"Humility is the only soil in which virtue takes root; a lack of humility is the explanation of every defect and failure."
- AW Tozer
"I have learned to kiss the waves that throw me against the Rock of Ages."
- Spurgeon
Thursday, February 25, 2016
Quotes and Musings
What do you choose?
But they refused to heed, shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their ears so that they could not hear. Yes, they made their hearts like flint, refusing to hear the law and the words which the Lord of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Thus great wrath came from the Lord of hosts. (Zechariah 7:11-12)
The New King James Version. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1982.
The events that had just unfolded were that the people claimed to do what God said and then complained that nothing seemed to change. The attitude was "what's the use." God then answered with a list of remedies that he expected the people to do, and then we arrive at the above text.
Choices have both opportunities and consequences attached to them. The immediate opportunity, however, might not be easily recognizable. The opportunity God had presented them with was one where relationship would be built and flourish - both upward to God though obedience and outward to others - and bring blessings. Upward and outward both involve relationship, and relationships can be messy.
Those people in that day made choices that had consequences. Let's look at their choices:
- Refused to Heed.
- Shrugged (or bowed up) their shoulders.
- Stopped up their ears.
- Became hard-hearted.
- Refused to listen to God.
Now let's see the consequences: GREAT WRATH FROM THE LORD.
God is never excited at our reluctance to do as He invites. Which leads me to a few questions:
- At what relationship in my life am I refusing God?
- Where am I in the five areas listed above?
- Am I willing to heed, bow, open, be tender and listen?
We all make choices. What is yours?
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Content?
... I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. (Philippians 4:11)
The New King James Version. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1982.
Learning to be content starts with trusting the ONE who is in control. Our nature is to demand control, trust ourselves, fear others, and complain when expectations go unmet. Anxiety abounds!
But God is patient. He teaches us, if we will learn, to be content. To trust Him despite what we see, feel, perceive, comprehend, think, and project. He is God alone. Now Paul, the inspired writer, is a fine example of this. He knows that he is in prison – that he will go to trial – that he will likely be condemned to death – that his traveling days are over. He is content. He is listening. He is being used of God. Despite the situation, God used him to pen this to the church ... to us.
God uses us, too, when we are content. Trust God.
Takeaway: ask God to grow you in this area.
Quotes and Musings
"When you forget eternity, you tend to lose sight of what's important. When you lose sight of what's truly important, you live for what is temporary, and your heart seeks for satisfaction where it cannot be found. Looking for satisfaction where it cannot be found leaves you spiritually empty and potentially hopeless."
- Paul Tripp
"It is misleading to say, God accepts us the way we are. Rather, He accepts us despite the way we are."
- Sinclair Ferguson
The Church is called the body and bride of Christ. What should that look like? The worship and work of the bride is to please the husband.
"The things that we love tell us what we are."
–Thomas Aquinas
Monday, February 15, 2016
Thursday, February 11, 2016
Faulty Action Plan
And Abraham said, “Because I thought, surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will kill me on account of my wife." (Genesis 20:11)
The New King James Version. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1982.
Interesting little verse on correctly understanding your environment.
Abraham rightly recognized the situation, no fear of God, but he responded wrongly, fearing man.
Abraham properly assessed that the place and the people were godless. There was no acknowledgment of God in their conversation or conduct. There was no respect or reverence for the one true God. Abraham got that right. BUT, Abraham was wrong on their capabilities. Yes, they had capacity, but God Himself would thwart their capability. Abraham had a wrong action plan.
How did this man forget the great God who delivered him from all his enemies? The God who gave him promises? The God whom he had walked with for 25 years? The God who kept him alive? These are the questions for all of us.
Abraham succumbed to the deadly sins of fearing man and trusting self. His fear of man clouded his view of God. While seeing the reality of their ungodliness and understanding their capacity, he failed to lean on the God who is RULER over all. So Abraham came up with a scheme to protect himself, only to see the hand of God overrule. God will not be thwarted!
The bigger issue, in some sense, was that Abraham could have been a testimony, but, rather, he became trouble. We too become trouble when we follow our own faulty plans.
So, the situation you're facing NOW - talk to God about it. Get His take. Trust His hand. Embrace His plan!
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Quotes and Thoughts
SIN-
- Distracts your attention
- Distorts your vision
- Discourages your devotion
- Diverts your direction
"The Christian life is long obedience in the same direction."
- James McDonald
"The days of maintenance are far more in number than the days of magnificence."
- Chuck Swindoll
"If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven played music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, 'here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.'"
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Thursday, February 4, 2016
How Great is our God?
For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. (Psalm 96:4)
The New King James Version. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1982.
This verse makes a declaration of praise to our God. It can also serve as an evaluation of how we view God. Let me explain:
The frequency and fervor of our praise will demonstrate to us how great we view God. The greater we see Him, the greater we will praise Him. If our praise is not so great, then it reveals to us that our view of God is not so great, either.
That leaves us with a single question and a great desire:
How Great is our God?
God, help me to see and express how GREAT you are!
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