Nothing else

Well I read through Lev 26 again tonight, and I am not sure If its just because I am exhausted or overwhelmed with work but I dont feel like something just jumped of the page at me.  Lev 26:14 and on says after God has set the blessing before them which would make them a happy people if they would be obedient, he here sets the curse before them, the evils which would make them miserable, if they were disobedient. Two things would bring ruin. 1. A contempt of God’s commandments. They that reject the precept, will come at last to renounce the covenant. 2. A contempt of his corrections. If they will not learn obedience by the things they suffer, God himself would be against them; and this is the root and cause of all their misery. And also, The whole creation would be at war with them. All God’s judgments would be sent against them.  SPIRITUAL judgments are root causes to sin, which should seize the mind. They should find no acceptance with God. A guilty conscience would be their continual terror.  Which might be why in Is 6 He says first your guilt, spiritual judgements, and then your sin.

Will I Ever Learn?

I sat down to read the Bible tonight and asked God, “Ok Lord, where do you want me to read?” Now I don’t know if it’s because I’m sick, or tired, or the Benadryl I took kicked in, but I found myself kind of flipping around asking, “What about here? No…Here?” Then Father brought to mind Psalms, I started to turn. The pages opened up to Psalms 33. I thought, sure I’ll read this.  Here’s what kicked me in the face: Verse 16 says, “No king is saved by the size of his army; no WARRIOR escapes by HIS great strength.” Too often I have thought, “Father, if you’ll just give me all the answers I’ll become great for you.” Does anyone see the problem. “Father, if you’ll just give me all the answers I’ll become great for you.” I may have had noble intentions, but as Eldredge says in the intro to Wild at Heart, “But the road to hell, as we remember, is paved with good intentions.” Anyways, my point being I often think that if I can learn enough or do enough, I’ll become a great warrior. Father showed me the way it should be: verses 18-21 say, “But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, 19 to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. 20 We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. 21 May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord.” So no matter how spiritually strong I am, or how spiritually expierienced and knowledgable I am, without Papa…I am literally nothing.

Forgive me Father, I actually thought I could do this. Break me of this pride Lord. Give me reminders to keep this on the front of my mind! I can’t do it…I repent for trying Daddy. I’m so wrong, forgive me. Please give me this next breath so that you can find a use for me.

It begs the question, will I ever learn that it’s God’s strength not mine?

Comfort

Job 2:11-13

After all of Job’s troubles come in Chapter 1 and 2, Job’s three friends come to see him.  Job 2:12 says that his friends “scarcely recognized him” he was so disfigured from being covered from head to toe in boils and scraping them with broken pottery just to find some relief.  These were his friends – we often forget that because we view their accusations as “not friendlike”.  They knew Job.

Here’s the interesting thing to me.  Job 2:13 (NLT) “They sat on the ground with him for seven days and nights.  No one said a word to Job, for they saw that his suffering was too great for words.“  Wow!  In our microwave society, how often do we want to “fix” it… quickly, because Heroes is going to be on in 30 minutes…

We all understand biblical comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-4), as we learned on Quest, and I believe it is an amazing process that Father has put in the heart of man to comfort each other, our wives and our children, but I think there are times when no words at all is warranted.  There are times when we just need to be there and say nothing.  I don’t always have to offer some words of comfort, sometimes just the presence of a friend physically standing with you is O so powerful.  The lyric from the C&W song “You say it best, when you say nothing at all” is sometimes very appropriate in times of comfort.

Father, thank you for comfort.  Thank you for your Word that gives us models and examples of how to live life together.  Please help me know when to speak and when to just “be there” for a hurting soul in need of comfort.  Help me best represent You in each situation.

Not my wisdom

Last night I was given several words from men who I respect and trust.  They told me that next year I will begin to walk into more ministry and to not let my age hold me back.  One of the men said that I was the “Cushite” (2 sam. 18) and that I was the one who had the news to deliver.  Pappa I thank YOU for having those men speak into and over me like that.  But this morning I read today’s devo and it was as if Daddy was saying “I meant everything they said”.   In 1 Cor. 2:4 It says, “My speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power..”
It not about me….It’s not about me knowing everything and trying to minister out of my knowledge, but me knowing HIM and allowing HIM to speak through me.  As long as I say what HE wants me to say it will be effective.  It doesn’t matter how old I am.

Father thank YOU for that word.  I will go and do all that YOU have for me to do, for YOUR Glory.

Our God is Good

OK, 2 chronicles 12 Rehoboam is bacing to forsaking the Lord, or is he humbling himself.  It all gets so confusing.  In ch 11 Rehoboam listens to God, obeys Him and ends up strengthenig himself and getting all of the real followers of God to come over to Jerusalem.  Now in ch 12 it starts with “It came to pass, after Rehoboam had established his kingdom, that he forsook the law of the Lord.”  So, God sends the holy man to tell Rehoboam that he is going to be delivered into his enemey’s hands.  At this point Rehoboam falls on his knees and says “The Lord is righteous.”

And God says paraphrase “OK, since you’re humbling yourself I won’t let your enemy destroy you.  Instead you’ll become his servant.  Now maybe you can see that it is better to serve me than to be a servant for other kingdoms.”  WHAT?  This looks like a kid caught in the act and then yelling I’m sorry; I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to.  Rehoboam doesn’t appear repentent, he appears not to want to die.  And yet, God forgives him again, and provides some correction.

Too often we hear ignorant, or uneducated, people talking about God as this guy wanting to smite us all until Jesus shows up and says hey wait, my blood has covered this Dad.  Let’s give them mercy.  Well, this is pre-Jesus’ death and resurrection.  (I’d say it was pre-Jesus, but in the beginning was the Word…)  God is so good that He won’t even wipe out the ones who deserve it. 

I believe that this is a pattern we must avoid.  Obey; things are good; get prideful and start thinkng we’re doing it all; God lifts His protection; we say I’m sorry; we humble ourselves and obey; things are good; get prideful…  This circle is not worth going around.  Hear, believe and obey is a much better way.

Papa, I humble myself today.  I submit everything I am to you.  I thank you for your goodness.  I thank you that, even though I deserve death, you offer forgiveness.  I pray, Father, that you will help me to live a life fully submitted to you and your will.  Give me eyes to see and ears to hear that  might serve you in every way possible today.  I love you, Daddy.  I thank you for allowing me the opportunity to come into your presence and worship this morning.