the Heart

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HOPE

(Ephesians 1:18) I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.

Where I live the summers are very hot.  Often we have weeks where the temperature is more than a hundred degrees every day, and it barely cools off over night.  Occasionally we get a break when the day time highs are in the upper-nineties, and the overnight temperatures descend into the low sixties.  However, the heat returns, and we suffer through the hundred plus days until summer comes to an end.

Hope supports us through the summer months.  We know that cooler weather is coming.  It cooled down last year, so in hope we trust that the pattern will continue.  Meanwhile, we do our best to patiently wait for the heat to end.    

Isn’t life in Christ just like that?  We live in a world full of sin, and we personally deal with the sin within us.  Sometimes we have days full of love and peace.  Other times the battle is on, and we struggle through the hard times.  Yet we have great hope that the struggle will someday end, and we’ll be in the presence of the Lord forever.

Hope is the best way to navigate life.  Hope fills us with joy and gives us the strength to be patient in times of affliction.   Prayer keeps us in touch with our eternal Father so we can live our days anticipating our eternal future.  Our hope is in him who has promised us an eternal life basking in his love.  When we arrive at our final destination, hope will no longer be necessary. It will have fulfilled its purpose.  Till then, hope will be there to encourage us along life’s path.

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GOD’S FAITHFULNESS TO HIS WORD

(Matthew 6:31-33) “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Back in the year 1976, give or take a year, I was listening to the sermon my pastor was giving on these words from Jesus.  As I listened, this thought came to me, “I think Jesus really means this.”  In the spring of 1980, as I was driving on interstate 40 heading for California, the Lord spoke to me with these words, “Now is your chance to find out.”  I knew immediately what he meant.  He was pointing out that I could now find out if indeed he meant the words of this passage.

When I arrived in California, I began to pursue my new life looking for the freedom, relationships, and purpose I so desired.  I forgot about God and set out on my own to fulfill my life.  I failed miserably.  In despair, I sat down on a rock and said to God, “I’ve made a mess of this; I can’t leave this rock without you.”  That was all he was waiting for.  In an instance, I felt his presence, and from that moment on, my life changed.

You may be waiting for me to say since then I’ve had a perfect life.  Well not exactly, but it has been great!  God set me free in ways that I never knew before.  Within a few months, God sent me the lady that has shared this life with me for 43 years.  I’m still fascinated with her.  She is more than I could have ever imagined.  Together, we have a loving family, and a good relationship with each of our adult children, and with their children.  We all walk with the Lord. So our faithful God has blessed our family to the third and fourth generation (well, we’re still waiting for the fourth, but with complete confidence).  God lead me to fulfill the purposes he’d planed for me.  He has given me a rich, full life.

Putting our trust in God has proven to be the right choice.  We have never gone hungry, thirsty, or been without sufficient clothing.  Far beyond that, we have lived in homes and driven vehicles that were nicer than our income would dictate.  We have traveled the country, had many adventures, and enjoyed fun beyond our apparent means.  God has sustained us through tragedy and loss and shown us his love continually. 

I invite you to reread the above scripture verses, and then join me in the realization that God really means what is recorded in his Word.  I have found this to be true, and I share this truth with you in great confidence and without reservation.

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THE UNSEARCHABLE MIND OF GOD

(Romans 11:33-36) Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and the knowledge of God!  How unsearchable his judgements, and his paths beyond tracing out!  Who has known the mind of the Lord?  Or who has been his counselor?  Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?  For from him and through him and for him are all things.  To him be the glory forever! Amen.

As we read this statement made by the Apostle Paul, we are given the opportunity to stand in awe of the God we serve, and to recognize how far he surpasses our understanding.  Paul gives us a clear perception of our God. 

When I address God in prayer, I sometimes think I’m being too familiar.  I know God wants to be personal with his children, yet I’m talking to the creator of the universe.  This passage helps me to gain a better perspective and be in a more reverent place as I speak to God.

When people say things like, “why did God let this happen to me?”  I have only one answer, “I don’t know”.  Who can explain all that God does, or what God allows?  The scriptures lead us to know that he has an overall plan to bring about an eternal kingdom for those who love him and are called according to his purpose.  How the individual events of our lives are part of this is unknown to us. Only God knows.  His ways are not our ways. 

What God is doing far exceeds our ability to understand.  We surrender our way of thinking to his infinite wisdom and knowledge.  In some ways this is comforting.  Who would want to serve a god who didn’t know more than they themselves?  Our comfort rests in our faith – faith that trusts in his love for us.    To him be the glory forever!

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GODS TIMING IS PERFECT

(2 Peter 2:5-10) If he (God) did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)- if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.  This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desires of the flesh and despise authority…

Those who criticize God for allowing horrible things to happen on the earth are confused.  First, they are confused about whom God is, and secondly, they are confused about what God has planned for those who continue to perpetrate evil and fail to repent.  The flood and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah are two excellent examples of what God will do about the evils of sin perpetrated by us humans.Those who think God should continually intervene might consider what that could mean.

We humans are the center of his creation, yet we fail to comprehend that we belong to him who created us.  This verse reminds us of God’s ownership, (Psalm 24:1) “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it.”  This verse is the base scripture for godsworldandus.com.  I write about God’s world and those of us who live in it.  What we see happening on the earth is God carrying out his plan for his creation.  He is not unaware.  He knows everything that is occurring moment by moment.  He is continually working toward his ultimate goal, and that goal is to have eternal fellowship with the ones who will respect him and return his love.  He is patiently withholding judgement to allow for all who will embrace his plan of redemption and enter into a loving relationship with him.

God’s timing is perfect.  I state this in full confidence because I know him and love him.  I have great faith in his ability to carry out his plan to the fullness of his desired outcome.

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THE LOVE WE SHOW TO GOD

(Hebrews 6:10) God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.

God knows everything we do.  That thought could be a little disconcerting, but it’s true.  He sees those silly moments before the bathroom mirror. I like to make faces and create silly songs when no one else is around.  I sometimes talk to myself.  Rock and roll music will bring out rhythmic movements that I’d rather no one see.  I sometimes say words that I definitely wouldn’t say in church.  God sees it all.

Our scripture for this week focuses on the kingdom work that God sees.  I’d bet you pray for others when only God knows.  How about the occasional gift of a few dollars to a homeless person you pass by?  Kind words of encouragement, taking the time to listen to a friend in distress, these things are good works in the kingdom of God.  I could name many others.

“He will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.”  I’ve always thought of good works as showing love to the person I was helping, but I never quitethought of good works as showing love directly to God.  This is exciting!  How can we show our love to God?  We can help his people and continue to help them.  God is watching us, and isn’t nice to know that he is seeing us loving him?

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 OUR CREATOR AND US

(Psalm 8:3-5) When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?  You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.

I love this passage of scripture.  It speaks volumes to me.  The vastness of the heavens directs my thinking to just how limitless is our God who created them.  Who is mankind in the midst of the universe?  Well, it turns out that we’re quite important to our creator.  Mankind is the focus of creation to the point that he sent his only begotten Son to die for us.   I pause to think about this, and I am overwhelmed by this thought.

The great creator of all that we know is loving, personal, and sacrificial in relationship with his created ones.  I desire to take this truth into the depths of my soul.  Sometimes, I ignore God and take for granted his presence in my life.  As I consider these thoughts, they become important motivators to stir me from my complacent self-centeredness and remind me just who I am serving.  He is the creator of the universe in whom we live and move and have our being (see Acts 17:28).

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THE VALUE OF FORGIVING AND LOVING YOURSELF

(Matthew 16:14) For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also for give you.

(Matthew 19:19) Honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.

In my post last week, I mention the freeing experience of forgiving yourself for the sins that God has already forgiven.  Once you’ve embraced God’s forgiveness, you are freed to truly love yourself.  This is vital for carrying out the commands Jesus gave us: to forgive one another and to love one another.  If you haven’t accepted God’s forgiveness for yourself, how can you forgive others? If you don’t love yourself, then your ability to love your neighbor as yourself is obviously hindered.

I’m not encouraging narcissism.  I am encouraging the humble acceptance of the forgiveness that Jesus made possible for us.  I am also emphasizing the freeing awareness that God loves us and has renewed us.  We are new creatures in Christ.  We are God’s children who have been given a fresh start.  We can love ourselves with the full recognition that God’s love for us made it possible. 

When I was lost in my sins, filled with pride and arrogance, I relied on the false ideas and deceptions of this fallen world to judge my self-worth.  When I finally came to the end of myself, I cried out to God to save me.  Now I have a completely different view of myself. I am a redeemed sinner – fully depended on God my savior.  There is no bondage in this new way of seeing myself.  There is actually great freedom.  I can love myself because God first loved me.

There is true value in forgiving and loving yourself.  We can be effective examples of what it is like to be a child of God.  Through the power of his Spirit living within us, we can reflect God’s love for his created beings.  Best of all, we can be content knowing we don’t have to strive to feel worthy.  Our worth is in God our Father. 

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DO NOT LOSE HEART

(2 Corinthians 4:16-18) Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

In these verses, the Apostle Paul is reassuring us so that we might be encouraged to stay the course of our lives.  Look at your body.  It is aging.  If you are young it’s not so concerning, but at my age wasting away is a good analogy.  Paul reminds us that the Holy Spirit is constantly at work within us renewing our souls and preparing us for eternity. 

Our troubles are sometimes overwhelming, yet compared to what they are achieving for us, they are light.  I don’t understand how our troubles in this life achieve eternal glory, or what our eternal glory is exactly.  This is where we trust in faith the one who is establishing eternal glory for us.  “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.”

Paul reminds us that our troubles are momentary. Compared to eternity, the time of this life is quite short.  Our troubles will not last forever.  Even here and now, we have a great advantage.  We can take our troubles to our Heavenly Father.  He will help us through whatever comes our way.  Troubles come and go; Our Father is always with us.

“Therefore we do not lose heart.”  Paul was simply reminding us of what Jesus said to his disciples, “In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world (John 16:33).”  So we stand encouraged dear friends, remembering, “…What is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

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GIVE THANKS TO GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART

(Psalm 9:1-2) I will give thanks to you, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.  I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.

Saying thank you can be just a polite thing to say, or when someone has done something special for you, the words can have a deeper meaning because they come from your heart.  Thank you is then an emotional expression of gratitude.

King David in Psalm 9 expresses his gratitude for what God has done in his life.  The thank you comes from his heart, for he has seen God’s hand in protecting Israel.  As the psalm continues, he lists how God has protected and delivered his kingdom from those who would destroy Israel.  David’s heart is for his people, and he is deeply grateful for God’s protection and deliverance. 

Reading Psalm 9 has stirs me to rehearse all the wonderful things God has done in my life.  As I look back over the years, I see his hand protecting, delivering, and blessing those I love, and I am moved, within my heart, to the deep, emotional response of gratitude.

For this holiday of thanksgiving, I pray that you can find time to review what God has done in your life, and that you will be emotionally moved from deep in your heart to give thanks to our God. 

Have a blessed and peaceful Thanksgiving.

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BEING AN EXAMPLE TO OTHERS

(Philippians 4:9) Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you.

Acts 9:1-19 tells the story of Saul’s conversion.  From there, he went on to bring the words of Jesus to many lost souls. Thousands were drawn into the kingdom of God.  After many years of ministry, he wound up a prisoner in Rome for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul, as he became known, was able to confidently say these words to the people of the church he started in Philippi.  Here we are two thousand years later reading these words that give us direction and a distinct challenge.

As a Christian, when I read this verse it sends me into reflection.  The obvious questions I ask myself, “Could I say these words to anybody; should I be able to say these words to anybody?”  I have the New Testament which reveals to me the teaching of Jesus, what he said I should do, and how I should live out my life as a child of God, yet I know my life still falls short of fully following his teachings.  Paul not only knew Jesus’ teaching, but he also knew the battle that we wage against our sinful nature.  (See Romans chapter 7)

In Philippians chapter 3 verses 10-12 Paul makes this statement, “I want to know Christ – yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining the resurrection from the dead.  Not that I have already attained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”

Jesus has taught me to love others, to forgive them, and be patient with them.  Trusting him and being content with his provision makes me a kinder more relaxed person.  However, I have not followed these lessons completely. The writers of the Bible have done their jobs in leading me to Jesus and teaching me his ways to the point that living in the Spirit is my heart’s desire, but the sinful nature is always waiting to trip me up.  Fortunately, the Holy Spirit gives me power to resist temptation, and my love for Jesus strengthens me. 

I’m ever improving as I follow Jesus.  I believe all of God’s children fit into the ever improving but not yet perfected category.  I guess we are all the not yet perfected examples of what it’s like to be a child of God.

 Could I say the words that Paul said to the Philippians?  Well, I’d rather just walk side by side as a brother in Christ, then to say follow my example.  Nonetheless, if someone wants to follow me, they will find me seeking the ways of Jesus, because that’s my goal.