A Life Worthy

…and the government will be on his shoulders. (Isaiah 9:6)

Here’s the thing with governments—they’re generally made up of people. And, well, I hate to tell you this, but people tend toward selfishness and greed.

I just heard a bubble burst out there…sorry.

The United States has a system of government known as a Representative Democracy, aka a republic. This is a strong, just, and efficient method of governance that work flawlessly, except when the people are ignorant, selfish, and lazy.

Oh.

Same holds true for Communism, aristocracies, feudal societies, even theocracies.  On paper, they look great.  It’s when you add the people that things go winky-wonky.

Frankly, the best, strongest, most efficient form of government is a benevolent dictatorship.  The problem, of course, is that you can guarantee the dictator part, but not the benevolent bit.

Yet.

But guess what, Beloved?  The day will come when we will have an absolute monarch, a king of kings, who will rule with complete authority over all nations.  His reign will be perfect, unhampered by greed, unsullied by sin.  He will know what’s best, want what’s best, do what’s best.

He will be what’s best.

Even so, come Lord Jesus.

Grieve, mourn, and wail.  Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up (James 4:9-10).

If you don’t, he will.

Humble you.

You see, God is best able to use you when you are totally dependant upon, totally trusting in, him.  And he wants to use you for great things.  He wants to be glorified in you and through you, that this sinful, broken world may see his power and his mercy and the tenderness of his love demonstrated to you, for you, by you.

So you gotta be humble.

Aaaaand, we’re back to your choice.

When you humble yourself, you demonstrate an attitude of selfless reliance upon God.  You acknowledge you sin and weakness, and you trust yourself completely to his mercy and strength.  It is a beautiful thing.

When God humbles you, it is not beautiful.  It is not pretty.

Does the name Samson ring any bells?  Hmmm?

Happy Friday, Beloved.

Come near to God, and he will come near to you (James 4:8a).

Again with the “Will.”

God doesn’t flirt.  He doesn’t play games.  He doesn’t write a “Do you like me? Check this box” note in crayon and have his friend hand it to you at recess.

Like I may or may not have done with Michelle Flores in the 5th grade.  

And she may or may not have drawn her own big fat giant “NO” box on the paper and checked it, like, seventeen times in red Crayola.

Give me a moment here.  Some scars run deep.

The point is, God is a God of “Will.”  You don’t have to be afraid that he will run out on you or mess with your mind or take the cheap shot or use your vulnerability against you.  He’s only ever always going to love you.

You’re the Beloved, remember?

So take a breath, take a moment, and draw near.

Happy Wednesday, Beloved

Submit yourselves, then, to God (James 4:7a).

I hate that word, “Submit.”  It sounds like I’m putting myself under someone else’s authority.

Oh.

It’s a scary thing, this submission.  By obeying God, I’m giving up power and authority and the ability to command my own destiny and call the shots and be captain of my fate and master of my soul–

What, Beloved?  You say that all that “I did it my way” business is illusion, that when I think I’m in control it’s really the world, the flesh, and the devil who are pulling my strings?  You say that I’m bound to serve someone, and that there’s only one someone worth trusting with my obedience? That would be the One who has demonstrated, time and again, that he loves me and really, truly, knows what’s best?  You say that is the One I should give my life, my love, my service to–every day, every hour, every minute?

Wow, Beloved–you’re a smart one.

Happy Monday.

Or do you think the Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? (James 4:5)

The traditional view of this verse it that James is talking about our soul here, the “spirit” God put within us at creation.  He’s basically confirming that we are jealous at heart, constantly dissatisfied and longing for what we do not have.  That certainly fits the context, and it’s what the translators think is the original intent.

But…I dunno…

Another reading of this verse capitalizes the word “Spirit” and renders “envies intensely” as “longs jealously.”  In this view, James is talking about the Holy Spirit, whom the Father has caused to live in every believer.  He is reminding us that our God gets really possessive when it comes to his relationship with us.

As a young teenager, I knew an adult married couple who boasted of their “Open relationship.”  It was the first time I had ever heard of that concept.  I wasn’t a Christian yet, but the idea that two people would pledge to remain faithful to each other except when they didn’t feel like it made me truly uncomfortable. Granted, both spouses were woefully unattractive, so I figured the whole point was moot, but still…

Beloved, the Lord Jesus Christ does not do open relationships.

So, yes, I took the alternate translation here, recklessly casting aside the advice of the experts in order to follow my own feelings on the nature of God.  I promise I’m not trying to start a cult.  If perchance you see me in the street today, please do not scream “Heretic” and throw fruit and shoes at me. Though if you do, the event will find its way into a blog post, make no mistake.

Happy Thursday, Beloved.