Confidence in God

2 Corinthians 3:4-5
Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.


I have been reading a very popular children’s book series, and have become quite rapt by them. While it is not a "Christian" series, I have found many parallels, and have been taught many things regarding this Christian life through these books. I suppose that with any story, when we have "good" and "evil," there is always something that we can learn.

One of the things that God has shown me recently is that each characters’ successes seem to correlate with their confidence. In other words, the more confidence a character has, the more success they have in that particular area. So, I got to thinking about how (and if) that can be said of real life, particularly the Christian life, and I believe that it can.

The difference is where we place that confidence. See, in the books it is confidence placed in self, and that is really the way the world likes to do it, too. However, our confidence needs to be in God, not ourselves, for that is where the real power lies. But how much confidence do we have in God and His promises? If we take a good deep look inside ourselves, I think we’ll find the answer to that question. Are we living lives that are bold, stepping out in faith, walking in the truths that we know? Or are we timid, a little scared, holding back, always wondering when we’ll over-step our bounds and fall flat on our faces?

The Word tells us that everything that belongs to Christ belongs to us, because Christ is in us. WOW! Do we walk in the truth of that promise? Do we allow each and every promise of God to permeate our souls so deeply that they become the very truth of our lives, the foundation upon which we walk, the thing we "fall back on" when all else seems to fail? I do not believe that most of us do. Christ lived boldly. Do we live such lives? The more confidence we have in God, His power, His promises, and all of that, the easier life’s challenges will be. I believe this confidence will relate directly to our successes in so many ways, especially in the spiritual life.

Let’s all begin to live boldly, walking in confidence through Christ Jesus. Let us take God at His Word, and put it into practice, so that we can be living, breathing testimonies of what it is to have complete confidence in God. Let’s show the world what true confidence is (and where it lies), and the immense success that can come of it!

Lump of Mud

Psalm 103:13-14
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.


We all have times when it seems that no matter what we do, we just continue to fall short. Short of what we wish we were, of what we feel that God is wanting of us, short of what we assume must be God’s standard for us. We feel like we must do more, and we must be better. I tend to picture God, when I am in this place, sitting on His throne, shaking His head, holding back His mighty wrath. I often wonder if He just wants to give up on me. Do you ever feel the same?

I think that’s why I love this verse. Those of us with children, can especially understand the compassion that God must have for us. And being God, it is even more complete and perfect than the compassion we feel for our offspring. When we fear Him, giving Him the respect due Him, taking the time to try and comprehend all that He is capable of doing, He then showers us with His heavenly compassion. Why? Ah, this is where the passage gets stunningly beautiful.

Because "He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust."

Oh, the awesome wonder that is our God! He looks down on us, and has compassion on us, because He remembers how He formed us - just a little dirt, nothing more. It is His breath that is the transforming factor - but we are still dust. And when we let Him hold us within His grasp, He turns us into something much more magnificent. A masterpiece, really. He sees the beauty in us that perhaps no one else can see, and He alone can bring that full beauty to the surface. Like a beautiful earthenware jug, we are nothing until the Potter’s hands press and pull, mold and form us into a piece perfect for doing just what He desires. A work of art, polished and glorious to behold, when it is complete.

And all from a simple lump of mud.

Devastated One

Jeremiah 4:30
What are you doing, O devastated one? Why dress yourself in scarlet and put on jewels of gold? Why shade your eyes with paint? You adorn yourself in vain. Your lovers despise you; they seek your life.


To understand this verse a little better, let me first explain that God is speaking here to the Israelites about their adultery against Him, in seeking after other gods and idols. By looking to gods other than the one, true God they are bringing ruin upon themselves, and so we can see the parallel between the Israelites and ourselves.

Isn’t this just like us, too, to be completely devastated - torn apart by our actions or the actions of others, and then rather than simply turning to God, repenting, we try to go on. We put on an outward appearance that would tell those around us that we have it all together, while inwardly, we are falling apart. Despite the pain and affliction, however, many times we continue to pursue our "lovers," these false gods that we think taste so good, that have us fooled into thinking they "love" us, while truly they despise us, and are working to kill us from the inside out.

So, the question bears asking - what is the false god in your life? Who is the "lover" that seeks your life? Most everyone has one, big or small, that something that we can’t seem to turn from. Our little secret, our little pet, and it will destroy each and every one of us. We cover them up, and hope that our neighbor, or best friend, or spouse doesn’t see them. When, in reality, the best thing we could do would be to stop covering them up, and simply expose them to the light of Christ. Let the people around us see our flaws - chances are, when we step out in courage, it will give others the courage to step out as well, and then we’ll discover that we weren’t alone in our devastation after-all.

Join me, won’t you, and uncover those ugly, nasty lovers that seek to destroy us. Let’s step out in courage, knowing that God can take them away and give us the true, authentic love we all seek. Find a friend or mentor that you can share with - be completely open and honest, and discover the healing that comes when we have someone else to share the burden of our pain and torment. Let’s let the world see the real us, knowing that it will bring great glory to our God, when people see what He has turned us from, and they realize the healing that only He can provide.

Hope in God

Psalm 25:20-21
Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you.


I love the 25th Psalm. If ever I want a morsel to feed my soul, I can always turn to this Psalm and find food - good, meaty food that makes me chew a while. I generally tend to focus in on the passages that I’ve underlined - they are the ones that have struck me before, so chances are they will hit me again. Yet, today, this is the passage that God used to speak to me, and it’s one that has never really stood out to me before.

What I love about it is that David, the author, is asking for God’s intervention, and his whole reasoning behind asking is that he takes refuge in Him, and his hope is in Him. Let’s think about that for a moment. He didn’t say "because I’m a man after Your own heart," or, "because I’m a good guy, doing all the right things." He did not try to convince God that he deserved it. No, David knows that action on God’s behalf generally has nothing to do with us, and what we’re doing or not doing. Most of the time it has only to do with the character of our God.

Now, there are things that God wants us to do - even expects of us. And there are times when His blessing and actions towards us are a direct result of our doing what He asks (or not). But how many times do we ask something of God, and then give Him a list of credentials, and reasons why He should fulfill our request (whether it’s legitimate, or not)? We try to convince Him of why He should answer "yes," as though He can’t see the complete truth of the situation better than we can. Rather than simply asking, knowing that really in and of ourselves (apart from Christ), we are not good enough, and there is really nothing we can do to convince Him otherwise. When we are good enough, it is not really us, but Christ in us - so again, it’s all a work of God.

Oh, that we could simply recognize that many of the blessings God pours out on us, His grace, His love, His shelter, have nothing to do with us, but have everything to do with Him. May we seek Him, humbly, recognizing that it is His great love and faithfulness toward us that are our greatest assets, as all our righteousnesses are as "filthy rags."

Refined

Isaiah 48:10-11
See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this. How can I let myself be defamed? I will not yield my glory to another.


Refinement in the "furnace of affliction." I think we’ve all been there at one point or another. I think it’s difficult for us to think of a "loving God" as One who would purposely send us through affliction. Yet, it says right here that He does, and that it is to refine us. Why? Because He will not share His glory. He will not be defamed.

First off, I think it should be said that all affliction, all trouble in our lives is not sent down from above. Yes, God allows all things - He could stop anything, if He desired, and He will use all things to grow and mature us, even to refine us. Sometimes, however, He will purposely send affliction our way. Refinement, is simply a process through which God sifts out impurities in us, so that the world can see our purity, the reflection of Christ. He rejoices when we come to Him, but He then wants us to draw others to Him through our lives. If we tell our friends that we are Christians, that we worship the Lord Jesus Christ, but they don’t see it in our lives, what are they going to think? People want change, they want to see a life renewed, full of joy and vigor. Why would they be drawn to Christ, if those who claim to follow Him are really no different than they are? If that is the case, then Christ offers nothing, in their eyes.

So, God refines us. In this passage, if you look at the context, He is specifically talking about the issue of idolatry, which we all have much experience with. Especially in America, there is so much available that we can worship, whether consciously or subconsciously - money, people, power, stuff. Idols can be such tricky little things, too. I wonder how many of us idolize ourselves. Pride, they call it - a focus of self. And I’m not talking about arrogance, although that is one form. I’m talking about our focus. I’m talking about thinking more about yourself, and your woes and troubles, or glories and triumphs, than you think about anyone else, including (and especially) God. Pride is a sticky one, one that I think we all fight in one form or another. But God will not share His glory - He will not share it with our powerless idols, and He will not share it with us. And so He sends affliction, perhaps ripping our idol from our hands, or just gently lifting our chins to face Him, so that we will release it. Will we let Him?

Will we let God refine us, taking away all but Him, so that He would get the glory not only from those around us, but also from us? Or will we fight Him, and curse Him, and tell Him that we can’t, and beg and plead and show Him how pathetic we are without our idol? He knows we’re pathetic, that’s why He wants to take away that which is of no value and replace it with that which is of utmost value - Himself. Let’s look at the areas of affliction in our lives right now, and see if, perhaps, God is trying to rid us of a powerless idol. And when we see that He is, let’s each of us give it up willingly, knowing that we will receive, in return, the King of Glory - all that we could ever want or need. Amen!

Spiritual Truths

1 Corinthians 2:13-14
This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.


Have you ever tried to explain to someone what you believe, and have it turn out, well, not-so-good? I know I have. I’ll be in the midst of a conversation, and before I know it, I’m trying to explain the mysteries of Christ, stuttering, and short-of-breath, because I’m so nervous. I know how important it is, but the words never seem to penetrate. I generally just get a nod, and the response, "Well, that’s interesting, I believe . . ." and off they go.

The problem is that I forget one very important aspect of the whole thing – prayer. See, if I don’t pray, it’s as though the Spirit of God doesn’t fill the conversation, and the other person, listening to me go on, needs the help of the Holy Spirit to understand what I am trying to say. Unbelievers cannot understand the truths of God without God revealing it to them, and that is a work of the Spirit.

At this point, I kick myself – if only I would stop and pray a quick, silent prayer before diving into my sermon. Yet, I have to trust that God knows the heart of the person I am speaking with – if they really desire to know the truth, He will bring it to them however He decides is best. I can do my best – quoting scripture, spouting off deep theological ideas (or not – generally I’m lucky to stammer about the simplest truths), but ultimately, it is up to God to help them to see and understand Him and His truth. If they want to know, He will surely reveal it to them.

So, let’s begin to pray now that God will fill our conversations with His love and His truth. Let’s pray that He would touch every person we come into contact with, and that He would begin to reveal His sweet, wonderful truths to our friends and family who do not yet place their faith in Him. Let’s pray that the next time we open our mouths to speak of Him to an unbeliever that His Spirit would pierce that person’s heart, and leave them thinking of God, and longing for more. And, if you have this all down-pat, then you can pray for me, because goodness knows, I could sure use the help!

Have a wonderful, Christ-filled day!