Heart Healthy

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” (Pr 4:23 AV)

As is common in the book of proverbs, a spiritual truth is tied to a physical reality.  The heart is what keeps the body alive.  It pumps precious oxygen to all parts of the body that it might life.  It ‘issues’ forth the blood that is necessary to keep life in the body.  If the heart is not healthy, the body is not either.  In a spiritual sense, the same is true of our hearts.  As Easton’s Bible Dictionary puts it, “The heart is the ‘home of the personal life’,…The heart is also the seat of the conscience.” Another source, Hawker, states, “The heart in all languages is considered as the leading principle of action and of character.”  Webster’s 1828 Dictionary further adds, “The seat of the affections and passions, as of love, joy, grief, enmity, courage, pleasure &c.”  In essence, the heart is how we choose to experience and show forth life.  Therefore, the condition of our metaphysical heart plays a large part in how we also process life.

Back in the late winter, when the temperature was plummeting to minus twenty-six degrees, my lovely wife insisted I go to the hospital stat!  I had an attack of heart palpitations so severe, it lasted almost an hour-an-a-half resulting in a pale complexion and nausea.  She was concerned I was having a heart attack.  Heart disease does not run in my family, but to ease her concern, I went anyway.  Well, several months later and thousands of dollars spent, the doctors diagnosed heart palpitations of which I am extremely sensitive.  No more caffeine or chocolate for me.  Bummer.  But what I noticed during that episode, and all others I have had, is it affects my outlook on life and how I interact with my world.  There could be absolutely nothing to worry about or be down about.  But when an attack like that happens, all of a sudden one feels as though the sky is falling.

It is in our nature to desire a good life.  But a good life is a healthy life.  Physically, we will deteriorate as life advances.  We will pass away.  But spiritually, this does not have to be the case.  I have experienced people who are full of life.  They love the simple things.  Not the sinful things.  They are the life of the party and well as know how to live life, squeezing every ounce of pleasure from it.  They laugh.  They weep tears of joy.  They are a pleasure to be around and a blessing all those whom they meet.  They have kept their heart and therefore, they issue life to all who come in contact with them.  They discipline the lust and envy of the heart, refusing to be servant to negative influences.  Rather, they gush forth life to all who have the privilege to know them.

A Pleasure of God

“The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.” (Ps 147:11 AV)

Fear and hope of mercy are mutually inclusive of one another.  You cannot have one without the other.  Fear is a healthy respect for who and what God is, knowing that we deserve divine judgment for the sin of which we are guilty.  To understand and appreciate mercy, we must realize our standing before a holy, righteous God.  Mercy is not the absence of justice and judgment.  It is the transference of justice and judgment.  The justice and judgment must come upon someone.  In our case, God’s judgment rests upon His own Son at the cross of Calvary that we might attain the mercy of God for our sins.  Thus, fear and mercy go hand in hand.  If there is no fear, then there is no hope for mercy because one does not respect the judgment of God nor believes that it will come.  Hope is mercy is required for because future judgment is understood.  The LORD takes pleasure in those who can see and live this truth.

It has occurred to me that many saints confuse mercy and grace.  They are not the same thing.  Grace is giving something which we have not, nor cannot, earn.  Mercy is the withholding of something which we are required to suffer.  It also occurred to me, by the ministry of the Holy Spirit, that we simply do not fear God as we should.  There is a danger of believing God is the galactic ogre who is sitting on His throne looking about to see whom He make strike because of their sin.  That kind of fear is not a biblical fear.  That kind of fear is an irrational fear not based on God’s character.  But the opposite is also true. We can begin to think that God’s mercy and forbearance is like a nonchalant parent who lets things slip by because he wants his children to love and adore him.  This is not true either.  To believe the first would refuse a truly intimate relationship with God based on love.  The second would produce a relationship of presumption and rebellion.

God takes pleasure in those who respect His authority and rights as Creator, knowing they are condemned for their actions, yet realize and believe that God is a God of mercy placing all their hope in that mercy.  For salvation’s sake and for daily living, those who hope in the mercy of God do so because they realize the justice and wrath of Creator God was satisfied in His own Son, Jesus Christ.  Mercy is possible because justice has been satisfied.

Inward Strength for Outward Trouble

“In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.” (Ps 138:3 AV)

David is the author of this Psalm.  We do not know what the particulars are concerning this Psalm.  However, we do know that he is writing this while under the duress of enemies.  In the Psalm, he is able to see the future of God’s answer to his prayer and his resultant praise to those who will eventually surround him.  One might think David wrote this while fleeing from Saul or his very early reign.  Verse one of this Psalm speaks of David singing the praises of God to the gods.  Or, those men who are the prominent of the nation and surrounding nations.   The point to see here is that which David testifies which results in his gratitude.  It isn’t the defeat of his enemies.  That is future.  It isn’t the end of all trouble.  That will be with him until the day he dies.  What he testifies as to the answer which God provides is strength of soul.

The human condition will always contain some amount of suffering.  One’s social status doesn’t erase all suffering.  It merely adds a different type of it.  When one goes to the grave yard, no matter how simple or elaborate the grave sight it is, the suffering that results in a whole in the ground is universal.  It doesn’t matter if the name is chiseled on a slab verses a great mausoleum, the suffering which resulted in their permanent residency in a beautiful park like surroundings is still the same.  Trouble is with us from the day we are born until the day we die.  And if we do not know Jesus Christ, then trouble continues for all of eternity.  The point is this, trouble weakens the soul.  Trouble makes it hard to continue in the path of life which the LORD has asked us to walk.  There are times when we wish the trouble would simply go away and then we could be strengthened in the inner man.  But what if it doesn’t?  Or, what if it doesn’t as quickly as we want it to?

God never promises a life free of trouble or trials.  What He does promise is His presence in the midst of those trials that we might endure through them, coming out the other end of them a stronger and more mature person.  Perhaps the better prayer request would be for strength to not merely endure, but the flourish.  Not the end of a trial or answer to a problem, but spiritual and emotional health that blossoms under adversity.  Maybe, like David, instead of asking the enemies be removed prematurely because we are failing in our strength, we can ask for strength that the enemy enjoys no gains at all.

Scatter Seed In Bad Weather

“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” (Ps 126:5-6 AV)

Psalm one hundred twenty-six is in a series of Psalms called the Psalms of degrees.  These Psalms were sung as the Jewish worshippers ascended or descended the steps of the temple.  The were going either up or down.  Hence, the degrees.  In this particular Psalm, the idea is a hope and realization of God’s rescue from captivity.  In verse one, the writer speaks of God bringing Israel from captivity in the past.  Perhaps from Egypt.  In verse four, the writer asks the LORD to bring again the captivity of Israel.  Perhaps speaking of the time of the Judges.  In this, we see that captivity was a regular experience for the Jewish people.  Sometimes due to a lack of faith, as in Egypt, or immature rebellion or persecution as in the time of the judges.  Either way, captivity or hardship is a regular experience of life for the believer.   The point to the above verses is hope of fruit even in the midst of adversity. They go into captivity with seed so they come out from captivity with fruit.  Their seed is sown in less than perfect conditions so they may have some joy in the midst of those difficult times.

We life is perilous times.  Not since the days of Noah has the world hated God as much as they do now.  Gone are the days when one could hold a tent meeting and have thousands come to Christ.  Those occurrences are rare and most are mere emotional showmanship resulting in shallow and ignorant decisions vacant of any real conviction of sin resulting in true conversion.  More times than not, our altars are empty of converts.  The real tragedy is adversity is cooling our desire to help the lost.  We have become adversarial rather than ministerial.  Yes, there are times to stand for what one believes in.  However, there is a balance.  In standing, we must still minister.  Anyway, the point of the above verses is sowing in hope, even though times are not in the best situation to do so.

The world will always hate the believer.  The world will always persecute the church in hope that it will either cease to exist, or become a non-factor.  There are always more slammed doors than open ones.  There will always be insults, ridicule, and abuse.  There will always be a double standard.  One for the lost.  And one for the saved.  Since the days of Abel until now, the saints of God have never had it easy.  We are in captivity until the day of our home-going.  However, we are to bring with us precious seed.  This precious seed is to be sown.  Most of it will not come to harvest.  Most of it will fall by the way side, on the stony ground, or along the path where it will get trodden under foot.  But there will be sheaves.  There will be fruit.  And that fruit is what makes the captivity tolerable.  Let us not expect a perfect return.  Rather, let us hope for a fruitful one.  The only way to do this is to sow the seed of the gospel in less than perfect conditions, waiting upon the Husbandman to and His Spirit to give the increase!

Loving what the World Considers Worthless

“It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law. Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.” (Ps 119:126-128 AV)

What is interesting here is the rejection of the law by the wicked and the love of the law from the righteous go hand in hand.  There is a deeply profound principle here.  There is a contrast between loves.  One loves sin while the other loves righteousness.  One rejects moral law while the other embraces it.  The real truth which the Spirit wishes to stress this morning is that truth of polar growth.  As one position grows, the opposite also grows.  Let me explain.

When young people begin to grow into adulthood, they begin to resent the rules of conduct expected of them by adults.  They are embarrassed by peer pressure to reject what their parents and teachers have taught them.  They begin to reject what they know to be right because of what it requires of them to continue to follow.  Then a funny thing happens along the way.  They get married.  They have children of their own.  And low and behold, all of a sudden it dawns on them their parents were right all along.  Then they have a choice to make.  Do they continue down the road of rejection, or do they embrace to law of God and raise their families according to the word of God?  What precipitates this change?  What motive is there to change one’s course and embrace what one once resented?

It’s a funny thing.  We can look at the wickedness of the world an react in one of two ways.  But there is no neutral position.  We can either look at it and be enticed by it, preferring the wickedness of the world.  Or, we can examine it in light of the purity and blessings of obedience the world and reject it.  If we reject the darkness, the light becomes all that more appealing.  If we turn our back on the filthiness, then cleanliness become all the more precious.  If the word of God is not precious to us, the it is probably because the rejection of God’s word by the wicked doesn’t bother us all that much.  The two go hand in hand.

To Get The Best One Has To Want The Best

“Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.” (Ps 119:40 AV)

Whenever the reader notices a colon in the middle of the verse, what comes after the colon is intended to expound on the statement made before the colon.  In our verse above, the desire to be quickened is the motive for the longing after the precepts.  The word ‘quicken’ means to be made alive.  To live in a level much higher than one was.  Quicken is opposed to death.  It is the polar opposite.  There is a profound truth here.  It goes to the core of why so any professing saints have no desire to grow in the word of God.  Simply put, they really do not want to live.

There used to be a time when those who observed blessed Christian homes as something for which they wished to attain.  Well behaved children who were a joy to their parents, a loving wife who adored her husband, and a father and husband who sacrificially loved his wife and children.  It was a dream that others aspired to.  This is no longer the case.  Now, we have a generation of ‘saints’ who have little to no desire for God’s perfect will.  It is really sad.  There are so many blessings that could be experienced if we simply desire them enough to live by God’s word.  This is impossible unless we have the desire.  There was a time when the convert left a wicked and sinful life deeply desiring the peace and blessings which came from a holy and separated life.  We have all had this struggle.  The world, the devil, and the flesh try to convince us the life God has for us is not all that it could be.  It was the Devil’s argument to Eve in the garden of Eden.  “There is a better life out there than the one that comes from obedience.”  We are so convinced of it that we do not even want to give obedience a try.

This is where faith comes it.  Our flesh, the world, and the devil offer a counter argument.  We fail to put it to the test.  What is so sad about this truth is life could be so much better than it is.  We can live!  We can be quickened!  This quickening must be desired and the only way it can be is to yield to the Holy Spirit and trust what the word of God says.  We can have a bit of heaven here on earth.  It is possible.  Your children can adore you.  Your wife can think you are Prince Charming.  Your wife can be your absolute best friend.  You and I can have the life we always dreamed of, but first, we have to dream.  Then we have to be willing to learn and apply the principles of God’s word.  Then and only then will we understand what living truly 

We Need Nothing

“O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.” (Ps 117:1-2 AV)

This morning, my devotions where in Psalms 112-118.  These Psalms were all about thanking and praising God for His faithfulness.  Verse after verse reflected how grateful he was towards the LORD for some specific mercy, or mercy in general.  There was no request mentioned.  At least not that was the theme of a particular Psalm in that group.  The entire section was all about God and how great He is.  Particularly towards them that love and worship Him.

We learn the LORD’s prayer as a pattern of prayer to follow.  Not rote repetition, but an outline of typical prayer.  The first two statements are praise and surrender.  This is the foundation of all answered prayer.  The remainder are requests.  A request for sustenance.  A request for prudent guidance.  A request for forgiveness and a request to help us forgive others.  Then it ends with another statement of praise and surrender.  This prayer is the one which the LORD gave to us as a typical daily prayer to be prayed.  But it is not the only prayer that can be prayed.  We know this because we see several in scripture that are nothing but praise.  Moses’ song following the victory of Egypt is a great example.  Mary’s prayer following Gabriel’s visit is another.  And, as we see this morning, the Psalms have in them several songs and prayers of only praise to the Father for all that He has done.

The point is this:  sometimes the better prayer to offer is one that doesn’t ask for a thing.  Sometimes, we need to simply take stock in how good God has been to us and how He continues to be good to us.  Sometimes, if we just reflect on God’s mercy and goodness, it gets our eyes off of self and our needs don’t seem as needy as we think.  Maybe, if we were to look out at the wonderful blue sky and thank God for such beauty, our day would be a bit brighter.  Perhaps is we thank God for all the times He has brought us through deep waters, the waters we are in now may not seem so deep.  Maybe if we simply surrender to God’s mercy and faithfulness by declaring them openly, we will see that His faithfulness really will not end.

What It Takes To Know the Greatness of God

“They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep. For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end. Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.” (Ps 107:23-28 AV)

There are times when the only way we can see God’s greatness is if we are forced to experience it.  No doubt, those spoken of in the above passage see God’s hand in ways we will never see it.  There are saints whom we have the pleasure of fellowship that have a level of faith which we cannot understand.  It didn’t get that way by mere study.  They didn’t simply read the word of God and accept it as it was written.  They accepted the promises and truths of the word of God, then they became inwardly fruitful by way of life’s experience.  When they see the word of God promise that God will supply all their need, it becomes practical truth when they are sitting at the table with nothing to eat and God miraculously provides their needs.  They can read Solomon’s words that he has never seen the righteous begging bread and believe it with their whole heart.  But it doesn’t become a reality until they fill the oil tank with five gallons of fuel and have it last a week.  Faith is not something that is mere academics.  It is practical.  It comes by way of hard times.  It comes by way of God showing Himself in great ways.

If you have ever seen the program, Deadliest Catch, you know exactly what the passage above speaks of.  These men go out on crab boats in the middle of harsh fall and early winter weather to fish for crab.  Off the Alaskan coast, they deal with seas that turns the stomach just watching it.  Sixteen-hour days in waves that crash over the side of the ship is beyond insane.  Couple that with below freezing temperatures, ice forming on the hull, and any number of accidents by equipment, and one would decide not to eat fresh caught crab just to save these men from insanity.  These men see the worst that weather can dish out.  They live through what most could not.  They endure because they have a reasoned faith that in the end, they will arrive safe at harbor with the blessings of their labor.  Their faith is placed in their Captain.  He has gotten them home safe many times and has lined their pockets with bounty.  No doubt, the first few times out, they feared for their lives.  But after a while, their faith in their captain grew.  But it can only grow if they go through the storm with the captain.

So, too, is it with our faith.  It is one thing to read that God will take care of us.  Quite another to see that truth tested.  Testing, and living through the truth, is the only way this faith can grow.  There is no other way.  Jesus repeatedly allowed His disciples to be placed in difficult situations that He might make Himself known.  The blind man born blind is a great example.  He was in that case that God might show Himself strong.  The disciples were in storms, their lives were threatened, and they were scrambling for food.  Yet, all through it, God was there and God showed Himself great in the midst of dire needs.  Maybe what we are going through is a way for the LORD to grow our faith rather than tear us down.  Perhaps, what He really wants to do is make us strong by making us weak.  I think the apostle Paul said something to that effect.

Desire For Glory

“Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise.” (Ps 106:47 AV)

A prayer for all the saints who are tired of this temporary life!  The context is Israel who was captive because of their own sin.  Speaking of the time of the judges when one or another neighbor would rule over them.  Their circumstances were self-inflicted.  They were suffering because of their own backslidden choices.  However motivated, the truth above is universal for the child of God.  There comes a time when we have had enough of the battle and the wickedness that surrounds us.  All we really desire is to be in glory so that we can praise the LORD with purity and holiness.  All the child of God wants to do is to exit this life and spend all eternity in the glory of God the Father and God the Son.  Sitting at the feet of the One who died for our sin knowing that by His blood, we are victorious.  Don’t misunderstand.  The heathens need the LORD.  They need Him just as badly as I.  Yet, the vast majority will refuse.  It is with this reality we desire the above truth.

I worked in the food service industry in my late teens and early adult life.  That is also when Jesus Christ gloriously redeemed my soul.  The food industry is not an environment that I would encourage young people to pursue.  It is a general disposition of this industry that immaturity with immorality breeds freely.  Where I worked, there was regular vile conversation around immorality.  Drugs and alcohol were also part of that environment.  It was a morally filthy place to work.  I couldn’t wait for Wednesday and Sunday to roll around.  Specially Sunday.  When all of God’s people joined with united heart to worship the LORD in music and around God’s word was a slice of heaven.  My co-workers observed that when I came to work Sunday afternoons, I was often downcast.  It was because the vile environment of the workplace undid what God had just done for me.  My heart began to resent what the world was robbing me of.

The believer that battles for a walk with God in purity and holiness will see somewhat the same struggle.  I have seen it in the elderly.  

After the world had given them everything they hoped for, especially family relationships, the come to realize the world has nothing to offer compared with glory.  I have seen the elderly withdraw themselves into their relationship with the LORD to the exclusion of all others.  It is not that they do not love their family.  It is just that they love the LORD all the more.  There is no shame is desiring glory.  There is not a diagnosis of depression because someone desires the presence of the LORD above all else.  It is actually natural for the child of God to desire the company of his Father more than all others.  If we have the Holy Spirit, they He cries with our spirit, Abba Father!

Hope On A Dimmer Switch

“Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.” (Ps 97:11 AV)

It is important that we see hope and gladness in degrees.  Hope and gladness are not an ‘off’ or ‘on’ situation.  There are degrees of hope.  There are degrees of gladness.  To give an example:  when I greet people, I ask how they are.  There is one young lady whom I like to give a bit of a hard time and take note of her response.  Sometimes it is ‘ok’.  Other times, it is ‘good’.  Then there is the ‘pretty good’.  Or the grammatically correct ‘well’ or ‘very well’ may be the response.  I give her a hard time in noting the incline or decline of her disposition hoping that she will one day arrive at ‘excellent’.  We must think of light and gladness in this manner.  Note in particular that light is sown.  Like seed scattered in a field, there are different stages of that plant’s life.  It ultimately results in a harvest.  In the duration of its growth, there is anticipation and even some beauty along the way.  This is actually the context of this verse.  It is the response to difficult situations brought about by the influence of the wicked.

I had forgotten just how one feels when spring comes around.  Having lived in a warmer climate for the last decade, there was always greenery somewhere.  Usually lawns or even some wild bushes gave some appearance of life, even in the harshest of winters.  Now that I live in the great white north again, I am reminded of how regenerative spring can be.  In the front of our house is a flower bed.  The good people of our church have planted perennials some years ago.  When spring rolls around, a bit of weeding is all that is really necessary.  As the temperatures warm up and the rains fall, these perennials begin to shoot up through the soil.  For weeks, all they appear to be is a shoot.  What is remarkable to be is that only being here for one year, I cannot remember what they are, so when they do grow to maturity, to me it will seem brand new.  Each passing week brings a bit more growth.  Each passing week brings anticipation of brightly colored flowers and sweet smells.  The flower doesn’t have to be there to enjoy the beauty of the plant.  Knowing what it will be and the anticipation of it is what brings enjoyment.

So, too, is the light God has sown.  It will be experienced in its fullness when we ascend to glory.  Our problem arises when our eyes are cast down rather than up.  Like the field that lay dormant over the winter months, life can seem dreary and hopeless.  We soon forget the field will be full of crops that will grow, bloom, and produce fruit.  The light God has sown is just that.  Hope that is sown.  Hope that appears in differing degrees.  Sometimes, just a shoot.  Other times, there are gorgeous blooms.  Still other times, the stalk and leaves have dried, but the fruit remains.  With a little rest for the earth, the cycle starts all over again.  We may not have all the answers.  We may not have all the blessings.  But the LORD has given as He has seen prudent that we might have light in this world and this light will only grow brighter the closer we get to glory.

God Honor's The Heart of His Beloved

“Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.” (Ps 91:14-15 AV)

God’s love and provision is a promise that is sometimes overlooked.  Or, at the least, not completely understood.  God love unconditionally.  However, He does not always act in favor unconditionally.  In the above verses, God’s answers, deliverance, and honor are on the condition of the recipients love for Him and his faith in the nature of God; His reputation.  The two conditions are actually a beautiful picture of the saint’s relationship with the LORD as is should be.

To set love upon comes from the word which we understand as a fillet.  A fillet as in a building or decorative piece of furniture or antique firearm.  It is the smaller band of material surrounded be the greater pieces on either side.  If taken as the fillet of a building, picture a column with a large base pillar, then a smaller but similar stone piece place atop.  Then a third and greater stone would be placed upon the fillet.  When the writer of this Psalm used this word, he gave us a picture of the saint who is under the extreme weight of God’s love.  Not a mere passing influence.  But a stronger than itself influence.  There is a willingness to be overwhelmed by the love of God here.  There is no other force on that fillet but the weight of the pillar.  In like manner, those who receive God’s answers, deliverance, and honor are those who are willing to have their relationship with God to be the most influential and overwhelming relationship which they have.

Knowing the name of God here isn’t merely knowing a fact.  Like the names of the LORD, some believe that knowing the name of the LORD is a mere theological exercise.  But not so here.  Knowing the name of God in this text is an experience.  The word ‘name’ here is not a title or a description.  His Name here is His reputation.  He reputation is the manifestation of His character in His acts towards men.  To know the name of God means to perceive, to recognize, admit, acknowledge, then confess.  This person has learned of God by what the Bible says of Him, then, experienced God in the manner in which He is revealed.  This means eyes to see God’s hand are present.  He sees God in everything and in convinced that God is who He says He is.

This is simple.  There is nothing complicated here.  These two things, and only these two things, are the foundation of all other aspects of our relationship with God.  Seeking to rest in God’s love motivates to obedience.  Believing what God says about Himself is the foundation of faith.  If we do these two things, then there is no end to answers, deliverance, and honor.

Simple Trust and Obedience

“Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.” (Ps 81:13-14 AV)

Victory is as easy as faith and obedience.  The promise to Israel is God’s intervention in their struggles against the enemies of the nation.  The promise is simple, yet so hard to live.  If Israel will harken to the LORD and strive to walk in the ways of the word of God, then the LORD will take care of their enemies.  This did not mean they were to be sinless.  That is what the sacrificial system was meant to address.  When they failed, they were to offer sacrifices.  They were to walk in faith, trusting the law of God was best for them.  This included the sacrifices.  Our history is like theirs.  We have a hard time walking in obedience and trust.  Because we do, the LORD allows our adversaries to have a temporary advantage over us so that we will learn that God’s ways are the best ways.

One of the challenges of raising toddlers is they get to the point when they want to do things their way.  They want to try it themselves.  Sometimes, parents are proud of their young ones for showing a heart to grow.  They want to learn a skill.  They want to show they don’t need as much oversight or assistance as they once did.  It is their declaration of independence and individuality.  There are times, however, when this is not advisable.  They will not listen to wiser words.  They cannot see that Mom or Dad may have input that will save them from hard lessons.  Off they go, into their own course, and suffer for it.  It is in those times when Mom or Dad allow them to act out their plan.  Even knowing it will not work and may result in a little discomfort.  Now, Mom and Dad will not allow youngster to be permanently marred.  But a scrap or too early in life is well worth it.  Learning that the authority figure has more wisdom and is out for your good is a lesson well learned early in life.

We suffer undo trouble from the flesh, the world, and the devil because we do not walk in faith and obedience.  Only eternity will tell how much could have been avoided if we had just taken God at His word.  God is proclaiming as loudly as He can from the portals of heaven, “trust Me!”  When we think we know the best way, or we simply ignore what we know to be right and do it anyway, the LORD is not obligated to protect us.  Just like a loving parent who desires to teach his child that Dad knows best, God allows us to suffer from the consequences of our actions.  His heart is to stop all the pain.  He wishes we could avoid it.  But it is our stubbornness that brings the adversity.  Faith and obedience.  It really is that simple.

Divine Patience

“But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.” (Ps 78:38 AV)

If the truth be told, we are not chastened nearly as much as we should be.  According to this verse, God turns away His anger many times.  He turns that anger away when He would be fully justified in exercising that anger.  The context is the history of Israel.  But let us not be fooled.  We are no different.  As the nation of Israel was, so too is the individual Christian.  We have failed the LORD more times than we can possibly count.  We have turned our backs on Him time and again.  We have allowed the flesh to have the better of us.  And, we have fallen in times of weak faith.  We really are no different.  In many ways, we are worse.  We have the complete revelation of God given to man.  We have it perfect, without error, in written form, and complete.  We also have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  We have far less excuses to make when we fail the LORD than Israel did.  The verse above should be a source of great comfort.  And a source of challenge.

Being a father is one of the greatest privileges God has ever bestowed upon me.  What I have learned about myself and my relationship with the LORD has come as a result of watching my own children and being a steward of their maturity.  Among many truths, one skill that is needed and must be learned quickly is patience.  Along with patience one needs great discernment and wisdom.  These can only come by the ministry of the Holy Spirit.  Keeping control of one’s own emotions is extremely important.  Frustration and anger must be kept under control, even if letting it out is justified.  Knowing when to use anger as a tool and when to restrain it because it would cause harm is a skill that needs to be learned early and often.  Many times, I have witnessed well-meaning fathers rebuke his child in anger and rage when a simple correction would have sufficed.  The child may have been deliberately disobedient, but sometimes patience is a better teacher.  I know that I have used the event in my life of running from my father when I made a big mistake.  When I finally felt brave enough to face him, all his did was look at me and tell me that he forgave me.  The lack of chastening hurt more than any punishment that he could have ever gave.  Even Paul agrees.  The goodness of the LORD leadeth thee to repentance.

When we begin to think that we are good with God, just remember:  He has restrained His displeasure at the things we have done for more than we realize.  I, for one, can testify to that fact.  I have repeatedly disappointed my Father more times that I can fathom.  Sure, there is chastening.  However, it is far less than I deserve.  I don’t understand this mercy.  But I am grateful for it.  God is a merciful and kind God who loves us more than words can express.   Let us remember this goodness that I might indeed result in repentance.

Praying God's Covenant

“Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.” (Ps 74:20 AV)

This is a perfect description of the condition of the world today.  I am amazed at just how much wickedness the world contains.  It’s not even hidden in a corner any longer.  It is brazen and out there.  What is even worse is are those who hate God are now making a concerted effort to make their sin personal.  The wicked wish to consume the righteous.  This has always been the case.  But we are told that the closer we get to the end times, the more pronounced this becomes.  Hence the first half of this verse.  The Psalmist is reminding the Father of the covenant which He made with Israel.  He is reminding the LORD that if something is not done, the wicked will make null and void the covenant with the righteous.  This a good prayer.  This is a fair prayer.  This should be the prayer of God’s people today.

David, twice in the Psalms, asks the LORD to rescue His darling from the power of the enemy.  Once, in Psalm twenty-two, it is the power of the dogs.  Or, the power of the world.  Then, in Psalm thirty-five, it is the power of the lion.  Or, the power of Satan.  Our flesh will die regardless.  Our flesh is a defeated enemy.  The world and the devil are not.  Psalm twenty-two is a prophetical Psalm regarding the crucifixion of Christ.  What it means for us is slightly different.  The church is called the Bride of Christ.  We are the darling of the Savior.  The dogs and the lions are cruel to us as well.  Perhaps not as they were to Christ.  But they are still cruel.  We need to pray the prayer for deliverance.  God did not suffer the Holy One to see corruption.  Any power the dogs or lions may have had was temporary at best.  Death and resurrection were the rescue.  For us it is no different.

The dogs and the lions have their day.  This is their day.  It ends when Christ returns to earth and sets up His kingdom.  The devil will be imprisoned.  The world will be ruled with a rod of iron.  The enemies of God’s darling will be defeated.  Until then, the dark places will be infested with the workers of iniquity.  What we need to pray is the LORD honor His covenant with His Darling and rescue His Darling from the influence of the dogs and the lions that we might be what He desires for us to be.  It is time for all this to end.  It is time for the LORD to take back what is rightfully His.  We are the bride.  We are the people of God that reign with Christ.  It is He that fights the battle.  Even so, LORD, Amen.

The Honor of a Black Eye

“For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.” (Ps 69:9 AV)

There are consequences for zeal.  Those who do not appreciate the zeal will forthwith let it be known.  Those who do not love the LORD will strive against those who do.  The real question is: will we tolerate the reproach?  Will we put up with it?  Will we thrive under it?  Do we think it unfair and try to avoid it?  The attitude of Peter when persecuted during the pagan feast of Easter, is the response we should have.  After being persecuted for preaching the gospel, their attitude about that persecution is revealed in Acts 5:41. “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.” In other words, it was a privilege to be beaten for their faith.  Not an injustice.

We will suffer all sorts of criticism or injustice for things that really do not matter.  I lived in Cardinals and Wildcat country.  If anyone has every lived there, they can testify these fans are a bit rabid.  They take their sports teams rather seriously.  To root against them will incur a different level of criticism than most anywhere else.  Trust me!  I have lived in four different states and three different distinctly different cultures.  When it comes to baseball and college basketball, these fans are unique.  Now that I live in a large city with a professional baseball team, I was warned not to fly my Cubs W flag lest my home get vandalized, or worse.  We will fly our flags, paint our cars, wear our hats and tee shirts, even to a rival’s stadium.  We will put up with all sorts of abuse for entertainment.  And, we will consider it an honor to do so.  But to do so for the LORD Jesus Christ?  Why is that so hard?  Why is it so difficult to endure the slings and arrows of the enemy for the One who will ultimately be victorious, yet, we have no problem with suffering at the hands of an out of control sports fan.

When we are abused for the cause of Christ, we need view that as an honor.  We do not deserve any attention.  We do no deserve and honor.  When we are ridiculed for our faith; or worse, physically attacked, then we can wear that as a badge of honor.  When the reproach which is actually aimed at Jesus is aimed at us, then we have the privilege to take one for the team.  A black eye is nothing more than a shiner that reflects the glory of a God who will exact all justice in His time.

True Resistance

“How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence.” (Ps 62:3 AV)

Resist the enemy long enough, and he will give up.  History has proven this out.  At least generationally.  The context of this psalm is when David fled in the middle of the night from his own house because Saul set watchers outside his home to kill him when he left.  His wife, Michal, let him down through a window, then placed a bolster in the bed claiming David was sick and laid up.  Saul sent the murderers into the bedroom to slay David and discovered the deception.  Rather than side with her husband, Michal lied and blamed it all on David.  This verse is David’s declaration of resistance unto victory.  No matter what the enemy does, he will not lose.  They can devise whatever means they wish.  If God is with him, he will go on to victory.  He will have to battle through it.  He will suffer a few setbacks.  There will be a few scars.  But in the end, he is resolved to stand and face the enemy and by the power of God, he will not be defeated!

I know I use these stories quite a bit, but life lessons often come is droves.  One traumatic experience can yield and virtual trove of applications, lessons, and wisdom.  Such was my time in grade school.  I was regularly bullied by the tough guys.  One in particular.  Matt was his name.  He had a twin brother, Pat.  Matt used to do all sorts of things to me.  He was relentless.  On one occasion, we were sitting in class.  His desk was very near mine.  Pat’s desk was also very near mine.  Matt started in with verbal assaults.  I remember this incident because I could not understand Pat.  He refused to help his brother be cruel.  But he would do nothing to stop his brothers torture.  I also remember it because it was the time Matt learned that none of his bullying was going to work.  I refused to cry.  I refused to show any emotion whatsoever.  I simply refused to be a victim.  This only enraged Matt more.  His insults became more verbose and louder.  The teacher took notice and let Matt have it.  Down to the principal’s office he was sent and were it not for my sense of fairness, Pat would have been sent to.  A word from me kept him from getting into trouble.  From that point on, the bullying decreased and eventually went away.

The point is this:  the reason the devil has to go around seeking whom he may devour is because he cannot devour us all.  He has to roam around because he knows there are certain that will resist and not succumb to his tactics.  Resist long enough, and the devil will flee.  That is the promise.  Paul, when speaking of the spiritual armor of which the believer should use, tells us that once we are equipped, or having done all, to stand!  Just like the playground frolics of the bullies who thought stealing my hat was going to work, resolve chases the foolishness away.  Resist long enough and the enemy will give up.  He is not looking for difficult marks.  He is looking for easy marks.  The enemy is an opportunist and lazy.  Set your resolve and the enemy will give up.

Help Is Where You Least Expect It

“Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.” (Ps 54:4 AV)

This psalm was written upon reflection of David’s disappointment with his own tribe, Judah.  When fleeing from Saul, David happened upon a city of Judah.  When he abode there, expecting his own tribe to protect him from the persecution of Saul, the turned him in.  His own tribe informed Saul of David’s whereabouts.  The previous verse expresses David’s dismay that his own people would not uphold his soul.  In Judah’s defense, David put them in an impossible situation.  Do they support the legitimate king of Israel, or, do they protect the future king of Israel?  There was no good choice here.  Even though David was right to be disappointed, he should have also been realistic.  What we can glean from this, though, is that if those closest to us cannot support us for one reason or another, God will provide those who can.  Whether it is a rejection for nefarious reasons, or simply because it cannot be done, there are those who are in a better position to be our encouragement.

There are times when the LORD asks us to go through things that give us the feeling that we are all alone.  I think every major example of the saints in the old testament went through this from time to time.  Moses certainly felt alone when the people of God rebelled while he was up on the mountain.  Elijah certainly felt alone when he ran from Jezebel.  Jonah certainly felt alone when he was in the whale’s belly.  Ezekiel felt alone when his wife died.  Job felt alone even though his three friends tried to encourage him.  Feeling alone is part and parcel of living for God.  In these times we hope those who truly understand us can be that source of encouragement we so desperately need.  But sometimes they either refuse to be, cannot be, or fail to be.  God never left David.  God was always there.  God also initially provided David with 400 men who swore their loyalty to him.  This betrayal of the Ziphites of Judah happened relatively early in his flight from Saul.  By the time Saul died, God provided 200 more men and a new wife to replace Michal, the daughter of Saul who was given to his friend to wife.

No matter how alone we may think we are, we are not.  There are those whom God has prepared to be a help to our soul even if those who are closest to us cannot.  Those whom God has prepared are probably the least we think capable of being a blessing or whom we perceive as unwilling.  God will not leave us alone.  He will provide that which we need to endure, grow, and thrive.  At first, they may not be our first choice.  However, being provided by God, they are the best choice.  One example and I am done.  Something I learned as a pastor is the minister of encouragement which God sends to you is often the humblest of all saints who may be disqualified for positions of leadership within the church.  He or she may have made a choice in life that prohibits him or her to stand as a leader among others.  But it is often these people who are the most effective in bearing up the arms of the king.  They are absent of all pretense.  They have no agenda.  They are there for one reason only.  To bless the soul of another