All My Love

My vows to you I must perform, O God; I will render thank offerings to you. For you have delivered my soul from death, & my feet from falling. (Psa 56:12-13).

Once again, I’m so glad for a Word revealed while reading my CS Lewis Bible. Today, Lewis writes of Jesus’ parable of the talents wherein two servants are rewarded for investing their master’s talents, but one is cast down to outer darkness for hiding his single talent in the ground. Lewis likens the hiding of a talent to a loveless heart, carefully guarded. He writes: “I believe that the most lawless & inordinate loves are less contrary to God’s will than a self-invited & self-protected lovelessness.” Without promoting willfull rebellion, my life in Christ today supports this belief. Through my unsaved years, foolish choices made that sowed seeds of love might have helped me find my way to Jesus. Not to suggest all who are lost should follow this path, after my rebirth in Christ, I offered my testimony to a companion from my addict past. While I prayed for his full release from the enemy, I came to see that though I liked him, his picture of success was very different than mine. Even if all else were right, my appreciation for stable employment would only hinder his talent, a willingness to invest all in his own business with reckless abandon. Still, an emotional investment on my part had to be made for a time. Lewis continues, “We shall draw nearer to God, not by trying to avoid the sufferings inherent in all loves, but by accepting them & offering them to Him; throwing away all defensive armour. If our hearts need to be broken, & if He chooses this as the way in which they should break, so be it.”

I picture the third servant who was given one talent instead of two or five like the others. Maybe banks were not on many corners then; imagine the embarrassment of going to the same investors with only a single talent after they’ve been visited by the others. Did he wonder what they might say or think knowing he’d appeared to have been trusted with so much less? Did he not value the relationship to his master for what it was? Or, what else is he to do? Risk losing it to some opportunist?

Praise God, today we can call on the name of Jesus for mercy in moments of indecision. Jeremiah 14:9 reads: “Yet you, O Lord, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name; do not forsake us!” In heaven, one talent might not be worth any less than ten talents. Praise God, His love is not reserved for only a few or for special occasions but is demonstrated regularly to all His creations. Lord, help us understand your ways so we may be fearless in our pursuit of pleasing you. Let your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope (Rom 15:13).

Fall 2011

Facebook Status Updates:

I developed my love for the Word in part by tweeting from my readings; it was great fun to try to fit a portion of scripture plus possibly a personal comment in 140 characters. More importantly, rereading them later brought to mind my joy in what I read that morning. I think its worth noting that before I started tweeting my readings in 2009, I often appreciated my companion book’s way of linking the Old to the New Testament readings in an encouraging way. I recall thinking, at least once, “this is what I want to do.” W/o comparing my writing to anyone else’s, I just have to say, it’s been so much fun! In August 2011, after completing a liquid fast & several sessions of swimming lessons for my daughter, I started exercising more & registered for a 5K, one I’d run in a couple of years before. 10 days before I participated in the Zoo Zoom 5K, I decided to demonstrate my faith & hopefully garner divine support by composing something daily for my Facebook Status Update. The 512 character limit was also interesting, but I thought my friend list would be more likely to read something short so I kept to it even after I noticed other status updates growing in length. After participating in a Kairos weekend conference, I was moved to write longer passages. I initially tried to keep them brief still, but eventually, because of time constraints, I just started posting the longer entries. I do aim for close to 2000 characters, but my hope is that by now, they’ll be read by who will receive from them. & of course, I just love to write about the Word. I wonder what I’ll do after the 1st, but then, I don’t even know what will happen tomorrow. At any rate..Let there be no doubt, God is my strength & my shield, my Creator, my caretaker, my hope & my everlasting joy! I would have never known without someone else pointing me to Jesus, & when that happened for me, the promise came from many sources – so praise God if these updates contribute to someone else’s desire to seek the Lord. He is good, & His Word is for everyone.

Too Long to Tweet: Water from the Rock

Do not forget that he led you through the great and terrifying wilderness with its poisonous snakes and scorpions, where it was so hot and dry. He gave you water from the rock! (Deu 8:15)

The Holy Bible is full of scriptures packed with images of hell and how to avoid it. It’s no wonder we as a society like drama, action, intense themes: these are the essence of our nature since expellation from the garden. Adam and Eve left the garden, forced to make their way in the wilderness. It must have been great and terrifying to them, full of snakes and scorpians. Without assurance of salvation, a long hot & dry future loomed before them. As the Lord God is all-knowing, His plan for our redemption was already underway. Of Eve’s offspring, He told the snake, “He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel” (Gen3:15). Water from the rock: not one among us resists Satan as did Jesus, & without the Holy Spirit divinely birthed in the Body of Christ, none escape the terrifying hot dry wilderness.

But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even if someone rises from the dead.’ (Luke 16:31).

Like Eve, we are often led into the wilderness through deception. Moses reminded the Israelites of all they’d been taught before he passed as they Lord was conquering land and peoples for them. “You must burn their idols in fire, and you must not covet the silver or gold that covers them. You must not take it or it will become a trap to you, for it is detestable to the Lord your God…You must utterly detest such things, for they are set apart for destruction (Deu 7:25-26). Satan exalted himself above the Lord God and was set up apart for destruction. Anything tied to Satan’s deceptions must be burned including the glitz that covers the lie. What is detestable to God will remain tied to Satan. Jesus told those after money and position, “You like to appear righteous in public, but God knows your hearts. What this world honors is detestable in the sight of God (Luke 16:15). It’s easy to think that if we don’t act greedy or lead a life of blatant sin then we are free of deception, but Eve ate the apple so she could be like God, knowing good and evil.
Understand the Lord your God is indeed God. He lavishes unfailing love on those who love Him & obey His commands but does not hesitate to punish & destroy those who reject Him (Deu 7:9-10).

I used to not believe in hell. I didn’t believe in a God who would send someone to eternal damnation.That thinking just shows that I did not know my God. the living God, Creator of life who gave us His Word in Christ Jesus as written in the Holy Bible. When I understood God is holy and perfect beyond what we can experience here, I saw He doesn’t send us; we go. He wants us to turn to Him in repentence but the web of deception telling us we can draw water from a rock keeps us ignorant. In any garden, not all growth is desired, but much is permitted until it starts interferring the master gardener’s design, exalting itself in such a way that merits slash and burn treatment. Psalm 89 glorifies the Lord’s perfect holiness, pointing to the cross of Christ Jesus as our means of escape from the wilderness: Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Unfailing love and truth walk before you as attendants (Psalm 89:14).When the rich man in hell begged Abraham to allow Lazarus to cool his tongue with a drop of water, Abraham responded, “And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there” (Luke 16:26).

Even if you were to destroy the entire Babylonian army, leaving only a handful of wounded survivors, they would still stagger from their tents and burn this city to the ground!” (Jer37:10)

Ethan the Ezrahite in Psalm 89 recited the Lord’s words from a vision, I have sworn an oath to David, and in my holiness I cannot lie: His dynasty will go on forever; his kingdom will endure as the sun (Psalm 89:35-36). Holiness cannot lie; it is the whole truth. Jesus said any who reject him reject the Father (Luke 10:16), and the Father cannot keep in His kingdom those who reject Him. No hell can be considered the partial pi theory. In math, the ratio between a circle’s circumference and diameter doesn’t change; it is a constant. Without exalting Euclidean geometry to a divine theorem, it’s one way to consider the absolute truth and love inherent in my Almighty God. Jesus said, “It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the smallest point of God’s law to be overturned” (Luke 16:17). I can mince words and questions interpretations all I want, but if I don’t use 3.141593 as the value for pi on my geometry test, I will get the wrong answer every time.

Timothy, guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge— by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith (1Tim 6:20-21).

As Jesus walked with his disciples towards Jerusalem, ten lepers cried out for mercy. He told them to go show themselves to the priests. No argument or suggestion that no priest has ever offered to heal them before, what good will that do is noted from them in the Book of Luke. As they went, they were healed. Obedience to the Word of the Lord whether from faith, desperation, or the grace of God yields results. We might think, who really does that in this day and age? Who evangelizes and spends their spare time developing a relationship with a invisible God? People of the world say it’s fairy tale like, that no one lives like that anymore, but the majority didn’t believe in Jesus’ day either. One of the ten returned to thank his healer, the man who gave him new life. Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” (Lk 17:17-18) Maybe the others thought it was just a coincidence, or gave credit to the priests or even suggested a change in diet and exercise could have contributed. Moses reminded the Israelites, “He did all this so you would never say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.’ He is the one who gives you power to be successful” (Deu 8:17-18) A 180 degree change in thinking is often required to give glory to God. A simple thank-you and an anonymous good deed doesn’t show we know how much we need God. When the apostles asked the Lord, “Show us how to increase our faith,” Jesus told them of the shepherds and farmers coming into the master’s house after a day’s work. “And does the master thank the servant for doing what he was told to do? Of course not. In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty”
(Lk 17:9-10). Faith is what pleases God; it results from obedience and sets us on a right course.

Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, Lord (Psalm 89:15).

Too Long to Tweet: Festivals & Daily Assignments

Each year you must celebrate three festivals in my honor: Festival of Unleavened Bread, Festival of Harvest, Festival of the Final Harvest.. You must not offer the blood of my sacrificial offerings together with any baked goods containing yeast. ~Ex23:14-18

Three annual festivals to honor the Lord who alone is Holy, who provides for us, and whose abundant love and mercy offers eternal life with Him. Festivals reminds us that there is something more than what we see and experience day to day, but the world has introduced all manner of celebrations that distract us from desiring the ultimate splendor of heaven. The Lord instructs them not to use yeast which spreads itself through a batch of dough to puff it up; it adds nothing but fluff. Blood is unadulterated; it is the life-giving substance from our Creator used in the Israelites sacrificial and atonement offerings, and despite a lack of reverence for it today as made by God, the blood of Jesus, the perfect lamb of God, is what we need for salvation and what brought the Holy Spirit to our earthly world where, by the grace of God, He spreads love and defeats the enemy through believers.

Make no treaties with them or their gods. They must not live in your land, or they will cause you to sin against me. Ex23:32-33

The Lord told the Israelites not to mix with the peoples of the land lest they fall into sin. 2000 years later, Herod beheaded John the Baptist out of peer pressure. He “respected John; and knowing that he was a good and holy man, he protected him.” Mark6:20 In a moment of lust, he promised his step daughter any request up to half his kingdom.

Then the king deeply regretted what he had said; but because of the vows he had made in front of his guests, he couldn’t refuse her. Mark6:26

A lost opportunity for humble repentance. This is where someone locked in bondage of addiction of whatever type might by the grace of God relinquish their independance in hope of freedom and life.

My guilt overwhelms me—it is a burden too heavy to bear. My wounds fester and stink because of my foolish sins. Psa38:4-5

Of course, it is hard to step down from a 100 foot ledge. Surrendering car keys and access to a checking account don’t really compare to a King who publicly goes back on his word for the sake of a locust eating preacher. This is why praise and prayer are daily habits, not just tri-annual festival activities. Our heavenly Father wants to protect us from ourselves as He protected the Israelites and brought them success according to their level of readiness.

I will send terror ahead of you to drive out the Hivites, Canaanites, and Hittites. But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals would multiply and threaten you. I will drive them out a little at a time until your population has increased enough to take possession of the land. Ex23:28-30

In a similar way, Jesus showed who he was through healing miracles but spoke in parables to the masses who were not ready to hear the mysteries of the Kingdom explained. After he fed 5000 people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish, he walked on water towards his disciples struggling against wind and waves in a boat.

Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed, for they still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in. Mark6:51-52

It’s difficult to comprehend the awesome power of the Lord. Certainly Herod and the Israelites knew it. Paul prayed that Christians “would understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.” Eph1:19-20 It’s hard enough to understand what can be demonstrated in an academic environment. In math, we are given a set of variables, and we do assignments to learn how to get an unknown from a known; we often have to show our work to get credit because the process is significant. To accept Christ as Lord and Savior, we must accept our Almighty Father as our source of life, Creator of heavens & earth; without that established X=1, we will not be able to work out our faith consistently to find the right answer which is Jesus.

To the Israelites at the foot of the mountain, the glory of the Lord appeared at the summit like a consuming fire. Ex24:17

Praise God for visions of His glory which help us remember Him. Part of getting through a math assignment is having a familiarity with all the theorems and postulates and laws that might be useful for solving the problem. We won’t advance in understanding just by memorizing them; we have to apply each one correctly. Review and practice allow concepts to take root so they can be applied both when we’re tested and in our everyday lives. The Israelites had agreed to the 3 annual festivals and to serve only the one true God twice saying “We will do everything the Lord has commanded. We will obey.” Moses then sealed their covenant with the Lord by splattering the blood of a sacrificial bull. And though these nobles of Israel gazed upon God, he did not destroy them. In fact, they ate a covenant meal, eating and drinking in his presence!” Ex24:11

See, I am sending an angel before you to protect you on your journey and lead you safely to the place I have prepared for you. Pay close attention to him, and obey his instructions. Ex23:20
Schools don’t expect us to succeed in our classes with no help from instructors. However, to receive their help, we must do what they say, and they might say we didn’t learn enough in our prerequisite and advise us to take it again. That’s where we have to lose our pride and take a step back. Doing so successfully puts us way ahead of where we’d be if we insisted on struggling through the higher level class on our own such that even if we passed, we wouldn’t be able to apply our knowledge. Eventually, we might promise our step daughter anything and wind up beheading John the Baptist to avoid losing face in front of our peers. King David, confessed his sin before God and sought His protection: “I choose to hear nothing, and I make no reply. For I am waiting for you, O Lord. You must answer for me, O Lord my God. Psa38:14-15 This won’t likely be our response if the festivals that celebrate our God’s Holiness, provision, and generous love and mercy don’t compete with our worldly celebrations either daily or 3 times a year.

God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure…He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. Eph1:5,7

It is natural to get caught up in our lives acting as King wherever we can. Just like academics, sports, computer games, or anything else, faith-building requires attention for us to have it when we need it. Even if our lives are so stable and our life skills so advanced that we’re never confronted with anything that overwhelms us, each of us will pass into eternity one way or another, and we don’t want Jesus to say “I never knew you.” Hobbies are great, but when they don’t allow us to pursue a relationship with the Lord, they become bondages. Herod developed Jerusalem’s water supply, founded new cities, and had dealings in ship-building and copper mining, but he also murdered every child under two in Bethlehem in a failed attempt to stop Jesus who had no interest in his job. We may not murder anyone, but what do we do that stops the work of Jesus? Not do it, for one for we each have an assignment, and our Lord wants each of us to succeed.

Yet even now, be free from your captivity! Leave Babylon and the Babylonians.Sing out this message! Shout it to the ends of the earth! The Lord has redeemed his servants, the people of Israel. Isa48:20

Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here!

“Moses commanded Joshua, ‘Choose some men to go out and fight the army of Amalek for us. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill, holding the staff of God in my hand’…As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur…stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands…As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle” (NLT Exodus 17:8-13).

Entering a church for the first time where people raise their hands while singing can be a weird experience. Most firsts are a little awkward, but for some, persisting discomfort points to lack of faith or belief. When we ask “why” raise our hands, it suggests we cannot see past the flesh world we see and experience in our body, mind, will, & emotions into the spirit world. At a high energy concert or rally, we face the band or the speaker & show our support bodily in their direction through singing, dancing, or arm movement of some kind. We relate to them as people even though we usually don’t know them personally. When we root for someone we love, our enthusiasm rises. In church, we relate to the Lord we love and recognize as worthy of wholehearted praise. David said “Behold, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD…Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD” (NKJV Psalm 134:1-2). King Solomon asked of God during the dedication of the temple in Jeruselum, “when a prayer or plea is made by any of your people Israel…spreading out his hands toward this temple- then hear from heaven…deal with each man according to all he does, since you know his heart(NIV 1King 8:38-39). It’s somewhat instinctive to lift our hands when we beg, but the Lord knows us, so why show our enthusiasm only when in need. Imagine yourself receiving an award for the work you’ve devoted your best to and seeing your loved ones in the audiance staring disinterestedly into space or calmly nodding their heads in mild appreciation. Almighty God not only created us but sent His best to us in Jesus.

Paul said in Romans chapter 8, “The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving His Son as a sacrifice for our sins” (NLT v3). Part of that sinful nature is pride which often makes us resist exalting anyone or anything in glory. We might glorify a sporting team or singer, but there we’ve studied the game, know the team history, and can sing all their songs by heart and still our loyalties are subject to change at will with no repercussions. Unconditionally exalting the Lord who we can’t see and don’t fully understand is highly contrary to our sinful nature. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is!” (NLT Matt11:11) Anyone can understand that in theory. In school, we have counting blocks to learn arithmetic and laboratories to learn science concepts. In church, we physically raise our hands to learn who the Lord is. It is an act of humbling faith that requires constant renewal. When John sent a message asking if Jesus was the Messiah, Jesus said, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see…and blessed is he who is not offended because of Me (NKJV Matt 11:4-6). If my flesh is pricked by someone glorifying the Lord in song, speech, movement, or evangelistically spreading the gospel, I need to check my pride and plead to God for mercy.

In Revelation, the Lord tells one of the seven churches, “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! (NLT 3:15) Jesus showed passion for his Father’s house when he went to Jerusalem “In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money. Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables” (NLT John 2:14-15). Following the teachings of Jesus written in the gospel helps us act like Christians. A teacher’s job is easier when all the pupils behave, do their homework, and study for tests, but how boring if the entire class does so listlessly and how likely are they to help others? During my one year as a first grade teacher, my job was more worthwhile when my students were excited and actively participated. How wonderful if some were so enthused as to share what they knew with others. David said in Psalm 69, “for Your sake I have borne reproach; shame has covered my face. I have become a stranger to my brothers, and an alien to my mother’s children because zeal for Your house has eaten me up” (NKJV 7-9); I’m just talking about lifting my hands to worship to remember my place compared to His and to invite joy into my being. In Genesis 15, “the Lord said to Abram, ‘You can be sure that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign land, where they will be oppressed as slaves for 400 years…After four generations your descendants will return here to this land, for the sins of the Amorites do not yet warrant their destruction” (NLT 13-16). Our God is just and righteous. Lukewarm students aren’t pleasing but you can’t send them to the principle’s office for lack of interest.

In Isaiah, the Lord warns the people through His prophet of impending devastation. “If even a tenth—a remnant—survive, it will be invaded again and burned. But as a terebinth or oak tree leaves a stump when it is cut down, so Israel’s stump will be a holy seed” (NLT 6:13). All believers are seeds, but as a comparison to my life & times, it’s frustrating when the house across the street from yours desperately needs yard maintenance, new windows, and a paint job. If it continues to decline, becomes rat infested, and drug users establish residence there, eventually the authorities might step in to rectify the situation. Hallelujia when they finally tear it down so something new can be built. “Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him”. (NLT Isaiah 11:1-2). This Spirit is what enables us to live outside of our prideful selfish sinful nature that says “I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway” (Romans 7:19). “So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God” (NLT Romans 5:11). When my self is under authority of the Spirit, I rejoice with humility and thanksgiving and raised hands: consistent renewal exercises required! If that is weird for you, it’s helps to turn on some worship music of your choice and practice at home. “Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name” (NKJV Psalm 63:4). God blesses those who do not turn away because of Jesus.

Too long to tweet: another brick on the wall

2009 is the first year I’ve attempted a read the Bible in a Year plan; I missed some chapters earlier during the Feb-March period, & didn’t habitually meditate on the Word until the later months, so at the end of the year, my study has really just begun. Just as learning to drive a car requires time, practice, and guidance, but dramatically increases our mobility, learning to read the Word has revolutionized my life. Now, to me, Satan’s claim that the Bible is full of contradictions describes the contrary nature between flesh & spirit. Satan wants us to analyze the Word as a work of literature so, in effect, we exalt our human minds (flesh) above the Spirit of the Lord and block any revelation we might otherwise receive. Indeed, admitting I rely completely on an almighty God I can’t see or hear in an earthly sense contradicts my human nature to build myself up as an independant creature and put my faith in things that are well researched, clearly documented, & acceptable in the court of public opinion. But just as we who were made in God’s image like to be needed, confessing a desperate need for Him is what the Lord desires from us.

Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud. (Psa138:6)

They are pure in their own eyes, but they are filthy and unwashed. They look proudly around, casting disdainful glances.(Proverbs 30:12-13)

And I will destroy those who used to worship me but now no longer do. They no longer ask for the Lord’s guidance or seek my blessings. (Zeph1:6)

Seek the Lord, all who are humble, and follow his commands. Seek to do what is right and to live humbly. (Zeph2:3)

What sorrow awaits rebellious, polluted Jerusalem, the city of violence and crime! No one can tell it anything; it refuses all correction. It does not trust in the Lord or draw near to its God. (Zeph3:1-2)

 

The spirit of rebellion that draws us away from the Lord comes in many flavors that don’t necessarily result in crime & violence by today’s standards. When an architect builds a house, they don’t lay bricks any which way they fall for artistic effect; when we tile a floor, we don’t toss down assorted colors and sizes onto a slab of grout to allow for full creative expression. We have detailed plans to produce something that has beauty and purpose. The Lord is our Creator, & He has a plan. Much of it is beyond our vision and scope, but its parameters are laid out for us in…the Bible. Once my heart was opened to the Lord, reading the Bible enforced belief not skepticism. Then the first commandment to love the Lord our God with all my heart, soul, & might became a conviction to me when I knew my priorities and focus were elsewhere, & I understood that loving each other as we love ourselves meant desiring eternal life for them instead valuing their individuality.

Yes, I will punish those who participate in pagan worship ceremonies, and those who fill their masters’ houses with violence and deceit. (Zeph1:9)

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ.(Eph6:5-9)

“Listen to me and make up your minds to honor my name,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “or I will bring a terrible curse against you. I will curse even the blessings you receive.” (Malachi 2:2)

 

Our God is love, but love requires order. I fall short in many ways, but as we do in relationships with each other, I do what I can, sometimes eagerly & sometimes obligingly out of a learned awe and fear. Just as the top dog architect wants his plans followed precisely to protect his name, the name that will be tied to that building’s character, God demands honor & obedience for His holy name.

Those who are left will be the lowly and humble, for it is they who trust in the name of the Lord. (Zeph3:12)

The Lord will work out his plans for my life—for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.(Psa138:8)

I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness; for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.(Psa138:2)

 

The good news is that because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we don’t have to try to build that house or tile the floor on our own. After Jesus died and was resurrected, he sent the Holy Spirit to enable us:

But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. (John 16:7-8) Before Jesus’ birth, Zephaniah told the Israelites, “For the Lord will remove his hand of judgment and will disperse the armies of your enemy. And the Lord himself, the King of Israel, will live among you! At last your troubles will be over, and you will never again fear disaster.”(3:15) Praise Jesus that I don’t burn calves and grain at church every week, Amen! I’ve been delivered by Jesus’ stripes & now have authority to rebuke Satan’s lies of addiction & depression. The Spirit of the Lord lives among us, hallelujia, & I am emboldened by faith in the victorious Christ Jesus and not ridden with anxiety or pride, children of fear & tools of the enemy.

I am ridden with desire, however, to share what I’ve learned in 2009, which is the truth of the Living Word. Unquestioning belief in the Bible means I am convinced there is a hell. Jesus said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.”(Matt 7:13) Like every other person who has not accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, I was happily skipping along the broad road not long ago. Whether the end times are in this decade or in a hundred decades, the people I know and love are alive now, and I want them to walk through the narrow gate with me. “When the seventh angel blows his trumpet, God’s mysterious plan will be fulfilled. It will happen just as he announced it to his servants the prophets.”(Rev10:7)

Pursuit of the Lord doesn’t necessarily happen in a windfall moment. I’ve been on this journey for 18 months. In my experience, saying the Lord’s Prayer with a spirit of brokeness is a good way to start “for the Lord their God will visit his people in kindness and restore their prosperity again.” (Zeph2:7)