Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says (James 1:22).
So, what do you say to that, Beloved?
I say, “Ouch!”
I say, “Guilty as charged.”
I say, “Forgive me, Lord, for getting spiritually obese. I stuff myself with rich truth then neglect to run the race.”
I say, “Let me be a doer, and not just a hearer.”
What do you say?
It’s Thursday, Beloved.
Go do.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17).
He wants good things for you.
He has given good things to you.
I’m going to let you in on a little secret, Beloved.
Sometimes I doubt God.
No, I don’t doubt that he’s there, or that he’s Almighty God. I don’t doubt the truth of the Resurrection or that he’s coming back for us one day.
It’s just that, after so many years of following him, there are still moments when, in the secret places of my heart, I doubt that he loves me.
I mean, why would he?
Look, I know that you’re way past all that nonsense, and your faith is unshakeable. But, just for kicks, let me tell you what I do when moods of doubt take hold of me.
I count my blessings.
Yep, it sounds trite, but it works. Stay with me here. This verse tells us that every good gift is from God, right? And people give gifts to those they love, right? And God is not fickle, loving one minute and hating the next—if he loves, he loves, right?
So, as I count the good things in my life, I can take each one as tangible proof of his love.
And there really are so many good things.
When I start counting, I invariably come around to counting the people I love. That’s when I stop. See, when I consider all the hearts I hold in mine, and I think that each of them is a sign of God’s love for me, my doubts stutter and go silent.
Anyway, that’s probably just me. But, as you go through your day, take a moment or two or twenty and think about the great gifts that are yours.
Then think about the great Giver.
And know that you are loved.
Happy Tuesday, Beloved.
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him (James 1:5).
What does wisdom look like?
This is a dangerous passage, because many people read it and think that God is going to give them some sort of tingly feeling, an ooh-aah-oh-aha! moment, and suddenly they will know what they need to do.
And God can do that.
On occasion, he does.
More often than not, however, wisdom is the result of less mystical things, like study of the Scripture, or listening to the advice of those who have demonstrated wisdom in their own lives, or learning from our mistakes.
Sometimes God uses those trials we’ve been talking about to build wisdom.
Wisdom is a gift, but unlike your salvation, wisdom is a gift you earn. If you’re waiting for that mystical flash from Heaven, you may find yourself waiting for a long time. Worse, you may be tempted to absolute foolishness because it feels like God is telling you something.
I have a friend who wanted to write a worship song. He decided to let God give him the song, by letting his Bible fall open and writing about whatever verse was first on the page. His bible fell open to Leviticus.
And he gave the world that immortal song And the Eunuch Shall Not Enter the Temple.
Kinda catchy…but, no.
I’m not saying that God doesn’t speak through feelings sometimes. What I am saying is that, if that feeling of yours doesn’t match up with Scripture…it ain’t from God.
You need wisdom. Ask for it. But then don’t just sit back, close your eyes, and wait for it. Work for it. Dig for it—in Scripture, in experience, in your brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s there, and it’s for you.
Just put your gloves on and get to work.
Happy Wednesday, Beloved
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely…(Philippians 4:8)
My wife is lovely.
My daughter is lovely.
I get to think of them all day?
Cool beans
The word “Lovely” means exquisitely beautiful, and my ladies are certainly that. But the word has a deeper meaning. When I think of “Lovely,” I think of something that quiets my spirit, that brings my soul rest and refreshment. Lovely things are evidence of God’s beauty and grace in the world. How can it be that the God of thunder and lightning and earthquake and hurricane and tsunami is also the God of snowflake and fern leaf and butterfly wing and dandelion fluff–
which I know are weed seeds, but don’t spoil the mood.
Lovely is an aspect of God’s glory that I don’t often take enough time to notice, much less appreciate.
Today I shall.
Care to join me, Beloved?
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection… (Philippians 3:10).
I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say that the resurrection is the most powerful event in history.
More powerful than Creation?
Yep.
The Crucifixion?
I think so.
More powerful than Kirk Gibson’s pinch-hit home run in the 1988 World Series?
Oh, yes…even that.
When he rose from the grave, Jesus, in one fell swoop, ended the captivity of…well…everyone. Death, the great enemy of all mankind, was crushed under the heel of the Son of God.
That there’s power, my friend.
Beloved, do you understand that, right here, right now, smack in the middle of a Tuesday, you have that same power at work in you?
The power that broke Death in the world is breaking it in your heart.
Don’t ask me how. I have almost as much trouble with how as I do with why.
But I’m pretty good with is.
And it is, Beloved.
Happy Tuesday
…not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ–the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith (Philippians 3:9).
Because my righteousness…isn’t.
Oh, it might look like kinda like righteousness–occasionally, a little, if you squint–but I’m not really fooling anyone.
Neither are you, Beloved.
But the righteousness that comes by faith, the one that the Father sacrificed his son to obtain for you, the one that Christ bled and died and suffered the horrors of the cross to share with you, the one the Holy Spirit lives and works in and through you to teach you to wear–
that one’s the real deal.
And it is now yours.
So wear it proudly, and in great humility.
Wield it with great strength and brokenness.
Rejoice over it with great joy and weeping.
Accept it as the free gift that cost everything.
Happy Friday, Beloved.
…I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hands… (Psalm 31:14).
I prayed this passage twice yesterday.
The first time was over my friend John, just before he went into surgery to remove a mass from his brain.
The second time, about twelve hours later, was over his wife, mother, and daughter after they heard that the surgery was most likely unsuccessful.
The first prayer was much easier.
You see, the first time, I wasn’t really trusting God with my friend. I mean, I sorta was, but mostly I was trusting God for the outcome that I wanted. There is a difference. I don’t know if this makes sense; I’m not at my clearest today. But in that second prayer, and the many prayers to come, my friend, his wife, and all his family and friends are going to have to come to grips with the depth of those words. God can certainly heal my friend, and I pray that he will.
But he might not.
He is our God. Our times are in his hands.
Usually those words bring comfort. Last night, they tasted like dirt.
They are, nonetheless, true. He is God. He is in control. We cannot dictate; we can only trust. We trust in his love for us. We trust that he knows what’s best, wants what’s best, is what’s best. We trust that he is good because of his Word, because of his track record, and because he is ultimately all that we have. Our lives are his to command.
Sometimes I really hate that.
My friend and brother John will trust God. That’s the kind of man he is. And God will use John to bring glory to himself. That’s the kind of God he is. In what manner will this happen? I don’t know. I do know that God will be there every step of the way. And that is worth trusting.
And you, Beloved? Can you, will you, dare you say the words?
Hold my hand; we’ll say them together.
I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hands.
Amen
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God (Matthew 5:9).
Jesus is a peacemaker.
Peace between God and Man.
Peace between Man and Man.
Peace that passes all understanding, yet guards our hearts and minds.
The Son of God is calling you to follow in his footsteps today. So, take a good look at the day ahead of you. What potential conflicts are waiting? What person will likely push your buttons and make you twitch? What raging interpersonal storms do you get to sail into?
These are all opportunities.
Oh, I know they don’t feel like opportunities, Beloved. Except perhaps opportunities to practice your stress management and work on finding your Happy Place. But they are, in fact, opportunities to walk as Jesus did—to be a peacemaker.
Will you take the opportunity today, Beloved? Will you be a child of God? Will you stuff your pride and walk in grace and humility?
Oh, I know it’s hard.
Will you do it anyway?
…neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:39).
Of course there’s nothing in the physical world that can separate us from God. Outer space or ocean floor, you can’t get beyond his reach. You already knew that.
But what about the emotional world?
What about when life is fantastic, and I get so caught up in my own amazingosity that I forget God?
What about when “I make my bed in the depths,” so depressed and beaten down that I can’t muster the strength to lift my head to Heaven?
Emotions are within his sphere too, Beloved.
All Creation is under his sway, and he has promised us, right here, that none of it can separate us from the love of Christ.
There is only one uncreated being in all the cosmos, only one who would be capable of erasing God’s love from your life, and he’s the one making the promise.
So I think we’re safe.
You are safe.
Take that into your weekend, Beloved.
Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end (Isaiah 9:7).
I’m not really a fan of big government. I would just as soon government leave me alone for the most part.
But His government? I’m all in.
I said last week that the best form of government is a benevolent dictatorship. Because of sin, that kind of rule is not possible for any length of time.
Outside of Christ.
Today we celebrate the birth of our King. That baby in the manger didn’t come to run for President. He doesn’t need your vote. He came to rule.
One day Jesus will rule here on Earth in the flesh. His reign will go on and on and just get better and better.
Until then, we can know his government in our hearts and lives.
If you belong to Jesus, his peace, his power, his rule in your life is growing each day. Oh, you may not feel it all the time, but it is happening.
On this most wonderful day, ask yourself: are you allowing Christ to govern your life, or are you getting in his way?
Merry Christmas, Beloved.