Where Do You Turn?

As I read through 2Chronicles, I continue to be impressed by the repeated theme of trusting in the Lord. All throughout the history of the kings of Judah and Israel, you find a variety of methods that men employed in leading their people. For example, when Solomon's son, Rehoboam, came into power, he consulted with the elders of the city regarding important decisions of his rule. What a great first step! And yet, when he didn't like the answer they gave, he turned to his peers to find a response more aligned with his own desires. He chose to forsake the wisdom of experience and depended instead on the arrogance of his own opinion. Compare this to his grandson, Asa, who began his reign depending not on the opinions of man but on the promises of God. We see this trusting heart in his prayer:

“Then Asa called to the LORD his God and said, “LORD, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength; so help us, O LORD our God, for we trust in You, and in Your name have come against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God; let not man prevail against You.” So the LORD routed the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled.” (2 Chronicles 14:11–12, NASB95)

And yet, over time, even Asa increasingly fell into the trap of trusting in himself. He grew confident in the comfort of peace and power. And so when another opportunity to trust in the Lord came his way, he chose to rely on his own ingenuity in solving the problem. Instead of seeking God, he sought the support of an enemy. Asa looked to the security of worldly alliances instead of putting his trust in the Lord. Somewhere along the way, Asa determined that he could do just as well on His own.

O Lord, please protect me from making the same mistake. May I always trust in you more than I trust myself. My I look to your Word instead of depending on the opinions of others. May I be content in your provision instead of building an alliance with the power of this world. May the story of the kings teach me to trust in you.

It's What's In The Heart That Counts

Leaders have taken time to count their citizens all throughout history. The Romans took a census to determine taxation of its people. The American Constitution requires a census in order to ensure fair number of political representatives. But in scripture, when David took a census, it resulted in the judgment of God. 70,000 Israelites died as a result of his decision. The scripture even exposes Satan as the source behind this edict.

“Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel. So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Go, number Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, and bring me a report, that I may know their number.”” (1 Chronicles 21:1–2, ESV)

What's the big deal? David conducted a census of his people. Why is that so bad? It has happened many times before and many times since... so why is this situation unique? The answer may be found later in that same chapter when Joab fulfilled his commander's request.

“And Joab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to David. In all Israel there were 1,100,000 men who drew the sword, and in Judah 470,000 who drew the sword.” (1 Chronicles 21:5, ESV)

David was counting for selfish reasons. After such great success on the battlefield, David wanted to number his fighting men in order to know just how strong he had become. But David should have know that the battle belongs to the Lord. He spoke of such conviction in one of his very own Psalms.

“Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” (Psalm 20:6–7, ESV)

But somewhere along the way, David let his faith get lazy. He began to attribute his success to himself. He listened to the whisper of the Evil One as he encouraged David to take pride in what he had done for the Lord. But this was not about what David had done for the Lord... this is about what the Lord had done for David. The shepherd boy who stood before Goliath understood more of God's provision than did the man who had now become king. As David's son, Solomon, would one day write:

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18, ESV)

How easy it is to get caught in the same trap. A trap where we pay more attention to our efforts than we do God's provision. More time charting our own course instead of learning to walk in God's will. It happens to all of us just like it happened to David. But somewhere along the line David learned his lesson. Late in his life, as he passed his rule over to his son, he took a census once again. But notice the difference.

“When David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel. David assembled all the leaders of Israel and the priests and the Levites. The Levites, thirty years old and upward, were numbered, and the total was 38,000 men. “Twenty-four thousand of these,” David said, “shall have charge of the work in the house of the LORD, 6,000 shall be officers and judges, 4,000 gatekeepers, and 4,000 shall offer praises to the LORD with the instruments that I have made for praise.”” (1 Chronicles 23:1–5, ESV)

The first time David counted, it was for pride... this time it is for praise. The first time David counted in order to bask in his own glory... and now he counts in order to give all the glory to God. Like David, may we too learn to give praise our highest priority. May we be thankful in order to stay humble. Take some time this week to count your blessings. And when you're done, make sure you give God praise for all the good things He has done!

Let's Give It A Try

I had breakfast this morning with a long time friend. This is a kind of friend that you can see once a week or once a year and you can pick right up where you left off last. This friend also has the gift of encouragement. And when I say that, what I mean is that he speaks with such true sincerity and desire for your highest good. That's a gift! Well, this friend encouraged me to take more time to write. He knew that this was a passion for me and he also suggested that it just might be a blessing for others as well. Therefore, I just spent the last 2 hours trying to update and give my very old site a new look. It took me a long time because I have no idea what I am doing. (So for all the veterans out there, if you have suggestions, I'm all ears.) But my intent in writing is simple. I simply desire to share the things that God has put on my heart in a way that it might be an encouragement to others. It is like my online journal - from His heart, to my heart, to yours. I look forward to starting up again and I pray that it might be a blessing for you as well.

An Unconvincing Resurrection

In my devotional time this week, I read the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. This parable describes a dialogue between two men who have died. The rich man who lived a selfish life by ignoring the needs of others was now begging mercy from the poor man whom he had refused to serve. It is an interesting account, but what caught my eye was the very last statement made by Abraham.
The rich man, seeing that his plight was permanent, requested that someone warn his brothers who were still living so that they would not make the same mistake resulting in the same eternal torment. He justified the request by saying,

"if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent." (Luke 16:30)

In response, Abraham said to the Rich Man,

"If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead." (Luke 16:31)

Having just celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus Christ this past Sunday, this passage gave me pause. I thought about our message of hope that we have in Jesus Christ because of His victory over sin and death. I considered all the people who come to church for this special occasion that may never enter the doors of a church outside of this holiday. As a pastor, I think about the responsibility I feel to communicate with utmost clarity the message of salvation through faith in Christ alone. Like Lazarus, I want to believe that if people understand what Jesus did on the cross and the miracle of His rising from the dead...surely they will repent and believe.
But then I am reminded, if we don't acknowledge the message of truth that speaks to our need for a Savior, the resurrection itself has no direct impact on our life. In other words, if we don't recognize our need for a Redeemer, we can hear the story a thousand times and never be changed. The life and death of Jesus Christ only matters when it becomes personal - when we understand what we lose without Him and what we gain because of Him. We simply don't see the miracle unless we need the miracle.
I believe we often experience the greatest work of God in our life at our greatest point of need. We are lifted up only when we bow in worship. God is opposed to the proud but He gives grace to the humble.

“Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. ” (Hebrews 4:16, NASB95)

Prayer of Praise

O Lord God,
Teach me to know grace precedes, accompanies and follows my salvation,
that it sustains the redeemed soul,
that not one link of its chain can ever break.

From Calvary’s cross wave upon wave of grace reaches me,
deals with my sin,
washes me clean,
renews my heart,
draws out my affection,
kindles a flame in my soul,
consecrates my every thought, word, work,
teaches me thy immeasurable love.

How great are my privileges in Christ Jesus!

Without Him I stand far off, a stranger, an outcast; in Him I draw near and touch his kingly scepter.
Without him I dare not lift my guilty eyes; in him I gaze upon my Father-God and friend.
Without him I hide my lips in trembling shame; in him I open my mouth in petition and praise.
Without him all is wrath and consuming fire; in him all is love, and the repose of my soul.
Without him is gaping hell below me, and eternal anguish; in him its gates are barred to me by his precious blood.
Without him darkness spreads its horrors in front; in him an eternity of glory is my boundless horizon.
Without him all within me is terror and dismay; in him every accusation is charmed into joy and peace.
Without him all things external call for my condemnation; in him they minister to my comfort, and are to be enjoyed with thanksgiving.
Praise be to thee for grace, and for the unspeakable gift of Jesus.

Arthur Bennett, The Valley of Vision

Living Life Outside the Sweet Spot

My family and I had the privilege to spend a week in Mexico with our very own tour guide, translator and babysitter all in one person. Meredith Hardy is quite a girl and she sure made our trip extra special by being there. But the time with Meredith also gave me a chance to get to know her heart a little bit more. And what I saw was a heart for the world and a desire to follow God wherever He might lead her. She remained in Mexico, in part, to see if that is a place He just might want her to be.
This was so refreshing and somewhat unique in the conversations I have had with people her age. More often, I see her peers looking for that “sweet spot” where God uniquely places them in a career that perfectly matches their passion so they go to work every day knowing they are doing exactly what God wants them to do. It usually includes a comfortable salary with familiar surroundings, a house, 2 kids...you know the rest of the story. Somehow, this “sweet spot” lifestyle is equated with being in the center of God’s will.
But what if God calls you to do something outside of the “sweet spot”? Something outside the familiar surroundings, comfortable salary or even outside your driving passion. Are you willing to live outside of the “sweet spot” if that happens to be the center of God’s will? Meredith reminded me how important it is to follow God, trusting His passion more than our own, and seeking His will for our life as the only “sweet spot” we should desire.

Writing on the Wall

This morning, I read from Deuteronomy 8 as Moses recounted God's loving discipline of His people in order that He might "humble them" and "test them" so that "He might know what was in their heart." (v2) All the while, God continued to care for the Israelites with food to eat and water to drink. Moses reminds his people that even "their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell." (v4)
As a result, the nation prospers. They multiply in both number and wealth. And so Moses warns them: "Beware lest you say in your heart 'My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth'. You shall remember the Lord your God is the one who gave you this wealth. And if you forget the Lord and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I solemnly warn you that you shall surely perish. Like the nations that the Lord makes to perish before you, so shall you perish, because you did not obey the voice of the Lord your God." (vv 17,20)
Having just returned from Mexico City, I couldn't help but consider these verses in the context of this trip. I look at the decay of the Mexican culture - the governmental corruption, the sexual immorality, the drug induced violence and the oppressive economic disparity - and I see a culture that has not obeyed the voice of the Lord. But then I look at my own country and I wonder, "Is this the writing on the wall? Are we on a path that perishes as we follow the pattern of spiritual decay of nations that have gone before us? Will our outcome not be the same if we too proclaim, "My power and my might have gotten me this wealth."?
Please understand that this is not a political commentary or the platitudes of someone who believes that America is a Christian nation. For I do not. Moses even warned the nation of Israel, "Do not say in your heart when the Lord your God has driven them (your enemies) out before you, 'Because of my righteousness the Lord has brought me in to the possess the land,' but it is because of the wickedness of those nations that the Lord is dispossessing them before you." (9:4)
This is an issue of God's kingdom work and the call of His people to live a life worthy of the gospel of Christ. The call for Christians to stand firm in one spirit with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel. (Phil 1:27)
I am not one to predict the coming of the Lord but one thing I do know because of the testimony of scripture - the day of His return has been set. Therefore, today is one day closer to that day! And as we look at all the events on the world scene, I can't help but see the birth pains of His imminent return.
May we hear the words of Moses as if He speaks them anew to us today: “Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. You shall fear the LORD your God. You shall serve him and hold fast to him, and by his name you shall swear. He is your praise. He is your God, who has done for you these great and terrifying things that your eyes have seen. You shall therefore love the LORD your God and keep his charge, his statutes, his rules, and his commandments always." (Deuteronomy 10:14, 20–21, 11:1 ESV)
As followers of Jesus Christ, may we be that people. Especially in times like these...and even more as the day draws near.