Givers and Takers

The world is filled with givers and takers.  Sometimes it seems like there are more "takers" than givers.  Even though Jesus is quoted as saying, "It is more blessed to give than to receive," the predominate attitude of our society is entitlement, people thinking that they are entitled to receive.  All through the Word we see this division, this fork in the road, where people are called to make a wise choice.  Whosoever will.  

Unfortunately, fallen human nature is prone to choose the way of the flesh, which Romans 8 points out leads to death.  God sets before us life and death, and even tells us to choose life, but in the words of Jesus, "wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it." (Matthew 7:14)  Jesus confronted this "I will do it my way" attitude in the Pharisees saying He came to give sight to the blind, but because they claimed to see, they were really blind.  Human nature suffers from the same selfish pride that caused Satan to fall.  

One of the most repeated admonitions of Jesus in the Gospels is "Let him who has ears to hear, hear."  Isaiah points out the rebellious people will see and not see, hear and not hear.  Self-righteous people seem to always find an excuse or someone else to blame, rather than humbling themselves to admit "I was wrong."  The blood of Jesus covers all sin and removes all unrighteousness, but it does not cover excuses. 

There is a simple answer to the problem, which makes all the difference.  James points out that the Word of God is a mirror, not a window to view others, which when one looks into the mirror as the perfect law of liberty and does it, he is blessed.  Whether we build our house on the sand or on the rock is determined by our hearing the Word and doing it.  Therefore, my encouragement today is to humbly read the Word, to receive it with meekness so that God's thoughts and ways replace our own selfish choices.  In short, simply do it.  The Holy Spirit is always willing to guide and teach us if we are willing to listen and obey. 

In the world of givers and takers, remember that God loves a cheerful giver.  Whatever a man sows, he will surely reap.   

Hunger for Righteousness

Do you hunger for righteousness, to live to please God?  He promises you will be satisfied.

One of the sure characteristics of the resurrected life of Jesus being in us is the change in our choices.  This morning in Psalm 125, the line that caught my attention was "For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous."   This truth reminds me of the second part of the foundation found in 2 Timothy 2:19, "Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: 'The Lord knows those who are His,' and 'Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.'"

Jesus loved righteousness and hated evil and as a result, was anointed with more gladness than all His companions. (Hebrews 1:9)  There is great reward and blessings when we set our hearts on the spirit (Spirit) and put to death the deeds and desires of the flesh. Paul would say it this way, whether he lives or dies, his goal is to please God.  

We know the principle, faithful in little leads to being faithful in much.  Therefore, we can also apply this to the little choices, being thankful instead of complaining, choosing to bless someone who may not deserve it, being patient in the hard situation, resting in God's peace rather than getting anxious, choosing to believe and put things in His hands rather than worry and take matters in our own hands.  

God has made provision for His children that the "scepter" or rule of wickedness shall not rest on the righteous.  It is up to us to agree with Him and declare His goodness.  We have been set free and are encouraged to stand in that freedom. Therefore, let your hunger for righteousness be empowered by the Spirit to hate evil and do good.  The Lord is so pleased with your choice.

  

 

What Feels Good

The general practice of the world (and our flesh if we want to admit it) is to live by whatever feels good and whatever our heart desires, with no regard for God and His established rules of right and wrong.  

However, God reveals in Jeremiah 17:9-10 that the human heart is "deceitful above all things, desperately corrupt (or wicked)."  God then states, "I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings."  Our fallen nature, called the flesh in Romans 8, is so corrupt that it cannot and will not please God.  

When men refuse to listen to God, as Jeremiah 16 points out, He turns them over to "their stubborn heart."  Romans 1 states this fact even stronger, that those who do not acknowledge God and refuse to thank Him, He gives them over "to the lusts of their heart" and "to their vile passions."  When men reject God and His ways, He lets them have what they want but with the obvious warning that their choice will only bring misery and death.  

In short, God lets us have what we want, even though it clearly is not His intention or given purpose for us.  He will even let us go to hell if we want to, even though He loves each person so much that He willingly laid down His life for them.  God honors our choices. 

God's answer for our wicked heart and darkened mind, through His death and resurrection, is to make us new creations. Jesus put to death our fallen nature with His death on the cross in order to give us a new heart and to transform our thoughts in our minds so that we can have the mind of Christ.  It is by the Spirit of God, who pours the love of God into our hearts and renews our mind with truth, that we are able to put to death the deeds of the flesh.  That is why, like Paul (in 2 Corinthians 5:9), we make it our aim to please God and make no provision for the flesh (Romans 13:14).

Therefore, it is essential to pick up our cross daily and let the Holy Spirit and the Word of God direct our steps.  To pick up the cross means that we admit our fleshly thoughts and desires need to be crucified, and by the Spirit's help we choose and "delight to do the will of God."  We can set the mind on the Spirit and trust His leading, which produces life and peace.

May God reveal His heart and His desire to each one of us, so that the world's deceptions and our fallen-nature heart desires would not be able to distract or destroy us.  We choose to set the standard of what pleases God rather than what feels good.  Well done, good and faithful servant.  

Sacrifices Today?

 Nobody likes the word, sacrifice.  

Sacrifice sounds like we have to give up something, and goes against our fleshly drive "I want" which motivates us to possess all we can.  But the key is the internal character of sacrifice.  In the Old Testament sacrifices were animals offered as a regulation to deal with sin.  The sacrifice animal had to be without spot or blemish, suggesting that it was good.  The concept is that men would put aside our good choice for the purpose or belief that something greater will happen as a result.  

Obviously Jesus Christ was the ultimate sacrifice lamb who was slain for sin, once for all.  He laid down His perfect life trusting that redeeming sinful man back to God was the greater good.  The Father accepted His sacrifice. Therefore, there is no more a need for sacrifices to be made for sin.  

However, there does remain a call to sacrifice.  Unless a grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains alone.  He who loses his life will find life.  Greater love has no man than to lay down his life for his friends.  We are called to love God and love our neighbor by putting other's needs ahead of our personal desires.  

Yet, man doesn't have the ability or character to do this on our own.  All this is only possible because of accepting Jesus' sacrifice for us.  Then the love of God is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which totally changes us into new creations.  Filled with this new life and the love of God, man's cup overflows and he can respond by pouring out of his life, his talents and abilities, to bless others.   

When I was a kid in the "cold war" days with Russia, one of my fantasies was that the atheistic Communists would line us up in front of a firing squad, asking, "Do you believe in God?"  I would answer, "yes," and die for the Lord.  End of story.  However, God didn't want me to die for the Lord like that, He wanted me to "die" by living for Him in a series of decisions to put His will first.  Each time I laid down my own selfish desires and chose obedience, it was living for Him.   

Based on this understanding, there is one simple response that we want to focus on: giving thanks and praise.   In Hebrews 13:15 it states, "Let us continually offer up the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name."  Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5 to "give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."  Likewise, in the psalms David reminds us to bless the Lord at all times. However, there is a challenge.

Everyone can easily praise God when things are going well.  The test is what do we do in the midst of trouble and hard times.  There is a reason this is called a "sacrifice" of praise.  Notice how Psalm 56:4 calls praise a freewill offering, "With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to You, I will give thanks and praise to Your name, O Lord, for it is good."  This is a choice your make to offer to God. 

Nothing pleases God more than when we sacrifice our feelings and choose to obey this instruction of the Spirit to praise Him in the hard place.  Do you agree that God is working everything for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28)?  Giving thanks and praise demonstrates the faith that God is good and His promises are true.  Imagine a conversation with God like this, "Thank you, for gas prices being above $3 gallon."  "Praise you, God, for letting me stand in this longest line at the grocery store."  "Thank you, Lord, for letting me work with this difficult person, for this boss who wants me to do more and more, for being caught in traffic, etc."  We give God more glory by obeying Him when it is difficult, much like the widow who put the two coins into the offering even though it was all she had to live on. 

The greater good, pleasing God, is always worth the sacrifice because He is worthy of all.  Those aren't just words, He really does deserve praise and thanks at all times.  And you pass the faith test by making this sacrifice to praise Him when your flesh wants to complain and gripe like the Israelites in the desert.  God also points out that your praise lets the demonic kingdom know the hidden wisdom of God (Ephesians 3:10) and more personally, who is boss (Lord) of your life.  He is worthy to be praised. 

Sacrifice today!  Choose to make the freewill sacrifice of praise in every situation.  Ask the Holy Spirit to enable you and bring to your remembrance your commitment to God to be His house of thanksgiving and praise.  Thank you, Lord Jesus, for Your sacrifice so we can sacrifice for You.