Beloved and Approved

When my dad worked in construction, it was common for him to take weeks off work during the year to pack up his tools and help repair and rebuild homes destroyed by hurricanes in the south with International Relief Teams.  He paid his own airfare and took unpaid leave to bless and help others pick up the pieces after hurricane Andrew and Katrina.  One might think my dad thought much of himself with all the time, money and comfort he sacrificed to use his God-given talents to help others near or far in Jesus' name.  He didn't.  In fact, he told me about a time he was convicted over an alarm clock of all things.

Best I can recall, there was a trip he went on with IRT when he either forgot his alarm clock or it wasn't working properly.  He never had a "smart" phone to use as an alarm, so he was annoyed to be without it.  In the midst of his frustration, he shared with me how the LORD gently spoke to his heart:  "You don't trust me to wake you up?"  Tears came to his eyes as he told me how he confessed how a little thing like not having an alarm clock exposed his lack of faith in God.  The God who created the sun, earth and stars, the LORD who causes the sun to shine on the just and unjust:  can't He wake up His servant at an appropriate time?  Isn't He infinitely better and more trustworthy than a clock with fresh batteries and an illuminated dial?

My dad rejoiced to say how blessed he was that week, for the LORD woke him up every day on time without the use of a clock.  I don't know that he bothered with it after that.  God's exposure of his unrealised unbelief, his confession of sin, and the faithfulness of God to help him rise every day and work as unto the LORD was a sweet time of fellowship.  You may not have the skills to build a house or take weeks unpaid off work to fly across the country as a hard-working volunteer--but you too can have a personal, growing relationship with God when we respond to His conviction with humility, repentance and renewed faith.

A couple of times in the dead of night this week I lay awake (for no apparent reason) for hours, and frustration shifted to resignation and then praying with the LORD.  When it happened the third time in a row last night, I immediately began to pray.  I was contemplating a strange dream when thoughts came into my head, that God would send me to people who were from "another world" in a sense, that their way of thinking, living and lingo was foreign to mine.  I asked in my sleepy state, "What should I say?"  Back came an immediate reply:  "I want you to listen."  That wasn't something I would naturally think.  In that directive I sensed a gentle rebuke, that I am more inclined to speak when I ought to be focused on hearing.  With conviction of sin I repented, and may God help me be swift to hear and slower to speak going forward as led by the Holy Spirit.

James 1:12 says, "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."  The Greek word translated "temptation" means "tested, approved."  Those who respond to God's correction and conviction with humble repentance will be blessed in more ways than can be measured by his grace.  The LORD desires to refine His people, to the end we will be approved by enduring trials He orchestrates for our good.  James went on to say in James 1:19-20, "So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; ²⁰ for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God."  Praise the LORD for being our Helper and Comforter, the LORD who credits us with righteousness for faith in Jesus and deeply loves us though we are flawed.  When there are godly characteristics displayed in us, let us thank and give God the glory who causes His glory to shine in ordinary vessels.