Sometimes we think we need wisdom beyond our reach in order to witness to or encourage one another, so we sit reluctantly in silence, with a treasure trove of encouragment at our fingertips. First Corinthians 1:17 says we don't need human wisdom, but the gospel.
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel--not
with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of
its power. (NIV)
Share Scripture. God's Word has power and wisdom on its own.
I've often hesitate to pass along a Scripture to a friend in need, thinking the other person probably knows the passage, or it wouldn't speak to them like it spoke to me. I was encouraged by the Lord through a Bible study friend this weekend, though, that I don't need to worry about that. I had been obedient and shared a passage with her that had previously ministered to me when I was in a similar situation. God used His Words to encourage her heart, without any wisdom of mine.
God's Word is active--"For the Word of God is living and active..." (Hebrews 4:12a). The enemy is aware of the power of the Word and doesn't want it activated. The enemy will throw doubt our way to hinder us from becoming an activator. He's the one who whispers, "That's not the right verse," "Someone else has something better to encourage them," "Just wait and see if God really wants you to share that Scripture," "You need some good advice to share, not just a verse."
We don't need great human wisdom. In fact, it can get in the way and may even generate pride in our words over God's, as Paul also warns about (1 Corinthians 1:31). As we make ourselves familiar with His Word, He can use it, through us, to minister to others. Become an activator of the power of treasure of God's Word.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Not My Battle
Christ never defended Himself. Really think about that...
The devotion I read with my girls this morning was based upon that fact and this verse:
The battle isn't yours. It's God's.
2 Chronicles 20:15
A portion of the devotion read like this: "Vindication is your attempt to fight the battle yourself, to fix things and to prove yourself to everyone who has you wrong. But God never asked you to vindicate yourself...Jesus never fought to prove himself to human beings. If they misunderstood him, he left it to God to do the correcting." That came from Devotions for the God Girl, by Hayley DiMarco, by the way (excellent!). Wow!
As I pondered this today, I thought of the many times I have never even questioned my right to defend myself-my right to vindication. But, as the author went on to say, my job is to stay obedient, not defend, just like Jesus. I'm hoping my "God Girls" learn this lesson early, 'cause this "God Woman" is still trying to swallow it.
Imagine yourself, even in Christian circles, having been misunderstood in something you've presented, or (I know this never happens with us church ladies, but...) having done something that someone else just simply doesn't like or agree with. Speaking for myself, in angst, I'm quick to want to defend, feeling they must understand my point of view-the "why" for my actions. But if Jesus is my model, I must let people misunderstand me sometimes.
What I need to be ready to defend is the Gospel.
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer
to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do
this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who
speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of
their slander. 1 Peter 3:15~16
I think this might even mean church ladies, too. I have certainly been ashamed of my judgements upon other Christian sisters before. And that was God's doing, the Holy Spirit's conviction, not the meticulous defense of the one I was judging.
When we jump onto that defense/vindication wagon, we may be stepping on Holy Spirit toes. We are showing a lack of faith in God's ability to defend us, and we're trying to bring conviction upon another when that is not in our job description.
If our actions that are in question with others are not in question with God, then we need to leave it alone-surrender our right to defend ourselves. Our obedience and alegiance it to our Heavenly Father, not to a bunch of onlookers who will always question and express dissatisfaction in our decisions. "The battle isn't yours. It's Gods."
The devotion I read with my girls this morning was based upon that fact and this verse:
The battle isn't yours. It's God's.
2 Chronicles 20:15
A portion of the devotion read like this: "Vindication is your attempt to fight the battle yourself, to fix things and to prove yourself to everyone who has you wrong. But God never asked you to vindicate yourself...Jesus never fought to prove himself to human beings. If they misunderstood him, he left it to God to do the correcting." That came from Devotions for the God Girl, by Hayley DiMarco, by the way (excellent!). Wow!
As I pondered this today, I thought of the many times I have never even questioned my right to defend myself-my right to vindication. But, as the author went on to say, my job is to stay obedient, not defend, just like Jesus. I'm hoping my "God Girls" learn this lesson early, 'cause this "God Woman" is still trying to swallow it.
Imagine yourself, even in Christian circles, having been misunderstood in something you've presented, or (I know this never happens with us church ladies, but...) having done something that someone else just simply doesn't like or agree with. Speaking for myself, in angst, I'm quick to want to defend, feeling they must understand my point of view-the "why" for my actions. But if Jesus is my model, I must let people misunderstand me sometimes.
What I need to be ready to defend is the Gospel.
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer
to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do
this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who
speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of
their slander. 1 Peter 3:15~16
I think this might even mean church ladies, too. I have certainly been ashamed of my judgements upon other Christian sisters before. And that was God's doing, the Holy Spirit's conviction, not the meticulous defense of the one I was judging.
When we jump onto that defense/vindication wagon, we may be stepping on Holy Spirit toes. We are showing a lack of faith in God's ability to defend us, and we're trying to bring conviction upon another when that is not in our job description.
If our actions that are in question with others are not in question with God, then we need to leave it alone-surrender our right to defend ourselves. Our obedience and alegiance it to our Heavenly Father, not to a bunch of onlookers who will always question and express dissatisfaction in our decisions. "The battle isn't yours. It's Gods."
Monday, October 10, 2011
This is the way; walk in it
O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more.
How gracious He will be when you cry for help! As soon as He
hears, He will answer you. Although the Lord gives you the bread
of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be
hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether
you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind
you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.' Isaiah 30:19~21
This is one juicy passage! "Weep no more...gracious...ears will hear," and the best part: "As soon as He hears, He will answer you." Awesome! But, it doesn't seem like He answers me as soon as I cry for help. Huh?! What do we do with passages like this, that don't seem to match up with life's realities? In fact, if you look closely at the Lord's message to Israel, through His prophet Isaiah, you'll see that the Lord can be the source of adversity and affliction.
Here is my most humble commentating on what is currently one of my favorite passages. In its context, this message is directed to a disobedient Israel and the Lord has promised that after His discipline concludes, His blessing will be restored. So, they are being told directly that their adversities and affliction are coming from the Lord-discipline. You know, Israel is not the only disobedient child of God. And so many times, I don't think we recognize God's discipline upon us. Not all affliction is God-induced, of course. But on the whole, I think we fail to view His discipline as His discipline. Instead, we take it at face value as affliction, then when our prayers don't make it go away, we think He hasn't answered.
See I think there's a big connection between "cry for help," in verse 19 and verse 21, "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'" When we cry for help, and we're in the midst of God's discipline, we are going to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit in us telling us the way to walk. That's His answer. What gets us all huffy is when we're not hearing our own desires and expectations from His answer.
His grace, as verse 19 tells us, is being poured out by His attentive ear, His answers, and frankly Him not obliterating us! As a people group, I think we live in a state of entitlement. He might be God, but we expect Him to behave for us. Grace! Grace! God's Grace! That is why He hears, why He answers, and definitely how He disciplines.
Let's look a little further. Verse 22, although slightly disgusting, says, "Then you will defile your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, 'Away with you!'" He is entitled to expect certain things, and what this tells us is that after we've been instructed the way to go and to walk in, He expects us to heed to the discipline-throw our old way of doing things away like a, well, you know-the disgusting part!
God's discipline is purposeful, not vindictive. I want you to see, so let's venture to the verse just before this passage. Verse 18 tells us, "Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him!" Beautiful! His graciousness is the only way we make it through His justice. We must begin to examine our affliction and adversity to see whether its roots are in Godly discipline. If so, listen closely for that voice behind you telling you the way to go!
How gracious He will be when you cry for help! As soon as He
hears, He will answer you. Although the Lord gives you the bread
of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be
hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether
you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind
you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.' Isaiah 30:19~21
This is one juicy passage! "Weep no more...gracious...ears will hear," and the best part: "As soon as He hears, He will answer you." Awesome! But, it doesn't seem like He answers me as soon as I cry for help. Huh?! What do we do with passages like this, that don't seem to match up with life's realities? In fact, if you look closely at the Lord's message to Israel, through His prophet Isaiah, you'll see that the Lord can be the source of adversity and affliction.
Here is my most humble commentating on what is currently one of my favorite passages. In its context, this message is directed to a disobedient Israel and the Lord has promised that after His discipline concludes, His blessing will be restored. So, they are being told directly that their adversities and affliction are coming from the Lord-discipline. You know, Israel is not the only disobedient child of God. And so many times, I don't think we recognize God's discipline upon us. Not all affliction is God-induced, of course. But on the whole, I think we fail to view His discipline as His discipline. Instead, we take it at face value as affliction, then when our prayers don't make it go away, we think He hasn't answered.
See I think there's a big connection between "cry for help," in verse 19 and verse 21, "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'" When we cry for help, and we're in the midst of God's discipline, we are going to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit in us telling us the way to walk. That's His answer. What gets us all huffy is when we're not hearing our own desires and expectations from His answer.
His grace, as verse 19 tells us, is being poured out by His attentive ear, His answers, and frankly Him not obliterating us! As a people group, I think we live in a state of entitlement. He might be God, but we expect Him to behave for us. Grace! Grace! God's Grace! That is why He hears, why He answers, and definitely how He disciplines.
Let's look a little further. Verse 22, although slightly disgusting, says, "Then you will defile your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, 'Away with you!'" He is entitled to expect certain things, and what this tells us is that after we've been instructed the way to go and to walk in, He expects us to heed to the discipline-throw our old way of doing things away like a, well, you know-the disgusting part!
God's discipline is purposeful, not vindictive. I want you to see, so let's venture to the verse just before this passage. Verse 18 tells us, "Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him!" Beautiful! His graciousness is the only way we make it through His justice. We must begin to examine our affliction and adversity to see whether its roots are in Godly discipline. If so, listen closely for that voice behind you telling you the way to go!
Friday, October 7, 2011
Always~Never
What's the point of a telling a good story without an
..."always"
and a
..."never"
thrown in every few sentences?
Yes, the X chromosome has mastered the art of always and never (otherwise known as-exaggeration!). Those two little words elicit edge-of-your-seat suspense when recounting an otherwise average story, don't they?
We are in good company, ladies! We happen to serve a God of extreme words. The pages of Scripture are brimming with His extremes, although never with exaggeration!
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who
love him, who have been called according to His purpose."
Romans 8:28(NIV)
"Rejoice in the Lord...
always.
I will say it again. Rejoice!" Philippians 4:4 (NIV)
"So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: 'See, I lay a stone in Zion...
a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;
the one who trusts will never be dismayed.'"
Isaiah 28:16(NIV)
"I have set the LORD always before me.
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken."
Psalm 16:8(NIV)
Life is extreme and I need a God who is not wishy-washy about His commitment to me. But, hand-in-hand, He is a God expectant of extreme commitment from His followers. As His follower, I want to "set Him always before me," for He is my light.
Always is somehow a word that becomes too extreme when it's in reference to my responsibility, isn't it? In fact, just yesterday I begged the Lord for a day off from always. I didn't feel well, I was grumpy, we had some unexpected issues arise with our children, and I just wanted to wallow in it without reproach! The irony is, what I needed most was my Lord always before me. I needed, "I will never leave you, nor forsake you" (Joshua 1:5). I needed, "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7).
Always encompasses the hum-drum days as well as the extremes of life. We can rest assured, however, that despite our inadequacy with always and never, the Lord is really always true to His word. In His infinite mercy, "His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is His faithfulness" (Lam. 3:22b-23). May we walk today, and all the tomorrows to come, with Him always before us!
..."always"
and a
..."never"
thrown in every few sentences?
Yes, the X chromosome has mastered the art of always and never (otherwise known as-exaggeration!). Those two little words elicit edge-of-your-seat suspense when recounting an otherwise average story, don't they?
We are in good company, ladies! We happen to serve a God of extreme words. The pages of Scripture are brimming with His extremes, although never with exaggeration!
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who
love him, who have been called according to His purpose."
Romans 8:28(NIV)
"Rejoice in the Lord...
always.
I will say it again. Rejoice!" Philippians 4:4 (NIV)
"So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: 'See, I lay a stone in Zion...
a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;
the one who trusts will never be dismayed.'"
Isaiah 28:16(NIV)
"I have set the LORD always before me.
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken."
Psalm 16:8(NIV)
Life is extreme and I need a God who is not wishy-washy about His commitment to me. But, hand-in-hand, He is a God expectant of extreme commitment from His followers. As His follower, I want to "set Him always before me," for He is my light.
Always is somehow a word that becomes too extreme when it's in reference to my responsibility, isn't it? In fact, just yesterday I begged the Lord for a day off from always. I didn't feel well, I was grumpy, we had some unexpected issues arise with our children, and I just wanted to wallow in it without reproach! The irony is, what I needed most was my Lord always before me. I needed, "I will never leave you, nor forsake you" (Joshua 1:5). I needed, "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7).
Always encompasses the hum-drum days as well as the extremes of life. We can rest assured, however, that despite our inadequacy with always and never, the Lord is really always true to His word. In His infinite mercy, "His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is His faithfulness" (Lam. 3:22b-23). May we walk today, and all the tomorrows to come, with Him always before us!
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