Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?   (Mat 6:26)

Continuing His lesson Jesus gives us an example from nature.

He asks us to consider our "value," to our Father.

Birds can't sow, reap or gather - yet they are provided for.

If you can't sow, reap or gather - does thin not suggest that God will feed (provide for) you?

Is this just about food?  I think not!  This is about value.

Actually I believe it's about who we look to in order to determine our value.

Birds?  I'm of greater value that birds?  Actually the idea here is that we are "of so much MORE value" than birds. 

Birds have a role in God's creation no less critical to the sustaining of that creation than anything else.  God maintains everything they need to fulfill their role in His creation.  There are lots of birds - that takes a lot of maintaining.  It's not a simple thing nor is it insignificant!

Then there is "us."  We were God's viceroys in the Garden.  Note:

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 
(Gen 1:26)

The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. 
(Gen 2:15)

God's intention for us was to be His means of maintaining His creation.  We were to work and keep the garden which in turn would provide for all the creatures of the creation.  Pretty important stuff!  

Now, in this fallen world our role has changed.  Now we are called to show forth His glory, to be holy as He is.  We are his witnesses, living testaments to His glory and goodness.  How much value can we put on that?

Consider:

". . . . when He comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed."   (2Th 1:10)

Whose "value" do we choose accept?  His or the world's?  Who do we look to?  How do we measure it?  

The redemption of the creation - the birds - cost Him His Son.  However the price was demanded for our sin not for the birds' sins (birds don't sin they just suffer its effects).  So He paid the demanded price - for OUR sin - that He might redeems His creation.

Where in our fleshly spectrum of value do we really put that?  Is it first or just a close second?  Do we really accept that we are valuable enough for God to give His Son?  Are we willing to accept that his love for us was so great that he sent His Son to be a man, to suffer and be tempted as a man and then be killed as a criminal?  How valuable does that make us?

Are we willing to accept and live with Jesus as our total net worth?  Are we willing to be rejected and scorned and put down by the world so that we might live out His gracious gift for and to us?

Or do we play with the world's criteria for worth and value measuring our lives by their standards?  And how well have those standards served Him or His creation?  How cruelly have the standards of the world dealt with the world?

Think on what God has done for and in you.  Consider what you might be tempted to trade it for.  In times of weakness and suffering it is not uncommon for us to fall into "if only," and to see ourselves as worthless failures.  It is a struggle to cling to God's love and the value He has given us - He has made us ultimately valuable - He has given us a worth beyond words - Pray and think on that.

Father,

In these tough times I see my sin and my errors.  I see how I have been deceived and schemed by the world, the flesh and the devil.  Now, in my distress those three cruel enemies taunt me and pour shame upon me.  Help me Father, to cling to Your gracious gift as the only thing that matters.  Let the cruel accusations and aspersions of those three enemies drop from my mind and heart.  Deafen my ears to them, let me be comforted and let by Your Word and Your Spirit as I seek to  follow You in whatever circumstance I find myself in.

Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, "Who is the LORD?" or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.   (Pro 30:7-9)

In the name of Jesus and for His glory, amen.

Psa. 119:116-117

Psalm 119:116-117 ESV
Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live, and let me not be put to shame in my hope! [117] Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for your statutes continually!

"Uphold,"  "Hold me up."  

The Psalmist seeks support to stand, stability to not waiver, comfort in distress - and who among us does not?  Of course, we all do.

BUT - one scheme of our enemies (w,f,d = the world the flesh and the devil) like to use is to get us to be at ease.  To get us to trust more in ourselves and others than we do in Him.  

I have a very close friend who shares about God answering prayer and his saying, "Ok God, I've got it from here."  He relates that, as he looks back, God seems to have said to him, "Oh, you do? Well, I'll just step over here and let you do it."  Then he goes on to share how he learned that there is never a time when he can not be utterly dependent upon God.

This passage reminded me of that and of the foolishness of my self-conceit - my prideful self-confidence.  

The only answer to the danger of "ease" or "prosperity" is to discipline ourselves to continually (vs. 117) attend to God and His Word.  It's a battle not uncommon to believers and though we do not want to fall into the trap of "works" we do need to be about the duties and blessings of the faith (which are one in the same).

As we are so very prone to cry out to God in times of need so we should be in times of less or little need.  Our need for the essentials for life, He has promised.  Their quality and quantity He has not promised.  When have or sense a lack of what we think we "need" we must be very careful to examine our sensation.  Where does this sense of need come from, why is it distressing me?

Certainly we have very real needs and when we can't see how they will be met it is chilling.  But when the chill passes we can grow lukewarm and lazy and complacent until we sense another need.

I am learning that as I am sure many of you are as well.  When we find that this has been a redundant state we (I) need to repent.  But, more than that I need to seek to have my need for that state/condition/habit/SIN to be put far from me.  The lesson isn't so much about what I need to do but what I need for Him to do in me.  First In need for Him to grow greater in my heart and mind - to be more Him. 

Second I need Him to keep this lesson in my mind and heart.  I need Him to change my mind and heart so that this lesson is learned and learned well.

Third I need Him to move me and to help me examine my heart and for Him to "keep" it as I do.

Fourth I need His grace to remember that it is more about He than me.  

Fifth, I need to look at the product(s) and possessions of my selfness and be grateful that though I wandered and He loves me enough to catch me and draw me back.  I also need to accept His forgiveness and not grovel or snivel but rather come to Him humbly - as a child found and restored.

Overall, I need Him to grow me in the likeness of His Son and accept that is the most important thing I can ask for.

For 2013 - so far

Working on a blog but it's too long right now.  But just consider:
1.  The key words for 2013 for us will be suffering and persecution - in new and exciting ways.
2.  God is faithful - He will get all of His to heaven.

Counsel????  Admonition????
Resolve to:
Memorize the Decalogue
Memorize the Model Prayer
Memorize the Apostles Creed
and use them as a re-starting blocks!!!!!

Jude 1:24-25 ESV
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,  to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

It's just scary down here ---

I was praying this morning and as I prayed (I tend to do it as a journal) I found myself writing that, "its just scary down here."  And you know, it is.

Now  perfect love casts out fear - we don't have the spirit of fear - yes, I know all that - but it's still scary down here.

Fear is natural or sinful.  To not fear is to give up some part of being human.  to allow fear to keep us from serving Him is to give up some part of being His - that's sinful fear.

But fear is an emotion (?) - a judgement we make about conditions and circumstances that are very real.  Fear tells us something is dangerous - potentially harmful - probably damaging - etc.  So this natural fear can't be a no-no but it can not be the boss either.

Having said that - it is scary down here.  Politics is always scary - the power of government is always liable to abuse.  I worry about that.  I worry about my brothers and sisters who own businesses or have ministries and the possiblility that they may have to close, capitulate their consciences to the law or take a stand against the law and suffer the conseqences.  I fear for our religious freedom - especially the religious freedom of Christians.

See, it's coming to a point where we are being put in a position where we are required to do things that violate our consciences.  We are being required to do (or not do) things that pertain directly to our faith (beliefs) and though in most cases it's subtle - it's here.

At some point - and I worry that the time is closer that we think - we will have to start saying "No."  We've tried to say no in the political arena but that's "their" home field - so we've said "Ok" to the point that we will soon have to say "No!" and when we do we will suffer for it.

Where we have enjoyed the freedom to express our religious beliefs we are no longer as "free" as we were.  When folks are getting cited and sued for having home Bible studies - we are in trouble.  When the government can force us to pay for things that violate our faith - we are in trouble.

Well - it's scary down here.  But that's OK - it can't help but be.  However - we need to begin NOW to pray for a holy boldness to stand upon our faith and refuse to give way.  That will look different for different people - and that's sad -!  It shows that we have indeed not grown as He desired and we have especially not grown to be one.

So many of us will find ourselves standing alone.  Criticized and even vilified by those who claim our faith but don't know Him.  The tares and the goats and the wolves will have a very good time.  Our stubbornness in our faith will cost us much - for some of us it will cost everything but what he guards for us.

I am not a pessimist - I am a believer - and the One I believe makes it very clear that we will suffer for Him - for being His.  I wonder if I'm ready?  I don;t feel ready - but then, that's what the Holy Spirit is for - right?

Pray for yourselves and your brothers and sisters that they might see and understand the depth of hate the world and the devil has for us.  Pray that they may grow ever more sensitive in their consciences so that they do not suddenly realize they have "allowed: and "tolerated" and "compromised" to the point of a near surrender.

We must remember - "to live is Christ, to die is gain."  Paul "got it," when did we let it go?

Peter’s Pen 1st Peter 2:20-25

1Pe 2:20-25  For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.  (21)  For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.  (22)  He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.  (23)  When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.  (24)  He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.  (25)  For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Let me cut to the chase:

(21)  For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 

Any questions?

Mat 5:11-12  "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.  (12)  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

This and That 090412 Comforted??

Men may look shy upon you, and alter their respects as your condition is altered; when Providence has blasted your estate, your summer-friends may grow strange, fearing you may be troublesome to them; but will God do so? No, no: “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” says he.   Flavel, John (2010-08-03). Keeping the Heart (Kindle Locations 402-404).  . Kindle Edition.

Flavel doesn’t hold much back.  His aim is true and his shot is straight.

When we face adversity, we have to remember that God is sovereign and that nothing comes but by way of His providence.  We also need to remember that it is only those whom He loves that he disciplines.  Though a comfort it does not make the adversity any more pleasant – as a matter of fact, God Himself tells us that no discipline seems pleasant when we are undergoing it.  So our being “not” pleased as we are disciplined (or as I prefer disciple) He is not offended that we struggle.

We can have confidence in God but other people, not so much.  Whether it comes from our inward parts of their outward distancing from us there is an arrow of shame that pierces our hearts when we are in adversity.  We, as well as others, look for a negative cause of the adversity.  We want to blame someone or something.  The assumption, which can be correct at times, is that we have somehow brought this on ourselves and are being punished.  And shame hitches a ride.

But if He does discipline those He loves and His discipline is for our betterment we need to address the shame we feel and perhaps if possible ,the shame that is inflicted upon us. 

The only way I know to do this is to surrender to the discipline as a sign of His love and His care.  We need to accept it and praise Him that, although we may be clueless as to His immediate purpose, we know He has our good in His hear

I like the KJV for the following verse:

Jas 4:10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Now the word humble sounds nice but perhaps we miss the idea here.  The Greek word means to abase or humiliate.  For us those are very negative words.  But in reference to God whose grace we enjoy isn’t that just – well - appropriate?  The picture here is of a vassal kneeling before his or her liege lord in utter submission.

But our liege lord doesn’t revel in our humiliation he. “lifts us up.”  He reaches down and raises us to our feet, acknowledging and accepting our submission and promising His care and protection.  Yeah, it’s hard for us to “get” that but it is a beautiful picture of His grace and mercy.

Other people?  Well, let me just say this.  When God disciplines one of His it scares the willies out of those who witness it.  I’m sure Job had lots of friends but think about it, only three came to his assistance and they weren’t much help. 

When God disciplines on of His, all His other folks tend to act like the one being disciplined has leprosy.  Now, leprosy is interesting.  Note this:

Leprosy is contagious, but is not easily transmitted. It requires the transfer of body fluids to cause infection in another person. Generally, it is not infectious in all forms, and people undergoing long term treatment are not infectious. Most people who are in contact with leprosy fight off the bacteria and do not develop leprosy. Symptoms do not develop for at least a year after infection.   http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is_leprosy_contagious#ixzz25WivIzYWL

So is God’s discipline catching?  No, but the cause may be.  Of course the cause is sin.  Is sin contagious?  Well, you tell me;

Gal 6:1  Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

However the one under discipline (for whatever reason) must be restored by his brothers and sisters – his mature brothers and sisters. 

Ahhh – note the verses that follow this admonition:

Gal 6:2-3  Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.  (3)  For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

When we are undergoing God’s discipline, for whatever reason, we should expect the comfort and assistance of our brothers and sisters.  We need their care not their rejection or avoidance.  Indeed, the last verse gives us some insight into the hearts of those who withdraw from the one being disciplined.  They think, perhaps, in comparison to the disciplined disciple, that they are something.  It may be that part of the reason for the discipline is to convict and move the others to examine themselves as well as fulfill their obligation to care for and restore the brother or sister in distress.  Paul always viewed his struggles as being for the benefit of the body – Mmmmmmm……

Let me ask you this.  When you have undergone God’s discipline has anyone come alongside you and asked to help you discover what God is trying to teach you?  Has anyone come alongside and prayed with you and looked into God’s Word with you?  Or have they just patted your back, said they’d pray for you and then disappeared?

The hardest part of God’s pruning and refining us is being alone.  Sure, we kind of want to be alone but that’s not His plan.  Do a study on the admonitions concerning “one another.”  How do we do that if we aren’t with one another; if we aren’t informed about one another’s needs; if we don’t get down where they are and help? 

When God blesses we have a party.  When God disciplines we scatter.  Not right!!

For me it is sad to say that in adversity God and only God is with us.  Yes, He is absolutely sufficient – but is that really His desire, His plan, His order?  I don’t think so, do you?

2Co 1:3-4  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,  (4)  who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

This and That – Suffering 083112

Eph 3:14-19  For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,  (15)  from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,  (16)  that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,  (17)  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love,  (18)  may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,  (19)  and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Ok, read this verse s l o w l y.  Read it again.

Now, “for this reason.”      Now read Eph. 3:3-13.    Wow!

Eph 3:13  So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

I subscribe to a Christian Professional’s Prayer page on LinkedIn.  To tell you the truth, it’s a hard link to handle. There are so many brothers and sisters all over who are suffering and struggling in, at least what to me, are horrible circumstances. 

Now email sand posts are really poor ways to “communicate,” but in reading these posts I can feel the pain and anxiety.  Maybe it’s a misspelled word, a letter missing or confusing grammar but there are signs of the struggle they are in.

Now – looking at this passage – especially verse 13 I have to wonder if part of God’s providence in our hard times is for the benefit of others.  I really feel it must be or why else does He so intimately record the struggles of the motley crew that went before us.  If David, a king and God’s anointed can lay on His bed in utter anxiety – why not me?  If Paul can suffer as he did, why not me?  If Job can be subjected to all he went through, why not me?

Ok – I’m taking this kind of out its context but I really believe that: 

these things took place as examples for us,

that we might not desire evil as they did.  1Co 10:6

I am also drawn to that part of Hebrew 11 we rarely really consider:

Heb 11:36-40  Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.  (37)  They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated--  (38)  of whom the world was not worthy--wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.  (39)  And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised,  (40)  since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

NO !!!!  I am not saying, “It could be worse,” no way.  But what I am saying is that if God was faithful to them through all of this – He will not fail us!

There is no “upside,” to being stoned, sawn in two, or killed with the sword – unless we really hold on the hope of heaven! 

In Triumphing Over sinful Fear, John Flavel addresses our attempt to “reason” our way through troubles – even life threatening ones:

“This carnal reason is the thing that puts us into such confusion of mind. (1) It quarrels with the promises and shakes our confidence in them (Ex. 5:22–23). (2) It limits God’s power and assigns boundaries to it (Ps. 78:20, 41). (3) It draws desperate conclusions from providential appearances (1 Sam. 27:1). (4) It sets us upon sinful courses in an attempt to save ourselves from danger (Isa. 30:15–16). (5) It divides our thoughts and flows into our hearts (Ps. 94:16).”

Flavel, John (2011-12-27). Triumphing Over Sinful Fear (Puritan Treasures for Today) (Kindle Locations 1293-1296). Reformation Heritage Books. Kindle Edition.

This is one tough book written at a time when believers had suffered so many agonies and privations.  No, not by Rome in ancient days but in the 17^th century.

“The matter is debated between faith and fear. Oh, what endless work does their fear impose upon their faith—to solve all the “buts” and “ifs” it raises!”    

Flavel, John (2011-12-27). Triumphing Over Sinful Fear (Puritan Treasures for Today) (Kindle Locations 1325-1326). Reformation Heritage Books. Kindle Edition.

“Who enabled Christians in the past to endure such things? They loved their lives. They sensed pain just like you. They had the same thoughts and fears. Yet God carried them through it all. He can do the same for you.”

Flavel, John (2011-12-27). Triumphing Over Sinful Fear (Puritan Treasures for Today) (Kindle Locations 1468-1469). Reformation Heritage Books. Kindle Edition.

I recommend this book as a challenge to that fear which God would have us refuse.

Paul wrote:

Eph 3:13  So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

And I ask, “For whose glory (referring to other believers as Paul does) is my present suffering?” Who shall be encouraged, strengthen perhaps even led to the Lord through the Spirit by the suffering I now endues for His sake?

We all want to read or hear about a Job, but few of us (me included) ever want to be one!