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What is valuable?

I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.
Philippians 3:7 NLT
http://bible.com/116/php.3.7.NLT

When we first read this verse alone,  we might think that when Paul says “I once thought these things were valuable” that the “things” he is speaking about are the things of this world. That’s a valid leap of logic when we’ve gained a basic understanding of the types of things that the Bible teaches us. However,  if we look at the context of this passage –

Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved. For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort, though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more! I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault. I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!
Philippians 3:2-11 NLT
http://bible.com/116/php.3.2-11.NLT

We can see that Paul is talking about worthless “things” like the following are, a wrong perspective:
– “pure-blooded citizen of Israel”
– “member of the tribe of Benjamin”
– “human effort”
– “strictest obedience to the Jewish law”
– “zealous”
– “obeyed the law without fault”

And He counts these things as worthless because of what Christ has done. He makes it clear that knowing Christ and having a relationship with Him is really what matters. He points out to us that it isn’t about “measuring up to Christ”, that it isn’t that we must be highly religious to be saved.

He points out that this right perspective is about :

– knowing Christ Jesus as my Lord
– worshipping Him (by walking in) the Spirit of God.
– relying on what Christ has done for us
– putting no confidence in human effort
– becoming righteous through faith
– trusting God’s way of making us right with himself
– experiencing the mighty power (of the Holy Spirit) that raised Him from the dead
– suffering with Him
– sharing in His death

You see, this new perspective is not just human,  outward compliance to the letter of the law. It isn’t just striving to work hard enough for a master to earn something in return. It is a process by which our hope and belief in His promises leads us to an attitude of gratefulness and thankfulness for this amazing gift of grace – and it is in this humble place of receiving the undeserved,  unmerited gift of freedom that we have the opportunity to find love for God – to understand His love for us,  and to respond with a life loving Him in return, a life turned to Him in repentance and walking with Him faithfully because of the power of His Holy Spirit at work in us.

The results may look the same on the outside. Many people can act religious,  focusing on the outward obedience by striving on their own to imitate the walk of a born again Child of God. But if they don’t have His Holy Spirit inside powering their desires and motives,  their striving is worthless and useless because, I would have nothing.

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NLT
http://bible.com/116/1co.13.1-3.NLT

And yes,  if we have this love we will obey His commandments,  not just continue a life in sin. We will repent of our sinful ways, so I’m not saying that this Grace is a license to sin. I’m saying that Jesus set the bar a lot higher than just outward compliance that looks to human eyes the same as true obedience of the heart. God weighs our heart, and we cannot fool Him with silly religious sacrifices when He desires mercy. He set the bar at love – true Godly, righteous love – the very in-dwelling of God’s spirit and nature in our lives that produces the fruit against which there is no law.

“If you love me, obey my commandments.  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.  He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.  No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.  Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live.  When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.  Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”
John 14:15-21 NLT
http://bible.com/116/jhn.14.15-21.NLT

So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you. I’ll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey every regulation in the whole law of Moses. For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace. But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us. For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love. You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? It certainly isn’t God, for he is the one who called you to freedom. This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough! I am trusting the Lord to keep you from believing false teachings. God will judge that person, whoever he is, who has been confusing you. Dear brothers and sisters, if I were still preaching that you must be circumcised—as some say I do—why am I still being persecuted? If I were no longer preaching salvation through the cross of Christ, no one would be offended. I just wish that those troublemakers who want to mutilate you by circumcision would mutilate themselves. For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.
Galatians 5:1-15 NLT
http://bible.com/116/gal.5.1-15.NLT

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.
Galatians 5:16-26 NLT
http://bible.com/116/gal.5.16-26.NLT

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Obscene, foolish, coarse – or thankful?

Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.
Ephesians 5:4 NLT
http://bible.com/116/eph.5.4.NLT

I have had a rebellious nature that ruled my life and controlled me and led me into all kinds of bad decisions and unwanted consequences in my life. If someone told me, “You can’t do that” – an urging deep inside would tempt me to want to do it. It would tell me,  “There’s nothing really wrong with X, it isn’t hurting anyone,  there’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to do it. It isn’t going to hurt you.”

Yes, for many,  this is  a familiar voice. A voice that starts out saying, “It’s okay to do X as long X as it is in moderation – as long as it doesn’t control you” and then continues on with “just one more time” or “just a little more” once it has a foothold in our lives.

And if our prose and direction is all based on ourselves and what might be good or bad for me,  it is easy for us to listen to this voice. It is easy for us to fall into the dangerous trap of moral relativism where our minds can justify all kinds of things based on the situation, because there is no firm foundation in what is true – no firm foundation for what is right and wrong regardless of situation and circumstance. When we make ourselves the center and the focal point of our decisions,  we will be pushed this way and that way by the winds of spiritual influences (both bad and good) as they fight for control, and we will be battered like a small boat among crashing waves of the storms of our circumstances.

But when we decide that we love God, and that we are thankful for His offer of grace – thankful for grace made known to us through His coming in the flesh as Jesus Christ, His death upon the cross, and His resurrection to Heaven – thankful for His blood sacrifice that washes us clean from our sin, and clothes us in His righteousness – this changes or perspective.

It changes or perspective from:

What can I do?

To

What can I do?

And you’ll say, “But there is no difference in the two. They are the same words.” Yes,  they are the same words, but the two sentences couldn’t be any further from each other in their meaning and their message and their intent.

When I say “What can I do?” And I’m focused on myself – when I only see the world as my playground – the question becomes about what I’m allowed to do versus what I’m restricted from doing. The law becomes a curse that is keeping me from the things that I want to do because my life is only about my own desires and the fulfillment of my own life through the pleasures that I can grasp hold off during this short life.

But when my focus is on thankfulness towards God, then the question “What can I do” becomes about loving and serving God and loving and serving others. It starts a journey of discovering the certainty and narrow direction of God’s divine instruction that we would not choose if we were only concerned about ourselves.  It reveals the stumbling block of “freedom in Christ” that reveals the true desires of our hearts. Because if we want to use the promise of grace to cover our sins and continue in them (so that we will not be punished) then we are foolish, and in error,  and we do not really know God or love Him – we are just filling ourselves about who is the Lord of our lives and who it is that we truly serve.

You see, how can we hate the divine instruction of the Word of God,  but say that we love the Word of God that came in the flesh to walk among us as Jesus Christ? How can we decide that it is okay to twist and pervert,  to add and subtract from the Word of God,  so that it fits our own opinions and purposes and selfish desires and tell ourselves that we are walking in light and not stumbling blind in the darkness? Only a liar, only a deceitful heart, only those slippery words sliding off the tongue of a prideful enemy of God – only someone deceived could take that position as they try to lay waste to the firm foundation of the Word of God. Only someone not interested in serving God and seeing God’s Kingdom Come,  His Will being done in their lives – but instead seeking their own way,  their own will.

Haven’t we all fallen guilty of this at times? Isn’t the enemy tricky? Doesn’t He try to twist the Weird of God and use it against us so that we justify our own will and desires over what is right in the eyes of the Lord?

And don’t get me wrong, you cannot earn your way into heaven by trying to earn God’s favor because of your “good works” – because He tells us there is only one that is good, and that is God. But you can say,  “God, come live in my life, lead me along your narrow path, guide me in your ways,  use me for your work. Send me out and go with me. I am grateful for your grace and I want to learn to love you and serve you more each day. Thank you,  Lord. My life is yours.”

And this is a different perspective. This is a perspective of loving and serving others. This is the perspective that comes from belief – not belief in our head about an idea or concept of God or Jesus Christ,  but belief in Jesus Christ,  in the Word of God, in a relationship with a living Christ who commune with us and teaches us and guides us through this gift of the Holy Spirit.

So when it comes to coarse jokes, or cursing, or gossip, or lying, or anything else that we know is not glorifying to God – don’t we want to avoid them and instead demonstrate our thankfulness to God?

But you say, “That will just make others uncomfortable around me if I’m acting self righteous and won’t participate in things like that.” There is a difference between being righteous and being self righteous. Being righteous means that we have put on His righteousness,  undeserved and unmerited,  and that we are thankful and that we walk in a spirit of grattitude for what Christ has done and is doing in our lives. This perspective, one of humility,  does not offend others – in fact, many will recognize their own struggles in your wanting, and striving, and trying to live a better andnote faithful life while not judging others for their own imperfections.

Self righteous look much different than the humble,  gentle,  kind servant that Jesus Christ presented as our example. Self righteous looks like a pointed finger, condemnation,  accusation,  pride – someone feeling comfortable trying to sit in the judgement seat themselves over others. Self righteous pride is what got Satan cast down from heaven with a third of the angels – and he goes about roaring like a lion looking for someone to devour. So we don’t have to bite and tear like wolves or roar and devour like a lion, we are meant to leave the judgement to Him.

So you don’t hear me using the word obedience that much by itself,  because to the lost it is a word that reminds them off the curse of the law because they don’t yet understand the beauty of it. They, areonly thinking oftheir attempts at outward compliance to thelaw that hasalways failed them and been a curse and a burden because of their fallen nature. Instead, I speak of thankfulness and grattitude, because these will overcome the darkness,  they will overcome the hatred of the letter of the law which leads to death – and replace it with a love for the Word of God, a love for God,  a love for the Spirit of the Law. And once we decide to walk in that Spirit, the law is fulfilled by the fruit that it now bears.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.
Galatians 5:22-26 NLT
http://bible.com/116/gal.5.22-26.NLT

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Am I just offering a slice, or the whole?

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Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
Galatians 5:25 NLT
http://bible.com/116/gal.5.25.NLT

How often do we allow God in certain parts or areas of our lives,  but leave Him out of others? Remembering Him during specific times of religious observation and then placing Him back on the shelf as we go about the rest of our life.

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This kind of partial interest in God opens up our lives for all kinds of negative influences over our lives and doesn’t take advantage of the power of the Spirit that could make us Holy and equipped for His use throughout our daily lives. This kind of partial interest in God leads us into empty,  repetitive religious practice with little or no real substance or relationship with God, with little or no change to our hearts and our lives.

But this is not the picture of a follower of Christ – even if it is an accurate depiction of many who participate in religious ceremonies and call themselves Christians because they were once baptized, or once said a prayer, or once called out Lord, Lord. And even those who study diligently and can speak about the Word of God to great depths of theology,  or who perform great works in His name – if they are doing it for their own purposes and glory and honor,  they have already received their reward and they will realize in the end that He never knew them.

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Can we begin to see how narrow the gate is that leads to life and that it involves a full and living relationship with our Savior? Can we see the dangers of taking the broad path of the way the world thinks is right but that leads to destruction? Can we see the value in clinging to the Lord and letting the Holy Spirit guide us and lead us in all areas of our lives?

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And I don’t say this to shame you over your past, but to encourage you to press in,  to draw close to God – because when we straw close to Him, He draws close to us. We should understand the perspective and attitude of Hope that turns or eyes toward the Lord for His guidance –

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.
James 4:7-10 NLT
http://bible.com/116/jas.4.7-10.NLT

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And this humility is where we find Hope and where our eyes are trained to look to Him as our guide and our comforter – and it leads us to a life of faithfulness when we learn to remain in this stance,  this position of reliance upon God in all areas of our lives. And a faithful life walking in the Spirit with Him leads to all kinds of fruit and blessings in our lives as we become a blessing and a refreshing renewal to those around us,  because we know love – true Godly love that pours out in service even onto those who are undeserving or who might consider themselves our enemies or enemies of God. And this is where the wonder of God can be seen, in that peace that men can’t understand,  in that love that is given with no expectation of repayment,  in that amazing grace that is extended even though it isn’t deserved or earned.

Do we realize that we are missing out on opportunities to share that love when we only let Him into parts of our lives? Are we compartmentalizing our lives and missing out on so many blessings – and in turn withholding blessings from others for their lives as well?

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Lord, help us to open our lives fully to be filled and led and overflowing with the annointing of your Holy Spirit. Don’t allow us to be satisfied or complacent or lukewarm in religious knowledge about you – but help us press in and draw close so that we know you and you know us. Share together in our lives and walk with us, today. Help us,  you are our hope,  you are the way, you are the life that we seek – tale our life, our whole life,  and male it yours. Amen.

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What is growing in our garden?

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Galatians 5:22-23 NLT
http://bible.com/116/gal.5.22-23.NLT

We are blessed with the opportunity to praise and worship the Lord  – not just on Sunday, not just during our morning devotional,  but with our every breath,  every decision,  every action,  as we live a fruitful life.

And if we are living our lives in wonderment and awe over this amazing gift of grace extended to us, and if our lives are filled with His character traits – love,  joy,  peace,  patience,  kindness, goodness,  faithfulness,  and self-control – not only will our lives be fresh and healing and nourishing to others, but they will plant seeds of his Holy Spirit in the lives of others. The world is hungry for these things in their own lives,  and once they learn the Good News that Christ is available to fill their lives as well – once they see and cannot deny His touch upon our lives, they will seek Him in their lives as well.

So let’s not lose our childlike wonderment over God who came in the flesh as a baby in a lowly manger. Let’s not lose out amazement over Good who brings the free gift of unmerited and undeserved grace to each of us who believe. Let’s not forget the shocking price that Jesus Christ paid upon the cross to save us from our sins. Let’s be overwhelmed by the power that raised Him from the tomb to life,  to heaven,  to sit on the right hand of the Father.

Let’s maintain that perspective of wide  eyed expectancy for His return, and make ready for our eyeball destination,  seeing past our temporary circumstances and trials and struggles. Let’s walk, pray, praise and worship Him continually in Spirit and in Truth.

Have a blessed day and be a blessing to others today,  friend. Shine the light into the darkness that is not overcome.

hballingerLeave a comment

Love, Love, Love

It’s very easy for us to become critical of each other, noticing and pointing out flaws, maybe even talking about others behind their backs. But this is not love, nor is it letting Christ shine forth through our lives.

For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.
Galatians 5:14-15 NLT
http://bible.com/116/gal.5.14-15.NLT

Even if we see someone who is trapped in sin that the Word of God promises that they will NOT inherit the Kingdom of God and that will lead them to hell – do you realize that we are given warnings about not falling into the trap of spiritual pride when dealing with these situations? That we are meant to be acting in love towards one another with hopes not just to catch and expose imperfections,  but to help others overcome and be freed from the sin that binds them.

When we stop look for good in people and start examining them for faults,  we are bound to find them. And when we recognize sin in the lives of others, it is usually because we are familiar with that evil spirit ourselves. Whether we are looking in love, forgiveness,  and mercy, hoping to serve our neighbor – or whether we are looking with condemnation, accusation, and judgement,  hoping to catch our neighbor – it’s an important difference.

There is one that waits for the opportunity to devour people because of their sin – and his wolves are very good at biting and tearing at one another, weakening the prey and preparing them for death, slaughter, and destruction.  But there is another who heals,  who offers forgiveness, who reconciles us to be more like Himself – and His followers are very good at loving one another, and building each other up, and sharing one another’s burdens. And the difference between the two comes down to perspective. One’s followers look down on the others in pride,  while the followers of Christ look at others equally and in unity. These followers of Christ see neighbors and friends in need of the very same unmerited and undeserved grace that their own walk of faith is materializing and bearing witness to in their life of serving and loving others.

So we have to ask ourselves,  are we motivated by love towards others or do we enjoy the pride of being critical toward others? Are we aiming our examining eye inward at ourselves,  using the Word of God a surgical instrument or are we using it as a sword to slay our brothers and sisters? Do we know how to target the real enemy who is not flesh and blood, or have we comforted our thirst with the blood of the innocent instead of tasting of the living waters that fill our lives to overflowing?

It is easy for me to point out warnings and scriptures that identify those lost and trapped in sin and headed to destruction – and if all that I offer is a warning, is a statement of the impending danger, and I don’t offer the Good News of Jesus Christ that leads to Hope,  Faith,  and Love – can I say that I’ve shared Truth or just that I’ve lifted my stone in the air?

Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 NLT
http://bible.com/116/1co.6.9-10.NLT

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19-21 NLT
http://bible.com/116/gal.5.19-21.NLT

Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.
Revelation 22:15 NLT
http://bible.com/116/rev.22.15.NLT

You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. Don’t participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.
Ephesians 5:5-19 NLT
http://bible.com/116/eph.5.5-19.NLT

For the law was not intended for people who do what is right. It is for people who are lawless and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders. The law is for people who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders, liars, promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching that comes from the glorious Good News entrusted to me by our blessed God.
1 Timothy 1:9-11 NLT
http://bible.com/116/1ti.1.9-11.NLT

Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.
Hebrews 12:14 NLT
http://bible.com/116/heb.12.14.NLT

A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever.
John 8:35 NLT
http://bible.com/116/jhn.8.35.NLT

And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out. It’s better to enter the Kingdom of God with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,  ‘where the maggots never die and the fire never goes out.’
Mark 9:47-48 NLT
http://bible.com/116/mrk.9.47-48.NLT

Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” He replied, “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail.  When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’  Then you will say, ‘But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’  And he will reply, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you come from. Get away from me, all you who do evil.’
Luke 13:23-27 NLT
http://bible.com/116/luk.13.23-27.NLT

For again I say, when righteous people turn away from their righteous behavior and turn to evil, they will die.
Ezekiel 33:18 NLT
http://bible.com/116/ezk.33.18.NLT

No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too.”
Luke 13:5 NLT
http://bible.com/116/luk.13.5.NLT

Yes,  and these warnings are true because the Word of God does not lie.

I cry out warnings in love each day. I’m sowing the seed of this Good News that Jesus Christ can come into your life, and change you. But many are too wrapped up in the ways of this world and don’t really want their eyes to be opened yet. I know,  because that used to be me.

So I just keep sharing truth and hope and faith and love – trusting that those that are His will hear His voice before it is too late.

And some are lost and need hope (a turn to God – change of attitude).

And some are babes and need faith (a focus and dedication and ongoing growth in His will).

And some are among leaven and need love (a remembrance of His undeserved, unmerited mercy and grace as opposed to spiritual pride).

And many are headed for destruction and need truth (it is truly a narrow path with ditches on both sides – in misunderstood grace as a license to sin – and in misunderstood works as a stairway to heaven).

When the crowds came to John for baptism, he said, “You brood of snakes! Who warned you to flee God’s coming wrath? Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.”
Luke 3:7-9 NLT
http://bible.com/116/luk.3.7-9.NLT

But if wicked people turn from their wickedness and do what is just and right, they will live.
Ezekiel 33:19 NLT
http://bible.com/116/ezk.33.19.NLT

2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV
If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

1 John 1:9 ESV
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Acts 3:19 ESV
Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out,

Ezekiel 18:21-23 ESV
But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live. Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?

Acts 17:30 ESV
The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,

Proverbs 28:13 ESV
Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

James 4:8-10 ESV
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Acts 2:38 ESV
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

hballingerLeave a comment

Do we know what’s important?

For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.
Galatians 5:6 NLT
http://bible.com/116/gal.5.6.NLT

What is important?

Faith expressing itself in love.

In fact,  the Word of God tells us that the greatest of faith, hope, and love is love. I would say that clearly demonstrates that love is VERY important.

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13 ESV
http://bible.com/59/1co.13.13.ESV

And after speaking about all of the spiritual gifts and the types of members of the body of Christ,  the Word of God tells us of a more excellent way as it transitions from 1 Corinthians 12 to 1 Corinthians 13.

But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.
1 Corinthians 12:31 ESV
http://bible.com/59/1co.12.31.ESV

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 ESV
http://bible.com/59/1co.13.1-3.ESV

And most of us don’t even know what love really looks like because the world tries so hard to sell us on lesser idols to set our eyes upon. The world wants to trick us into setting for anything less than the Holy Spirit of God. Can you understand how the enemies of God would be quite satisfied for us to never see past empty religion and grasp hill of a relationship with God, a spiritual bond with our Lord and Savior?

God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
John 4:24 ESV
http://bible.com/59/jhn.4.24.ESV

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
1 John 4:7-8 ESV
http://bible.com/59/1jn.4.7-8.ESV

But do we even know what real love looks like?

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1 John 4:9-10 ESV
http://bible.com/59/1jn.4.9-10.ESV

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never ends.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 ESV
http://bible.com/59/1co.13.4-8.ESV

And how do we know that we are His? How do we know if His Holy Spirit lives in us? How do we know if we are alive in Christ?

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.  By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.
1 John 4:11-13 ESV
http://bible.com/59/1jn.4.11-13.ESV

So it is faith that brings us to this point that we might receive this salvation and know God and turn our lives to follow Him –

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Hebrews 11:6 ESV
http://bible.com/59/heb.11.6.ESV

And it is by love that we know which master it is that we serve. For there are those who serve religion and idols that fall short of the glory of God instead of worshipping God in Truth and Spirit.

“Not everyone who  says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will  enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’  And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Matthew 7:21-23 ESV
http://bible.com/59/mat.7.21-23.ESV

We should ask ourselves,  what does the fruit of my life look like if we want to be sure that we know who it is that we serve.

So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.  A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
Matthew 7:17-20 ESV
http://bible.com/59/mat.7.17-20.ESV

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:34-35 ESV
http://bible.com/59/jhn.13.34-35.ESV

And the fruit of the Holy Spirit is very distinguishable and recognizable –

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23 ESV
http://bible.com/59/gal.5.22-23.ESV

This is why I emphasize the important difference between knowing ABOUT Jesus Christ and KNOWING Jesus Christ. This is not a mental exercise, it is not a religious exercise,  but it is a renewing of our heart and minds that comes when faith expresses itself in love.

Yes,  I would say that is quite important. I will tell you that your answer to that question has eternal consequences. Isn’t it clear to us now through the Word of God what is important?

Shouldn’t we ask ourselves what is important to us? Don’t we need to be honest with ourselves and fall at His feet, asking Him to have mercy on us and pray that He will teach us to love like, He loves – to fill our lives with his Holy Spirit – to awaken us from our sleep so that we might live and grow and be fruitful?

Go.
Live.
Be fruitful.
See His Love multiply.
This is the Good News of Jesus Christ.

hballingerLeave a comment

A man gives birth to children? How?

Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives.
Galatians 4:19 NLT
http://bible.com/116/gal.4.19.NLT

Paul was a man, but he talks to the Galatians about having labor pains. And he says that he’s having them again for his children. As Mandee and I read this verse for our devotional this morning,  she asked,  “Who is this talking?” And I told her this was Paul in his letter to the Galatians. Her next question was, we’re these his words to them or was he repeating Jesus’s words? She immediately realized, “At first, I was clearly reading this too literally. He is a man,  he can’t have labor pains.”

We then continued digging into what this verse was saying as I prodded her with questions about what it might be saying to us. And Mandee quickly Her that he is now feeling pain because they are not growing and maturing with Christ evident in their lives as Paul wished and she stressed the importance of spiritual growth as opposed to relying only upon a once upon a time yes or no acceptance of salvation.

So I asked,  why do you think that this is the second time that he is feeling pain? And she grasped onto the fact that he had first felt pain for them when they were lost and we’re not saved. Man,  I have to tell you,  it is so amazing to see my wife maturing in the Word of God,  learning to examine the divine instruction handed to us in the Scriptures and to rightly divide the Word of God,  learning to listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd and discern truth for herself.

You see, I have been blessed with the opportunity to have labor pains for my wife. My life was touched and I was called shortly before she was led to the Lord. And my very heart cried out for her soul because she was not yet seeking the Lord for a short while. But I did not judge her, I did not condemn her. I did not beat her up with scripture. I loved her and prayed for her,  and I made it my focus to be so loving and dedicated to both the Lord and her that she could not deny that my life had been touched. And some time later, she came to know the Lord.

And with the calling upon my life as is upon every Christian man to lead our family in our spiritual growth, I get to continue hoping and caring for both hers and, Mia’s spiritual growth. And it is so beautiful to see it in action, so much so, that it helps me see past their imperfections with a loving heart – not because I’m satisfied with where we are today,  but because I can see and know that He’s working on us,  that we are in the potter’s hands. So even when I see an imperfection, a visible crack on the outside of the cup,  a fault that causes me pain remembering that we are fallen and are not yet a perfect reflection of Christ – I am also encouraged to know that the Holy Spirit is clearly at work on the inside, because the cup is becoming more and more beautiful each day as my wife is drawn closer to the Lord – as our family grows and learns and loves together.

And we see and understand the message of spiritual maturity that Paul is tali about in this verse. It isn’t about knowing the scripture more and being able to review it or talk about it – but it’s about allowing Christ to live through us and in us. It’s not about our perfect attendance record on Sundays at a religious service,  it’s about His perfect attendance in our lives, touching our lives and the lives of those around us as we learn to care for and love others and have genuine concern over their salvation and the state of their spiritual walk with the Lord.

Do you think that Paul would have “labor pains” over people’s salvation if they were just a number to him? If they were just another spiritual notch in his belt of baptisms or raised hands or people who came to the altar to accept Christ? If he saw them as trophies or crowns to be earned for his own honor and glory? No, he had labor passions for these “children” of his because he loved them each. He cared for them as individual souls who have value and purpose and meaning in their lives.

And isn’t this the lesson of spiritual maturity? Not that we learn to practice religion better,  but that we learn to love and care about those lost and in need of salvation and those who are not yet living faithfully and mature in Christ. Not that we learn to exalt and honor one another with empty kisses, but that we learn to love each other enough to encourage each other to press on towards a spiritual maturity that sees past self and loves God and loves one another not just in our words but in deeds and actions.

God is so good. We are not meant to be a child forever. We are each meant to grow. We are each meant to go forth and sow the seed of Jesus Christ into the world. We are each meant to care and love for those around us in need. We are each meant to share the Good News of, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior through the testimony of our lives.

Are you not yet a Child of God, do you not yet know Him as your personal Savior? This isn’t a question of whether you know ABOUT Him,  but do you KNOW Him? If not, then I encourage you to pray with me –

Lord, I have heard your name before, and I have heard about you before, but I’m afraid that I don’t know you. Please,  Lord Jesus Christ, I ask you to come into my life and fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I might know how to love and serve God more by loving and serving others. I repent of my old,  sinful ways,  and ask for your forgiveness and your power to lead me not into temptation but deliver me from evil. I pray that your Kingdom will be come and your will be done in my life from this day forward – for your honor and glory,  I surrender my life to you. I pray this in your Holy Name,  Amen.

If you know Him,  but are still walking like a child today when you should by now be shortfall mature and teaching and leading and caring for your your brothers and sisters – may you remember the mountain of evidence that the enemy has stacked up against you and the price that was paid to cast that mountain into the sea,  to cast your many sins as far as the east is from the west,  and may you know the grattitude of the whore at the feet of Christ Jesus.

One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat.  When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!” Then Jesus answered his thoughts. “Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.” “Go ahead, Teacher,” Simon replied. Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other.  But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?” Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.” “That’s right,” Jesus said. Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair.  You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet.  You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume. “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.”  Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” The men at the table said among themselves, “Who is this man, that he goes around forgiving sins?” And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Luke 7:36-50 NLT
http://bible.com/116/luk.7.36-50.NLT

Are you sowing seed, Christian? Is your life producing children of God? Are you even feeling any labor pains yet? Are you filled with the Holy Spirit today, or will your life prove barren and fruitless?

I don’t ask these things to shame you,  friend, unless we need to know shame and be humbled to repentance together. I have confidence that you arewalking upright,  friend,  and I only hope to encourage you to find value and purpose in each breath of life,  in every “now” that have available.

May His healing hand drive away any bitterness or unforgiven or sin of any kind that was keeping you separated from the love that He has to be poured out upon your life and spilled out onto those around you. May you know spiritual maturity,  and may these birth pains become familiar to you as well.

hballingerLeave a comment

Waiting Eagerly

Five years ago today, we were eagerly awaiting the arrival of our daughter. We knew that she was on her c way,  we knew that the time was drawing close. We had even caught shadowed glimpses of what she would look like in the scans and x-rays provided by the doctors. But we hadn’t yet held her with our own hands or seen her with our own eyes.

But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us. For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.
Galatians 5:5-6 NLT
http://bible.com/116/gal.5.5-6.NLT

And 5 years ago today,  little Mia was born.  And we became parents. We didn’t receive this new title and position of parent as an obligation,  but we received it with grattitude, because our blessing was clear and evident. And we only had an idea of the challenges and wonders and blessings and trials that would come as part of being parents, as we eagerly awaited the exciting new journey ahead of us.

As a parent,  life is changed and rearranged. All kinds of things take on new meaning and perspective. And the same is true of us who live by the Spirit. And living by the Spirit is different than trying to fulfill the law under our own power.

You see, someone can decide to try and follow the law by human effort, just as Abraham tried to fulfill Gods promise by sleeping with Hagar to bring forth a child,  but this was not God’s promise, this was not God’s will. This was not the work of the power of God,  but it was the striving of man. But when the time was right, God fulfilled His promise and through His power fulfilled it exactly as promised,  something that Abraham’s attempts on his own fell short of.

How often do we get caught up in trying to make it happen ourselves? How often do we want to rush things along so that we can feel responsible,  so that we can take credit,  so that we can feel like we made  a difference, instead of trusting Him and giving Him all of the credit?

I wonder how much of our lives are, spent in our own pride and vanity,  striving against the wind, versus how much of our life is faith expressing itself in love? I wonder how few might understand the difference? How few might find that narrow gate of faith in Jesus Christ that is the one true way? How many will be tricked and trapped and snared by the enemy instead?

We stand upon that great scale – but not just a scale of justice weighing our works – for our works will be tried by fire and only the things done with a pure heart will not be burned away – only those things done as faith expressing itself in love will survive the purifying fires. Those things done out of religious obligation, or out of manipulation in an attempt to gain favor or honor for oneself – they will be burned away. Because it is our heart that is weighed, so that no man might boast in His own works.

You see, the things weighed will be those things that Christ did through us when we were simply willing and equipped to be used by the Holy Spirit to do God’s will. It won’t be our own works of filthy rags,  but it will be His annointing that has been poured out through us into the lives of others.

And that is why we are eagerly awaiting to receive by faith the righteousness promised to us. Because if we think that we are already righteous,  have we closed our eyes on the work He is still doing and still has yet to complete in our reconciliation to be more like our teacher and instead thought much of ourselves even before our time has come? Have we fallen like the one third who saw their own beauty and forgot how they reflected the image of Christ and foolishly became prideful of themselves? Or have we kept our eyes set firmly upon Christ,  knowing that we are in comparison lowly sinners, so little different from the lost of this world other than our knowledge and faith in our Lord and Savior who is reconciling us to be more like Himself.

Yes, there is a perspective that is right before the Lord, and it is not one of pride,  but one of humility,  of mercy,  of servitude towards God and towards our fellow man. And this attitude is the result of grattitude,  of faith,  of trust in the undeserved gift of grace that He offers us. And we receive it not our of our empty religious practice or striving on our own, but we receive it through our faith producing love. That is the only worthy and blameless offering that we can lay upon the altar that will not be consumed by the refining fire, and it only comes through a relationship with Him,  through the Holy Spirit alive and moving and active in our lives.

So we wait eagerly,  those who rest our confidence in the Lord,  and who have abandoned any foolish confidence in ourselves.

hballingerLeave a comment

The Uncompromising face Opposition

I don’t seek to set myself in opposition to others,  my goal is to be a peacemaker – but I’m not going to compromise truth to please people – I’m not going to compromise on what the Word of God says, even when this puts me in opposition to others.

Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.
Galatians 1:10 NLT
http://bible.com/116/gal.1.10.NLT

And this doesn’t mean that I pick one type of sinning that is visible and easy to point out in someone else’s life and use it as a soap box to point fingers at them – seeking the approval of other people who also like pointing their fingers at the visible sin of others. It doesn’t mean that I pick up stones and ready myself to throw them at others, hoping to shed their blood because it is clearly evident in my own heart that the Lord has not accepted my own offering as worthy, as blameless, as a righteous sacrifice. No, I’m not too be the one slaughtering my brothers and sisters.

But I’m also not meant to be the one standing by and watching them as they are lead to the slaughter. Even when those who are not yet ready to receive or accept the truth, those who might react towards the truth with opposition – it is our purpose to sow the seed of the Good News of the gospel of Jesus Christ into their lives. And there is resistance from the enemy who does not want to see people raised to life, chains broken,  captives freed.

How many of us are satisfied with practicing religion as long as we don’t have to do our day anything that might make ourselves or others “uncomfortable”? How many of us are willing to talk about God in those circles  where it is comfortable and easy and “appropriate” – but not quite so comfortable when it might result in a response of opposition or disapproval?

Whose approval are we more interested in? Are we satisfied to hear their cries at judgement asking, “Why didn’t you tell me, why didn’t you help me?” Or is it even worse than that – are we the ones who are separated and led off into destruction who did not offer a drink of water to those who were thirsty and in need of the living waters that could save them?  Are we the ones who saw the danger coming and who did not sound the alarm to warn our brothers and sisters? Are we not our brother’s keeper?

Are we Christ’s servant? What are we doing to serve? What is our sacrifice?

Do not think that I am encouraging you to a life of works in order to earn favor with God,  friend. We will not earn favor through our works. But I am asking how we might have confidence that we are His servant if we are doing so very little to actually serve Him? Isn’t a lifesaver on a boat just a decoration until it is put into use? Can it truly claim to have made a difference if it goes down with the ship never having left it’s beautiful mounting place on the wall? Is it better that it remain beautifully mounted and clean on the wall for passengers to take pictures alongside of it, or for it to be cast into the dirty,  raging waters to save a life? Which is its purpose in life – to look the part or to serve the need?

So I ask,  do you cling to the idea of Christ,  to the idea of forgiveness, to the idea of grace – or do you cling to Christ Himself,  following in His footsteps, living as a faithful disciple? Do you just look the part in those religious circles but don’t live it out in the very circles where you could make a difference? Are you just playing Jesus,  but you have no real interest in being like Him? Are you good at talking about love,  but not so good at walking in love?

Yes, that’s me at times. At times I’m weary and I’m broken. Sometimes I need rest. Sometimes I need a little more love. And I find new strength in Christ. But we are not meant to remain in rest when life gets us down. We are meant to be lifted up and sent on mission into this world.

So today,  what do you need in order to get out there? What needs to be corrected for you to know His approval and to not concern yourself with the approval of others? Are you surrendered to His design,  His will,  His plan and purpose for your life?

hballingerLeave a comment

Waiting for rescue

image

The past weeks have been especially challenging. Sickness,  vehicles breaking down, the extra stress work of coordinating for my daughter’s birthday and the holidays, things at work seem to have been falling apart at a greater rate, multiple weekends in a row of late night maintenance work scheduled, more people hurting around us in deeper and more challenging ways. And the impact is cumulative,  almost like a snowball gathering up stream as it swells into an avalanche.

May God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
Galatians 1:3-5 NLT
http://bible.com/116/gal.1.3-5.NLT

image

There is a camp who would tell me,  just think positively and you will see positive results. And I understand the dangers in letting our trials bring us down into the dumps emotionally, but instead of a concept of my own attitude having the power to change either my circumstances of my perspective,  I think that it’s safer if we let our trials draw us closer to the Lord and if we find peace and comfort in handing it over to Him. Yes, there is only a subtle difference between the two,  but it is an important one.

image

There is a difference between the blessings of grace and peace and the trappings of self confidence and pride. And it comes down to who we trust to have the strength to bring us through the trials. For those of us who have relied for so long on our own strength,  or own gifts, our own power to bring us through this life and it’s many challenges – sometimes it can be hard to hand it over to God instead of striving to be strong enough on our own.

And especially if we have historically thought of ourselves as a strong and confident person, when we start facing challenges and trials beyond our own control, it can either result in our watching our dreams be shattered as we continue to struggle on our own against the raging ride – or we can trust in the Lord and instead of resisting and insisting on our dreams and plans,  we can learn to be content in what He has in store for us.

Due to sickness, I’ve missed work,  I’ve had to cancel ministry plans, I’ve let down my coworkers, I’ve let down those counting on me for assistance, I’ve let down my family, and I’ve struggled to make it through the basics of each of these past several days as my body has just been too weak for the demands of this world. I don’t know what those consequences might be, I don’t know what opportunities might have been lost, I don’t know the weight being carried by others while I cannot bear it myself. In fact, it might be prideful for me to think that anyone would experience any noticeable extra burden due to my weakness, due to my absence. Maybe I need to be humbled by realizing how very unimportant and replaceable I am in each of those areas that my life touches.

You see,  I don’t yet understand the why behind my sickness. I don’t yet understand if there is a lesson to be learned immediately or if I will one day have my eyes opened to see the beauty of the whys behind all of the struggles and trials of this life. But I can know His grace and find peace and comfort in knowing that He is in control.

You see, I’m off the camp that believes that God is more interested in changing me than changing my circumstances. This is a different camp than those who believe that God is there to service their requests when they call upon His name. You see, one group is interested in crying out to a master that will give them what they want, while the other group is interested in crying out to a master that will teach them what He wants. And shouldn’t we wonder whether or not these two might be very different masters?

I’m so thankful for His grace,  for His peace, that He is rescuing us from this evil world. The tricks and traps of the enemy lie all around us. The enemy strides around, waiting for an opportunity to devour us. But we cannot be snatched from our Father’s hand. And what are the trials of this life in comparison to what awaits us on the other side of eternity?

Praise the Lord,  He is worthy of praise and honor and glory.

NOTE: Please extend some grace in reading my journal entry today. I’m still battling a cold and taking medicine. Today’s entry was probably a lot more of my own thoughts and concerns as opposed to message from the Holy Spirit & Word of God. Love y’all.