I’ve often looked at the men in the Bible, all the “greats,” like David, Moses, Job, Daniel, and others, and have really admired them for their amazing hearts for God. I always find myself wanting to be like them, but feel like there’s just no way that I can even begin to match up to them because of how godly they are. But recently I decided to make a list of all the things David did, that made him so pleasing to God. The list included things like trust, integrity, righteousness, fear of the Lord, and many others. But as I read about different people in the Bible, I noticed that there are a lot of similarities between all those great men. Job showed the exact same trust in God during his trials, as David in his. Moses showed that obedience, and Daniel exhibited similar integrity and praise for God. Each one was definitely different, possessing his own qualities and struggles, but I think there must have been one important, core thing in common between all of them, and also all the other faithful guys throughout God’s Word. I don’t specifically have one word or adjective to describe it perfectly, but I think that core thing that gave these men the strength to do righteous things was the relationship they had with their God in the beginning. Now, I said “their God” on purpose because they really did make Him their God. You can sense it in the things they say (whether in their prayers or the things they said to others) that there’s something in that relationship that goes really, really deep. They love God very much. God is like an old friend to them, someone that has been there by their side wherever they’ve gone, whatever they’ve done, and He’s been teaching them things all along the way. They’ve had to learn hard lessons and endure hard things, but God has taken them through it all, and become very precious to them.
That’s why Daniel could not stop praying to God even as he was about to be consumed by a den-full of lions. That’s why David could praise God, even when his very life was threatened by Saul, and why he could go to the Lord for comfort when all his men were angry with him. It’s why Moses could continue leading the complaining, unfaithful Israelites through that hot, miserable desert his whole life, and why Job could sit in the dark room of his house, in severe pain and misery, with the sense of losing his possessions and his ten children. On top of that, he had to deal with (what used to be) his friends despising and criticizing him, and he could still say “I know that my redeemer lives.”
So I guess my reason for saying all this, is that I’m probably not the only one who’s wanted to be like Job or David, and felt very hopelessly like it was impossible, that I was totally inadequate, because these guys are just so strong. I mean, they made it all the way to the Bible, after all! But I would say, don’t lose hope. Try to study them and find the things in the beginning of their lives that may have started to bring about that beautiful friendship with God.
Here are a few things that I’ve thought of to get started: Daniel was wrenched away from his home, his family, and future, and brought into captivity in Babylon. Very soon after he arrived there, he was asked to eat meat and other things God had told him not to. Guys like meat. It smells good, it tastes chewy, and it’s satisfying, ever so much more satisfying than lettuce. Or green beans. But he overcame that. He found a way to obey God, and I’m sure that helped to bring him close to God.
David’s brothers, all 7 of them, went to war. Isn’t it every boy’s dream to go to war, and be noble, and fight for your country? But David had to stay home with his parents and watch the sheep! How un-noble is that?! But he used those hours and hours of being alone in the meadow to play his harp, and play songs to the Lord. I imagine that was a time where his relationship with God really grew.
Moses grew up a Hebrew boy in an Egyptian’s house. As he grew older, he had to watch his people suffer by the Egyptians, which we know was difficult for him because he killed one of them in revenge. He ran away to the wilderness where he became the son-in-law of a shepherd for 40 years. God used this time to prepare him to be a leader to his people.
And Job uses his time of riches and his great bounty to develop his integrity. The Bible says he is righteous, upright, and shuns evil. He even makes sacrifices for his children, which is another thing that demonstrates his relationship to God before his horrible trial whams him.
Now I hope that, after you have looked at more people’s lives and learned how they developed that relationship, that you will work on using whatever situations you might have—whether you are dissatisfied, bored, afraid, unfairly treated, or everything is going just fine—to develop yours, because I think it is actually very possible for us to do the same things David did, as long as we have that deep and precious relationship with God. We need to make Him “our” God.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Happy Woody Wagon Day!!
Unfortunatly, I'm a day late, but yesterday was Woody Wagon Day. A special day (July 19) honoring wooden wagons. I'm not making this up, I found it out on the radio. So I hope that if you own a wooden wagon, that yesterday was a great day for you, one filled with pride over the knowledge of that priveledged ownersip!
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Un-tasted Soup
“Oh taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man that trusteth in Him!” (Psalm 34:8)
“Miriam!” Maggie calls her sister, who is ever ready to try delicious edibles in order to quench her seemingly never-ending hunger. Miriam runs excitedly through the house toward the lovely smells wafting out from the kitchen. Yesterday, Maggie had a made a cherry pie, the day before that, it was frosted banana bread, before that it had been oatmeal cake… and so forth. Now, as Miriam arrives in the kitchen, a delighted smile crosses her face. She glances around for the new delectability she will be the first to try, and, as Maggie points to the stove, Miriam, still eagerly smiling, rushes over. But when she sees the bubbling pot of tomato chili, filled with squishy little green things looking somewhat like disfigured, once-upon-a-time celery, that smile downright flees from her face.” What are those?” is all she can find in her disappointed little heart to say.
Maggie coaxes and prods, for a guest is expected to arrive later that night. However, Miriam stubbornly refuses to let one drop drip past her tightly pressed lips, and returns to whatever she happens to be doing at the time. Later, when the guest comes, and they are all seated at the table ready to eat, Miriam finally partakes, which is a good thing because it turned out to be a toothsome delight. If she had not been willing to taste the food that didn’t have quite as delicious an appearance, she would have missed out on a smashing hit.
So it is with life. So many times, we see the “ugly” parts of following the Lord. For example, reading the book of Leviticus (or any other book of the bible, you aren’t particularly fond of), or going to church on Sundays rather than sleeping in, or doing an unpleasant task, or any other manner of things. And we take those things, and turn up our noses at them, refusing to take that “taste” that gets us started. So today, be encouraged to take a taste of reading that seemingly boring section of the Bible, or helping that old lady, and just see how good the Lord really is!
(Ok, so I admit, I slightly over-exaggerated the part about tasting the food, and it does feel a little weird writing about myself in third person, but it worked, didn’t it?)
“Miriam!” Maggie calls her sister, who is ever ready to try delicious edibles in order to quench her seemingly never-ending hunger. Miriam runs excitedly through the house toward the lovely smells wafting out from the kitchen. Yesterday, Maggie had a made a cherry pie, the day before that, it was frosted banana bread, before that it had been oatmeal cake… and so forth. Now, as Miriam arrives in the kitchen, a delighted smile crosses her face. She glances around for the new delectability she will be the first to try, and, as Maggie points to the stove, Miriam, still eagerly smiling, rushes over. But when she sees the bubbling pot of tomato chili, filled with squishy little green things looking somewhat like disfigured, once-upon-a-time celery, that smile downright flees from her face.” What are those?” is all she can find in her disappointed little heart to say.
Maggie coaxes and prods, for a guest is expected to arrive later that night. However, Miriam stubbornly refuses to let one drop drip past her tightly pressed lips, and returns to whatever she happens to be doing at the time. Later, when the guest comes, and they are all seated at the table ready to eat, Miriam finally partakes, which is a good thing because it turned out to be a toothsome delight. If she had not been willing to taste the food that didn’t have quite as delicious an appearance, she would have missed out on a smashing hit.
So it is with life. So many times, we see the “ugly” parts of following the Lord. For example, reading the book of Leviticus (or any other book of the bible, you aren’t particularly fond of), or going to church on Sundays rather than sleeping in, or doing an unpleasant task, or any other manner of things. And we take those things, and turn up our noses at them, refusing to take that “taste” that gets us started. So today, be encouraged to take a taste of reading that seemingly boring section of the Bible, or helping that old lady, and just see how good the Lord really is!
(Ok, so I admit, I slightly over-exaggerated the part about tasting the food, and it does feel a little weird writing about myself in third person, but it worked, didn’t it?)
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Humble Verses Proud
“My soul shall make her boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.”
Usually, when I boast, I’m trying to exude my own praises and elevate my own goodness. I tell others about what I’ve accomplished, or how amazing I am. And when I boast, causing others to be impressed with me, it makes me glad. Especially when I hear someone else praising me.
Now the humble……………….I’ve usually thought of humility as not boasting about yourself, also not thinking poorly about yourself. It’s just plain not thinking about me at all, and that’s the end. But God is saying that this goes on. It does not end there! Not thinking about yourself is only where it begins. To complete this, our humbleness boasts in the Lord. What I said about boasting earlier is what we need to do for God. We tell people about what He’s accomplished, how amazing He is, we exude His praises, and when we hear others saying nice things about God, it should gladden our hearts.
The most important thing to remember is that it’s not about me or my humility, but about God, and glorifying Him.
Usually, when I boast, I’m trying to exude my own praises and elevate my own goodness. I tell others about what I’ve accomplished, or how amazing I am. And when I boast, causing others to be impressed with me, it makes me glad. Especially when I hear someone else praising me.
Now the humble……………….I’ve usually thought of humility as not boasting about yourself, also not thinking poorly about yourself. It’s just plain not thinking about me at all, and that’s the end. But God is saying that this goes on. It does not end there! Not thinking about yourself is only where it begins. To complete this, our humbleness boasts in the Lord. What I said about boasting earlier is what we need to do for God. We tell people about what He’s accomplished, how amazing He is, we exude His praises, and when we hear others saying nice things about God, it should gladden our hearts.
The most important thing to remember is that it’s not about me or my humility, but about God, and glorifying Him.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Mother May I
“…I have walked in thy truth” (Psalm 26: 3).
What does it mean to walk in the truth?
Well first, how do you walk? You stand up, and then begin moving your legs. They set out like a machine, rapidly crossing back and forth, going forward all the while. You take one step at a time in order to move toward your destination, and you are focused on your goal and your purpose. Sometimes you take slow, deliberate, careful steps, while other times you are running, moving those legs as fast as they’ll go, not even thinking about how it happens. There are small, baby steps, and there are big, giant ones. It always varies, depending on what kind of person you are, what sort of mood you are in, or what condition of health you possess.
Now, what is the truth? When we think of telling the truth, we would say ‘honesty,’ or ‘not telling lies,’ not being fake or phony, hiding nothing, and leaving everything out in the open. But where do we come up with that? Jesus said, “I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life…” (John 14:6). So Jesus is the truth (or God). Just try to compare all those things I said about truth with Jesus. It all matches up. He is honest, He doesn’t tell lies, He is not phony, and He hides nothing. He puts His will for us right out in the open, right in the pages of His Word. So following truth, would be following God’s will for us, obeying every request or command. Some examples of these commands we should follow are found in Psalm 26:
I have not sat with vain persons—people who talk about mindless things of no importance, and don’t bring glory to God.
Neither will I go in with dissemblers—people who are destructive, cause dissention, and eliminate peace.
I have hated the congregation of evildoers—don’t enjoy wicked company. Hang out with righteous people who walk with the Lord.
And will not sit with the wicked—sitting might be an example of laziness. When laziness and wickedness are together, gossip, mocking, and other wicked things are present.
I will wash my hands in innocence—keep the commands of the Lord, don’t break your conscience, be innocent of all wrong.
Hooray! We now know how to walk, we know some of the steps we should take in order to follow God better, and we know that God is truth. So put ‘em together! (Bippity-boppity-boo!) Remember, I said that when you walk, there’s always a goal in mind. You might say “I want to cross the street,” so you walk there. Walking in the truth means that truth is our ultimate goal, so we take steps—sometimes big, sometimes small—to get there, keeping that goal in mind all the while.
I think of the game Mother, May I. A line of kids stand at the beginning of the field, while the “mother” stands at the other side. The childrens’ objective is to reach the other side first, but they can’t get there without the direction of the mother.
“Mabel, take 2 scissor steps.”
“Mother, may I?”
“You may.”
And Mabel’s scissor steps commence. The mother moves down the line, giving each child a new command. And each one, with the permission of the mother, moves forward till they reach her.
The children aren’t the ones who make the decisions for where to go. The mother does. Or in our case, the Father does. God tells us different steps we have to take to accomplish our objective.
“Miriam, stop sitting with vain persons.”
I remind myself that my goal is walking in the truth, and then I obey.
So the key to walking in the truth (summing it up) is to keep your focus on God, listen for His commands, and then make steps of obedience.
What does it mean to walk in the truth?
Well first, how do you walk? You stand up, and then begin moving your legs. They set out like a machine, rapidly crossing back and forth, going forward all the while. You take one step at a time in order to move toward your destination, and you are focused on your goal and your purpose. Sometimes you take slow, deliberate, careful steps, while other times you are running, moving those legs as fast as they’ll go, not even thinking about how it happens. There are small, baby steps, and there are big, giant ones. It always varies, depending on what kind of person you are, what sort of mood you are in, or what condition of health you possess.
Now, what is the truth? When we think of telling the truth, we would say ‘honesty,’ or ‘not telling lies,’ not being fake or phony, hiding nothing, and leaving everything out in the open. But where do we come up with that? Jesus said, “I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life…” (John 14:6). So Jesus is the truth (or God). Just try to compare all those things I said about truth with Jesus. It all matches up. He is honest, He doesn’t tell lies, He is not phony, and He hides nothing. He puts His will for us right out in the open, right in the pages of His Word. So following truth, would be following God’s will for us, obeying every request or command. Some examples of these commands we should follow are found in Psalm 26:
I have not sat with vain persons—people who talk about mindless things of no importance, and don’t bring glory to God.
Neither will I go in with dissemblers—people who are destructive, cause dissention, and eliminate peace.
I have hated the congregation of evildoers—don’t enjoy wicked company. Hang out with righteous people who walk with the Lord.
And will not sit with the wicked—sitting might be an example of laziness. When laziness and wickedness are together, gossip, mocking, and other wicked things are present.
I will wash my hands in innocence—keep the commands of the Lord, don’t break your conscience, be innocent of all wrong.
Hooray! We now know how to walk, we know some of the steps we should take in order to follow God better, and we know that God is truth. So put ‘em together! (Bippity-boppity-boo!) Remember, I said that when you walk, there’s always a goal in mind. You might say “I want to cross the street,” so you walk there. Walking in the truth means that truth is our ultimate goal, so we take steps—sometimes big, sometimes small—to get there, keeping that goal in mind all the while.
I think of the game Mother, May I. A line of kids stand at the beginning of the field, while the “mother” stands at the other side. The childrens’ objective is to reach the other side first, but they can’t get there without the direction of the mother.
“Mabel, take 2 scissor steps.”
“Mother, may I?”
“You may.”
And Mabel’s scissor steps commence. The mother moves down the line, giving each child a new command. And each one, with the permission of the mother, moves forward till they reach her.
The children aren’t the ones who make the decisions for where to go. The mother does. Or in our case, the Father does. God tells us different steps we have to take to accomplish our objective.
“Miriam, stop sitting with vain persons.”
I remind myself that my goal is walking in the truth, and then I obey.
So the key to walking in the truth (summing it up) is to keep your focus on God, listen for His commands, and then make steps of obedience.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
