Promise for the day

They shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord,

over the grain, the wine, and the oil, and over the young of the flock and the herd;

 

their life shall be like a watered garden, and they shall languish no more. 

Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry.

 

I will turn their mourning into joy;

I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.

 I will feast the soul of the priests with abundance,

and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, declares the Lord.”  

Jer. 31.12-13 esv

Whales, worthless idols and grace (revisited)

I wrote these words a few years ago.  Today they ring even clearer as our world chases worthless idols.  All around us is the quest for the idols of the world...fame, success, money...and yet in the quest for those things we forfeit the most important thing. Your choice (and mine) is simple...worthless idols or grace.  You can't have both.

I came to Jonah chapter two this morning and as I read I stopped at verse 8. Rather, verse 8 stopped me! I read it over at least 10 times as I thought about Jonah's words,
Jonah 2:8- "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs."
These words were part of Jonah's prayer when he finally gave in to God's will as he sat in the belly of the big fish. At the end of this prayer God instructs the fish to spit him out and Jonah finally obeys God's commands to him.  But let me camp for a minute on this verse..."Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs." I honestly had never seen this verse before. It had to be there for the first time today. I know I have read this passage hundreds of times before, but I never saw this. It's profound! It's life changing to me. When we cling to the worthless idols of our lives we forfeit (miss, give up) the grace that COULD BE OURS. You can't hold onto your idols and grasp grace as well. You have to let go of one to find the other. I looked up the definition of forfeit for this discussion and here's what it means: "something to which the right is lost, as for commission of a crime or misdeed, neglect of duty, or violation of a contract." Another way of saying this is, "Those who cling to worthless idols lose the right to the grace that could be theirs." What idols are you clinging to that make you forfeit the grace that could be yours? What benefits of grace have we given up to have something worthless instead? Let me invite you to meditate on this verse for a bit and share your thoughts...in the belly of the big fish Jonah has shared with us an amazing truth to help us contrast the grace of God and any other option. It is, ultimately, the choice between the Christian faith and any other- grace or worthless idols. Cling to one and you will forfeit the other.

Choices

Choices. We make them every day. The results of those choices affect the course of our lives and all the choices ahead. Once we make a choice we can no longer make the other choice. Our course is set. Now a multitude of other choices on the other path are no longer ours. Now we must take the path of our choice with all that follows. We find new decisions to make, but the choice of the other path is no longer ours.

Often, as I talk with people at their crossroads struggling with the choice of which way to go I find they are already regretting the choice they plan to make. They know their choice is the wrong one and the path will not end well, but they don't want to take the other path. What they don't realize is that one choice eliminates the choices the other path might offer. Suddenly, once they start walking down one road the choices possible on the other road are gone.

I watch as they struggle at the crossroads, struggle with the decisions they face. Often they tell me they want what lies down both paths, but only one choice can be made. What none of us know is what other choices might be ours if we choose the right path. (Of course this last statement implies that one choice is right and the other wrong.) There are a hundred choices down each path, but none are known to us until we choose one and start the adventure.

It strikes me that the struggle at the crossroads is the choice of my way or God's way. That is the core decision at each crossroad we face, isn't it? At each point of decision I must decide to submit my will to God's way or choose my own way and hope for the best. It's a choice that should be obvious and simple, but it's really not. We live with fantasy and fear dominating our minds and thoughts. The fantasy of what could have been and the fear of what might be cause us to doubt that God's way will be for our good so we choose our own path, our own way.

This morning I faced those crossroads with another friend. I watched as he languished over his choices. As best I could I told him what lay down each road. I watched as he turned this way, then that. From years of standing at the crossroads with others I already know he has chosen the wrong path, but I know too that I can't force anyone to submit to God's will in their lives. That's a decision of the heart. Once they trust God with the results the decision of course is easy. Until that submission of heart and will is given to God the battle rages on.

As you face your own crossroads pray this simple prayer, "Lord, I want your way, your will in my life and not my own. Show me which way to go." In that simple prayer you have made the most important choice anyone will ever make when they come to the crossroads.

There are a number of verses in the Bible that deal with this very idea, but let me simply offer this one as I finish my thoughts, Proverbs 14:12-13 "There's a way of life that looks harmless enough; look again—it leads straight to hell.Sure, those people appear to be having a good time, but all that laughter will end in heartbreak." THE MESSAGE

Grace

I'm reading Tullian's new book, "One way love".  It's a great work on the topic of grace and so far really well done. I will keep you updated, but today I just wanted to share a quote from this book that caught my attention,

"Grace is unconditional acceptance given to an undeserving person by an unobligated giver. It is one-way love."

Bridging chasms

Bridges don't just happen.

Somewhere, sometime in the past someone saw the need to get from "here" to "there" and built a bridge to make it possible.  

Bridges don't just happen. 

Someone builds them to cross chasms.  

You may have traveled across a bridge in the past to reach a destination without ever thinking that someone made it to help you navigate the chasm between here and there. 

Chasm crossing is part of our lives, but without bridges it's difficult. 

Between man and God is a chasm that has only one bridge, Jesus Christ.  But there is something you need to know if you are a Christian....you are a bridge between God and others as well.  You either make it easy for them to get to him or you make it harder. You help them bridge the gap or make them wonder if the journey is really worth the effort.

There are a few things about bridges we all look for- they have to be stable, trustworthy.  Bridges have to be easy to cross.  They must make the one crossing the chasm feel safe.  As you bridge the chasm between others and God are they willing to trust you to help them get to the other side or do they look for another path?

Bridging chasms between God and others is part of your job.  How are you doing?

Grace

"For by grace you are saved through faith and not of works (not of yourself), it is a work of God (from beginning to end) so that no one can boast." -Eph. 2

Grace is popular these days. I hear about it from every part of the Christian world.  Evangelicals have been talking about it for as long as I can remember, but now charismatics are beginning to discuss grace.  It's great to hear so many begin to discuss this important truth, but it's sad to realize so few still understand it.

Grace is a work of God on our behalf.  It describes God's work in salvation and in living the Christian life.  There is nothing you can do go get it (other than believe) and there is nothing you can do to lose it, and....even more important...there is nothing the devil can do to take it away from you.  Some are talking about grace, but still can't resist linking it to works, to what we must do to keep it.  

Might I emphasize this again? There is nothing we can do to get it and there is nothing anyone can do to lose it.  That's the message of Romans 8, that's the message and meaning of grace.  It begins with no condemnation and ends with no separation   Grace is a work of God and nothing I do now or could do in the future can merit it or lose it.

That's the great thing about grace!  Finally, one thing that is a work of God that we can't mess up, break, lose or destroy!  That's why grace is such a big deal.  That's why it's so hard for us to believe...it's too good to be true!

Even as I write that I know some are saying, "yeah, but...." and they proceed to condemn what they call "free grace" or "cheap grace".  They fret about we might do if we were completely forgiven and couldn't lose it...no matter what we do.  We are uncomfortable with anything that doesn't involve our works, our performance or our response.  Grace is grace entirely because nothing I can do will affect it in any way!  

Isn't that wonderful?

A note from a friend trusting God and having nothing

This note was texted to me this morning.  It comes from a friend who has been through very difficult days, but through them has grown more than he ever would have imagined.  Here are his words this morning,

"Mike, I am amazed at how God provides. At times, I received something or learned something long before I needed and it was only later God revealed why He blessed me. Other times when I have had nothing, He called me to give everything I had, only to see Him replenish 10-fold over. Still again, there have been times that I have prayed and prayed with seemingly no answer. It would come to the point where I had nowhere to go, no one to turn to and I would cry out to God  "Don't you care? I'm not going to make it!" The silence was deafening, but I finally fell on my face and cry out.  I said, "God if you don't want me to have this, I will still serve you. I will praise you and give thanks for all I have, for it all belongs to you.  If I gain the world, but I am far from you, then I have nothing. So Father, take it all away if that's what it takes to make me like Jesus. Make my heart clean. Let my life bring glory to you not to myself. I have been rich and I have been poor. I have been broken, beaten down and given up for dead. I have been rejected, scorned, laughed at and told I am nothing but a failure. But God, you have determined my worth, my value. Only what you think matters. I count it all for loss for my desire is to know Jesus, the fellowship of His sufferings and the power of His resurrection. I choose Jesus above all else, for He chose me, when there was nothing worth loving and in my eyes, nothing worth saving. He gave Himself freely for me. I love you Father! So if the answer is No, I will trust you. I will trust you with all of my life, not just parts of it. Holding nothing back, use me however you wish. You know my needs, my wants, my desires. I sacrifice them and surrender them all." This is the one place where I have found myself a few times in my life and where complete peace that surpasses all understanding has come...walking in His Holy Spirit and learning to hear His soft gentle voice even in the midst of this crazy world. God answers and He answers with faithfulness, love, grace and mercy. He never  abandon us. He never fails!"

Amazing quote of the day

"I feel comfortable with the things I did and the decisions I made."

Guess who? It might surprise you, but it was....

....Kermit Gosnell, the abortionist convicted of murder and now in prison.

Isn't it sad how we rationalize our choices and decisions? 

But to not let us off the hook too easily...we do exactly the same things! We sin and then explain it away, but God isn't fooled. 

Jeremiah wrote, 

"The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it?" 

But for God's grace I would be no different than Kermit and I wonder....in what ways do I get comfortable with the sins I have committed?   

How often do I excuse actions that Jesus needed to die for?  

But for God's grace we are all like Kermit Gosnell.

Access

"But now we have confidence in a better hope, through which we draw near to God."  -Heb. 7:19

We all want access.  We want to be able to "get to" those in power, to have their phone numbers in our database.  We would think it a high honor to have the president's personal cell number we could call whenever we desire.  It would be an opportunity to brag that we could text the governor any time we want and he would reply!  Access to those in power is what we all want.  To be able to voice our concerns, our opinions, our complaints to those in charge and know we are heard.

Imagine the discussion over lunch as we debate a political issue and I reply, "Ok, let me call the president on my cell and we'll ask him right now!"  That kind of access is what we all want.  To be heard by the one who can do something about it.

Do you realize that you have instant access to the creator of the universe? Do you know that you can talk to God whenever you wish and he hears you? You can "draw near" to God and he will listen.  You have access to the ultimate power, to the one who controls everything...even presidents and governors!  

And it begins in this way, "Father....."  

It's amazes me to listen to Christians complain about politics, about their boss, about the government and all they see going wrong.  They don't really want a solution, they just want to grumble, to complain and make it clear they would do it right.  

What we admit, when we complain to each other about government, is that we really don't want a solution.  If we did we would go to God in prayer and say, "Father....." and with instant and unlimited access you could talk to the one who is really in charge about the problems that concern you.

Do you realize you have access to God?  He will hear you. He will listen. He will answer.  

Next time someone begins to complain about the government in Washington, about their boss, about anything, stop them and say, "Ok, let's tell God about it and see what he will do..."  That will stop the discussion!

Why, when we have access to the God of all creation, do we ever complain about anything?

Repentance

Stay so close to God and so aware of yourself that repentance is a frequent response.  If you never repent you are either not walking close to God or not self-aware.....or both.   Repentance (changing direction) should be a normal part of a Christian's life.  

Here is a statement that might surprise you, but it's true-  For a Christian repentance is more important than forgiveness.  

As you read that you might recoil a bit, but realize for a Christian forgiveness is finished, we are already forgiven, now we are in the ongoing odyssey of becoming like Christ and that involves repentance, not forgiveness.  Repentance is vital for a healthy walk with God.

Quote of the day

"To trust God you must believe that he is trustworthy."

If you could choose

Which is better? 

A billion dollars in the bank 

or 

the opportunity to trust God each day 

for the needs of that day? 

If you could choose one of these two options which one would you pick? In a culture where money is the god of our day it's a very difficult choice for most!

One means never having to "worry" again.  The other means that each day, instead of trusting the god of your bank account, you must trust the God you cannot see to meet your needs.

It means, in all practical ways, you become God dependent in the most real way possible....for the bread on your table.

And yet, the words from Jesus invite us to this second kind of life, in spite of our desire to never worry again because we have money in the bank...God invites us to never worry again because HE has all the money we need in his bank.  Read these words slowly and contemplate the invitation Jesus is extending...it's an invitation to live by faith, trusting God even when you have nothing in the bank account,

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?  So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Did you notice Jesus' questions?  His questions go right to the heart of our self-sufficient culture and say simply...you don't need to worry, my Father knows what you need and will provide for you.  Will you trust him?

That's the question, isn't it? Will we trust God or not?  He says he is our Father and fathers take care of their kids.  Imagine a child saying to their father, "Oh dad, I'm so worried about having food for dinner.  What are we going to eat?"  The Father would be shocked and grieved, because that is his job, not theirs.  It would, in a real way, be an attack on the kindness of Father to even ask such a question.  In fact, if you have kids, you know they never worry about that....they simply ask, "WHAT'S FOR DINNER?"  They never worry about supply, that's not their job.  And it's not our job either.

Which is better?  Have I convinced you that having nothing with God as your Father is much better than having a billion dollars in the bank account?  The truth is that a billion dollars is pocket change to God. Why would you want so little when God offers so much more?

Already, but not yet

"It only took a night to get Israel out of Egypt, but it took 40 years to get Egypt out of Israel."

As we went through the Exodus story yesterday in church I said something that I tried to repeat at least twice, it's that important! It's the quote above.  In a moment, with a prayer, a step of faith,  we trust Christ and become a Christian.  In that moment we are transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of his dear son (Col. 1:13), and in that moment we are taken "out of the world". We become children of God, but it will take a lifetime to get the world out of us.  

That is what the bible calls sanctification, the transformation of the believer into the reality of who we already are because of what Christ has done. One of my favorite verses is in Heb. 10:14 where the author writes, 

"He has made perfect FOREVER those who are becoming holy."

We live in this "already, but not yet" life and so we "pursue Christ", "grow in faith", "draw close to Christ", "grow up in Christ"...whatever the term we use in our culture the idea is the same...we are drawn by God to conform our lives to what he has already made us! 

In a moment of time we were taken out of the world by faith in Christ, but it will take a lifetime to get the world out of us.  That is the transformation that God is working on in each of our lives....and then, one day.....

"Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure."  

-1 John 3:2-3

God is crazy!

This morning I'm preparing to preach. As I prayed this morning before the service I thought, "God, you are crazy to use someone like me!  I'm completely inadequate for this.  What were you thinking???"

And then I thought of the verses in 1 Corinthians 1:26 and following,

26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him.

And so I smile.  Yes, I'm completely inadequate for this!  And that's why God chose me...because I know it.  To be honest, the anxiety that causes me is often hard to deal with.  I am completely and totally over my head and unqualified to teach God's word and yet he puts me in a place where that is what I do!  God must be completely crazy, OR he picks people like me so he will get all the glory.  Today, as this inadequate and fearful servant teaches God's word I pray He will get all the glory because I bring nothing but my trembling availability.

May God be glorified!

Quote of the day

"America is the world's first culture in jeopardy 

of amusing itself to death."  -Neil Postman