Finding Joy Here

Feed My Sheep

Jesus' simple command, but huge ramifications that come with it. I think we know, deep down, what we need to do. It is just difficult to do, especially on our own strength. I wonder how often we "counterfeit" God's love, as Chambers talks about. We think we are loving each other with the love of God, or loving those that God brings in our midst, but it is really from our own desires and our own shallow pool of love. Worth thinking about.

Peter now realizes that he does love Him, due to the revelation that came with the Lord’s piercing question. The Lord’s next point is— "Pour yourself out. Don’t testify about how much you love Me and don’t talk about the wonderful revelation you have had, just ’Feed My sheep.’ " Jesus has some extraordinarily peculiar sheep: some that are unkempt and dirty, some that are awkward or pushy, and some that have gone astray! But it is impossible to exhaust God’s love, and it is impossible to exhaust my love if it flows from the Spirit of God within me. The love of God pays no attention to my prejudices caused by my natural individuality. If I love my Lord, I have no business being guided by natural emotions— I have to feed His sheep. We will not be delivered or released from His commission to us. Beware of counterfeiting the love of God by following your own natural human emotions, sympathies, or understandings. That will only serve to revile and abuse the true love of God.
Utmost 02.03

Longing

1 O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2 I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.

3 Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.

4 I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.

5 My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

6 On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.

7 Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.

8 My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.

9 They who seek my life will be destroyed;
they will go down to the depths of the earth.

10 They will be given over to the sword
and become food for jackals.

11 But the king will rejoice in God;
all who swear by God's name will praise him,
while the mouths of liars will be silenced.

Psalm 63

The Chief Motivation

But the chief motivation behind Paul’s service was not love for others but love for his Lord. If our devotion is to the cause of humanity, we will be quickly defeated and broken-hearted, since we will often be confronted with a great deal of ingratitude from other people. But if we are motivated by our love for God, no amount of ingratitude will be able to hinder us from serving one another.
Paul’s understanding of how Christ had dealt with him is the secret behind his determination to serve others. "I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man . . ." ( 1 Timothy 1:13 ). In other words, no matter how badly others may have treated Paul, they could never have treated him with the same degree of spite and hatred with which he had treated Jesus Christ. Once we realize that Jesus has served us even to the depths of our meagerness, our selfishness, and our sin, nothing we encounter from others will be able to exhaust our determination to serve others for His sake.
Utmost 02.23.09

Give your best, and all, to those around you, never expecting even a little bit in return; acknowledgement, gratitude, because even Him who came down endured the cross, "while we were yet sinners" (Rom 5:8).

Harsh Charge

It is interesting, after service today, talking to a brother, what scriptures pique my ears these days. Things that I ignored or otherwise felt it didn't apply to me; seems I can't run away from it these days. I hope it doesn't boil down to talk.

15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood;
16 wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds
out of my sight!
Stop doing wrong,

17 learn to do right!
Seek justice,
encourage the oppressed. [a]
Defend the cause of the fatherless,
plead the case of the widow.

18 "Come now, let us reason together,"
says the LORD.
"Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.

19 If you are willing and obedient,
you will eat the best from the land;

20 but if you resist and rebel,
you will be devoured by the sword."
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

21 See how the faithful city
has become a harlot!
She once was full of justice;
righteousness used to dwell in her—
but now murderers!

Isaiah 1:15-21

Out of Love

There are times when it seems as if God watches to see if we will give Him even small gifts of surrender, just to show how genuine our love is for Him. To be surrendered to God is of more value than our personal holiness. Concern over our personal holiness causes us to focus our eyes on ourselves, and we become overly concerned about the way we walk and talk and look, out of fear of offending God. ". . . but perfect love casts out fear . . ." once we are surrendered to God ( 1 John 4:18 ). We should quit asking ourselves, "Am I of any use?" and accept the truth that we really are not of much use to Him. The issue is never of being of use, but of being of value to God Himself. Once we are totally surrendered to God, He will work through us all the time.
Utmost 02.21

There is None

There is none so high and holy
King of kings the one and only
You are adored
You are the Lord of all

Kristian Stanfill - Lord Of All (Live)

Have We Lost the Power to Visualize?

This one caught my eye:

One of the reasons for our sense of futility in prayer is that we have lost our power to visualize. We can no longer even imagine putting ourselves deliberately before God. It is actually more important to be broken bread and poured-out wine in the area of intercession than in our personal contact with others. The power of visualization is what God gives a saint so that he can go beyond himself and be firmly placed into relationships he never before experienced.
Utmost 02.10.09

Exhaustion?

I'm by far not exhausted, though sometimes pangs of weariness set in. I never thought of this like this, so it is kind of interesting. (yes im stealing from utmost again):

Have you delivered yourself over to exhaustion because of the way you have been serving God? If so, then renew and rekindle your desires and affections. Examine your reasons for service. Is your source based on your own understanding or is it grounded on the redemption of Jesus Christ? Continually look back to the foundation of your love and affection and remember where your Source of power lies. You have no right to complain, "O Lord, I am so exhausted." He saved and sanctified you to exhaust you. Be exhausted for God, but remember that He is your supply. "All my springs are in you" ( Psalm 87:7 ).
Utmost 02.09.09

Utmost seems to give me lots of food for thought lately!

Of Big Visions and Large Dreams

No one ever tells another to have lesser visions or dreams that are less amibitous.
So it is a curious thing, in the context of the work of God, when we begin to think about the opposite.

It is by no means diminishing the might and power of our Heavenly Father, but, rather, a renewal of focus on who God is versus what He can do for us, and what powerful mighty miracles He can perform. (which nevertheless He performs). It is to look to Him alone, to fix our eyes on Him (Hebrews 12).

I read this in utmost yesterday, and it is good food for thought:

We look for visions from heaven and for earth-shaking events to see God's power. Even the fact that we are dejected is proof that we do this. Yet we never realize that all the time God is at work in our everyday events and in the people around us. If we will only obey, and do the task that He has placed closest to us, we will see Him. One of the most amazing revelations of God comes to us when we learn that it is in the everyday things of life that we realize the magnificent deity of Jesus Christ.
Utmost 02.07.2009

Sit Idly By

Reading James this morning, I was quite intrigued. He begins his book by writing about faith, but towards the end of the chapter we find these words:

26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
James 1:26-27

One commentator puts it this way:

The instruction to look after orphans and widows in their distress can be examined in three parts. First, the verb to look after (episkeptomai) is a compound verb in which the prepositional prefix epi- places an emphasis on the act of looking. The basic act "to look" becomes intensified for a possible meaning of "looking at observantly" or "examining," though this meaning would not fit the present context. It is used elsewhere to express the awe with which one describes a visitation from God himself (Lk 1:68, 78; 7:16). In the context of James's instruction, the verb would carry the connotation of giving active care or help. Here, then, it is proper to translate this verb not merely as "visit" (KJV, RSV, NASB) but as "look after" (NIV). It is the same verb used by Matthew in Jesus' warning about the future separation of people for blessing and cursing. When the Son of Man comes in his glory, some will be welcomed into blessing because "I was sick and you looked after me," while others will be sent into the eternal fire because "I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me" (Mt 25:36, 43).
Second, in specifying orphans and widows James is prescribing nothing new or innovative for the church. He is recalling an explicit theme in God's Old Testament revelation of his will, so that there should be no disputing that this is indeed what God accepts as pure and faultless religion. Psalm 146:7-9 describes God's commitment to care for the needy such as the fatherless and widows. Jeremiah 7:1-8 warns against placing trust in the presence of the temple while oppressing the fatherless and widows--an example of religion that is "deceptive" and "worthless."

Third, in their distress refers literally to a pressing or a pressure, or figuratively to an affliction or oppression. In keeping with the Jeremiah passage, James has regard for the powerlessness of these people, their inability to protect or care for themselves.

Altogether this is a biblical view, not just James's own thinking. Scripture says that God is committed to caring for the powerless and defenseless, including the poor, the alien, the fatherless and the widow. Since the needs of such people are on God's heart, he expects that same heart to be in us. Further, Jesus himself so identified himself with needy, oppressed people that when we care for one of his people in need, we do it unto him. Any practice of Christianity that does not exhibit this concern in action is deceptive (it misrepresents the truth about God's own heart) and worthless (it is of no value before God). We have to conclude, then, that this first example of pure and faultless religion is a matter of serious obedience required of the church.

This one threw me for a loop, and I found it quite strange that James would bring this up. Perhaps it has more gravity and consequence than we want to lend our ears to, as we as a Church (capital C) sit idly by.

Blessings

As I mull over and reflect on all the blessings that God has endowed me with, I am reminded of a Father that gives good gifts. Reflecting on who He has been in my life brings even greater joy. This week, as I was thinking, and lamenting a friendship that has changed which I valued much, it has brought me through a multiplicity of feelings.

Just now, I read this. And I hope sixsteps doesn't mind if I steal it. It's that good:

. . . . Until you become thankful, you will never find joy.
Being thankful is not telling God you appreciate the fact that your life is
not in shambles. If that is the basis of your gratitude, you are on slippery
ground. Every day of your life you face the possibility that a blessing in
your life may be taken away. But blessings are only signs of God’s love. The
real blessing, of course, is the love itself. Whenever we get too attached to
the sign, we lose our grasp on the God who gave it to us. Churches are filled
with widows who can explain this to you. We are not ultimately grateful that
we are still holding our blessings. We are grateful that we are held by God
even when the blessings are slipping through our fingers.

Only when we see this are we able to be truly joyful, because then we have
made God our joy. We still cherish the blessings, but not because we have to
have them. We cherish them because they are our windows into heaven.

Gratitude is our ability to see the grace of God, morning by morning, no
matter what else greets us in the course of the day.

M. Craig Barnes, Hustling God: Why We Work So Hard For What God Wants To Give, Zondervan, 1999, page 155.

Ultimately, I hold onto the Father, whether in times of abundance or times of naught. It is this common denominator in which a child of the third-world who has barely enough to eat can have the same joy as an individual in the first-world who is surrounded by church friends and family at Christmastime. The common denominator is not what we have, but what we are, that we hav been called to be sons and daughters of God, and to inherit all that He has.

Is that not vast abundance compared to what we could accumulate... whether it be riches, wealth, relationships, confidants, etc.? Holding loosely onto things that are here, whether material possessions or people... that seems to be what we have been called to do.

Perhaps seeking the kingdom of God really is about God Himself. That as we seek Him and all that He desires to do, we become enthralled with Him, and all that He wants to do in our lives, and all that He simply, is. In having a relationship with Him, that is the pinnacle of what we have been created to be, trumping all other relationships, wealth, fame, and anything else that we can have gained. To know Christ ... that is the pinnacle.

Consecration

Oswald Chambers puts it this way:

It is not genuine consecration to think that we can refuse to be used of God now in order to store up our spiritual power for later use. That is a hopeless mistake. The Spirit of God has set a great many people free from their sin, yet they are experiencing no fullness in their lives— no true sense of freedom. The kind of religious life we see around the world today is entirely different from the vigorous holiness of the life of Jesus Christ. "I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one" ( John 17:15 ). We are to be in the world but not of it— to be separated internally, not externally (see John 17:16 ).
We must never allow anything to interfere with the consecration of our spiritual power. Consecration (being dedicated to God’s service) is our part; sanctification (being set apart from sin and being made holy) is God’s part. We must make a deliberate determination to be interested only in what God is interested. The way to make that determination, when faced with a perplexing problem, is to ask yourself, "Is this the kind of thing in which Jesus Christ is interested, or is it something in which the spirit that is diametrically opposed to Jesus is interested?"
Utmost 11.27

According to Uncle Joe, there are three meanings to sanctification (which, is God's part):
- separate, set apart, holy
- to dedicate
- to fill

God, having separated us, and continually making us holy "through and through", while dedicating us to His service, through the enablement of the filling of the Holy Spirit is a beautiful picture of what God says He will do (see 1 Thess 5:23-24). It is comforting, and yet, the hardest part, which we must will to do, is to be, as Oswald puts it, "interested in only in what God is interested in." And this only comes from finding out through scripture and through prayer, really what it is that God is interested in.

I Will not be Silent

It says in scripture (Isaiah 55) that even the trees of the field will clap their hands in response to His word. Elsewhere it says the rocks will cry out if none else cry out. I agree with Augustine, that I cannot be silent, that silence as a non-action even if I am dumb, in response to all that God has done and is doing, and all He is, is simply not an option: "Yet, O my God, my life, my holy Joy, what is this that I have said? What can any man say when he speaks of thee? But woe to them that keep silence -- since even those who say most are dumb." - Augustine

A Prayer

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve,
I was made weak, that I might humbly obey.
I asked for health, that I might do greater things,
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.
I asked for riches, that I might be happy,
I was given poverty, that I might be wise.
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men,
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life,
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am among all men, most richly blessed.

Relentless Orienteering

Having not blogged for awhile, it is in effect a case of not having much to blog about, and nothing that exactly can lend itself into the vocabulary that is available to me. Now, seemingly realizing that I have gone against the flicking compass for so long, it is true to form that a compass will always point north. In this case, north is analogous to the direction which the master points in. And, almost as an inbuilt innate thing, the swing of the compass leaves the absence of complete peace and satisfaction until such time that the direction headed is the same as that which is called on by the master, that which is called upon by the plans and directions of the one who knows so well. And so, in coming back and swinging around, I am eager to see where it is next that I am headed. It will be most interesting to see how the consolidation of all that rests on my heart will come about.

For now, it is satisfactory and best to hold onto, with a bit of application to modern-day 2008:

10 This is what the LORD says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. [b] I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."
Isaiah 29:10-14