Have Faith In God

Posted on by September 12, 2013
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September 12, 2013

Psalm 56:3-4 — What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

Yesterday I wrote about a spirit of fear that seems to inhabit our nation and particularly our schools. Today, as Myra and I had our devotions these verses from Psalm 56 leapt out at me. They so perfectly describe how I would like to be. Of course, anybody who knows me knows that I don’t always manage it, but David’s faith is what I aspire to.
David, not for the first time and not for the last, was in trouble. And he wasn’t ashamed to say that he was afraid. I don’t need to be ashamed either. See what David says … “what time I am afraid” — that is “whenever I am afraid”. David is glad to be one of “the poor” — the small and weak people whose vulnerability seems to attract God’s special protection.
It’s not completely clear what “In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust means”. One translation says it should be read as if it were “I will trust in God. Praise His word.” But there’s another reading that I really like that says “I will trust in God because His promises are praiseworthy and reliable.” A measure of David’s greatness is that his faith is provoked, and grows, by his fear. And His trust in God is based on God’s character … no wonder he was a man after God’s on heart!
God was on David side. There was nothing that men could do, or threaten to do, that could overcome his faith. He was afraid … but he did not have a spirit of fear!
B.B. McKinney wrote a lot of well-loved hymns including “Wherever He Leads I’ll Go” and “Have Faith In God”. The last verse and refrain of “Have Faith In God” say:

Have faith in God though all else fall about you;
Have faith in God, He provides for His own:
He cannot fail though all kingdoms shall perish.
He rules. He reigns upon His throne.
Have faith in God, He’s on His throne,
Have faith in God, He watches over His own;
He cannot fail, He must prevail,
Have faith in God, Have faith in God.

It’s like a drum beat. “Have faith in God. Have faith in God. Have faith in God.” That’s what David was talking about. I think that when Saul attacked, when the Philistines surrounded, whatever happened, he was repeating that refrain. That’s how faith won out over fear. I’m going to try to catch the habit!

A Spirit Of Fear

Posted on by September 11, 2013
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September 11, 2013

Romans 8:15 — For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

I thought I would be writing about something else today, but two separate news items caught my ear and came together into this theme.
The first story, not surprisingly perhaps, was the anniversary of the terrible events on September 11, 2001. Do you remember the atmosphere after that day? Some fear, certainly, but also a renewed patriotism and a seeking after The Lord.
The second story was about school supplies. Armored school supplies! How terrible a world we live in when there is a sense that our children need to be armor-protected to go to school.
When Paul talks about “a spirit” there is a conscious bringing together of two distinct ideas. There is the notion of “a spirit” that is a characteristic — such as “bondage to fear” — that conditions our behavior. Then there is “The Spirit”, the Holy Spirit inspiring us with more positive characteristics — such as a sense of adoption — that displace the negatives.
Why is there a spirit of fear abroad in our nation? It is surely because there is not the Spirit of adoption! I feel a need to pray for a revival to sweep through — a flood of people to accept Jesus as their Lord and Master and, at the same time, to join every other Christian as co-heirs with Him.
This is what is accomplished at the moment of salvation by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit enters a life and into the new believer, that new believer receives the Spirit of adoption. It is the Gift of God.
The gift carries more weight than might be obvious today. It might seems difficult to adopt a child today, but so it was under Roman law. More significantly for us, once it was done it could not be undone. An adopted son could not be disinherited. The truth Paul is communicating is that the Christian, once claiming Jesus as Lord, can never be rejected.
We are adopted. We can approach boldly to the throne of grace, climb up into Abba’s lap, and enjoy the intimacy we have as our inheritance!
Christians have no right to embrace a spirit of fear. But what if there aren’t many Christians?
It is said that the Greek philosopher Aristotle was first to assert that “Nature abhors a vacuum” Aristotle based his assertion on the observation that nature fills everything with something, even if that something is invisible fresh air! Now the physics may not be strictly accurate but the corresponding spiritual truth is. There is a spirit of fear, or a Spirit of adoption.
We have driven God out of schools and are increasingly isolating Him in our lives and our society. There is no Spirit of adoption and a spirit of fear has entered to fill the vacuum.
The answer is not armor-plated school supplies, but the whole armor of God.The Christian response — our task — is to introduce people to their Savior and open up a path for the Spirit of adoption.

Liar

Posted on by September 10, 2013
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September 10, 2013

Proverbs 12:22 — Lying lips are abomination to the Lord : but they that deal truly are his delight.
John 8:44 – Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

I had a really nice slim stylus to use with my iPad. Sadly, I misplaced it. While I was at the airport today I saw a store selling all kinds of iPad accessories, so I thought I would get a replacement. The only ones in the store were big and clunky, so I told the assistant what I was looking for, and asked if they had such a thing. “Oh no,” he answered, “they don’t make them because slim ones don’t work with iPads.” Such a stupid pointless lie! Had I not told him that I was looking to replace one that I had before? For the remote possibility of making a very small sale, he was willing to make him self foolish with a silly lie.
Now perhaps you think I’m making a lot of a trivial incident … and maybe I am, but I think the “trivial” incident is a symptom of a big problem. And (may I be forgiven for my presumption). I think God might see it the same way! The verses at the head of this devotion give clear confirmation. We seem to have become a society — one of many perhaps — in which lying is seen as part of the normal fabric of communication. The disease seems to spread across all age groups and all walks of life. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a politician making promises he has no intention of keeping, a saleslady cheating on her expenses or a student “inflating” a grade. Wherever you look dishonesty is endemic. Not very long ago the justices of the Supreme Court even declared that a man lying about having been awarded the Medal of Honor was entitled to constitutional protection!
The decline of truth is no new thing but I continue to be shocked by “little” instances like the one I ran into today. How does this come about? Every child will tell a lie, sooner or later. Parental correction often (but not always) follows. But it seems that as those children grow up the penalties for lying become relatively less significant.
Parental correction is not always matched by parental example. In the same way those who are supposed to be the leaders of the nation or, at least influencers of social trends, provide no good examples — no strong leadership. The lie has become regarded as a legitimate political and business tool.
Popular entertainment is another element. Actors are regularly asked to portray characters whose success depends on deceit. Often those characters are the most popular!
I suppose I’m crying at the wind, but I long for the return of the days when being caught in a lie was cause for the deepest shame. Let’s call out the liars!

Hidden Pathways

Posted on by September 9, 2013
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September 9, 2013

Matthew 7:13, 14 — Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

There are so many times when the path ahead seems hidden. We look into the future and can see only an impenetrable fog. Then, all too often, we invent our own view of what’s ahead. We fall into some serious mistakes!
First, we assume that we have some kind of right to know what is ahead. There is a terrible pride hidden in the assumption. Do we really think we should know as much as God does?
Second, we find it easier to imagine problems than opportunities. We forget that whatever it is we can trust God to make it work for our good. (I’m assuming that you’re a Christian. If you’re not, we need to have a different discussion.)
Third, once we’ve formed our view of the future, we have a nasty habit of taking the steps that might turn it into reality. Then when the thing that we fear happens we say “look what God has let happen” instead of “now look what I’ve got myself into!”
If you are like me, none of this is news. Like me, sometimes you fall into the trap of focusing on the next stop instead of the end of the journey. I’m going to suggest that, instead of making the three mistakes I’ve described above, we consider three different things. Where we have come from, where we are going, and how we are going to get there?
First, “Where have we come from?” I can answer that question in two ways. I was created by God for His purposes, and I’ve been in some pretty rough places. Before I knew God my life was a mess and even since then I have got myself into difficulties when I focused on the wrong things!
Second, “Where are we going?” Not, “Where are we going next?” but “What’s the final destination?” I believe that, no matter what happens on the way, the final destination is eternal life — or its opposite. I believe God’s promise that, having accepted His Son as my Lord and Savior, my final destination is the preferred one!
Third, “How are we going to get there?” This might be the most important question of all. Am I going to go my own way … it seems easy … to take the steps that “make sense” to me and hope the destination is what I want? Am I going to pick the harder option and keep doing my best to do the right thing, and follow Jesus knowing that however unclear the steps, the destination is sure?
I have decided to follow Jesus … or as that great old pilgrim John Bunyan said:

He who would valiant be ‘gainst all disaster, let him in constancy follow the Master.
There’s no discouragement shall make him once relent his first avowed intent to be a pilgrim.

I know I’ll keep slipping back, and focusing on the wrong things. But I aim to keep reminding myself, and to keep “seeking the narrow gate”. How about you?

The Chain Of Truth

Posted on by September 8, 2013
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September 8, 2013

Exodus 10:2 — And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son’s son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the Lord.

Never be afraid to respond to the Holy Spirit’s prompting to share Biblical wisdom with another believer! If you are like me you’re a bit shy, for a lot of reasons, about doing it. But I’ve just had a powerful lesson about it.
There are two sorts of generational chain in Christian life. There’s is the natural family chain from Grandparent, to parent, to child – but there’s also a chain from one believer, to another, to another. And passing wisdom, truth, and history from believer to believer is as important as passing it from one “family” generation to another. It’s what Paul was talking about when he wrote to his “spiritual son” Timothy “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”
I was talking to a good friend the other day. He reminded me of something I had long forgotten. The reminder stunned and blessed me. A few years back he had been considering whether to join a Christian ministry, but was not sensing clear direction from The Lord. I shared something from my past …
A few years back, Myra and I were invited to go into full time ministry. We too were not sure what The Lord wanted from us. It was at that time that we were given excellent advice by a Godly man. “Look,” he said, ” sometimes God opens a road, and wants us to start down it. When we do, from time to time you’ll come to possible stops. If the light is green — carry on. If the light is red, it’s a clear indication that you’ve come to the end of the road”.
Sadly, Myra and I did eventually hit a “red light”. It became clear that, though it was bitterly hard for us to accept, we had reached the end of our road.
I shared the story with my friend, hung up my phone and, to be honest, thought little more of it until we talked the other day.
He had taken my advice. When he came to a definite “stop” on his road he was wise enough to stop, and wait. Some time later another opportunity for ministry presented itself, and his work has become a blessing for hundreds and maybe even thousands.
As I sit here today it’s not the detail that is occupying my mind. It’s the process, the passing of the Biblically inspired truth along the chain of believers. It can have such a kingdom impact.
So this is the lesson I’ve learned — if you get the chance to pass on wisdom, and the Spirit nudges you, take it. You have no way of knowing how many lives will be touched …

Big Little Things

Posted on by September 7, 2013
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September 7, 2013

Acts 9:36 — Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and alms deeds which she did.

We had our Living Christmas Tree Choir Retreat today. It’s an annual get- together that kicks off the many rehearsals in preparation for one of our church’s biggest yearly outreaches. The presentations will touch 10-15,000 people. That’s not the thing I want to focus on today though.
Last night we had an amazing storm over Naples. There was thunder, lightning and inches of rain brought floods to many neighborhoods. When we got to church for the retreat, our Premise Keepers were starting to dry out areas where rain had penetrated and soaked the carpets.
There was a great breakfast ready for choir members, prepared by fellow choir members. Others had beautifully decorated the choir room.
So many things were done by so many people to prepare our hearts and minds so that we could worship The Lord and start building towards the great event.
All these little things that people did. All these things that have such a great impact on Kingdom building.
Tabitha – Dorcas, the gazelle – was a great kingdom builder too. She was full of good works and alms deeds. She served the Kingdom by doing and by giving. A little later in chapter 9 of Acts we hear that Tabitha dies and “all the widows stood by him (Paul) weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made.” Her kindness has encouraged the widows and helped bind them to the church. That’s how I felt today about all the many kind things that people had done — encouraged, and happy to be where I was, doing what I was doing.
To me the small actions that have big impact are a distinctive feature of Christianity. They are at the heart of the heart of the church.
There’s an interesting thing about the way what Tabitha does is described. Why doesn’t the sentence finish at “deeds”. Why are her “good works and alms deeds” described those as “which she did”? What point is Luke (who wrote the Book of Acts) making? The point is that lot’s of people say they will do things. Sometimes they promise to do great things — but they never come through! Tabitha did what she said she would do, and gave what she said she would give. In Ecclesiastes the Preacher says “When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.”
Great promises don’t build the Kingdom. Little big deeds do.

Happy Birthday Sweetheart

Posted on by September 6, 2013
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September 6, 2013

Song of Solomon 4:12-15 — A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard, Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices: A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.

It was Myra’s birthday today. I was at work so I haven’t spent as much time with her as I would have liked. Of course my mind has been on her, and it came to me early that of course today’s devotion was about her. I didn’t know the details though. It happens like that most days. There’s the germ of an idea, that grows through the day … And I’m not sure of the fruit until the end.

Look how beautiful Solomon’s praise of his beloved Shunamite is. He says exactly what I feel.
Solomon’s beloved reserved herself to him and him alone — she was a private garden, a closed in spring, a sealed fountain. My beloved reserves herself for me … Often she says “this is just for you”. How privileged I am.

Solomon’s Shunamite was valuable to him.
She produced pleasant fruits, and living waters. My beloved is valuable to me — no, more than valuable, she is precious beyond my ability to describe.
Solomon’s sweetheart was refreshing to him — those streams from Lebanon that he compares her to are streams tumbling down the mountains of Lebanon — cool, refreshing, and probably a cheerful sound too as it tumbled down. My beloved is all of that. Day by day she refreshes me, cools me and cheers me.
Solomon enjoyed his Shunamite — she was a garden of delights. My Myra, too, is a garden of delights.

There are, of course differences between Solomon’s relationship with the Shunamite and the relationship between me and Myra. We’ve been married for a good few years, and they hadn’t got there yet. And her birthday this year reminded me that when we were married I got a special gift. When we were married I wasn’t a Christian. After I got saved we had a blessing ceremony. I remember making a little speech, including one of my favorite proverbs — 18:22, “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord.” I try to find gifts for Myra that she will like (and she’s getting hard to shop for — she says she has everything she needs), but I am reminded every day that I have a gift from The Lord!

Happy Birthday sweetheart

It’s The Law

Posted on by September 5, 2013
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September 5, 2013

Numbers 15:30-35 — But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Because he hath despised the word of the Lord, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him. And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. And the Lord said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.

How do you feel about the law? I don’t mean God’s law, I mean the law of the land? Here’s some choices:
The law is the law, it’s absolute. You try to obey it all the time, and accept that you should be punished if you don’t.
The law is generally right, and usually applies — but sometimes there are special circumstances, and breaches should be forgiven.
The law is entirely optional, based on my convenience. It’s O.K. For you, but I can suit myself and any punishment is an injustice.
God’s view of the law seems pretty plain. You might even think it’s a bit harsh. I mean come on … The guy was just picking up sticks! Surely if he felt it was necessary to gather fuel at the weekend that was just being prudent? Or at least they should have given him a chance to explain? Well, no — here’s the thing. The man deliberately (presumptuously) broke the law — insulting God.
But wasn’t that God’s law? How does God feel about man’s law? Paul works it out for us in chapter 13 of his letter to the Romans.
Christians must obey the law “for wrath’s sake”. God has established the governments and they rule by His permission. Rulers bear the sword — they have the power to punish and take life.
Christians must obey the law because their conscience tells them to! Verse 7 of Romans 13 tells us to pay what we owe — not to do so is disrespecting God, like our stick picker!
It’s not just a matter of conscience — the next verse says “to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.”
Observe the law for fear, for conscience, for love and for one more reason. Verse 14 of Romans 13 tells us “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” A Christian should be growing into the image of Christ. For His sake we should obey the law.
So what’s the application? Are there any laws that you think are stupid? Any you don’t think should apply to you? Maybe those speed limits aren’t really necessary, or maybe self-awarded tax breaks are a good idea? Think again.
It’s the law!

Pray Like This

Posted on by September 4, 2013
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September 4, 2013

Matthew 6:9 KJV — After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

We are practicing a version of this best-loved prayer in choir at the moment. It’s a beautiful setting, but I can’t help feeling a little sad that it changes the words I know and love. It prompted me to write a few words about what is usually called the “Lord’s Prayer”, sometimes — perhaps more accurately the “Model Prayer” and to me the “Perfect Prayer”.
I’m sure you’ve read or listened to many studies of the Lord’s Prayer, so much of what follows is probably not new to you. But for me the Lord’s Prayer was a first teacher about how to pray. I just want to share the things that the Lord’s Prayer taught me.

First, prayer — like all of Christianity — is inclusive and relational. It might have started “My Father”, but it doesn’t. It starts “Our Father”. There can be no greater honor than to be the child of Our Father!

Prayer is, of course, God-focused. Let’s look at the whole of the Lord’s Prayer, in Matthew’s version:

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

It begins and ends by acknowledging who God is, and paying due honor to Him. All prayer needs to do that. Prayer is not like writing a wish list for Santa Claus. It’s a conversation with the only all-powerful, all knowing, all good God!

Perfect prayer includes surrender. “Thy will be done”. With no “ifs, ands, or buts”. Thy will, unconditionally and without qualification, be done.

Prayer is not a wish list for Santa … but it should include an honest statement of our hearts desires. But the Lord’s Prayer has a very interesting way of covering our wishes and wants — “Give us our daily bread”. How do you think that translates today — “Give us 5 slices of Wonder Bread”? I don’t think so. It surely translates as “Whatever you judge we need today, please give us just that”.

Have you noticed that this perfect prayer is peeling back layers of our heart? It has started with worship, moved on to desires and now comes to the opening up of our most secret place — “Father, you know where I have gone wrong, and where I may go wrong. I don’t have to go into details — you know what the issues are, and I just ask for your forgiveness and guidance.”

Praying can be hard. Sometimes it leads to the question “Am I doing it right”. There are hundreds … maybe even thousands … of “how to books”. I can’t say that some of them are not excellent. But I really believe that going to the source and seeing what the Master said is probably the single best education in prayer that anyone can get!

As A Little Child

Posted on by September 3, 2013
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September 3, 2013

Mark 10:15 — Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

“Now I wake and see the light: ‘Tis God who kept me through the night. To him I lift my voice and pray. That he would keep me through the day: If I should die before ‘tis done, O God, accept me through thy Son.” … You might not know this little prayer, but you surely know it’s nighttime counterpart, “Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.” Both these gems were printed in the New England Primer, and so were a part of the American consciousness for the best part of two hundred years until the Primer lost its place as a basic educational tool. The evening prayer is even older, with an earlier English version printed in London and a Latin version going back as far as 1190.
I love these prayers because they speak to God as I wish I did, as a little child.
What did Jesus mean when He said “as a little child”?
Children are, before anything else, dependent and willing to depend on their parents. They are not self-reliant, nor yet do they look to any other source to meet any of their needs.
Children are modest, and make no claims to greatness. Nor do they lay any great claim to many possessions. Their wants and needs, though often urgent and desperate, are few and small.
Though they have the germ of sin in them, children are inclined to be simple and obedient. We learn the habits of independence of mind and disobedience in behavior as we grow older. That little germ infects our every thought and action, but at the start it’s not like that.
I speak as a man, and say that any man who has held a little child — perhaps fallen a sleep with a child in his arms, knows that there is an extraordinary innocence and purity of mind. And at first that flower of innocence blossoms into something wonderful — a question asking machine, inquisitive and ready to believe — not contradicting, but accepting.
There is one last, most beautiful reason to follow the Master’s direction to become as a little child. Origen, the Alexandrian Christian who, in the early third century was one of the first great theologians said “For He Himself, when He was in the form of God, humbled Himself, and became a child.” When you think that God became a child to enter your world, don’t you want to become a child to enter His? “If I should die before ‘tis done, O God, accept me through thy Son.”