Category: Published

On Being Above the Circumstances

Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.  He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.  The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Luke 2:8-14  PHILLIPS  There were some shepherds living in the same part of the country, keeping guard throughout the night over their flocks in the open fields. Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by their side, the splendour of the Lord blazed around them, and they were terror-stricken. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! Listen, I bring you glorious news of great joy which is for all the people. This very day, in David’s town, a Saviour has been born for you. He is Christ, the Lord. Let this prove it to you: you will find a baby, wrapped up and lying in a manger.”  13-14 And in a flash there appeared with the angel a vast host of the armies of Heaven, praising God, saying, “Glory to God in the highest Heaven! Peace upon earth among men of goodwill!”

Observation

I can understand how prophecies could create expectations about how the Savior was going to bring great changes, such as overthrowing world powers and restoring Israel’s sovereignty.  Over the centuries, Israel had been through so much – war, subjugation, exile, destruction of the Temple, rebuilding and then defilement by foreign rulers.  Under such dire circumstances, they created a picture of a great warrior king who would immediately and spectacularly drive out their enemies and restore justice and righteousness.   I don’t blame them for doing so.

When the Savior did arrive as a baby in a manger, having angels announce His arrival would have done nothing to dim the expectations.  Nothing changed that anyone could see.  Their oppressors, the Romans and Herod, were not going away just yet.  The Savior was coming to redeem us by overthrowing the ultimate enemy of us all, the one who is the driver behind every evil person, government, and work.  However, the battles would be fought on a level above our understanding and perception, above the immediate circumstances.  The initial announcement of Jesus’ birth was to outcasts, those who were given no hope of redemption by spiritual leaders.  This baby was not born in a mansion to wealthy parents who might have social influence or power.  This baby came to change our eternity, not the present circumstances. 

Impact on Me

Were I living then, I don’t know if my expectations would have been any different.  Would I have recognized Jesus as the Savior Isaiah prophesied?  He certainly did not appear to be a great warrior king come to save Israel in mighty battles.  He was a common man from Nazareth (of all places!) who worked with his hands, an itinerant rabbi, a rebellious man who broke the rules and insulted and aggravated the respected spiritual authorities.   Would I have been spiritually grounded, not so religious, and open-minded enough to recognize the power and truth of God working in and through Him?  I don’t know….

I am grateful that I did not have cultural, historical and religious barriers to overcome to recognize Jesus as Savior.  I am not under the same circumstances as they were then.  It does not mean that I don’t have expectations about how He will respond to the troubles and challenges I face.  However, over time I have come to understand that I it is my choice, regardless of my expectations and immediate circumstances, to choose for His government to be over my soul and spirit, regardless of what I may currently I face.  Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection are the beginning of my opportunity to walk in victory no matter the challenges I face.  It is my choice to allow Him to lift me, lead me and use me to live out that victory.

Devotion

Lord God, Redeemer, Provider, Deliverer, My Refuge, My Comfort, My Living Hope, I worship You for Who You are and treasure what You have done in me.  I embrace Your will and purpose for me.  Give me insight into how to respond to the circumstances that come my way so I may be above them in You and not under them.  Help me to be spiritually wise and flexible enough to break the rules that do not honor or please You. May I be so soaked in Your presence that others will experience Your love, comfort and care through me, remembering only You and what You have done after I am gone.  Make it so, in Jesus’ name.

On Those Who Rule Over Me

Jeremiah 29:4-7 MSG   This is the Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies, Israel’s God, to all the exiles I’ve taken from Jerusalem to Babylon:  5 “Build houses and make yourselves at home.  Put in gardens and eat what grows in that country.  6 Marry and have children. Encourage your children to marry and have children so that you’ll thrive in that country and not waste away.  7 Make yourselves at home there and work for the country’s welfare.  Pray for Babylon’s well-being. If things go well for Babylon, things will go well for you.”

1 Timothy 2:1-3MSG  The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live.

Observation

The prophet Jeremiah wrote to the displaced captives taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, a pagan king of a pagan kingdom.   The bottom line was, “If you find yourself in a pagan land, do what Jesus did – be My light, My agent for change.  Choose My Kingdom and Me as your ruler regardless of your circumstances.”  The captives in Babylon had major challenges  to honoring God within a pagan culture.  They needed God’s wisdom to determine how to work for the good of the country in which they lived without dishonoring God.  Regardless of where they served God, He was faithful to preserve and even exalt those who set themselves to “make yourselves at home there and work for the country’s welfare.”  In the book of Daniel, we can see how he became a trusted advisor to several successive pagan kings while still honoring God.

In Paul’s letter to Timothy, he was speaking essentially the same message to people who lived under pagan Roman rule.  Timothy was overseeing the church in Ephesus, a port city in Asia Minor, present day Türkiye.  Port cities then and now are very cosmopolitan, a mixture of cultures, values and ideas, the proverbial cultural melting pot.  Both the Romans and the Greeks worshipped many gods.   Paul was teaching Timothy how to pastor his people in faithfulness to God while functioning in a pagan culture.  Paul tells us all that prayer is our best defense against the ungodliness around us.  He is telling us that if Jesus is the rock on which we build our house, it will not be moved by the rushing waters of ungodliness swirling around us. 

Impact on Me

The captives were asked to “Pray for Babylon’s well-being.”    Those who lived in Ephesus were instructed to  “Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well.”  Certainly Daniel and Timothy did not approve of the cultures or religions under which they served, but both honored and represented God in spite of their surroundings.  They were citizens of Heaven and ambassadors to their respective pagan lands.  And God preserved and even promoted them.  I think about the recent election and how each party demonized the other.  This has caused chaotic emotional responses and fear.  I am sure the captives felt these same emotions as they were led off to Babylon.  HOWEVER, Jeremiah’s words and Paul’s words are still relevant today.  Whether I agree with those who rule over me or not, I am instructed to pray for them to rule well and wisely so I can “be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation.”   

I can easily forget that God’s thoughts and ways are above my understanding and He has no obligation to explain the “why” to me.  I would not have chosen crucifixion of my own son as the pathway to redemption, but I am not God and do not have His eternal perspective.  I don’t understand why suffering and sickness are still in this world after their advocate was defeated by the Cross and Resurrection, but I am not God.  I don’t understand many things, but I have learned by experience to trust God’s love, comfort and care for me in my confused and painful times.  Like Peter, I say, “Where else would I go?  Jesus, You have the words of life.”   I want to leave government of my life on Jesus’s shoulders.

Devotion

Lord God, Creator, Redeemer, All-Wise, Eternal Father, You are my only safe haven, my strong tower.  When I cannot understand the why for what is going on, remind me that I am Your ambassador, Your light, an instrument in Your hand, to bring Your presence, Your love, Your peace and Your comfort into the confusion, pain, sorrow and upheaval, submitting to be an instrument in Your hand regardless of the circumstances around me or the government ruling over me. I submit to the government of Jesus over any other.  Lord, help me to always put my faith and future in Your hands even when I don’t understand.  Make it so, in Jesus’ name.

On Parenting the Messiah

This week I have included a link to my former pastor’s blog. His perspective on Christmas was so very different. I have never really considered the weight of responsibility borne by Mary and Joseph to parent Jesus, the Messiah, Emmanuel, God Incarnate. Parenting any child is a challenge, but there love, care and teaching of this One must have been truly daunting. Enjoy and have a joyous Christmas!

https://betweenthepaws.org/merely-human-a-blog/questions

On Faithfulness When You Don’t Understand

Luke 1:29-38  (JBPhillips) 29-33 Mary was deeply perturbed at these words and wondered what such a greeting could possibly mean. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; God loves you dearly. You are going to be the mother of a son, and you will call him Jesus. He will be great and will be known as the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his forefather, David, and he will be king over the people of Jacob forever. His reign shall never end.”

 34 Then Mary spoke to the angel, “How can this be,” she said, “I am not married!”

But the angel made this reply to her – “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, the power of the Most High will overshadow you.  Your child will therefore be called holy – the Son of God.  Your cousin Elisabeth has also conceived a son, old as she is.  Indeed, this is the sixth month for her, a woman who was called barren.  For no promise of God can fail to be fulfilled.”. 

“I belong to the Lord, body and soul,” replied Mary, “let it happen as you say.”  And at this the angel left her.

Observation

“For no promise of God can fail to be fulfilled.”  Without blaming God, Zacharias and Elisabeth grew old honoring and serving God faithfully while bearing the shame of being childless, which was generally perceived by their culture as an indication of God’s disfavor.  Nevertheless, they remained faithful over a lifetime.  They loved and served God without understanding the why of their childlessness or what they had done to deserve it.  Zacharias and Elisabeth had borne the shame of being childless until they were too old to conceive, so a child was a very long-awaited justification of their faithful service, their “well done, good and faithful servant”. 

“I belong to the Lord, body and soul,” replied Mary, “let it happen as you say.”  So, also, Mary trusted God even though she would bear the disgrace of being unmarried and pregnant, bringing shame on her family, becoming a social outcast, probably throwing away any hope for marrying Joseph or any future marriage.  For Mary, saying “yes” meant risking at a very young age everything about her life and future. 

Impact on Me

I am sure that they were aware of the costs of their obedience, whether the price was paid up front (as in the case of Zacharias and Elisabeth) or paid forward (as in the case of Mary).  How do I weigh the costs when God asks me to do something?  Am I willing to suffer disgrace and serve in “shame” for His sake, allowing others, even family and friends, to misunderstand or disagree, leaving the explanations, the defense of my pathway, to God?  Am I willing to risk it all to obey God, allowing Him to count the cost and spend or invest me as He sees fit?  Am I willing to wait and wait and wait until God says the time is right?  All of these questions probe how much I trust God and need to be addressed over and over to ensure that I remember I am called to be a servant. 

Devotion

Lord God, Almighty, Eternal Father, I submit my life to You and commit to be a good and faithful servant.  Remind me that I am not in charge and I don’t need to understand as long as I trust You and know I am obeying You.  May my “yes” remain so after I hear Your request.  Help me always to allow You to weigh the cost to me against the benefit to Your kingdom.  Make it so, in Jesus’ name.

On The Things to Dwell On

Philippians 4:6-8 NASB.  6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

Philippians 4:6-8 NLT. “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

Philippians 4:6-8 MSG. 6-7 Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.  8 Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.

Philippians 4:6-8 VOICE. 6 Don’t be anxious about things; instead, pray. Pray about everything. He longs to hear your requests, so talk to God about your needs and be thankful for what has come. 7 And know that the peace of God (a peace that is beyond any and all of our human understanding) will stand watch over your hearts and minds in Jesus, the Anointed One.  8 Finally, brothers and sisters, fill your minds with beauty and truth. Meditate on whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is good, whatever is virtuous and praiseworthy.

Observation

Philippi was a Roman military colony on the Egnatian Road, the main road between Rome and Byzantium (modern day Istanbul, Turkey).  This community of Christians (mostly converted Gentiles) faced struggles from inside and out that seriously undermined their peace.  The predominant religion was the Roman Caesar as God and Savior.  There were also those within the Christian community that preached the necessity to follow Jewish practices, such as circumcision, to “seal” their commitment to Christ. 

At this time Nero was Caesar, a ruler infamous for using humans as torches to light the road or as fodder for animals to tear apart for gruesome “entertainment” in the arena.  It is remarkable to note that Paul is writing this warm, transparent and engaging letter of encouragement while imprisoned in Rome waiting to see this same Caesar face-to-face. Truly, Paul is speaking from his own experience in how to dwell in that peace that passes all understanding despite every challenge, circumstance and fear.   I am an encourager, so I love the Book of Philippians. What Paul says in this passage is really part of the bottom line of any encouraging message and hearkens back for me to Joshua’s challenge to “choose this day whom you will serve.”  

These passages written during treacherous times issue the same challenge to choose your Master.  We can serve the Enemy and focus on the fearful, painful, unjust, despicable, ungodly, ugly and cruel and allow ourselves to be overwhelmed or discouraged by them OR we can choose to serve the One True God and imitate Paul as he imitates Christ – don’t waste time worrying, pray instead, putting all in God’s hands, resting in the peace that He has it all under control.  It is our opportunity to put the cost to us in His hands AND choose “filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.” 

Impact on Me

I must confess that this current political season and secular culture are presenting me with an in-your-face opportunity to choose which way I respond to these verses.  The politics seem so caustic, so partisan, so ugly.  The culture around me seems to be worshipping the ungodly, the superficial, the pursuit of pleasure, self-adoration and acquisition.  But, how different is this society, this culture, from the one at the time these words were written?  The Emperor Nero is the definition of absolute power absolutely corrupted; the Roman society stands even today as one of the most decadent and depraved of all time.  Yet, Paul instructs the Philippians to remember that, while we are to be good citizens of our earthly country, we are really citizens of Heaven, subjects of the King of Kings, servants of the Lord of Lords and responsible ultimately to Him alone for our conduct, our choices. 

Paul is teaching me (and us all) how to be good and faithful servants of our true Master regardless of what earthly masters or leaders may do. Our God sets up leaders and takes down leaders to serve His will and purpose, to orchestrate history as He has planned. He also sets His people, His servants, in the midst of darkness to provide the light of Christ as a means out of the darkness into the eternal light of His salvation.  Why should I be surprised at the darkness that surrounds/encroaches us?  Isn’t this my opportunity to be a means of rescue for those who know nothing but darkness, who embrace it as a hiding place or the only safe place for them? 

If I take up Paul’s challenge to pray, put my trust in my God and remember and meditate “on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse”, I will be encouraged to see myself as part of the unending string of lights that extends throughout the world and all history, bringing escape for the lost through faith, hope, peace, joy, redemption, restoration, healing, mercy, grace and love that drives back the darkness – regardless of how dark, overwhelming or pervasive the darkness may appear.

Devotion

Lord God, All-Knowing, All-Powerful, the One Who is Never Surprised or Dismayed, forgive me for allowing myself to be discouraged by what I see and hear, causing me to feel overwhelmed and helpless in the face of circumstances.  I never want to doubt You, Your ability to effect change, Your power to fulfill Your eternal plan and purpose. Let me forget to complain, despair, and worry because I am overwhelmed with Your presence, with gratitude for Your grace, Your mercy, Your blessings, Your love. Constantly remind me to look to You, to present myself before You to pray and believe for what appears impossible, to seek out Your presence and Your word as instruction to me, to be content with where You set me to shine, so I may always be Your encouragement to those who are lost, struggling, defeated or discouraged. I pray this all in the name of Jesus. Make it so.