Partnering with God

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High

shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my

fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.’

Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of

fowler and from the perilous pestilence.

He shall cover you with His feathers, and

under His wings you shall take refuge;

His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,

nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,

nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.”

    Psalm 91:1-6 (KNJV)

Our intern pastor was talking last week about the seeming paradox in the Bible concerning God's role and ours. For example, in teaching His disciples how to pray, Jesus said they should seek God's will to be done and to ask for God to give them their daily bread (Matthew 6:10-11, NKJV). Yet we don't just pray and then sit back, without doing anything, waiting for God's will to come to pass and for food to show up at our doors.  No, we're to pray and then go about our daily business, seeking God's help to obey His will and following the means of provision He gives us. In that way, we partner with God, doing our part and trusting Him to do His part.

I was thinking how this applies to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic and I turned to this psalm. It says that we should not be afraid of “pestilence that walks in darkness” and that God "shall deliver" us from the perilous pestilence. Does this mean we should stick our heads in the sand, do nothing and just presume that God will deliver us? Of course, God doesn't need us to do anything to accomplish His will. But He has given us common sense to use in situations.

So we express our concerns to God in prayer. We rest upon God’s sovereignty and remember that whether He chooses to deliver us from harm or through it, the Lord never leaves us nor forsakes us. We trust that God is our refuge and fortress, and that He will guide us through all our days. But we also should take reasonable precautions and measures recommended by health and other authorities to keep ourselves and our families safe, and then rest in Him.

With God as our partner, we can have His peace in our hearts, even while the world around us is in crisis.  

Thursday Devotional - Imperfect Picture

The Old Testament tabernacle, temple and sacrificial system were all put in place as a representation of Heaven and foreshadow of what Christ would do to give us access to Heaven. It was a picture of what was to come. It wasn’t a perfect picture, because the sacrifices didn’t really pay for our sins and the priests couldn’t forgive.

Hebrews 9:1-3, 7-9 Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. ² A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand and the table with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. ³ Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place… But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. ⁸ The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. ⁹ This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper.

God’s specific details, long-term plans, and creativity never ceases to amaze me!!! He had His plan of redemption planned out well before giving Moses the Law, before calling Abraham, and before flooding the world. He even gave hints of His plan to Adam and Eve after they sinned (Genesis 3). He knew we couldn’t do anything to pay for our own sins. He knew we couldn’t do anything to earn forgiveness and bring about restoration. He had to do it all, and do it all He did!  

Have you ever gone on a trip and been blown away by the beauty you saw? It was far better than the pictures you saw online ahead of time. The pictures didn’t do it justice. Similarly, let’s experience and appreciate the benefits of the new covenant with direct access to God and true forgiveness!     

Alice

By Themselves

Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. You should continue to be the people’s representative before God, bringing their disputes to him.  Teach them God’s decrees, and give them his instructions. Show them how to conduct their lives.  But select from all the people some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as leaders over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten.  They should always be available to solve the people’s common disputes, but have them bring the major cases to you. Let the leaders decide the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you.  If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace.”  Exodus 18:19-23 

My mother was a tireless worker and determined woman.  She worked not only to raise her three sons of which I am the youngest but also for the civil rights of African Americans as a founder for a not for profit organization giving youth exposure to corporate America.  Back in the 70’s, the first generation of African Americans were growing up to have opportunities their parents never had, and through my mother’s organization, doors were opened to many who would later go onto college and universities seeking professions many of us today never knew were once unavailable.  Think of a time when you had no idea what you were going to do in your life, and one day, someone showing you a whole new world.  That was my mother to me and others.  One of the most famous sayings my mother told me time and time again growing up was that no one makes it in this world by themselves.  This was such wisdom my mother taught me that I have never forgotten.  It is why I am always open to listen to others because one never knows who God sends you to provide counsel in times of uncertainty. 

God always sends us what we need to move closer to His will being done.  In today’s verses, Moses was dealing with lots of things in Israel’s long journey.  I found myself at the part where Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came to visit Moses, and Moses shared stories of God and how He brought them this far.  Moses was heavily involved in dealing with the problems and concerns of the people, and having seen this, Jethro became the confidant Moses needed at that time.  Like a great time manager, Jethro asks, “What are you really accomplishing here?  Why are you trying to do all this alone while everyone stands around you from morning till evening?” (Exodus 18:14b) In today’s verses, Jethro laid the foundation of future prosperity for Moses and His people.  I asked myself why God didn’t just tell him this.  Then I remembered what my mom told me.  No one makes it in this world by themselves.  God sent Jethro, a voice Moses obviously trusted, to help him in his time of need.  We all need that voice, don’t we?  Whether it be a spouse, family member, or friend, God places people strategically in our walk of faith to not only help us prosper but also guide us.  

Through the Holy Spirit, we will know their counsel is of God (note in verse 19 how Jethro notes God’s guidance in his advice), and most importantly, we must act as if God Himself commanded us to. 

It is wonderful to have people surrounding us that God places in our lives.  Furthermore, it is equally as rewarding to know God places us in others lives to make a difference.  Jesus is the perfect example of this as Isaiah foretold of the coming of Jesus saying, “And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6b) It is important that we use God’s wisdom to choose our friends wisely and listen when He talks to us through others.  Otherwise, we may be missing out on what God’s plan is for our lives.  Let us be open to God’s counsel to make us better followers and leaders.  What trouble might you need God’s counsel in?  Who has God placed in your life that can aide in your journey or spiritual growth?  My prayer is that we open our minds and hearts to remember no one makes it in this world by themselves.  Amen. 

Love Is The Greatest

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.  1 Corinthians 13:13

I told a friend I loved them the other day.  Yes, someone other than my wife.  Now to be clear, it was not the kind of love I have for my wife, and I made that clear to them.  For those of you not familiar with Greek history, it defines four common kinds of love.  There is Storge (affectionate), Phileo (friendship), Eros (romantic), and Agape (love for all).  C.S. Lewis described it almost like wedding cake. Storge is the frosting. Phileo is the punch that goes with the cake.  Eros is ‘the cake,’ and Agape is the offering of the cake to someone else.  The love I spoke of with this friend was Phileo, but before it got to that, I had to have Agape love or a love that is given freely devoid of fear of being hurt.  It made perfect sense as I read something else Lewis wrote that said:

To love at all is to be vulnerable; love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact…you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal…lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket-safe, dark, motionless, airless–it will change.  It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation.  The only place outside of heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all dangers and perturbations of love is Hell.  – Four Loves

Some people say the word love is thrown around too freely.  I don’t buy into that.  I believe what they mean is that true love is not shown enough.  We don’t want to get hurt.  We do not want to feel the pain of it being broken.  Thus, as Lewis says so well, we lock it up where few can get in.  However, one of my most endearing philosophies of life has been that when your heart is broken, the pain you endure is the price for the love you have always wanted.  Having met my wife, nothing could be truer than that.

God’s love is the key that unlocks everything.  There is a reason love is the greatest of things.  Paul understood this even as he admitted to not know everything saying, “Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture!” (1 Corinthians 13:9) Love is a mystery.  However, when I look at a picture of my wife and I when we got married, I feel love deep down.  As my wife loves me, I feel the love God has for me.  As I think of my parents love for me, I sense how God watched over me over the years nurturing and growing me.  I am so humbled God provided me with all of this as I know many may not have had what I had.  But no matter if your home was filled with love or had none at all, God gives you all of His love unconditionally, and when you give love, it eventually, and I mean, always comes back.

God’s love is an ever-giving free flowing gift.  However, like C.S. Lewis says you must be willing to open yourself up to it.  You see, it is like when Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.” (Matthew 6:24) You will either be closed to love, which leads to no heart for God or others or take all that comes with love’s territory: pain, suffering, and ultimately glory.  Isn’t the latter the crucifixion in a nutshell?  Let us all take up the cross and share love with all we encounter so others will begin to believe the word ‘love’ isn’t thrown around enough.  Who can you show God’s love to today?  How can you be a shining example of the Agape love of God?  My prayer is we acknowledge Paul’s words in saying love is the greatest.  Amen