A Lost Lamb

My daughter is four-years-old. Today she presented me with the little New Testament her grandparents gave her. On the cover is an embossed lamb. She proceeded to tell me that it was a story about a little lamb that was lost in the forest, and that the Lord had climbed after it.

I started to correct her and I realized that she had beautifully summed up the love letter God gave us in the Bible. If you boil it all down to its essence, God loved us enough to come searching after us, even when we strayed. He found us and brought us safely home to be with him. We can now live with him. The choice is ours whether we stray again or not.

I want to stay within sound of his voice. To enjoy the security of his presence, to eat the spiritual food he provides.

Thank you, Lord for seeking me, for finding me. Thank you for letting me bask in your presence. Help me to learn more of you, to seek after you with all my might, and to hurry to obey when I hear your voice.

For the Tough Times by Max Lucado

Though this book is small and thin, a mere seventy-eight pages, it packs an important message. My favorite line is this: "God would rather die than live without you." It is an interesting way to try to wrap our heads around such an enormous concept. 

The take-away message is this. God is in control, even if it doesn't feel like it and He has our best interests at heart. I appreciated the fact that Mr. Lucado did not try to solve everyone's problems, nor even give advice on working through grief. Instead he sets about reminding us of eternal truths about the character of God and of Satan. The comfort we draw is from knowing that our understanding of the situation is infinitely limited and that there is more to any situation than we may see. Despite our own shortcomings God is in control and He love us.

If you know a Christian who is trudging through a tough time, I would recommend this book. On the other hand I would not recommend this book for a non-believer. It does not try for the easy answers, in fact it provides no real answers, just the assertion that it will all be okay. Without a faith basis, this could be difficult to embrace.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers

If you read my last post then you already know I am a little ‘off’ at times.

What can I say? My mind works in strange and mysterious ways. I’ve been at it again this week.

I was reflecting on this passage:

If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. John 15:19

It hit me anew that when we are transformed by the Holy Spirit we are not just remodeled like an old house, where new structures are added on top of the old.

Scripture puts it this way:

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. II Corinthians 5:17

We are entirely new creatures. Now this is where my mind started down a rabbit warren of its own. You see it occurred to me that this new creature is entirely alien to the world. Are you still with me? Do you see what this means? I am an alien! If you are bothering to read this then I would venture to guess that you are also an alien.

We are in this world but we are not of it. It is sort of like a very positive version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Physically I looked the same way before I received the Holy Ghost as I did afterward. But inwardly there was birthed a new being. A babe in Christ. I became a carrier ready to infect others with alien seed.

Okay so it may sound a little creepy to the uninitiated but you see this change that happened to me isn’t a negative in any way shape or form. You see God only looks for willing ‘victims’. This change is incredible and unlike other alien races you may have seen on TV, we’re not here to destroy the human race, but to preserve it. Think of us as an advanced race with technology critical to survival. We know the secret to eternal life-and it is a gift freely given. Who could pass that up?

So who would you like to snatch back from Hell? 

I Asked For It

The other morning I was getting ready to face the day. I took a shower, (impressive, I know) and then I opened the bathroom door to let some of the steam escape since the fan is broken. The scents of Pantene, Dial, shower gel, and lotion, mingled in the steamy haze. Max the dog wandered in and in the random way my mind often works I thought: “It smells kind of strong in here. I wonder if I smell that strong. Please God don't let me be one of those people who smell as if they have marinated in their chosen scent.”

I looked down at the dog and saw the unmistakable curling of his lip. For an instant I wished I could ask him if I had overdone things. A second later I came to my senses. Of course I wouldn’t ask the dog. That was ridiculous… Besides a dog’s sense of smell is super sensitive. Any advice he gave on the matter would simply be overkill.

I know what you’re thinking. But I assure I am at least technically sane.

And I have a point.

How many times do I consider going to God for advice on some issue I am facing, only to write off His opinion on the matter. Don’t look at me like that. I know I am not the only one who has ever done this.

We (I insist on using the plural, even if I am alone) sometimes beg God for guidance, but when it comes we turn our noses up. “Well yes,” we think, “that’s all right for you. You are 100% holy. Of course, you think like that. You are way more sensitive to this issue than is necessary.”

It hasn’t escaped my notice that this easy writing off of God’s good sense generally takes place when I don’t particularly like what I’m hearing. It is pretty easy to embrace direction that leads you where you want to go. Maybe that is why God so often asks something of us that is beyond our comfort zone, beyond our expectation, even it seems beyond our capacity,

As far as He is concerned, “To obey is better than to sacrifice.”

What are you asking God about right now? What are you willing to do with His answer?

Joy

Nehemiah 8:9-10

And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our LORD: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

This is taking place right after their return to Jerusalem from captivity. They have rebuilt the walls, and are now focused on cleaning away the rubble in order to rebuild the temple. And at this point they find scrolls bearing the Old Testament law.

Once they realize what these are the people became upset because they realized that things were not right. They had not been following the law, and they are horrified at the lapses.

The response of the leaders is interesting. Yes, they had been doing wrong, but now they knew and could do something about it. It was not a time for sadness, but for JOY!

I started to research and found that the first time the word joy is used in the Bible it is in reference to David—It is used several times thereafter in association with him.

Got me to thinking—Where did his joy come from?

We know him as a great worshipper maybe that was the source of his joy? I think the reverse was true. His worship was an outpouring of the joy of the Lord. He is described as a Man after God’s own heart. And that heart was made with a great capacity for joy.

We think of God as a dour old man, solemn and long faced, and ready to whack us if we get out of line, but He is a God of JOY!

Why, why why do we focus on the things that are forbidden? Why are we so sure that He is withholding from us anything that is good? God loves to see His people enjoy themselves.

The problem is that so many real pleasures have been perverted.

Love is compromised and whittled down into mere lust

Humor is used as a veil for cruelty

Hobbies and sports, if we’re not careful, rule our lives and thoughts instead of the other way around

God is not trying to keep us from fun.

He has a sense of humor!! Just look at the platypus.

Zep 3:17 The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

It is incredible to me that the Great God who created the universe and measures the seas in the palm of His hand, that I could make Him happy. But it is true. We can be a source of great joy to the Lord. He created us for relationship, when we choose him above all else we are making his heart joyful!

And in return He provides us with a joy that surpasses understanding

Prov. 17:22-A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones

God has designed us so that joy is GOOD for us. Let’s get his perspective on us and give ourselves a break. Lighten up! (Minds wandering when trying to pray, etc)

So why do we think that God wants to suck all the fun out of our lives?

It is a lie from Satan, one that is so insidious that we don’t even realize it sometimes.

So what does the world offer? A poor substitution of joy… pleasure sometimes, sometimes excitement, distraction (think TV, movies, video games, mere busyness to keep us from realizing like the people of Israel did that there might be something wrong with our routines, and to keep us from doing anything about it.)

What does the real thing look like?

Ps 5:11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

Satan is happy to throw you to the dogs, when things go awry. God comes to the defense of those who live for Him. 

Ps 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

The joy of the Lord is full, it isn’t restricted to a single part of our lives. (work, school, home, etc. We may still have problems but we can find joy wherever we find ourselves) And His pleasure is lasting unlike the world’s, which turns into pain.

Ps 32:10-11 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about. Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

Joy comes from knowing we have obtained Mercy—we’re not going to get all we deserve!

Ps 35:27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favor my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

Again God wants us to succeed. He wants us to prosper. He enjoys blessing us. It is Satan who wants to keep us from good things. It is Satan who wants to suck away our joy until we are as miserable as he is.

Ps 51:8-13 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

God wants to be our Father, and at times that requires that he chastise or punish us.

In that scripture David said that it felt like his bones had been broken, they weren’t really but that was how he felt.

Heb 12:9 For they (speaking of earthly Fathers) verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

God’s correction is always meant to restore, not merely to punish. He takes no joy in seeing us punished and the Bible talks about that. He doesn’t enjoy punishment. He does enjoy it when people are saved.

Luke 2:10-11 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

What is the reason for our joy? –It is the relationship and hope we have in the Lord. 

Rom 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Evidence

“Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.” Genesis 13:12

This scripture is sort of sandwiched in the story of Abram and Lot. Conflict had arisen between uncle and nephew, and so Abram decided it was best for them to split up. He gave Lot his choice of property.

Lot chose the fertile plain of Jordan where it would be easy to water his flocks and gather food. Lot’s story did not end happily. We get lots of clues as to what went wrong with Lot. So let’s gather the evidence.

First was his desire for supremacy. His men fought with Abram’s over the rights to certain water supplies.

Then, when given the option, Lot chose what he thought would be the easy life in the plains of Jordan.

Finally there is the verse above, specifically this phrase: “and pitched his tent toward Sodom.” To me this is all the evidence we need to know that something was wrong in Lot’s life.

He wanted to walk the fence. His heart was attracted to the evil city of Sodom even though he knew he should avoid the place, so he pitched his tent toward it. He could always claim he wasn’t a part of the problem—he was just sort of near it.

God knows our motivations though. He understands our hearts and no amount of hoop jumping self-justification will work on Him.

You see it wasn’t very long before Lot wasn’t just living near the city, but he was drawn into the city. He was living in the city when it was scheduled for destruction and it fell to Abram to intercede on his behalf. His property was destroyed, his wife turned into a pillar of salt, and his daughters were deluded into plying him with drink and having incestuous affairs with him in order to continue his bloodline.

Sadly, fence sitters usually come down on the wrong side of the fence. It is better to be sold out to God. Why live your life on the border, wondering how much you could get away with?

Everything that brings real joy, everything that is pure and wholesome, everything that is just and right, is open to us. God has no desire to suck the fun out of our lives. He wants us to have all the best things.

So what evidence of our motivations do our actions reveal? 

Perception

There is an old saw that says that perception is reality. In other words whatever someone thinks is true, is true. The only problem with this is that there are as many perceptions as there are people. But there is only one truth.

So whose perception trumps all others?

Not surprisingly the answer is God’s.

This begs the question then, what does God think? About me, about my family, church, the world, etc. The answer to all those questions is found in the Bible.

I can tell you one thing for certain and that is that God doesn’t see things the same way we do. Especially us. We tend to fall into 2 traps, either we manage to justify our behavior until we think we’re pretty near perfect, or we don’t give ourselves a break and we think God doesn’t either.

The problem lies in our perception of ourselves, but also in our perception of God. At times He does have to take on the role of judge, but that is not what He delights in. In reality He wants to be our Father and He looks at us as His children.

What I’m trying to say although it sounds clichéd almost is that He loves us. He isn’t waiting in heaven for us to make a mistake so he can whack us with a lightning bolt. He is rooting for us. He hurts when we hurt, He wants us to be happy. He wants the very best for us. Sometimes that isn’t what we think is best, but his understanding is way beyond ours.

I have two small children. Sometimes they insist on doing things their way. It takes sooo much longer to do anything! I find myself wanting to snatch whatever it is and say “Here let me do that.” If we are insistent on doing things our own way God will, at times, stand back and let us flounder around. But everything goes smoother if we let Him help. Again we think we know the way to go, the course to pursue. We have a perception of the situation.

But you see the trick in all this perception business is that reality doesn’t exist in the physical world. We can be tricked pretty easily. This is the illusion. Reality rests in the spiritual world. And God is waiting for us to acknowledge His presence in both realms.