You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. Psalm 145:16
Do you really believe that God wants you to be satisfied? Trust me here, I’m not turning into one of those preachers who promises that you’ll be healthy, wealthy and wise. But the opposite of that tends to say: “Life on this earth is supposed to suck so we will long for Heaven.” Besides, if life wasn’t hard, how would we ever develop godly character? Yes, I sometimes tap into the gift of martyrdom. The trouble is that you can only use it once.
God opens His hand to us. He doesn’t hold back. God desires to give us every good thing (James 1:17). But, our Puritan ways dictate that if we get too much of what we want, then we’ll get fat and happy and forget about our need for God. I don’t know about you, but I tend to like people who give me stuff. If God will truly satisfy the desires of my heart (Psalm 37:4), I’m not going to hold that against Him. He certainly won’t hold that against me.
Now, at this point, I am obligated to say that there is a right way and a wrong way to fulfill your desires. Many people fall in love with someone or something. They become so enamored with that someone or something that this must be from God. As the great theologian, Barbara Mandrell, said “If loving you is wrong, I don’t want to be right.” The things that we depend on to satisfy our desires become idols and addictions.
For some, this is eating or vegging out in front of the TV (okay, those are mine). For others, it’s working or drinking or surfing into the darkness. For some, it’s a relationship, whether it’s love or hate. The problem is that we get stuck on these things and aren’t ever satisfied in the way that God intends. (If you just said, “I’m stuck,” then check out Over Haulin’ on Thursday nights at Brookwood).
Can you trust God with your desires? He actually gave them to you. Do you believe that God wants you to live a satisfying life? This is God’s vision for your life. Just like we want our kids to have a happy childhood, God wants you and me to have great lives. He really does.
This entire psalm is certainly a cure for a bad day.
It will even elevate a good day. Take a moment to read about what kind of Heavenly Father we have: Psalm 145.
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
Monday, September 20, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
God Understands You, Even When You Don’t
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Psalm 139:23
Everyone of us has the same limitation. We can’t look at ourselves objectively. It’s too personal. It’s too close.
Now, we can spot everyone else’s strengths and weaknesses from a mile away. This is not judging (Matthew 7:1) as much as discerning and sizing up the situation (1 Corinthians 2:15). Our role in observing others is to help and encourage them, not to sentence them to “they’ll never change.” But, when it comes to ourselves, it’s a lot harder to do.
Some of us only see bad things about ourselves. We are painfully aware of our faults or at least we continue to find ourselves in relational tension created by our faults. We can’t explain it, but we know it’s there. But, some of us don’t see anything wrong with ourselves.
Some people just think that they are cut from a different cloth. Their ego provides some sort of amnesia so they don’t even consider their effect on others. If somebody has a problem, then it’s their problem. There’s nothing wrong with Ego-man.
These are the extremes. We either make ourselves out to be bigger than we are or we see ourselves as smaller than who we are. All of us are somewhere on the spectrum. But, how do we gain insight into who we really are?
Other people can give us insight. Our spouse, our friends, our small group, they all tend to see us more objectively than we ever could see ourselves. We can gain some insights from them. When we’re down, they can lift us up. When we’re big headed, they can pop our balloon. The problem with other people is that everyone has an agenda.
Maybe “agenda” is too strong. But, everyone has a greater personal interest than their interest in us. They are more interested in themselves. “If Allen were less of a jerk, then my life would be better.” “If my spouse was saved and went to church, my marriage would be better.” While we should have a concern about our spouse’s eternal destiny and even this writer’s ability to annoy, why is that a concern to us? Do we truly want what’s best for them or what’s best for us? The perspective of others is helpful, but it’s not unbiased. There is only one source of unbiased opinion: God Himself.
In this verse, the Psalmist invites God to explore him inside and out. God understands things about us that we don’t understand about ourselves. When we feel that no human being on the planet understands us, God understands us. And, He loves us no matter what.
God knows our anxious thoughts. He knows why we’re anxious. It’s usually because we are projecting beyond what we can control. God knows everything (Job 37:16; 1 John 3:20). He knows the resolution of everything situation that we face. God is certain of what no one else can forecast or predict.
God knows how each of us is wired. Not only does He know what we worry about, He also knows why we are worried. God even knows that often our worry will drive us to Him, so He gives us something to worry about just so He can hang out with us. (There is an easier way.)
Are you ready for God’s examination? It’s not a test that you will fail. If you have trusted Christ for your salvation, then you have immunity from elimination. God’s exam is like the doctor’s office. That thing that’s eating at you – He understands. That relationship that is rocky – He knows why. That cycle that finds you excluded – He can help.
Pray this verse with me today, then listen for the answer.
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
Everyone of us has the same limitation. We can’t look at ourselves objectively. It’s too personal. It’s too close.
Now, we can spot everyone else’s strengths and weaknesses from a mile away. This is not judging (Matthew 7:1) as much as discerning and sizing up the situation (1 Corinthians 2:15). Our role in observing others is to help and encourage them, not to sentence them to “they’ll never change.” But, when it comes to ourselves, it’s a lot harder to do.
Some of us only see bad things about ourselves. We are painfully aware of our faults or at least we continue to find ourselves in relational tension created by our faults. We can’t explain it, but we know it’s there. But, some of us don’t see anything wrong with ourselves.
Some people just think that they are cut from a different cloth. Their ego provides some sort of amnesia so they don’t even consider their effect on others. If somebody has a problem, then it’s their problem. There’s nothing wrong with Ego-man.
These are the extremes. We either make ourselves out to be bigger than we are or we see ourselves as smaller than who we are. All of us are somewhere on the spectrum. But, how do we gain insight into who we really are?
Other people can give us insight. Our spouse, our friends, our small group, they all tend to see us more objectively than we ever could see ourselves. We can gain some insights from them. When we’re down, they can lift us up. When we’re big headed, they can pop our balloon. The problem with other people is that everyone has an agenda.
Maybe “agenda” is too strong. But, everyone has a greater personal interest than their interest in us. They are more interested in themselves. “If Allen were less of a jerk, then my life would be better.” “If my spouse was saved and went to church, my marriage would be better.” While we should have a concern about our spouse’s eternal destiny and even this writer’s ability to annoy, why is that a concern to us? Do we truly want what’s best for them or what’s best for us? The perspective of others is helpful, but it’s not unbiased. There is only one source of unbiased opinion: God Himself.
In this verse, the Psalmist invites God to explore him inside and out. God understands things about us that we don’t understand about ourselves. When we feel that no human being on the planet understands us, God understands us. And, He loves us no matter what.
God knows our anxious thoughts. He knows why we’re anxious. It’s usually because we are projecting beyond what we can control. God knows everything (Job 37:16; 1 John 3:20). He knows the resolution of everything situation that we face. God is certain of what no one else can forecast or predict.
God knows how each of us is wired. Not only does He know what we worry about, He also knows why we are worried. God even knows that often our worry will drive us to Him, so He gives us something to worry about just so He can hang out with us. (There is an easier way.)
Are you ready for God’s examination? It’s not a test that you will fail. If you have trusted Christ for your salvation, then you have immunity from elimination. God’s exam is like the doctor’s office. That thing that’s eating at you – He understands. That relationship that is rocky – He knows why. That cycle that finds you excluded – He can help.
Pray this verse with me today, then listen for the answer.
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
Thursday, September 16, 2010
God's Mercy Is Not a Consolation Prize
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 18:9-14
Jesus didn’t hate the Pharisees. It would be easy to get that impression. But, Jesus loves all people equally. He loved the Pharisees just as much as He loved His disciples. The disciples were just more open to His teaching.
Tax collectors were equally hated by all people. While paying taxes was painful enough, the tax collectors of the day had a rather inequitable system fit for their own advantage. They ripped everybody off: rich and poor, young and old. They were equal opportunity offenders. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that the tax collectors were sinners. They had sinned against everyone by stealing from them. If anyone would burn in hell, it would be tax collectors for sure.
So, why was the tax collector’s pray more acceptable than the Pharisee’s pray? The tax collector acknowledged his need for God. He was a sinner. He needed mercy. It was not an option.
The Pharisees, on the other hand, felt that they had lived their lives so well that they really didn’t need God’s mercy. If everyone lived their lives as well as they did, they wouldn’t need God’s mercy either. The problem is that no one actually lives their lives that well. Mercy is a necessity, not a consolation prize.
Which group would you put yourself in? Are you a miserable sinner and everybody is well aware of it? Or, do you feel that you’ve got your act together spiritually, and you don’t have that much to confess? Or, are you somewhere in between?
Here’s the test: what have you confessed to God recently? How have you offended Him by falling short?
God doesn’t want us to live without His mercy. Our goal is not to become self-sufficient, that only leads to self-righteousness and pride. You and I are no better than anyone else. Acknowledging that our survival is entirely dependent on God’s grace is the first step toward humility. You and I are capable of every sin that we’ve looked down our noses upon. It’s by God’s mercy that we can become who He created us to be.
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 18:9-14
Jesus didn’t hate the Pharisees. It would be easy to get that impression. But, Jesus loves all people equally. He loved the Pharisees just as much as He loved His disciples. The disciples were just more open to His teaching.
Tax collectors were equally hated by all people. While paying taxes was painful enough, the tax collectors of the day had a rather inequitable system fit for their own advantage. They ripped everybody off: rich and poor, young and old. They were equal opportunity offenders. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that the tax collectors were sinners. They had sinned against everyone by stealing from them. If anyone would burn in hell, it would be tax collectors for sure.
So, why was the tax collector’s pray more acceptable than the Pharisee’s pray? The tax collector acknowledged his need for God. He was a sinner. He needed mercy. It was not an option.
The Pharisees, on the other hand, felt that they had lived their lives so well that they really didn’t need God’s mercy. If everyone lived their lives as well as they did, they wouldn’t need God’s mercy either. The problem is that no one actually lives their lives that well. Mercy is a necessity, not a consolation prize.
Which group would you put yourself in? Are you a miserable sinner and everybody is well aware of it? Or, do you feel that you’ve got your act together spiritually, and you don’t have that much to confess? Or, are you somewhere in between?
Here’s the test: what have you confessed to God recently? How have you offended Him by falling short?
God doesn’t want us to live without His mercy. Our goal is not to become self-sufficient, that only leads to self-righteousness and pride. You and I are no better than anyone else. Acknowledging that our survival is entirely dependent on God’s grace is the first step toward humility. You and I are capable of every sin that we’ve looked down our noses upon. It’s by God’s mercy that we can become who He created us to be.
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
The Secret to a Good and Pleasing Life
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 (NLT)
Let’s look at this verse in reverse. Most of us would say that we would enjoy a life that is good and pleasing. What does a good and pleasing life look like? It can’t mean that everything will go our way. That’s not possible. Maybe a good and pleasing life is one where we can roll with the punches and keep things in perspective. Nothing is the end of the world, expect for, well, the end of the world, and God’s in control of that.
The pathway to this kind of life is learning to know God’s will for us, which is perfect. When I was in Bible college, every student was obsessed with two questions: What is God’s will for my life? And, Who is God’s will for my life? I completed four years and didn’t have a very clear picture of either. It was probably for the best.
If God had told me that His will for me was to go to a church that would face tremendous turmoil within the first 18 months that would eventually lead to the removal of the senior pastor, I might have stayed in the hotel industry. If God had told me that He had a beautiful bride waiting for me in California, but that she wouldn’t be mine for another 13 years, I seriously would have questioned how much God actually loved me.
God’s will is perfect, but it is so out of line with our expectations that we really can only see its perfection in hindsight. Looking forward, God’s will is wrought with much frustration and questioning. We struggle from attempting to press God into the mold of our expectations. The truth of God’s will is that we really don’t have a clue about it and it seldom resembles what we expect. Yet, God’s will is perfect.
To find God’s perfect will, we have to change our thinking. That’s not to say we must succumb to the power of positive thinking. That’s all good and well, but some of us just aren’t that happy all of the time. Changing our thinking is not reciting platitudes or visualizing success. Changed thinking comes from transformation.
God wants to transform us into who He created for us to be. The major obstacle to this transformation is the world around us. The culture pressures us to dress a certain way, to act a certain way, to live a certain way, and to drive a certain thing. Pursuing the trappings of success often leaves us bankrupt in the transformation department. There’s nothing wrong with stuff. The problem lies in our desire for stuff.
Good marketing causes us to live in a perpetual state of dissatisfaction. It’s the ad man’s job. If he doesn’t do his job, then he doesn’t get what he wants: our money.
Unless we have more stuff that’s newer and shinier, then our stuff is only getting older and duller. But, it’s not just the stuff. It’s who else owns the stuff. The “newer and shinier” crowd doesn’t tend to hang with the “older and duller” crowd. But, working harder to fit in with the crowd distracts us from what’s perfect for our lives: God’s individual will for us.
When was the last time that you stepped out of the norm to do something ridiculous for God? While it would be easy to rail against the culture of the world, we also must resist the culture of the church. God did not design you to look the same and act the same as every other believer. God isn’t manufacturing widgets.
He is uniquely crafting our souls and minds to do exactly what He created us to do. As we put our energy into turning our focus to God, He will transform us into who He desires for us to be. Then, we will find the good and pleasing life that we’ve longed for.
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
Let’s look at this verse in reverse. Most of us would say that we would enjoy a life that is good and pleasing. What does a good and pleasing life look like? It can’t mean that everything will go our way. That’s not possible. Maybe a good and pleasing life is one where we can roll with the punches and keep things in perspective. Nothing is the end of the world, expect for, well, the end of the world, and God’s in control of that.
The pathway to this kind of life is learning to know God’s will for us, which is perfect. When I was in Bible college, every student was obsessed with two questions: What is God’s will for my life? And, Who is God’s will for my life? I completed four years and didn’t have a very clear picture of either. It was probably for the best.
If God had told me that His will for me was to go to a church that would face tremendous turmoil within the first 18 months that would eventually lead to the removal of the senior pastor, I might have stayed in the hotel industry. If God had told me that He had a beautiful bride waiting for me in California, but that she wouldn’t be mine for another 13 years, I seriously would have questioned how much God actually loved me.
God’s will is perfect, but it is so out of line with our expectations that we really can only see its perfection in hindsight. Looking forward, God’s will is wrought with much frustration and questioning. We struggle from attempting to press God into the mold of our expectations. The truth of God’s will is that we really don’t have a clue about it and it seldom resembles what we expect. Yet, God’s will is perfect.
To find God’s perfect will, we have to change our thinking. That’s not to say we must succumb to the power of positive thinking. That’s all good and well, but some of us just aren’t that happy all of the time. Changing our thinking is not reciting platitudes or visualizing success. Changed thinking comes from transformation.
God wants to transform us into who He created for us to be. The major obstacle to this transformation is the world around us. The culture pressures us to dress a certain way, to act a certain way, to live a certain way, and to drive a certain thing. Pursuing the trappings of success often leaves us bankrupt in the transformation department. There’s nothing wrong with stuff. The problem lies in our desire for stuff.
Good marketing causes us to live in a perpetual state of dissatisfaction. It’s the ad man’s job. If he doesn’t do his job, then he doesn’t get what he wants: our money.
Unless we have more stuff that’s newer and shinier, then our stuff is only getting older and duller. But, it’s not just the stuff. It’s who else owns the stuff. The “newer and shinier” crowd doesn’t tend to hang with the “older and duller” crowd. But, working harder to fit in with the crowd distracts us from what’s perfect for our lives: God’s individual will for us.
When was the last time that you stepped out of the norm to do something ridiculous for God? While it would be easy to rail against the culture of the world, we also must resist the culture of the church. God did not design you to look the same and act the same as every other believer. God isn’t manufacturing widgets.
He is uniquely crafting our souls and minds to do exactly what He created us to do. As we put our energy into turning our focus to God, He will transform us into who He desires for us to be. Then, we will find the good and pleasing life that we’ve longed for.
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Pretending to be Someone I’m Not
“The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."
Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you." Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them.
"I cannot go in these," he said to Saul, "because I am not used to them." So he took them off. 1 Samuel 17:37-39
Who would have thought that the skills David gained by herding sheep would equip him to face Goliath? But, it wasn’t the actual skill that brought about his victories; it was the Lord that delivered him. Defeating the lion gave confidence that the Lord would also help him defeat the bear. Defeating them both gave him confidence to face the giant.
David’s core value was trusting in God. His greatest asset was his faith in God. While David did plenty to wreck his life, his heart was ultimately in the right place (1 Samuel 13:14). That’s not to say that the end justifies the means. David suffered much because of the sins he committed and due to the actions of his children.
To prepare David for battle, Saul attempted to impose something on David that didn’t suit him. Saul’s armor was the wrong size. Saul was a kingly-looking man (1 Samuel 9:2). David was quite ordinary. In fact, the Lord had convince David’s own father through the prophet Samuel that David was the right choice (1 Samuel 16:7).
The armor wasn’t the only ill-fitting thing. What worked for Saul wasn’t going to work for David. In fact, trusting in armor and carrying such a heavy burden would only inhibit what God had called David to do. David once again had to trust God to deliver him rather than trust in Saul’s armor to protect him. He had to rely on how God would use him rather than duplicating how God used Saul.
A Hasidic tale sums this up well. Rabbi Zusya, when he was an old man, said, “In the coming world, they will not ask me: ‘Why were you not Moses?’ They will ask me; ‘Why were you not Zusya?’” (Source: Let Your Life Speak: Listening to the Voice of Vocation by Parker Palmer).
Every believer is gifted and called to ministry. For most it’s not a vocational calling. Some of us have the privilege of serving in full-time ministry, but all of us have a ministry. I shouldn’t go about ministry the way that you do, and vice versa.
Like David, our efforts shouldn’t be applied to pretending to be like Saul. Our question is: Why are you not [your name here]?
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you." Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them.
"I cannot go in these," he said to Saul, "because I am not used to them." So he took them off. 1 Samuel 17:37-39
Who would have thought that the skills David gained by herding sheep would equip him to face Goliath? But, it wasn’t the actual skill that brought about his victories; it was the Lord that delivered him. Defeating the lion gave confidence that the Lord would also help him defeat the bear. Defeating them both gave him confidence to face the giant.
David’s core value was trusting in God. His greatest asset was his faith in God. While David did plenty to wreck his life, his heart was ultimately in the right place (1 Samuel 13:14). That’s not to say that the end justifies the means. David suffered much because of the sins he committed and due to the actions of his children.
To prepare David for battle, Saul attempted to impose something on David that didn’t suit him. Saul’s armor was the wrong size. Saul was a kingly-looking man (1 Samuel 9:2). David was quite ordinary. In fact, the Lord had convince David’s own father through the prophet Samuel that David was the right choice (1 Samuel 16:7).
The armor wasn’t the only ill-fitting thing. What worked for Saul wasn’t going to work for David. In fact, trusting in armor and carrying such a heavy burden would only inhibit what God had called David to do. David once again had to trust God to deliver him rather than trust in Saul’s armor to protect him. He had to rely on how God would use him rather than duplicating how God used Saul.
A Hasidic tale sums this up well. Rabbi Zusya, when he was an old man, said, “In the coming world, they will not ask me: ‘Why were you not Moses?’ They will ask me; ‘Why were you not Zusya?’” (Source: Let Your Life Speak: Listening to the Voice of Vocation by Parker Palmer).
Every believer is gifted and called to ministry. For most it’s not a vocational calling. Some of us have the privilege of serving in full-time ministry, but all of us have a ministry. I shouldn’t go about ministry the way that you do, and vice versa.
Like David, our efforts shouldn’t be applied to pretending to be like Saul. Our question is: Why are you not [your name here]?
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
Monday, September 13, 2010
Take This Job and…
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30
My parents made several trips to Costa Rica in the late ‘70s to help with construction of a Bible college in San Jose. They became friends with a missionary couple there, Bill and Hilda Bradney. As God would have it, a few years later, the Bradneys were missionaries-in-residence at my Bible college in the States.
One morning in class, Hilda held up a small brightly colored souvenir from Costa Rica. I immediately recognized it. My parents had brought several of these back from their trips.
This piece was a yoke like oxen would wear. Hilda explained how a poorly made yoke would cut into the neck of the beast making the work much harder and much more painful than it needed to be. A properly made yoke was smooth and would allow the animal to perform the task without injury.
This was exactly what Jesus was saying in this passage. There is a hard way of doing things, and there is an easier way. There is my way of doing thing, and there is God’s way. Now, please don’t misunderstand, either way there is work involved. The question is do we go about our work in a way that brings harm or in a way that gives life?
If we get to the end of our day exhausted from worry and stress, we have a heavy burden from a jagged yoke. If we feel the frustration from trying to please an unreasonable boss, client or customer, we haven’t acknowledged that there is a higher Boss that deserves our loyalty and who completely understands (Revelation 2:2). If we feel that our success is entirely up to us, then it certainly seems like we’re pushing a boulder uphill. All of this is the product of a rough yoke.
God challenges us to work hard (Proverbs 14:23), which is the kind of work that God deserves (Colossians 3:23). But, His work doesn’t leave us bruised or broken. Here’s the secret: you don’t have to change jobs to get a better fitting yoke. Your success in life depends more on what happens in you than what happens around you. That’s not merely a platitude. It’s a foundational truth in Scripture and in the business world. I just finished When the Mighty Fall by Jim Collins last night. He compares similar companies during similar time periods facing similar adversity. The companies that succeed are humble, diligent, methodical and assured. The companies that fail are arrogant, growth-obsessed, panicky and unfocused.
The question is not which company do you work for? The question is which set of qualities best characterizes you. One set is the result of a heavy burden, while the other is the result of an easy yoke.
I challenge you to lay down your way of doing things and your take on life and ask Jesus to show you His vision for your life. Ask for His perspective. Ask for His help. He is more than glad to give it to you.
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
My parents made several trips to Costa Rica in the late ‘70s to help with construction of a Bible college in San Jose. They became friends with a missionary couple there, Bill and Hilda Bradney. As God would have it, a few years later, the Bradneys were missionaries-in-residence at my Bible college in the States.
One morning in class, Hilda held up a small brightly colored souvenir from Costa Rica. I immediately recognized it. My parents had brought several of these back from their trips.
This piece was a yoke like oxen would wear. Hilda explained how a poorly made yoke would cut into the neck of the beast making the work much harder and much more painful than it needed to be. A properly made yoke was smooth and would allow the animal to perform the task without injury.
This was exactly what Jesus was saying in this passage. There is a hard way of doing things, and there is an easier way. There is my way of doing thing, and there is God’s way. Now, please don’t misunderstand, either way there is work involved. The question is do we go about our work in a way that brings harm or in a way that gives life?
If we get to the end of our day exhausted from worry and stress, we have a heavy burden from a jagged yoke. If we feel the frustration from trying to please an unreasonable boss, client or customer, we haven’t acknowledged that there is a higher Boss that deserves our loyalty and who completely understands (Revelation 2:2). If we feel that our success is entirely up to us, then it certainly seems like we’re pushing a boulder uphill. All of this is the product of a rough yoke.
God challenges us to work hard (Proverbs 14:23), which is the kind of work that God deserves (Colossians 3:23). But, His work doesn’t leave us bruised or broken. Here’s the secret: you don’t have to change jobs to get a better fitting yoke. Your success in life depends more on what happens in you than what happens around you. That’s not merely a platitude. It’s a foundational truth in Scripture and in the business world. I just finished When the Mighty Fall by Jim Collins last night. He compares similar companies during similar time periods facing similar adversity. The companies that succeed are humble, diligent, methodical and assured. The companies that fail are arrogant, growth-obsessed, panicky and unfocused.
The question is not which company do you work for? The question is which set of qualities best characterizes you. One set is the result of a heavy burden, while the other is the result of an easy yoke.
I challenge you to lay down your way of doing things and your take on life and ask Jesus to show you His vision for your life. Ask for His perspective. Ask for His help. He is more than glad to give it to you.
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Caffeinated Water or Living Water
On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. John 7:37-39
We are a people obsessed with bottled water. It’s convenient. It’s healthy. It has become more expensive than soda at some places. It creates a lot of trash.
For a time someone was marketing caffeinated bottle water. I suppose it balanced things out. We could hydrate and dehydrate ourselves at the same time. But, if they ever come out with decaffeinated water, well, that’s where I draw the line.
Water was celebrated at the feast Jesus attended. During the first seven days, the priests and the people made a procession to the pool of Siloam with a golden pitcher. They collected water to pour on the altar, in commemoration of the water that God provided to the Israelites in the desert (Numbers 20), which was a symbol of Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:4). (Source: The Fourfold Gospel)
As the Jews were celebrating the water that God miraculously provided to His people in the desert centuries before, Jesus stood up and said, “Oh, by the way, this miraculous water, well, that comes from me.” While we need to thankfully look back and remember the times that God has provided for our needs, we also need to remember that the book on His miracles hasn’t been sealed. In fact, Jesus says, this living water, this flow of the Spirit is something that all believers possess.
The flow of the Spirit is part of the life of every believer. But, why does it seem more evident in the life of some believers, but not in others? The Spirit’s flow is not like a flood that sweeps us away. What happens in us and through us comes largely by our choice. Do we want to plunge into that river with abandon? Do we just want to stick a toe in? Or would we rather just set up an umbrella and a chair on the riverbank and just relax and enjoy the day?
The limitation on the unlimited flow of God’s Spirit lies with you and me. How do we enter that flow? We simply ask. We don’t need elaborate or spooky prayers. All that we need is a simple request like “God guide me in this decision.” “God help me in this relationship.” “God use me to touch others today.” Then, pay attention to what happens next.
When I’m in the flow of God’s Spirit, I am calmer (not necessarily calm, but calm-er). I find that I am more understanding of others. I tend to be more creative. When I am out of the flow, I am critical. I am negative. I am down on everybody and everything, even if I don’t let on.
My life is beyond my control. And, believe me, at times I have tried to desperately control my life only to drive myself crazy. My life is more than I can control. Giving up the control of my life to God and plunging into the flow of the Spirit gives tremendous freedom. Things that I worry about melt away. While I don’t always understand how God works, I do know that outcomes are in His hands, not mine.
What is blocking the flow of the Spirit in your life today? Is it not asking? Is it depending on yourself or something else? Are you just completely distracted by what’s around you that you don’t even think about it?
As a believer, there is a living, dynamic force available to you. He will elevate you beyond where your heart and mind typically go. He will empower you to be the person you’ve dreamed of being. He will enable you to overcome the adversity that surrounds you. Start the flow.
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
We are a people obsessed with bottled water. It’s convenient. It’s healthy. It has become more expensive than soda at some places. It creates a lot of trash.
For a time someone was marketing caffeinated bottle water. I suppose it balanced things out. We could hydrate and dehydrate ourselves at the same time. But, if they ever come out with decaffeinated water, well, that’s where I draw the line.
Water was celebrated at the feast Jesus attended. During the first seven days, the priests and the people made a procession to the pool of Siloam with a golden pitcher. They collected water to pour on the altar, in commemoration of the water that God provided to the Israelites in the desert (Numbers 20), which was a symbol of Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:4). (Source: The Fourfold Gospel)
As the Jews were celebrating the water that God miraculously provided to His people in the desert centuries before, Jesus stood up and said, “Oh, by the way, this miraculous water, well, that comes from me.” While we need to thankfully look back and remember the times that God has provided for our needs, we also need to remember that the book on His miracles hasn’t been sealed. In fact, Jesus says, this living water, this flow of the Spirit is something that all believers possess.
The flow of the Spirit is part of the life of every believer. But, why does it seem more evident in the life of some believers, but not in others? The Spirit’s flow is not like a flood that sweeps us away. What happens in us and through us comes largely by our choice. Do we want to plunge into that river with abandon? Do we just want to stick a toe in? Or would we rather just set up an umbrella and a chair on the riverbank and just relax and enjoy the day?
The limitation on the unlimited flow of God’s Spirit lies with you and me. How do we enter that flow? We simply ask. We don’t need elaborate or spooky prayers. All that we need is a simple request like “God guide me in this decision.” “God help me in this relationship.” “God use me to touch others today.” Then, pay attention to what happens next.
When I’m in the flow of God’s Spirit, I am calmer (not necessarily calm, but calm-er). I find that I am more understanding of others. I tend to be more creative. When I am out of the flow, I am critical. I am negative. I am down on everybody and everything, even if I don’t let on.
My life is beyond my control. And, believe me, at times I have tried to desperately control my life only to drive myself crazy. My life is more than I can control. Giving up the control of my life to God and plunging into the flow of the Spirit gives tremendous freedom. Things that I worry about melt away. While I don’t always understand how God works, I do know that outcomes are in His hands, not mine.
What is blocking the flow of the Spirit in your life today? Is it not asking? Is it depending on yourself or something else? Are you just completely distracted by what’s around you that you don’t even think about it?
As a believer, there is a living, dynamic force available to you. He will elevate you beyond where your heart and mind typically go. He will empower you to be the person you’ve dreamed of being. He will enable you to overcome the adversity that surrounds you. Start the flow.
To subscribe or leave a comment on the galatians419 devotional blog: http://galatians419.blogspot.com/
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