Tag: Submission

On God’s Plan May Not Make Sense


Joshua 5:13-15 MSG And then this, while Joshua was there near Jericho: He looked up and saw right in front of him a man standing, holding his drawn sword. Joshua stepped up to him and said, “Whose side are you on—ours or our enemies’?” 14 He said, “Neither. I’m commander of God’s army. I’ve just arrived.” Joshua fell, face to the ground, and worshiped. He asked, “What orders does my Master have for his servant?” 15 God’s army commander ordered Joshua, “Take your sandals off your feet. The place you are standing is holy.”  Joshua did it.

Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG  Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own.  Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track.

Observation

I believe this commander was Jesus.  He allowed Joshua to fall down and worship Him, something an angel would not do, and Jesus is identified as the commander of God’s army in Revelation (Revelation 19:9-16 NIV).  Regardless, any meeting with any angel must have been a jarring, overwhelming experience since the glory of God accompanied them (Luke 2:8-10).  This man must have exuded the appearance, confidence and awesome presence of a truly mighty warrior for Joshua to accept his self-identification as the commander of God’s army. 

Joshua asks, “Whose side are you on—ours or our enemies’?”  When the man says, “Neither,” he is making Joshua aware that there is a third side to choose.  “What orders does my Master have for his servant?”  Joshua abandoned his battle plans, took the third side – God’s side – and did not hesitate to submit his authority to God’s commander.  He had seen enough of the ways of God in Egypt, in the wilderness and crossing over Jordan to adopt God’s plan without hesitation.  I am sure he did not understand how marching around the city would bring the walls down.  Nevertheless, the battle plan for Jericho was going to be fought with the weapons of obedience, faith, and submission to the same God who brought them out of Egypt and through the wilderness.

Impact on Me

How often do I only see or consider two sides – my side and the opposing one?  How often do I assume that God is on my side rather than ensuring that I am on His?  How often do I launch into battle without presenting my plans to God to see if they sync with His?  Jesus consistently shocked His disciples by challenging the religious and cultural status quo.  Do I need a big scary angel to stand in my way to stop me from going it on my own?  Am I willing to submit to a plan that doesn’t make sense to me?  Which of us would come up with a salvation battle plan that starred a meek and humble man untrained in war, a troublemaker rejected by the accepted religious authorities, a crucified Savior? 

 “Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own.”  In my experience, choosing God’s side is not always easy, comfortable, safe or logical.  I had to learn the hard way that I was not always going to understand or be my version of successful or even be liked in my faithfulness.  At the very least, my pride will have to die in submitting to Jesus as Lord.  I want to be like Joshua at this moment and like Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane when the time comes to choose sides.

Devotion

Almighty, All-Wise, Merciful God, Your battle plan for redeeming humankind may not make sense to me but I choose Your side, Your plan, Your weapons.  Train me to recognize how to use love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, humility, kindness and all Your other virtues as weapons to fight Your battles for the souls You desire to save.  Change my definition of success to align with Yours.  May I clearly hear and quickly obey Your commands on each and every battlefield where You send me.  I ask it all in the name of Jesus.  Make it so.

On Exploding Pretensions

2 Kings 7:3-7 MSG It happened that four lepers were sitting just outside the city gate. They said to one another, “What are we doing sitting here at death’s door? If we enter the famine-struck city we’ll die; if we stay here we’ll die. So let’s take our chances in the camp of Aram and throw ourselves on their mercy. If they receive us we’ll live, if they kill us we’ll die. We’ve got nothing to lose.”  So after the sun went down they got up and went to the camp of Aram. When they got to the edge of the camp, surprise! Not a man in the camp! The Master had made the army of Aram hear the sound of horses and a mighty army on the march. They told one another, “The king of Israel hired the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Egypt to attack us!” Panicked, they ran for their lives through the darkness, abandoning tents, horses, donkeys—the whole camp just as it was—running for dear life. 

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 PhillipsFor look at your own calling as Christians, my brothers. You don’t see among you many of the wise (according to this world’s judgment) nor many of the ruling class, nor many from the noblest families. But God has chosen what the world calls foolish to shame the wise; he has chosen what the world calls weak to shame the strong. He has chosen things of little strength and small repute, yes and even things which have no real existence to explode the pretensions of the things that are—that no man may boast in the presence of God. 

Observations

This may seem strange at first, but, to me, this is one of the most encouraging stories in the entire Old Testament.  The city has been cut off from resources for months.  The people in the city have resorted to unthinkable ends by the lack of food.  The prophet Elisha has predicted a sudden and dramatic turn around of the situation, but no one believes him. Outside the city gates, with no hope for help or food from inside the city, we have these four lepers.  Now lepers were avoided by others because the disease was communicable (it is a virus), had no cure and resulted over time in disfigurement, even to the extent of losing fingers, toes, noses.  Lepers were considered a waste of space and resources.

These four lepers have an epiphany!  “If we enter the famine-struck city we’ll die; if we stay here we’ll die. So let’s take our chances in the camp of Aram and throw ourselves on their mercy. If they receive us we’ll live, if they kill us we’ll die. We’ve got nothing to lose.”  I can see them hobbling and shuffling toward the enemy camp.  They have nothing to offer and nothing to lose.  But God, in the way He does, uses the least – foolish, weak and men of little strength and small repute, actual outcasts – to save the city.  This is clear evidence of how different God’s standards to judge value and worth vary from our standards for the same.

Impact on Me

There is great value in study of the Word, practicing spiritual disciplines and daily devotions, worshipping together, serving in ministry.  These are all a necessary part of growing in our Christian walk.  However, they do not define our value in God’s eyes.  While they demonstrate our gratitude – our recognition of the grace and mercy poured out on us and for us, our commitment to submit and obey, our desire to return love to Him – they do not make us more worthy in God’s sight.  We are worthy when we choose to be in Christ through the surrender of repentance and accepting the salvation provided for us on the Cross. 

These four lepers remind me “that no man may boast in the presence of God.”  My accomplishments, my talents, my knowledge, my accumulated wisdom, my faithful performance, only has real value when it is offered up in humility and used to walk in obedience to His will and purpose in my life.   The best thing I bring to the table is my ear to hear and my heart to obey. Our God is able to make the fiercest army flee before anyone He chooses, even four starving, crippled, rag draped lepers that society considers worthless.  What can He do with me if I will just get up and go when He calls?

Devotion

Lord God Almighty, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, the One Who stooped down from Heaven to redeem my unworthy soul, I worship You.  I want to see with Your eyes and value others with Your heart.  I want to be just who You call me to be, not wishing to be someone else doing something else because they are being seen and recognized and I am not.  I want to remember that what You can accomplish in and through me is only limited by the freedom I will allow to Your Holy Spirit.  Change my heart, break loose the things in me that break Your heart so I may be Your good and faithful servant.  I pray this all in Jesus’ name. 

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 Who Is Your King

John 19:12-15 MSG. “At this, Pilate tried his best to pardon him, but the Jews shouted him down: “If you pardon this man, you’re no friend of Caesar’s. Anyone setting himself up as ‘king’ defies Caesar.” When Pilate heard those words, he led Jesus outside. He sat down at the judgment seat in the area designated Stone Court (in Hebrew, Gabbatha). It was the preparation day for Passover. The hour was noon. Pilate said to the Jews, “Here is your king.” They shouted back, “Kill him! Kill him! Crucify him!” Pilate said, “I am to crucify your king?” The high priests answered, “We have no king except Caesar.””

Observation

“Anyone setting himself up as ‘king’ defies Caesar.” So, for me, Caesar represents the world, it’s systems, and anything else of the world that “rules over” us. The kingdom of King Jesus does defy all that the world can offer or deliver. Choosing Jesus as Lord and Savior means surrendering the ownership of ourselves and our choosing to Him so we can pursue the fulfillment of His will and purpose with the gifting He gives.

Questions some might ask are, “Why should we do this? Why should we give up having absolute control of what choices we make about our current pursuits and our futures?” While “surrender” is a word our society, our world, associates with shame, loss, powerlessness, when applied to our relationship with Jesus, it represents forgiveness, grace, and security. I would ask how much real control we have over tomorrow when we are depending on our own devices. We can make plans but they are all subject to the next circumstance that arises, the next unexpected turn of events that occurs. We truly only have total control in the current moment of the decisions we make and the actions we take. The bottom line is we neither know what will happen next nor what we need to be prepared for it.

Impact On Me

“The high priests answered, “We have no king except Caesar.” Did they not understand what they were saying? Was their position and power so important to them that they would abandon God to accomplish the murder of a troublesome itinerant teacher? I realize that I am viewing this in hindsight and as a follower of Jesus. However, it makes me even more aware of the necessity to stay surrendered to King Jesus when the Caesar’s of this world tempt me to follow them by crucifying Him again.

I did not know how the rough patches in my life would prepare me for the future, but they did because I kept looking for Jesus in the midst of them instead of focusing on my own pain. He helped me to see outside my grief and sorrow in the ICU waiting room to minister comfort to another mother agonizing over her child’s future. I found out that more comfort flowed into me as I gave His comfort away. I am grateful for doctors and hospitals, but I am more grateful that I serve a King Who is more able than them all.

Prayer

Lord God, Redeemer, Sustainer, Lover of my soul, I worship You as I rest secure in Your hands. Show me how to continue in true surrender to You when the Caesar’s of this world try to distract and displace me. Help me always to leave my comfort and care to You as I give You the freedom to reach out through me to others in need. I know You hold all my future and will be with me whatever comes. Make it so, in Jesus’ name.

On The Bottom Line

Romans 12:1-2 Phillips. 1 With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him. 2 Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.

Romans 12:1-2 MSG. 1 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. 2 Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. 

Observation

This chapter 12 of Romans could be titled, “The Universal Practical Guide to Worshipping God in Your Living.”  Paul has spent the previous 11 chapters explaining how only faith in Christ provides forgiveness of sin and redemption, and that faith is not based on or evidenced by the adherence to any Jewish religious rules, practices, or The Law.  Living by faith in Christ transcends culture and religious rites, rituals and rules; it is based on:

  • 24/7 worship,
  • our glad obedience/submission to God’s will, and
  • allowing Him the freedom to change us in order to fulfill His plan in and through us – “bring the best out…develop well-formed maturity”. 

This might require us to be as counter-cultural as Paul is asking the Jewish believers to be regarding new Gentile believers – by accepting that faith in Christ is not proven by works, but, rather, weighing all against the heart of God to redeem and restore relationship with all of His creation.  With this heart, we can embrace others in the Body of Christ in spite of differences in practice as long as Jesus is their Lord and only Savior.  Paul lays out the bottom line for all believers here in chapter 12:

  • submit (“give Him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to Him and acceptable by Him”),
  • be changed and matured by the Holy Spirit (“Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within”)
  • serve with humility trusting in God’s plan/purpose for you (“Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it”), and
  • let your love be sincere, motivated by mercy, grace, and redemption  generously poured out to all (Romans 9-end).

Impact on Me

The book of Romans is cram-packed with teaching by Paul on what really happened on the Cross, Who Christ is, what His sacrifice really provides for all mankind, and how I should respond to/show my gratitude for this free gift of redemption. 

Here Paul is saying that I need to:

  • submit myself to God, giving the Holy Spirit freedom to search me, know me (without reserving any private areas),
  • allow the Holy Spirit to bring areas that need changing to my attention, and
  • give the Holy Spirit freedom to work the change in me that makes me ready and able to fulfill God’s will and purpose for me.

This requires me to have the courage to trust Him with my secret places of pride, shame, sorrow, guilt, stubbornness, fear, selfishness, criticism, and all the other ugliness I have hidden away in the locked closets of my soul. I am then shamefully faced with the question of how much I really do trust Him.  Would I really be willing to let Him be in charge of cleaning out those closets, truly putting my past, my present, my future under His scrutiny and in His hands regardless of the cost to me?  Am I willing for Him to reveal my deepest darkest secrets if it serves His purpose to heal and release me or others?  It all comes down to the bottom line – how much do I really trust Him?

Prayer

Lord, my desire is to trust You so unconditionally that I will have no secret places, no locked closets in my soul full of shame, guilt and unforgiveness.  I want to cooperate with You in the process – “be changed from the inside out”–so I “may prove in practice that the plan of God for you (me) is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.”  Help me to hear the song You sing over me – that it may ring in my flesh, my heart, my spirit so I may worship You with my “everyday, ordinary life…and place it before God as an offering.”  I want to live in Heaven’s culture, having my actions determined by what You see with Your eyes and how You love with Your heart.  I pray this all in Jesus’ name. Make it so.