One-a-Day Thursday, 7/31/14

number 1If 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.

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 Thursday, Beloved

One-a-Day Wednesday, 7/30/14

number 1Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:4).

Sticktoitiveness.

That’s what my grandma used to call it.  James calls it perseverance, a term that works almost as well.  It’s that quality of taking one more step, trying one more time, going one more mile.

You know what I think is really interesting?  James names perseverance as the character trait that will make us mature and complete.

Not strength.

Not wisdom.

Not intelligence.

Perseverance.

Why that quality, apart from the others?  It’s not very exciting, not very romantic.  There’s really nothing very heroic about it at all.

Which, I think, is precisely why God calls us to it.

When I was in high school, I ran for the cross country team.  Cross country was a fall sport, but it wasn’t the fall sport.  That, of course, was football.  Football was played by the physical elite, big muscly dudes who went toe-to-toe under the bright lights in a stadium full of people.

And cheerleaders.

Cross country…not so much.  We rarely drew crowds, and I never saw a cheerleader.  We were the leftovers, guys who weren’t big enough to play football, but still wanted that sweaty locker room experience.  There was really only one lesson to learn in order to succeed at cross country.

Don’t stop running.

You see, the races were so stinking long.  No matter how big or how fast you were, it ultimately came down to who refused to quit.  It was not unusual to see a sprinter-type jump out to an early lead, only to falter after half a mile or so.  The winners were often skinny little guys who, in the end, just kept putting one foot in front of the other.

I think that’s what God is looking for in us.  Sure, he wants us to be strong and wise and smart.  What he’s really looking for, however, is the one who will run the race, day or night, hot or cold, rain or shine, when no crowds are there to cheer them on.

Are you that one?  Are you willing to run the race that most people never see?  Are you willing to keep putting one foot in front of the other, long past the point where you want to give up?

Cause it’s a long race.

If you’re in trials today, Beloved, know that God is using them to teach you good old sticktoitiveness.  Hold tight to his hand, and keep putting one foot in front of the other.  You’re in training, and you are going to make it.

By his grace.

For his glory.

Keep running, Beloved.

One-a-Day Tuesday, 7/29/14

number 1In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps (Proverbs 16:9).

I told you yesterday that writing about trials was dangerous.  God has this way of providing object lessons, whether I think I need them or not.

After I posted yesterday’s One-a-Day, I went to the doctor for a very routine, very superficial surgery.  I had a benign but annoying lump on my back that had been my companion for many years, but to which I was now ready to say goodbye.  No surgeon, no hospital required.  No knocking me out.  Just a quick slice-and-stitch in the doctor’s office.  I had extensive plans for the remainder of my day, which included yard work and cleaning out the garage.

Except God, who is much wiser than I, decided that this was a great time to drive home yesterday’s Scripture—and throw in today’s as a bonus.

I’ll protect you from gruesome details first thing in the morning.  Let’s just say that the lump was kinda like an iceberg; the vast bulk of it was down where you can’t see.  By the time my doctor was finished spelunking, I was short on blood and long on pain.  I spent the bulk of the rest of my day in the company of doctors, and got no yard work done.  The garage also remains a minefield.

In light of yesterday’s verse, I tried to be a good example for you and count it all joy.

I was only marginally successful.  I hope that was enough to avoid a secondary lesson.

So do us both a favor, Beloved.  Read today’s verse.  Pray through it.  Acknowledge the truth of it before God, and hold lightly to your plans for today.  Let’s not give him any reason to decide that we need another object lesson, hmm?

My plan for today is simply to sit in my chair, eat, read, and try not to bleed.

But, hey, I’m open to whatever.  No problem, Lord.

Happy Tuesday, Beloved.

One-a-Day Monday 7/28/14

number 1Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. (James 1:2-3).

Well, this is a dangerous passage.

I start talking about the benefits of difficult times, and God decides to illustrate the point in your life, and…Uh Oh.

But here it is, so here we go.

I am not the man James would have me be.  Sorry, James.  No matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to muster up joy when, “Trials of many kinds” hit.  A grudging acceptance?  Maybe.  But joy?  Not even the impure kind, I’m afraid.  Frankly, I would like this particular verse better if James had said, “Consider it a horrific nightmare…but grit your teeth and endure it anyway.”

I ran cross country in high school, and my coach had a fairly wide sadistic streak in him.  He used to send running through places like Death Hill and Bloody Ridge and The Plains of Endless Discomfort.  We ran mile after nasty mile in heat, in cold, in rain, in pain.

I didn’t like those runs.

But I liked the results.

By the end of the season, I was more than I had been at the beginning.

In that, there was joy.

I hope you don’t encounter trials today, Beloved.  I kinda like you, and I’d just as soon not see you in pain.  But it’s not my call, and God has long since proven that he knows more than Michael.

So when the trials come—James never said “If”—embrace them as a gift designed to make you stronger.

I’m sorry it hurts.

So is God.

But hold tightly to him, know that he loves you, and let him take you through.

Not around…through.

See you on the other side, Beloved.

One-a-Day Friday, 7/25/14

number 1…and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”  Immediately, Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.  “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14: 30-31). 

Peter was in over his head—literally.  He had taken his eyes off Jesus, focused on his worldly circumstances, and panicked.  His grand venture of faith was falling apart rather quickly.

So he cried out to God.

Good move, Pete.

There are two things that really hit me in this passage.  The first is Peter’s faith.

Yes, I realize that this story highlights his doubt—Jesus points this out himself.  But I think that his doubt is not so much in God’s ability to work as it is in God’s willingness to work in Peter.  It’s a feeling I know all too well.  I know that God can do anything he wants; I just can’t imagine that he wants to do it through me.  It’s a weird mixture of pride and self-doubt that we all fall victim to.

Except you, Beloved.  I know—you’ve got it all together.

But Peter’s faith in God is rock-solid—no pun intended.  After all, to whom does he cry out in his fear?

To whom do you cry out?

The other thing that strikes me in this passage is the Lord’s reaction to Peter.  “Immediately, Jesus reached forth his hand and caught Peter.”  Jesus did not let Peter founder and flop and flail in the water.  He was there, waiting, at the moment his child needed him.

Then he spoke to Peter.  Now I can’t be sure in what tone of voice he said, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”  Perhaps he was frustrated; maybe he was genuinely curious.  My gut tells me, though, that there was a smile in his eyes, and that small shake of the head that a parent uses when his child has goofed.  I haven’t found it in any translation of this passage, but I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if Jesus had followed up this statement with, “You knucklehead.”

Maybe that’s just me.

The more I think about it, the more I am convinced that Jesus was pleased rather than frustrated with Peter.  I think he truly enjoyed seeing Peter take these few faltering steps of faith, just like I loved seeing my kids learn to walk.  Sure they fell, and I chuckled when they did, because I knew that ultimately I would keep them safe.

I don’t know what God is calling you to today.  Could be adventure; could be trial.  But I do know this—he’s calling you out on the water.  He has a challenge for you.  He wants to show you what he can do in and through you.  Sure you might fall—and he stands ready to catch you.  Sure you might fail—and he stands ready to pick you up and let you try again.  Don’t be afraid of letting him down.  Every step you take in him makes him proud as can be.  Don’t be deceived into thinking that God wouldn’t work through you.  Trust me, he’s worked through a lot worse than you.

He’s worked through me.

Just look to the One who loves you, Beloved.

Step out.

One-a-Day Thursday, 7/24/14

number 1But when he saw the wind, he was afraid (Matthew 14:30).

Poor Peter.

There he was, walking on the water, standing on the waves with the One who made them.

It doesn’t get much better than that.

And it didn’t.

Because he took his eyes and his thoughts off of Jesus for just a moment.  And a moment was all it took.  Scripture doesn’t tell us exactly what went through Peter’s mind at that moment, but I’m thinking it was along the lines of, “What am I doing?  I can’t walk on water!”

And, just like that, he couldn’t.

Peter’s in good company.  The prophet Elijah would understand completely.  He had just called down fire from God—pretty impressive—to annihilate the wicked prophets of Baal.  A little showy, perhaps, but very effective—and an obvious demonstration that God was with Elijah.  This annoyed Queen Jezebel, and she threatened to kill Elijah.

So he ran.  Fast and far.  For just a moment, he took his eyes off God and focused on the danger represented by this woman.  And just like that, the danger became more real that the God Elijah served.

I’ve done it, too.  So have you.  God is doing something wonderful in our lives, teaching us, growing us, showing us new dimensions of his love…

And then we look down, like the tightrope walker a thousand feet in the air.

And we panic.

Scripture tells us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.  Life backs that up.

What is God calling you to, Beloved?  What is he working on in you?  It doesn’t have to be as grand as walking on water or calling down fire—though if he does, call me.  I wanna watch.  It could be as ordinary as learning to trust him with your future, as simple as learning to love unconditionally, as basic as learning to give without thought of reward.

Actually, walking on water may just be easier than any of those.

Whatever today’s challenge is, lock your eyes on the author and perfecter of your faith and start walking.

Don’t look down, Beloved.

One-a-Day Wednesday, 7/23/14

number 1Then Peter got out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. (Matthew 14:29).

Wow.

He did it.

I know it’s easy to focus on the fact that Peter sank—and we will look at that tomorrow—but for today, let’s give the young man some props.  He wanted to do what Jesus was doing, he got the go ahead from the Lord, and he went for it.

And he did something that, frankly, you and I have never done.

No you haven’t.

One of Peter’s great strengths was his ability to take decisive action without overanalyzing every situation.

Of course, the negative side of that is called, “Going off half-cocked without thinking things through,” which was probably his greatest weakness.

But we’re praising Peter today.  And in this verse we see that Peter didn’t allow logic to override God’s call.

Now, let’s be careful here.  Don’t hear what I’m not saying.  Am I saying that we should throw logic and wisdom out the window and just follow our feelings?

Uh, no.

Am I saying that we should make all our decisions with our hearts and not our minds?

Huh uh.

Am I saying that sometimes God may call us to something that makes no sense, by the world’s definition of sense?

Ding ding ding!

Now, he may not be calling you to something as blatantly wacky as waterskiing sans boat and skis.  But maybe, just maybe, that desire in your heart, that secret dream that makes no logical sense, is there because he put it there.  Maybe, just maybe, your Lord is calling you to do something the world calls crazy, but he calls right and good.

Maybe.

Just maybe.

What will you do about it, Beloved?  Will you analyze and dissect debate his call until you convince yourself that it can’t be done?

Or will you climb out of the boat and walk?

Maybe, just maybe, it’s time to get your feet wet, Beloved.

One-a-Day Tuesday, 7/22/14

number 1“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” Jesus said.  (Matthew 14:28-2)

God wants you to do cool stuff.

I hope I didn’t lose you in the heavy theology there.

I have heard this passage preached on many times, and most of the time the focus is on Peter wanting to be with Jesus, and Jesus calling to him from the storm, and it all gets real metaphorical.  And, I suppose those aspects of the story are valid.

But so is this one.

Peter saw Jesus doing something amazingly cool, and he wanted in on it.  Jesus saw Peter’s excitement, and he wanted to share the fun.

Because, yes, God likes fun, and walking on water would be really fun.

What cool things is God doing in the world around you?

Do you want in on the fun?

Have you asked him?

If your life in Christ is dull, may I suggest that perhaps you’re missing something?

Chew on that today.  Happy Tuesday, Beloved.

One-a-Day Monday 7/21/14

number 1When the disciples saw [Jesus] walking on the water, they were terrified.   “It’s a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear.  But Jesus immediately said to them, “Take courage.  It is I.  Don’t be afraid.” (Matthew 14:27).

The disciples were terrified.  They saw something coming at them out of the darkness; something they didn’t understand, something they didn’t recognize.  They were helpless and alone—or so they thought.  They assumed the worst, and their courage failed.

But it was Jesus.

It was Jesus.

Now, we could chide the disciples for not recognizing Jesus.  After all, he was their master, their teacher, their constant companion.  How could they not know it was the Lord?

But let’s not pick on Peter and the boys.  I don’t think it was their fault.  I don’t think it was shallowness, or selfishness, or spiritual insensitivity that caused them to mistake Jesus for a ghost.  I think it was much simpler than that.

Jesus came in a way that they weren’t expecting.

I mean, he was walking on water, for corn sake.  Who’s watching for that?

Jesus was doing a God thing, and the disciples were seeing it through Man eyes.

Hmm…

So I wonder…how many of the things that are terrifying in my life are, in fact, Jesus at work?  As I panic and prepare to dive overboard, is he simply coming to me, teaching me, working in me, in a way that I’m not used to?

Am I willing to let him work, even though it scares me?

Because if you know your Scripture, you know what’s coming next.

Take courage, Beloved.

One-a-Day Friday, 7/11/14

…those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint (Isaiah 40:31). 

I have, on occasion, taken verses a bit too literally.

Once upon a time, I ran a marathon.  Actually, that’s not quite accurate; I ran part of a marathon and hobbled the rest.  This verse kept running through my mind.

My hope was in the Lord.

And yet…

My strength was depleted.

Though I was sore, I did not soar.

I ran, and grew quite weary.

I walked, and was faint.

I crawled, and was blistered.

So maybe God wasn’t talking about marathon running.  Maybe he was talking about our spiritual life.

And yet…

Sometimes I feel like my spiritual life is a lot like that marathon.  The pressures crowd in on me from every side, and I can’t find peace.  My hope is in him, but I just feel weak and low and tired and afraid.  It doesn’t look like my hopes will ever be made real.

I’m sure you never feel this way—thanks for putting up with my dysfunction.

As I write this, my mind goes to two places—painful and awkward, but that’s how my brain works.  First, I think of yesterday’s verse: Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him.  My hope cannot be based in my circumstances; it must be based in God’s character.  Second, I have to realize that this race is not over yet.  I may feel like I’m about to drop, but I haven’t.

Does that resonate with you, even a little?  Because I hate to feel alone.

You feel like you’re about to drop, but you haven’t.

By his grace, you keep putting one foot in front of the other.

And that is our hope.

As I think about it, I remember the end of that marathon.  After doing the death crawl for several eternities, I reached the 25 mile marker.

1.2 miles to go.

I prayed that God would give me the strength to finish at a run…and he did.

I ran the end of the race.

One might even say that I soared…but one would be wildly mistaken.

Still, I finished strong in that race.

And I will finish strong in this race.

And so will you, Beloved—that’s a promise.