If you stop noticing sunsets you quickly forget the wonders that surround you. This is the reality of our ever changing relationship with Jesus. In the carnality of our thinking we lose our spiritual sensitivity and the things of this world look more and more attractive. Before we know it we stop seeing the miracles and signs that surround us; we stop seeing Jesus in our day. We will continue to go through the motions but now it is only religion and the relationship is lost. How can it be?
We are like spoiled children, so use to all our privileges that we lose the wonder of them. Sometimes we need to spend some time in the Old Covenant scriptures to be refreshed in our privileged reality. Psalm 61 is an example of this refreshing. The writer needed help. He needed protection and he sought the Lord. He needed to be encouraged and strengthened. He needed the presence of the Lord:
God, listen to my cry;
pay attention to my prayer!
When my heart is weak,
I cry out to you from the very ends of the earth.
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I am
because you have been my refuge,
a tower of strength in the face of the enemy. (Psalm 61:1-3)
The writer only needed to experience the presence of Yahweh to receive all that he wanted. And when he experienced it he desired never to leave his presence:
Please let me live in your tent forever!
Please let me take refuge
in the shelter of your wings! (V. 4)
Unlike this psalmist, this experience is available to us every single day of our lives, all we have to do is open our eyes to it. Jesus never wants us to be outside of the experience of his presence. He is always with us, as he promised, but it is up to us to decide to be sensitive to him. If we keep our mind and heart occupied by the things of this world, things contrary to his character, we will grow insensitive. There is nothing else for it except for us to decide every morning to love him with all our passion and to expect him to do great things through us every day.
We are a privileged people and the psalmist, prophets and all other people found in the old covenant could only dream and long for what is ours every day. So don't waste it. Live for Jesus to the fullest of all your passion and walk with him daily.
Showing posts with label comfort. Show all posts
Showing posts with label comfort. Show all posts
Monday, February 9, 2015
Thursday, February 27, 2014
I Will Fear No Evil
Have you ever been afraid? Fear is a normal human emotion when faced by things we don't understand or by things that appear to threaten us. But fear can also be provoked by our imagination. We can fear sounds and shadows when there is nothing of substance. We can fear the "maybe's" and possibilities of life. We can fear our tomorrows causing us to be paralyzed in our today. This is what I sense David talking about in Psalm 23:
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. (v. 4)
It is a shadow, a thing of no substance, a threat with no teeth. Actually, all fear is like that for a Christian. Fear has no teeth for us and is only the shadow of things that would like to harm us if it could but it can't because Jesus is with us. That is why David continued:
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me. (v. 4)
What can separate us from the love of Jesus? Absolutely nothing. When we turn to him in all situations we find comfort, especially as we turn to his Word. Shadows disappear in the light of his presence and Word:
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (v. 4)
If fear is paralyzing and overwhelming us it is because we are not relying on Jesus for strength and comfort. Fear may be a natural human reaction but we are no longer controlled by our emotions; we are a new creation, filled by the Holy Spirit, walking in the presence of our God.
We can find an example of someone who understood this long before Jesus gave us the Spirit. King Jehoshaphat was an awesome king and had developed a strong relationship with the Lord. News had suddenly come to him about a combined army that was coming to destroy Jerusalem. This army was massive and did not appear to be a "shadow" threat but something of real substance. Maybe under any other king Jerusalem would have been destroyed but Jehoshaphat knew Yahweh and he knew the promises. In other words, he knew the Word. He reminded Yahweh of a few things (2 Chronicles 20):
First, that Yahweh was the ruler over all kingdoms and that no one could come against him.
Second, that Yahweh had given them this land.
Third, that Yahweh had made a promise that if at any time they faced trouble they could pray in the temple and he would rescue them.
Then Jehoshaphat prayed this prayer that has always remained with me from the first I read it:
O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” (v. 12)
We don't know what to do but our eyes are on you. Of course the Lord is going to respond to such a man of the Word, to a man of this kind of faith, a man who leans on the Lord for his hope and strength. Yahweh responded and told them they would not have to fight, that he would fight for them. He told them to get dressed for war, in their armour, swords and bows, and then watch him deliver them from their enemies.
One of the most incredible parts of all of this was the next day, as they marched out to face this overwhelming enemy, they went out singing. They faced their enemy with praise and worship. Praise and worship was not their salvation but was their heart response to the promise of salvation by the grace of Yahweh.
My friends we have nothing to fear but if we do feel fear then we need to run into the presence of our God. We are always in his presence but if you are feeling fear it is because you have forgotten that Jesus is the ruler over every nation, over every circumstance and nothing can come against him. You have forgotten that what you have received has come from his hand, and you have been told to stand your ground. You have forgotten his promise that whatever you need you can ask for in his name and Father will give it to you. Pray that prayer, "Jesus, I don't know what to do but my eyes are on you" and fear will flee from you as he answers you swiftly. Your fear will be replaced with praise and worship.
You cannot save yourself. Whether by many or by few, salvation belongs to the Lord. You belong to him and he has given you a ton of promises to encourage you. Learn the Word, walk in his presence and you will discover that there is no substance to the things that provoke fear in the children of Yahweh. Allow his "rod and staff" to comfort you.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. (v. 4)
It is a shadow, a thing of no substance, a threat with no teeth. Actually, all fear is like that for a Christian. Fear has no teeth for us and is only the shadow of things that would like to harm us if it could but it can't because Jesus is with us. That is why David continued:
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me. (v. 4)
What can separate us from the love of Jesus? Absolutely nothing. When we turn to him in all situations we find comfort, especially as we turn to his Word. Shadows disappear in the light of his presence and Word:
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (v. 4)
If fear is paralyzing and overwhelming us it is because we are not relying on Jesus for strength and comfort. Fear may be a natural human reaction but we are no longer controlled by our emotions; we are a new creation, filled by the Holy Spirit, walking in the presence of our God.
We can find an example of someone who understood this long before Jesus gave us the Spirit. King Jehoshaphat was an awesome king and had developed a strong relationship with the Lord. News had suddenly come to him about a combined army that was coming to destroy Jerusalem. This army was massive and did not appear to be a "shadow" threat but something of real substance. Maybe under any other king Jerusalem would have been destroyed but Jehoshaphat knew Yahweh and he knew the promises. In other words, he knew the Word. He reminded Yahweh of a few things (2 Chronicles 20):
First, that Yahweh was the ruler over all kingdoms and that no one could come against him.
Second, that Yahweh had given them this land.
Third, that Yahweh had made a promise that if at any time they faced trouble they could pray in the temple and he would rescue them.
Then Jehoshaphat prayed this prayer that has always remained with me from the first I read it:
O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” (v. 12)
We don't know what to do but our eyes are on you. Of course the Lord is going to respond to such a man of the Word, to a man of this kind of faith, a man who leans on the Lord for his hope and strength. Yahweh responded and told them they would not have to fight, that he would fight for them. He told them to get dressed for war, in their armour, swords and bows, and then watch him deliver them from their enemies.
One of the most incredible parts of all of this was the next day, as they marched out to face this overwhelming enemy, they went out singing. They faced their enemy with praise and worship. Praise and worship was not their salvation but was their heart response to the promise of salvation by the grace of Yahweh.
My friends we have nothing to fear but if we do feel fear then we need to run into the presence of our God. We are always in his presence but if you are feeling fear it is because you have forgotten that Jesus is the ruler over every nation, over every circumstance and nothing can come against him. You have forgotten that what you have received has come from his hand, and you have been told to stand your ground. You have forgotten his promise that whatever you need you can ask for in his name and Father will give it to you. Pray that prayer, "Jesus, I don't know what to do but my eyes are on you" and fear will flee from you as he answers you swiftly. Your fear will be replaced with praise and worship.
You cannot save yourself. Whether by many or by few, salvation belongs to the Lord. You belong to him and he has given you a ton of promises to encourage you. Learn the Word, walk in his presence and you will discover that there is no substance to the things that provoke fear in the children of Yahweh. Allow his "rod and staff" to comfort you.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Why?
And the world asks, why?
An absolute tragic waste of life. Children killed, murdered, before they get to taste life. Parents robed of their joy. Today, lost in a dark place, searching for understanding. But there is no understanding. It is senseless, useless, a tragedy, just plain stupid. Today they have to face the reality of their loss. Their hearts are shattered.
So too are the lives of those injured so severely. Limbs gone. Lives changed forever. Livelihoods destroyed. Families facing financial impossibilities. There is no reason for this deliberate act of hate and violence in Boston. None whatsoever. There is no reason for such a loss as this. But it is the world in which we live.
I read the paper this morning. I see the pictures. And I cry. My heart is broken. I feel I am part of this tragic loss.
However, the Spirit reminds me of other tragedies. Not to take away from the effect this act of violence is having on the world, but do you realize that there were only 3 killed and 130 injured. I say only because in a single day there are far more than 3 people who die in a senseless act of violence in this world. There are far more than 130 people injured as a result of tragic violence.There are countless families who are changed every day in a blink of an eye because someone considered someone else's life less valuable than their own. What about those who died today from salvation? Those stolen and sold into slavery?What about those who were beaten and raped in our city block last night?
Why?
Because it is an ugly, godless world. But we are better than that.
You have heard people say, “Love your neighbors and hate your enemies.” But I tell you to love your enemies and pray for anyone who mistreats you. Then you will be acting like your Father in heaven. He makes the sun rise on both good and bad people. And he sends rain for the ones who do right and for the ones who do wrong. If you love only those people who love you, will God reward you for that? Even tax collectors[a] love their friends. If you greet only your friends, what’s so great about that? Don’t even unbelievers do that? But you must always act like your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:43-48)
Jesus' words, himself a target of unspeakable violence. And what were his words at the pinnacle of the unjust violence wrought against him? "Father, forgive them." Jesus taught the lessons that he would soon live out himself. We say things like, "I know the Bible says to love and forgive, but ..." Yes, there always seems to be a clause for not living the holy life we have been told to live. There is always just cause to hate and seek vengeance There is always just cause for not forgiving. But Jesus says, do it anyway.
As we have received, we are to give out. There are no buts about it. We love as Jesus has loved us. We forgive as we have been forgiven by our Father. We show the same mercy as God has shown to us. No excuses, just do it. This is the difference between the Church and the world. This is the difference between the saved and the lost. This is the difference between the light and the dark. This is the difference. This is why Christians, honest followers of Jesus Christ, do not go around blowing people up. This is why Jesus told Peter to put the sword away. We are not those who live and die by the sword. We are those who love the enemy who would take our life.
If we don't understand this then we do not understand God. If we cannot love in this way then we have not yet tasted of Jesus' love. If we are bent on vengeance instead of being an instrument of healing in a suffering world, then we do not love Jesus. John said it well:
God is love, and anyone who doesn’t love others has never known him. (1 John 4:8)
The world is going to ask why and seek vengeance. We know why, the results of a godless society promoting self-centered agendas. We know why and we are still committed to love as Jesus loved, to give as he gave, to sacrifice as he sacrificed, to forgive as he forgave, because we are his followers. We are instruments of healing in times such as these. Do not allow cursing to stain your healing lips, speak words of comfort and hope to a word lost in this suffering.
An absolute tragic waste of life. Children killed, murdered, before they get to taste life. Parents robed of their joy. Today, lost in a dark place, searching for understanding. But there is no understanding. It is senseless, useless, a tragedy, just plain stupid. Today they have to face the reality of their loss. Their hearts are shattered.
So too are the lives of those injured so severely. Limbs gone. Lives changed forever. Livelihoods destroyed. Families facing financial impossibilities. There is no reason for this deliberate act of hate and violence in Boston. None whatsoever. There is no reason for such a loss as this. But it is the world in which we live.
I read the paper this morning. I see the pictures. And I cry. My heart is broken. I feel I am part of this tragic loss.
However, the Spirit reminds me of other tragedies. Not to take away from the effect this act of violence is having on the world, but do you realize that there were only 3 killed and 130 injured. I say only because in a single day there are far more than 3 people who die in a senseless act of violence in this world. There are far more than 130 people injured as a result of tragic violence.There are countless families who are changed every day in a blink of an eye because someone considered someone else's life less valuable than their own. What about those who died today from salvation? Those stolen and sold into slavery?What about those who were beaten and raped in our city block last night?
Why?
Because it is an ugly, godless world. But we are better than that.
You have heard people say, “Love your neighbors and hate your enemies.” But I tell you to love your enemies and pray for anyone who mistreats you. Then you will be acting like your Father in heaven. He makes the sun rise on both good and bad people. And he sends rain for the ones who do right and for the ones who do wrong. If you love only those people who love you, will God reward you for that? Even tax collectors[a] love their friends. If you greet only your friends, what’s so great about that? Don’t even unbelievers do that? But you must always act like your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:43-48)
Jesus' words, himself a target of unspeakable violence. And what were his words at the pinnacle of the unjust violence wrought against him? "Father, forgive them." Jesus taught the lessons that he would soon live out himself. We say things like, "I know the Bible says to love and forgive, but ..." Yes, there always seems to be a clause for not living the holy life we have been told to live. There is always just cause to hate and seek vengeance There is always just cause for not forgiving. But Jesus says, do it anyway.
As we have received, we are to give out. There are no buts about it. We love as Jesus has loved us. We forgive as we have been forgiven by our Father. We show the same mercy as God has shown to us. No excuses, just do it. This is the difference between the Church and the world. This is the difference between the saved and the lost. This is the difference between the light and the dark. This is the difference. This is why Christians, honest followers of Jesus Christ, do not go around blowing people up. This is why Jesus told Peter to put the sword away. We are not those who live and die by the sword. We are those who love the enemy who would take our life.
If we don't understand this then we do not understand God. If we cannot love in this way then we have not yet tasted of Jesus' love. If we are bent on vengeance instead of being an instrument of healing in a suffering world, then we do not love Jesus. John said it well:
God is love, and anyone who doesn’t love others has never known him. (1 John 4:8)
The world is going to ask why and seek vengeance. We know why, the results of a godless society promoting self-centered agendas. We know why and we are still committed to love as Jesus loved, to give as he gave, to sacrifice as he sacrificed, to forgive as he forgave, because we are his followers. We are instruments of healing in times such as these. Do not allow cursing to stain your healing lips, speak words of comfort and hope to a word lost in this suffering.
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