Safetypinlove

The Apostle Paul used his own sufferings and defeats as opportunities to display Christ’s character to others. He wanted to show us that with each adversity comes the decision to either become bitter or better. Life’s not fair, and when we’re passed over for a promotion, betrayed by a friend, or abandoned by a loved one, our first reaction is usually hostility, irritation, and feelings of failure. But it’s in those very adversities that we can exhibit Christ’s life in our moral flesh… as we determine to display Jesus to others in the very midst of the hardship. Psalm 91:15 tells us that God is with us in the middle of troubles and will deliver and honor us…but only if we choose to obey and put aside all bitterness, rage, and anger. (Ephesians 4:31)

As we look at the familiar story of Mary and Martha…it was laudable of Martha’s desire to extend hospitality to Jesus…but her distraction came from a place of misplaced priorities. Distraction is never harmless, that’s because if the enemy can’t destroy your faith, he’ll distract your attention from Jesus…trying to fill your mind with noise, busyness, and worry. But we also need to remember that distractions aren’t usually bad things…the enemy is too smart for that. Instead, he’ll preoccupy your mind with the worries of the world, draw you away with all your volunteer work, and entice you with harmless/mindless entertainment. And soon you’ll find yourself questioning how you could have wandered so far from God. The Apostle Paul warns us of this ploy of the enemy in I Corinthians 7:35…which sadly often leads us to a divided heart and devotion to the Lord. So just remember, distraction is never harmless.

God had brought Ezekiel by the spirit to the Valley of Dry Bones in order to reassure the exiles that His promises remained secure. After being away from their homeland for so long, they felt like God had forgotten them. So when God asked Ezekiel if the dry bones could live again…He was pledging specific and immediate hope to the exiles who were longing to be restored to their own country. And when this vast army rose to their feet, it was God reassuring His people that though they felt like all hope was gone, He would surely bring them back to the land of Israel. For in the end, this become God’s testimony to His power and rule…His ability to restore life and hope even in the most desolate circumstances…and His abiding promise of restoration and revival for His people.

In the New Testament we read of Jesus and His disciples sailing across the Sea of Galilee when a sudden and violent wind storm hit the boat nearly swamping it. The disciples panicked and reacted to the imminent danger… thinking they were all going to die. It was then that they woke a sleeping Jesus and accused Him of not caring about them. Jesus stood up, spoke peace into the storm, and then taught the disciples about relying on God first, not as a last resort. In Isaiah 26:3-4 we see that it’s the peace of God that guards our hearts and minds even in the midst of great trials. And this is so true, but we first need to find God’s Presence in the middle of the storm in order for Him to give us the peace and stability to see it through…whether He suddenly calms the storm in our life… or just hushes the storm within us.

As the Scottish Evangelist and Teacher, Oswald Chambers, once wrote, “Shut out your worries and stand before God with one thing only in your heart: My utmost for His highest.” This not only became the title of his best-selling devotional, but was his lifelong ministry to others. So how do we go about giving our best for His glory? It starts first by realizing that our battles are won or lost in the secret places of our will, followed by the renouncing of those hidden things… for that’s where we either become an apathetic and lazy Christian, or someone on fire for the Lord. And this takes discipline…however the discipline of Jesus never is easy, in fact it’s “gloriously difficult” as he wrote…but it’s those very imposing difficulties that stir us to overcome. Finally, Oswald Chambers, urged us to hold on to, and be ever focused on God’s heavenly vision for our life. That’s because it’s so very easy to lose His vision by our simple lack of spiritual growth and disobedience.

The occasion for the Book of Joel was about a multi-year locust plague that had descended upon Judah…one without parallel in the country’s history. Consequently, the basic economy was ruined due to the vast agricultural devastation. The prophet Joel believed the disaster was God’s judgment…and used a pointed metaphor of withered plants laid waste to symbolize the spiritual and moral decay of the people. He reminded them that they couldn’t take peace and prosperity for granted…for there was a day of judgment coming for the whole world, in which mankind would have to make an account before God. All the while warning them that there were consequences to their sin, unrepentance, and blatant rejection of God. Joel saw this judgment not only as a stern warning, but as the simple joy of the Lord being cruelly snatched away…with hopelessness thrust in its place.

Rarely does God anoint someone in front of a great assembly like Solomon was. (I Chronicles 29:22) Most times our Divine calling comes in the middle of our daily routine with no fanfare and certainly no large crowds. When Elijah anointed his successor, Elisha, the young man was out in the field plowing… minding his own business. (I Kings 19:16-21) But God had a much higher work for him to do, and so Elisha was separated, consecrated, and empowered right there in the middle of the field with no one else around except for him and Elijah. When God calls and sets apart someone, He doesn’t need an audience’s approval…and He certainly doesn’t need us getting all puffed up with self-pride for something we’ve had absolutely nothing to do with. That’s because our anointing is for service to others, as we joyfully bear witness to the saving grace of God…not for vanity purposes.

It’s a brand new year, but many things currently affecting our lives didn’t magically disappear at the stroke of midnight…they followed us into the here and now. That’s why this Scripture is so important…emphasizing that we need to renew the spirit of our mind, and in the process understand the transformational process we must undergo in our spiritual journey with the Lord. In the end, we need to align our thoughts and attitudes closer to the Will of God. So how can we do this? I’ve found many times throughout my life God did not change the desperate situations I found myself in…instead, He changed how I regarded them. It’s the glass half-full vs the glass half-empty mental position. There are so many things in our life we have absolutely no control over…consequently, it’s only our attitudes concerning these things we can actually change. This new year, God may not change the difficult situations and circumstances you find yourself in…but what He can do is help you gain His eternal perspective and bring you closer to Him.

As a Believer, the world is attempting to win you over everyday. It bombards you with seductive things to click on, coaxing you to just try it once. It tries to persuade you that your life is boring, and you deserve to have a little fun. And it continuingly cajoles you that your lifestyle needs spicing up. The world wants you to develop FOMO…fear of missing out. But what the world doesn’t realize is that all good things come from God…for great is His goodness. (Zachariah 9:17) And as we follow Him, goodness and mercy shall follow us. (Psalm 23:6) For Psalm 84:11 tells us that, “No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” So don’t fall for the bait the world dangles in front of you…it will never measure up to the blessed protection and provision God supplies.

God is the source of all life and light, but we seem to have problems abiding in this when it comes to our natural virtues…our character traits, morals, merits, and noteworthy qualities. But when put side by side with the Divine characteristics of Jesus Christ, there’s no comparison. That’s because as mere mortal beings we sorely lack perception, insight, and wisdom into the eternal things of God and His desire for us to become more Christ-like. So what can we do? In Ephesians, Paul writes of putting off the old life and old way of living and the putting on or embracing of the new one. He speaks of God creating “one new man” in Christ, (Ephesians 2:15-16)…this process called sanctification. This is when God causes our confidence in our own natural virtues to wither away…until all we see is the example of Jesus to follow. In Galatians 3:27, Paul describes this conversion as “putting on Christ.” For if we think about it, none of our natural virtues will ever come close to Christ’s perfect life and ideal model for us to follow.