Windows of the Soul

So That People May Know

    “This is what the LORD says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of 
to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, 
to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut: 
2 I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. 
3 I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, 
so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. 
4 For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, 
I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge me. 
5 I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. 
I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, 
6 so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting 
people may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other. (Isaiah 45:1-6)

    God is speaking to his people once again through the prophet Isaiah, and letting them know he will be with them, in so many different ways. He will go before them and level mountains, give them hidden treasures, strengthen them. Why? So that people may know that God is the LORD and there is no other God before Him. He is the God of Israel.

    God does all this despite the fact that Israel is unfaithful, unbelieving and refuses to acknowledge the LORD. God blesses even when they don’t deserve it -- so that others may know.

    For me, I see grace, sacrifice, and greater purpose coming from an all wise God. He will do what is gracious, benevolent and kind despite Israel’s sin of omission. So that other people may know that He, the God of Israel, is the LORD of all.

    Pretty amazing. In response, I wonder, have I acknowledged God and given Him all He is due, especially in light of all of the blessings in and on my life? It’s a sobering thought to ponder. Despite my many shortcomings, I am certain God has blessed me -- so that other people may know.    

    LORD, thank you for your many blessings: going before me to level the mountains of difficulty; cutting though the bonds of sin; strengthening me so that I may receive honor and the title that comes from You. May I in turn, love, worship and adore You and live a life worthy of the calling You have placed on me. Amen.

God's Favor

And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. (Luke 2:52)

Favor: What exactly is it?

An attitude of approval or liking. An act of kindness beyond what is due or usual. To feel or show preference. To oblige, honor, gratify, humor, indulge. To treat gently. To resemble another.

So Jesus grew in wisdom (like God) and in stature (like man). And in favor with God and men. Jesus, fully God and fully man grew in favor with both.

If we read the entire chapter of Luke 2, we see that there were many ups and downs in Jesus’ life, and in the lives of his family. While it all started with Mary’s finding favor with God, there were difficulties from the start, with the pregnancy before marriage. Both his mother and earthly father Joseph, had to travel for the census, and where Mary gave birth to Jesus in a stable. Then favor reigned when the angels announced Jesus’ birth. The honor of visits from shepherds and gifts from Kings. The amazing blessing and words of Simeon, who lived to see the salvation that [God] prepared in the presence of all peoples  Jesus, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Israel (v. 25-32). And the difficulty of seeking safety in Egypt.

Later, at age 12, Jesus stayed behind the annual trek to Jerusalem for the Passover feast, and instead of returning to Nazareth with his relatives, his parents found him three days later in the Temple with teachers, listening and asking questions. While his parents were distressed, all who heard him in the Temple were amazed.

Ups and downs. Yet Jesus willingly submitted to his parents, and increased in wisdom, stature and in favor.

Wonder if there are some lessons in here for us?

We stand in favor with God, simply through our faith in Jesus Christ. We are blessed and highly favored. We, too, can grow in wisdom as we seek God in His Word and as we ask Him for wisdom. We all have ups and downs in this life, but in the down times we can submit to God and trust that He will bring us through.

Keep God’s commandments, remain steadfast in love and faithfulness, so you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths. (Proverbs 3: 1-5)

Mission: Possible

For nothing is impossible with God." (Luke 1:37)

We have all heard it said, “With man it is impossible, but with God, all things are possible.”

Can you think of a time when you gave your situation over to God? Go ahead, take a minute and try to think of an example from your life.  Can you think of one?  

Usually it is only after we have completely exhausted our minds, our hearts, our energy, our resources, our very selves trying to make things work.  That is when we finally turn it over to God.  

Or maybe you don't bother to turn things over to God.  Many of us get to the point with a problem, set of circumstances or exhaustion in our own efforts and just simply stop. We give up. We let it go, die, fall apart, or trash it. 

Well, how about we give it up to God? Try it!  How about we ask Him how the thing needs to be resolved, fixed, changed, replaced, stopped, healed, or left alone?

God has a bigger and better picture in mind. God can stop, start, change or maintain our circumstances or situations to suit His purposes. He can perform miracles. He can say “Yes!” or “No!” and will do so according to His will and His purposes.

We often cry uncle with our own efforts and say, “It’s impossible”. Well, how about deconstructing the word ‘impossible’, and say instead, ‘I’m possible’? You see, there may be variations, specifics, places, times, alterations, changes, or even just tweaks to what we are trying to do, that only God can do. In his infinite wisdom He can and will do for us, according to His will.

So next time you think there is no way out, stop thinking or even saying it is impossible. Stop and ask God, “Lord, in my own thinking and efforts, I do not see how to: do this thing, change this circumstance, make this happen, pay this bill, find my way, get this done, make ends meet, pray in this situation, respond to this event, heal this broken heart or body. I need your wisdom. Lord, what is it I should do?”  

Then wait and listen for God’s response. His wisdom, His plan, His ideas. When you hear God's voice (in your heart, your being, you sense what He is saying) then follow His plan, do as He says to do. 

He can make the impossible very possible, if we simply ask, listen and obey. Do things God’s way, and He will make a way according to His will and purpose for your life, and mine.  Selah.

Cut Cords

They have greatly oppressed me from my youth— let Israel say - they have greatly oppressed me from my youth, but they have not gained the victory over me.  Plowmen have plowed my back and made their furrows long.  But the LORD is righteous; he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked. (Psalm 129:1-4)

 

I’ve been reading through the Old Testament, and I see over and over how God’s servants are mistreated and oppressed.  This happens in our day as well.  Whether is other people the enemy uses, or Satan himself having a field day coming against us, we can feel oppressed, abused, injured and bound in any number of ways. 

 

It could be circumstances in our lives.  Perhaps it is sin that has entangled and caught you in its web.  Maybe it is just feeling victimized by others and their actions.  Maybe it is being bullied just for being who you are.  No matter what, we all go through something like this during the course of our lives, whether at the hands of others, ourselves, or circumstances and events beyond our control. 

 

So, what do we do and how do we handle the cords of adversity in our lives?  Today’s scripture from Psalm 129 offers a clue.  This psalm offers us the secret to winning regardless of the circumstances: no matter what happens, we have the freedom to choose our attitude.  The psalmist’s attitude is that he will not allow those who oppressed him to have victory over him.  How could he say that (you may wonder) when plowmen have plowed his back and made their furrows long?  Obviously, the writer of this psalm, whether literally or figuratively, had some deep wounds at the hands of others. 

 

The reason is this: the psalmist, like you and I, (despite the injurious behaviors of others) decided not to allow those who hurt him to have victory over him.  Likewise, the psalmist placed his belief and faith in God.  He still spoke of God’s immutable qualities: His righteousness and declared that the LORD cut him free from the chords of the wicked. 

 

The chords of the wicked, again, can represent many things.  They may be the entanglement of sin, such as an addiction.  They may be the lies that Satan uses to fill your head with thoughts of worthlessness, guilt, or lack in some area or another.  The chords may be the offhand or even mean-spirited comments of others, meant to hurt, maim or even kill.  The chords may be real physical injuries from a family member, relative, friend or foe.

 

Just as a little tugboat would cut the hawser (the rope cords) to a sinking ship, so that it doesn’t go down with the ship when in danger, you will need to cut the chords that are binding you.  In this case, the chords are pulling you down, mentally, emotionally, physically, or spiritually.   

 

Where the injury came from is less important than what we do in response to it.  We do not have to become victims, tied to thoughts of anger, hatred, or even retribution that we may be feeling for the perpetrator.  Rather, we can free ourselves through faith in the Almighty to set the record straight.  We can place our trust in God to take vengeance when and where He will, and for God to heal our hearts, minds, emotions, thoughts and our very lives.  We must decide to let go and let God be in control.  And we must decide that no matter what the enemy may do to the body, what cannot be taken away are things that matter most: our faith, dignity, attitudes and thoughts.  We are free to determine those no matter what. 

 

So, lift up your heart, mind and voice to God and ask Him to help you cut the chords that bind us as victims.  Decide what you will believe.  And choose this day to trust and serve the LORD. You will be glad you did.  Selah. 

Heart Transplant

I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God. (Ezekiel 11:19-20)

In my quiet times of late I have been moving through the Old Testament, and it never ceases to amaze me how the Children of Israel were so fickle in their devotion to God.  

There were so many miracles recorded, they had the law, and their fearless leaders Moses and Joshua; and they were escorted through the desert with God’s presence.  God went before them ensuring their success as they crossed the Jordan River and entered the Promised Land.  But low and behold, in every season, they grumbled, struggled with sustaining their belief, and fell into worshipping false gods.  Their hearts grew cold, distant and unfaithful.

Ezekiel, like so many other prophets, warned Israel of God’s judgment, and the consequences of their sin.  However, the focus of Ezekiel is also the redemption of God’s people.  God’s love is so great, and his faithfulness to his people so unwavering, he wanted to restore his people, shepherd them and cleanse them. 

 In the restoration noted above, God depicts what He will give to those who follow His decrees, and who are careful to keep His laws.  God enters once again into relationship with those whose hearts are devoted to Him.  He places a new spirit in them, and performs a heart transplant: a heart of flesh for a heart of stone.  Israel becomes His people once again, and God Himself becomes their God. 

 It’s not so different today.  God still wants us to be His people and He still wants to be our God.  Those whose spirits are awakened to the God of the Universe can enter into relationship with him.  It often begins with a subtle waking to things of the Spirit, realizing there is more to life than the daily grind. Or, some life event that humbles or shakes us to our core.  We open ourselves to enter into relationship with the Divine.  It may be an acknowledgement of Who God is, or a desire to seek Him and His purpose for our lives.  Or it may just be a realization of belief in God and a desire to be dedicated to something greater than ourselves. 

 May you experience the transformation of your life and enter into relationship of a lifetime and beyond.  Wise men still seek Him (God); and for those who do, He -the God of the Universe - will be found by you.  He will exchange your cold, hard, dead heart of stone and give you a new spirit and a heart of flesh.  Your new spirit will discern the Divine; your heart of flesh will share love and compassion for those made in God’s image; and you will find meaning and purpose beyond yourself.

May you Love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength.  And may you love your neighbor as yourself.  When you seek first His Kingdom, all these things will be added to you. 

Selah. 

Spirit

God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." (John 4:24)

 

God is Spirit.  So He is a supernatural being or essence.  He gives life, energy and power to believers.  Spirit is one quality of God.  And we are made in His likeness, so Spirit is a quality that all living human beings also possess. 

 

The Spirit of God is life and gives life.  We cannot see it, but we see the essence of it.  Similarly, when you look at another person, you can ‘get’ the type of temperament, disposition, or even energy level, or animation another being possesses.  You experience that person in your spirit.  You get a sense or feeling about another person based on what you observe. 

 

You can’t actually see God, but you can experience Him through the Bible, through His written words to us.  You can experience God just through observing the wonders of nature, the world around us.  And you can experience God through others. 

 

Not only is God Spirit, but we are told we must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.  In spirit.  To worship in spirit is a very personal and intimate thing.  Remember, Spirit represents the essence of something or someone.  To worship in spirit is within, although we may see the expressions of worship without.  We worship in our being, our minds, hearts, and spirits, but you may experience it or observe evidence of worship through music, singing, reading, prayer, praise, or other outward expressions. 

 

We are also to worship in truth.  Truth is something that is real, sincere, factual or based in reality.  In other words, our worship is to have no false pretenses, no lies, no ulterior motives.  Just truth.

 

Being honest about ourselves, and honest with ourselves.  And being honest in our adoration of God. 

 

It seems a pretty easy concept.  But the reality is that we can get hung up on any number of ways to distort the simplicity of spirit and truth.  May we remain pure in spirit, and hold on to the truth. 

 

May our lives be a doxology to the One who created each of us and bring glory to His name. 

 

Selah. 

God's Purposes

“Remember this, keep it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels.  Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.  I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. 
I say, ‘My purpose will stand,  and I will do all that I please.’ 
 From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. 
What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do.  (Isaiah 46:8-10b,11;8-11 in context)

But this is what the LORD says: “Yes, captives will be taken from warriors, and plunder retrieved from the fierce; 
I will contend with those who contend with you, and your children I will save. 
26 I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh; they will be drunk on their own blood, as with wine. 
Then all mankind will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”  (Isaiah 49:25b; 25-26 in context)

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.  (I Peter 5:5b-7 in context)

God’s Word is something we can depend on.  The verses above stood out to me, at times in my life when I needed to hear these admonishments in order to hang on, hang in there.

I was reminded then, just as I am reminded now to keep God’s promises in mind, and to take to heart just Who God is.  Who God is – well, He is actually bigger than any one of us can truly fathom.  He is a bit of an enigma, but as we seek Him we begin to understand His awesomeness, His eternal qualities and His power and sovereignty: I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. 
I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come.

During difficult and trying times in our lives (and who, by the way, doesn’t have at least a few areas of life that are not where we ‘d like them to be) we can count on God, His purposes and His plans.  So, if there is an area of your life where you have sensed God has said one thing, but you do not see it yet, you can still count on God keeping His word:
What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do.  To trust God in those moments, (even hours, days, weeks, months, even years) when we struggle with difficulties, heartache, trying circumstances, or even waiting for God, that is faith.  And it is precisely our faith that God is developing, along with Christlikeness in you (and me).  God has plans for each one of us, and in those plans, he also has specific purposes for us, and for those we come in contact with, for our development as Christ followers, and the specific things we are called to do. 

As we follow Christ, we will have those who oppose us.  We are in the midst of a great spiritual battle.  And, while this battle is ultimately taking place in the spiritual realm, we may experience difficulties in the physical realm as well.  God says, I will contend with those who contend with you.  God’s got your back.  He is your defender and your friend, as well as your God and creator. 

In light of all this, know the promises of God.  And, as you learn and grow in the Word, you may certainly remind God of the promises He has made - to each one of us.  Then, as you fulfill your vows to God, know that He will also fulfill the promises in His Word to you.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Selah. 

 

Humble Yourself

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. (James 4:10)

 

Today’s verse is short and sweet.  It is vocational, attitudinal and postural in nature.  Humble yourself before God.  It’s what we are to do.  Humble ourselves.  With regard to what?  Everything. 

 

God has a job to do too.  As we humble ourselves, God’s job is to lift us up.  Not our job to toot our own horns.  Not our job to climb the ladder of success.  Not our job to lift ourselves up by any means. 

 

Our job is singular in nature.  We humble ourselves.

 

Bow down.  Lower ourselves.  Serve others, without asking for any reward, recognition, personal power or status. 

 

Whether it is in your job, your attitude or posture towards your fellow man or the God of the universe, we are told to humble ourselves before the Lord.  There is no if-then in this sentence, but in a sense it is implied.  We are simply told humble yourselves before God, AND the result will be that He will lift you up.  

 

Pretty simple idea.  Pretty hard to do. 

 

May you assume a posture of humility and obey this simple command.  May we all do likewise.  Selah. 

Covenant

This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more. (Hebrew 8:10-12)

The first covenant was the Law of Moses.  There was a reason for the law.  It was to ensure that Israel lived lives in relationship with God and man that were fruitful, abundant. 

God still intended his law to be a matter of the heart.  Not a to do list.  Not a to don’t list.  The law was intended to be a framework for relationships.  Relationship with God and relationship with fellow man. 

When God places his laws in the minds of his people and writes them on their hearts, the love relationship is there.  We have it in us.  We know when we have sinned against God.  We have Him, his laws in our hearts and minds.  And, once confessed, God will forgive wickedness and all sin.  And remember them no more.

It’s a covenant much like marriage.  An agreement.  A relationship, first and foremost.  A commitment. 

The old covenant was the law.  The new covenant is the law of love through Jesus Christ. 

God is calling each one of us into a covenant relationship with him.  Will you commit your life to God?  It’s really a simple yes or no.  Yes places you in right relationship with God.  No is rejection of God and all He stands for.  Think about it soberly.  Then choose for yourself whom you will serve.  You will serve either God, or some other god of your choosing. 

But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15)

Selah.

Do and Due

22Be merciful to those who doubt; 23snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

 24To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. (Jude 1)

 

So in this book of Jude, believers are given some instructions.  What to do.  And what is due. 

Yeah. 

So, believers, as you live your lives as Christ followers, be merciful to those who doubt.  Ever doubted your faith?  Doubted you could do something?  Doubted God would come through?  Doubted because you were trying to do it in your own strength?  So, God didn’t get all mad when you doubted.  He helped you through it.  Likewise, be merciful to those who doubt.  Snatch others from the fires of hell.  Bring them to salvation.  Hate the sin and love the sinner.  Do the work of an evangelist.  Preach, save, show mercy, be the hands and feet of God here on earth. 

 

Then give God the glory due his name.  He is able to keep you from falling and present you without fault.  Perfect.  Praise Him for His glory, majesty, power, and authority. 

 

LORD, may we do the things you have prepared in advance for us to do.  And may we honor you with all the praise You are due.  Our lives are in Your very capable hands.  Amen.