Mutual Encouragement

A dear friend of ours used to jokingly say, “Be encouraged!” when things just couldn’t get any worse. It was our way of laughing at the unbelievable pressure of a given situation when there was no prospect of an immediate solution or relief.

There are some among us who are naturally gifted encouragers. They have a knack for seeing the best in people in calling it out of them. They challenge others. They reassure. They inspire hope and confidence, emboldening and stimulating those around them to reach for more. To keep trusting God, even when He seems far away and silent.

But even for those of us who are not prone to encouragement, we are called to it. Just as not everyone has the gift of generosity, but we are all called to give. Not all have the gift of celibacy, but all are called to purity. Encouragement is energy – a deep breath to gather strength to continue – that keeps the body of Christ moving. It implies deep connections and participation in the lives of people God has surrounded us with.

As I’ve contemplated encouragement recently, I’ve been thinking of some people who encourage me. Here’s a brief, but heartfelt list (by no means complete) of ways my spirit has been urged along in life:

• Authors – Political, religious, and secular writers make me think beyond conventional wisdom and theology. Whether the thought comes from an author/pastor or a political extremist, God’s truth is strong and can bear up under the scrutiny of inquiring minds. I am encouraged by those who have taken the time and energy to question the status quo and urge me to do the same.

• Sure Friends – I have friends who are very sure of their beliefs and of theological issues and they encourage me to dig deep into what I believe Scripture says. I’m not threatened by their confidence; I’m inspired by it.

• Vulnerable Friends – A have a few friends, conversely, who encourage me by their very struggle to do the right thing and hear God in the midst of their struggles. I’m honored that one young friend in particular allows me to participate in her process as she looks at tough personal issues, trying to seek God and please Him, as she begins her relationship with Him. I want to do that, too.

• Active Friends – These friends live by the Nike slogan – “Just Do It”! My husband thought he could do what he was doing better on his own than working for someone else. So he started his own business. My best friend felt God prompting her to get involved with the poor so she organized a multi-church food drive and began tutoring in an adult literacy program. One friend (I love this!) chooses one Cuppa Joe lesson and gathers a group of women from her church once a month to discuss it in a coffee shop.

Here are a couple of bites of Scripture that have had me thinking this week. See what they stir up in you:

¹¹I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— ¹²that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith. (Romans 1:11-12, NIV)

²⁴And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. ²⁵Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24-25, NIV)

In the verses from Romans, Paul reveals his very relational and passionate tendencies in doing God’s work. He often tells the recipients of his letters how much he loves and misses them, and the beginning of his letter to the Roman Christians is no exception. And his desire to impart some spiritual gift to make them strong isn’t hubris; it’s from God. He doesn’t want the instruction or encouragement to be one-way. He wants his experience with this group of believers to be mutually encouraging. That’s kingdom life in community! To be encouraged by each other’s faith. I hope my belief in God and what I’m learning in my time in Scripture will lead me to live my life and speak words that encourage you to press into Him. To make you want to pursue God more passionately and live more purposefully. And I want that from you, too.

The writer of Hebrews challenges us to be proactive in considering how we can encourage one another. He uses a word in the NIV that doesn’t occur anywhere else in the Bible: spur on. Look at these other translations of the same passage:

²⁴And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ²⁵ not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (ESV)

²⁴And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

²⁵Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (KJV)

Stir up. Provoke. Maybe part of the encouragement process might be uncomfortable. What do you think? It might be hard to encourage someone in an area of her spiritual journey that gets messy. Or that you don’t understand completely. Or makes you have to say things that are true, but hard to hear. Yes, encouragement can mean saying, “You can do it!” But it can also mean saying, “Stop doing this!”

We are meant to live in community. That’s not just a Christian thing. That’s a human thing. We are social creatures and sometimes society gets stuck. (That’s an understatement, isn’t it?) In the body of Christ, we can encourage one another in all the ways – big and small – that make us more like the people God created us to be.

• Who has encouraged you in your faith or in your pursuits recently? Who makes you think harder and dig deeper? Who are you doing that for? Ask God to reveal those relationships this week.

• Where would you go in Scripture to encourage someone in the following areas:

~ Forgiveness ~ Marriage struggles ~ Injustice

• How has “Cuppa Joe” encouraged you? What lessons have challenged you? What did you do with that?

Joy!

This past Sunday was the third Sunday of Advent. The candle on the Advent wreath is a different color than the others, and it represents joy. If your church tradition embraces the liturgical year and its trappings you may have witnessed someone lighting the pink candle in your congregation last week. There is anticipation and preparation of Christ’s advent – His incarnation among us – at this time of year. There is also joy. Joy in the wrapping of gifts, cozy fireside chats, and festive parties to celebrate the season. But the joy of knowing and following God goes beyond the time of year when we remember Jesus’ birth. As Christians this is an apt time of year to remember that we are receiving “the goal of our faith; the salvation of our souls”. (1 Peter 1:9) That’s why we can be filled with “inexpressible and glorious joy” when we anticipate and prepare for an encounter with Christ at Christmas.

But for some, struggles don’t let up just because it’s Christmas. In fact, when going through a rough patch, the holiday season can intensify the feelings of pain or disconnectedness and make the lights and music feel jarring because of the internal turmoil over circumstances. How can we find joy in any circumstances? Why are we instructed to look for this aspect of fruit from the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives and how can we participate?

I came across an unlikely scenario describing joy this week in my reading of Nehemiah. And because I had just spent time preparing a short devotional for church on the joy candle of the advent wreath, my reticular activating system was highly attuned to notice references to it. In addition to the more common Bible verses about joy, these descriptive situations reminded me of my role in participating in acquiring joy.

Here’s the background story: Nehemiah has returned to Jerusalem to assess the damage to the walls and the city and to come up with a plan of action to return things to their former function. Ezra the priest has already been back in Jerusalem from exile for some time, working on rebuilding the temple. Once both structures had been completed and a genealogical record of the families who had returned had been taken, everyone gathered to hear Ezra read from the Law that God had given Moses in the desert. Before we look specifically at the joy passages, take a moment to appreciate the setting as Ezra stands before the people with God’s Word:

¹ …all the people assembled as one man in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel.

² So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. ³ He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.

⁴ Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion. …

⁵ Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. ⁶ Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, "Amen! Amen!" Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. (Nehemiah 8:1-5)

In my head I’m singing the song from the movie “Flashdance” right now… “What a feeling!” What anticipation! What energy! What stamina to stand listening to someone read Scripture for several hours! Think they had a vested interest in what Ezra had to say after living in a foreign land among a foreign people for a whole generation? I believe the people were not only listening attentively; I believe that they were starving for the truth and the cultural relevance that only God’s Word could provide to them at that time. They weren’t just interested – they were desperate. That’s a perfect time to assess the reality of a situation and of a relationship with God. Nothing to lose and hearts ready for God to interject Himself. Been there? Yeah, me too.

Now for the joy. The people weren’t feeling it at first. What they heard made them weep out of conviction and grief for their years of disobedience and separation from God. But that wasn’t God’s purpose for the gathering. Look at how it plays out:

⁹ Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, "This day is sacred to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep." For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

¹⁰ Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:9-10)

Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength. Do you love it?! How can we participate in entering into joy? By facing our weakness and appropriating His perfect strength! Joy is not choosing phony happiness and smiles in our pain. It’s finding a solid foundation underneath our pain to buoy and strengthen us because our core truths are never compromised. It’s an eternal perspective that never loses sight of our eternal blessings, which are ours now. Look at how Paul says it:

⁹But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. ¹⁰That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

There is joy in weakness.

But wait. There’s more. Since the political and religious leaders had encouraged the people to celebrate instead of mourn, they found yet another reason for joy:

¹² Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them. (Nehemiah 8:12)

God’s commandments to us are always good and always for our provision and protection. Intellectual assent to that fact without full understanding and conviction doesn’t equal joy. But there is deep satisfaction in the knowledge and assimilation of God’s values and directives for our lives.

There is joy in understanding God’s Word.

Don’t good things come in 3’s? There’s one more. The next day the people discovered, through reading more of the Law, that they were supposed to be celebrating by building little temporary structures and living in them. (For more information on The Feast of Booths (or Tabernacles) go to Deuteronomy 16:13-17 and http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday5.htm.) So guess what they did?

The whole company that had returned from exile built booths and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated it like this. And their joy was very great. (Nehemiah 8:17)

Admitting weakness leads to a hunger for God’s truth. God’s truth is meant to be understood. And ultimately, our understanding is meant to lead us to life change – obedience. Yes, the people are happy to be back in Jerusalem, observing the customs and festivals prescribed in the Law. But their real joy comes from being in the center of God’s plan for them.

There is joy in obedience.

There is joy in understanding God’s Word.

There is joy in weakness.

Come, Lord Jesus. Make our joy complete by infusing us with your Spirit and your perspective.

• In which of these three areas have you experienced joy? Where is it a particular challenge? How could you bring that to God in prayer this week?

• Read John 16:17-24, James 1:2-4, and 1 Peter 1:3-9. What are the catalysts that lead these writers to direct us to respond with joy? How is that possible? What does that look like in your life?

• When is joy most difficult for you to identify? Where can you go in Scripture to give you encouragement or information you may benefit from in your spiritual journey?

Stimulus and Response

You may be familiar with the terms “stimulus and response” from science or psychology classes you’ve taken over the years. Pavlov and his slobbering dogs, fight or flight reactions, and foot in mouth syndrome are all examples of instinctual and learned behaviors by organisms (animals and people) in reaction to some stimulus, or change in their environment. Sometimes the reactions are appropriate and the response fits perfectly with the stimulus. Other times (I’m thinking of how many times I didn’t stop to think about what I was going to say in the heat of the moment and stuck my foot in my mouth) the response time needs an extension for the environment of the organisms involved to improve.

Nehemiah gives us a beautiful picture of prolonging that precious time between stimulus and response to allow God to enter into our circumstances and interject His perfect perspective before we respond. We’re going to walk through a bigger chunk of Scripture for this lesson so we don’t miss the progression of Nehemiah’s situation. Here’s the setup:

¹ The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah:

In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, ²Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.

³ They said to me, "Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire."

⁴ When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. (Nehemiah 1:1-4)

Some historical context may be in order. A this point the exile that many Old Testament prophets had spoken of has happened and Nehemiah is in Susa, one of the Persian cities where the king, Artaxerxes, has a palace. Nehemiah is Jewish, and in the service of the Persian king. Some Jews had already begun to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple under the direction of Ezra around 538 B.C. Hanani, another Jew who had been to Jerusalem to know what condition it was in, gave a pretty discouraging report to Nehemiah concerning the state of the city walls and its inhabitants. And despite the fact that Nehemiah must have been in a foreign land in exile for some time at this point, he still has an emotional connection to the capital city of his faith, as is evidenced by his emotional reaction to the news Hanani brings. So far, fairly relatable, wouldn’t you say? Nehemiah gets bad news and cries over it. In fact the sadness and heaviness of what he’s heard lingers for days. That’s happened to me before. You? So what does Nehemiah do next?

⁵ Then I said:

"O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands, ⁶ let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father's house, have committed against you. ⁷ We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.

⁸ "Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, ⁹ but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.'

¹⁰ "They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. ¹¹ O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man." I was cupbearer to the king. (Nehemiah 1:5-11)

Nehemiah cries, then he prays. Ever done that? Me, too. How he prays is worth looking at, but we’ll save that for another time. Look at how Nehemiah interacts with the king now that he’s all prayed up for his confrontation:

2 ¹ In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before; ² so the king asked me, "Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart."

I was very much afraid, ³ but I said to the king, "May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?" (Nehemiah 2:1-3)

Artaxerxes must be Persian for “reads people well”. Or could it be that he was particularly observant because God was answering Nehemiah’s prayer about granting him favor in the king’s presence? Regardless of the reason, Nehemiah is emboldened to respond transparently to the king, undoubtedly encouraged by his time in God’s Presence before the conversation began. But here’s the slow motion stimulus-response scenario that puts me to shame:

⁴ The king said to me, "What is it you want?" Then I prayed to the God of heaven, ⁵ and I answered the king, "If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it." (Nehemiah 2:4-5)

The king asks a crucial question. “What do you want?” And before Nehemiah blurts out a plan he may have even felt quite certain that God had put in his heart, aware of the inherent risk of being turned down, he goes back to God, mid-conversation, before responding. Take a moment to drink in this wisdom from the king’s cupbearer: Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered. How frequently does that occur in your emotionally charged conversations with people? I can tell you that it’s not nearly often enough in mine. But I’m challenged to try it when I see how it worked out for Nehemiah. Take a look:

⁶ Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, "How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?" It pleased the king to send me; so I set a time.

Success! Now, I need to tell you that the rest of the book of Nehemiah doesn’t exactly depict an effortless endeavor without opposition. However, it does give a dramatic picture of a leader determined to follow through on the plan God has allowed him to put into place, in spite of the opposition, because his life’s pattern is one that consults God frequently, even if it means stopping to re-evaluate in the midst of a conversation.

How much of what Nehemiah models is present in your interactions with people?

• Process: Nehemiah pauses to acknowledge and process very real emotions as a reaction to his sad news. He takes the time necessary to identify his sadness and grieve over the circumstances.

• Praise: Going to God immediately with an honest heart was significant to the events that followed for Nehemiah. It is no different with us. After a time of wallowing, we do well to get some perspective from God by giving Him glory for who He is. When we are reminded of His power, His sovereignty and His love for us, our emotions become aligned with the truth of our situation as He sees it.

• Proceed: Once Nehemiah heard from God and was certain of His plan, he had courage to propose the idea to the king. Ready for action once he had clarified his priorities and connected with God, Nehemiah has the courage to speak boldly to restore God’s city to its former glory. We were not given a spirit of timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline, the apostle Paul tells Timothy. (2 Timothy 1:7) With God’s blessing, we can be bold!

• Pause: the most important step of Nehemiah’s progression here is that he went back to God at every turn, relying on Him to navigate the potentially tricky conversation. There is almost always time to take a deep breath and say a quick prayer for the right words or instantaneous laryngitis. God will honor those prayers and help us keep our words full of grace and respect.

As human beings we are not obligated to live our lives solely by instinct. We can learn behaviors that stretch that time between our stimuli and our responses. And when we do, God can enter into our everyday lives to guide us and mold us into His image. And we’ll spend less time regretting hasty words or actions because God’s Spirit is prompting us along the way. Thanks be to God!

• Read Nehemiah 1:5-11. What elements do you notice in his prayer? How can you use that model to refresh your prayer life when communicating to God this week?

• What ways have you discovered to invite God into everyday situations that you face? In what areas might you need to discover some new ways?

• How natural is it for you to process and / or identify raw emotions with God in prayer when you are feeling intensely about a situation? How can Nehemiah’s example encourage you in that area? If you know someone who models this well, you may want to talk with her this week about how she does it.

Little Man in Jericho

I was surprised to learn this week that my husband did not grow up learning, “Zacchaeus was a wee little man and a wee little man was he. He climbed up in the sycamore tree for the Lord he wanted to see. And when the Savior passed his way, He looked up in the tree. And He said, Zacchaeus, you come down. For I’m coming to your house today… for I’m coming to your house today.” Was it a Lutheran Sunday School thing?

Because I’ve known the story of Zacchaeus all my life, it’s always a challenge not to skim over it when I come across it in my devotional time. I know he’s a wee little man and that Jesus came to his house. So? But this time God spoke differently to me. Take a look at the story, as if for the first time, and see if you notice anything you may not have seen before:

¹Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. ²A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. ³He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. ⁴So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

⁵When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." ⁶So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

⁷All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.' "

⁸But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."

⁹Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. ¹⁰For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

(Luke 19:1-10)

Zacchaeus was a tax collector living in Jericho during the days of Jesus’ ministry on earth. The city was prominent and strategic in the Roman world at the time this story takes place. And the people there were no stranger to up and coming religious preachers, as John the Baptist had been ministering at the Jordan River within sight of Jericho. Zacchaeus was certainly aware of the spiritual climate among the people from whom he collected taxes, and Jesus’ visit to the city would have caused curiosity, at the very least.

What does Zacchaeus have to show us about interacting with Jesus? Here are a few things God brought to my attention:

1) Jesus took the initiative. He always does. He came to where Zacchaeus was and had clearly already been working in his heart for the response to be so dramatic once they finally met. He entered the home of a ‘sinner’ and praised his faith. Zacchaeus’ sin didn’t threaten Jesus’ holiness and neither does ours. He seeks us and wants us to understand and love Him.

2) Zacchaeus had a positive response to Jesus. He ran ahead (verse 4), he came down at once and welcomed Him gladly (verse 6). Do I joyfully anticipate God’s activity? Am I excited to spend time with Him? Or have I become calloused, complacent or contemptuous enough to be distracted with other activities while my Savior passes by?

3) His priorities shifted immediately. Look at how quickly Zach relinquishes his hold on what must have been a very lucrative career fleecing the people while collecting taxes for Rome: “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Hebrew law required that full value + 1/5 be given in restitution for wrongfully gotten gain. (Numbers 5:6-7) But when Jesus touches our hearts, He often sets the bar above and beyond the legalistic rules we’re accustomed to following, and when our relationship with Him is what it should be, that doesn’t seem too much.

4) Zacchaeus’ transformation demonstrates God’s purpose. Jesus takes great joy in announcing that salvation has come to the house He has visited because of Zacchaeus’ faith, evidenced by his actions. Jesus came to save the lost, not pat the righteous on the back. When one of those lost souls fully grasps Jesus’ identity and experiences His love and forgiveness, they are eternally changed. That’s God’s business.

Do you see yourself in Zacchaeus? He is open to Jesus’ activity in his life. He welcomes Jesus into where he lives and is willing to sacrifice what is most precious to him to show his gratitude. He anticipates Jesus being around and looks for His Presence. In his understanding of Jesus, Zacchaeus is willing to come down from his perch where he observes Jesus, and enters into an authentic relationship where he takes the risk to be changed. Honestly, I have lots of days when I’m content to just gaze at Jesus from afar, contemplating His character and potential activity, but doing nothing myself to come closer and take the risk that I may have to change. I think God’s calling me to more. I want the enthusiasm and openness to welcome Jesus into every area of my life and jump with both feet into what He has for me. Don’t you?

• Read Matthew 12:33 and James 2:17. How do these verses relate to Zacchaeus and his experience with Jesus? How do you see it play out in your own life?

• Read Luke 23:39-43. What does the man talking to Jesus have in common with Zacchaeus? How is he different?

• How would you describe your attitude toward Jesus recently? Have you been anticipating time in His Presence? Are you gazing from a safe distance or are you ready and willing to come to where He is, at His invitation, to fully engage in life as He intends you to?

• Are there any areas of your life that need restitution? People you’ve wronged in the past? Half-truths that need to be clarified for the health of a relationship? Ask God to give you specific direction as to what that might look like.

Trepidation or Comfort?

Have you ever watched NCIS or CSI(name of city here) and had them NOT discover the identity of the unsub (That’s unidentified subject of an investigation, for you civilians)? It’s astounding, isn’t it, that they piece together the clues – the DNA, testimony, profiles, etc. – in an hour every time. No fiber, idiosyncrasy, or phony alibi gets past the brilliant minds of the detectives on the job. Just try to put one over on them. You can’t. They’ll get you every time. And the victims are justified and the file is closed on another perp.

Depending on where you sit on any given episode, you may be filled with trepidation that someone you’re coming to like will get nailed for a crime, or you’re cheering for the ones in the white lab coats to shed light on the facts to determine the truth. But eventually we all know that the truth will come out and the mystery will be solved.

Real life is like that, too. Whether we’re trying to cover up truth and hide it from someone else or ourselves, the secrets will be unveiled and God sees everything. That can cause trepidation or comfort, depending on the stories we tell ourselves. Look at Jesus’ words to His disciples during a teaching time:

²There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. ³What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs. (Luke 12:2-3)

Jesus was warning the disciples against the twisted teachings of the Pharisees, which He compared to yeast, working its way through the whole loaf of bread. That was probably a comfort to the disciples, knowing that even though the men in charge of communicating God’s law were making a mockery of it, God knew and His truth and will would prevail. It’s a call to integrity for our own lives and a call to surrender to God’s sovereignty when it comes to others’.

Compare Jesus’ words to His disciples with the following verses:

⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

if I settle on the far side of the sea,

¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,

your right hand will hold me fast.

¹¹ If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me

and the light become night around me,"

¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you;

the night will shine like the day,

for darkness is as light to you. (Psalm 139:7-12)

⁸For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light ⁹(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) ¹⁰and find out what pleases the Lord. ¹¹Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. ¹²For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. ¹³But everything exposed by the light becomes visible…(Ephesians 5:8-13)

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:13)

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:6)

God sees and knows everything. Is this good news or bad news? I guess it depends on how we’re living our lives and how we’re relating to those around us. It’s comforting to know that God sees all the manipulating and hurtful things other people do to me, but I’m less excited to know that all of my sinful thoughts and actions are laid bare before my God and Judge, too, you know?

Here’s a newsflash: Things happen in life that are outside of our control. I know. Take a minute to let it sink in. But the corollary is more comforting: Nothing happens outside of God’s control. That’s what sovereignty means. It’s all part of His bigger plan. He sees it all and nothing shocks Him or causes Him to panic. For us, seeing it all does nothing but bring shock and panic. Do you want to be smart or happy? Ignorance really is bliss. Not so for God.

So if everything I think, say, do, or feel is already known by God, why do I try to hide these things from Him? It makes sense that I should try to edit some of the information I leak to people around me, but it’s not logical or helpful (or honest, for that matter) to hide them from God. Everything exposed by light (Jesus = the light of the world) becomes visible. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before Him. Our Father sees what is done in secret. He lets light in to the dark, hidden places in our hearts to reveal our motivation and transform us into the image of Christ. If we can grasp that concept, it can liberate us instead of causing shame and trepidation. Yes, He sees and knows the ugliest part of our hearts on our worst day; but His love is bigger and He wants us to be more. He wants to free us to become the very best version of who He created us to be.

On the flip side, I can release my concern over others’ behavior because that will be exposed and laid bare before God, too. I am not personally responsible for outing every sinner and mean person I encounter. Because of God’s omniscience (He knows everything), I am released from the burden of being a spiritual tattle-tale and I can let God’s Spirit do what He does best in people’s hearts: bring transformation. Then I am free to hear from God myself and take the plank out of my own eye so I can see clearly to help my brother take the speck out of his. (Matthew 7:5)

Search me, O God, and know my heart. Illuminate the darkness with your loving light and truth. Release me from my self-imposed burdens and show me your glory.

• Which is a more immediate concern for you – being honest with God about your own inner issues or stressing over what others seem to be getting away with? Is it a combination of both? How can these verses help direct you toward God’s truth in this area?

• How does the concept of shouting truths from rooftops and shining light on issues play into evangelism? Is there an area of your walk with Christ where God may be calling you to shed some light in a bold way? Pray about who God may be leading you to share your story with.

• Do you experience trepidation (anxiety, tension, etc.) over the concept of God seeing everything in your heart or does it bring you comfort? What significant encounters with God have brought you to that place?

Delivery, Not Results

I recently overheard my husband telling one of his employees to “release herself from the results” of a pending work situation that a client had made difficult. My husband’s company would do the best they could do under the circumstances, but the demands and the expectations of the client were untenable, and failure of some variety was inevitable. Prepare for the worst, but hope for the best. On another day, the very same quality of goods and services delivered would have pleased the client beyond words. It was the audience that had changed, not the product.

Jesus gives similar instructions to His disciples when He sends them out, two by two, to prepare the way for His ongoing ministry. Seventy-two of those who had been learning from Jesus and following Him had been appointed to heal and preach the message of the kingdom of God to various towns and places in the area. Among His directions are the following:

⁸"When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. ⁹Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.' ¹⁰But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ¹¹'Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.' ¹²I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. (Luke 10:8-12)

Sounds a little bit like Jesus might be saying, “Release yourselves from the results”, doesn’t it? The message won’t change according to the audience. And they know the message they are to deliver: the kingdom of God is near. In fact, just a couple of chapters later in Luke’s gospel, Jesus is warning them about the persecution that may ensue because of this message, and He releases them from the results once again when He says,

¹¹"When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, ¹²for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say." (Luke 12:11-12)

God Himself will take responsibility for the results of the message of truth proclaimed. It was that way in the time of the Old Testament prophets, in the days Jesus walked the earth, and now, for us. We can control delivery of God’s message – how we speak and act – but God alone controls the content and the results.

A few years ago I spoke at a women’s retreat where our theme was “Impressions”. We explored the concept of light in impressionistic paintings and how important the effect of light is to shadows. Sunshine can illuminate a beautiful landscape, making water sparkle and petals of flowers glow. It can also cast shadows that take on bizarre shapes and hide segments of the landscape. When we live and speak as Christ calls us to – truthfully and in His will – we will shine His light for others to see and embrace, but we will also cause some to hide in the shadows and reject the message we bring because of their own sin baggage. If we are consistent in our lifestyle and message, God will take care of the rest. Paul reiterated this concept to the Christians in Corinth when he wrote:

¹⁵For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. ¹⁶To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. (2 Corinthians 2:15-16)

The message is clear and consistent. What people do with it is up to God.

So what do we have control over? What is our role in the delivery of the message God calls us to? The way I see it, we can influence the method and make sure we know the message. Consider what the following verses have to say about the way we present the truth God has given us to share:

¹⁵But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…(1 Peter 3:15)

⁶Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Colossians 4:6)

The important thing is that we represent the truth well. Argumentative, arrogant, or aggressive encounters with people will rarely reveal the best parts of God’s truth. Our focus needs to be on Christ and our fragrance should be pleasing. Stinky and self-centered doesn’t win people over to Christ (or to anything else, for that matter!). The way we communicate with people varies according to situations, personalities and the listener; creativity and authenticity are priorities. But letting God speak through us in respectful, gracious conversations is more in line with what He calls us to in relationships than debating our way to victory.

As for the message, there are a few core issues that people need to hear about our God. Too many tangents and controversies stir the pot but do little to enlighten. Here are some key elements to the message God has given us to carry:

1) God loves us. There is no more important element to the story of the Bible than this. He is holy and just and His love for us is complete and extravagant.

2) We are all sinners. Nobody gets a pass in the holiness category; we all fall short of the glory of God and need a Savior.

3) Jesus was 100% God and 100% man and is the only perfect sacrifice for our sins. There is no other way to have a relationship with God aside from accepting what Jesus said about Himself and trusting His death and resurrection to make us right with God.

4) Our response to God’s love and forgiveness is obedience. It’s not the other way around. We don’t earn His love and we can’t do anything to diminish it. But life change comes with understanding the price He paid to redeem us.

There’s plenty of doctrine and theology I’m leaving out. And this isn’t by any means a comprehensive list of my core beliefs or “The Bible For Dummies”. It’s just that there are so many things we can argue about; so many potential areas of diversity and digression. We are not all called to do expository teaching or apologetics to everyone we meet. It isn’t our responsibility to convince people that they’re wrong in their beliefs or to convict them of their sin. We are called to be a consistent, pleasant, truthful fragrance to the world that represents Christ and His message. The Holy Spirit’s job is to convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment. (John 15:8) And in my experience, He does a way better job than I ever could.

• Think of someone in your life who doesn’t have a relationship with Christ. Which element of God’s message does he/she need to hear most from you? What does he/she need to see? How can you pray for him/her? You may want to find some specific Scripture to prompt you.

• When have you confused your role with the Holy Spirit’s role in exploring spiritual matters with people? What would you do differently today? What did you learn?

• Read Proverbs 26:4-5. What kind of litmus test can you use to determine when to speak the truth, even though it may make someone uncomfortable, and when to let the controversy die down for the sake of the relationship?

Contradictions

“Contradictions do not exist. Whenever you think that you are facing a contradiction, check your premises. You will find that one of them is wrong.” These words were spoken by one of the characters in what is quickly rising to the top of my list of favorite novels – Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand. As I ponder the veracity of this character’s philosophy, I’m finding that it colors my conversations, my relationships and even how I read Scripture. Take the following verses as exhibits A, B and C:

“He (King Uzziah) did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had done. He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success.” (2 Chronicles 26:4-5)

What’s the conclusion you might draw? God gives prosperity and success to those who follow and obey him, right? Uzziah wasn’t the only one who followed this pattern.

“Jotham grew powerful because he walked steadfastly before the LORD his God.” (2 Chronicles 27:6)

And what happened when the kings didn’t follow God? Like so many, Uzziah had a change of heart and God’s favor shifted…

“But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God…and King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in a separate house – leprous, and excluded from the temple of the LORD.” (2 Chronicles 26:16, 21)

It’s a fairly consistent pattern in the books of history in the Old Testament: God rewards and protects those who do the right thing and he punishes and exacts a great price from those who don’t. Ok. There’s one premise. How about the contradiction? Have a look at this:

Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” (Job 1:6-8)

Sounds good. I wouldn’t mind of God bragged on me like that a little, would you? But we know the story of Job. Here are a few of the “rewards” he receives for his obedience: all his livestock were stolen and his servants murdered (1:14-17), all his children died (1:18-20), and he had painful sores from his head to his feet (2:7). Hmm. I smell a contradiction. Exhibit B leads me to believe that obedience to God and finding favor with Him have no power whatsoever to protect us from hardship. Well, which is it?

If we all took some time to examine our lives we’d probably come to a similar conclusion: sometimes I get what I deserve and sometimes I don’t. There are seasons when this works to my advantage and times when it’s to my chagrin. Real life can prove either theory, depending on whose life you’re looking at and what point you’d like to prove. So does this mean God is random in his assignation of tribulation and exultation in His children’s lives? I often find that when the mystery of God has me scratching my head, His physical incarnation in the person of Jesus is a helpful model. What does He say along these lines?

In the gospel of John, Jesus’ disciples ask him a question regarding a man who had been blind from birth: Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? (John 9:2) Supposition: suffering is a result of sin. The righteous have no trouble. Jesus’ response sheds a little light on our contradiction when He says, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned…but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” (John 9:3) Obviously, Jesus isn’t saying that no one in this family has sin in their lives at all. We know that there is no one righteous, not even one; all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:10, 23). But it is important to see that He is saying that their sin did not cause the hardship in their lives. God allowed suffering in their lives (and Job’s, and in ours) in order to better showcase His mercy, power and healing that comes in times of distress.

Does it seem like the contradiction remains? Let’s check some of the underlying premises. I think part of the tension is relaxed when we realize the following:

1) God’s heart for His children is ultimately and perfectly good all the time. We can trust that the presence of painful circumstances is neither outside of His awareness or His control. So if there is suffering, He knows about it and He cares. This truth can make our pain seem less random, as we try to discern the source.

2) God’s Presence is greater than having answers. Whether we are the authors of our own misery or the evil of the world has encroached upon ours, running to God in dark times always beats running away from Him. I am finding this to be true in the sickness or death of loved ones, loneliness, and undefined longings or disappointments. I echo the heart’s cry of the psalmist, when he says: “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.” (Psalm 63:1)

3) We cannot earn God’s blessing or protection. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) There is no way to protect ourselves from life’s worst case scenarios except by not living life at all. And that is the opposite of what God calls each of us to do.

God’s activity in this world is not limited by our understanding or participation. However, He is a God of relationship and wants to communicate His love and power to us and those around us. And He will do so by any means necessary. And I can trust Him and rest in His plan.

• Look at the following verses and compare them to your life experience. Do you see contradictions? Are there any premises that may need to be examined?

1 Samuel 15:1-3 ~ Exodus 20:13

1 John 1:8-9 ~ 1 John 3:6

1 John 2:15-17 ~ Acts 10:9-19

• How do you press into God when times are tough? What verses have comforted you? What has been your experience in running toward God or running away from Him when you are in pain?