When Will We Ever Learn?

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a fan of classic rock, I can’t help it, I just like the sound of guitars played through an overdriven tube amp. Of course, as with other styles of music there are some songs and bands that Christians should obviously refrain from listening to and I do. However, I’ll leave that to your discernment as that’s not really the reason for this post or even my comment, just a little disclaimer. Maybe I’ll write on that subject another time. The reason I make the statement is that this morning, while reading my Bible, I was reminded of a classic rock song (I know that’s probably strange to most people). It’s a song called When Will I Ever Learn to Live in God recorded by Van Morrison many years ago (makes more since now doesn’t it?). Anyway, this is the thought that I had and the more I think about, the more I realize that it’s a good question to ask. Let me explain.

I am currently reading through 1Samuel in my daily quality time with God. Today I read chapter 6 and here’s what’s happening. Israel (God’s chosen people) is pretty much doing their own thing. They’re living their lives the way they want to, oh they go to worship when they should and make the appropriate sacrifices but they conduct themselves according to what suits them and even worship other (false) gods at times. Even their priests are corrupt. There are some people who continue to follow God’s law and worship Him because they love Him but for the most part people are going through the motions. That is, until they need God; which is exactly what happens in chapter 4.

In chapter 4 we read how the Philistines attack Israel and so, under the leadership of the corrupt priests, Israel decides to go into battle with the Ark of the Lord. The Ark is significant because it represents God’s presence among His people. Now the Ark was intended to stay within the heart of the Tabernacle where people would go to worship God. It was a sacred thing and was intended to be kept sacred. The problem is that the people, including the priests, didn’t treat it as a sacred thing but as a good luck charm. They thought they could do what was right in their own eyes, offer God whatever sacrifice or semblance of worship, or nod of the head that they wanted to and when they were under attack just break out the good luck charm and watch God destroy their enemies. That’s not the way it happened though. Instead they were defeated, their priests were killed, and the Ark was captured.

That’s not the end of the story though. You see, after the Philistines took the Ark they began to have some real problems. God may not have been happy with the way His people were doing but He sure wasn’t going to let the Ark remain in the hands of the enemy of His people. The Philistines decided they were better off without the Ark so they sent it back. When it came back to Israel in a cart pulled by some oxen the people rejoiced and worshiped God. The symbol of His presence was back among His people. The problem is they still treated it as a common thing. Some of the men decided to look in the Ark and God struck them down. The Bible says that they then asked the question, “Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God?” Now they’re starting to get it; maybe.

God, the things of God, His worship, His commandments, His statutes, His promises of blessing and judgment are not things to be taken lightly or treated as common. God is Holy, and just, and all powerful. He has a plan and a will. As Christians we are called to submit ourselves to His plan and will, to commit ourselves to His service, to take serious His commands and to show our love through our obedience. We are guilty of the same thing as Israel was in 1Samuel when we offer God lip service by going to church on Sunday but living our lives according to what suits us. We’re guilty when we try to take matters in our own hands when it comes to our personal lives, our families, our business dealings, and our churches and expect God to bless us simply because we call ourselves Christian. When we do these things and wonder where God is or why He’s not doing what we think He ought to be doing maybe we should take a step back and simply ask Him to examine our lives and show us what’s lacking. It could be that God wants to get our attention. What Israel needed most was not for God to win their battle for them, if He did they would just have continued as they were. What they needed most was for God to show them their error and bring them back to Him in brokenness and love and real devotion and dependence. God wants the same for us as He did for Israel; to learn to live in Him, to let go and let God. Let go of our sin, our pride, our desire to be in control, our own wisdom, our foolishness, our sense of ownership and entitlement and simply let God be God in our lives. We don’t have to know everything, we don’t have to figure it all out, we simply need to learn to live in God and trust Him, moment by moment, day by day, week by week, month by month, and year by year.

God is God of me, not me. God is God of my family, not me. God is God of my business, not me. God is God of my church, not me. God is God of my past, present, and future, not me. What a relief that is to know. When will we ever learn to Live in God?

Christmas Offering

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)

This weekend families will gather together to enjoy each other’s company, eat good food, and exchange gifts. Many families will observe long held traditions. Some will read the Christmas story together from Luke 2. Some will join with their church families Sunday morning to worship together and celebrate the birth of the One who came to save us.

Think about that for just a minute, “the One who came to save us”.

Christmas is a time of busyness, giving, fun, and joy. At least it should be a time of joy; unfortunately sometimes the busyness tends to crowd out the joy, if we let it. The joy of Christmas is found in the giving, in the lights and decorations, in the movies and stories told over again every year, in family, and especially in pondering the fact that what we celebrate is that One came to save us. At the end of the Christmas story in Luke 2 it says that “Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19)

As Mary held her Son she thought about all that had happened and all that it meant. She no doubt remembered the announcement from the angel that she would carry God’s Son, the moment Joseph came to her and told her that he too had received a message from an angel and that they would raise God’s Son together, these shepherds who had also received a message from an angel and left their flocks and come from a distance to worship her Son who is the Christ, the Messiah, the Lord, God Himself born as a baby.

She pondered these things.

Take some time this Christmas to simply be still before God and think on what it means that He would give up the glory of heaven to become one of us for the sole purpose of offering Himself as a sacrifice for our sin. A Savior was born, unto you, and unto me.

Merry Christmas

Something In Common

Some things, like having some basic knowledge and wisdom or being kind to and thoughtful of others is considered to be common among most people. We even give this idea names like “common sense” and “common courtesy”, respectively.  There is an expression that goes, “common sense is not so common”? That is unfortunately very true; the same could also be said about “common courtesy”.

I posted on Facebook this morning about an event that falls into this category and have received a few likes and comments on the matter so that got me thinking even more on the subject. Here’s what happened:

 I had just dropped two of my kids off at their school and as I was attempting to leave the parking lot another parent pulled up beside me far enough to see around me, which of course blocked my view of traffic coming from his/her direction and, seeing there was no traffic coming from my direction, pulled out and further blocked my view. This naturally forced me to have to wait until I could see what was coming from that direction before I could judge whether or not it was safe for me to pull out. By that time there was traffic coming from my direction. Meanwhile vehicles are gathering behind me and more are pulling up beside me as well.

This probably describes a very typical event for most of us. It’s just life. We’re all in a hurry and if we’re honest, a little impatient (two more things that are common, maybe someone should coin a phrase). Anyway, this is a particular pet peeve of mine and as such I try to make it a point to allow any vehicle that was there before me to have a clear view of oncoming traffic before I pull up and block their view. I’m sure I have been guilty of the offense at times but I do try.

Okay, so my post was written as a letter addressed to this person explaining that what they did was rude, just a lighthearted way to vent and hopefully encourage people not to be “that guy.” It evidently resonated with a few people and so I received some responses that made me continue to think on the subject and my mind went to Phil. 2:4 which says, “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others”(NKJV). Then I read (through my regular daily reading) in Deuteronomy 22 in which God instructs His people to not ignore a neighbors ox or sheep or donkey that has gotten loose, or even a garment that someone has lost, but to take responsibility for their neighbor’s property and take care of it until they come to claim it. Sounds a lot like “common courtesy” to me and God seems to be concerned about it. In Phil. 2:3 we are told to esteem others more highly than ourselves. In Luke 6:31 Jesus says, “And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise” (NKJV). There are many other passages along these lines that I could quote but I think you get the point.

I wonder how much joy, peace, and contentment we miss out on in our lives simply by not paying attention to the simple things that God has commanded us to do. A little kindness goes a long ways, both ways. Let’s all try to show a little more kindness to others, especially during this Christmas season, and enjoy the blessings that come from simply doing what God says.

Merry Christmas

The Power of Hope

Hope. It’s a strange word to me. What does it mean to hope? Is it wishful thinking? Is it something to look forward to with certainty? Is it motivation to keep on keeping on or is it a pipedream that may or may not come true? We often desire a thing to happen or for things to turn out a certain way but we’re not sure they’re going to. How often, when asked about a certain event or circumstance in your life, have you responded with, “I hope so?” We say it like it’s a question with an element of doubt. Is that really what it means to have hope? Should there always be that element of doubt or do we simply not truly understand the word and all that it implies?

I think the answer lies in the object of our hope. For example, if the outcome I desire is dependent on me, or any other human being, then there will always be that element of doubt simply because many things are beyond our control. There are always variables in the equation, so to speak. There is, however, another One that we can depend on who has all authority and knows all the variables. When I read my Bible I read about a hope that is certain. The writer of Hebrews (chapter 6) speaks of hope as an assurance and an anchor that holds “sure and steadfast”.

God has made many promises to those who will trust Him. We can be sure that all of God’s promises will come to pass just as he has promised. The key is knowing the difference between what God has promised and what He hasn’t and actually trusting Him for what He has, even when we don’t understand why or how. You see, Christians have a hope that transcends this world and any situation or circumstance that we find ourselves in. I don’t “hope?” to have eternal life someday after I die; I “hope!” in Jesus, the One who has given me life now and forever.

Until the sea of glass we meet

At last completed and complete

The tide of tear and pain subside

Laughter drinks them dry

I’ll be waiting

 

Anticipating

All that I aim for

What I was made for

With every heartbeat

All of my blood bleeds

Running inside me

Looking for you

 

I am restless

I am restless

I am restless

Looking for You

-Jon Foreman, Switchfoot

Hide And Seek

Hide and Seek

“Ready or not, here I come!” How many times have you heard that phrase in your lifetime? If you’re like me then it’s many more than you can count. When you hear those words you know you better hide because somebody’s looking for you and if they find you then you’re i t and nobody wants to be it. Hide and seek is one of those games that children from every generation enjoy playing. I played many times with my sisters and friends (and even my dogs) when I was growing up and I’ve watched my children play over the years (I still get in on a game every now and then). It’s fun to hide, it’s fun to look for someone who’s hiding (even when you know where they are) and it’s fun to find them. It’s just fun.

This morning I got up really early to have a little quality time with God. I’ve been a Christian for about 18 years now and this is something I’ve tried to do regularly for most of that time. When I was first saved I knew I needed to read the Bible and I wanted to but to be honest, it was just hard. I didn’t have a plan, I had no idea where to start, and I didn’t understand most of what I was reading. But I still wanted to, and I knew I needed to so I just started with Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning…” The beginning seemed like a good place to start and so I read from there to the end. It only took me four years. Yeah I know, I didn’t break any records, like I said, it was hard. I would read a few passages or even chapters, sometimes I would fall asleep, and sometimes I wouldn’t pick my Bible up for days, but I then I would pick it up again and I would read some more. I would always come back to it because there was something fascinating about it, there were things in there (and still are) that I didn’t understand but I knew were important and I knew they were written for me.

Since that time I have learned to have a plan. I will sometimes use a written devotion or reading plan as a guide. Sometimes I will just choose a book of the Bible or section to go through. I try to have a regular place (back porch, kitchen table, easy chair…) and set aside a regular time (mornings are best for me) to spend some time with God, praying and reading my Bible. I have read through the Bible several times over the years and I understand more now than I did then but more importantly, I’ve drawn closer to God and have experienced His presence and power in my life because I spend that time with Him. You see it’s more than simply reading a text book. It’s like a game of hide and seek except God’s not really hiding. I know where to find him.

I still get so busy that sometimes I miss having that time with God and when I do, it shows. It shows in my attitude and if I miss it consistently it shows in my actions. Sometimes I get the feeling I’m the one hiding and He’s the one seeking. Yeah, when I miss it I really miss it.

Here are a couple of passages and one of my favorite songs that may encourage you if you’re struggling with having a regular quality time with God.

Isaiah 26:9 (ESV)
⁹ My soul yearns for you in the night; my spirit within me earnestly seeks you. For when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.

Psalm 63:1-11 (ESV)
¹ O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
² So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.
³ Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.
⁴ So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.
⁵ My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
⁶ when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
⁷ for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
⁸ My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.
⁹ But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth;
¹⁰ they shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals.
¹¹ But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped.

Sometimes By Step – Rich Mullins

Sometimes the night was beautiful
Sometimes the sky was so far away
Sometimes it seemed to stoop so close
You could touch it but your heart would break
Sometimes the morning came too soon
Sometimes the day could be so hot
There was so much work left to do
But so much You’d already done

CHORUS:
Oh God, You are my God
And I will ever praise You
Oh God, You are my God
And I will ever praise You
I will seek You in the morning
And I will learn to walk in Your ways
And step by step You’ll lead me
And I will follow You all of my days

Sometimes I think of Abraham
How one star he saw had been lit for me
He was a stranger in this land
And I am that, no less than he
And on this road to righteousness
Sometimes the climb can be so steep
I may falter in my steps
But never beyond Your reach

CHORUS

And I will follow You all of my days
And I will follow You all of my days
And step by step You’ll lead me
And I will follow You all of my days