During my second of three trips to Australia, I witnessed Jessica Watson embark on a voyage intending to circle the globe unassisted. It was yesterday I saw the news clip on cnn.com she successfully returned to the Sydney harbour after 210 days at sea. Jessica was welcomed by thousands of people at the Opera house and was cheered by the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd himself. When called a hero by some of her admirers, she humbly brushed aside the title. She said in her speech, "I don't consider myself a hero. I'm an ordinary girl who believed in her dream...you just have to have a dream, believe in it, and work hard...anything really is possible."
First of all, I must say I am quite impressed by Jessica's accomplishments. To sail a 34' yacht around the world unassisted is amazing. Not being a sailor I wonder things like, "What happens when you fall asleep?" or "What kind of non-perishable food was she eating for 210 days?" I am also impressed by her resolve to spend such an amount of her life during her high school days to sail - maybe she's looking at is as an early "gap" year. For those who are unfamiliar with the term, it is common for young Australians to take a year off between high school and university for travel, recreation, or a break from the stress of school. In America this is unheard of and clashes with our high value we place on production in the workplace, college education, and quick career decisions.
I am also impressed with Jessica's humility in not desiring to be seen as a heroine. The only thing lacking in her statements is the mention of God and giving Him glory for her accomplishment of her goals. I thought about what she said concerning the empowerment of young people to accomplish their dreams: "You just have to have a dream, believe in it, and work hard." Is that really the path to success? Not many people have the opportunity to sail a boat, much less have a 34' yacht outfitted to sail around the world. I have seen countless people who desire to be an "American Idol" and worked really hard and frankly are lousy at best. How many kids dream of being a professional baseball player or star quarterback in the NFL and never realize that goal? Did they work any less hard? Was it only the lack of privilege, skill, hard work, or the fact their dreams reached far beyond their own potential to fulfill? Sailing around the world involves a terrific amount of training, dedication, and hard work. Jessica Watson was able to fulfill this dream of hers through the grace of God, the training and equipment provided by her parents and sponsors, and refusing to give up.
How does this philosophy help a child born blind who dreams to one day see again? Almost on a weekly basis I talk with a woman who has never been able to walk because of a physical deformity. Her dream is to walk, but no amount of hard work, effort, training, or medical treatment can make this dream come true. The fact is, some dreams are far above our ability to obtain through any means. It is only God who puts in our hearts a wild, impossible kind of dream and fulfills it by His grace, mercy, and power. That a man could live forever in heaven with his Creator! No more pain, no more sorrow, no sin, sickness, or death! This is not an impossible dream but a reality for those who are born again by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. No amount of hard work can aid a man in obtaining heaven. I am not saying that everyone born blind will be made to physically see again (even though Jesus opened the physical eyes of many) but God will grant the desires of His children's hearts because He put those there.
Whenever the deeds of men are lifted up, man boasts against the God who created him. The people who united to build a great tower intended to reach heaven were easily confounded by the One who saw the pride in their hearts. Their dreams fell into ruin when God confused the people by changing languages. The tower was called Babel, which literally means "confusion." Man's best efforts come to nothing when attempting to fulfill our heavenly dreams. I have an uncle who was fond of saying, "If your mind can conceive it and your heart can believe it, you can achieve it." Sometimes this is true, for the conception must precede the action. But there are some dreams God has placed upon our hearts which only He can do. The dream has no power in itself to make it come to fruition. With men things are impossible, but with God all things are possible!
16 May 2010
14 May 2010
True Prosperity
2 Chron. 31:21 says, "And in every work that he (Hezekiah) began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he prospered." Hezekiah was king in Jerusalem who re-instituted proper temple worship in Judah. He succeeded Ahaz, who was a monster of iniquity. Ahaz filled the temple with rubbish, sacrificed his own children, set up altars to false gods inside the temple and in every corner of Jerusalem, and literally boarded up the entrance of the temple so no one could worship the One True God. Even though Israel was not under Hezekiah's rule, when the Passover drew near he sent runners throughout the territories so they might come to Jerusalem for the feast. Since the days of Solomon there had been not been so much rejoicing in the land.
For King Hezekiah, there was no halfway in serving God: "...he did it with all his heart. So he prospered." There is a correlation between these statements, a principle to be applied to our lives. When we think of prosperity, we tend to think financial wealth, success, or the obtainment of our goals. The definition of the word "prospered" in the Strong's is "to push forward, break out, be profitable, (cause to, effect, make to, send) prosperous." Because Hezekiah sought God with his whole heart, he progressed in a deeper walk with God. He prospered in his relationship with the King of Kings. Psalm 119:2 says, "Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart!" God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
If we are stunted in our spiritual growth or in a dry season, it quite possible we have neglected to seek God with our whole hearts. Col. 3:23-24 says, "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, [24] knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ." Hezekiah did not cleanse the temple because he wanted to find favor with the priests and Levites, because he missed Jewish "traditional" worship, or because he wanted political influence over the other 10 tribes of Israel. He served God for God's sake, not so he would receive blessings from Him. It is easy to substitute serving people for serving God. Our flesh can deceive us, thinking that we please God by being busy with much serving. We can neglect to be as Mary who chose to stop what she was doing, take a seat, and listen intently to Jesus when He spoke.
If Jesus should open His mouth to speak, would it not be fitting for us to drop all other things to listen to Him? His food and drink was to do the will of Him who sent Him. He understood that man does not live by bread alone but by every word which proceeds from the mouth of God. I have been meditating upon this scripture for the last few days. God has graciously given us our daily bread, and for this we should be thankful. We must never forget it is in God which we live, move, and have our being. Every time we draw breath it is a gift from God, generous provision from the Creator of all things. Let us use our breath to glorify God and draw near to Him listening intently. We will find Him when we seek Him with our whole hearts. It is only then we will prosper.
For King Hezekiah, there was no halfway in serving God: "...he did it with all his heart. So he prospered." There is a correlation between these statements, a principle to be applied to our lives. When we think of prosperity, we tend to think financial wealth, success, or the obtainment of our goals. The definition of the word "prospered" in the Strong's is "to push forward, break out, be profitable, (cause to, effect, make to, send) prosperous." Because Hezekiah sought God with his whole heart, he progressed in a deeper walk with God. He prospered in his relationship with the King of Kings. Psalm 119:2 says, "Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart!" God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
If we are stunted in our spiritual growth or in a dry season, it quite possible we have neglected to seek God with our whole hearts. Col. 3:23-24 says, "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, [24] knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ." Hezekiah did not cleanse the temple because he wanted to find favor with the priests and Levites, because he missed Jewish "traditional" worship, or because he wanted political influence over the other 10 tribes of Israel. He served God for God's sake, not so he would receive blessings from Him. It is easy to substitute serving people for serving God. Our flesh can deceive us, thinking that we please God by being busy with much serving. We can neglect to be as Mary who chose to stop what she was doing, take a seat, and listen intently to Jesus when He spoke.
If Jesus should open His mouth to speak, would it not be fitting for us to drop all other things to listen to Him? His food and drink was to do the will of Him who sent Him. He understood that man does not live by bread alone but by every word which proceeds from the mouth of God. I have been meditating upon this scripture for the last few days. God has graciously given us our daily bread, and for this we should be thankful. We must never forget it is in God which we live, move, and have our being. Every time we draw breath it is a gift from God, generous provision from the Creator of all things. Let us use our breath to glorify God and draw near to Him listening intently. We will find Him when we seek Him with our whole hearts. It is only then we will prosper.
12 May 2010
Second Mile People
Here is an excerpt from Isobel Kuhn's "Second Mile People (pages 37-39):"
"Oswald Chambers says, 'The people who influence us most are not those who buttonhole us and talk to us, tut those who live their lives like the stars in heaven and the lilies in the field, perfectly simply and unaffectedly. Those are the lives that mould us.' A great mistake is to think that a Spirit-filled man or woman must always be casting sermons at people. Being 'filled with the Spirit' (which is a first qualification of Second Mile People) is merely a refusing of self and a taking by faith of the life of Christ as wrought in us by His Holy Spirit.
'Many who claim by faith this fullness, and who, up to the measure of their light, are yielded and obedient, are disappointed and perplexed because they are aware of no particular manifestation. They expect a glowing sense of power...But let us take to heart what others have pointed out, that the Spirit's chief work is to make us HOLY. The truest evidence is not gift but grace...The Spirit will divide the gifts. One man may have a gift for preaching, another a gift for intercession, another a gift for personal dealing, and another by administration. Still others may glorify their Lord by some kind of seeming drudgery, even as lowly as that of Brother Lawrence, who "practised the presence of God" in the monk's kitchen.
"A work of lowly love to do for Him on Whom I wait." 'But let it be said again, once you open your being to His fullness your life must be enriched; you will never be the same again"...We fall in defeat when we try to 'judge' the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives; ours is to yield to Him in joyous faith, and not worry as to the kind or value of the fruit He is producing."
09 May 2010
How often should I forgive?
Forgiveness is something I have been thinking a lot about lately, especially how God forgives us. When Peter asked Jesus, "How many times should I forgive my brother? Up to seven times?" I have read the rabbinic teaching of that time said it was good to forgive three times. Jesus replies in Matthew 18:22, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven." Peter no doubt thought forgiving someone seven times was very generous, but Jesus demonstrated grace and forgiveness beyond Peter's wildest expectations. Jesus never told His disciples to do what He had not already done. The fact is, He has forgiven me more times than seventy times seven. God does not limit His forgiveness quota at 490 of course, for His capacity and desire to forgive is limitless. The sins of the entire world were placed upon Christ on the cross, and His blood cleanses us from all sin.
A sister came up to me today at church and shared something God has recently taught her concerning forgiveness. She said she has realized forgiveness is not a one-time thing. Sometimes when we are hurt deeply it is very hard to forgive. Even when we have made a conscious choice to forgive, old hurts have a way of being brought to remembrance. We might say to God, "But I've already forgiven that person." God's words to my sister in Christ were, "Forgive until it stops hurting." Forgiveness is not a one-time thing or a seven time thing: it is a continual process of forgiving which frees us from bitterness, resentment, hate, and suffering. When we give the wrongs done to us to our Savior who is willing to free and deliver us from the solitary confinement of unforgiveness, He helps us.
As with forgiveness, repentance is often seen as a one-time thing. Those who are mature in faith recognize their sin with more clarity than ever before. When they read the scriptures and see Barabbas, they seem themselves. When they read of people faltering in faith or the unbelief of the children of Israel wandering in the wilderness they will not mock or scorn, because their eyes are moist with the knowledge they are looking through a window to the deceit and wickedness of their own flesh. If a person says he is without sin he deceives himself and calls God a liar. Therefore, we ought to continually repent for our transgressions. In the same way, we must forgive even the same wrong over and over and over again until we no longer feel the dull or sharp pain of that wrong against us, no matter how horrible it was and still is. Regardless of how that wrong has forever changed our lives, Jesus has the power and strength to change our lives even more for the better.
When Jesus was crucified upon the cross He said, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." We are the ones whom Christ pleaded be forgiven. He knows "there is none good, no not one. There is none who understands, there is none who seeks after God." I am numbered among this group. On my own I could never understand any spiritual truth, and in my flesh dwells no good thing. But by His grace God has forgiven me and reconciled me to Himself, adopting me into the family of God as co-heir with Jesus Christ! To whom much is given much is required, and Jesus has forgiven me much. Let us do good and forgive for the glory of God. Every time you forgive it will take you to a deeper level of forgiveness, like pulling a cabbage apart leaf by leaf. There is healing and restoration waiting for us if we will be obedient to forgive and keep on forgiving!
A sister came up to me today at church and shared something God has recently taught her concerning forgiveness. She said she has realized forgiveness is not a one-time thing. Sometimes when we are hurt deeply it is very hard to forgive. Even when we have made a conscious choice to forgive, old hurts have a way of being brought to remembrance. We might say to God, "But I've already forgiven that person." God's words to my sister in Christ were, "Forgive until it stops hurting." Forgiveness is not a one-time thing or a seven time thing: it is a continual process of forgiving which frees us from bitterness, resentment, hate, and suffering. When we give the wrongs done to us to our Savior who is willing to free and deliver us from the solitary confinement of unforgiveness, He helps us.
As with forgiveness, repentance is often seen as a one-time thing. Those who are mature in faith recognize their sin with more clarity than ever before. When they read the scriptures and see Barabbas, they seem themselves. When they read of people faltering in faith or the unbelief of the children of Israel wandering in the wilderness they will not mock or scorn, because their eyes are moist with the knowledge they are looking through a window to the deceit and wickedness of their own flesh. If a person says he is without sin he deceives himself and calls God a liar. Therefore, we ought to continually repent for our transgressions. In the same way, we must forgive even the same wrong over and over and over again until we no longer feel the dull or sharp pain of that wrong against us, no matter how horrible it was and still is. Regardless of how that wrong has forever changed our lives, Jesus has the power and strength to change our lives even more for the better.
When Jesus was crucified upon the cross He said, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." We are the ones whom Christ pleaded be forgiven. He knows "there is none good, no not one. There is none who understands, there is none who seeks after God." I am numbered among this group. On my own I could never understand any spiritual truth, and in my flesh dwells no good thing. But by His grace God has forgiven me and reconciled me to Himself, adopting me into the family of God as co-heir with Jesus Christ! To whom much is given much is required, and Jesus has forgiven me much. Let us do good and forgive for the glory of God. Every time you forgive it will take you to a deeper level of forgiveness, like pulling a cabbage apart leaf by leaf. There is healing and restoration waiting for us if we will be obedient to forgive and keep on forgiving!
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