Throwing a Fit

“And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death.
Then said the Lord, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not labored, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night:
And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?” ~ Jonah 4: 9-11

Recently, I witnessed my two-year-old granddaughter exercise her skills at fit throwing. She was bored and began pestering her baby sister. Within minutes, the baby was upset, and the two-year-old was stomping away, protesting loudly that she did nothing wrong. An angry pout followed.

Children begin asserting their independence around this age, in conjunction with angry outbursts. Unfortunately, not all adults have matured beyond eruptions of anger when things don’t go according to expectations. A good example would be the prophet Jonah. He was a willful and angry man full of complaints and voiced those complaints to God. He was also the only Old Testament prophet to attempt to run from God.

The reason that Jonah was so reluctant to fulfill the mission that the Lord commanded comes down to rebellion and pride. He did not want to carry a message of mercy to the most wicked and cruel people of his time. Knowing that God would keep His promise not to destroy the city of Nineveh and its population of 120,000 people if they repented within forty days, Jonah rebelled. He ran in the opposite direction, arguing with the Lord the whole time. God dealt with Jonah gently, but firmly. 

Finally, the Lord asked Jonah a penetrating question. Why did he have such concern over the death of a plant, but no desire to see the people of Nineveh receive mercy from God?

What if God moved among churches in a mighty way today? Would we rejoice or leave? Would we hear complaints about the increase in attendance or the type of people coming into the church? Would there be accusations claiming the lack of authenticity or concerns about how the changes could affect personal comfort levels? Would there be division between members?

No matter how strongly we protest, we are all guilty of becoming complacent in our relationship with the Lord and each other. Jonah’s lack of response to God’s question at the end of chapter 4 indicates that he got the point. God is not a respecter of persons. The only way we can fully understand ourselves is to compare our self-centeredness with the Lord’s sacrificial love.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for Your love and compassion. Help me set aside any prejudice I may have toward others. 

Too Busy for God

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” -- Matthew 11:28-29

With the celebration of Labor Day, the summer season has unofficially ended. It’s time for the kids to
return to their classrooms. Afterschool activities and weekend ball games will fill our calendars, squeezed between the adult work schedules and home responsibilities. As we fall back into our busy routines, we begin to feel the crunch of keeping track of everything we need or want to do. 

Living in today’s hurried world means keeping up with not only the Joneses, but also the Smiths, Johnsons, and Millers. We run in circles trying to beat the clock and must choose which task or activity is more important. In the process, something will be pushed aside, effectively deeming it less important. Too often, that something is the Lord.

As Christians, we can’t let ourselves be swept away from God by busyness. Crowding too many distractions into our day not only brings us unnecessary stress but leaves us spiritually undernourished. We need time alone with the Lord to replenish our souls. He alone can bring us the peace and rest that we so desperately need. Until we can shut out the noise of the world around us, we will not be able to hear God’s still, quiet voice.

When we find ourselves pressed against the wall by the demands on our time, we should remember the scripture in Luke 10:41-42 as Jesus answered Martha when she complained about Mary resting at His feet rather than helping her in the kitchen: “…Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things. But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Choosing God first will bring peace to our hearts and strength to complete all of our daily tasks with a calmer attitude. In the words of Dr. Charles Stanley, “God will never give us a schedule that is so full that there is no time for Him.”

Dear Lord,
Thank You for providing rest and peace from the burdens of this world.

Be Kind, Always

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” ~ Ephesians 4:32

A few years ago, I noticed a tee shirt with the saying When you can be anything, be kind printed on the front. Then I started seeing other things such as cards, key chains, wallets, and posters with the same graphic. At first, I was impressed by the thoughtful sentiment of those seven words. Then I realized how sad the message really was. When did we become a society that had to remind ourselves to be kind to one another?

In his letter to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul encouraged believers to live in a way that honors God’s gift of saving grace. Shrugging off the negative attitudes and emotions of the world isn’t easy. We can quickly fall into the trap of social media bullying and counter-culture mindset due to mental and physical stress from the burden of daily life. Here are three reasons Christians should strive to exercise kindness to those around us.

• We represent Christ. In everything we do, we want to look more like our Savior every day. When being kind to someone is especially difficult, remember that at the Last Supper, Jesus washed the disciples’ feet. He included Judas, even though He knew of Judas’ betrayal. If Christ could wash the feet of Judas, we can show kindness to everyone, including our enemies.

• We have the choice to show God’s love. Hateful actions because of malice or revenge are easy to slip into. Christians are still human with human failings. However, we have strength in Christ to overcome the urge to allow selfish thoughts and desires to engulf us.

• We have a mission. God calls believers to spread the good news of salvation to all people. There has never been a time when that message has been more urgent. Christians can do good deeds, but without love, good deeds mean nothing. In choosing kindness and forgiveness, we follow Christ’s example.

Jesus did not promise that living the Christian life would be easy. He did promise that He would walk each day beside us. That He would comfort us in sorrow and strengthen us through trials. Through Him, we have the ability to share His love with others. Let us share that love by choosing kindness in an unkind world.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for Your grace and mercy. Remind me that choosing kindness allows others to experience Your grace through me.

Beyond Fear

“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”         —Psalm 27:1

It seems as if the earth has turned sideways and shuffled our known world into a confusing mess. Odd, extreme weather has become expected. New viruses are popping up almost daily. World leaders are engaging in power grabs as they attempt to bully other nations into compliance causing economic chaos. We struggle to keep our fear of an unknown future in check. But we are not alone. The Lord is with us just as He has been with past believers, holding us, guiding us.

The book of Psalms is a source of comfort when fear threatens to overwhelm us. Psalm 27 begins by showing David’s confidence in the Lord. He lists three reasons to trust the Lord:
(1) The Lord is David’s light.  This is a common metaphor in the Bible for knowledge, truth, and goodness. As David’s light, the Lord was the source of joy, understanding, and life.
(2) The Lord is David’s salvation. The deliverer from his enemies. David never forgot that even his successes were victories that were ultimately given by God.
(3) The Lord was David’s strength. This implies security and safety. The Lord was a stronghold, a fortress that kept David safe.

David recognized that, with the Lord, he had no reason to fear anyone. Neither do we. No matter what troubles we encounter or unforeseen situations loom on the horizon, we have no reason to fear. The Lord keeps us safe.

Sometimes, however, knowing that we should not fear doesn’t keep us from experiencing it. At times, we all find ourselves overwhelmed with the strain of natural human anxiety. Knowing not to be afraid doesn’t make a person immune to that emotion. What then?

Put the Lord Jesus in proper perspective. See Him for who He truly is. He is not only our light and life; He is also our strength and peace. Rejoice in the God of our salvation and trust in His love and care.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for being my sufficiency and strength. You are my light. When fear overtakes my mind, help me remember the wonderful truth of who You really are. 

 

 

Resurrection Day

“And entering into the sepulcher, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.” — Mark 16:5-7

The Resurrection is the most important event in history. Suddenly, the impossible was possible, the

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unimaginable was imaginable. Death, the one constant in life, had been cheated and actually defeated. Jesus Christ had been raised. The Son of God was alive!

This good news was first delivered to a group of women who had come to the tomb with hopes of completing the task of preparing Jesus’ body for burial.

Their sorrow changed from heartache to amazement when an empty tomb and an angel with a special message waited there instead. They were to go tell the disciples and Peter what they had seen and give them the message that Jesus was going ahead of them to Galilee and they would see Him there.

What a gift God gave those particular women! These faithful followers of Jesus were chosen to be the first to carry the good news of Christ’s resurrection. They shared it as instructed, with the disciples and specifically with Peter.

We shouldn’t miss that Peter was named individually. Peter, who had denied Jesus three times and betrayed both the Lord and himself. Peter, who felt unredeemable due to his actions, was given the message to come to Galilee—to Christ.

Just like Peter, we have all denied and betrayed Jesus. Also, just like Peter, we have the opportunity to seek Christ and find forgiveness for our sins. As Christians, we are entrusted with the good news of our salvation to share with others.

An empty tomb proved that Jesus fulfilled His promise to die, to live again, and to transform human hearts. His sacrifice and message continues to change lives around the world.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for reminding us of the good news of Your resurrection. Help us come to You boldly with our deepest desire and to trust Your will and mercy in all things.

Reflection of the Son

“Walk in the wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
“Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” — Colossians 4:5-6

At least once every day, we each stand before a mirror to study the image reflecting back at us. Always with a critical eye, searching for some imperfection that we may not want others to see. Many of us concentrate on the new wrinkles and gray hair which confirms that we have passed the middle years of life. We see what others see, a likeness of the body that God created.

The Apostle Paul encouraged the Colossian believers to become a reflection of Christ. He urged them to be prudent in their conduct toward all those they came into contact with, whether fellow believers or non-believers. Paul tells Christians to behave with wisdom toward outsiders. In other words, to consider their great need to know Christ, just as the believer’s need was. Time was, and still is, in short supply.

We all experience the passing of time more quickly with each year that goes by. Paul saw limited opportunities to share the gospel and directed Christians to have their speech seasoned with salt, that is, the truth. He also reminded believers of the importance of having the wisdom and grace to give proper answers to questions concerning our faith. “But sanctify the Lord in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” — 1 Peter 3:15.

All Christians should reflect Jesus and promote the gospel of Christ. Prayer, personal character, and witnessing through our actions and speech can reach those in need of a savior.

Dear Lord,
Thank you for sharing Your grace and wisdom so that I may reflect You. Help me to shine Your light more each day.

The Lord Shut the Door

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“And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.” — Genesis 7:16

The story of Noah and the Flood is one of the first Bible stories taught to young children. Having every kind of animal on a boat with only Noah and his family to care for them, while a flood destroys everything else, is pretty remarkable. The rainbow, representing God’s promise to never destroy His creation again with flood waters, captures the attention of the children. They grasp the idea of a loving God who wants to preserve His children and the fact that we can count on God’s promises to remain true.

Today, as I read this passage, six words at the end of verse 16 in chapter seven stood out in a new way. “And the LORD shut him in.” Even though the entire story reflects miracle after miracle, this final act of closing the door to the ark is key to how it was sealed in preparation of the flood. God, Himself, shut and sealed the door. This was God’s power, executing God’s plan. This representation is critical to understanding God’s salvation.

First, we see that the Lord is saving life from judgment. It reminds us that God has promised to preserve those He has saved. This is a symbol of His ability to keep those He has saved. A promise to both Noah and to us.

Second, when every life meant to be saved was on board the ark, God, not Noah, shut the door. This security wasn’t earned by something Noah had done. He was justified by faith. God counted that faith as righteousness. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” — Hebrews 11:1.

Just as the Lord sealed the ark to protect those inside, the Holy Spirit seals believers as a promise of our salvation. Let us not grow weary in well-doing as we continue to share the good news of Christ to those around us. Only God knows when the opportunity of salvation will end and He will shut the door.

Dear Lord,
Thank you for Your promise of salvation to those who believe. Help me recognize the opportunities to share the gospel with others.

Praise

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“But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble.” — Psalm 59:16

The ground is covered in a blanket of snow just deep enough that I can’t see my miniature dachshunds when they go out for potty breaks. This morning, three beautiful cardinals came for a visit. As I watched them against the winter backdrop, a sense of peace came over me. The peace brought joy and an urge to lift my voice in a song of praise to God.

The Lord enjoys our singing, and it doesn’t matter whether we are in tune or not. Song engages our heart and mind, and when we sing praises to Him in worship, God is pleased. It also has the added benefit of easing whatever burdens we feel.

Before David became king, he spent several years running from Saul, who was determined to track him down and kill him. These were lonely years for David, but he was resolved to wait upon the Lord because he knew that God had a plan for him. Many of the Psalms we have today were written by David during these years. Psalm 59 was written as an encouragement to praise God in all circumstances. He knew God’s grace would work in him a heart of praise.

In verse 16, David shows us four things to consider in praising the Lord:
(1) What would David praise God for? God’s power and mercy. Without mercy, power is to be dreaded. Without power, man can’t expect to benefit much from mercy.
(2) Why would David praise God? Because God had been his defense and refuge in the day of trouble. The Lord gave him strength and protection to continue.
(3) How would David praise God? He would sing. He would sing aloud. As a natural expression of joy, David would sing about the glory of God.
(4) When would David sing? He would sing unto God in the morning. He would begin his day with praises to the Lord whose compassions are new every morning. Therefore, it’s fit to begin the day praising God.

Just as David learned to praise God at all times, through all circumstances, we too should praise Him. Only He can sustain us as we face each day, whether it’s a day of struggle or peace. Let us direct our prayers to God and also our praises. Regardless of where we find ourselves, the Lord is holding us steady. Let us look up and make melody in our hearts and with our voices to God, for He is worthy of praise.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for Your power and mercy in directing my path. You alone are worthy of my praise.

Strength in Christ

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And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. — 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10

God knows the hearts of all people. He knows
the temptations we face and our tendency to sin. He also knows our daily struggles with physical, emotional, and spiritual undertakings. He made us. He wants to communicate with us and help us because He loves us.

In chapter 12 of his second letter to the Corinthian believers, Paul shared some of his own struggles in his walk with Christ as an encouragement to them. This message has been a great comfort to countless believers down through the ages—My Grace is Sufficient.

Even though Paul doesn’t identify what he calls a thorn in his flesh, it pained him enough to plead with the Lord to remove it. Multiple requests were made before the Lord answered, but not in the way that Paul expected. Rather than remove the thorn, Paul was assured that he would be given God’s grace to bear it.

Prayer is communication with God and when we are afflicted with thorns in the flesh, we should go to Him in prayer. The Lord will always answer, but as with Paul, the answer may not be what we expect. He may not remove our temptations or troubles, but grant us grace sufficient enough to endure it.

The goodwill and grace of the Lord are enough to strengthen and comfort us. It will cheer our spirits and support our souls in all afflictions. Paul was not only able to rejoice in his sufferings, but he was enabled to glorify in them as well. Through the power of Christ, we can do the same.

What a great testimony to the grace of God – no matter what we are required to face, there is a mightier force at work. We can boast gladly in our weakness and fragility because we are strong in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for giving me grace sufficient for all my needs. Help me recognize and rejoice in Your power, made perfect in my weakness.

Challenges

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
The Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. — Numbers 6:24-26

It’s hard to believe that another year has ended and we are already several days into the new year. Truthfully, I felt no sorrow about waving goodbye to the last twelve months. I am looking forward to the days ahead and facing, head-on, the challenges they bring. Some of those challenges are planned — reading, writing, and sewing — and some are yet unknown.

So far, I have only listed tangible challenges. What about those we can’t touch? They are just as real and, I believe, more important to our well-being. Intangibles that affect our relationship with God and other people.

One of the most beautiful blessings in the Bible is the Priestly Blessing found in the book of Numbers. The Priests were to use this blessing when pronouncing God’s favor on the Israelites. The emphasis is on God. Its purpose is clear: it communicates the Lord’s desire to invest His people with His name. He alone can bless them, keep them, look on them with favor, be gracious to them, and give them peace.

Under the Old Covenant, the High Priest was God’s appointed mediator between God and man. Under the New Covenant, Jesus is our Great High Priest and our one and only mediator. While the Israelites were surrounded by enemies, they received God’s blessing as a promise for protection as they crossed into the Promised Land. Believers today are promised that nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Jesus Christ.

By God’s grace, we have been called to pray that He will bless others with the truth of His gospel. May this year be full of peace and well-being as we seek to serve Christ and become channels of His blessings.

Dear Lord,
Thank You for a new beginning each day. I pray for a fuller understanding of Your blessings in my life.

Peace, Be Still

"And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. 

And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. 

And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 

And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. 

And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 

And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith? 

And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" — Mark 4:35-41 

Several years ago in a small, family-owned Christian bookstore, I came across a framed print of a painting entitled Peace, Be Still. The artist had captured in expert detail, the scene of Jesus calming the storm as told about in scripture. The raging waters, the wind-tossed boat, the terror on the men’s faces, and the total serenity of Jesus as He raised His hand to command nature to obey. 

I connected with that painting and would have bought it that day, had I not been short on funds. A few weeks later when I went back to make the purchase, the art piece was gone. I am still searching for it. Why does that portrayal of one event of Jesus’ life, still have such an impact on me? It shows the true Christ. 

Like so many of the events of Jesus’ life, this story is told in three of the four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke. To get the complete narrative, I like to read all three Gospel accounts. We see that Jesus had been teaching and healing near the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd pressed Him close to the sea and needing rest and time away from crowds, Jesus decided that He and the Apostles would take a boat to the opposite shore. Soon after they sailed, an exhausted Jesus fell asleep and a storm arose. When the boat started to take on water, the Apostles feared for their lives and pleaded with Jesus, Master, don’t you care if we drown? 

This story reveals the true humanity of Christ. He needed rest and time away. Often His ministry left Him without time to eat or sleep. Jesus was so fatigued that a raging storm didn’t wake Him. This should help us realize that Jesus was genuinely human and had the same basic human needs that we have. He understands us. In Hebrews 2:17, we see that Christ’s humanity is part of what makes Him qualified to be our merciful intercessor with God the Father. 

We also see that the Apostles suffered a lack of faith. This should remind us that even those who lived and walked with Jesus, witnessed His miracles, and received His teaching first-hand, still found it difficult to be completely faith-filled 100 percent of the time. But just as the Apostles' lack of faith was rebuked, so is ours. Jesus rescued the Apostles from the storm and is able to rescue us from the storms of everyday life. He was with the Apostles, and He is with us in the midst of our storms. 

But the story doesn’t end there. Not only do we see the true humanity of Jesus, we also see the deity of Jesus. Only God can make the wind and water obey. Only God has true power over nature and can command the elements. Only God can bring true peace. 

This can be enormously comforting to Christians in a storm. Remember that faith in Christ is never misplaced. If He can calm the storms of the sea with one word, He can calm the storms of life. 

Dear Lord, 

Thank You for the promise that You will be with me in the midst of the storms in my life.