Tag: faith

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.

On Help Me With My Doubts

John 9:17-27 MSG  A man out of the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought my mute son, made speechless by a demon, to you. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and goes stiff as a board. I told your disciples, hoping they could deliver him, but they couldn’t.”

19-20 Jesus said, “What a generation! No sense of God! How many times do I have to go over these things? How much longer do I have to put up with this? Bring the boy here.” They brought him. When the demon saw Jesus, it threw the boy into a seizure, causing him to writhe on the ground and foam at the mouth.

21-22 He asked the boy’s father, “How long has this been going on?”

“Ever since he was a little boy. Many times it pitches him into fire or the river to do away with him. If you can do anything, do it. Have a heart and help us!”

23 Jesus said, “If? There are no ‘ifs’ among believers. Anything can happen.”

24 No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the father cried, “Then I believe. Help me with my doubts!”

25-27 Seeing that the crowd was forming fast, Jesus gave the vile spirit its marching orders: “Dumb and deaf spirit, I command you—Out of him, and stay out!” Screaming, and with much thrashing about, it left. The boy was pale as a corpse, so people started saying, “He’s dead.” But Jesus, taking his hand, raised him. The boy stood up.

Observation

This father came to Jesus out of desperation, hoping against hope that Jesus could heal and deliver his son.  We don’t know how old the son was or how many years the parents had watched their son suffer, but we can hear the desperation in his reply (“help my unbelief”).  I am sure he had tried everything else available before resorting to searching out this unconventional itinerant rabbi. 

I am reminded of the woman with the issue of blood who had become impoverished and desperate in searching out healing until she broke the rules to find her answer in touching only the hem of Jesus’ garment.  What about Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, whose daughter was dying while Jesus delayed to engage this unclean woman who dared to appear in public? (Mark 5:21-43 NIV)   Desperation drove them to extreme measures, moving outside the acceptable cultural and safe box, to believe for what seems impossible.   In doing so, they found that nothing is impossible with God.

Impact on Me

I don’t want to wait until I am desperate to take my needs to Jesus.  However, I find that I sometimes get caught up in the urgency of a situation and immediately set out to do everything in my own power to fix things.  At some point, I am arrested by my overwhelming inadequacy to effectively fix much on my own.  Some things are just not humanly fixable.   

My only daughter was in a car accident at 15 that resulted in a broken back when she was thrown from the car which then rolled over her.   I am so grateful for all those medical professionals did to bring healing, but ultimately I came to understand that the extent of her healing was in God’s hands.  So many times we cried out, “we believe; help our unbelief,” as we received bad news from the doctors about how her life would be limited.   Then God would surprise them with impossible healing to take her past those limits.  We saw many miracles along the way – spiritually, physically and financially – that changed our understanding about God’s possibilities.

You would think that an experience like that would prevent me from turning to my own devices in crisis, but I am so very human and forgetful.  So, when I find myself trying to fix things on my own, I repent again for trusting first in my own ability, strength, wisdom instead of the Holy Spirit’s, bow in prayer and ask Jesus for His solution, His power to flow, His plan for how I can assist Him.  Never discount the power of prayer on behalf of yourself and others.  Your prayer may give others the courage and wisdom, like this father, woman and ruler, to put their lives and the lives of their loved ones into His hands and care.

Prayer

Lord, I put my faith in You, Faithful One, Gracious God, Loving Father, the One Who Sees All.  Lord, I believe; help my dispel my doubts with Your perfect peace when crisis and fear ramp up the urgency and tempt me to run off on my own to fix what only You can fix.  Give me the courage to allow You to pull me aside for time with You so I can be comforted, encouraged, listening to Your plan and my part in it.  Remind me that prayer is powerful, You have defeated our Enemy, and that Your Holy Spirit is at work 24/7 to bring about Your will and purpose in all circumstances.  Make it so, in Jesus’ name.