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No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love. Psalms 147:11
God loves when we can’t.
A young man came home from school one day full of anger, defeat and rejection. When his dad asked him what was wrong he shared, in tears, that he was about to be cut from his high school basketball team. He would be evaluated the next day and the coaches would decide.
His dad, a former coach himself, took him outside and played basketball with him for a couple hours. They talked. They laughed and in between times the father shared pointers on basketball…and life.
Later, as the son headed off to bed, the father put his arm around him and told him, “Son, tomorrow is a big day for you, but not the biggest challenge you’ll face in life. Know this, I don’t love you because of your basketball skills. I don’t love you because of your grades. I don’t love you because of your popularity. I love you because you are my child and nothing will ever change that.”
The next day, the son returned home in a good mood.
The father looked at him and said, “You must have made the team?”
“No,” the son replied, “But I know now that my value isn’t caught up in who I am, but in whose I am.”
And so it is in life. Don’t allow the expectations and circumstances that surround you to define you. Your worth isn’t in what you do, or your accomplishments or your status. God takes value in you because you are first and foremost of all made in his image. His love never fails.
Fearing the Lord isn’t being afraid of his judgment, fearing the Lord is being in awe of his love and grace.
I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then. Joshua 14:11
“Age is just a number.”
Oftentimes, when people say that they are making a statement about the value they see in themselves.
“Don’t count me out!”
“Don’t let my age influence how you see me!”
“See my value, not my gray hair!”
Caleb was a man of faith. In his younger days, he was a courageous and mighty warrior. As he grew older, he watched as faithless family members died around him due to their lack of faith in God’s promise to give them the Promised Land.
We don’t hear much about Caleb as the people of Israel conquered the land God had promised them, but when it came time to claim the portion of land Moses promised him, he spoke up.
To paraphrase, he said something like this, “Don’t count me out! Don’t let my age fool you. My body may be older, but I can still perform the things God has called me to do.”
Paul says something similar to Timothy although it is regarding the other end of the spectrum. While Caleb was old, Timothy was young. Some may have looked down on Caleb because he was old. Some may have looked down on Timothy because he was young.
The message God has for us is this, “Don’t let age influence your influence.” As a member of the older generation, I need to learn from those younger than me, but also realize God’s not done with me yet.
Those in younger generations would be wise to glean knowledge and wisdom from those who have gone before us. If we don’t learn from the mistakes of history we are going to repeat them.
At whatever stage of life you are in, God can use you in mighty ways. Our world will be a better place is we glean Godly wisdom from those in every generation. God has walked through each generation. He’s the same yesterday, today and forever.
Keep learning. Keep active. Keep open to what others have/are learning. Learning is a life-long process God has ordained for our success.
See, God has come to save me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. The Lord God is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. Isaiah 12:2
Throughout history Satan has tried to destroy us. I’m quite sure as he watched Adam and Eve eat of the fruit of the tree he smiled with glee. He’d done it. He’d destroyed the relationship God had with His hallmark creation. But he didn’t.
When he gradually took away Job’s wealth, family/friends and health, I’m guessing he giggled. Now Job, God’s poster child would surely reject God. But he didn’t.
When Jesus breathed his last breath on the cross I can imagine him leaping for joy! Victory was his! But it wasn’t.
His tactics haven’t changed. Give the guy some credit. He doesn’t give up easily. His intent is still to defeat those who insist on believing, worshipping and following Jehovah God, the creator of the universe.
He uses a variety of tools from his tool box to try to keep us from enjoying the peace, joy and fulfillment of following Jesus.
He’ll use rejection, which often comes from people who claim to love us but turn away from us.
He slips in doubt by taking away what keeps us comfortable.
He uses fear by reminding us that the future is uncertain.
He instills in us desires that drive us towards things that don’t really satisfy.
These are just a few tools he uses to keep you from experiencing the victory only available through trusting our Heavenly Father in every circumstance. What’s his favorite tool to use on you?
People will fail you. Situations will cause you to want to doubt and fear. Remember, our Sovereign God is loving and our one and only source of true victory in the midst of attack. On the basis of His strength we can sing a song of victory when the enemy attacks.
But I will rescue you from those you fear so much. Because you trusted me, I will give you your life as a reward. I will rescue you and keep you safe. I, the Lord, have spoken! Jeremiah 39:17-18
Fear is the great crippler of society. Fear causes to do things we never thought we would do. Fear allows us to be bullied. Fear opens us to abuse. Fear keeps us from living a life of freedom. Fear has been used for centuries to keep people in check.
Governments, family members, even the church has been guilty of using fear to keep people in line. One sad example is the philosophy some use in the church in which our faith in Jesus is a ‘get out of hell free’ card.
While our faith in Christ indeed promises us that we’ll spend eternity with him, the motivating factor of grace isn’t fear of punishment but love of Jesus. Grace is giving with no hope or standard of paying back.
Do you go to church to fulfill a religious obligation? Stay home. Do you read the Bible so you’ll be a better Christian? Stop wasting your time! Sound harsh? When we go to church, or any other religious activity out of obligation we are simply joining in legalism.
The Apostle Paul spent most of his writings reminding us we are saved by faith, not works. Other New Testament writers totally concur. Our hope comes from a love relationship with Jesus.
Freedom comes when we grow deeper in our love for him, not in participating in more and more religious activities. A love relationship with Jesus never involves fear.
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. Colossians 3:1-2
It’s a new year. As I write this we are a few days away from watching celebrations across the world as we enter in a brand new year. People will get engaged. Relationships will be healed. Goals will be set. Resolutions will be formed.
Each year is the same. We talk of hope. We talk of new goals. We talk of new opportunities. The problem is, the vast majority of those things pledged entering the new year will go unfulfilled. Changes will be temporary. New crisis’ will form. Life will, at best, go unchanged.
Are we better off than we were a year ago? If we look at things from a worldly point of view I think we’d all agree things aren’t getting better. In fact, if you look at things like world hunger, wars and rumors of wars, disease, relational and racial conflict, mental health issues and more, it can get pretty depressing!
So, how can we rise above the discouraging things looming in the shadows of the future and maintain a positive outlook on life?
Perhaps we need to look at the world situation through the eyes of our new life. Paul reminds us that when we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior we are no longer citizens of earth, but of heaven. Here, in Colossians he tells us to focus on the realities of heaven. He isn’t telling us to be so heavenly minded we are of no earthly good. Not at all. But he is challenging us to allow the situations we face to pass through the lens of Heavenly Realities.
What are some of those Heavenly Realities?
- Our God is Sovereign. All things are under his control, especially those things we don’t understand, those things that worry us, those things that cause us pain.
- God never asks us to understand him, he asks us to trust him.
- God’s love for us is new every day. He never gets weary of hearing from you, watching over you, helping you heal.
- You are God’s number one! You are made in His image; given eternal life through His Son, Jesus; Empowered by His Spirit to accomplish all He has planned for you.
- The worst day in heaven will still be better than the best day on earth.
These are just a few things we can focus on as we enter a new year, as we enter new challenges, as new worries attack us. Can you think of more? The true hope of the new year looks back to that baby in the manger!
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 