A Life Worthy

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

Posted on July 29, 2014 by michaelJuly 29, 2014

In 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

Posted on July 28, 2014 by michaelJuly 28, 2014

Consider 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

Posted on July 25, 2014 by michaelJuly 25, 2014

…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

Posted on July 24, 2014 by michaelJuly 23, 2014

But 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

Posted on July 23, 2014 by michaelJuly 23, 2014

Then 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

Posted on July 22, 2014 by michaelJuly 22, 2014

“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

Posted on July 21, 2014 by michaelJuly 21, 2014

When 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

Posted on July 18, 2014 by michaelJuly 17, 2014

…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.

One-a-Day Thursday, 7/17/14

Posted on July 17, 2014 by michaelJuly 16, 2014

Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him (Job 13:15).

Job was the poster boy for rough times.

He was beaten up, knocked down, stepped on. He had more reason than any of us to think that God had abandoned him.

Yet what did he say?

Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him.

Can you say that, Beloved? Will you hope in him regardless of what happens in your circumstances? Is your hope based entirely in God’s character, or is it based in your own wants and needs?

Are there any limits to your hope in him?

Any “if’s” to your love?

Something to chew on today, Beloved.

One-a-Day Wednesday, 7/16/14

Posted on July 16, 2014 by michaelJuly 15, 2014

…God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of Glory. (Colossians 1:27).

I don’t understand how.

I can’t fathom why.

I just know what.

And the what is that the Lord of the Universe has chosen to make his home in you. Somehow, someway he lives in your heart, and that makes you completely, irrevocably his in a way that will always be a mystery.

It is, nevertheless, true.

And that truth is what gives us hope. The security, the strength, the love that we can never earn is ours by right because we are his. We are like street urchins who learn that we are, in fact, the lost heirs to the throne of the kingdom. Vast, unimaginable riches are ours by birthright. You don’t need to mourn the past—those debts are paid. You don’t need to fret over the future—glory awaits. You need only to let him live in and through you today, to let him build his home in your heart. And that is exactly what he wants to do. And that is your hope.

You are his Beloved.

You are his, Beloved.