts that seem pleased with their own misery, or those who seem to love their own wickedness. Hope can change the torment of Your conviction into welcome enlightenment, and change the fondness of our sin into a remedy to eradicate it. Your love and grace can make those displeased with their condition into the realization we are unable to raise ourselves from sinner to saint. No matter how far anyone falls, Your goodness can triumph over all blindness and sin and turn anyone from nothing to children of God. This is the hope that enables me to think of ways to encourage others to live for You in the hope that You give. Feeding them sweet buns might open hearts to Your message of hope; however, feeding on Your word fills empty hearts and turns unnecessary despair with joy that You set before me. You give me words to say and actions to do that bring hope to the hearts of others who need it like we all do.