Focusing on Jesus

I grew up playing baseball.  I enjoyed the game and all success I experienced was because I had great coaches--which included my dad.  For those who aren't familiar with baseball, even the fundamentals of the sport are quite complex and take years of practice to master.  One of the things I was taught from an early age after hitting the ball or stealing a base was to not waste time craning my neck to see what the fielder or catcher was doing.  I never had blazing speed and the action of turning to look towards home could have led to me being thrown out at second base.  Once committed to advance bases, the next base (while heeding the directives of the base coach!) was the priority.

With all that is going on in our lives and the world it is easy to lose focus on Jesus.  In light of the historical suffering of God's faithful people and persecuted believers Hebrews 12:1-2 states, "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."  When running a race it is tempting to focus on the finish line, and during our pilgrimage on earth it may be tempting to look forward to a new beginning, the end of a challenging season or the end of our days on earth instead of looking unto Jesus.  Our focus is not the finish, but that we finish well.  The only way we can finish well is to abide in Christ, to look to our Good Shepherd Jesus and follow Him in obedience and faith until the end.

Hebrews 12:3 gives us insight how we can know our gaze has drifted from Christ:  "For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls."  Should we find ourselves weary and discouraged, this is evidence we have ceased to look to Jesus and are more caught up with ourselves, fretting over the prosperity of the wicked, giving space to thinking that disregards or opposes Jesus and countless other things that distract us from our LORD.  Jesus was not weary and discouraged when He was betrayed, rejected and crucified because of the job that was set before Him, His eyes being fixed on God the Father in heaven Whom He was pleased to obey.  Jesus reminded His disciples they would face hostility and opposition even as He had because "the servant is not above his master." (John 15:20)

Jesus said to His disciples in John 16:1-4, "These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. ² They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. ³ And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. ⁴ But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them. And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you."  Instead of removing His disciples from the world to avoid persecution and trials, in His wisdom God allows His followers to remain and be helped by the Comforter, the Holy Spirit.  Our endurance and overcoming shame, hostility, weariness and discouragement with joy provides evidence to us and others of the genuine work of God in our hearts.  Having known Jesus Christ by faith in Him, we do well to look to Him and remember the things He has said, done and the example He provided.

Be looking unto Jesus, believer, and you will always be led in God's righteous ways and finish well by His grace.

The War is God's

King Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 3 that to everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven and even said in verse 8 "...a time of war, and a time of peace."  God's word is infinitely more than poetry but a revelation of God's everlasting truth.  In all seasons we are assured of rest in the God who fiercely protects His people from harm, even as He did for the Hebrews who faced the blockade of the Red Sea.  Exodus 14:13-14 reads, "And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. ¹⁴ The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace."

During the conquest of Canaan and on other occasions the Bible reveals there were times God's people were directed to do more than walk around Jericho, set an ambush around Ai, to wield a sling and stone or wait for the sound of marching in the trees.  After folly was wrought in Israel by men of Benjamin, Judah and other tribes went up to battle against them.  When the people of Jabesh-Gildead were threatened with violence by Nahash, King Saul mustered the whole army to deliver them from their hateful oppressor.  The Philistine champion of Gath defied the armies of the living God, and David was given the victory when he charged Goliath with the blessing of God and the king.

I was reminded how the battle is the LORD's when I was wading through a genealogy in 1 Chronicles 5:17-22 concerning the sons of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh:  "They made war with the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. ²⁰ And they were helped against them, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hand, and all who were with them, for they cried out to God in the battle. He heeded their prayer, because they put their trust in Him. ²¹ Then they took away their livestock--fifty thousand of their camels, two hundred and fifty thousand of their sheep, and two thousand of their donkeys--also one hundred thousand of their men; ²² for many fell dead, because the war was God's. And they dwelt in their place until the captivity."  Many were slain "because the war was God's."  There is great comfort here for the child of God, for we know He is faithful to deliver those who trust Him.

Moses affirmed God's power to protect and save His people in his song following the destruction of the Egyptian army that pursued the Hebrews in Exodus 15:1-3:  "Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD, and spoke, saying: "I will sing to the LORD, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea! ² The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; my father's God, and I will exalt Him. ³ The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is His name."  The manner of our warfare with our glorious God under the new covenant is not one of conquest of cities and nations but one of casting down arguments in our own minds and hearts that exalt themselves against Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 10:3-6).  Our weapons are not carnal but mighty through God who enables us by the power of the Holy Spirit to obey Him.

The children of Israel were terrified when they saw the Egyptian army bearing down upon them in chariots; the men of Jabesh-Gilead were distressed, hopeless and helpless to resist their enemy.  Yet God fought for His people and gave them success in the battle because they trusted in Him.  Will He not also fight for us when it comes to conflict in the inner man, in the battle with doubt and condemnation that rages in our hearts, with lust of the eyes and pride of life?  Believer, we can be sure without a doubt He is our strength and salvation.  In us there is no wisdom or strength for the battle to find contentment in lack or abundance, but we can do all things God asks of us by Jesus Christ who strengthens us.

We will stand up, rejoice and praise God because the war is God's who gives deliverance, salvation and eternal life for all who trust in Him.

Delighting in the LORD

Though God has graciously revealed Himself to people, there is infinitely more to God than we know.  The almighty God who is unapproachable in glory has spoken to us in His word, by voice booming from the heavens, in person by Jesus Christ and to our hearts by the Holy Spirit.  God's personal revelation to those who trust Him is as uniquely tailored by God as each person He has created.

Have you noticed when people have an amazing experience they not only desire others to share that experience but to enjoy it as much as they did?  While this can sometimes happen, other times these desires are unfulfilled by both parties.  I had a friend who loved roller coasters, and I wasn't so sure.  As a young teen I would be fine to go on less "extreme" rides on offer, by my friend wasn't having it.  "You're going on every single ride in this park," my friend said.  And I did.  I don't know if I enjoyed them as much as he did from the start, but by the end I was the one saying to the uninitiated, "You have to try this one.  You'll love it."  We do the same with quality restaurants, books and travel destinations.  If we enjoy exceptional customer service, value and results, we are the ones urging others to experience it too.  When our expectations are built up by others, later comparing our experiences with them can lead to feeling let down.

I have observed a similar thing among followers of Jesus Christ.  We have had personal experiences with God Who has changed our lives and perspective, and we want others to also know and receive as we have.  The one who is miraculously healed desires others would miraculously be healed too.  If we have been given a clear directive from God in response to prayer and fasting, we share our testimony of God's faithfulness to exhort others to do the same.  When we have been gifted to teach, speak in tongues and interpret after we asked God, we desire the same for others.  Moses and Paul both said they wished all would prophesy (Num. 11:29; 1 Cor. 13:5), and I can identify with their desire God's people would desire all gifts He has for them.  At the same time, I have come to realise God is not limited or governed by our desires for others, for His plans are greater than my plans and dreams.  He chooses to reveal Himself and gift believers according to His will, and His ways indeed are past finding out.

This fervent desire for others to experience God, His presence and guidance can ironically lead to divisions apart from love and maturity.  The one who heard God speak in an audible voice can be puffed up with pride, and the one who has never heard God speak with an audible voice can feel slighted and left out.  This one might even question the validity of the claim and become suspicious or bitter.  Paul asked rhetorically in 1 Corinthians 12:29-30:  "Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?"  The answer is clearly no.  The context is the church, the body of Christ, is comprised of different members with various roles with unique gifts and experiences.  Christians are united with Christ as one yet this does not mean we will share the same gifts or personal revelations of our glorious God.

How many have shipwrecked on the rock of differing personal experiences, questioning their own salvation or the experiences of others because they were not identical!  How many believers have sought particular gifts or manifestations of the Holy Spirit as the badge of their own spiritual authenticity rather than the edification of the church and the glory of the God Who gifts people according to His will!  How often spiritual exercises and ceremony become more about the honour of men than to honour God who has redeemed and reconciled us unto Himself.  Paul wrote we ought to covet the best spiritual gifts and showed how walking in faith, hope and love trumps all these temporal manifestations that will one day fade away.  All God gives is good, and we ought to value the Giver over all gifts.  Seek the LORD instead of an experience; make your requests known to God and rejoice in Him rather than lamenting what is not.

God is most gracious to reveal Himself to us and also reveal our growing need for God to be spiritually fruitful and faithful.  Delight in the experience of knowing God and consider how He has revealed Himself to you in a unique, meaningful way.  Comparing your experiences with others can take the focus off God who we ought to delight in and leads to arrogance and disappointment.  Praise the LORD He is faithful and generous with Himself with all people, and what more can God give than all?

Guided With God's Eye

The Bible is an awesome revelation of the living God so man might know and worship Him.  I was blessed beyond measure to read this passage today where David, in the midst of expressing faith in God, received first-person guidance from God he trusted in Psalm 32:7-10:  "You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah ⁸ I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. ⁹ Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, else they will not come near you. ¹⁰ Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; but he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him."

David found God to be a refuge and help in time of trouble, the God who surrounded him with songs of deliverance.  The Psalms are packed with songs that begin in the midst of conflict and trouble resolved with deliverance and thanksgiving to the God who faithfully preserves His people.  God promised to instruct and teach David (and by extension those who seek the LORD) in the way He should go.  God employed the illustration of a horse and mule that must be fitted with bit and bridle so the rider could direct the animal in battle, for use in transport or as a beast of burden.  In contrast to a rider tugging on reins God promised, "I will guide you with My eye."  This is an amazing promise indeed.  We would be happy with an audible voice from heaven, even with physical restraints to remind and direct us to seek God and walk in His ways.

A rider guides a horse knowing the destination and the way to go; a mule is guided  to labour profitably.  God is able to see what horse, mule and rider cannot see, for He wears no blinders, knows the secret thoughts and motives of man, and has infinitely greater plans and purposes beyond what we can imagine.  The New Testament fleshes out by the Gospel how the child of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, is empowered and led by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.  How wondrous, that the pure Holy Spirit who knows and sees all would take up residence within us and help us be spiritually fruitful, to guide us according to God's love!  Jesus promised His disciples the Holy Spirit in their hour of need would lead them in what to say, for the Holy Spirit would speak through them (Mark 13:11).  It is an interesting thing to be guided by God's eye, for He is able to provide clear signals even without an audible voice to those who look to Him in faith.

In verse 7 David said the one who seeks refuge in God will be surrounded with songs of deliverance, and in verse 10 wrote mercy surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD.  When we come to God He does not saddle us with keeping the Law of Moses, nor is the bit and bridle of religious tradition forced between our teeth pulled by the fear of man:  God guides us with His eye.  Like a sheep that responds obediently to come to the shepherd at his call, so we are to heed and obey Jesus Christ who is the Way.  We are called to love one another as Jesus loves us, and the God who knows all guides us with His eye.  Those whom come to Christ in faith will be instructed and taught in the way of righteousness, for Jesus is righteousness for us.