Hope in God
Today is Monday, and it’s a beautiful day out today. Let the week begin! But I have an oppressive enemy who wants to bring distress to my soul. He finds some way to cause me to doubt daily where God is. He derails me. He wants to cast me down and toss me around. Satan is an agitator. He wants darkness to flood my soul because he is dark. It happens most days. It takes practically nothing to put me into this spiral.
I don’t think I’m alone. In fact, I know I’m not. Fortunately, one of the writers of the Bible was like me, and he penned his way out of oppression in 5 minutes or less. Want to know what he did? Let’s look at the passage as a whole first, then look at it phrase by phrase.
“I will say unto God my rock, why hast thou forgotten me? Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God? Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” (Psa. 42:9-11)
“I will say unto God my rock — Whatever comes out of his mouth next, he sure knows who he’s talking to! Start with acknowledging anything about God you love as you address Him.
Why hast thou forgotten me?— Wow. At least he’s honest with God.
Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? — He gets his mental/emotional bearings. Why am I so down? He knows it’s due to the oppression (distress and pressure) of the enemy. Ah. Yes, we do have an enemy of our soul. Identify him.
As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?— He fully processes what’s happening in his derailed soul. His enemy is turning him into a practical atheist… one who says or acts like there is no God. This obviously can’t go on!
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.”— He takes himself in hand and reminds himself of God. There’s no reason to be cast down and unsettled inside. He encourages himself to hope in God and looks ahead to brighter days of praise.
David knew how to encourage himself in God (1 Sam. 30:6), and that’s how he did it. We can do it to. Let’s start the habit today. Let’s memorize this passage. And this is just part of what we need to do to combat depression. You might benefit from my book Ditch Depression Devotional. It’s available on Amazon.
Jody
Notice the Sonshine
Have you seen a beautiful sunrise lately? Whenever I do, I feel like I’m in the midst of unspeakable majesty. And in a way, I am. Besides that it is God’s creation faithfully rising to usher in the day, it is also a type of Jesus Christ. (For more on that, see my previous post.) I get this from comparing scripture with scripture.
Notice: “Their (creation) line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.” (Psa. 19:4-5) In fact, the sun is one of the pieces of creation that so obviously speaks of Christ—seen by everyone—that anyone who dies without having trusted Christ will have no excuse for not knowing about Him (see Rom 1:18-21).
Now, back to the awesomeness of that sunrise. Our Psalm passage says it “is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber.” Do you realize that elsewhere in the Bible, Jesus is referred to as the bridegroom, and we, the church, are his bride?
That the sun pictures the Son is probably most obvious here: “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings.” (Mal 4:2)
I keep getting away from that beautiful sunrise. Let’s ponder that. When the sun comes up, we can turn the lights off in the house. It provides our light and encourages us to get on with our day. A little later, the cat moves to the south window to soak up the warmth of the sun. Its light, warmth and mental/emotional/physical healing powers are a giant lovingkindness from God. He wants you and me to get that. Do you realize that His lovingkindnesses for us are a thing of the morning and of the day—not of the night? Call me crazy, but look.
Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust. (Psa. 143:8a)
It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night. (Psa. 92:1-2)
Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. (Psa. 42:8)
In this day and age, and in previous days and ages, the sun has been there with healing and warmth in its wings as a giant lovingkindness from God. Many cultures, present and past, recognize the wonder of the sun, and many worship sun gods. They need to hear and receive the truth of the Son of God.
We enjoy our sun-filled days. But there’s another day coming when warmth and sunshine will not be granted. So don’t take it (or Jesus) for granted now.
Here we go. It’s called “the day of the Lord” or “that day” in the Bible. It’s a horrific picture of judgment. It’s the other side of Jesus we haven’t seen. Here is the most complete reference to it in the Bible. Please notice as you read… it’s a different kind of day than has ever been experienced here—and notice the difference in the sun:
“Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt: And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames. Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.” (Isa. 13:6-13)
It’s the second coming of Jesus. This time not as a savior (pictured by our sun), but as a judge. No more sun/son. Opportunity for grace and lovingkindness over.
To close out today, “He saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor 6:2)
Today is the day of salvation. While you see the sun, there’s still time to meet the Son. Repent of your willful ignorance today and accept Him and what He did for you on the cross. Read your Bible to learn more about it. Start with John 3.
Jody
Step into the Sonshine
The brilliance of God is seen in the types and figures found in the Bible. There are too many to study, but just take a subset of the types and figures seen in creation.
But first, I completely understand that types and figures are not spoken of in most of Christendom. You won’t hear of types in most churches, Bible colleges or Christian radio. I know. I’ve sat through my share of them all, and most messages focus on the single dimension of the verse at hand.
To get to types and figures, you have to compare scripture with scripture. Then you see a third dimension to the Bible, which has likely been missing from your Christian understanding to this point. The only type I ever heard of in my first 20 years as a Christian was that Egypt is a type of the world.
But I digress. I was talking about the brilliance of God seen in types and figures, to start with, in creation, beginning with the sun. It’s a picture of the Son. That one is probably the most obvious of all types. If you read your Bible with that little glimmer of understanding, you’ll see some verses in a new light.
First, when Jesus said “I am the light of the world” in John 8:12, what light do you think he was referring to? A flashlight? Start comparing verses. “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings” (Mal 4:2) Jesus, the Son of God, is called the Sun of Righteousness here. It’s not a misprint! It’s obvious.
Consider things about the sun. It rises. It erases darkness. From earth’s view, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Does any of this remind you of Jesus? Let’s go back to comparing verses:
Isa 60:1-3 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. (2) For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. (3) And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Rev. 2:28 And I will give him the morning star.
That morning star. What is it? Jesus, the Sun/Son of God. “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star” (Rev. 22:16).
Oh, but wait. Isn’t there a connection somewhere with Satan as a morning star? In Isa. 14:12, he is called Lucifer, which means light bearer or morning star. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. (2 Cor. 11:14) But read again the verse above. Jesus said, “I am…the bright and morning star.” So we have the true bright and morning star, and then there’s Satan the deceiver who wants people to follow him.
But back to the brightness of Christ. When He returns, it will be through the Eastern gate in Jerusalem. And when we’re with Him in heaven, “The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.” (Isa. 60:19-20)
Right now, the sun represents the Son. But someday, the Son will be the actual sun. Do you see the brilliance of God yet?
Jody
Follow the Best Heart
Perhaps the most common piece of advice given to young people when they are on the edge of choosing a job or career is to follow their heart—meaning, “What do you want and feel like doing? Do that.”
I believe that advice misses the mark for believers. Its outcome is highlighted in Ecclesiastes. Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. (Ecc.11:9)
Does part B of that verse seem a little like cold water thrown on “follow your heart?” Consider the idea of living with eternity in mind. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” (Heb. 9:27)
Yes, that also pours cold water on contemporary youthful thinking. But let’s continue looking at the voice of spiritual reason. While He made each of us with certain abilities and aptitudes, let’s remember that as believers, He didn’t give us those for our personal fulfillment. They are for His glory. He has gifted us for the edifying of all. God is our creator and in Him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28).
We all have the free choice to follow our heart, but let’s remember that when we face God at the end of our lives, the evaluation will not be made on how closely we followed our heart. In fact, His opinion of our heart isn’t positive. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9)
Knowing that I’m going to face God, and knowing what He thinks of this idea of following my heart, it begs the question, what should I follow instead? What should I tell young people as they are making life decisions?
Here’s an idea. Let’s look at ourselves as God does. We are sheep in need of guidance. Fortunately, He is a shepherd. And not just any shepherd. The Good Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep. He cares what we do. In fact, He has a master plan for where we need to be. He says, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27) Read John 10. The whole chapter is about this.
Wouldn’t it be radical if we told young people trying to decide what to do with their lives to seek the Shepherd’s heart for what He wants? That’s what’s going to matter at the end of our lives—how well we fulfilled that. Be the voice to young people that leads them to these higher realms. Here are some words of advice to offer:
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (James 1:5)
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Prov. 3:5-6)
Pray with young people for God’s wisdom and discernment for them. Counsel them to seek God’s heart. Tell them that the end of their life matters, so start working on it now.
Jody
The Low Bar of Authenticity
If there is one character quality that is held above all in Christendom today, it’s “being authentic.” It’s the ultimate achievement conveyed by some pastors, Sunday school teachers and small-group leaders. The world, it is believed, is looking for authentic believers.
On the surface, that sounds OK. But in what context are folks revered to be authentic? I’ll tell you. It’s when they express fear, weakness and doubt. That’s when others in the group sigh in wonder at the authenticity expressed that they may have been afraid to share themselves. Because, after all, everyone relates to fear, weakness and doubt. Once someone in the group goes there, everyone relaxes. They aren’t alone.
To me, that sounds like a group doing an 880-yard run, and someone feels tired and stops at the 250-yard marker. Everyone else joins that person, and they all sit down on the track and discuss how difficult it is go 880 yards.
What is wrong with this picture? Being authentic is hardly a worthy aspiration for followers of Christ. What if Jesus had decided to “be authentic” and sit out that whole dying on the cross thing? After all, it was uncomfortable, stressful, painful and totally unfair.
Being authentic is code for being in the flesh. And they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (Rom 8:8) Being authentic is saying, “This race is hard. I can’t finish.” And in an authentic-focused group, everyone else confesses that they can’t finish either, and a discussion of the difficulty follows.
Here’s the better scenario. Someone in the group sees the finish line, is in spiritual shape and can encourage the others to get up and keep going based on the strength of the Spirit and faith in the promises of God.
That goal of authenticity stops short of the ultimate goal. In an authentic-focused group, a spiritually victorious person will likely be spurned, because others prefer to live in their authentic mire and not have to listen to someone who thinks they have the answers.
We do actually have answers, you know? If you are that person in the group who isn’t struggling because you’ve learned how to walk with God and you are headed for the finish line, don’t be discouraged. Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. (Heb. 12:1b) Let God use you to get others back up on their feet and headed in the right direction.
You will face those who don’t want to hear Bible answers. It’s just the time we’re living in. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. (2Tim 4:3)
If you’re one of those authentic-focused itching-ears kind of people, it’s not too late to wake up from your spiritual stupor and ask God to put a spiritual mentor in your life.
Here is a goal to aspire to: Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. (1 Cor. 16:13) Find a group or an individual who can help get you there.
Tell me what you think.
Jody
Give God Credit
I think I know what spiritual success looks like. It is knowing what God says and doing it. It’s not making stupid decisions completely contrary to sound reason. It’s not letting anything get a hold on my judgment, whether that be habits, desires or choices.
That sounds pretty clear, doesn’t it? So, since I think I know all that, I have to confess that when I see a believer live contrary to all that, I struggle with my thoughts towards him/her. I don’t keep my verse for the year, which is Phil 4:8 to think on whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy. OK, I confess. I judge them. And after that, I ignore them.
Are you like me? Are there some brothers or sisters in Christ you’ve written off as hopeless after watching their bad choices, decisions and actions?
Wow. Not for the believer I’m judging, but for me and whoever relates to me. If we want to be a spiritual success, there are two perspectives we need to grasp:
First, Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. (Rom. 14:4) Give God credit. He can and will do anything for His children. One of His names is the Good Shepherd who leads His sheep. And He’s good at it. God can do anything. He can and will move heaven and earth to hold up His children. He’s done it for me. There was a time when I was one of those people I judge. I have a testimony that God held me up. He delivered me. He will do it for the believer I’m writing off.
Second, rather than judge this oblivious, weak and falling brother or sister, God tells me to warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. (1 Thes. 5:14) That is love, and that is God’s supreme command. Love Him and love others—not in thought, but in deed and in truth. Love in action.
I have to ask who the real loser is. My unloving attitude towards those I have my eagle eye on shows that now I am the one who needs a rescue from God.
Here’s a benediction for us all, the “judgees” and the judgers (who recognize the error of their way). Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. (Jude 1:24)
Jody
Mental Health Issues
What is mental illness? I checked with Mayo Clinic… “Mental illness refers to a wide range of mental health conditions — disorders that affect your mood, thinking and behavior. Examples of mental illness include depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders and addictive behaviors.”
Is it something we self-diagnose, or does it require a doctor to make the pronouncement?
I can save everyone some money and just state it. According to that definition, we are all mentally ill at least some of the time. Join the crowd. Don’t add to it by getting a decree from a doctor, which leaves you feeling damaged and doomed to live out the rest of your life with this ball and chain around your brain.
There’s so much to say about this, I hardly know where to start. But I have written a book about it, Ditch Depression Devotional….” While it’s available on Amazon, I can offer you the first few chapters here to get you started. Hopefully it will help set you on a path of hope and overcoming.
But for here, I suggest mind/mental transformation through renewal. You need a complete renovation of your mind. This won’t come from a pill, but from an exercise of the will. Do not consult women’s magazine articles, Dr. Phil or your next door neighbor.
Let’s exercise our faith muscles, starting with this: According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: (2 Pet. 1:3)
Do you believe that? He is the complete mental health hospital, with the prescriptions in His word, the Bible. And for the first renewal prescription, get a dose of this:
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Rom. 12:2a)
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” (Eph. 4:22-24)
If you will just take a few minutes to read those verses again and think about them, you’ll start to be enlightened. Ask God to show you what it means to renew your mind. Ask Him to show you other verses you can hang on to and put your hope in.
Pray this prayer, first spoken by David. “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. (Psa. 51:10a)
Ask God to make His promises true for you. Like this one… But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isa. 40:30-31)
Don’t you feel better already? Just know that God knows you are weak and that you need His strength. He is waiting for you to come to the end of your abilities so you will come to your senses and start tapping into His abilities. If you have mental health issues right now, it might be to get you to this point.
Jody
Whatsoever Things are Lovely
Time to confess that I’m not doing such a swift job of rallying behind my verse for the year. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Phil 4:8)
In the past week, the conversation has come up twice regarding what it means to think on things that are lovely. I had two thoughts on what it means. First, wouldn’t you say that lovely is a visual term? A beautiful mountain scene is lovely. I could daydream about that for awhile. After all, God made mountains and peaceful lakes with beautiful flowers along with soaring birds and puffy clouds. If I saw a photo, or better, a real live scene like that, I’d say it’s lovely. Here, I’ve included a lovely view. Let’s think about that.
But my second thought is probably more in line with what it probably really means to think on lovely things.
The root of lovely is love. If I love someone, won’t I think lovely thoughts about them? Jesus is the best example. He expressed words of love because He had a heart of love. He had lovely thoughts toward others that we might not. Remember, for of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh. (Luke 6:45)
What do I mean? Remember this scene? And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me. (Luke 22:31-34)
I see loveliness in what Jesus said that obviously came from thoughts and a heart of loveliness. He knew Peter was going to deny him. What kind of thoughts would I have had in that situation? Knowing that Peter wasn’t such a faithful friend, willing to give up on me, I’d have had critical thoughts. At a minimum. Jesus used His energy not to criticize and condemn, but to pray for Peter and then to expect and express better things of him in the future. Wow. I see a glimpse of what it means to think on things that are lovely instead of the natural thoughts that might pop up when “an issue” arises.
Let’s look at another time Jesus thought on “whatsoever things are lovely.”
How about when he was hanging on the cross, having done nothing wrong, and people were mocking him? Lovely thoughts? Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34a)
Again, what energy Jesus had left in Him while he was hanging on the cross, he used to pray and expect better things ahead….who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross. (Heb. 12:2)
So, how do we have lovely thoughts when the circumstances aren’t lovely? In both of these instances, Jesus looked up and prayed prayers of love, expecting better things ahead. He demonstrated a dose of While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Cor. 4:18)
He looked at the bigger picture, and the bigger picture is lovely, because God is in control. Nothing is outside His watchful care and ability to handle. Dear Lord, help us translate this into lovely thoughts this week when not-so-lovely circumstances threaten to take our minds down a God-forsaken path. You are there, and that’s lovely.
Jody
You are a Light
When I grew up, we lived near a grocery store that was close enough to walk to, so it was pretty common to run over there and buy something on a whim. One Sunday early afternoon, around age 12 or 13, while wandering the grocery store aisles, my eyes met a neighbor boy a few years older than me dressed up in church clothes. It was apparent where he had just been. I didn’t go to church and didn’t know the Lord, but just looking at him, my young heart was pricked. Convicted. Guilty. He innocently stood for something I didn’t have, just by being at the store dressed the part. I didn’t even know any Bible truth that I may have rejected, but I sure knew I didn’t measure up to something. The impression he left was so powerful, I clearly remember it now, decades later.
I thought of that incident when I read the following verses: “Therefore seeing we have this ministry (ministers of the New Testament, 2 Cor. 3:6), as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” (2 Cor. 4:1-2)
How does that relate, you wonder?
→…by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. That word manifestation means “action that embodies.” My actions that embody the truth affects the conscience of others. Read that sentence again with that understanding. The quiet testimony of some piece of my life that unsaved people happen to see may prick their conscience, just like that boy dressed up in his church clothes at the grocery store. To this day, when I stop at the store on the way home from church, I’m aware that I’m dressed differently than everyone else, and I’m aware that I’m representing Christ visually—because of my experience as a youngster.
→The middle part of the passage above says, But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully. I notice that these actions… have renounced…not walking…nor handling, are present tense. Paul assumes we are already living the correct way. This isn’t presented as a command about how to walk. It is stating how we are already walking. And here I want to give the Spirit of God credit. When He comes into our life, He changes us from the inside out (2 Cor. 5:17). He works within us both to will and to do of His good pleasure. Therefore, while we walk around with our changed lives, we embody the truth, and people are watching and getting convicted. What I’m trying to say is, just by being surrendered, obedient Christians, we are a testimony. We are presently commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
I don’t even have an admonition to end with. Praise God He has made us little lights that shine for Him everywhere we go. What people do with that light… the next two verses talk about that (2 Cor. 4:3-4). You might want to look at those and tell me what you think.
Jody
In His Presence is Fullness of Joy
I came across my new favorite verse last week. I have that framed as a picture sitting on a table at home, and I have put it to music. So I plan to remember it for a long time. Let’s rehearse it: Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. (Ps 16:11)
I just finished reading the book I Dared to Call Him Father by Bilquis Sheikh. It’s the story of a Muslim woman in Pakistan who turned to Christ and how her life changed (drawing persecution from her culture). From the moment she accepted Christ, she experienced God’s unmistakable presence in her life, and she was full of joy. I could testify to that when I accepted Christ. But in her life, after salvation, whenever she would knowingly sin, as in telling a little white lie, God’s discernable presence and that joy would leave her. She recognized right away that God’s sweet fellowship was ruptured by her sin, and she would pray outloud and ask Him to forgive her for the specific sin, submitting to Him again, and that presence and joy would return.
For some people, this dance with spiritual reality would die down, but not with her. Though it’s not the main theme of her book, God’s noticeable presence is a sub-theme. Her life, because she wrote about it, is a “movie for my mind” of my new favorite verse.
When David said in Ps. 16:11, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life,” I don’t think he meant anything terribly mystical. God does show the path of life in His word. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Ps. 119:105 I just need to be sure I’m sitting in front of it and looking for His direction, with plans to follow it.
The next part is a bit more mystical. “In Thy presence is fullness of joy.” I would tend to think that as long as I’m reading my Bible and praying, I’m in His presence. But why can’t we experience His presence all day long—along with the resulting joy? I might not have had that thought except for the author of the book. All I can say is that when we walk in fellowship with God, keeping short accounts and not allowing any sin to nest in our lives, we will know what it is to live in His presence by His Spirit, and we will have joy. Perhaps when we are missing joy, we should check our lives. It would be a good daily habit to develop.
What kind of sins could bubble up that would keep us and God at arm’s length? Holding grudges, being self-centered, greedy, angry, prayerless, oblivious to God, etc. We live in an age of all that.
We’re living in the Laodicean church age (Rev. 3:14-22). That in itself is a study, but if we read that and see ourselves, we know where to start in our confession to God. In summary, the typical Christian in this age is neither cold nor hot, but lukewarm. We think we are rich and have need of nothing and don’t realize that we are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. Obviously, living in God’s presence isn’t part of that. It’s not common in our age because we are spiritually unconscious. Pretty sad.
I encourage you to think on Ps. 16:11 and take the challenge with me of living in His presence.
Jody
What is Too Hard for the Lord?
Let’s work on our faith muscles today. Is something troubling you that you think has escaped God’s notice or that He is incapable of understanding or handling? Let’s look at some of His interests and accomplishments:
Nothing going on inside your body or the bodies of those you love is too difficult for Him. “And the Lord said unto Abraham, wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? Is any thing too hard for the LORD? (Gen 18:13-14)
Nothing that goes on in nature is outside His power to control: Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: (Jer. 32:17)
No person, army or leader can free-wheel outside of God’s ability to handle them, which includes saving or destroying them: Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? (Jer. 32:27)
No hateful, obnoxious, toxic person is beyond hope or outside of God’s ability to reach: “Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” (Phil. 3:21)
No basic need is too impossible for God to meet: When Moses doubted God’s promise to provide meat for the wandering Israelites in the wilderness, the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD’S hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.” (Num. 11:23)
No mighty, armed enemy is too strong for God to take down: “And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.” (1Sam. 14:6)
No hardened sinner is too hopeless for God to save: “When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” (Matt. 19:25-26)
Can you imagine anything else that might possibly be too difficult for God? Whatever more you can or can’t think of, give God glory, and acknowledge His ability to handle those things, too. “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” (Eph. 3:20-21)
And finally, if God can do anything, guess who else can. You can. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Phil. 4:13)
Have faith in God to do whatever you’re thinking of—as long as it’s according to His will. (Don’t be praying that a brand new Corvette shows up in your driveway, in other words.) “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Heb. 11:6)
Jody
Shine the Light
Before age 15 when I attended Kansas City Youth for Christ and heard and responded to the gospel, I had no purpose. To this day, I can’t imagine what hope anyone has who doesn’t know Christ. After I received Him as my savior, I suddenly had purpose, and it’s a purpose that I hold to this day… to get to know Him more and more. I’m passionate about that.
But in my personal Bible study this week, I see very clearly what God’s purpose is for me since receiving Him, and I was shocked to discover it, because it’s something I never figured out before.
Let me start where a lot of true believers would start.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Eph. 2:8-9) Whenever I ask someone how they know they will go to heaven, they often recite how they have tried to do good things all their life. And then I know they really don’t know Jesus because of the verses above. Salvation is by grace through faith and not of works.
But after salvation, good works are everything—and they are God purpose for us. It begins with the verse right after Eph. 2:8-9:
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Eph 2:10) Read that verse again and notice why we were created in Christ Jesus. Good works.
If that isn’t clear enough, Paul explained to Titus why Jesus gave himself for us: Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Titus 2:14) He wants a purified people who are zealous of good works.
And as one more stab at God’s purpose for believers, Paul told Timothy something similar about being purified from iniquity through Christ. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. (2 Tim 2:19-21)
As for my purpose, knowing God better is a great thing, but God’s purpose for me goes beyond knowing Him. It extends to living a pure life as His vessel to do good works. What are those good works? That’s something for further study and prayer. For now, it’s time to align myself with His purpose for me. The new cry of my heart to God needs to be a little longer. I can’t stop at, “God, I want to know you better.” Here’s the new prayer: “God, I want to know you better, and I want to be used by you today to do something good as you have planned for me. Show me what it is.”
Jody
The Bible is a Hologram
Not just one dimensional, the Bible is a hologram. This might be the first time you’ve ever considered that. But much of the Old Testament is a picture of Christ coming in the New Testament. I can safely say that because after Jesus rose from the dead, in a disguised way, He walked along the road to Emmaus with two disciples who were discussing the fact that Jesus had just died while they thought He’d live forever. Jesus, still disguised, beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:27)
When it says “beginning at Moses,” He was referring to the first five books of that Bible, which Moses wrote. Christ is pictured in the first five books of the Bible. He said so Himself. Where is He pictured? I would have liked to have been on that road and heard the passages Jesus pointed out about Himself.
But there’s one we know for sure, because Jesus said what it was in John 6:31-35 when He said, “I am the bread of life.” Read that passage, and it’s in the context of God providing manna from heaven to the Israelites as they wandered in the wilderness after escaping Egypt.
Since we know that, we can go back to Exodus 16 and look at that story with our hologram glasses on. Let’s go on that journey together.
Jesus as manna in Exodus
And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger. Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; (Ex. 16:3-4a) The supply wasn’t there until the desperate need.
At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God. (Ex 16:12b) You don’t know God until you know Jesus.
And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating. (Ex 16:18)
And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed hot, it melted. (Ex 16:21)
Application of Jesus as the manna
They didn’t get this bread from heaven until they realized that if they didn’t have bread from God, they were going to die. Jesus is the bread of life, but He is of no use to those who don’t recognize that unless they believe and receive Him, they will die. For the Israelites, this realization came on the 15th day of the second month after they departed from Egypt (Ex. 16:1).
Do you have a date when you recognized that without Jesus, you would die? Until you believe and receive Jesus as your savior, you don’t know God. He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? (Joh 14:9b)
Jesus completely satisfies. He is not too much to handle. He’s not too little to meet the need. No matter the size of your capacity to receive Him, He fits the space.
There is only a certain time available to partake of Christ. If you wait too long, your opportunity will be gone.
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (2Cor. 6:2b)
Jody
Walk in the Light and Avoid Dark Depression
Sitting at a restaurant Sunday after church, someone in our group who knew I just released my latest book Ditch Depression Devotional: 31 Days to Biblical Hope, Peace and Emotional Balance, said he knows a lot of people who are always depressed. “What’s up with that?” he asked. “Why are people so easily depressed?”
I asked him if the people he was referring to know Jesus as their personal savior. Yes. They are saved people.
I answered that it’s a matter of focus. Rather than dwell on our sorry circumstances, and we all have some, a better focus is on the lovingkindnesses God shows every day. There’s a whole section on that topic in my book, and it’s an aspect of God I have studied and documented for more than 30 years.
I truly believe this verse: Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. (Psa. 63:3) Life seems good at times, and not so good at other times. But above that, His lovingkindness is better than life—all the time.
To focus on that is one of many ways to apply God’s command to be sober minded. As Christians, we aren’t to allow our minds to carry us away into the dark imaginations that pop into our heads. We have to take ourselves in hand and guide our minds toward the light.
How and why should we do that? Because we are different. If we know Jesus as savior, we are not the worldlings we used to be. Yesterday I found a passage that gives a blueprint for sober thinking. It’s something to meditate on today.
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. (1Thes. 5:4-8)
I honestly have no idea how those who don’t know Jesus, who by nature walk in the dark, make it through a single day without being depressed. They have no genuine hope. No one can tell me any differently. I didn’t know Jesus until age 15, and before then, I had zero hope or purpose. I would not be here if I had not seen the light of Jesus and received the salvation He offers.
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12) It’s simple. Follow Him and you won’t walk in darkness.
You also will find it difficult to walk in the light if those you surround yourself with live in darkness. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (2 Cor. 6:14)
Let’s go back to 1 Thes. 5:8: But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
Today determine to live in the light of Christ. You have Him. Protect your heart and consciously put your faith, love and hope in Him. Do it first with a simple prayer, then walk through the rest of this day trusting Him, appreciating Him and hoping in His loving rescue. That’s how to escape depression. If you need a verse to hang on to for the day, Psa. 63:3 would be a great one! You can find a printable version of it (the photo at the top) off to the right under Free Photos: Scripture Pictures.
Jody
PS. You can read the first 7 chapters of my book by clicking here. The full book is available on Amazon.
Where's the Peace
I first saw “Whirled Peas” on a bumper sticker, and it still makes me giggle. It’s whimsical treatment of an ideal that some people take very seriously. Jesus takes world peace seriously. After all, one of His names is Prince of Peace.
But look at what Jesus said, Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. (Luke 12:51-52)
For a fact, since He came, there has been more division than there has been peace. How would you explain that to someone?
Here’s one angle spoken by Jesus when He was trying to prepare His disciples for the fact He was going to die. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid…..Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. (John 14:27, 30)
We are living in a battle between the Prince of Peace and the prince of the world. They couldn’t be more opposite. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me. (John 14:6) He also said, Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matt. 7:14)
Those truths automatically set up the framework for division. If we believe and promote what Jesus said, there will be no peace with those who reject these truths. I don’t even need to explain that. This is why Jesus said, ForI am come to set a man at varianceagainst his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. (Matt. 10:35) God’s truth and Satan’s opposition to it lead to oil-and-water relationships.
Where’s the peace? Accepting Christ’s truth, we get personal peace, as we saw above. But more importantly, we get peace with God, and that is why Jesus came. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Rom. 5:1-2) That’s the peace we should be talking about.
We also get peace with other believers, even from different cultures and backgrounds. For he is our peace, who hath made both one (believing Jews and Gentiles), and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us. (Eph. 2:14)
World peace is not out of the question. But that is reserved for the future, and it will be peace beyond imagination. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. (Isa. 11:6-9)
Here’s another bumper sticker saying. “No Jesus. No Peace. Know Jesus. Know Peace.” When will this be? After the prince of the world, who blinds people’s minds to the truth, is taken away. When Jesus reigns. When the earth is full of the knowledge of the Lord.
Jody
The Perfect Purpose
My first thoughts of “purpose” arrived unexpectedly at the kitchen table one day at about age 10. My younger brother and I were quietly eating our pretzels and sandwiches when out of the blue, my mom asked us what we were living for. I first blinked, then panicked. I didn’t have a single word to contribute to the conversation.
Here, I decided to look at what Jesus would have said if He sat at our kitchen table and faced my mom’s question. What was He living for? He actually answered that question many different ways. I fired up my “Online Bible” and checked out the Gospels for every instance Jesus said, “I am come” or “I came to.” He had a mixed bag of joy and grief in His stated purposes.
But first, back to my mother. I’m sure the silence was deafening as my brother and I had no answers for what we were living for. She finally offered a lifeline. “I’m living for the 10 commandments,” she announced. I brilliantly responded, “So am I.” And whew, that conversation was over.
Jesus would have had something to say about that answer. The 10 commandments are part of what is called “the law.” We’ve all broken at least one of them, eliminating any possibility of having a right relationship with God. So, fascinatingly, Jesus said, Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill (Matt. 5:17). That was the reason God sent Him down to earth—to fulfill the law. So He made that His mission. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. (John 6:38)
But the law was more than the 10 commandments. Much of the Old Testament law had to do with sacrifices. It’s called the sacrificial law. And it is apparent that this law was the main one He came to fulfill. It’s perfectly clear in the book of Hebrews.
“But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do [fulfill] thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;” (Heb. 10:3-12)
That’s how He fulfilled the law. He set aside His own will in favor of God’s will and offered His perfect body as the sinless sacrifice to take away sin once and for all. Fortunately, He lived up to His purpose. Had He not, we would be in serious trouble. We would have to live for the 10 commandments and actually keep them our whole life without breaking one. He knew we couldn’t do that, so He came with a purpose…
Jody
God is in the Pearl-managing Business
Knowledge is powerful. In the right hands, it changes a life forever. In the wrong hands, it is degraded. Knowledge is a pearl to protect. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine. (Matt. 7:6)
Even God—and especially God—protects knowledge. Remember back in the Garden of Eden how God did not want Adam and Eve to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? All that He told them was that if they did, they would die. But the desire to be wise—to get that knowledge—was powerful, and Eve ate. Her eyes were opened. She got that knowledge that was supposed to remain shrouded. And that was the beginning of the end for her (and all of us).
Fast forward to Jesus. People ask why He spoke in parables. The difficulty of understanding what Jesus was saying turned a lot of people away from Him, and still does today. Even His disciples questioned Jesus about why He spoke in parables. Listen to His reason.
And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. (Luke 8:10) Knowledge that is hidden is a mystery. God’s design is that the mysteries of the kingdom of God be hidden from some. Yes, they will hear the words and see evidence, but they won’t understand.
God’s knowledge, or mysteries, are spiritual in nature. A person without God’s spirit in them will not grasp these mysteries, because they can only be spiritually understood (1 Cor. 2:14). By nature, we are missing the spiritual capacity to understand these spiritual things. Things of God will not be understood intellectually. He doesn’t want us to ever claim we figured things out apart from Him. He guards His pearls.
And besides that, Satan doesn’t want people to grasp the knowledge of God.
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Cor. 4:4-6)
Consider all this next to the thought that we are stewards of the mysteries of God. (Read more about that in the blog post just after this one.) How hard it is to get people to understand the mysteries that God and Satan are hovering over.
God has to open hearts to receive spiritual knowledge. In the book of Acts, He did it for Lydia. And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. (Acts 16:14)
A person’s only hope of understanding God’s mysteries, or knowledge, is that the Holy Spirit opens their spiritual eyes to see. That applies not only to the unsaved person grasping and receiving the gospel, but also to us understanding what we read in His word.
“But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.” (1 John 2:27)
Therefore, our most valuable prayer for others and for ourselves is that God would open eyes—before we share the gospel and before we read our Bibles. If you know your Bible, you know the verses that, in fact, encourage that. But here is the verse for today.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (James 1:5)
Jody
A Good Life Verse
Do you have a life verse? Some people are quick to point out a favorite verse, but what about a life mission verse—something you are aiming for?
Paul wrote a good one that any of us can share, and God would be happy if we did. It might even be one He would pick out for us. Here it is:
Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. (1Cor. 4:1-2)
Paul wrote the verse stating his life mission—to be a minister of Christ—a steward of the mysteries of God. His mission wasn’t to be happy, comfy and fulfilled. He wasn’t focused on following his favorite sports team or TV program, raising a sane family and being a leader in his church.
His mission involved the intangible mysteries of God…things the average Christian gives little thought to, and the unsaved person doesn’t even realize exists. Paul’s mission was difficult!
What does it mean to be a steward of the mysteries of God? We need to know, because it would be a good idea to align ourselves with the same mission. It’s what will really matter in the end.
A steward is a manager or superintendent to whom the head of the house or the proprietor has entrusted the management of his affairs. That’s us. We’re left on this earth as managers of His affairs since He left and before He comes back. Moreover, it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful.
The mysteries of God are the gospel. Jesus was God in the flesh, came down to live that perfect, righteous life that we didn’t, died to take the penalty for our sins, rose again the third day and now sits in heaven as the head of the body of Christ. We who have understood and accepted that mystery are born again to serve Him as part of that body. And we are stewards of this message.
Are we passing or failing at stewarding this spiritual message? I will assume that most of us have not focused on this as adequately as we will wish we had when we see the Master who left us in charge of the message while He was away.
How do we turn around and become better stewards of the mystery of God? Here are a few things I can think of
Post the above mission passage somewhere and try to memorize it to help you focus on “the main thing.”
Be like Paul and not only pray and ask God to open a door to share that mystery, but ask others to pray the same thing for you, vice versa. In 2 book of the Bible, Eph. 6:29 and Col 4:3, Paul asked others to pray for him that God would open a door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ. This is so important, because the mysteries won’t be shared or understood without the power of God activated through prayer.
Look and pray to find a faithful Timothy you can invest the mysteries in, who will invest in others also, so the mystery sharing can multiply. (And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 2 Tim. 2:2.)
Otherwise, as we all know, if we aim for nothing, we will hit nothing.
Jody
Eternal Honor Society
When I was in high school, I didn’t want to be just average. When report cards came out, I scanned them, hoping to find nothing below an “A.” I was always on the National Honor Society list.
Starting in grade school, I always sought to be the best at everything, and I was rewarded with certificates, medals and ribbons for various things throughout my school years. There’s something fulfilling about being called out and honored.
Now, as a Christian, is it OK to aim for honor? I know we are supposed to honor God, but what about Him honoring us? It probably seems silly to ask that, because of course we know that all honor goes to Him, and it seems too selfish to want honor in return. However, look with me at something here.
You know the analogy the Bible makes of Christians, or the church, as the bride of Christ. He is the bridegroom or husband. We are his espoused wife or bride. Now look at this: Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. (1 Pet. 3:7) This is our first clue about honor for the bride—us. That’s how I got to thinking about this whole thing. Here’s an Old Testament prophetic spin on this: For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee. (Isa. 62:5)
God rejoicing over us? God honoring us? Honor is a good opinion or exalted state. It is reverence and showing deference for the other person. God would do that for us?
How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? (John 5:44) At first I want to shield my eyes. No. We are supposed to honor God. He doesn’t honor us, does He? It’s hard to imagine, but read: For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth. (2 Cor. 10:18)
If we allow ourselves to consider that God could and, in fact, wants to honor us, then it begs the question, how do you get honor from God? I find three ways.
But now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. (1 Sam. 2:30b)
If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. (John 12:26)
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: (1 Pet 1:7)
God honors those who honor Him, those who serve Him and those who pass the trial of their faith. At the judgment seat of Christ, wouldn’t you love the honor of hearing, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (Matt. 25:21)? It’s all something to think about.
Jody
Aim For "Well Done"
When it’s all said and done for us in this life, we will praise God. But God will also praise some of us. Recall that famous phrase from the book of Matthew, Well done thou good and faithful servant. That is praise from God to man. What would it take to hear that from God?
The whole story is found in Matt. 25:14-30. It begins with, For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. In this case, it was money, and he expected his servants to invest and multiply it until he returned. Some did; one didn’t.
Let’s jump to the application. After His death, Jesus traveled to a far country (heaven), and He left us with His goods—His word, His spirit, the message of the gospel (Christ in you, the hope of glory), spiritual gifts, etc. He will return someday, and He expects to see that we invested and multiplied His goods.
So the question for us is, what have we done with the goods He left us with? We should want to hear the praise of God… Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou has been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.
He mentioned faithfulness twice here. It’s that important. It means stewarding well the goods He gave us.
We all have to fight the urge to hoard all the goods for ourselves, or to bury and ignore them. For me, I think this calls for an evaluation before God—laying out everything He has given me and asking how I’m using/not using it for Him. Am I faithful with the spiritual gifts He has given me? The Word of God that I know? The gospel? My talents? Is it all channeled toward Him? Am I using what I have in others’ lives?
At the end of my life, I want to hear Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Faithfulness is something revealed over time. In that story in Matthew, the other option was to hear the Lord say, Thou wicked and slothful servant.
Faithful or slothful?
We live in a slothful age, so if we let inertia rule, we will be that wicked and slothful servant, living for ourselves. It’s time to invest and multiply.
Jody