Second Chances

"When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Him and said, 'I am God Almighty; walk before Me and be blameless...'" Genesis 17:1

Shortly after Abram's faith was credited to him as righteousness, he discredited himself by trying to accomplish God's will in his own strength. Instead of waiting on God to fulfill His promise of a son, he and Sarai took matters into their own hands and fell into sin. Abram took Hagar as a second wife (polygamy was never God's plan) and she bore him Ishmael, the wild son. 

After Ishmael's birth, nothing is recorded. So far as we can gather from scripture, there were no brave acts of faith or noble deeds that following this sin. We do not find record of Abram doing anything significant, or having an audience with the LORD. Not until now, thirteen years later. It is here that God Almighty appears to Abram again. His purpose is to call him to obedience saying, "walk before me and be blameless." In so doing, "the LORD would bring [Abram] out of his state of distrust and distance into one of dignity and sanctity" by manifesting Himself to him. (Spurgeon)

God is a God of second chances. It's as if He was saying to Abram, "Let's try this again. Starting today, remembering that I see all things, I want you to strive for perfection. I am calling you to live your life in exemplary fashion, with impeccable integrity, with clean hands and a pure heart, untarnished and above reproach. Then, I will grant you increase." In His instruction, God was consecrating Abram to Himself; He was setting Abram apart for His purposes.

This command would have required Abram to have much trust in the LORD. Those of little trust usually have little obedience. "If we have grand conceptions of the glory of God, we shall learn to confide in Him most thoroughly, we shall receive mercies from Him most plentifully, and we shall be moved to serve Him most consistently. Sin at the bottom of it very frequently has origin in low thoughts of God." (Spurgeon) Abram's sin was just such an example. He could not fathom how God would fulfill His promise to bless he and Sarai with a son at her age and in her barrenness. So in lack of trust he sinned with Hagar. He seemed to forget who God was. That He is God Almighty, El Shaddai, the all sufficient One. Had he remembered and trusted, he would have stayed true to his wife and waited patiently with hope for the fulfillment of His promise. 

So God appears to Abram once again, this time calling him to a deeper level of trust. He is calling him to pursue true holiness. To consider God in all his actions, public and private. To not leave Him out of any equation, but instead sense His presence, seek His counsel, and serve His purposes only.

Living a sanctified or consecrated life is a high calling, but most pleasing to the One who paid a high price for my freedom and salvation. I too am called to pursue holiness; to walk blameless before the LORD. In order to do so, I must have a high view of God and offer Him my highest level of trust. It has been said, "The saint feels that he must not, dare not, transgress, because he is before the very face of God. This is the model of the sanctified character, for a man to realize what the Lord is, and then to act as in the immediate presence of a holy and jealous God." (Spurgeon)

The standard is perfection, because anything less would leave room for excuse. We are not told to be as good as we can be, for there would be room for error. We are called to be perfect (blameless), even as our Father in heaven is perfect...

"This God--His way is perfect." 2 Samuel 22:31, Psalm 18:30

"The law of the LORD is perfect..." Psalm 19:7

"You therefore must be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:48

" Jesus said to him, 'If you would be perfect, go sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.'" Matthew 19:21

No one but Jesus has ever attained perfection, but it is the standard nonetheless, that every believer should strive for. Paul aspired to it in Philippians: "Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own." God does not water it down due to our weakness. He calls us to rise above our flesh and weaknesses with sincerity and live to a higher standard, striving toward perfection.

Father God, I know I can never be perfect, but perfect is the standard I should aspire to. Forgive me Lord for the times my faith and trust have been lacking. God, I want to have a grand view of You! I want to believe that every thing You will in my life is possible. I need to trust You more. In Jesus' name, amen.

Forever Grateful

I had just moved from Daytona Beach to Brandon a fews days prior. Starting over in a new city, I went to the church my parents were attending that first Sunday. I figured it would be a good place to meet "good" people. As a 19 year old guest, I was taken to the college and young singles class. Afterwards, I was invited to join the group the very next weekend at a beach retreat. I figured I had nothing to lose, so I went! There on North Reddington Beach, I made some new, life-long friends. I believe they realized pretty quickly that I was not a believer, but they took me in and made me feel so welcomed and encouraged. I also believe some started praying for me immediately. I noticed something different about these new friends. I couldn't put my finger on it, but I wanted it!

We returned from the beach and that Monday night would be the start of a revival in Plant City. Some of my new friends were going and invited me. My social calendar was clear at this point, so even though I didn't really know what a revival was, I went. I sat with Valerie, a girl I'd met at the beach. We listened to a sermon from the bleachers on a football field that summer night.

The pastor was preaching on the wheat and the tears. He explained the difference between the two: the wheat contained seed, and the tears did not. He likened that to believers and non-believers. I quickly understood enough to know that the "seed" I recognized in these friends was Jesus, and I was the one without. I wanted Jesus too! The pastor closed in prayer, asking God not to let anyone leave that needed Him. I felt my knees turn to Jell-O and conviction overcame me. Valerie noticed. She took me by the hand and walked with me to the football field. We knelt at a brown metal folding chair and I asked Jesus into my life. That was twenty-five years ago today.

In those twenty-five years my God has given me a firm place to stand, revealed my brokenness, rescued me, healed me, restored me, and set me free. I am forever grateful for my friend Valerie's obedience to the gospel, and for reaching out to befriend me - the new girl - all those years ago. As God would have it, we are still in touch. We attend the same church (a different one from where we met) and are in the same Bible Fellowship class. Her oldest daughter now spends time in Bible study at my house as part of our church's college ministry. How special that is! So tonight Lord-willing, my friend Valerie and I will celebrate and eat cake, and reflect on God's goodness over the years. For her friendship and the gift of salvation, I am forever grateful.

Good Soil

"...the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word,

retain it, and by persevering produce a crop." Luke 8:15

This is the parable of the sower and the soil. Here, Jesus is speaking to a large crowd about the seed and what comes of it as it lands on different types of ground. When His disciples ask Him to explain the meaning, He shares that the "seed" represents the Word of God. Where it falls determines whether it will grow. If it falls along the path with no place to take root, the enemy carries it away and the hearer does not believe. If it falls on the rocks, the hearer may receive it with joy but it doesn't take root; in the time of testing they quickly fall away. If it falls among thorns, it may take root but life's troubles and worries choke it out and it fails to grown and mature. But if the seed falls on good soil, the hearer receives it in his heart, applies it to his life, and perseveres in a way that produces a crop. 

persevere [pur - s uh - veer] verb

to persist in anything undertaken; maintain a purpose in spite of difficult,

obstacles, or discouragement; continue steadfastly

The key is to not only be a hearer of the Word only, but a doer. James 1:22 says, "Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." I cannot just hear the Word and survey the scriptures and expect it to change me. I must apply it to my life and to my sin. Though hearts may be touched or moved by the Word, they are not changed by hearing alone...hearts are changed in the doing of what it says. Consistent, persistent, steadfast doing is what then produces a crop.

Father God, help me as I strive to consistently apply Your Word to my heart and my mind. Change me as I apply it so that my actions line up with Your Word. I want my life to be a reflection of You, a reflection of the gospel, and to produce a crop. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Misery Acknowledged

[An angel of the LORD to Hagar]  

"...the LORD has heard of your misery." Genesis 16:11c

[Hagar to the LORD]

"'...You are the God who sees me,' for she said, 'I have now seen the One who sees me.'" 

Genesis 16:13

Hagar, having been used by Sarai to bear a child in her barrenness, and then mistreated while pregnant, runs away miserable. Before long, she is met with an angel of the LORD who listens to her story and gives her clear instruction. He tells her to "go back" to her mistress Sarai and submit to her. At the same time, he gives her a promise of "increase" -- that she will have descendants too numerous to count. 

During this encounter, the angel of the LORD acknowledged her misery. Nothing is hidden from God's sight! Her cry of affliction was heard, for "tears speak as well as prayers." (Henry)

With grateful reflection, Hagar acknowledges the LORD and His goodness. There, she turns the well where the encounter took place into a memorial; a place to remember where the LORD cared for her in a time of distress. The God that sees all, saw her. The memorial was a reminder. The God that sees all, sees me too. May I never forget!

Is anything causing me distress today? Am I running away from any circumstances where I should be staying and submitting and crying out to the Lord, instead of putting my running shoes on? Though the answer may not be immediate, I must not forget that my God sees me and He hears my cries. He is my Vindicator and in His time, He will make things right. May I find rest and peace in that...

God, I know You see me. In joy, in despair, in misery...You see me. And Your grace is upon me. May this knowledge ever keep me far from sin and close to You, eager to do Your will. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Living Grateful

"...the Twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been cured of 
evil spirits and diseases..." Luke 8:1-2

As He went from town to town, Jesus kept company with the twelve disciples. During His ministry on earth, they did life together as they went about sharing the gospel, healing the sick, and ministering to the down and out. Not only did the Twelve travel with Him, so did some women. Women whom Jesus had delivered or healed. Mary Magdalene was with Him after He drove seven demons out of her. Grateful for His mercy, she became a zealous disciple of Christ. Also with Him were Joanna, Susanna, and many others who served Jesus out of dedication and indebtedness. Jesus rescued and restored them from various ailments and in return, they ministered to Him out of their own means. With great humility, Jesus and the Twelve accepted the support of His friends to sustain them as they went about preaching and teaching. Though He was rich, "He became poor" for our sakes and He lived on the kindness and generosity of others.

These women who were healed, both body and soul, had been "patients" (so to speak) of the Great Physician, Jesus. As a result of being healed by Him, they considered what they could do to bless Him. These women of gratitude lived their lives as a thank offering to Him. They attended to His needs, kept Him well fed, and followed Him faithfully. 

Jesus my Savior, was my Great Physician too...and my Rescuer, Redeemer, Restorer. He has been so faithful to me! So I consider...

How am I living my life as a thank offering? (Am I?)
What am I doing to bless His name?

Father, I want my life to be an offering of gratitude to You. Show me how to bless Your name... In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Believing is a Choice

"Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Genesis 15:6

Abram was conversing with the LORD about who would get his inheritance since he didn't have any children. He figured he would have to leave everything to one of his servants. But the LORD responded, "This man [one of your servants] will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir." (v. 4) Abram was promised that his offspring would be too numerous to count. So he took the LORD at His Word and believed Him. 

Take note, Abram didn't merely believe in Him - even the demons do that (James 2:19). Abram believed the words He spoke. He believed the LORD's promise made to him. This trust in the LORD was what He credited to Abram's account as righteousness.

This causes me to ponder my own life... Are there promises I'm questioning? Do I let my circumstances, my inability to see what God is doing behind the scenes, cloud my view and cause me to question His promise-keeping abilities? Or I do stand firm in all things, taking God at His Word, believing Him no matter how things look? Believing Him starts with knowing His Word and what He promises in the first place. 

I save myself some worry and anxious thoughts when I choose to take God at His Word versus believe the lies the enemy tries to plant in my head. When the lies surface, those things contrary to God's Word, I can choose to entertain them and live in fear or doubt, or choose to take those thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5) and replace them with the truth of God's Word...His promises. Believing is a choice - an act of the will. I choose to believe God.

Father God, I have come to understand that freedom from worry, freedom from anxiety, freedom from sin is found in wholeheartedly believing You. Help me to take my thoughts captive and trust Your every Word. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Overflow of Faith

"Jesus said to the woman, 'Your faith has saved you; go in peace.'" Luke 7:50

This woman, who was a sinner, came to Jesus with such love, conviction and humility. She cried tears of sorrow over her own sin at His feet and wiped them with her hair. She stooped low in humility and did not stop kissing Jesus' feet. With gratitude she she poured out perfume on them. She had much to be forgiven for - for her sins were many - and out of her remorse and gratitude she showed much love. So Jesus said to her, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." Such an effective and definitive Word from the Lord surely kept her far from committing such sins again!

As Jesus points out His observations about this woman of faith to Simon, He uses them in sharp contrast to all the things he had not done. Simon had not brought him water to wash His feet, he had not greeted Him with a kiss, and had not put oil on His head when He arrived. All these things represented love and gratitude expressed by this woman and were an overflow of the faith she placed in Him. "Therefore," He said, "I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven - for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." (v. 47)

It would seem as though Simon had been outdone by this woman. Not because her works saved her, but because they were evidence of, an outpouring of - the overflow of - her great faith. Her faith drove her to tears and humility, and she pressed on with her show of love regardless of mockers. Her faith cost her something, as she poured her perfume on His feet. So it might be said, "The reason why some people blame the pains and expense of zealous Christians, in religion, is because they are not willing themselves to come up to it, but resolve to rest in cheap and easy faith." (Henry)

Father God, I don't want to settle for - or be known for - cheap and easy faith. Make me zealous for You oh Lord! I pray my love and gratitude for all You've done for me spills over with extravagance and produces a passionate devotion to You. And I pray that passion drives me further and further from sin and closer to You; to be more and more committed to the work You have for me to do. Thank You for saving me! In Jesus' name I pray, amen.