Interpretations of Scripture, Part 3

When interpreting Scripture, we must be thorough and use the guidance of the Holy Spirit. There are many ways in which Scripture can be misinterpreted. Being human, we obviously do not know everything. Even though we often think we know everything, all we have to do is take a step back to realize how little we truly do know. Take a walk in the woods - how much do you really know about each individual organism and how it functions or what its purposes are? Step through the doors of hospital - how much do you really know about your own body (its bones and organs and tissues...the way each cell works to make your body function...)? Take a history book off the shelf - how many details, intents, and influences do you really know about people and events that happened many, many, many years before you were even born? Travel into outer space - how much do you know about the billions of stars in our own galaxy, the planets of our own solar system, or the numerous other galaxies within the universe? Journey to the center of the earth - how much do you know about the inner layers of the earth, how they function, or what purpose they serve our planet? Step into the life of a psychologist - what do you really know about what other human beings are thinking or feeling, and what do you know about giving them the right prescription (medicinal or otherwise)? You see, even if we know a little something about everything, there is no way that any of us could possibly know everything there is to know about even one of these topics! Even if we studied that one subject our whole lives! 

In the same way, none of us can know everything about God. If we studied Him our entire lives, we would merely scratch the surface of who He is. Yet, God gave us the gift of His Word and the Holy Spirit to help us understand and discern meaning. Rather than leave us in the dark, God gave us many opportunities to know Him. Creation is filled with His fingerprints, and the Bible is His inspired Word to us. The Bible helps us to see who God was in history, and that helps us to see who God is today and will be in the future. How does it do that? Well, remember that God never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So, everything we read in Scripture reveals to us more of God's character, personality, and desires. 

It can be difficult, however, to understand even a little who God is if we are not careful in interpreting the Scriptures correctly. It is important to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us, and be praying for God to give us insight and understanding. 

One thing to be careful of is compartmentalizing Scripture. No one verse or passage can be separated from the whole of Scripture. As Andy Deane writes, "Never divorce one part of Scriptures from another. The interpretation of every text must be consistent and coherent with the Bible as a whole...When we read the Bible, we must do so with great discernment and test every teaching by the whole of Scripture. This is called correlation: the process of relating one passage to another. Weighing the Scriptures in this manner will help prevent unbalanced and erroneous interpretations." It is the same idea as eating one ingredient, flour for example, of a cake batter. If you judge the taste of the cake as a whole by tasting just the flour, you will have made a judgment based on partial views. Or, if you decide that the theme of a certain song is love simply by listening to one line, you will never know that the song's actual theme is hopelessness without Christ because you chose to listen to a part and not the whole of the song. Whenever a judgment or interpretation is made based on a part rather than the whole of any thing, it will always be a partial or incomplete (and often incorrect) judgment or interpretation. So, be careful not to judge a book by its cover, or a person by their appearance, or a ride by someone else's experience of it. In the same way, take great care in reading Scripture as a whole so that nothing is lacking in the interpretation of it.

Interpretations of Scripture, Part 2

I can't tell you how many times I have been told by other Christians that everyone is free to have their own interpretation of Scripture or that God intended His Word to be interpreted differently by Christians depending on their individual circumstances and beliefs. Yet, all I have to do to know many Christians hold to this belief that there is more than one interpretation of the Bible is to look around. The Church has changed. Look at the churches across America, and you will find a great number of them believing (and preaching) various heresies that have come out of this belief that God's Word means different things for different people:

Homosexuality is not wrong for everyone - God made some people that way... Divorce is acceptable, and even condoned in many churches - God wouldn't make them stay with that horrible person (that they don't get along with anymore or don't have chemistry with anymore) forever... Abortion is not always wrong - God wouldn't make them have a baby that was a result of rape or incest, and He certainly wouldn't make them have the baby if it put their life in any danger... Women shouldn't be forbidden to do anything - God made them equal and that gives them the right to take on whatever task or position they like, be it head of a home or a church... Sin is not something to spend much time thinking about - grace is there, so it doesn't matter how we live... Everyone is loved by God - we must never say anything about the way people choose to live because it's their choice and ultimately, God loves them and grace will cover them... The gifts of the Spirit and speaking in tongues are no longer applicable - God only allowed those things during Bible times because he wouldn't want anyone today to be embarrassed or viewed as a "freak"... Jesus is not the only way to heaven - that is just the way some people think, but Allah and Buddha can get you there too... 

In reading this morning, I was struck by the simple truth of God's Word and our interpretation of it as believers. Following is an excerpt from my reading. It is taken from Andy Deane's book entitled Learn to Study the Bible.

Chapter 3 - Interpretation: What Does It Mean?

The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. - 1 Corinthians 2:14

Every good Bible study method has as one of its main objectives, the correct interpretation of the Scriptures. However, Dr. Roy B. Zuck, of Dallas Theological Seminary says, "Most of the time when many people approach the Bible, they jump from observation to application, skipping the essential step of interpretation. This is wring because interpretation logically follows observation. In observing what the Bible says, you probe; in interpretation, you mull. Observation is discovery; interpretation is digesting. Observation means looking at what is there, and interpretation is deciding what it means. The one is to explore, the other is to explain." ...

"KNOW IT" - Interpretation Helps Us Discover the Meaning
A correct interpretation of Scripture will never be discerned strictly by human logic. We cannot simply apply our intellect to the text; we must be willing to allow the revealed wisdom of God to speak to us through the pages of Scripture. Many Christians miss the truth of God's Word because they are trying to mold its precepts to fit their own personal ideologies. They read meaning into the text rather than drawing understanding from it. However, when we come to the Bible prepared to have our thoughts and ideas conformed to its authority (rather than the other way around) then whether we are seasoned biblical scholars or the youngest Sunday school students we will be able to come away with a correct understanding. The best assurance we have of arriving at the right interpretation of any biblical passage always begins with laying aside our own preconceived notions, gut feelings, long-held beliefs, and persuasive arguments, and allowing the Word of God and the Spirit of God to impart understanding to us.

The Bible is the ultimate authority int he church and in the lives of individual believers. However, people often discredit the Bible with comments such as, "Well, everyone has their own understanding of what the Bible means," or "there are as many interpretations of the Bible as there are Christians." But statements such as these are simply untrue. 2 Peter 1:20-21 reminds us that the Word of God has only one correct interpretation: "No prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit."

We should never approach the Bible in the same subjective way in which we would view a painting by Picasso. the Bible is not an abstract piece of art that invites everyone to weigh in with his or her own opinion of its meaning. Every passage of Scripture has an intended and discoverable truth - one correct interpretation. 

...

Prayer is also a key factor in assuring that we always come to a correct understanding of the Scriptures. In fact, when it comes to God's word I believe prayer is even more valuable than seminary. The richness of every biblical passage will be revealed to those who read the Bible on their knees. 

Interpretations of Scripture, Part 1

I can't tell you how many times I have been told by other Christians that everyone is free to have their own interpretation of Scripture or that God intended His Word to be interpreted differently by Christians depending on their individual circumstances and beliefs. Yet, all I have to do to know many Christians hold to this belief that there is more than one interpretation of the Bible is to look around. The Church has changed. Look at the churches across America, and you will find a great number of them believing (and preaching) various heresies that have come out of this belief that God's Word means different things for different people:

Homosexuality is not wrong for everyone - God made some people that way... Divorce is acceptable, and even condoned in many churches - God wouldn't make them stay with that horrible person (that they don't get along with anymore or don't have chemistry with anymore) forever... Abortion is not always wrong - God wouldn't make them have a baby that was a result of rape or incest, and He certainly wouldn't make them have the baby if it put their life in any danger... Women shouldn't be forbidden to do anything - God made them equal and that gives them the right to take on whatever task or position they like, be it head of a home or a church... Sin is not something to spend much time thinking about - grace is there, so it doesn't matter how we live... Everyone is loved by God - we must never say anything about the way people choose to live because it's their choice and ultimately, God loves them and grace will cover them... The gifts of the Spirit and speaking in tongues are no longer applicable - God only allowed those things during Bible times because he wouldn't want anyone today to be embarrassed or viewed as a "freak"... Jesus is not the only way to heaven - that is just the way some people think, but Allah and Buddha can get you there too... 

 I wonder, though, who is this God they serve? If it is the same God I serve, I must be wasting my time because apparently truth is relative. How can they claim to know and serve God when they do not even believe that what He says is true. Does God lie? Or, does God change? Is He one thing for one person, and something entirely different for another? And, what is truth if there is no absolute? How is it possible for truth to be relative or circumstantial? 

I wonder because it clearly states in Scripture that God cannot lie: "God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?" (Numbers 23:20, NKJV). In Hebrews 6:18 it  states: "to which it is impossible for God to lie". As to God changing, Malachi 3:6 refutes that possibility: "'For I am the Lord, I do not change.'" Again, in Hebrews 1:10-12 (a quote of Psalm 102:25-27) we see that God does not change: "You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You will remain; And they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will fold them up, and they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will not fail." We read in Hebrews 13: 8 that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." How then, would it be possible for Him to change? In regards to truth being relative, Scripture clearly tells us it is not so. If God is unchanging and the same for all time, then truth is also absolute and unchanging. In John 14:6 Jesus tells Thomas - one of his disciples, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." As to the Bible being reliable as it is written, we read in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 that "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." Notice that it is for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction! It is not something to follow if you feel like it or agree with it. It is the Word of God given to man that he may be complete and equipped.

He Calls Me By Name!

:-) Today I was reading in Isaiah and I came across a couple of verses that really encouraged me. What a great reminder of God's love for each of us individually and of His wonderful plans for each of our lives!

"I will go before you and make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the LORD, who call you by your name, am the God of Israel. For Jacob My servant's sake, and Israel My elect, I have even called you by your name; I have named you, though you have not known Me."                       

                                                                                                      ~Isaiah 45:2-5

For some reason, it just really struck me today that the LORD has named me! He knows my name and He calls me by my name. It is said that a person's name is very important to them. In fact, a man named Dale Carnegie said this: "Remember that a person's name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language." There are even psychological studies that have been done trying to prove why hearing one's own name means so much to them and looking at the effects of being called by name.

I don't know about you, but I can attest to the fact that nothing gets my attention quite like hearing my name. Growing up, if I heard my mother calling me by my full name, I always knew I was in trouble or that I was needed ASAP. Nowadays, I don't hear my full name all that often anymore, but that's because I might have grown up a bit and don't get in trouble as often. :-) I still enjoy hearing my name called though! I know when I'm working at Culvers and a customer uses my name as they talk to me, it makes me feel less like a robot taking orders and more like an individual human being - someone unique and special. Even more so do I feel special when people I know (aka. friends and family) call me by name! Hearing my name when the people I love most in the world are talking to me gives me great joy and reminds me that I am loved and cared for because of who I am. How much more wonderful to think about God, my Heavenly Father, calling me by name! I am reminded that I am His and that He has a plan and a purpose for my life unique to the strengths, character, and personality that He has given me.  How blessed I am to have a God who calls me by name!

I challenge you to remember how special you are today! God has given you a name and is calling you by that name! He has a plan and a purpose for your life! He loves you! He wants you to draw near to Him! He longs for a deeper relationship with you! Shhhh....take a moment to quiet your heart and listen for the Savior's call. He has something He wants to say to you today! :-)

The Fear of the Lord

Have you ever wondered what it means to fear the Lord? I know I have. The concept seems so strange, although that is probably due in part to the definition of fear that usually comes to mind first. When I think about fearing God, it is difficult for me to grasp the type of fear that is being discussed. I guess I've always struggled to understand how to fear God. 

In my devotions today I was reading in Proverbs and I came across a portion of Scripture that seemed to leap out of the pages at me. I love when that happens! Interestingly enough, this portion of the Word dealt with fearing the Lord. I was amazed to discover how many times I'd read the passage without realizing that it tells believers exactly how to understand fearing God! I wondered how many others had simply read over the same instructions I had. So, I thought I would share the passage with you today. 

"My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasure; then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God."                                                                              

                                                                                        ~Proverbs 2:1-5

Learning Contentment, Part 2

As I was reading through Philippians 4 again, it occurred to me that perhaps verses 4-9 are part of the instruction from God necessary to learn contentment. 

"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you."  

It seems to me that all these things are necessary for true contentment. See, the opposite of rejoicing is as follows: "moan, sorrow, sulk, be in a huff, grieve, mourn" (wordhippo.com). I don't know about you, but when I am any of those antonyms of rejoicing listed above, I am far from content. I would go so far as to say it is impossible to be content when experiencing at least most of those verbs. I usually moan, sulk, and huff when things aren't going my way or aren't happening fast enough. I grieve, mourn and am sorrowful when something is taken away from me. The way I see it, we must learn to rejoice in all situations no matter how our flesh desires to react. If we are truly rejoicing in all things, learning to be content will come much easier because we will be exceedingly glad and thriving in whatever life throws at us. 


"Let your gentleness be known to all men." Hmmm. Some other words for gentleness include the following: "mildness, calmness, tenderness, placidity, quietness, softness, lightness, tranquility, mellowness, restfulness, peacefulness" (wordhippo.com). I think all of those things would definitely make learning contentment easier to achieve than if we were harsh all the time!


Verse 6 is probably one of the most obvious ways to learn contentment: "Be anxious for nothing". Since anxiousness comes from being unsatisfied, I think it is safe to conclude that it is not in the definition of contentment. A person who is content is not worrying about things. He or she is satisfied. Besides, what does worry profit? Nothing positive that I know of. Yet, how easy is it to worry and be anxious about various situations in life? Something to think about for sure! Giving everything to God is necessary to learn contentment. And spending time in prayer, sharing our requests and giving thanks for what we have will help remind us of all that we do have.


Then, I think that by focusing our thoughts on things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy, we will already be setting ourselves up for contentment. It is when we think on the things that we wish we had, the things others have, the evil of the world, and the hopelessness that seems to be infiltrating society today that we become unsatisfied and unhappy with life. We should also spend time meditating on the things that we have been taught over the years - through godly mentors, our parents, daily devotions, the Scriptures, etc. This too will help us learn contentment.


Honestly, learning contentment will take work. We will have to be consciously turning our thoughts on God-honoring things, continuously walking in the Spirit, meticulously setting our attitude in the right direction, and always looking upwards to the One who is able to do abundantly more than we could ever do on our own. We must remember that we cannot learn contentment ourselves. It will be through Christ who gives us strength that we will learn to live a life of contentment, and it will take work, courage, and much prayer.

Ordinary People and Surprising Methods

Naaman Healed of Leprosy

Today I was reading in 2 Kings when I came across one of the popular Sunday School stories I remembered from my childhood - that of Naaman the leper. I am sure I have read the story more than once before, but today there were a couple elements within the story that I was seeing as though for the first time. Yes, I had been aware of these aspects of the story before, but today they seemed to have a new depth and a new meaning. 

Now Naaman was a man of wealth, position, and power - a man of high regard. Naaman was the commander, or general, of the Syrian army and had led that army to victory on numerous occasions. He was held in high regard and given honor even by the Syrian king. Yet, Naaman suffered with the curse of leprosy. Leprosy, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, is defined as "a disease that has been known since biblical times...causes skin sores, nerve damage, and muscle weakness that gets worse over time." It also shares some of the possible complications of long-term leprosy: "disfigurement", "muscle weakness", "permanent nerve damage in the arms and legs", "sensory loss", a most seriously loss "of the use of their hands or feet due to repeated injury because they lack feeling in those areas". Leprosy is said to be an extremely painful disease.

On one of the raids led by Naaman, a young girl was captured and brought back to Syria to serve in the house of Naaman. This young servant girl waited upon Naaman's wife. Although uprooted and taken from everything she had once called "home", this girl seemed to truly care for those she served. It does not appear that she held any bitterness, hate, or rebellion against Naaman or those within his home. Clearly, this little girl loved God deeply and knew that she had been placed in the house of Naaman for a purpose beyond being a simple maidservant. This little girl genuinely cared for those who had removed her from her homeland and reduced her to servitude. She was also full of courage. 

"Then she said to her mistress, 'If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy.'" 2 Kings 5:3, NKJV

This request was not as simple as it would seem. The little servant girl was a bit like Esther when she went before the king of Persia uninvited. What the servant girl was suggesting would require Naaman to reject the gods of his land and put the military strength of his country in jeopardy. Her request could have cost the young girl her very life. It is clear that she had great faith in God and his plan. It appears as though this little girl was truly put in the house of Naaman for "such a time as this". 


I have to take a step back at this point and wonder what made Naaman listen to the servant girl. Was it out of desperation? Was it because of the way in which the young girl spoke? Did she possess a quiet strength? Did she speak with passion and fire? Or was it because she had proved to be faithful and trustworthy during her time of servitude? Was she respected by Naaman and his wife so much that they would act upon her preposterous suggestion so quickly? I mean, Naaman had to realize the great risk involved. He was a man of status, but to do what the child suggested could involve his position being taken away from him, his reputation being ruined, or worse. 


As it turns out, Naaman bravely went before the king of Syria and shared what the little servant girl had told him. Now, the king had some decisions to make. First of all, what was he to do? Naaman had laid everything on the line. He had rejected the Syrian gods and made it clear that his health was more important to him than his current position. The king was also brave. He knew that Syria and Israel were not on good terms, yet he commanded Naaman to travel immediately to Israel, and sent a letter to the king of Israel ahead of Naaman. He also sent with Naaman many valuable gifts to present before the king of Israel in exchange for his healing. 


The letter that the king of Syria sent was not well-received by the king of Israel, however. In fact, the king of Israel was so distraught and full of fear that he rent his clothes. He fully believed that a trap was being laid out for him. It was the prophet Elisha who told the king of Israel that he need not fear. Elisha told the king to let Naaman come to him so that Naaman would see that there was a prophet of the Most High in Israel. 


Oddly enough, it was not Elisha who met Naaman, but a messenger who told him to "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times" so that he would be healed. If I had been Naaman, I think I would have demanded to see the prophet Elisha. I think, like Naaman, I would have been furious at the messenger for daring to suggest such a preposterous notion to ME - ME...a man of power and station! WASH IN THE JORDAN RIVER?!?!?! What was that messenger thinking?!?! Didn't he realize that the Jordan River was filthy and unfit for a man of his regard to get into - much less bathe in? Had he known that he would just have to bathe in a river, he could have stayed home and bathed in one there! Those rivers were much cleaner!!! Naaman had an idea of how the healing should occur already in mind. There was no way he would settle for bathing in a stinky, dirty river! No, Elisha would simply need to call out to God and wave his hands around and Naaman would be healed. Nothing demeaning would be required of him. 


Hmmm....sounds a little prideful. Thankfully, one of Naaman's servants was brave enough to confront his master regarding his pride. "If the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it?" the servant asked. WOW! I'm sure Naaman was thinking he would have definitely done what Elisha's messenger had asked had it been something that would have made him look better and have increased his stature. Then comes the kicker. "How much more then, when he says to you, 'Wash and be clean'?" asked the servant. Hmmm.... Well, needless to say, Naaman's pride got a little hurt. He was humbled though, and went down to the Jordan River and bathed seven times - just as Elisha's messenger had commanded. As a result, Naaman was healed and his skin became like that of a child. 


Interesting that pride almost prevented Naaman from receiving healing from God. Perhaps that is something we need to be more aware of as well. Is there any pride in our own lives that is keeping us from receiving something from God - be it healing, direction, or blessings? Definitely something to keep in mind.


Now, after Naaman had been healed, he and all his men went to Elisha's servant and proclaimed that he now knew that the Lord God of Israel was the only true god. Naaman offered him gifts, but the man of God refused them. He urged him to take the gifts, but to no avail. So, Naaman then requested that the Lord forgive him when he goes into the temple of the Syrian gods with his master. His request was granted and he went on his way. 


I find it very interesting that the story does not end here. The story continues with the man of God allowing greed, selfishness, and deceit to cloud his judgment. Elisha's messenger, instead of returning to Elisha, ran after Naaman and lied to him, telling him that Elisha had told him to find Naaman and take some of the gifts offered. Naaman willingly gave the man what he asked for and the servant of God hid the gifts before returning to Elisha. Fully expecting to get away with his deceitful acts, the messenger was taken aback when Elisha rebuked him for his actions and placed upon the messenger and all of his descendants the leprosy that had plagued Naaman. The truth will always come out! Do not be deceived into thinking that you can get away with lies and deceit. While you may think you are for awhile, the truth will come out - most likely when you are least prepared for it. And there are always consequences for our actions. Always. Just look at Elisha's messenger. Do you think he regretted his choices and actions when he was found out and punished? I think so. I think that he probably never fully lived that one down. I'm sure he wishes that he had just returned to Elisha immediately and had not allowed sinful thoughts to entertain his mind. I caution you to walk in the Spirit! Do not let the enemy gain a foothold in your life!

Finding Stillness in the Chaos

BE STILL, AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD

Be still -

An order of peace to be obeyed.

Know that I am God - 

A command of love unspeakable.

But how?

How can I silence the voices

Filling my mind

Making it spin?

Stillness - 

It seems to unreachable,

With hundreds of voices

Each feigning utmost importance.

I want to be still;

I want to know Him.

The voices must be silenced;

The distractions ignored.

Jesus - 

The voices and distractions,

They flee at the whisper - 

The breath of His name.

Draw near. 

Enter His gates with thanksgiving,

His courts with praise.

In His presence stillness is found.

Be still - 

The distractions, they will fade.

Know Me - 

The voices, they too will cease.

"Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

For about the past week I have had trouble focusing during my devotions. It seems that when I sit down to do them, every other thought I could possibly have comes at that moment. The mumbled mess of my thoughts makes it hard to focus on the Word of God, and the distractions that surround me make it hard to get time with the Lord. Today, I decided enough was enough. I need time with the Lord and time in His Word. I can't survive without it. That means the voices and distractions must become nothing. I was struggling with how to quiet the voices and silence the distractions, when it seemed the Lord just showed me how I simply needed to draw near and call on the name of Jesus. So I did...and stillness followed. At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow!

Trusting the One who Sees the 'Big Picture'

"He Holds the World in the Palm of His Hands"

Take a deep breath. Okay, let it out. Now it's time to let go - to lay everything at the feet of Jesus. He already holds the world in His Hands, but He asks us to surrender all our hopes, our dreams, our will, our desires, our control - our everything - to Him. He asks us to trust Him with our lives. Can we do it?


These past few weeks I have been working through this difficult process of surrender. I say difficult because letting go does not come naturally to our human nature and entails denying self - something that can be very hard to do. I have found that surrender is a continual process. It is not just something I can do once and be done with; it is something I must do on a daily basis. What I have found, though, is that despite the difficulty of picking up my cross and following Christ, of laying everything at His feet, there is freedom and release. Surrender is a beautiful thing, and is necessary in drawing closer to the LORD and in being obedient to Him.


I am realizing too, that God sees the big picture. My vision is very limited. I cannot see the past, present and future or how they entwine together in His plans for my life. This is why placing my life in the hands of God makes so much more sense. How can I control my course when I do not know where I am heading or what road to take? 


I was blessed this morning as I read Isaiah 55 as it spoke to the very situations and decisions I am facing in my life right now.

Isaiah 55:1-13

1          “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters;

a          [John 4:14] “but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.”

b          [John 7:37] “On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink’.”

And you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

c          [Rev. 3:18] “I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.”

2          Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance.

3          Incline your ear, and come to Me.

a          [Matt. 11:28] “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you –

b          [Jer. 32:40] “I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me.”

The sure mercies of David.

c          [2 Sam. 7:8] “Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel’.”

4          Indeed I have given him as a witness to the people,

a          [Rev. 1:5] “and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.”

A leader and commander for the people.

a          [Dan. 9:25] “Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time.”

5          Surely you shall call a nation you do not know,

a          [Eph. 2:11-13] “Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called ‘the uncircumcision’ by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands – remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

And nations who do not know you shall run to you, Because of the LORD your God,

b          [Is. 60:5] “Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and exult, because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you.”

For He has glorified you.

c          [Is. 60:9] “For the coastlands shall hope for me, the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your children from afar, their silver and gold with them, for the name of the LORD you God, and for the Holy One of Israel, because he has made you beautiful.”

6          Seek the LORD while he may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.

a          [Heb. 3:13] “But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”

b          [Ps. 32:6] “Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him.”

7          Let the wicked forsake his way,

a          [Is. 1:16] “Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil.”

And the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD,

b          [Zech. 8:17] “do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the LORD.”

And He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.

c          [Jer. 3:12] “Go, and proclaim these words to the north, and say, ‘Return, faithless Israel, declares the LORD. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the LORD; I will not be angry forever.”

8          ‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ says the LORD.

a          [2 Sam. 7:19] “And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O LORD GOD, You have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and this is the instruction for mankind, O LORD GOD!”

9          ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.’

a          [Ps. 103:11] “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him.”

10        ‘For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater.’

a          [Deut. 32:2] “May my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew, like gentle rain upon the tender grass, and like showers upon the herb.”

11        ‘So shall My word be that goes froth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void. But it shall accomplish what I please,

a          [Is. 45:23] “By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: ‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance’.”

And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.’

b          [Is. 46:9-11] “remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.”

12        ‘For you shall go out with joy and be led out with peace;

a          [Is. 35:10] “And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

The mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you,

b          [Ps. 98:8] “Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together.”

And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.’

c          [I Chr. 16:33] “Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth.”

13        ‘Instead of

a          [Is. 41:19] “I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive. I will set in the desert the cypress, the plane and the pine together.”

The thorn shall come up the cypress tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree;

b          [Mic. 7:4] “The best of them is like a brier, the most upright of them a thorn hedge. The day of your watchmen, of your punishment, has come; now their confusion is at hand.”

And it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.’”

c          [Jer. 13:11] “For as the loincloth clings to the waist of a man, so I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me, declares the LORD, that they might be for me a people, a name, a praise, and a glory, but they would not listen.”

“THAT AIN’T IT!”

Visiting Alaska for the first time, I was excited that we were staying at the Mt. McKinley Lodge. As we were checking in, I caught a glimpse of a mass of rock through a large picture window, and I hurried out to the deck facing the mountain.

“Wow,” I murmured softly as I took in the view.

A man standing a few feet away said, “Uh,…that ain’t it!”

As I discovered that day, visitors to Alaska often miss seeing all of “The Great One.” Standing at 20,320 feet, the mountain is so tall that most of it is hidden on cloudy days. I was seeing only a part of the whole.

Often we’re satisfied with our limited view of life. But Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us, “’I know the thoughts that I think toward you,’ says the LORD, ‘thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.’” With God’s omniscient, panoramic view, He sees the people He wants us to help, the things He wants us to accomplish, the character traits He wants to develop in us.

Proverbs 16:9 says, “A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.” Our view of life is restricted by our humanness, but we can trust ourselves to the One who has an unlimited view! – Cindy Hess Kasper

There’s so much now I cannot see,

My eyesight’s far too dim,

But come what may, I’ll simply trust

And leave it all to Him. – Overton

We see in part; God sees the whole.

A Resolution of Righteousness

Today in my devotions I read Psalm 101. I can't tell you how much I was struck by David's resolution of righteousness and integrity. I was impressed to claim the first four verses for myself and for my family. Lately, I have been feeling the need for a thorough cleansing and purification of heart, mind, and soul. The more time I spend with the LORD, the more aware I am of my own state as a sinful human desperately in need of grace daily. I have also become more aware of the sin and ungodliness around me in the world and, sadly, in the church today. I have also felt an urgency - a warning that the time is steadily moving towards the return of Christ. I have come to the conclusion that it is time to make David's resolution my own. I am no longer satisfied with complacency and sitting in my comfort zone doesn't have quite the same enticement as it once did. The time to stand is now. The time to draw close to the LORD is now. 

PSALM 101:1-4

"I will sing of mercy and justice;

To You, O LORD, I will sing

praises.

I will behave wisely in a

perfect way.

Oh, when will You come to

me?

I will walk within my house

with a perfect heart.

I will set nothing wicked

before my eyes;

I hate the work of those

who fall away;

It shall not cling to me.

A perverse heart shall depart

from me;

I will not know wickedness."

Here, too, is a poem by Sper that follows the same idea: 

"LORD, cleanse my heart of all deceit

And teach me to be true; 

Help me to have integrity

In all I say and do."

Learning Contentment, Part 1

Learning Contentment

"Rejoice in the LORD always. Again I will say rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The LORD is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. But I rejoiced in the LORD greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4: 4-13)

Looking at my life, I realize that I am conditionally patient. There are times and situations in which I can be extremely patient in life. However, I also see areas in my life in which I am far from patient. Life in general for instance. I can't tell you how many times I have gone from one point in my life to another by counting down the days to the next big event: impatiently counting down the days until I finished high school, anxiously anticipating the start of college, and then spending the last year and a half of my college life simply ready for school to be done and a diploma with my name on it in hand... These make up only a few of those big moments in life that I have reached with the attitude of "I can't wait until..." or "Life will start when...". Waiting for life to move forward has never been particularly easy for me. 


Wishing for the future has been something I have struggled with for years. It is so easy to fall into the deception that the "grass is always greener on the other side of the fence", but that is truly what the saying is - a lie. Upon careful reflection, I have seen God's fingerprints in those years of wishing away the present. Those years truly have been a blessing in my life and God has been using them to prepare me for each "next step". However, it saddens me to look back and see the time I wasted in the present by keeping my eyes focused on the future. I missed so many opportunities to be used by God in the present because I was so focused on how He would eventually use me in the future. Life is truly a gift! Each and every moment is a gift from our Father, not just some of the big moments. I see now the truth in the saying, "make the most of every opportunity". I am so grateful that God is opening my eyes and my heart to His truth.


In my impatience, I failed to be content. I thought that I would find contentment in the future when I graduated from high school, got a car, finished a year of college, etc. Yet, Paul tells us in Philippians 4: 11-13 that he learned to be content in whatever situation he was currently in.  

 "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4: 11-13) 

The Greek word Paul used for "content" in this verse is  αὐτάρκης. This word literally means "sufficient for one's self, strong enough or possessing enough to need no aid or support; independent of external circumstances; and contented with one's lot, with one's means, though the slenderest" (Strong's). I do not believe Paul is saying that an individual can find contentment in or of themselves. If it was possible to find contentment on our own, why would Paul have included verse 13 ("I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me")? Perhaps Paul is referring to the new man - a life completely in and of Christ. 


Paul tells us that he had to learn to be content. Contentment is not something we are born with; it is something we have to be taught (for isn't it through being instructed that we learn?). Only God can teach us to be truly content, and I believe that is why Paul stated that it was in Christ that he could do all things. I am deeply encouraged by the fact that Paul had to learn to be content. That one simple verb brings me great hope because it means that through Christ I too can learn to be content in all things.

Musings: January 30, 2012

Recently, I have become more aware of exactly how I have been living my life - for me. I see how I struggle with feeling like I need to have control. I see how the focus of most of my waking hours are spent on me. I see how I have inadvertently told God I didn't need Him...how I know my needs better than He does. How my heart breaks at this revelation. I am filled with shame at my own selfishness. How could I have so easily fallen into the very self-centeredness that I have seen so easily in others across the nation? I am humbled by this realization. 


So what was my response to this terrifying revelation? Thankfully, it was the right one: surrender. Last night as I prayed, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. I am so thankful that God's Holy Spirit has been pricking my heart and revealing this heart disorder to me. It would have been so easy to keep on the track I had laid for myself - so easy to keep both hands on the reign, out of God's hands. This was my prayer (and continues to be my prayer daily): "Lord, forgive me. Forgive me for thinking I could do a better job at directing my life. Forgive me for my selfishness and false security in self. Please take all of me each and every day. I surrender all that I am to You. I relinquish my hopes and dreams to You. I ask that You would take all of my dreams and that You would make Your dreams for my life come true. Please, Lord...take all of me. Mold me and shape me into the woman You created me to be. And keep me from evil, for Your name's sake. Protect me from the evil one and the sin of selfishness. Let my life be a testimony onto You - a life that brings You honor and glory and praise."


And today, reading II Corinthians 5, all of what I have been discovering became even more clear. Verse 15 stood out to me in particular: "and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again." Live no longer for themselves...wow. What a strong statement, and how appropriate that I read this today. 


In today's world, particularly here in America, the life of selfishness consumes the people. Americans, in general, are extremely "self-centered" and the concept of sacrifice is almost entirely foreign. Why concern ourselves with another when there is so much more to do for ourselves and so many more ways to make our own lives more comfortable? Heaven forbid we consider others better than ourselves! Goodness, considering others is often a difficult enough task. It is quite easy to see the selfishness of our nation, but isn't it interesting that by pointing a finger and "excluding me", we are showing just how self-centered we actually are? Not to mention that when pointing a finger at others, we are, at the same time, pointing at least three fingers back at ourselves. Hmmmm.... If I take a step back and assess the situation, it is myself I see staring at me in the mirror. 


As I consider how I have been living my life, I am painfully aware of how guilty I am in living for myself. Almost all of everyday my thoughts can be traced and found to be "me-centered". How often do I use the words "I" and "me" on a daily basis? I am reminded of a scene from the movie Princess Diaries. Towards the end of the movie, Mia gives a speech in which she makes the choice to lay self aside and put others first. Here is part of the script: 


Mia: And then I realized how many stupid times a day I used the word "I". In fact, probably  all I ever do is think about myself. And how lame is that when there's, like, 7 billion other people out there on the planet and when --
Queen Renaldi: [casts a disapproving glance and clears her throat]
Mia: Ooohhh. Sorry, sorry. I'm going too fast. But then I thought, if I cared about the other 7 billion out there instead of just me, that's probably a much better use of my time. See, if I were Princess of Genovia, then my thoughts and the thoughts of people smarter than me would be much better heard, and just maybe those thoughts could be turned into actions. So this morning when I woke up I was Mia Thermopolis. But, now, I choose to be forevermore, Amelia Mignonette Thermopolis Renaldi: Princess of Genovia.


How much more should we, as Christians, be relinquishing self and living for the One who died to give us life? We must put off the old man so that we can live as a new man in Christ, as God's ambassadors. The time has come to take a stand. A stand for righteousness. Let us no longer live for ourselves! Let us live for God! Let us surrender all that we are to our Maker. 

Musings: January 27, 2012

Isaiah 1: 16-17 give us a list of things we are commanded to do. We can conclude that they are commands, rather than choices, by looking at the structure of the sentences. These sentences are imperative, meaning that they command or tell someone to do something (ex. you go...). "Wash yourselves." Who? YOU. "Make yourselves clean." Who? YOU. The entire list is addressed to YOU. [YOU] wash...[YOU] make clean...[YOU] put off evil...[YOU] cease to do evil...[YOU] learn to do good...[YOU] seek justice...[YOU] rebuke oppressors...[YOU] defend the fatherless...[YOU] plead for the widow. (Paraphrase of Isaiah 1:16-17) Basically, the list boils down to this: [YOU] sanctify yourself by putting off evil and pursuing righteousness while being the advocate of all who are needy. Such a giant assignment! Laying aside the world and self is much harder than it seems. Unfortunately, we can't check things off a list, so to speak. These things that we are commanded to do must be done on a continual basis. They are not complete by obeying them once. It is a life choice.


Verses 18-20 continue with a promise, a condition, and a warning. The promise is that God will wash us, making us as white as snow, and that He will provide for us. This is the condition: IF we are willing AND obedient.  I think it is important to consider something here. It is not enough to be willing. Many are willing, but fail to ever follow through. They are like the persons who look in the mirror and immediately forgets what they look like (James 1). On the other hand, obedience with the wrong attitude is not enough. Obedience with grumbling or obedience out of a sense of duty is not what is being discussed here. We have to be both willing AND obedient. Then there comes a warning: IF you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword! Refusing to obey and having a rebellious spirit will only lead to death and destruction. 


Verses 21-23 describe a city. This city, at one time, had been recognized as faithful and righteous. The verses share how evil has slowly taken over that city and many of the sins are included in the passage: harlotry, murder, deceit, rebellion, theft, bribery, selfishness, and abandonment of the poor and needy. Honestly, that sounds a great deal like the nation in which I live: America. 


The LORD speaks in the verses following. He says that the city will be restored and shall come to be called "the city of righteousness, the faithful city" (vs. 26). However, this restoration will only come through a great purging. God will heal them, but there will be consequences and it will involve pain. In fact, this purging will include God turning His hand against the city - something very painful in and of itself.


Another warning can be found in verses 28-31: those who forsake the LORD God will be consumed/destroyed. 

Musings: January 25, 2012

Isaiah 1:2 says this "Hear, o heavens, and give ear, o earth!" Why? Because "the LORD has spoken". It occurs to me that the wording in this verse is important. There is a command followed by a reason for that command. We also know that when a command is given, the recipient has a choice: obey and heed the command, or disobey and ignore the command. In this case, it is very important to heed and obey for those who ignore will miss the word of the LORD. It is important to be alert and attentive; we do not want to miss hearing God speak. We must choose to be available. We must choose to be listening with open ears. We must choose to hear and obey. I, for one, do not want to miss hearing the LORD speak because of distractions or hearing and letting the word go "in one ear and out the other". 


Isaiah 1:10 tells us again to "hear" and "give ear to". To what? What are we to hear? The Word of the LORD! What are we to give ear to? The law of the LORD. Again we find a command. Again we are faced with a choice. What exactly are we commanded to do? Hear God, yes. But what does that mean exactly? I think in order to hear we must "be still". And perhaps hearing the Word of the LORD means more than audibly hearing His voice. Perhaps it entails taking time to read the Bible, to listen for Him, to have a heart and mind ready to receive. I think, too, it deals with the Holy Spirit, for He is the one who will help us hear and understand. Give ear to the law of God. Maybe this means doing more than listening. Perhaps this means taking it to heart and living our daily lives according to God's law. Maybe it means being in tune with god and His Word so that our choices daily adhere to His law. 


Verse 11 really stands out to me and causes me to ponder it's meaning. "'To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?' says the LORD." The chapter continues to show how the LORD is sick of the offerings brought to Him by the Israelites. He seems to be accusing them of being religious or going through the motions without having any true repentance or desire to change in their hearts. He even says He will not look upon them or hear their prayers because of the way they make sacrifices while partaking in iniquity. It appears as though one must really know why they are bringing sacrifices before God. What is their purpose or motivation? What is in their hearts? We must be careful that we not allow ourselves to sacrifice out of habit or obligation. We must bring our offerings before God with a clean and pure heart!