Who I Will Become

Many of you have undoubtedly read “The Ugly Duckling”, by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen. In the story, a mother duck’s eggs hatch and one of them is homelier than the others. The barnyard animals tease him for looking the way he does, and so do many other animals he encounters in his first year of life. By the next spring, however, he is welcomed by a family of beautiful swans, as he has become one of them over the course of the long, cold winter.

If only he had known from his birth who he really was! If only someone had made it clear to him that the way he began life was not to be the end of the story. And how comforting it might have been to the shivering baby swan (a cygnet, for avian fans) to know that he would find a place to belong and that he was on the brink of discovering his personal potential and beauty. And how like that cygnet I frequently am. How often I lose sight of all that God created me to be because I am overwhelmed or distracted by my present circumstances. Not seeing the forest for the trees, as it were. And what would life be like if I could rise above it and hear God’s name for me? Sense His purpose for me so clearly that all else would fade in comparison.

In the Old Testament book of Judges, we see a biblical version of “The Ugly Duckling” in some ways. The tribes of Israel are stuck in a cycle of sin and captivity wherein they only cry out to God – their Creator and Deliverer – when they are under the reign of particularly heinous and cruel captors. God would have it otherwise, but human nature is hard to change. So, being the compassionate God He is, He sends them a judge – a person through whom God will deliver His people once again – and attempts, once more, to appeal to their hearts to have consistent relationship with Him. Gideon fits the bill (no pun intended. get it? Ducks? Swans? Bill? Anyway…) and has his own encounter with God’s angel:

¹¹ The angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midinaites. ¹² When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.”

¹³ “But sir,” Gideon replied, “if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the LORD has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian.”

¹⁴ The LORD turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”

¹⁵ “But Lord,” Gideon asked, “how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”

¹⁶ The LORD answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together.”

¹⁷ Gideon replied, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me….” (Judges 6:11-17)

The main difference between the angel’s perspective and Gideon’s is a matter of focus. Gideon only sees his own reality. Notice his discussion points in the conversation with the angel:

• God can’t be present, or bad things wouldn’t happen.

• I am too weak and/or too small to be effective.

• My background doesn’t qualify me to be a leader or accomplish great things.

Do any of those excuses sound familiar? I’ve said them all to myself at one time or another, I think. But I will tell you this: they are lies. They may or may not be lies because of your particular circumstances, but they are certainly lies when we take into consideration the power of the God who made us and chooses us to participate in His kingdom work and purposes.

In Gideon’s situation, God had indeed given the Israelites over to the cruel Midianites and Gideon really did come from one of the smallest tribes of Israel – the half-tribe of Manasseh. And Gideon and his family were so afraid of the marauding Midianites, who would steal the livestock and crops without provocation, that he was threshing wheat in a depressed area of earth so that he could hide and hopefully keep some of the grain for his own family to eat. There was no evidence of coming victory or freedom that day as Gideon hoped that his day wouldn’t end in violence or humiliation. But God had other plans for Gideon! Look at God’s focus in the conversation:

• You are a warrior.

• Work with what you have.

• I have chosen you.

• I will be with you.

God’s message to Gideon was the full reality. The angel called Gideon by the name of his full potential in God. He told Gideon to go in the strength he had to defeat the Midianites. Although Gideon knew his strength and stature were unimpressive, because God had chosen him and His Presence would be with him, he was about to become a warrior for God’s victory!

What happens when we believe the lie that God is only with us when things are good? Besides ignoring chunks of Scripture to the contrary (James 1:2-4, 1 Peter 1:3-7, 2 Corinthians 1:3-10 as a few examples), we also miss opportunities to run to God in the midst of our difficult circumstances. By rejecting trials as coming from God to refine our faith, we also reject the comfort and the Presence that He offers to carry us through those trials. And we risk missing the maturity that only comes in persevering through the rough patches to use our wisdom to comfort and walk with others when similar situations befall them.

What is the danger in believing in our own limited potential? This one may be more difficult to see, but for that very reason may be more insidiously toxic than the first. Placing my focus on my own limitations – physical, spiritual or professional – does the most damage by virtue of its focus – me. And I am never ever going to be as effective in life in my own power as I will when I am trusting God’s. Never. God simply won’t allow it. Choosing to focus on God’s power and His purpose in my life brings hope and real kingdom action. And I find that removing me from the equation always has better results for God’s glory.

Listen, God really had abandoned the Israelites and left them to their own devices among the foreign nations that surrounded them. Their pattern of disobedience and complacency left Him no alternative. But all it took, time and time again, was the sincere cry for help from His children. There were consequences for their disobedience, but He was and is a compassionate God whose heart beats for honest relationship with His people. And He will use one person to affect many if that one is willing to follow and believe God’s reality. Gideon was afraid and stuck in his idea of who he thought he was at the time God’s angel came to him. But he was called “warrior” and told to go in the strength he had to bring victory for God’s people. At the time, it was strength Gideon didn’t even know he possessed! But knowledge of God’s Presence + whatever strength we have = change. God doesn’t want us to believe we’re spiritual “ugly ducklings” when He has called us and equipped us to be beautiful and victorious swans.

• Read Judges 6 and 7. Where do you see the tension between Gideon’s ability and God’s supernatural leading?

• Read Luke 7:11-17. How do Jesus’ words in verse 13 demonstrate both His power and His compassion in what seems like a hopeless situation? How does His complete knowledge of your circumstances and His complete ability to deal with them bring you comfort or reassurance?

•Is there anything in your life currently that needs God’s perspective? Spend time this week asking Him to give you His reality check so you can trust Him more fully with your potential as you learn to rely on Him and move forward in obedience.

Crocosmia

The slender, sun-dappled leaves of the orange crocosmia sway in the summer breeze, clapping their verdant hands, rejoicing in the summer day. I breathe deeply of the air, the mood, the ambience. This is summer: slow and languid, gentle and lovely. It's how it should be, but not how it has been. Instead, interruptions of tragic phone calls, funeral, and tears. Heaviness where frivolity should reign. Hotels and rental cars in place of lazy boredom in the heat.

But God's blessing comes in the waving crocosmia. In the warm sun on my face. A cold beer. A kiss on the temple before sleepy eyes greet the day.

We are not together anymore, but those who remain will speak more boldly. Embrace more readily. Breathe summer air and gaze intently at the dancing crocosmia while it's in bloom...

Attitude Adjustment

Recently, as I’ve been walking with family and friends through tragedy and the waves of difficulties in life, I’ve been reminded of some foundational truths that I fear I’d lost sight of. In wondering how God will turn around my circumstances or what He will reveal about the purpose and direction of my life, some words of Scripture in song have pierced through what I think has been selfish thinking as my thoughts and prayers have been rather jennicentric. Like Nicolaus Copernicus discovered that the sun, not the earth, was the center of the universe, I am having to replace myself as the center of things with the Son.

Yes, God comes to us in pain and He is near when we call Him. He does care about what concerns us and He can work miracles in our lives and in the lives of the people around us. However, when my eyes are on those things alone, it is easy to forget that I am simply a sinner in need of grace. I was lost and now am found. I needed a Savior to understand God and it is only by His blood and power that I am who I’m becoming.

Take a look at this sober reminder of basic theology with me, will you?

²¹ But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. ²² We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

²³ For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. ²⁴ Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. ²⁵ For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, ²⁶ for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.

²⁷ Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. ²⁸ So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.

²⁹ After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is. ³⁰ There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. ³¹ Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law. (Romans 3:21-31 NLT)

Verse 22 resonates strongly with me: We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. How can I live my life for weeks at a time without at least acknowledging that fact? Do I really begin to believe that I’m pretty good on my own and that God continues to exist to meet my needs and show off for me? I don’t want to say that’s what it comes down to, but I don’t see what else my lack of humility and appreciation in light of Christ’s sacrifice could communicate to God.

Is it possible to be so consumed by pain or distracted by blessing that I forget my position before the Creator of the universe? Apparently it is and I am dismayed.

Look at the following verses that reflect attitudes toward sin and compare it to yours. What does the comparison do to you?

“I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.” (Psalm 38:18)

“Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD’ – and you forgave the guilt of my sin.” (Psalm 32:5)

“When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’

Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.’

When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, ‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!’ (Luke 5:4-8)

Is it true that we are freed from the penalty of our sins? If so, then I need to rejoice!

Do we believe that there should even be a penalty? If so, I should be grateful that it has been paid.

Do we take God’s mercy for granted? If so, I have discovered where to begin the list of sins to confess.

Does my reality reflect my theology if I live as if my sin just slows me down a little instead of acknowledging that it prevents me from a relationship with my Father unless I come through the Son? If so, my reality needs an adjustment to the Word of God, which says that I am separated from God without Jesus. But through Jesus I am reconciled. Adopted. Forgiven. Accepted.

Jesus paid it all,

All to Him I owe;

Sin had left a crimson stain,

He washed it white as snow.

Knowing Jesus is the only way to know myself. And when the comparison makes itself known, I, like Simon Peter, fall at Jesus’ knees and fully realize the disparity between his holiness and my sinfulness. My attitudes are selfish and self-serving. My words bring death instead of life. My love and concern for even those closest to me is feeble, not to mention the distance I have to grow in learning to care for the poor and marginalized in society. I am not a self-help project who has hit a snag in my quest for improvement; I am a wretch, justified and purchased at the high price of my Savior’s blood. But I want to be so much more.

• Dare to pray Psalm 139: 23-24 this week and mean it.

God-Confidence

I just finished reading Elizabeth Edwards’ book Resilience. She reflects on death, cancer and marital heartache. I know a little something about all three from the past few years of my life, albeit with different details. And yesterday as I contemplated the very recent death of my sister-in-law, my cancer-free child coughing on the couch, and my distant and moody husband, it all felt very present, intense and a little overwhelming. Even a little scary.

Our family’s emotions have run the gamut in the past month, since my sister-in-law was killed. Fear, anger, sadness, disbelief. And I believe there’s a place for all of them in the framework of God’s sovereign love and power. But when does it become destructive to engage in, or dare I say indulge in, certain thoughts and emotions? Where’s the line between the natural progression of healing and obsessive? And is it too early to judge?

Having already wrestled with some hard emotional and theological issues when our son was diagnosed with cancer at age 8, my questions through this round of emotional trauma are different. I learned (through personal experience and the truth of God’s Word) over the course of Charlie’s illness and recovery that God is God. He is good no matter what. He is present and loves me perfectly. He placed the stars in the universe, the planets in orbit, and the individual blood cells in our bodies are under His control. I never asked, “Why Charlie?” when he got cancer. I knew that this world is broken and diseased and we are victims of it. The gospels tell us that rain falls on the wicked as well as the righteous. Good people get cancer and wicked people don’t. C’est la vie. Maybe it was easier to swallow because Charlie recovered and we just celebrated his 13 birthday. Some parents at Seattle Children’s Hospital didn’t go home with their children at the end of treatment. Their theological battles were probably different than mine.

This time around, I’m faced with integrating abstract theology with very personal and unpleasant life experience in a new way. If God reserved wrath and destruction and great personal suffering for His own children when they turned away from Him in the days before the captivity (Old Testament prophets, etc.), how does the grace of Jesus Christ fit now? If I believe that God is powerful enough to have stopped the attack on my sister-in-law and that He loved her perfectly, where do I go with the frustration that He didn’t stop it? Why is there unspeakable evil in the world that God seemingly ignores? And does He really want redemption for everyone, including the man that killed my sister-in-law? Does mercy always triumph over judgment?

So, as I wrestle with some of these issues, I find great comfort in resting on the ones that have already been settled for me. As I’ve been reading through Jeremiah this summer, the following verses were the first that spoke to me again in a way that felt familiar – like God quickening my heart to hear Him:

⁵This is what the LORD says:

“Cursed is the one who trusts in man,

who depends on flesh for his strength

and whose heart turns away from the LORD.

⁶He will be like a bush in the wastelands;

he will not see prosperity when it comes.

He will dwell in the parched places of the desert,

In a salt land where no one lives.

⁷But blessed is the man who trusts

in the LORD,

whose confidence is in him.

⁸He will be like a tree planted by the water

that sends out its roots by the stream.

It does not fear when heat comes;

Its leaves are always green.

It has no worries in a year of drought

And never fails to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:5-8)

The contrast in the cursed one and the blessed one is clear: trusting in God brings peace and blessing while trusting in anything else brings unrest, worry and fear. I know which I want to choose. And I reap the benefits when I follow through. I can see from life experience that this passage doesn’t mean that nothing bad will happen to those who love and trust God and that people who don’t trust Him will be consistently miserable. What I do know is that when my confidence is in God – His mercy, His sovereignty, His perfect love for me, and His strength – I can be more like the tree that bears fruit and doesn’t have fear or anxiety the way I do when I look to other things. Have you experienced that? Is it not true that when we are connected to God and trusting Him for the outcome of our circumstances and the well being of our hearts that we are less anxious and less fearful?

So how does this play out when life is just too much? What does it all mean? When life is difficult and there’s a struggle to get through – hope of relief at the end of a trying time – we wait for God’s reassurance that things will be okay. But what about when the worst possible life scenario has already happened and there’s just waiting for the present pain to subside? What can we cling to? What should we look for? How does God show up now?

I’m finding that so much of the relationship that God and I have built together over the years is the foundation upon which I’m drawing strength and comfort now. I’m not learning new things about God or myself in this season as much as I’m being reminded of what I already knew. It is true that perfect love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18). God really is source of comfort, my rock, my fortress, my hope (Psalm 71). It was true in my head; now it’s true in my life. I haven’t had to run to God for comfort so much as I’ve just been made aware that I was already connected to Him.

I can trust in the criminal justice system or my own fortitude or the possessions in my home. But to have my trust there requires that my heart turn away from God and I miss out on peace and comfort in His Presence. On the other hand, when my confidence is in Him – when I come to the full realization that His Presence is more important than the answers – then fear fades, worries evaporate, and fruit in my life blossoms and nourishes.

• Read Psalm 1. How does this psalm expand your understanding of what it means to put your confidence in God? What practical steps can you take this week toward that goal?

• Read Psalm 27:13-14. How does this confidence differ from what some people may label as “blind faith”? What kinds of things in your life lead you toward that kind of God-confidence? How can you build more into your life?

Singing in Prison

Did you know that singing can bring healing and health to the temporal lobes and maybe the deep limbic system of your brain? In a recent book by Dr. Daniel Amen called Change Your Brain Change Your Life there is considerable evidence that humming, singing and even talking can enhance the part of our brains that is responsible for mood and memory. I have a friend who says she can’t wait to get to Heaven when she’ll be able to sing with the angels since people here don’t appreciate her voice! The act itself is good for us and it can often bring us closer to God. Look at how Paul and Silas experienced that when in prison:

²³ After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown in to prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. ²⁴ Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

²⁵ About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. ²⁶ Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose. ²⁷ The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. ²⁸ But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” (Acts 16:23-28)

Imagine sitting in a cold, dark prison and the new guys start singing in the middle of the night. Well, you’re not really getting much sleep anyway so why not have a listen? But why are prisoners praying out loud and singing in the dark? Why does the caged bird sing, after all?

Because the alternative is to shrivel up and concede that the darkness is more powerful and allow the lie that God is not able to save and comfort to become truth in our minds. Paul and Silas chose to run to God for solace and believe the truth they’d come to know about Him, namely that He is all-powerful and all-loving and present with them, even in difficult circumstances. Joseph must have discovered something similar in prison when he was falsely accused of acting inappropriately with the wife of Pharaoh’s official, Potiphar. And Daniel had to have experienced God’s presence in the lions’ den when the angry leaders had him thrown in for praying, of all things! And I would guess that the prophet Jeremiah found comfort in God when his enemies threw him into a dry well and left him for dead because of the unpleasant messages he was speaking. How can we know that these men relied on God in their trouble? Because of what they said and how they acted when they were freed. Only time with God produces the kind of character and clarity that these followers of God modeled after their brushes with death. And in all of those cases – Old and New Testament examples – the people around them were influenced or dramatically changed because of the faith of those imprisoned.

Not surprisingly, I see some patterns in these stories that can be applied to our lives by asking a few questions about the scene that was played out.

Why were Paul and Silas in prison? There had been a slave girl with a spirit by which she predicted the future and earned a great deal of money for her owners that ran into Paul and Silas as they were out and about preaching and healing in the name of Jesus. They cast that spirit out of her when they saw that it wasn’t of God and the people went nuts, having them beaten and thrown in jail. Their imprisonment came about because of their obedience to God’s call on their lives. Seasons of darkness are sometimes caused by our disobedience, but sometimes they come when we are doing everything right. And God’s timing and plan are always perfect.

How did Paul and Silas respond to their circumstances? They were praying and singing. Their focus was on God, not their situation. They chose hope over despair and faith over fear. In Bill Hybel’s book, Too Busy Not to Pray, he says that the key to prayer that builds our faith is to focus not on the mountain that needs moving, but on the mountain-mover Himself. If we discipline ourselves to focus on God and His character instead of our circumstances or our pain, we will be more likely to connect the dots when He actually answers our prayer.

What happened when they prayed? The first question I wrote in my journal when I read this passage was, “What were they praying for?” Could Paul and Silas have possibly been praying for what eventually happened? How could they have even imagined this outcome?! But they put themselves in a position to hear from God, to be comforted by Him, and to see Him do whatever He was going to do, and then did He ever deliver! Earthquake, doors flying open, prisoners’ chains coming undone, the jailer falling to his knees wanting to be saved… what?! Even if Paul and Silas didn’t expect God to show up exactly like this, there was no doubt that He was acting since there was no other possible explanation. When we pray in the darkness, even when we don’t know exactly what to pray for, we can expect something and be ready for anything.

As I looked back over times in my life that were particularly trying, I tried to lay these filters over my circumstances to see how they applied in my life. What did I do in those times when life fell apart? And did God show up?

I begged. There were many times when my prayers weren’t eloquent – or even comprehensible. They consisted of “Pleeeeeez…” when waiting for blood test results for my son during his cancer treatment. I relied heavily on Romans 8:26 when my marriage was falling apart: “…the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” My guttural prayers were certainly in that category.

I asked, “What are you showing me?” That question became its own prayer in hard times as I desperately searched for meaning in my suffering and wanted so badly to please God and become more like him – especially if it meant this hard lesson could be over! No joke.

I relied on what I knew was true. We don’t have to believe every thought that comes in our heads and it’s wise not to, especially when wild emotions and circumstances are involved. Memorizing key Scriptures when life is going well is crucial to having a foundation to fall back on when it’s not. Even when I didn’t feel it, I told myself over and over that God did, in fact, want what was best for me and the He was, in fact, in control of my circumstances. I willed myself to believe what was true, not what I felt. That was huge.

I would never choose the most difficult periods of my life over comfort and unadulterated joy, but in retrospect, I can fully embrace them and be thankful because I now know God more deeply than I would if life had been easy. And the people around me have been changed along with me because of those times. That’s not coincidence; it’s how God operates. Yes, Paul and Silas were freed from their chains, but God’s plan included the jailer and his family, too. Yes, Joseph got out of prison by interpreting the Pharaoh’s dream, but God’s plan included all of Jacob’s children and the entire nation of Israel, ultimately. People are watching us in dark times and the result of trusting God and focusing on Him in that darkness has an impact on those around us. We can pray like Elijah, before King Ahab and prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel: “Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” (1 Kings 18:37) That, I’m convinced, is one of His favorite prayers.

• What Scripture do you rely upon in hard times? When did you first discover its comfort and relevance? How has God used that Scripture in your life since then? If you don’t have places in the Bible that you turn to in hard times, do a search and memorize one or more verses for future reference.

• Read more of the story. Expand on today’s lesson by going to Acts 16:16-40 and reading the context surrounding Paul and Silas’ imprisonment. Where do you see yourself in this story? Did you have a dramatic conversion experience when you first came into a relationship with Christ? Have you seen God show up in unexplainable ways when you were crying out to Him in prayer or song? Spend some time praying over this passage and asking God to reveal something new about Himself and your relationship with Him.

Hard Truth

Have you ever seen kids stick their fingers in their ears and chant, “I can’t hear you. La la la la la”? Imagine how ridiculous adults would look if that was the way we chose to deal with difficult truths in life. And although I don’t know anyone who actually does that, the effect is the same when we refuse to hear God’s truth from Him directly or from those He has sent to reveal truth to us.

I am convinced more and more that some people simply do not want to hear the truth if it is painful, inconvenient or unpleasant, even if they know that pushing through the hard part will ultimately bring freedom and higher quality relationships. They are in denial, averse to confrontation, or just plain scared. It’s human nature, to some degree, to seek comfort in our lives and to avoid pain. However, because humans have the capacity to reason instead of just react, we can choose what seem to be difficult actions in order to reap a greater reward. No pain, no gain. Case in point, the prophet Amos.

As a southerner preaching bad news in the north, his message was not received well. This shepherd-turned-prophet was called by God to tell the nation of Israel that her time of freedom as a nation was coming to an end due to stubborn rebellion. Instead of turning to God in repentance, one of the nation’s priests threatens Amos and twists his words to protect the people and the king from hearing the cold, hard truth that God’s patience had come to an end.

¹⁰ Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent a message to Jeroboam king of Israel: “Amos is raising a conspiracy against you in the very heart of Israel. The land cannot bear all his words. ¹¹ For this is what Amos is saying:

“ ‘Jeroboam will die by the sword,

and Israel will surely go into exile,

away from their native land.’ ”

¹² Then Amaziah said to Amos, “Get out, you seer! Go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there and do your prophesying there. ¹³ Don’t prophesy anymore at Bethel, because this is the king's sanctuary and the temple of the kingdom.”

¹⁴ Amos answered Amaziah, “I was neither a prophet nor a prophet’s son, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees. ¹⁵ But the LORD took me from tending the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’ ¹⁶ Now then, hear the word of the LORD…” (Amos 7:10-16)

Amos was minding his own business taking care of sheep and sycamore-fig trees when God specifically commissioned him with the task of bringing a message of coming wrath to Israel. He didn’t want to go preach the message any more than the people wanted to hear it. But that didn’t matter nearly as much as God’s desire and sovereign timing to bring His plan to fruition. So whether we find ourselves in the role of truth telling or truth hearing, there are some lessons here on what to do and what not to do in order to allow God’s truth to have its effect in our lives and in the lives of people around us.

Amaziah was a priest in Bethel, where after the ten northern tribes broke away from Judah and Benjamin under the reign of Solomon’s son Rehoboam, a new temple was set up to keep people from having to travel all the way to Jerusalem to worship. Forget the fact that this was contrary to God’s plan from the beginning. Things went from bad to worse once anyone could become a priest, and the worship of Yahweh became adulterated by being mixed with other religions from surrounding areas. Since the temple in Bethel was set up by the rebel kings and run by priests of their choice, Amaziah and King Jeroboam II must have felt they had some control over the messages that were spoken there. Even so, Amaziah made a couple of mistakes:

1) He twisted Amos’ words. Amos never plotted against King Jeroboam and he never said that he would die by the sword. It’s true that God’s message included exile for the nation of Israel, but Amaziah’s reluctance to hear something negative compelled him to turn God’s message into a false one of treason. This is a great example of what not to do when someone is trying to tell us what we may not want to hear. We need to be sure we are hearing the actual message and not making up parts as we go along. This penchant for mixing truth with fiction is not only what makes the slumber party game of “Telephone” so amusing; it’s also one of Satan’s best tricks to whip us into an emotional frenzy and paralyze us from any sort of useful action. Practically speaking, repeating back to someone what you think you heard is very helpful in the communication process so anger and defensive attitudes don’t overrule what God is trying to do in our lives through a message of truth.

2) He sent away the truth. Amaziah told Amos to go back home and stop speaking hard words to the people. He was ostensibly trying to protect the people and the king, but in reality was declaring a “no conflict zone” in what he called “the king’s sanctuary” (Amos 7:13). Instead of bringing the nation’s leader in on the issue, Amaziah blurred the lines of church and state to such a degree that the temple of God and the temple of the kingdom were synonymous! God will not allow any political leader to dictate His message. Instead of dealing with the dilemma head on, Amaziah effectively closed his ears (and his heart) to what God was trying to tell him through Amos. And Amaziah was supposed to be working for God! Proverbs 27:6 says that “wounds from a friend can be trusted”. When someone we know and trust comes to us with hard things to hear, there is value in pushing through the discomfort to hear what God has for us. We do ourselves no favors and sell ourselves short by sending away those in our lives who would tell us the truth.

What about Amos? As a reluctant and untrained prophet, Amos had to depend fully on God to supply the message and to do damage control when the audience was less than pleased with the delivery. From this short book bearing his name we can gather the following information about Amos:

1) His message was from God. Amos was minding his own business with the sheep when God gave him visions of locusts, fire, fruit, destruction, desolation, and ultimate justice. He tells Amaziah this when he is threatened. Look at verse 15: “But the LORD took me from tending the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’ ” The message, its timing, its recipients, and the prophet were all orchestrated by God Himself. He alone took the initiative and there was nothing to gain for Amos in delivering the message. This is one way to test our motivation in telling others a hard truth. What are we hoping for? If our goal in speaking what is true is to humiliate, dominate or hurt another person, chances are the message is not one God wants us to speak. If, on the other hand, after praying about the issue and asking God to open up channels of communication, we sense Him prompting us to speak and we are hoping for reconciliation or understanding in the relationship, it is easier to trust that God is in it.

2) He was bold and courageous. Although one doesn’t necessarily think of shepherds as being brave as warriors, there are complementary skill sets. David told King Saul that he had battled lions and bears to protect his flock of sheep, so the giant Goliath didn’t scare him. (1 Sam. 17:36) Amos must have had confidence in his skills to come into a foreign nation to preach bad news, but more importantly, he must have had confidence in the God who sent him. He had so much confidence, in fact, that he was being led and strengthened by God, that his response to Amaziah’s threat was to deliver a personal message from God concerning his own future: “Your wife will become a prostitute…and your sons and daughters will fall by the sword…and you yourself will die in a pagan country.” (Amos 7:17) When God has called us to speak truth and our confidence is firmly rooted in Him, we can speak and act with boldness, knowing that He who called us is faithful and that His strength and grace are sufficient for us in our weakness.

If we are wise we will engage the truth when it appears in our lives and we will commit to speaking and living it with passion. Anything less is choosing a shallow relationship with God and with others. There is immeasurable value in allowing hard words of truth to penetrate our defenses. Jesus comforted the disciples by telling them that the Holy Spirit would come after His departure and that He would guide them (and us) into all truth. (John 16:13) We can trust that God’s Spirit will reveal truth to us with the purpose of revealing Himself and transforming us into His image. And He who calls us is faithful.

• When have you had to speak hard truth to a friend or family member? What emotions were you experiencing? Fear? Trepidation? Were you afraid that the message you were going to deliver might not be from God? How did you proceed?

• What is normally your reaction to hearing something difficult about yourself? Does it matter who delivers the message? How do you determine what is true and what’s not?

• What is your reaction to Jesus’ words in John 8:31-32, when he says, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”? What are the implications of that truth in your life?

God's Part and Our Part

What if you were told that you had to go up on the tight rope in the circus and walk from one end of the tent to the other? Here’s the deal: there’s a net beneath you that will catch you and you won’t die. Also good news, your body has been supernaturally strengthened so that you will heal from the scrapes and bruises when you fall. And an expert will walk with you the whole way. But there is some bad news, too. You will fall. That’s certain. Over and over again. And the crowd will boo you and throw things at you the whole time. But you have to walk – no other option. And here are your instructions to prepare for this task: Get ready, don’t be afraid, and walk. Are you excited?

The prophet Jeremiah faced a similar dilemma. Don’t rack your brain trying to remember the circus scene from Sunday school when you learned about the Old Testament prophets. That twist is mine. But the scenario has some similarities. Look at the passage I’m referring to:

¹⁷ “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. ¹⁸ Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land – against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. ¹⁹ They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 1:17-19)

This is the introduction to the Old Testament book of Jeremiah, named after the prophet who wrote it. He also is credited with the book of Lamentations, which comes right after Jeremiah in the Bible. He is known in many circles as “The Weeping Prophet” because he really didn’t have much good news for the nation of Judah. His tenure as prophet came toward the end of the 5^th century B.C. And his job was a tough one, as we can learn from his marching orders in this first chapter. Earlier in the chapter, God tells Jeremiah that he has been set apart from before birth to say whatever God commands him as he has been appointed as a prophet to the nations to tell of their pending destruction and captivity. Yay.

This particular passage sets up the rest of the book and is perfect foreshadowing for Jeremiah’s plight as a bearer of bad news. As with most of the Old Testament prophets, however, God’s punishment for His children is because of centuries of disobedience and hard-hearted, stiff-necked attitudes and behaviors. And there is always the good news of restoration and redemption for the repentant.

So what does this passage have to do with us, thousands of years later? That’s the exciting part! Look at what God is responsible for and what Jeremiah is responsible for in this arrangement.

Here is God’s part.

He will command Jeremiah what to say. (1:17) God is responsible for the message. In His perfect sovereignty and knowledge, He will instruct Jeremiah in every situation so that the words coming out of Jeremiah’s mouth will perfectly reflect God’s message.

He has made Jeremiah strong (fortified city, iron pillar, bronze wall) to stand against the enemies that will fight him. (1:18) This is in the past tense; it’s already been done. Jeremiah has already been given everything he needs to be successful at the task God has called him to. And the imagery is of materials that are impenetrable, sturdy and designed to withstand great force from enemies. This is exactly what Jeremiah needs for God’s assignment.

He is with Jeremiah. (1:19) The ultimate defense is having God with you. The Presence of God Almighty was what guided the fleeing Hebrews in the desert after their escape from Egypt. God’s Presence comforted and rescued the faithful Hebrews Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when the king had thrown them in the fiery furnace. God’s Presence comforted Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane and gave Him courage to face the cross. When God says, “I am with you” it is enough.

He will rescue Jeremiah. (1:19) There will be hard times ahead for the prophet, but God’s promise for the future is that He will rescue His servant from the enemies that will attack him. The going will be tough, but God will save Jeremiah to continue preaching His message.

So if God has covered Jeremiah past, present and future, what’s left for Jeremiah to do? That’s where we can learn something. Look at Jeremiah’s job description:

Get yourself ready! This term in the Hebrew language has a military connotation that implies the act of a soldier wrapping a sash or belt around himself to prepare for combat. A physical and preemptive action before an enemy attack. In the seasons of life, there are actions we can take to prepare ourselves for the next spiritual challenge. There are times of struggle and there are times of peace. The times of peace are for preparation. Getting ready. If we seek God in our times of peace, His Presence will be more tangible and we will be better equipped to face the times of difficulty.

Stand up and obey. There is to be no cowering obedience for Jeremiah. No apologetic delivery of God’s pronouncement of coming wrath. He is to stand and speak God’s message loud and proud! And everything in this section of Scripture indicates that Jeremiah will know when it’s time to speak – when the time of preparation is over. And then… action! Speak away! God’s instructions to Joshua were of a fighting nature, too, but they were definitely military in nature. Jeremiah is to speak. Everyone has a specific calling from God and when we discover it, we are to move. But only when we’ve prepared. See how it all fits together? It would be easier if not for this last part…

Do not be terrified. After preparation to move, there’s that part about controlling fear. This seems to say that we can control our fear. The root word of this has definitions that include cracking, shattering, and panic. There will be an adrenaline rush at the moment of obedience, and that may be the inklings of fear. But we do, in fact, have control over our thoughts and emotions and we can act in spite of them when necessary. 2 Corinthians 10:5 instructs us to take our thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ. We decide between fight and flight. We limit our fear when we remember God’s promises and how He has come through for us in the past and how He will be faithful in the future.

So how do we prepare for a challenge ahead? How do we control our fear? And how do we move forward in obedience, even against opposition? By focusing on what God has done, is doing and will do in our lives when we partner with Him to advance His Kingdom. He has created us and called us to live unique and dynamic lives in intimate relationship with Him. Sometimes we are in a season of preparation and waiting and then the command to move comes. Will we be ready? What are we seeking in the meantime? Where is our focus? These are questions worth pondering. So get ready, control your fear, and obey!

Read the following passages and write or think about what they tell you about God’s activity in your life. What is your response to these truths? How can they make a difference in your life if you really lived as if they were true?

•Deuteronomy 31:6 •Psalm 118:6,7 •Matthew 28:20

•Ephesians 1:3-14 •2 Peter 1:3-4 •Revelation 2:10