What Only God Gives

 King Solomon made his share of blunders (as we all have) but he answered wisely when God appeared to him and dream.  God said in 1 Kings 3:5, "Ask!  What shall I give you?"  Instead of imagining he had won the divine lottery to benefit himself, Solomon asked for what only God could provide with a view of God's calling upon his life.  On the basis of the mercy and kindness God had shown David and that Solomon was God's servant he responded in 1 Kings 3:9, "Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?"  Solomon demonstrated wisdom in asking God to meet his need by supplying wisdom to rule well.

I wonder:  if God revealed Himself to you in a dream and asked you the same question, how would you answer?  Would you be pleased for God to give you what people in the world possess or something only God can supply?  I recall an occasion years ago I didn't know what to pray.  I felt like I was in a bit of a rut, asking for the same things day after day.  I was surprised almost instantly when I heard the LORD's answer with a thought I hadn't considered:  "Pray for the impossible."  All along I had been praying for things that did not require God at all:  people apply for visas, find employment, and immigrate without seeking the aid of God.  After that clear directive I had a special time of prayer because I was intentional to pray for God to do impossible things only He could do.  Without God's help to pray according to His will it was an empty, fruitless exercise.  How different and profitable was my experience when I sought God to do what only He can do.

God created mankind needy, and He alone is able to supply our every need according to His grace.  1 Corinthians 12:4-7 reads, "There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. ⁶ And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. ⁷ But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all..."  God who chose Solomon to be king after David is the God who gives each one of His adopted children by grace through faith at least one spiritual gift for the profit of all.  Do you know what your gift is?  Have you asked God what your gift is and how to minister it to others for their benefit and His glory?  Our God who is wisdom for us and gives spiritual gifts knows the best way to cultivate the use of it.

Believer, take courage to ask God for what only He can give.  Why settle to ask for things of this world like money or careers or stuff or health when He has true riches of the kingdom of God He delights to supply which will endure forever?

The Greatest Story?

 My eyes chanced upon a blurb about an illustrated Bible that began, "The greatest story ever told..."  Though my face did not betray any emotion inside I cringed.  While is true factual history includes stories, it would be a tragedy to bring the divinely inspired word of God to the level of a historical narrative, poetry, mythology, or fiction.  If we view the scripture as a collection of "stories" it greatly impacts the way we read and relate to it.

When I worked in a trade the humble lunchbreak provided a perfect opportunity for master storytellers to trot out their best tales.  Some stories were amazing and unbelieveable, and others dragged on without a clear point.  My favourite stories were the ones I found funny and entertaining.  Those brief moments provided an opportunity to sit back and be transported to another time, have a laugh, and add the best for your personal arsenal should an opportunity to swap stories present itself.  Thinking about stories in this context, the purpose of the story was rarely to guide my future personal decisions but a tale to recall to impress, shock, or amuse others.

To say the Bible is the "greatest story ever told" is to sell it woefully short of the truth.  Stories over time can be embellished for effect, but the scripture God-breathed, does not change, and will endure forever.  God has provided the Bible so we might know the God who created and loves us, to be redeemed and reconciled to Him through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to live in the way that pleases God.  The scripture exists more than to interest or entertain mankind but is a revelation of the living God.  It is filled with history, prophecy, poetry, and wisdom which exist for more than our inspiration and admiration.  More than a story to be recalled, scripture guides us into a Life to live through faith in Jesus Christ.

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  More than words on a page or a tale told God's word sustains our souls.  The prophet said in Jeremiah 15:16, "Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts."  Insight from God received in a believing soul led to Jeremiah discovering great joy in his relationship with God.  A newspaper is filled with articles and stories that may or not be of any personal interest, yet for children of God the Bible becomes a personal address from the Almighty God to miraculously address our most profound needs and guide us into truth by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Having Faith in Jesus Helps

 Yesterday I was reminded of the occasion when Jesus accompanied His disciples on a boat to cross the Sea of Galilee.  Mark 4:37-40 tells us, "And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. ³⁸ But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" ³⁹ Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰ But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"  The disciples panicked as the wind whipped water into the boat, and Jesus sleeping through the ordeal seemed to trouble them even more.

They asked Jesus, "Do you not care that we are perishing?"  It would be fitting to ask those troubled souls, "Do you not care Jesus is with you in the storm?"  The disciples found themselves in a situation beyond their control, and though they united together the problem was greater than they could handle.  Perhaps they imagined with the help of one more person they could bail the water fast enough to stay afloat.  Upon being awakened, Jesus did something they never expected:  He addressed the wind and the sea saying, "Peace, be still!"  Miraculously there was a great calm.  Mark 4:41 describes the response of the disciples:  "And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"  Though these men had agreed to follow Jesus and obeyed Him, they still didn't realise the full extent of His care for them and power to save them.

When we are going through troubles, it is easy for us to be like the disciples who looked for help that did not come as they expected.  Perhaps their expectation was Jesus would spring to His feet, take charge of the situation, and lead them to safety.  They would take comfort in His proactive leadership and ability to organise disordered panic and "right the ship."  This can be our expectations we have of other people as well.  The disciples were good to seek Christ for help but the problem was they did so without faith in Him being their Messiah, the Resurrection and the Life, the I AM.  Even Christians can make the mistake of looking to people to be their Saviour and Deliverer when Jesus Christ alone is already with them and has the power to bring peace into chaotic circumstances.

Can you imagine saying of Jesus, "If He really cared about them, Jesus would have known they were in trouble and done something without being asked."  That is blasphemous to suggest of Jesus, and thus it is inappropriate to have this expectation of God's children.  Jesus was not in trouble, and they were not in trouble because He was with them:  their trouble stemmed from unbelief.  The lack of faith in Jesus was not due to the inaction of Jesus but unbelief within their own hearts.  They were wrong to doubt the character and care of Jesus because they were afraid and faithless.  In my own life I have found when I make a negative judgment of the character of others I do so because of my vision is skewed.  The most imperfect person I know the best is me, and praise the LORD He cares for His children despite their lack of faith in Him.  As we look to Him in the midst of trials may we remain certain of His care, provision, protection, and rejoice He will never leave or forsake us.

Glory in God

"Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; ²⁴ but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the LORD."

Jeremiah 9:23-24

It is natural for people to be pleased with what they have earned or accomplished.  God reveals in this passage to make a show of or the celebration of our abilities and possessions (which are gifts received from Him) is misguided.  Man habitually glories in what is not God, and whether we view ourselves as wise, mighty, or rich, this passage aims straight at our hearts with divine correction and instruction.

What are things you "glory" or take pride in?  The way we reveal this pride is often not through overt boasting and bragging, talking loud so everyone can hear.  It can manifest itself by downplaying compliments, by asking questions of others with the aim of sharing your accomplishments, telling a story that is more amazing or exiting than the one just told, or false modesty through humblebragging.  We can delight to be recognised, respected, and recommended.  The things we take pleasure in can be fine in themselves, but when we glory in self or stuff we have it is a dangerous shift towards idolatry.

Instead of glorying in our assets or abilities, God directs those who glory to glory in understanding and knowing God.  This is wisdom, riches, and might that cannot be bought, sold, or earned.  The LORD and knowledge of Him is far beyond price because He is glorious in Himself.  To glory in ourselves is to praise the beauty of a grain of dust compared to the light of the shining sun.  God's glory far outshines the sun in strength and power, for He is the LORD.  The supreme, all-powerful God of all exercises "lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth" and delights in them.  Isn't it crazy we can be more impressed with money, looks, or recognition from people rather than understanding and knowing God?

What a blessing it is to understand and know God because we have a relationship with Him through faith:  faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  Understanding and knowing God is more than reading or hearing about Him:  it begins with being born again through faith in Jesus and the transforming power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.  How delightful it is to meditate on the goodness of God and how He delights to exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.  People post videos of their exercise routines for peak physical fitness for bodies which will ultimately break down with injuries, weaken and perish.  God demonstrates His lovingkindness continually which is eternal, and we are partakers of His love which never fails.  When we delight in God, we will delight to do as He does and glory in Him.