Trust

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UNITY

(Psalm 133:1) How good and how pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!

Imagine how good and pleasant it would be if God’s people all over the globe lived in unity. Unity for our purposes today means: God’s people coming together with a single focus.  What is that single focus?  I think it can be expressed as – each of us, doing God’s will. 

 The billions of Christians who currently live on the earth, coming together in unity with God’s will, presents an awesome picture.  The question then for each of us is – who’s will dominates our life, God’s will or our will? If we are driven by our own will, then unity is not going to happen.  If we surrender our will and submit to God’s will, we will have unity.

  Jesus prayed to the Father, “not my will but your will.”   He was facing a horrible death but look at the results of his obedience.  Laying aside our will is difficult, but we can trust God with the outcome.

Submitting to God’s will is the goal; unity will be the reward. Oh, how good and how pleasant it will be.

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BODY SOUL AND SPIRIT

(Matthew 10:28) Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

(Hebrews 4:12) For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joint and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

We are made up of these three parts, a body, a soul, and a spirit.  Our first scripture from Matthew points out that here in the physical world only our body can be killed,but in the spiritual world we can lose our souls in hell, and God alone has power over our souls.

 I think that these words from Jesus are given to help us understand the difference in the temporal world verses the eternal world.  Think of it.  The short time we spend here compared to the never ending of eternity.  God has placed the choose of what will happen to our souls in our hands.  Jesus’ words expose the reality of Just living our lives here and forgetting the eternity to come.  Placing all our hopes in these few years here on earth can lead to our eternal demise. 

Our body is confined to the physical world.  Our soul and spirit live on after our body dies. The second scripture from Hebrews uses the word “even” with the idea of dividing soul and spirit.  I surmise that soul and spirit are closely connected because they would be difficult to separate.  From this point on I don’t have much understanding about the difference between soul and spirit.  I do know that the soul contains the essence of who we are, and Jesus died to save our souls from hell.  As to our spirit, the Bible refers to the spirit of man but doesn’t seem to give details.  

What will it be like in eternity and what we will be like when we get there? Leaving the body and still existing, this is a great mystery.  God loves us.  All we need to do is to put our body, soul and spirit in his hands.

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FOLLOW THE LORD OR GO YOUR OWN WAY

(Proverbs 3:5&6) Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Learning from our mistakes is sometimes quite painful.  Years ago, I had the opportunity to learn to wait on the Lord’s directions, rather than choosing my own way.

This opportunity began when out of anger and frustration, I quit my job at a Christian school where I worked as a high school teacher and administrator. God had placed me in this Christian school right out of college, but I always had this thought that I would be more useful in the public-school setting. Quitting, however, was not the Lord’s direction for me; but in my pride, I chose to go my own way. For the next three years, I taught in public schools at the elementary level.

The result of going my own way was that I learned just how it feels to be inadequate. I was a fish out of water at the elementary level, and public school was a whole new experience of frustration.  I still have nightmares about those three years.  God allowed me to find out what happens when one of his children goes their own way.

When my time of discipline was over and I reached a humble place of repentance before my Father, I was allowed to return to a Christian school, and to again teach high school students.  I returned to the place where I was gifted; I was grateful to be back where I belonged.

This three-year diversion was a great and terrible time. It was difficult to walk through, but it proved to be a valuable lesson that I will never forget.  I am now a child who waits upon the Lord and more carefully follows his directions. 

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THE LAST DAY

(Psalm 139:15&16) My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.  Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Isn’t it interesting to think of the fact that the Lord has numbered our days.  That’s an indication of an intimate relationship.  God knows, for each of us, the last day of our earthly life.  He knows when we will come home to him. God knows when our last day will come, but we don’t.   Not knowing when the last day will come helps us to put our concern about that day in the hands of the one who does. I don’t want to leave my mortal body until that last day comes, but I don’t want to stay one moment longer. I trust God to have perfectly planned out my days.

When I was young, I remember wanting to die at a ripe old age, in my own bed, and with my family and friends gathered around.  Considering my current age, I’m pretty sure the ripe old age part will come true.  However, we don’t have to worry about what it will be like on our last day.  God has got it already planned out.

There are aspects of the last day that are exciting. It is the last day of our earthly striving. As the Apostle Paul says, “I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race.”   It is also the day we enter our eternal rest in heaven, and we get to meet face to face with our Lord and Savior.  Laying down our earthly body will bring some sadness, and probably some pain, but there is eternal life and a new body waiting for us on the other side.

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JESUS’ INVITATION

(Matthew 11:28-30) 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.

 This is one of my favorite scriptures, but like all the sayings of Jesus, I find that fully understanding and experiencing what he says can take a lifetime.  I’ve learned that his invitation, “come to me,” doesn’t mean drop by when you’re not busy.  It means come and stay forever.  When I take his yoke upon me, it is a permanent fitting.  I find that learning from Jesus is indeed a lifetime pursuit.  The very words that impact me today, may have a whole new meaning at a later time.  There is always something deeper for the Holy Spirit to reveal.

When Jesus says he is “gentle and humble in heart”, he is telling me that his teachings are not meant to place a heavy burden on me.  They are leading me to a place of rest for my soul.  He assures me by saying his yoke is easy, and his burden is light.

I say that this is one of my favorite scriptures, yet be assured, I have wrestled with it throughout my walk with Jesus. At one point, I remember saying to Jesus that his yoke was not easy, and his burden was not light.  I’m very grateful that he is always patient with me.  I now find his words consoling.  It’s not that I’m required to do something on my own; I’m supposed to relax and receive from him direction, encouragement, and help.  Jesus loves me, and he desires to lead me toward a full and peaceful life.

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DEPRESSION

(1 Kings 19:4&5) …He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die.  “I have had enough, Lord,” he said.  “Take my life, I am no better than my ancestors.”  Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.

Did you ever have an amazingly successful day, and find yourself fighting depression the very next day?  I have, and it reminds me of what happened to Elijah.   He and God had demonstrated to the divided nation of Israel the truth that God is the only God.  He had shown King Ahab and all who had assembled on Mt. Carmel that Baal was not a god.  Then he eliminated the 450 false prophets of Baal.  As a climax, Elijah Prayed to God, and God brought rain to end a three year drought.  Elijah was at the top of his prophetic life, and he was filled with hope that the Northern Kingdom would return to worshiping the true God.

Then the enemy stepped in.  The enemy was manifested in the person of Queen Jezebel who was outraged that he had killed all her prophets of Baal.  She sent Elijah a message saying she was going to kill him before the sun set.  In fear he ran, and wound up under the broom bush very depressed.

The beauty in this story is what God did for his depressed prophet.  He sent an angel with bread and water to care for him.  He sent the angel a second time to provide nourishment, and then send him on a journey.  For forty days and forty nights Elijah traveled until he arrived at Mt. Horeb. He found a cave and sequestered himself.   God continued to provide him with food and water, and when the time was right, God began to speak to Elijah.

First God asked Elijah what he was doing there.  Elijah responded with an inventory of what was going wrong with the Israelites and concluded with, “they are now trying to kill me”.  God didn’t respond to his complaints directly.  What he did was to say, “Go back the way you came, and go to the desert of Damascus.  When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram.  Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet.”  (See 1 Kings 19:15&16) Finally, God added, “Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel – all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”  (See verse 18)

God’s response to Elijah’s depressed state was to give him a new set of directions, a plan for retirement, and reassurance that all Israelites were not lost.  God redirected Elijah with a new purpose taking his thoughts off of his perceived dilemma.  

What I derived from this story is that God deals with his children separately and individually. So if you’re at the point of thinking all is lost, stop and seek God for help.  Let God help you to find your bearings.  His method for Elijah was effective for ending his depression.  God can help you because he knows you much better that you know yourself.  When I’m depressed, God tends to change my perspective by showing me another way of see the situation. 

I have learned that when I’m down, trusting God is the way out.  Which leads me to believe that trusting God is the best way out for all of us.

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FOOLISNESS OR RELATIONSHIP

(1 Corinthians 1:18) For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

There are those who think that Christianity is a myth, and that those who follow the teachings of Jesus are week people who need a crutch in life.  They do not see the wonders of God in his creation.  The people who see life this way have no hope of eternal life, for they are perishing.

As a Christian, I have a relationship with God.  Jesus died on the cross to pay for my sins, and he opened the way to connect me with the God who created me.  I am promised eternal life with him.  I talk to him, and he talks to me.  He guides my life, and he is always with me.

Many people are walking down the wide road to destruction, not knowing that a relationship with their creator is waiting for them.  All they need to do is divert to the narrow road that leads to eternal life.  On the narrow road, they will find relationship with their creator and a renewal that begins in this life.

We who have found the Lord carry a great secret that can easily be revealed.  Having the opportunity to present this secret is the ultimate experience.  The truth is that it is no longer a secret.  The message of the cross is opened to everyone.  Even though they may consider us the foolish ones, when a person is willing to seek and find out if it’s foolishness, a soul finds eternal life.

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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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THE PRICE OF PEACE

(John 14:27) Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

(Philippians 4:6&7) Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Peace comes with a price.  The first thing we will need to give up is pride.  The pride of self-reliance does not produce peace.  It produces stress. When difficulties come, there is no one to help, and we realize we are on our own.  Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).  To find peace, we must give up our pride and admit we need Jesus.

Secondly, we must forgive.  Holding on to our right to be offended means we are the ones suffering.  Unforgiveness feeds on its self and weighs us down.  Letting go and forgiving sets us free and allows us be at peace.

Jesus holds the key to peace, and his word tells us how to find it.  Here are a few example

Do not worry; trust God for everything you need and in every situation.

            Forgive as you have been forgiven.

            Do not judge each other, but love one another.

            Love your enemies, and pray for them.

            Don’t concern yourself with treasures on earth.

            You should humble yourself and Pray.

The peace Jesus gives us does not rely on our circumstances.  His peace is founded in our reliance on him, no matter what our circumstances might be.  I guess we can conclude that when we have totally given ourselves to him, we’ll be able to continually experience the peace he gives us. 

I’m still working on completely giving myself to Jesus, but I am often able to find his peace.  How are you doing?

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WHY DID GOD CREATE THE WORLD?

(Genesis 1:1) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

(John 3:16) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

These are two very familiar scripture that most of us know by heart.  We know that God created the world, and we know that he went to great lengths to redeem us from our rebellion against him.  So I am using these two scriptures because I find them instrumental in answering the question that’s been on my mind. Here’s the question: “For what purpose was God moved to create the heavens and the earth?”  No one can know the mind of God, but in this case, throughout the scriptures, he has clearly let us know why he created.

After the six days of creation, the rest of the Bible is about God’s interactions with mankind.  And since the first sin in chapter three of Genesis, God began the process of bringing about the redemption of mankind. He has provided the means for us to return to relationship with him. And for those who have received his redemption, we have returned to a relationship with our God. Throughout eternity, we will be his children, and he will be our Father.  I think we have the answer to our question.  God wanted a family!

Even here in our fallen world, we understand what it means to have a family. It is something we inherently desire.  If we have a family, we are blessed; if we don’t have one, we long for one.  Granted family is a mixed bag here in our fallen world.  Some of us are blessed to have a family with good relationships, but many are not.  Yet we all wish that we could have a perfect family. 

Unfortunately, we will have to wait for the perfect family.  If we are willing to accept his offer, God has promised us a place in his eternal family.  Being a part of the family that God has been patiently waiting for is awesome, and it will never end.