Rhythms of Remembering

7 When the Israelites cried to the LORD because of Midian, 8 he sent them a prophet, who said, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 9 I snatched you from the power of Egypt and from the hand of all your oppressors. I drove them from before you and gave you their land. 10 I said to you, 'I am the LORD your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.' But you have not listened to me."

Judges 6:7-10

The Israelites had been oppressed by Midian for seven years. God allowed it because Israel had forgotten Him and done evil. They finally begin to return to the Lord God, so God sends a prophet to them. The Word of God is a retelling of the story… a reminder of what He had done for Israel and what He instructed them to do – the very thing they had not done. And then the observation: “You have not listened to me.” Israel was suffering because they disregarded their God.

We all need reminders, don’t we? We forget what God has done and what He has instructed us to do. We then suffer because we have not listened to the Lord. God will use suffering in my life to get my attention, to draw my heart back to him and to remind me of who he is and what He has done. What is better (and less painful!) is to establish rhythms of remembrance. These would be regular times to re-tell the story of grace and re-align my heart to God. Remembering is vital if I am going to listen and obey.

Father, You are so gracious! Even when I suffer due to sin, you provide the way of healing and restoration. You are God and I am Your son because of what Jesus has done. Thank you! I love you…


RSS Feed Click Here:

Read more...

Those Not Deserving Grace

Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head; many are my enemies without cause, those who seek to destroy me. I am forced to restore what I did not steal. You know my folly, O God; my guilt is not hidden from you.

Psalm 69:4-5

David had many 'enemies without cause.' He was innocent of wrong doing. He had emotional scars that he should not have had! He says that, as a result, he had to restore what he did not steal. He had to make right what wasn't his fault to begin with. What is striking, however, is the next sentence (vs. 5). To God he says, "Even though I'm innocent, You know my folly... my sin... the things that I'm not innocent of! You know completely my guilt." David could have kept the posturing of undeserved sin committed against him - but he didn't. He took a humble posture, understanding who he was in light of who God is.

I have had people causing me grief in my life too - and it's not right! It's unjustifiable! They are 'enemies without cause.' And yet, although I am innocent, God knows how I'm guilty. He knows my guilt. He knows all the ways that I am not conformed into the image of Jesus. The truth is - I need His grace! Keeping a posture of humility is the only way to reflect Christ and His grace to those who choose to inflict pain and unjust criticism into my life. I have been forgiven when I did nothing to deserve it. Every person needs this grace... and when I forgive those who have done nothing to deserve it, I am reflecting my Heavenly Father.

Father, thank You for loving me! Thank You for extending grace to me for the guilt and folly You know full well. And thank You for making me your son... for adopting me into Your family through Jesus Christ. Every day You are worthy of praise!

RSS Feed Click Here:

Read more...

Loving the Prostitute

"I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people - not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat."

1 Corinthians 5:9-11

I heard an interview with a brother from xxxchurch.com who described their ministry to the porn industry. They have, for a couple of years now, attended the major porn shows, setting up a booth. This past year they passed out Bibles that had on the cover "Jesus loves porn stars." They are known and respected in the industry as people who love people. There are those in the Christian community who criticize this saying that Christians ought not to have any association with those kinds of people. Paul wrote here in 1 Corinthians that the sexually immoral people we are not to associate with are those who call themselves Christian. The sexually immoral in the world need the hope and love that is found in Jesus. Sinners are supposed to be sinners and, just like Jesus, we associate with them freely. Jesus loved prostitutes...

I need to be less patient with Christians who are blatantly sinning and more patient with sinners who sin. We all desperately need to be set free by the blood of Jesus.

Lord, lead my in Your way. Give to me a greater sense of freedom that will release me to engage the people who are lost in this world... people whom you love and died for. Give me also a boldness that confronts sin in the lives of Christians who ought to be experiencing the freedom you bring. Thank you for setting me free! I want to walk fully in this freedom.

RSS Feed Click Here:

Read more...