Privileged To Participate

            Some of the biblical stories that portray the faith of particular individuals show them doing some really weird things.  Constructing a watertight box and collecting pairs of animals.  Soldiers marching around the city of Jericho in silence.  Cutting up animals and throwing their blood around.  Fighting a battle by holding a torch in one hand and a trumpet in the other.  And it makes me laugh to read about the strange things God required the prophet Ezekiel to do.

            I often wondered why God would make people do such strange things.  Why didn’t God just make something happen and place His people where He wanted them to begin with?  What possible reason could there be for having people go through the weird motions that they did?

            It wasn’t until recently that the answer occurred to me.  God wants His people to participate with Him in the great events that He directs.  Participation gives us a sense of ownership in the success of an endeavor.  It tends to burn into our memory the grand occasion we were a part of.  To work through a challenge with God provides us with feelings of worth and accomplishment.  And when we read about the faithful participating in certain events - even though the actions at the time didn’t really make sense - we learn about the supreme privilege God provides for all of us to help Him bring about something important in the lives of men.

            Is it any wonder, then, that Jesus chose 12 special participants to carry on His work after His resurrection (Mark 3)?  Do we comprehend the importance of why the apostles appointed special servants (deacons) to help minister to the needs of the early church (Acts 6)?  Can you see why Paul appointed elders (shepherds) in each congregation (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5)?  No one is strong enough to do all the work necessary by themselves.  We need to work together in order to be successful.  And it also provides more individuals with the privilege of participating with God in the work of saving souls.

            God has given each of us special abilities so that everyone has a place to participate in His kingdom (Romans 12:6-8).  Spiritual leaders would be wise to make sure that every member has something to do in the work of the church.  Don’t see this as a duty; a requirement.  Grow in your spiritual walk with Christ so that you can appreciate participating with Him as a privilege; a special benefit God gives to only the most honored among the faithful.

Doug

God’s Breaking Point

       All of us reach a breaking point in life when we realize that something has to be done and harmful, destructive thoughts or behaviors can no longer go on as before.  These times usually bring out emotions or characteristics that we would rather not show.  From a human perspective, these are times when self-control suffers or is lost all together.  So it’s downright frightening to think that God would ever reach a breaking point.  But the Bible shows that there were times when He did; times when His people pushed Him to His breaking point.  And because of His love, He was forced to punish their ill behavior, because He could no longer bear what their rebellion was doing to their souls.

       Just a few of the examples of God reaching His breaking point include the cities of Sodom & Gomorrah (Genesis 19); the Israelites refusing to enter Canaan (Numbers 14); David’s sin with Bathsheba and Uriah (2 Samuel 12); Solomon’s idolatry (1 Kings 11); Israel’s spiritual adultery (2 Kings 17); Judah’s spiritual adultery (Jeremiah 52);  even Jesus reached His breaking point with the atrocities practiced by the religious leaders of His day (Matthew 23).

Learn this from these biblical stories:  God loves you so much that He will not sit idly by while you destroy your life.  He cares so much that He will act – and usually in a drastic way.  When He finally reaches these breaking points in your life, expect Him to discipline you so strongly that you’re encouraged to give up your harmful thoughts and behaviors.   He isn’t being mean; like the writer of Hebrews says, “He is treating you as sons” (12:4-11).  He wants to improve you.  And if it means making you question His love or even lash out against Him, so be it.  He will do everything possible to bring you to your spiritual senses.

Trust in the fact that the last thing God wants is to cut you out of the vine (John 15:2).  His desire for each one of us is that we abide with Him forever.  Don’t push Him to the breaking point.  The Greatest Command is intended to keep you on track and in God’s good graces for eternity – where He wants you to be.  So be sure to follow where He leads, bring others along with you and enjoy the blessings that only He can bring into your life.

Doug

The Way Out

                The Bible uses no uncertain terms to warn us that sin in our lives is extremely dangerous.  It’s exciting at first to feel that you have gotten away with something “daring.”  After continuing in an act for a while, it becomes comfortable and the sinner no longer cares about getting caught.  And, soon, like any addiction, you need more and more involvement or a wider variety of sinful acts in order to achieve the same “high.”  Without warning, Satan tightens his hold and refuses to let go.  The end result is a slow, painful and humiliating death. 

            This downward decline into the pits of sin is described by James (1:13-15).  It is also depicted by King David’s involvement with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11).  Temptation produces within us a lust to have or do something wrong.  If we continue to think about this long enough we soon determine to act upon it which produces sin.  And we know that the end result of all sin is spiritual death (Romans 6:23).

            The way to get out of the pit of sin is to follow the same path David did to get free from his iniquities (1 Samuel 12).  His upward climb to forgiveness was to confront his sins and confess them before God.  He also committed to turning from them (repentance) and following God’s directives for being cleansed (see also Psalm 32 and 51).  Then, unfortunately, came a time of discipline.  Sin doesn’t enter our lives overnight, and it definitely doesn’t leave quickly either.  It takes  a great deal of strategizing, energy, and consistency of right-living to get it to budge in an outward direction.  Let’s mature to see these times as training periods to help us avoid future temptations.

            It is necessary for each of us to realize that we are not strong enough to handle the stresses and strains or the guilt of our sins.  We need divine help to overcome evil and to stay away from it.  Fortunately, we have a God who loves us and is incredibly patient with us until we come to comprehend this.  He showed this love by coming to earth, living a perfect life (that we need to imitate) and then paying the penalty of sin so we won’t have to.

            So do God and yourself a favor: be like David, the man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). Confront your sins and confess them to the One who is anxious to forgive them. Determine to steer clear of temptations in the future and fill your mind with God’s way of thinking (see Philippians 4:8 for a short list).

            You don’t want to die; and God doesn’t want that for you either (Ezekiel 18:30-32).

Doug

God Never Leaves

     The Judge Samson was not what most parents would consider as a good example for their sons to follow.  And fathers would cringe at the thought of their daughters hanging out with a guy like him.  He was a man of very low moral fiber.  He used the strength that God gave him in order to avenge personal wrongs.  And, what‘s worse, he violated the three rules God required of him (not to drink fermented wine, not to touch anything unclean and not to cut his hair).  Yet God includes him in His list of great examples of faith (Hebrews 11:32).

     I have to wonder why.  What is it God wants me to learn from Samson?  Am I actually able to live life my way, killing people, violating my commitment to God and still be ok in the end?  No, that can’t be it.  There’s too much Scripture that warns against this kind of attitude (Romans 6:1).

     Am I able to use my God-given gifts for my own personal use and then expect God to help me in the end when I decide to call out to Him for one last favor?  No, that can’t be it either.  God created me to live a holy life fully dedicated to Him and His kingdom (1 Peter 2:5).  Maybe I don’t get it because I’m looking in the wrong place.  I should be looking at God, not Samson.

     You see, God used Samson to teach us about His grace.  Though this renegade Judge continually did things contrary to God’s design God never left him.  That is until Samson cut himself off from God.  Once his hair was cut, his final link to God was severed.  We too have made a commitment to God and if we cut ourselves off from His presence by continuing in our sin, God will leave us and we will be too weak to fight off our enemies.  When we remain in Him, He has promised to be with us always.

     We also learn from Samson that as long as we have life within us, we are able to turn back to God and He will hear us and respond.  Samson never regained his physical sight after his ordeal with the Philistines, but He had a restored heart that was finally willing to do God’s work.  With his last act on earth he tapped into God’s strength and brought about a long-overdue judgment on godless people.  The sign of Samson’s strength was in the length of his hair; for us it is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).  By growing in these attributes, we will be connected to God’s strength and will have the confidence to overcome any obstacle (Philippians 4:13).

     Isn’t it wonderful that we serve a God who is so patient and willing to overlook our faults and instead look at our hearts?  He has promised to do so.  Then you too can be included in His list of the faithful.  Return to Him for good and experience His empowerment firsthand. 

     And don’t listen to Satan: Samson’s life is proof that no amount or kind of sin is ever too BIG for God to forgive.

Doug