Pressing On In His Footsteps

Hebrews 12:1-3 MSG Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!”

Observation

There was a farmer who had a beautiful, strong horse.  His friends came and said, “How fortunate that you have such a horse.”  “We’ll see,” said the farmer.  One day the horse ran away.  His friends came and said, “How unfortunate.”  “We’ll see,” said the farmer.  The next day the horse returned with two more horses.  His friends said, “How wonderful.  You now have three horses.”  “We’ll see,” said the farmer.  The farmer’s son tried to ride one of the new horses, fell off and broke his leg.  His friends said, “How unfortunate.”   “We’ll see,” said the farmer.  The army came and took all the young men of the village except the farmer’s son with the broken leg.  His friends said, “How fortunate.  Your son was not taken.”  “We’ll see,” said the farmer.

For me, this story reminds me not to judge what God is doing to achieve His ultimate plan by the current circumstances.  When Jesus was on the Cross, I am confident that His disciples were confused and feeling defeated.  “How could Messiah die, much less die such a shameful death on a Cross?  Were we wrong about Him?  How could He do such miraculous works and let Himself be humiliated and defeated by the Sanhedrin and Rome?  What do we do now?  We gave up everything to follow Him?”  The event that seemed the worst possible outcome to them was actually the pivot point of all history, exactly in the plan of Father God.  Regardless of how it appeared and what it cost, Jesus “never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever.”

Impact on Me

The thing I love about the farmer story is that it reminds me that – whatever the circumstance I face – I need to: keep my eyes fixed on Jesus, know that the Holy Spirit is with me, keep my heart established in the fact that God is still on Plan A, and my feet stepping in the footsteps of Jesus before me.  The world, its politics, its plans and all the temporary powers that rule over us are still under His control.  I don’t understand why the violent, pagan tyrants of history rose to power – the Egyptians, the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Greeks, and all the others.  I do know that they have only earthly power which pales in the shadow of the power of God.  They can take my physical freedom away, but they can never steal the freedom I have because of my position in Christ.

So, in these turbulent times where there is so much anger, angst and social upheaval, I can feel a shaking in the Spirit, a deep and constant rumbling underlying it all.  Like the farmer, I am watching, praying and trusting in God to accomplish His will and purpose through it all.  “Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.” Romans 8:26-28 MSG

Devotion

God of infinite wisdom, All-Powerful, Perfect in Love, I am looking for the footsteps You have placed before me so I can walk in them.  The times are unstable, full of anger and violence, confusing and difficult to understand how You can work all this into something good.  BUT, just as Jesus on the Cross seemed utter defeat and instead was the ultimate victory, I watch, pray and trust in You.  Lead me in pathways of righteousness.  Help me to be a peacemaker regardless of the cost to me.  I pray that You will keep my eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith.  In Jesus’ name, I pray.

“Let these false prophets tell their dreams, but let my true messengers faithfully proclaim my every word.  There is a difference between straw and grain!  Does not my word burn like fire?” says the Lord.  “Is it not like a mighty hammer that smashes a rock to pieces?  [Jeremiah 23:28-29 NLT]

“You prophets who do nothing but dream—go ahead and tell your silly dreams.  But you prophets who have a message from me—tell it truly and faithfully.  What does straw have in common with wheat?  Nothing else is like God’s Decree.  Isn’t my Message like fire?” God’s Decree.  “Isn’t it like a sledgehammer busting a rock?  [Jeremiah 23:28-29 MSG]

Observation

Jeremiah is speaking for the Lord to false prophets – ones who say what people want to hear, those condoning sin and ignoring the consequences for themselves and those deceived by their prophecies.  Jeremiah was not popular with the other prophets or the authorities in power.  He kept predicting God’s coming judgment while the others were assuring the people that judgment would never come despite the idolatry and general/public acceptance of sinful practices.  Somehow, being Jewish gave them a free pass to do as they pleased without every facing judgment.  They forgot that the Covenant contained both blessings and curses.

Through Jeremiah, God is saying that time is up!  His patience is at an end.  He will keep His covenant promises – good and bad.  His word told “truly and faithfully” is like fire or a sledgehammer busting a rock – both destructive forces that reduce straw to ash and a boulder to dust.  These people must only wanted to hear good news – God is a softy who will never bring judgment on us.  They must have thought the Temple of God provided some magical protection regardless of their behavior.  It should have been no surprise when God fulfilled Jeremiah’s prophecies by stepping aside to allow His people to be swept off into the Babylonian Captivity.  Consider that the faithful and unfaithful alike were taken away…

Impact on Me

So, the same battle raged then as now – confronting the desire to be liked rather than risk it all by being a truth teller, the desire for favor, position, authority and power from men rather than from God, the belief that judgment will never come, being a false prophet.  How very human to want to be liked and recognized, to want to “know” and “understand” so you appear important or smarter than everyone else, to be considered an insider in power or prophetic circles.  All this is a search for significance that has gotten lost in the woods of the world, the miry clay, the quicksand of the Enemy to keep our hope in ourselves to find meaning and value in life, to listen to what we want to hear. 

There is always that underlying temptation to have itching ears that tell us that God is a softy and will never execute judgment.   BUT God loves us so much that He is faithful to send us those who will “tell it truly and faithfully” even when we don’t like the message or the messenger.  Our God is faithful to keep bringing our focus back to the search for our significance in Christ.  The Holy Spirit works in turning our eyes, our efforts, from what we can do in our own strength to allowing Jesus to be Himself in and through us.  He woos us to trust in Him especially when we don’t understand or don’t like our circumstances, to submit to His sovereign will and plan because we know that He is in control of all. 

Devotion

Father God, so merciful, so faithful, so just and trustworthy, I worship You.  I give permission to Your Holy Spirit to search me for any pockets of self-righteousness, any ways in which my significance is not found in You.  I want to trash the pride that makes me want to be known and recognized, especially when what I do does not honor You.  Redirect my path if I have gone astray.  Shut my mouth if You are not speaking.  Expose and deal with the expectations I have placed on You that are not of You.  You are sovereign and, whether my life is blessed or a sacrifice, yet I will praise You.  In Jesus’ name, make it so.

1 Thessalonians 4:1-6 NIV  As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.  ² For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.  ³ It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; ⁴ that each of you should learn to control your own bodyin a way that is holy and honorable, ⁵ not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; ⁶ and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.

MSG. “^1-3 One final word, friends. We ask you – urge is more like it—that you keep on doing what we told you to do to please God, not in a dogged religious plod, but in a living, spirited dance.  You know the guidelines we laid out for you from the Master Jesus. God wants you to live a pure life.  Keep yourselves from sexual promiscuity.  ^4-5 Learn to appreciate and give dignity to your body, not abusing it, as is so common among those who know nothing of God.  ⁶Don’t run roughshod over the concerns of your brothers and sisters. Their concerns are God’s concerns, and He will take care of them.”

Observation

Like Ephesis and Corinth, Thessalonika (now known as Saloniki) was an important seaport on a major trade route between Rome and the East. The culture of the city was influenced by its location, its importance, its influence, its cosmopolitan population, its Roman occupiers.  There was a synagogue in the city, but the great majority of the people  would have practiced a pagan religion, such as adopting and worshipping the Roman pantheon of gods.  Christianity was seen as heretical by religious Jews, sometimes seditious by Rome and foolishly priggish by the secular culture.  Many pagan religions either overlooked or condoned promiscuity by actually including sex acts with “Vestal Virgins” in their worship practices. 

Paul is exhorting the new Christians to revolutionize their understanding of how to please God, even in the face of cultural and religious persecution – whether they are converted Jews or pagans, whether they previously worshipped another religion, many gods or secular culture (money, power, accomplishment).  Paul exhorts them to live a pure life in order “to please God, not in a dogged religious plod, but in a living, spirited dance.”  Their faithfulness to a living, spirited dance, in the face of persecution and regardless of appearances or immediate results, planted the seed for worldwide generations of redemptions to follow.

Impact on Me

Paul’s exhortation to the believers in Thessalonika rings as true to me today as it did to the believers in the 1st century. San Diego is also “an important seaport on a major trade route” and home to many nationalities, cultures, and religions, people brought here on military orders, for research or education, as refugees seeking an environment for freedom and an opportunity for success, a warmer climate or ??  The secular culture in which I live worships status, possessions, winning, “Mother Nature” and all forms of created things, physical pleasures, expediency and convenience. How are these challenges (false gods, idols) any different than the ones faced by those early Christians? 

How do I need to revolutionize my thinking regarding the common cultural and religious practices of my own?  Where does my life need to be purified and am I willing to face persecution or disfavor to do so?  The great and glorious news is that the Holy Spirit is not discouraged by my failures or fears regarding opposition or persecution (He has dealt with humans like me then and now), so I can be encouraged and choose in Christ a living spirited dance of following, loving and serving Him, expecting the same results of my brothers and sisters of so long ago.

Devotion

Lord, I submit myself to You. Take me in Your arms and teach me to live 24/7 that spirited dance of joyful worship to You. May my heart and soul hunger to draw others into the same dance, even if they are currently dancing to the Enemy’s tune or they have allowed all music and light to fade away into darkness (hopelessness, anger, bitterness, apostasy, worshipping created things).  When I become distracted or discouraged by the circumstances, my inadequacies, or the immensity of the task, draw my eyes back to You so my hope and faith will rise as I return the accomplishment of the results to You. In Jesus’ name, I pray.

Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24 NLT O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.  ² You know when I sit down or stand up.  You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.  ³ You see me when I travel and when I rest at home.  You know everything I do.  ⁴ You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.  ⁵ You go before me and follow me.  You place Your hand of blessing on my head.  ⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!  ⁷ I can never escape from Your Spirit! I can never get away from Your presence!  ⁸ If I go up to heaven, You are there; if I go down to the grave, You are there.  ⁹ If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, ¹⁰ even there Your hand will guide me, and Your strength will support me.  ¹¹ I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night – ¹² but even in darkness I cannot hide from You.  To You the night shines as bright as day.  Darkness and light are the same to you…²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  ²⁴ Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

John 2:23-25MSG  During the time he was in Jerusalem, those days of the Passover Feast, many people noticed the signs he was displaying and, seeing they pointed straight to God, entrusted their lives to him. But Jesus didn’t entrust his life to them. He knew them inside and out, knew how untrustworthy they were. He didn’t need any help in seeing right through them.

Observation

This is a psalm of David.  He was a man who was entirely human and made many mistakes along the journey of life.  Yet, Paul calls him a man after God’s own heart.  The reason David is called a man after God’s own heart is verses like Psalm 139:23-24.  David learned through many years of struggle and waiting for God’s promise to be fulfilled to be quick to recognize his human failings and outright sin, repent, submit himself to the mercy and grace of God, always trusting God would forgive and stay with him on the journey to bring light in darkness, give direction, fill him with wisdom, and provide protection.

You see, David understood that he was completely transparent in the sight of God, nothing was hidden – no thought, no action, no word, no shame, no guilt, nothing.  God knew when the first thought occurred, and all of the subsequent dwelling on it, and what would come from it.  David knew his bad choices were laid out before God from beginning to end.  There were no internal closets (hiding places) where David could conceal his shame and guilt to keep it out of God’s sight or from God’s knowledge.  So, David became a man who learned the power and restoration of true repentance, that deep and abiding sorrow for offending God.  This is why he was called a man after God’s own heart.

Impact on Me

I think most of us are uncomfortable with the thought of being completely transparent – every thought, word and deed exposed.  What if I could read the minds of others?  Would I be offended or appalled by the raw emotion of the unspoken thoughts unfiltered by cultural mores or social rules?  What if others could read my mind?  The judgmental thought that I don’t express out of politeness or kindness may be unheard by others, but God knows.  David is telling us that God hears, sees and knows every unspoken thought, whispered word and shameful act done when we think no one is watching. 

When I first came to the Lord, I thought all my shame and guilt was locked up in so many closets within me, out of sight and mind, hidden from all.   I thought I held the keys so no one would ever be able to open the doors and see inside.  I found out that the Holy Spirit knew what was behind every door.  He knew me “inside and out” so all my shame was exposed to God.  What a humiliating revelation to me UNTIL I discovered that He was offering me forgiveness, redemption, restoration and joy in trade for the keys to all the doors.  Over the years, He has opened the doors and cleaned out my internal closets.  Now, like David, I pray “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”

Devotion

“O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.  ² You know when I sit down or stand up.  You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.  ³ You see me when I travel and when I rest at home.  You know everything I do.  ⁴ You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.  ⁵ You go before me and follow me.  You place Your hand of blessing on my head.  ⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!  ⁷ I can never escape from Your Spirit! I can never get away from Your presence!  ⁸ If I go up to heaven, You are there; if I go down to the grave, You are there.  ⁹ If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, ¹⁰ even there Your hand will guide me, and Your strength will support me.  ¹¹ I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night – ¹² but even in darkness I cannot hide from You.  To You the night shines as bright as day.  Darkness and light are the same to you.”  Lord, I ask that Your presence be so real, so palpable, that I will always choose to listen and obey You.  May I live in a manner that honors and glorifies You always.  Make it so, in Jesus’ name.