the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Numbers 6:25-26 ESV
What a wonderful blessing, for the Lord to lift up His countenance upon us and give us peace. To be returned from our rebellion and restored to our place as image bearers of the Almighty. He has truly been gracious to us in doing this thing for us. Let’s rejoice, beloved!
One of the promises that doctors make as part of the Hippocratic Oath is to “do no harm”. And every level of society would do well to abide by this in our lives — to not trade someone else’s harm for our own improved well being, etc. But business goals, personal desires and all kinds of things can create conflict with this relatively low bar of “do no harm”.
I say “relatively low” because we can probably realize that “do no harm to anyone” is slightly lower “do good to everyone” — and we might even realize there is another difference between just “doing good” to someone versus “being a blessing”.
So then, while we [as individual believers] have the opportunity, let us do good to all people [not only being helpful, but also doing that which promotes their spiritual well-being], and especially [be a blessing] to those of the household of faith (born-again believers).
Galatians 6:10 AMP
In our daily lives, in our workplaces, within our families, within the challenges and struggles of any given day, we can probably get real and admit that there are times that we’ve either “done harm” or at least wanted to do harm to others. That person that cut you off in traffic. That person who disagreed with you on social media. That person who opposed you at work. That person who said offe did something that offended you. That opportunity to advance your own prose or goal by manipulating or taking advantage of someone else.
Many might say, “That is just business” or “survival of ther fittest” or many other things to clearly illustrate that their own life goal is not to “do no harm”. In fact, the reality of how often and how easily people choose to do harm to others for personal gain should be easy for our minds to comprehend, because we have done it ourselves. So if we have fallen short of the “reality” of “do no harm” — many would say it is pointless or useless to discuss such lofty ideals as “do good to all” or “be a blessing” many would say that all things that appear as good or blessing are still somehow rooted in an “angle”, a “manipulation”, a “strategy”.
For example, people might see charitable people or organizations who don’t truly believe in or live out the “do no harm” in their lives or business practices — and assume that these are financial maneuverings in order to get themselves into a better tax bracket or to gain influence and positive publicity within the marketplace. Or they might see church people who do all kinds of religious things regularly that conflict with how they treat others — and assume that these are trying to “buy their way into heaven”, etc. And isn’t this what all of us look like when we have our good intentions trying to cover up and hide on the outside our selfish motivations and desires that are hungry on the inside?
Flipping through the channels recently, I heard Andy Stanley talking about the “real” versus the “ideal” when discussing foster children that had never seen a stable home environment. He shared how one in particular said that he didn’t even know that it was possible until he saw it — and then that was the goal he set for himself to provide for his family one day.
I also heard a story shared recently by a branch manager where I work about an opportunity to open a home equity line of credit at low interest to rescue a family that was trapped under almost 100k in high interest 35+% debt. They were paying over $33,000 in interest alone each year and it was crushing them. And until someone showed them a different way, they were slaves to a hard lender that was arguably doing them harm. Now, a new lender comes along, looking to help them improve their situation, not just looking to sign them up for a profitable loan. Things like this can change trajectories for families. I know what Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University did for us once we saw that it was actually possible.
Seeing the ideal in God come in the flesh as a little Jewish baby to dwell amongst us had opened a gate for us to walk through and follow. And in following Him, we can not only easily achieve those low hanging bars that once seemed so high, we can reach for ther brightest star.
Merry Christmas, beloved. Come see the babe born in a manger, Emmanuel, God with us. Amen.
Psalm 16:8: “I know the Lord is always with me.
I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.“
I have been reaching out to coworkers at my old job to wish them a Happy Thanksgiving recently, since I don’t get to speak with them now with as much or as frequency as I once did. And one co-worker was especially encouraged by a family member that had made some notable growth in maturity this year. I look at many of the struggles and challenges that friends and family face with tyrant toddlers, hormonal teens, mid-life crisis suffering 40 year olds, aging parents, etc. and I can’t help but look at how my own life has applied pressure and strain on my parents, my wife, my daughter, my closest friends, my co-workers — in those times where my life has seemingly left the rails and collided into their perfect little world, requiring their attention and help.
Isn’t this what relationships actually look like — being there for one another and weathering the storms together?
And doesn’t this weathering together and making our way through the dormant winters, through the long days plowing and planting in the spring, through the long days tending weeds during the summer, and through the long days of abundant harvest in the autumn — doesn’t it make for a beautiful journey?
I think of the strongest trees, and how they grow a lot more under the soil, establishing a firm foundation before they start making real headway up into the skies. Some of us can’t imagine a tree as big as General Sherman — rising 275 feet into the air, measuring 100 feet at the ground, and weighing an estimated 2.7 million pounds. Did you know that giant sequoia tree seeds are among the tiniest in the tree world? Doesn’t that make you wonder what God might have in store for you or your loved one whose life seems to be a hot mess right now? Isn’t it amazing how God works like that?
This morning, I’m especially grateful that He not only weathers the storms with us, but there is a purpose for us going through the seasons. I’m sure there were strong winds that easily pushed General Sherman around and swayed that tree this way or that way when it was young — but it’s anchor held. It’s foundation was firm. It’s roots ran deep. And those prevailing winds blowing against the tree influenced the growth of every branch, but they did not prevent the branches from growing strong and firm and unmovable over time.
This to me is a great encouragement for my life’s purpose and direction. It doesn’t give me an excuse to just let the wind blow me wherever it pleases — it gives me an assurance that no matter what the day holds that He has proven time and time again that I can trust Him — even in those times where I wasn’t trusting Him, wasn’t seeking Him — even in those times where I was clearly acting in opposition and making myself an enemy of God. It makes me grateful. It establishes that right relationship and attitude that allows me to enter into His presence, humble and in awe of Him.
Do you feel shaken, bent, torn and wearied by the winds of this season? Don’t let shame in self take hold — grab hold of the all sustaining one who promises that in our weaknesses His strength will be made evident!
Do you feel like you should be further along than you are? Don’t worry about what your eyes can see — you don’t know how deep your roots are spreading underneath in order to prepare you for what lies ahead!
Do you feel cold, dormant and still? Spring has not yet sprung — let your body rest like a tree whose sap has returned to its roots for a season of hibernation in order to prepare you for the explosion of new growth that is in store.
Do you feel overwhelmed by so much activity and busyness — do your best at what you can while the work is at hand, but do not worry about tomorrow, there is enough work at hand for today.
Do you know what makes a tree unshakable? Weight. So don’t fear the heaviness in your life — see it as an opportunity to praise the Lord even the greater. Remember, His never-failing promises are greater than our momentary “feelings”. So we can REJOICE!!!
Thank you Lord for allowing us to thank you frequently for your many blessings, your grace, your favor, and your hand upon our every step, our every breath. Thank you for this wild journey through this foreign land on our way home to You. Amen.
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
Psalm 9:1-2 ESV
Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, But a good (encouraging) word makes it glad.
Proverbs 12:25 AMP
Can we agree that some seasons of life are heavier than others? But how much lighter does it become when we have an encouraging word from someone!
During COVID, I lost my job of 9 years unexpectedly, and I have now been working at a new job for several months. I am very thankful to be able to support my family and to be able to use my skills, abilities, training, and experience as a part of a new team. Yesterday, I had someone who used to be a customer at the old job approach me in person and encourage me about the work that I did for them previously.
Admittedly, part of their complimenting me also included noting the many “problematic changes” their company had seen as a customer to my old company (related both to the acquisition and then COVID), but we didn’t dwell in that heaviness of what can happen when long standing organizations are carved up and sold off and a global pandemic hits. In fact, we focused mostly on talking fondly of the other good, hard working, trustworthy people who have either also lost their jobs or are still there.
As I drove the once a week commute home from my new office in a nearby city, I was thinking about how positive and encouraging this conversation had been. I realized that many others who miss the long gone great benefits, company picnic, employee appreciation, awesome bonuses, and supportive management and programs of the past may benefit from a word of encouragement this Thanksgiving week as well. It is too easy to get our self image and happiness wrapped up in our career, our status, our benefits, our compensation, or our perks in life — but the value of those wonderful friends hasn’t diminished even though we don’t talk and interact and help each other daily anymore. So I began reaching out to them individually to encourage them and to wish them a happy Thanksgiving — not because I’m a great person and thought of it on my own — but because someone started the avalanche by encouraging me first.
You, beloved, find your identity in Christ Jesus. And you are precious in His sight. So precious, that He looked past your shortcomings, your sin, your flaws, your weaknesses, because He knows your value and your purpose in His Kingdom Plan — and He went to the cross FOR YOU!
I hope this thought lifts the weight, casts away the heaviness this morning, beloved. If we have been encouraged in any way, let’s take that good, encouraging word out to so many around us who might be overwhelmed with the busyness of holiday preparations that have cast a veil over the true reasons that we celebrate these holidays.
Lord, help us to slow down and appreciate the good and encouraging words and the celebrations of the holidays in spirit and in truth — not just Rushing through the checklist. Help us top know how to help lift the load and to encourage others who might be overwhelmed. Remind us that encouragement comes through truly listening and truly helping even more powerfully than just speaking. Open our eyes to those opportunities to lend helping hands, and open our hearts to seize them ands not squander them. Help us to love, to lighten loads, and see a holiday season overwhelmed with hope, joy, love and the things of your Spirit, Lord. Help us to be part of the avalanche of a good and encouraging report, because have spied out and recognize what is so beautiful and valuable in the people around us. Amen.
Harold J. Ballinger 