“When I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not fear.” (Psalm 56:3-4)
Trust is a decision. It is one of two responses to a dangerous situation that disturbs our equilibrium. The other response is fear.
Fear is our normal response to threat or danger. We describe fear as a primal emotion. It is simply how we are “wired.” This emotion, when it kicks in, trumps almost everything else. It tends to take over. Then once the adrenalin surge dissipates, the will gradually regains its control.
This does not mean we absolutely lose control. Fear may be the strongest influencer when it’s at its operating peak, but the human will still works. Decisions can still be made in the midst of fear. In fact, it is possible to deny fear its full impact, as in a combat situation when soldiers fight an enemy in spite of (or sometimes because of) their fear.
This is why trust is a decision, and it is a two-fold decision, first, to reject fear, and second, to choose trust. We can choose our response to danger or threat, but we have to will to do so.
God is trustworthy. When we are afraid, we can choose to trust in Him. Trust is a decision.
Lord, Help us to make the decision even now that when fear begins to encroach the peace we have in You, we will choose to trust in You. Amen.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Opportunity
“Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve.” (Luke 22:3)
Puzzled people have tried to explain away Judas’ betrayal of Jesus. He has been portrayed as a righteous Zealot, upset that Jesus refused to destroy the Roman occupation forces. He has been portrayed as taking an action designed to force Jesus into a position where He had to act decisively against the Romans, only to be stricken with remorse when Jesus was crucified. Judas has even been portrayed as a victim, chosen by Jesus because He knew Judas would betray Him and, therefore, was an innocent victim of a divine play.
The fact is: We have no clear-cut knowledge of why Judas did what he did.
The closest we can get to knowing is from Luke’s statement: “Satan entered Judas.” Some would, again, call Judas a victim. They would say it is like being drugged or drunk: Judas was not the responsible party. But that doesn’t hold water either.
Judas walked with Jesus for three years. He saw the miracles. He heard the teachings. He fellowshipped with the Messiah, the Son of God. That means that Jesus, in choosing Judas, gave him three full years of opportunity for commitment. Eventually, whatever his reason or motivation, Judas turned away from Jesus, and THAT is when Satan entered Judas. Judas was not a victim. He was a perpetrator.
The Lord gives opportunity to everyone to turn to Him, to commit to Him. He holds each of us accountable for our decisions and the actions that follow. Choosing to commit to Him is the life path.
Lord, Choosing to follow You in faith and commitment has brought the greatest joy we can know. We thank You for Your grace. Amen.
Puzzled people have tried to explain away Judas’ betrayal of Jesus. He has been portrayed as a righteous Zealot, upset that Jesus refused to destroy the Roman occupation forces. He has been portrayed as taking an action designed to force Jesus into a position where He had to act decisively against the Romans, only to be stricken with remorse when Jesus was crucified. Judas has even been portrayed as a victim, chosen by Jesus because He knew Judas would betray Him and, therefore, was an innocent victim of a divine play.
The fact is: We have no clear-cut knowledge of why Judas did what he did.
The closest we can get to knowing is from Luke’s statement: “Satan entered Judas.” Some would, again, call Judas a victim. They would say it is like being drugged or drunk: Judas was not the responsible party. But that doesn’t hold water either.
Judas walked with Jesus for three years. He saw the miracles. He heard the teachings. He fellowshipped with the Messiah, the Son of God. That means that Jesus, in choosing Judas, gave him three full years of opportunity for commitment. Eventually, whatever his reason or motivation, Judas turned away from Jesus, and THAT is when Satan entered Judas. Judas was not a victim. He was a perpetrator.
The Lord gives opportunity to everyone to turn to Him, to commit to Him. He holds each of us accountable for our decisions and the actions that follow. Choosing to commit to Him is the life path.
Lord, Choosing to follow You in faith and commitment has brought the greatest joy we can know. We thank You for Your grace. Amen.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Alert
“Be on your guard, so that your minds are not dulled from carousing, drunkenness, and worries of life, or that day will come on you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come on all who live on the face of the whole earth. But be alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:34-36)
In the days leading to His crucifixion Jesus taught His disciples what was to come in the future. This discussion began with a remark from the disciples about the beauty of the stones of the temple. Jesus replied that not one stone would be left on another. The temple would be destroyed, as would Jerusalem itself. Jesus prophesied two events in that teaching session: 1) the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, and 2) His second coming.
At the end of the session Jesus told His disciples to be on their guard and be alert, with regard to these future events. He did not want the disciples to be caught off guard by them and wonder what was happening and why. He also wanted them to have the strength to escape the events and the strength to stand before Him in a day of accountability.
The future, the end times, the second coming – these have long been of interest to believers. We find them fascinating. Something in us wants to know what is coming and when. Part of our motivation is the need to deal with the “why” question: why is this happening? Jesus doesn’t want us to be surprised by anything that happens. He wants us not to panic, but to simply understand. He does not want us at an extreme, that is, paranoid about it all, but He does want us to be alert and prepared for it to happen at any time. This does not suggest we drop everything, go sit on a hillside, and wait for it to happen. It only suggests that we be aware of what is going on around us and be alert, while we continue our advance into the world with the gospel.
Lord, We thank You that we, in fact, have a future, and that that future is with You. We look forward to it. Amen.
In the days leading to His crucifixion Jesus taught His disciples what was to come in the future. This discussion began with a remark from the disciples about the beauty of the stones of the temple. Jesus replied that not one stone would be left on another. The temple would be destroyed, as would Jerusalem itself. Jesus prophesied two events in that teaching session: 1) the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, and 2) His second coming.
At the end of the session Jesus told His disciples to be on their guard and be alert, with regard to these future events. He did not want the disciples to be caught off guard by them and wonder what was happening and why. He also wanted them to have the strength to escape the events and the strength to stand before Him in a day of accountability.
The future, the end times, the second coming – these have long been of interest to believers. We find them fascinating. Something in us wants to know what is coming and when. Part of our motivation is the need to deal with the “why” question: why is this happening? Jesus doesn’t want us to be surprised by anything that happens. He wants us not to panic, but to simply understand. He does not want us at an extreme, that is, paranoid about it all, but He does want us to be alert and prepared for it to happen at any time. This does not suggest we drop everything, go sit on a hillside, and wait for it to happen. It only suggests that we be aware of what is going on around us and be alert, while we continue our advance into the world with the gospel.
Lord, We thank You that we, in fact, have a future, and that that future is with You. We look forward to it. Amen.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Directional Decisions
“For it was the Holy Spirit’s decision – and ours – to put no greater burden on you than these necessary things.” (Acts 15:28)
All decisions are direction-changing, but some decisions have greater impact on direction.
No decision has had greater impact on the direction of the church as a whole than the one made at the Jerusalem Conference in Acts 15.
Pharisees who became believers brought their thinking and influence to the life of the church. They influenced theology toward the view that the full observance of the Law was a requirement for Christians. Their movement began in Jerusalem and spread soon to Antioch. Paul and Barnabas had just returned from the first missionary journey, however, and they entered into “serious debate” with these men. The question ended up in Jerusalem in a full conference of the church.
Paul and Barnabas gave a report of the great strides the gospel made during their journey, especially among the Gentiles. The Pharisee party members responded that the Gentiles must be circumcised and told to keep the Law. After much debate Peter stood and spoke against trying to force Gentile believers to be circumcised and keep the Law, on the basis that salvation is by grace through faith. Barnabas and Paul spoke again, and then James, the current leader of the Jerusalem church stood and agreed with Paul, Barnabas, and Peter, and suggested that they simply make Gentile believers aware of certain practices they felt would bring peace. Thus the decision was made, and the understanding the church had about this decision is that it came first from the Holy Spirit, followed by their affirmation.
This decision began the momentum for moving the church away from Judaism as its primary practice and toward the practice of freedom in Christ. It marked a change in direction that picked up greater and greater momentum as time went by.
What major decisions in your life have been direction-changing?
We need to first hear the Holy Spirit as we wrangle with issues that call for a decision, whether personal or corporate, and then affirm what we believe He is saying.
Lord, May all our decisions each day come from the leadership of Your Spirit. Amen.
All decisions are direction-changing, but some decisions have greater impact on direction.
No decision has had greater impact on the direction of the church as a whole than the one made at the Jerusalem Conference in Acts 15.
Pharisees who became believers brought their thinking and influence to the life of the church. They influenced theology toward the view that the full observance of the Law was a requirement for Christians. Their movement began in Jerusalem and spread soon to Antioch. Paul and Barnabas had just returned from the first missionary journey, however, and they entered into “serious debate” with these men. The question ended up in Jerusalem in a full conference of the church.
Paul and Barnabas gave a report of the great strides the gospel made during their journey, especially among the Gentiles. The Pharisee party members responded that the Gentiles must be circumcised and told to keep the Law. After much debate Peter stood and spoke against trying to force Gentile believers to be circumcised and keep the Law, on the basis that salvation is by grace through faith. Barnabas and Paul spoke again, and then James, the current leader of the Jerusalem church stood and agreed with Paul, Barnabas, and Peter, and suggested that they simply make Gentile believers aware of certain practices they felt would bring peace. Thus the decision was made, and the understanding the church had about this decision is that it came first from the Holy Spirit, followed by their affirmation.
This decision began the momentum for moving the church away from Judaism as its primary practice and toward the practice of freedom in Christ. It marked a change in direction that picked up greater and greater momentum as time went by.
What major decisions in your life have been direction-changing?
We need to first hear the Holy Spirit as we wrangle with issues that call for a decision, whether personal or corporate, and then affirm what we believe He is saying.
Lord, May all our decisions each day come from the leadership of Your Spirit. Amen.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Anyplace Anytime
“He went by stages from the Negev to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tend had formerly been, to the site where he had built the altar. And Abram worshiped the Lord there.” (Genesis 13:3-4)
After his arrival in Canaan, Abram built an altar and worshiped God there, between the villages of Bethel and Ai. A famine drove him and those with him to Egypt where the “Sarah-Pharoah” debacle occurred, and from there Abram and company returned to Canaan to the place where he had first built an altar between Bethel and Ai. There Abram worshiped the Lord. Later, when he moved to the Oaks of Mamre near Hebron, he built and altar there also and worshiped the Lord.
We learn something very important about worship from Abram. We can worship God wherever we are, or wherever we go. He built an altar, presumably for sacrifice, wherever he went to express his worship. This suggests that the place of worship is not necessarily the most critical aspect of worship, although we should all have a place where we can personally worship the Lord. Place is relevant but not critical. It also suggests to us that the form of worship is not its most critical aspect either, though there should be some form to it. Form also is relevant but not critical.
The purest worship is often the simplest.
Lord, May our daily worship before You not be encumbered by questions of place and form or anything else. Help us instead to come before You in simplicity to worship You from the heart, for Your glory. Amen.
After his arrival in Canaan, Abram built an altar and worshiped God there, between the villages of Bethel and Ai. A famine drove him and those with him to Egypt where the “Sarah-Pharoah” debacle occurred, and from there Abram and company returned to Canaan to the place where he had first built an altar between Bethel and Ai. There Abram worshiped the Lord. Later, when he moved to the Oaks of Mamre near Hebron, he built and altar there also and worshiped the Lord.
We learn something very important about worship from Abram. We can worship God wherever we are, or wherever we go. He built an altar, presumably for sacrifice, wherever he went to express his worship. This suggests that the place of worship is not necessarily the most critical aspect of worship, although we should all have a place where we can personally worship the Lord. Place is relevant but not critical. It also suggests to us that the form of worship is not its most critical aspect either, though there should be some form to it. Form also is relevant but not critical.
The purest worship is often the simplest.
Lord, May our daily worship before You not be encumbered by questions of place and form or anything else. Help us instead to come before You in simplicity to worship You from the heart, for Your glory. Amen.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Faith or Insanity?
“So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was 75 years old when he left Haran.” (Genesis 12:4)
Abram was born in the city of Ur of the Chaldees, which today is in the nation of Iraq. His father Terah led their entire family to migrate to Haran which is part of Turkey today. While in Haran the Lord spoke to Abram and called him to leave his land, his relatives, and his father’s house and go to a land He would show him, with the promise that God would make Abram a great nation.
“So Abram went.” This is a great statement of faith. It was an amazing faith.
If this were to happen today, however, many might call it something else. They might call it a “mental breakdown” or a “schizoid break with reality.” Some would see it as emotional instability. They might say things like, “Abram, are you crazy? You think God actually spoke to you and told you to leave your only real hope for prosperity and go wandering around like a vagabond in a place you’ve never even seen? And God is somehow going to make you a great nation? Don’t you realize that you’re jeopardizing the safety of your family? This is sheer insanity!”
What makes this faith and not insanity, and why was it faith rather than insanity?
We could always argue from the viewpoint of current results and show that the promises of God were fulfilled for Abram, thus confirming faith, but faith after the fact is then fact. Faith is only faith before the fact, not after.
The nature of faith is believing some thing or some one without seeing everything. Faith is a personal response of belief to a partial picture or promise. Abram believed in his mind and heart he had been in the presence of God, and that God spoke to him clearly. Faith is taking a risk that what you experience with God through His word in your personal walk with Him is truth and reality that calls for the action of obedience.
What made this faith and not insanity is the relationship, which was characterized by trust and love. Those who challenge faith itself simply deny its validity, claiming that it has no basis in fact or reality. Those who champion faith experience its reality through personal relationship with the God who created us.
Lord, We recognize that we walk by faith, not by sight, and we do so because we trust You and love You. Amen.
Abram was born in the city of Ur of the Chaldees, which today is in the nation of Iraq. His father Terah led their entire family to migrate to Haran which is part of Turkey today. While in Haran the Lord spoke to Abram and called him to leave his land, his relatives, and his father’s house and go to a land He would show him, with the promise that God would make Abram a great nation.
“So Abram went.” This is a great statement of faith. It was an amazing faith.
If this were to happen today, however, many might call it something else. They might call it a “mental breakdown” or a “schizoid break with reality.” Some would see it as emotional instability. They might say things like, “Abram, are you crazy? You think God actually spoke to you and told you to leave your only real hope for prosperity and go wandering around like a vagabond in a place you’ve never even seen? And God is somehow going to make you a great nation? Don’t you realize that you’re jeopardizing the safety of your family? This is sheer insanity!”
What makes this faith and not insanity, and why was it faith rather than insanity?
We could always argue from the viewpoint of current results and show that the promises of God were fulfilled for Abram, thus confirming faith, but faith after the fact is then fact. Faith is only faith before the fact, not after.
The nature of faith is believing some thing or some one without seeing everything. Faith is a personal response of belief to a partial picture or promise. Abram believed in his mind and heart he had been in the presence of God, and that God spoke to him clearly. Faith is taking a risk that what you experience with God through His word in your personal walk with Him is truth and reality that calls for the action of obedience.
What made this faith and not insanity is the relationship, which was characterized by trust and love. Those who challenge faith itself simply deny its validity, claiming that it has no basis in fact or reality. Those who champion faith experience its reality through personal relationship with the God who created us.
Lord, We recognize that we walk by faith, not by sight, and we do so because we trust You and love You. Amen.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Word Power
“The Lord said, ‘If, as one people all having the same language, they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan will be impossible for them.’” (Genesis 11:6)
At one time there was one universal language everyone used. We don’t know what the language was, but we do know that a significant group of people settled in what was called “the Shinar valley,” (Babylon, Iraq today), and these folks began to build a tower. Their intent was to build a tower to the sky. Their understanding at that time was that the sky was the abode of God, so they determined to build their own way to get there. Having everyone speak the same language made construction much simpler and easier.
From God’s viewpoint, everyone speaking the same language created a dangerous situation for them spiritually. It created a pride, the intent of which was to exalt man to the position and place of God. That’s what the tower of Babel represented – man’s pride. That led to an action from God to confuse the language of man, so that they all spoke a different language. Now, we have to study other languages if we want to communicate with people of different cultures.
God recognized (in His statement) an inherent power that exists in communication. When people speak the same language, they have a greater capacity, a more powerful potential to create, to build, to achieve. When that capability is unredeemed, it has the greater potential to create evil. When it is redeemed by the power of God, however, and energized by His Spirit, it has the capability for being used by the Lord to help build His kingdom.
Lord, May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight. May we communicate today in ways that honor You and build Your kingdom. Amen.
At one time there was one universal language everyone used. We don’t know what the language was, but we do know that a significant group of people settled in what was called “the Shinar valley,” (Babylon, Iraq today), and these folks began to build a tower. Their intent was to build a tower to the sky. Their understanding at that time was that the sky was the abode of God, so they determined to build their own way to get there. Having everyone speak the same language made construction much simpler and easier.
From God’s viewpoint, everyone speaking the same language created a dangerous situation for them spiritually. It created a pride, the intent of which was to exalt man to the position and place of God. That’s what the tower of Babel represented – man’s pride. That led to an action from God to confuse the language of man, so that they all spoke a different language. Now, we have to study other languages if we want to communicate with people of different cultures.
God recognized (in His statement) an inherent power that exists in communication. When people speak the same language, they have a greater capacity, a more powerful potential to create, to build, to achieve. When that capability is unredeemed, it has the greater potential to create evil. When it is redeemed by the power of God, however, and energized by His Spirit, it has the capability for being used by the Lord to help build His kingdom.
Lord, May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight. May we communicate today in ways that honor You and build Your kingdom. Amen.
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