Christianity

I asked the Lord that I might grow

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I’m often fond of asking the Lord to help me “grow deeper” in my love and faith for Him. I pray this over others as well. But I’m keenly aware of what this generally means. Personal growth usually results from suffering. From small inconveniences to life altering ones, these trials are the sandpaper to our sanctification.

Jason and I have this poem/hymn, I asked the Lord if I might grow, written by John Newton kept on the side of our refrigerator. Its something I stop and read every now and then reminding myself that bearing fruit comes from struggle. As with the global health crisis we are all experiencing right now in some way, God sometimes lovingly afflicts us to get our attention- off ourselves, off distractions, off our idols, to turn back to Him.

For believers this is a grace into repentance and restored fellowship with our Father. For unbelievers this is an opportunity to humbly come to our Great God and Savior! The result from such actions will look like a deepening dependence on Him.

Newton, a former slave trader and best known for his hymn Amazing Grace, understood 1 Peter 1:6-7, the implications of suffering as spiritual refinement: “though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire- may be proved genuine, and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

How has the Lord graciously peeled back the layers of spiritual apathy, pride, habitual sins or busyness in your life? We all have the precious gift of slowing down right now as so many things have been stripped away. Being still is hard for us. We may not like what we see if we’re honest.

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God is actively at work in COVID-19 of which there may be many purposes I won’t get into here. But one might just be to turn your eyes back to Jesus. Will you go to Him? Is He your life? Heart examination is uncomfortable, especially admitting where I fall short. But man is it necessary- ultimately for our good. God opposes the proud but will give grace to the humble. So be encouraged in your hardships right now. The undergrowth could make way for a deeper intimacy with the King of the Universe. And isn’t He worth it?

This is the poem John Newton penned:

I asked the Lord that I might grow 

In faith, and love, and every grace; 

Might more of His salvation know,

And seek more earnestly His face.

 

‘Twas He who taught me thus to pray;

And He, I trust, has answered prayer:

But it has been in such a way

As almost drove me to despair.

 

I hoped that in some favored hour, 

At once He’d grant me my request;

And, by His love’s constraining power,

Subdue my sins, and give me rest.

 

Instead of this, He made me feel

The hidden evils of my heart,

And let the angry powers of hell

Assault my soul in every part.

 

Yea more, with His own hand He seemed 

Intent to aggravate my woe;

Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,

Blasted my gourds, and laid me low.

 

Lord, why is this? I trembling cried;

Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death?

‘Tis in this way, the Lord replied,

I answer prayer for grace and faith.

 

These inward trials I employ

From self and pride to set thee free,

To break thy schemes of worldly joy,

That thou mayest seek thy all in Me.

 

I’ll leave you with another hymn, this time a modern one written and sung by Keith and Kristyn Getty called ‘The Lord is My Salvation”. It ties in well with the theme of heart affliction. I pray you know the depth and supernatural love of God in your own life. Let His words of truth refresh you today.

 

Grace upon grace,

April

Compromise

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Exodus 10:1-12:13

 

More than once Pharaoh tried to compromise with Moses on conditions for letting the Israelites go worship. Moses was unwavering because these were God’s terms. Like Pharaoh, those who attempt to negotiate with the Lord have no fear of God, not rightly understanding Who He is.

The last plague left no room for compromise with judgment over every firstborn son in Egypt. The instructions for Passover were very clear, as the Israelites obeyed God’s word by placing the blood of an unblemished lamb on the sides and top of the doorframe to their homes. Then each Hebrew ate the roasted lamb, bitter herbs and bread without yeast in haste as instructed by the Lord. Because of their obedience, God spared the firstborn in each Israelite home unlike the Egyptian families.

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God defends those who take His Word seriously and obey Him- these are His people.  We may think it harmless to cut corners at work, lack integrity in how we treat others, or see how far we can push the envelope, but how we live before others matters. John MacArthur points out how the Church is responsible in representing Christ to the world saying,

“The Church’s greatest testimony before the world is spiritual integrity. When Christians live below the standards of biblical morality and reverence for their Lord, they compromise the full biblical truth concerning the character, plan, and will of God. By so doing, they seriously weaken the credibility of the gospel and lessen their impact on the world.”

The truth is God will not honor bargaining His commands of any kind. He does not haggle. This is the way of the unrighteous. God’s people obey Him and serve others because this reflects the heart of Christ who did not compromise His mission on the cross. Aren’t you glad Jesus perfectly obeyed the will of the Father? Christ set the example for daily living by demonstrating whole-hearted devotion to God alone as the only way to live. It’s important to note that this isn’t done in our own strength. As we mature in our understanding of God’s grace, the Holy Spirit enables us to live out the Lord’s will. Gradually our desires begin to match His, as our hunger for God grows. How incredible God even helps us obey Him!

God’s standard is ultimately in our best interest. We need not fear “missing out” on a full life because we don’t succumb to the pressures of the culture. God’s way leads to solid joy in a forever relationship with Him. In the end, those who remain steadfast and uncompromising in the Lord will hear “well done, My good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23). Keep persevering. Our Father sees your faithfulness to Him.

 

Grace upon grace,

April

Set Apart

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Exodus 8:1-9:35; Psalm 24; Matthew 19:13-30

 

There is a fatal misconception that there many ways to heaven- in the end all people are God’s people. This simply isn’t true. The Bible shows us how God set apart the people of Israel for Himself. He is a Covenant-keeping God, long-suffering with wayward, scared, ungrateful and at times faithless people. Good news for us. We aren’t that much different in our sin nature from Israel and yet God still pursues His people, displaying a love and power only He can possess.

The Lord wields His dominion over creation with the plagues He set upon Egypt. Scripture specifically points out how God protected His people from these afflictions, passing over the land of Goshen where the Hebrews lived (Exodus 8:22-23; 9:4; 26). He saved them from His wrathful plagues. The wonder of salvation is that none of us deserve it. We are all dead in our sins, guilty to have plagues set upon us before a holy God. Yet in His great mercy the Lord created and preserved a holy nation, a royal priesthood, the body of Christ, the Church. We who are in Christ Jesus are set apart as His holy possession. All acts of redemption recorded in the Bible foreshadow God’s greatest work in Jesus, rescuing us from the slavery of sin, resurrecting spiritually dead men and women for His ultimate Glory and our eternal good.

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Jesus told His disciples that with man salvation is impossible. We cannot save ourselves or find another way to heaven than through Him (John 14:6). But with God, the miracle of salvation is not only possible, He actually made this a reality for all who place their trust in Jesus. God makes the impossible, possible.

Since the beginning of Time it was God’s desire to enjoy fellowship with His creation- us. When we separated ourselves from Him in sin, God made a way in Christ to set us apart once again, but this time with a purpose to make us holy. As Christians we are no longer held captive to our culture and the depravity of man. He has made and is making us holy to be like He is. Paul explains it this way, “And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified” (Romans 8:30). If you are a Christian, you are becoming what God has already called you to be. He is faithful to sanctify you and me until the day of Christ Jesus when we see Him face to face (Philippians 1:6). As God’s beloved, we are set apart to be free.

 

Grace upon grace,

April

Signs and Wonders

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Exodus 5:22-7:25; Psalm 23; Proverbs 5:22-23

 

Our Father is a faithful leader guiding His people throughout history with anointed leadership, Scripture, the Holy Spirit and prayer. God used Moses and Aaron to speak on His behalf, to demonstrate His Power when the Israelites were in Egyptian captivity. Even when Israel lacked faith in God’s redemptive plan and Moses became discouraged, the Lord still moved forward in rescuing them. Moses’ staff becomes an object of God’s power and authority as it turns into a snake. His staff then swallows the Egyptian magicians’ staffs turned into snakes.

God’s goodness to never give up on His people, to guide and correct us when necessary carries over into the beautiful 23rd psalm. He is our Great Shepherd with His own staff and rod, not out of sadistic pleasure but out of His love for us. It is always for our good, as we learn to walk in the footsteps of Christ.

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By contrast, Pharaoh’s hardened heart depicts the wicked who refuse to obey God’s correction. Rejecting His truth, His light, darkens the mind and sears the conscience.  The Lord will eventually give them over to their sin (Romans 1:21-25; 28). Disobedience is not freedom but eternal slavery.

God’s staff of righteousness is the perimeter by which we live our lives. Boundaries are for safety yet we must trust in our Father’s wisdom, operating within His commands. The Israelites didn’t demonstrate faith in Egypt until they were shown God’s signs and wonders.

Jesus rebuked the religious leaders who demanded a sign from Him to prove His Sonship (Matthew 12:38-41). They hated Jesus’ ministry and condemned Him to the cross. Yet this was not the end. Just as the Lord prophesied, this generation witnessed the ‘sign of Jonah’ as Jesus overcame death and lives today. What other wonder do we need? Blessed are those who acknowledge the Lord’s goodness and authority without demanding a sign and walk in obedience (John 20:29).

 

Grace upon grace,

April

Dear refuge of my weary soul,

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As I was reading through my Devotional Psalter in Psalm 62, this hymn-writer in the commentary grabbed my attention. I’ve never heard of Anne Steele, but her life is remarkable. She experienced loss and heartache over her lifetime yet penned deeply wise words. Anne lost her mother when she was three, then became an invalid after an injury early in life. Her fiancé tragically drowned in a river the day before their wedding! How is it we can keep going like Anne, in the midst of anxiety, loss, financial strain, disease, political wars, and weariness?

Her answer was to look to God. She saw Him as her Refuge.

“For God alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation. He alone is my Rock and my Salvation, my Fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.” (Psalm 62:1-2)

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This is the hymn Anne was able to write because of where she placed her hope. My desire is you are encouraged and ministered to today, with these words, and by remembering Who is holding onto you.

Dear refuge of my weary soul,

On Thee, when sorrows rise,

On Thee, when waves of trouble roll,

My fainting hope relies.

To Thee I tell each rising grief,

For Thou alone canst heal; 

Thy Word can bring a sweet relief

For every pain I feel.

Hast Thou not bid me seek Thy face,

And shall I seek in vain?

And can the ear of sovereign grace

Be deaf when I complain?

No, still the ear of sovereign grace 

Attends the mourner’s prayer;

O may I ever find access

To breathe my sorrows there.

Anne Steele (1716-1778)

Grace upon grace,

April

A Grateful Perspective

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What are you thankful for right now?

I posted this question on Facebook a few days ago and quite a few people commented. The answers were simple (but important) things too, like family, health, food, and slowing down. Isn’t it interesting how we get back to the basics when trials come? Our perspective changes on what we value most.

There are plenty of things that will keep us up at night right now. One thing I’ve found to help when I get anxious or fearful is to name my blessings. What has the Lord given you?  Just the fact we have breath in our lungs is cause for celebration. God is still Good. This is something worth remembering when we despair.

Lately when Jason and I put Jesse to bed we each name one thing we are thankful for that day. It can be the same thing from the day before. It doesn’t matter. What matters is remembering our blessings at the end of every day. Jesse has started to get the hang of this new question and actually said he was thankful for “mom and dad, play outside with me!” YA’LL. My mama heart actually melted.

This has been tough for everyone on the entire planet. If we are to be sustainable for however long this lasts, we have to take a different perspective other than gloom and doom. It just isn’t healthy. As Christians, there is a difference in facing our mortality with solemnity versus running around with your hair on fire. Acknowledge the reality of this serious virus, take precautions, then live, and keep a grateful heart. Our new normal has caused tears and laughter over here. So as I write this I’m trying to practice too what I believe honors the Lord.

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I’d love to hear what you are thankful for right now. Big or small blessings, it allows us to open our eyes and see God is still taking care of us. If you choose to leave a comment I think it would also encourage others to hear what you are grateful for 🙂

Today, I’m thanking the Lord for the beautiful spring weather in Alabama! After lots of consecutive days with rain and gray blah, today is literally a breath of fresh air. The windows are open and I can hear birds singing to each other. For now, we at least get to play outside in our yard which is more than some can do at this time.

Take heart, the Lord is Sovereign and He still reigns- even over Coronavirus.

Grace upon grace,

April

Unfolding Mercy

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Exodus 4:1-5:21; Psalm 22:19-31; Matthew 18:12-14

 

“Moses and Aaron brought together all the elders of the Israelites, and Aaron told them everything the Lord had said to Moses. He also performed the signs before the people, and they believed. And when they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshipped.” (Exodus 4:29-31).

In our reading of Exodus today we see the Lord is placing His plan of redemption into motion for the Israelites. They have been held captive in Egyptian slavery for 400 years and at just the right time God accomplishes His purpose through them, “For He has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; He has not hidden His face from him but has listened to his cry for help.” (Psalm 22:24).

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Psalm 22 was written by King David as his own cry for help, laced with adoration of God. This Messianic psalm looks forward to Christ our Redeemer imaging these words as well looking back to God’s great deliverance of Israel during the exodus. The Bible is layered with experiences from different men, separated by hundreds of years, yet when their stories align we see a bigger picture unfolding- God’s great mercy saving His people for His Glory and our good.

Human emotions are as old as time. We still have a felt need to be rescued from this world of captivity, to be satisfied with something meaningful and know we are loved even though we sin. The words in Scripture are comforting because they are just as relevant today as they were for Moses and David. Our God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He knows we are a needy people. When you and I recognize our need for a Savior our cries for salvation transform into songs of praise because of His mercy. Remembering that the Father delights to save and He “is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost” (Matthew 18:14)  are words of certainty we can hold onto in uncertain times.

 

Grace upon grace,

April

Holy Ground

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Exodus 2:11-3:22; 1 Peter 2:4-10

 

Does your life feel very commonplace? Ordinary? Most of us pass our days in a fairly mundane routine. I’m all for these kinds of days and often talk about it on here. But did you know that even if you live a plain life, like every other average person, you are also holy? Jesus has made this so.

When the Lord called Moses to Himself in the burning bush, God instructs him to take off his sandals for he is “standing on holy ground”. The Great I AM used Moses to rescue Israel out of Egypt, keeping His covenant with Abraham. The Lord went to great lengths showing His love and devotion to His people. God performed miraculous signs and wonders before Pharaoh and the Egyptians to free Israel from slavery.

God came to the rescue for His people again later in history to finally redeem His own once and for all. The Lord sent His Son to the cross for sinners like you and me. Jesus endured a gruesome death, and worse, took God’s wrath upon Himself so you and I never have to experience this. Jesus set you free.

What love is this?

Who has this kind of power, defying sin and death?

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Only God in Heaven, who came down incarnate, to deliver us from certain eternal hell. He has restored us into fellowship with the One who loves us best. We now have Christ with us always. Be encouraged that the God of this Universe loves you enough to pursue your soul like this. God has made for Himself a holy people- you and me. We serve a Holy God and what a privilege to know Him and be known by Him. Wherever you go, whatever you do in your day-to-day routine, it is holy because Christ is in you. Jesus humbly served while on earth, doing common daily activities yet He was perfectly holy.

We may still war against our flesh and Satan, but now there are two natures at work in you (Romans 7:14-8:4). We are His saints, part of a royal priesthood, ministers of reconciliation. This is deep joy for the Christian. Moses received an up close view of God’s awesome holiness. At that time the Lord was beginning the beautiful work of introducing His character to His people. Living after the cross we now are always in His Presence, with His Spirit, standing on holy ground.

Jesus exchanged our filthy rags for robes of righteousness. Following in the footsteps of our Savior, common work becomes an act of worship. It is both solemn and filled with laughter; bustling with activity and a quiet hush of reverence. Your life in one sense is very ordinary in this world, but quite glorious in the spiritual realm which will last for eternity.

 

Grace upon grace,

April

 

Providential Care

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Genesis 50:1- Exodus 2:10; Psalm 21; Matthew 16:13-17:9

God gives aid to His people throughout history and fights for them. In His Divine time and way the Lord orchestrates redemption for chosen Israel- time and time again. Another way we see Him at work is the outworking of our faith. Believers will bear fruit because of the transformation He has done in us. We no longer live for ourselves but for Christ. Faith brings obedience which requires action producing fruit. God blesses those who fear Him, warriors of truth and righteousness, despite worldly consequences.

God is faithful to preserve, protect and bless His children. It may be in ways we don’t foresee or understand, like Joseph’s life. God’s Glory will not and cannot be stifled by man’s plans. The Lord works through our circumstances even when there seems to be no hope. God is our Hope.

The best way the Lord has taken care of us is through His Son. When Jesus went to the cross He gave Himself, redeeming sinners from certain eternal damnation. Christ is the meaning of life, in which we can rightly view everything else in our world.

Make no mistake that God is actively at work today, just as He was with Israel in Egypt, just as He will be tomorrow. The Lord is near. We are merely called to walk by faith and obedience. Observe how the Father has taken care of you. He is our Faithful Shepherd.

Grace upon grace,

April

Guard Wisdom

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Proverbs 4:20-27; Matthew 16:1-12

 

Jesus warns His disciples from the false teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees. They have no wisdom but are like the blind leading the blind. Likewise, in Proverbs the son is instructed to heed his father’s words. It will save his life because the father’s counsel is wise.

Acting in wisdom helps us make better choices, big and small. From choosing a spouse, where to worship, to how many pieces of chocolate one should have at once. Wisdom covers all of life.

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Pursuing wisdom, guarding the wisdom we’ve been given, and applying it, is what is meant to persevere as a saint. This is what living in truth looks like. How can we do this? Not in our own strength. True wisdom comes with humility and a teachable spirit. The Holy Spirit then teaches and guides us.

If God is wisdom, then believers must learn to trust Him in every aspect of life. He reveals His character and will to us through Scripture. Guard the truth you know by walking in it, setting your feet on the straight path not swerving to the right or left.

 

Grace upon grace,

April