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Can an Ethiopian change the color of his skin? Can a leopard take away its spots? Neither can you start doing good, for you have always done evil. Jeremiah 13:23 (NLT)
It really shouldn’t surprise us, but it does. News reports come across every day of parents brutally abusing children; of domestic violence; of people we put in political office because of their integrity only to find out they lied to us.
Professional athletes fail as role models for our children while those who are out in left field attract them. Marriage is made a mockery and faith has become a ‘personal thing’ based on personal feelings and ideologies.
We ask, the question, ‘When will this all stop?’
The answer is, sadly, never. Sorry to burst your bubble, but we as humans are doomed when it comes to making the world a better place by our own initiatives. All the protest rallies and government intervention and foreign aid won’t solve the problem.
Scientific research may be able to pinpoint certain things to alleviate the symptoms of our disease. But the sad reality is, science has never been able to cure the wound of the human soul.
A brave preacher may on occasion stand before his people and preach a moving sermon against homosexuality, or divorce or pornography and be applauded for his call to repentance.
On the other hand, a preacher that stands before the congregation and speaks out against gluttony or critical spirits or intolerance will be roasted along with the beef at the dinner table.
We who are believers in Jesus Christ like to point fingers at those who don’t believe as we do. We shake our heads at those who follow after a life of sin. We create entire denominations to take a stand against this sin or that sin. But we fail to remember that we are all the same; all humans; all victims of the same disease.
When Jeremiah speaks to God’s people he reminds them that there is nothing good about them and there is nothing they can do to change. Nothing. They were evil from birth; they will be evil until the day they die.
Hopeless situation you may think? Not so. That’s why Jesus came into the world. Galatians 3:13 reminds us that Jesus didn’t take our sin away. He became our sin for us. There is nothing you can do to change your DNA. There is nothing you can do to change your past. There is nothing in your own power you can do to change your desires. Only Jesus Christ can do that when you accept his forgiveness.
Don’t be surprised at the evil around you. Don’t be surprised by the evil you fall into yourself. You are simply doing what humans do. But fear not. In Jesus Christ there is freedom in spite of yourself!
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I’m appalled at the evil that surrounds me. I’m equally appalled at the evil I do in word, thought or deed. I praise you for the fact that even though I can’t change, you have changed me and taken my sin upon you. Praise you Lord, Amen.
An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins. Proverbs 29:22
Way up in northernMinnesotaa small stream barely 40 feet wide and ankle deep begins its slow meandering south. By the time the mighty Mississippi River reaches the Gulf of Mexico, some 2,500 miles and 90 days later it is 200 feet deep and several miles wide!
The mighty Miss has been the subject of many stories throughout history. Some whimsical and romantic, some terrifying and dangerous.
The river is deceptive. Although the surface can look calm and inviting, just below the glass-like appearance is a churning monster that has taken many lives, destroyed homes and farmland and wreaked havoc in its path.
The Mississippi has a lot of similarities to anger. Anger, like theMississippi, can start relatively small. Little things like waking up late can grow as the kids are slow getting ready for school and miss the bus, the car won’t start, you get cut off on the interstate, stuck in traffic and late to work.
Like tributaries add to the Mighty Miss, life circumstances add to the anger. Co-workers fail to pull their weight, the food delivered at lunch isn’t right, and the trip home from work is every bit as frustrating.
By the time you open the front door you are just like the Mighty Miss. On the outside you may look calm and serene. But just below the surface you are ready to lash out at the smallest infraction.
Anger can be most destructive because it lurks below the surface, ready to strike. Like a raging river it destroys everything in its path, completely unconcerned about whether its destruction is of innocent or guilty parties. Anger, when unchecked can cripple us internally by leading to frustration, vindictiveness, bitterness and a critical spirit.
Physically anger can affect us too by leading to ulcers, heart problems and a variety of other maladies. Anger is a relationship buster as well.
So what can we do with anger? First of all, don’t let it grow. Take it to the Lord as soon as you sense anger beginning to grow. Jesus understands what frustration is like, He knows what it is like to be mistreated, misunderstood and wrongfully accused. He sees your attempts to do the right thing, and your failure to accomplish your goals.
Many times anger happens when we lose sight of who we are in Christ. Focusing on his love for us and his understanding of our frustrations is the first step to dealing with the anger issues. Realizing that we are not responsible for the behavior of others releases us to let God be God in the lives of those who disappoint us. Trust in God to do the right thing in his time can go a long ways to defeating anger and it’s destructive results before they happen.
PRAYER: Father God. I confess to you that I’m angry. I’m disappointed with the way life is treating me. I’m frustrated because I can’t seem to accomplish the things I set out to do. I’m tired of being falsely accused and misunderstood. Empower me with your Spirit to squelch feelings of anger before they start. Protect me from allowing my circumstances to affect my attitude. In Jesus name, Amen.
What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ. Philippians 3:8
What are you holding on to that keeps you from selling out completely for Jesus?
That’s a hard question that frankly none of us really wants to answer because it forces us to look deep within ourselves and evaluate what is really important. It’s easy to give up things we can’t hold on to anyway. You can give up your worldly possessions when they are burned in a fire or blown away by a tornado. You have no choice. They are gone.
But what about the things in life we really cherish. The relationships we’ve been building for years; the retirement package we’ve worked so hard and so wisely to build; the children we’ve raised. When they get taken from you is your attitude one of acceptance or does their loss drive you to despair, anger, bitterness and frustration.
The easy answer to all this (as if there were an ‘easy answer) is to ask yourself if what you are getting in return is better than what you have. The problem with this ‘easy answer’ is that too often we have to wait until all the cards are played out before we know if we are better off than we were before.
The Apostle Paul was, by the standards of his world at the time, destined for fame and glory. He was all the things men in his era would hope to be. Educated, powerful, highly-esteemed. Yet one day on the road toDamascushis life was changed forever. Everything Paul had worked to build was gone in a flash of light.
Later, he writes to the church inPhilippiand says, “Looking back, I now realize that all the things I fought for, all the things I worked so hard to attain, all the things I thought were important and that I couldn’t live without, pale in comparison to knowing Jesus.
Paul compared everything he considered dear to garbage! He looked at what he had then and stood it side-by-side with what he had found in Jesus and all the things that he’d fought so hard for looked like nothing more that a stinking, smelly, rotten pile of trash. Yuk.
So, the question that comes to each of our minds must be this. What are you fighting so hard to keep? When you compare those items to knowing Christ, how do they compare?
It’s easy to answer this question about some things, but what about the ‘good things’ you have? Is your ministry more important than the one you minister for? Is your family more important than the one who created families? Is the money you are fighting so hard to keep more important than the one who ‘owns the cattle on a thousand hills’?
Nothing, absolutely nothing you can think of, or hold in your hand or dream in wildest dreams can compare to knowing Christ and until you are ready to give it all up, you will never experience the freedom he died to give you.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, in my heart you are worth everything to me, but in my actions it’s so easy to put other things in front of you. Empower me with your Spirit to be able to give everything up for you. Amen.
But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. Psalm 13:5
Interesting little word, the word ‘but’. It can be used to signify a change in direction: “I was going to go to the ball game BUT it rained so I went shopping instead.
It can be used to describe actions that seem contrary, “He wanted to speak up, BUT he was afraid”.
But can be used to signify actions that may seem heroic and strong, “He could have died BUT he went in after the young boy anyway.”
But can describe an attitude of heart, of commitment and of being resigned to a particular action, thought or emotion as well.
In Psalm 13 David vividly expresses the emotions of a man who is stressed out, under attack and questioning God. When will this end? When will you deliver me? When will my enemies be defeated? When will I finally get a decent night’s sleep? When will I finally have enough money at the end of the month? When will my son/daughter get their life straightened out? When…?
In the midst of the storm, when there really is no indication of relief, when the noise of rockets and bombs is still heard, and defeat seems imminent, David comes to a decision.
“But I trust in your unfailing love…”.
Ultimately, David’s trust in God was based on the favor God bestowed on him spiritually even though it wasn’t recognizable in his physical circumstances. The things that were most troubling to him were superficial regardless of the struggle they brought into his life. None of them would ever take away the favor God bestowed on him. The bestowing of God’s favor has never guaranteed we would be without turmoil, in fact, the opposite is true.
As he contemplated his situation, David realized that none of his trouble took away the friendship he had with God. True friendship is shown to be strongest in the midst of the battle because a true friend will fight for you when he can, but stand by you regardless of the situation.
In the midst of enemy attack, David remembered that while the enemy could take away everything he held dear, including his life, the enemy would never be able to steal the promises God had for him. Promises of salvation, grace, mercy and eternal love. Those were things the Psalmist could rely in regardless of circumstance.
Regardless of what you are in the midst of today, remember these two things. You will go through trying times in which there seems no way out. Those times may be at the hands of others or the result of your own decisions. Whatever those struggles are, you can come boldly to the throne of grace and talk to your Father about the situation.
Secondly, as the Psalmist says in the midst of his struggle, you can trust your loving Heavenly Father to deliver you in his time. Nothing can take you from his arms.
PRAYER: Lord as the storm rages around me, thank you that I can stand firm in the fact that your love, your friendship; your promises will never be taken from me. Help me to rest in these promises as I endure the pain. Amen.
How long must I be confused and miserable all day? How long will my enemies keep beating me down? Psalm 13:2 (CEV)
It’s a question we all ask. It comes in a variety of ways, for a variety of reasons. But its meaning and source are the same.
How long will my loved one have to suffer from this cancer? How long will I have to endure a marriage that isn’t fulfilling for me or the kids? How long will this job hunt last? How long will I have to wait for that doctor’s report? How long will this addiction keep me enslaved? How long…?
We can try to find things to take our focus off the question. Some of our activities to try to take our focus off the question are noble. We volunteer. We go to church. We enter some ministry to help others. But when we go home at night, in the silence of our own minds the question lurks.
Sometimes we try other things that aren’t quite so noble. We have an affair. We turn to drugs or alcohol. We blame God. We worry. Wait, worry? Is it fair to list worry in the same paragraph as affairs, drugs or blaming God? Sadly, yes. For worry is just another way we say (unintentionally perhaps) that God can’t or won’t take care of you for whatever the reason.
The question hounds us relentlessly. Day and night it lurks in the shadows waiting for an opportune time to attack. A time when our minds, weary from trying to avoid the question lets its guard down. That’s when the enemy attacks.
The enemy, of course, is Satan and we must never lose sight of the fact that celebrates those times when he can keep us subdued. He and is wicked cohorts give each other high fives when we focus so much on the question that we lose sight of the only one who can give the answer.
He’s ruthless too. He not only uses his own mind-bending tactics to attack your soul and mind, he uses people. Sometimes he coerces good church-going people who kick you when you are down in the name of Jesus. Other times he uses evil people intent on causing you harm. Physical harm is bad enough, but those bruises will heal. Emotional bruises on the other hand are hidden from view and take years to heal, if ever.
How long? The answer is two-fold. First of all, our deliverance will come in a time that is best for us. Secondly, the answer will only come from a vibrant faith in God that says, regardless of how long I suffer, I put my trust in thee.
PRAYER: Father, in the midst of my despair, confusion and frustration I confess I’ve lost my focus. I’m focusing so much on the question that I’m crippled from finding you, or the answer for that matter. I thank you that you see my very soul and that you are with me even when I can’t find you. Amen.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 