Sometimes when I am reading my Bible, there is a passage or verse that sticks with me. This has happened with these verses from 1 Samuel.
And Samuel said to the people, "Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. For the LORD will not forsake his people, for his great name's sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people for himself.
1 Samuel 12:20-22
In the context, the Israelite people have asked for a human king, even though God has lead them faithfully since he delivered them from slavery in Egypt. There are a few things that have been working on my heart since I read it. First, you see God's continuing grace. Samuel tells the people not to be afraid even though they "have done all this evil". Namely, rejecting God as their true King.
The second is the admonition to not take advantage of that grace, "do not turn aside after empty things". I've been very convicted over the past few weeks about my worship of sweets. Cake, pie, cookies, donuts, sugar, honey. I've structured my life around them. (Which is worship.) However, I find the reason that Samuel gives quite interesting. He says not to worship "empty things" because they "cannot profit or deliver". In other words, they are not good for you.
And finally, the glorious promise, "the LORD will not forsake his people". If I were God, I would leave sinful people to their own mess. Thankfully, I am not God. He is patient with our weakness and sin. He lavishes His love on unlovely people. And His gracious love changes us, "because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people for himself'". When we worship the One True God, He is glorified, and we receive good.
"And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your good?
Deuteronomy 10:12-13
And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.
Matthew 22:37-38
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Of Course!
One of the things that I know most certainly about myself is that I am a sinner. Not just that I do sinful things (though that is absolutely true), but in the deepest fibers of my being I am treasonous against the God who made me and redeemed me. Almost thirteen years ago I committed to share my life in marriage with another sinner. And then we produced four more little sinners. You can imagine with so many sinners sharing life, that there is a lot of sin happening in our home-- and because of the work of Christ in our lives, there is also lots of asking forgiveness.
Over the course of our marriage, Shorty and I have become quick to ask forgiveness when we have sinned against one another (much of the time, anyway). My standard response to Shorty's asking forgiveness is, "Of course." I don't remember when I started this, but it grows out of an increasing understanding of how much I've been forgiven in Christ. And also out of my desire to be unified with my Shorty in love.
Do you know, Christian, that when you ask God for forgiveness, His response is "Of Course!"? And I don't just mean, the first time you realized that you were a sinner in need of grace. I mean every time. Christ paid for your EVERY sin at the cross! So, when you come before your Father, broken because you have failed yet again, He is EAGER to forgive you and restore you to fellowship with Him. So draw near with CONFIDENCE to the throne of grace! =)
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
Ephesians 1:7-10
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 1:13-14
But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds," then he adds, "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more." Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Hebrews 10:12-22
Over the course of our marriage, Shorty and I have become quick to ask forgiveness when we have sinned against one another (much of the time, anyway). My standard response to Shorty's asking forgiveness is, "Of course." I don't remember when I started this, but it grows out of an increasing understanding of how much I've been forgiven in Christ. And also out of my desire to be unified with my Shorty in love.
Do you know, Christian, that when you ask God for forgiveness, His response is "Of Course!"? And I don't just mean, the first time you realized that you were a sinner in need of grace. I mean every time. Christ paid for your EVERY sin at the cross! So, when you come before your Father, broken because you have failed yet again, He is EAGER to forgive you and restore you to fellowship with Him. So draw near with CONFIDENCE to the throne of grace! =)
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
Ephesians 1:7-10
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 1:13-14
But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds," then he adds, "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more." Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Hebrews 10:12-22
Monday, May 12, 2014
What idol?
I love sugar! No, I mean I REALLY LOVE sugar! When I was in first
grade or so, I used to come to the dinner table every night and ask how
much "good food" (that is, nutritious food to fuel my body) I had to eat
before I could have dessert. My favorite thing about potlucks at church
was that, when I was old enough to fix my own plate, I could get as
much dessert as I wanted. And I loved going to buffet-style restaurants
with my grandparents because after I finished my meal, I could go fill
another plate with sweetness.
Well, several years, and a few babies later, my sugar addiction had caught up with me, and I was noticeably overweight, and displeased with my reflection. So I began the process of trying to shed some pounds. The first couple weeks were INCREDIBLY difficult as my body rebelled against the removal of the sugar from my diet. But as the weeks passed, and I learned the diet system I'd chosen, I was able to get my sugar fix fairly easily and still lose weight. Basically I organized my life around getting the amount of sweets I wanted, by exercising more, and switching out some of the more "expensive" foods in my diet in favor of more dessert.
This year I've gained back a few pounds. But I've also been really wrestling with the concept that I need to be a faithful steward of the body God has given me, in conjunction with faithfulness in other areas of my life. I get so frustrated when I can't eat what I want. However, I realize that certain eating habits, namely overindulgence in sugar, are NOT being faithful. At which point, the Lord showed me that I had made an idol of sugar. I had organized my life around getting sugar. And sugar is most definitely NOT worthy of my worship. So I'm on a sugar fast. And when the cravings hit (and they're doing it OFTEN) I am praying that the Lord will teach me to want Him most of all.
And God spoke all these words, saying, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. "You shall have no other gods before me.
Exodus 20:1-3
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
Deuteronomy 6:4-5
It is the LORD your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear. You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you-- for the LORD your God in your midst is a jealous God--lest the anger of the LORD your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth.
Deuteronomy 6:13-15
And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.
Matthew 22:37-38
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
Colossians 3:1-5
Well, several years, and a few babies later, my sugar addiction had caught up with me, and I was noticeably overweight, and displeased with my reflection. So I began the process of trying to shed some pounds. The first couple weeks were INCREDIBLY difficult as my body rebelled against the removal of the sugar from my diet. But as the weeks passed, and I learned the diet system I'd chosen, I was able to get my sugar fix fairly easily and still lose weight. Basically I organized my life around getting the amount of sweets I wanted, by exercising more, and switching out some of the more "expensive" foods in my diet in favor of more dessert.
This year I've gained back a few pounds. But I've also been really wrestling with the concept that I need to be a faithful steward of the body God has given me, in conjunction with faithfulness in other areas of my life. I get so frustrated when I can't eat what I want. However, I realize that certain eating habits, namely overindulgence in sugar, are NOT being faithful. At which point, the Lord showed me that I had made an idol of sugar. I had organized my life around getting sugar. And sugar is most definitely NOT worthy of my worship. So I'm on a sugar fast. And when the cravings hit (and they're doing it OFTEN) I am praying that the Lord will teach me to want Him most of all.
And God spoke all these words, saying, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. "You shall have no other gods before me.
Exodus 20:1-3
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
Deuteronomy 6:4-5
It is the LORD your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear. You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you-- for the LORD your God in your midst is a jealous God--lest the anger of the LORD your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth.
Deuteronomy 6:13-15
And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.
Matthew 22:37-38
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
Colossians 3:1-5
Friday, May 9, 2014
All or Nothing
I was rather a stinker as a child. (Actually, I still am rather a stinker!) We usually had some variety of dessert at supper, and I loved dessert. However, sometimes we'd get down to the last piece of my favorite (chocolate cake), and when one of my siblings said they wanted some too, I'd refuse to eat any. I wanted it ALL or NOT AT ALL!
Recently I have seen this principle at work in the lives of my family. And it makes me sad, because I know what a struggle it is to WANT to do or have something, but be unable for whatever reason. Or to NOT want to do something that must be done. Here's the problem. The "all or nothing" attitude is often an indicator of an idol. But we were created for SO MUCH MORE than sugar, or stories, or exercise, or any other good gift that brings us pleasure! We were created to have fellowship with the God of the universe! And because He made us, He deserves our ALL. ALL our hearts, ALL our souls, ALL our minds, ALL our strength, ALL our moments, ALL our money, ALL our time. Because it's not really "ours" anyway.
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
Deuteronomy 6:4-5
And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.
Matthew 22:37-38
The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.
Acts 17:24-25
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him.
Colossians 1:16
Recently I have seen this principle at work in the lives of my family. And it makes me sad, because I know what a struggle it is to WANT to do or have something, but be unable for whatever reason. Or to NOT want to do something that must be done. Here's the problem. The "all or nothing" attitude is often an indicator of an idol. But we were created for SO MUCH MORE than sugar, or stories, or exercise, or any other good gift that brings us pleasure! We were created to have fellowship with the God of the universe! And because He made us, He deserves our ALL. ALL our hearts, ALL our souls, ALL our minds, ALL our strength, ALL our moments, ALL our money, ALL our time. Because it's not really "ours" anyway.
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
Deuteronomy 6:4-5
And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.
Matthew 22:37-38
The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.
Acts 17:24-25
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him.
Colossians 1:16
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