Trivial Pursuits

The Bible constantly warns us of two things: the pursuit of the temporary--stuff, and the pursuit of "rubbish"--the accolades of men. The reasons are obvious--but so often trivialized; which is, I suppose, to be expected. But not condoned. When our hearts are set on stuff, they are not set on the permanent--the spiritual, the "things above." And as Jesus warned us, stuff, and the worries that inevitably come with stuff, turn fruitful lives into barren lives. The things of this world are the weeds that choke out fruitfulness. "Love not" is His command. "Don't pile up" is His command. There is no satisfaction to be found in the temporary because it doesn't last. How big is your pile of stuff?
The desire for the accolades of men, the "rubbish" as Paul calls it, turns us into men pleasers. It makes our obedience eye service. Such an attitude sabotages any hope on our part of coming to know Him in all His fullness. If the voices I listen to, if the rewards I crave, are not His--are not His Spirit's leading and the Father's "well done," I lose the inner confidence of His love and our relationship is strained at best, quenched at worst. There is no satisfaction to be found in the works of the flesh--the hay and stubble of human effort designed to conspicuously gain man's approval. They will not survive the test of fire. And "fiery trials" are a certainty not a perhaps in the life of each one of His children. How big is your pile of rubbish?
And sometimes those two desires intertwine, do they not? We seek stuff to gain the approval of men. We accumulate in order to impress. And what a collection of garbage that will be. And then we spend our days enveloped by worry and anxiety and insecurity lacking the contentment that can only be found by resting confidently in His love, His provision, His Spirit's inner peace and witness. Beware. Don't let your heart, your love, be wrapped up in the trivial nature of stuff. Don't let your confidence rest in the fickleness of man's approval. Don't let a heart of good soil be inundated by the weeds of earth's worthless treasures.
"Having food and raiment" let us be content. Having a heart that longs to do only those things that please Him let us bask in His loving assurance as His faithful bond-servant and His beloved child. Do you really need more than you have? Do you really need another smile instead of His? And yes, those are rhetorical questions. In our hearts, we know the answers. In our lives lets by His Spirit's empowering grace live the answers day by day.

Unspeakable

"Wide, wide as the ocean, high as the heavens above, deep, deep as the deepest sea is my Savior's love. I, tho' so unworthy, still am a child of His care; for His Word teaches me, that His love reaches me, everywhere."

"For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man; so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen."

"Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gifts!"

"Wide, wide as the ocean, high as the heavens above, deep, deep as the deepest sea is my Savior's love. I, tho' so unworthy, still am a child of His care; for His Word teaches me, that His love reaches me, everywhere."

A Hearing Heart

We know the story. God came to a young man named Solomon who was going to be king over His people and told him: "Whatever you want. Just ask and it's yours." And what he asked for and what God gave him was--literally--a "hearing heart." If only I could stop and reflect on that truth--that a wise heart is a hearing heart--a listening heart. Do you desire godly wisdom? Be slow to speak and quick to listen. Let the meditation of your heart be acceptable in His sight. Be still and listen for His voice. Nothing gets in the way of discernment more quickly than doing more talking than I do listening. Listening even at times builds discernment in the heart of the one who is sharing his heart's problem with me. Numerous times as someone has "talked through" his or her dilemma with me, the solution to the problem becomes abundantly clear to that person without me saying anything more than, "Yes, you're right. That's what would honor God in your situation." How often has it been rewarding to respond to a question with silence, with time alone to think and pray through the "answer" before actually going to the person and saying anything at all. Quietness and reflection--part of a hearing heart--are invaluable in developing godly discernment. Why are we so afraid to say, "Can I pray and think about that and then I'll get back to you with an answer?"--instead of just blurting out, thoughtlessly, the first thing that comes to mind? And how often have I shunned wise counsel--a fool's pride--instead of listening, hearing, those whom God has given insight and wisdom, those in whom God has already developed a listening heart, a teachable spirit. May those whom we love and care for, those who come to us for help, know that they will find a listening, hearing heart. There can be no godly discernment without such a heart.

"Make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding."

Fear of the Lord

"The fear of the Lord is to hate evil."

First, in my own life. Then in the lives of those I love. Then in the culture in which I live. Why?

Evil affects my relationship with my Savior.
Consequences. There are always consequences for evil in anyone's life and in the culture in which I live. Guaranteed. The God of love is the God of righteousness. And justice.

"The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be shortened."

"In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence."

"The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life."

"The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom, and before honor comes humility."

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom"

My attitude toward evil reflects the depth of my reverence for my God. And the breadth of my wisdom.

I cannot love God with all my heart and soul and mind and strength and love my neighbor as myself if I do not hate evil.

Give Thanks

For the redeemed, nothing is more essential on a moment by moment basis than a heart of gratitude.

A vile sinner by birth and choice, He has made you His new creation.
In the time of trouble, He shelters you under His wings.
When your world is in turmoil, He is your Rock of deliverance.
When the winds of adversity roar, He empowers you with the eagle wings of faith.
When men deliberately carry out their evil schemes against you, He transforms it into His lovingkindness.
When the night is long, His mercies are new every morning.
When everyone else forsakes you, great is His faithfulness.
When you come to your senses in the midst of the pig pen, He and His angels will dance and rejoice before the throne of grace.
Your giants He will slay with the sword of His Spirit.
In your abject weakness He will fill you with His joy, empower you with His strength, comfort you with His grace.
In your life--He is always the I AM of your present tense: I AM the Bread of Life, I AM the Light of the world, I AM the Water of Life, I AM the Good Shepherd, I AM the Resurrection and the Life, I AM the True Vine, I AM the Way, I AM the Truth. He is your Bread, your Light, your Water of Life, your Good Shepherd, your Resurrection, your Life, Your True Vine, Your Way, your Truth. This moment and every eternal moment to come--He is your I AM.

"Praise the Lord!
Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty expanse.
Praise Him for His mighty deeds;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.

Praise Him with trumpet sound;
Praise Him with harp and lyre.
Praise Him with timbrel and dancing;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipes.
Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Hallelujah!"

Oh! give thanks unto your Lord, for He is good!

A Revolutionized Life

God is in control.

All things work together for good.

My God shall supply all my need.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and He will direct your paths.

If we really believed those simple truths--and lived like it, it would revolutionize our lives.

Steps

When we choose to sin and disobey God, we take a step away from a sense of His abiding presence--which makes it easier to take the next step away in disobedience.
When we choose to obey God, we draw near to Him and sense more deeply His abiding presence as He, as He promised, draws near to us--which makes the next step of obedience easier.
Mind that first step. And it's always the next one. You never take one that's insignificant.