Acknowledge Him in all your ways
Proverbs 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
In Exodus we find the story of Israel’s war with Amalek. As the battle is progressing we find the following:
Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword.
As I read this passage this morning, I was struck with the need for each of us to be focused on God in all we do (“lifting holy hands,” so to speak). We should probably even find and take extreme measures to help us stay focused on “lifting our hands” in prayer.
Quite often I remember to focus on God when I’m at church, or when I’m preparing for a big test, or when I’m in deep trouble. But I don’t tend to focus on God when I’m filling my car with gas, or when I’m choosing which soda to purchase at the 7-Eleven, or when I’m getting angry about some perceived injustice. I guess that would be especially when I’m getting angry.
May God grant each of us the grace to keep our minds fixed on him at all times.
Can you hear me now?
“And Pharoah hardened his heart…”
It is so easy for us to look at the story of Moses and to wonder at how Pharoah could continue to fight against God’s obvious might and power. This morning I was reading Exodus 9 and was struck with the following passage:
Exodus 9:3-7
“Behold, the hand of the Lord will fall with a very severe plague upon your livestock that are in the field, the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the herds, and the flocks. But the Lord will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing of all that belongs to the people of Israel shall die.” And the Lord set a time, saying, “Tomorrow the Lord will do this thing in the land.” And the next day the Lord did this thing. All the livestock of the Egyptians died, but not one of the livestock of the people of Israel died. And Pharaoh sent, and behold, not one of the livestock of Israel was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.
So after he was told that God would kill all of his nation’s livestock but would not touch the livestock of the Hebrews, then all of Pharoah’s livestock died. He sent scouts to determine the situation with the Hebrews livestock. And the report back was that the Jew’s livestock was fine. And yet he hardened his heart and would not let the people go.
It seems that he was very hard-headed.
But I think we are that hard-headed many times as well. I know that I often hear what God says through his Word, but then I do my own thing anyway. I know that following what God has set out in His Word is the path of least resistance, so to speak, and yet I trudge off down the path that is strewn with logs, tar pits, and cliff faces dropping to certain death. I don’t think we’re so unlike Pharoah—we just don’t want to admit it.
Rising above the crowd
Luke 6:32-36
“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
I find it so easy to pat myself on the back. Like the Pharisee who thanked God that he was not like the tax collectors and sinners, I look at evil people and notice with pride that I am not doing some of their evil acts.
But this is not what I am called to. This passage from Luke reveals that many of the things I think are good deeds are in fact normal courses of action for human beings—loving my friends, loaning money to those I know will pay it back, doing something special for someone who regularly does nice things to me—none of these things rises above the run-of-the-mill actions common to humanity. We are called to love those who hate us, to do good to those who “despitefully use us,” and to loan to people with bad credit. These are the things that will make us as Christians stand out from the crowd.
Rising above the crowd
Luke 6:32-36
“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
I find it so easy to pat myself on the back. Like the Pharisee who thanked God that he was not like the tax collectors and sinners, I look at evil people and notice with pride that I am not doing some of their evil acts.
But this is not what I am called to. This passage from Luke reveals that many of the things I think are good deeds are in fact normal courses of action for human beings—loving my friends, loaning money to those I know will pay it back, doing something special for someone who regularly does nice things to me—none of these things rises above the run-of-the-mill actions common to humanity. We are called to love those who hate us, to do good to those who “despitefully use us,” and to loan to people with bad credit. These are the things that will make us as Christians stand out from the crowd.
A father’s grief
Life is hard. Not much more than that needs be said. We often wonder what God is doing as our lives seem to unravel. I was reminded recently by a friend that it is okay to question God as long as we are willing to accept his answer (or willing to accept his decision to not answer our “why?” question). My friend pointed out that Job asked God “why?” on a number of occasions—even, at one point, asking God why he had been born. But in the end we are told that in all that Job said he did not sin.
Many of my why? questions seem to revolve around my role as a parent. Being a father is not an easy job and I often feel that I am not up to the task. But in my personal bible reading this morning and read part of the story of Joseph and I was struck with a different viewpoint on this story that what we normally think of—the viewpoint of Jacob, Joseph’s father
Imagine the difficulties, agony, and emotional pain Jacob had to endure as his sons showed their hatred for their brother, Joseph. Imagine his disappointment when Joseph started saying things that appeared to be calculated to make his brothers hate him even more—such things as, “you all are going to bow down to me one day … and I heard this news from God in my dreams last night.” Imagine Jacob’s pain upon the news that his favored son had been killed by a wild animal, the news of which was brought to him along with a bloodied garment to prove the violent report.
But it didn’t end there. Years later, during the famine, His sons were told to bring their younger brother with them to Egypt or they would not be able to receive food. Jacob must have felt terrible trepidation at letting his youngest son, the only other brother of his favored wife Rebecca, go with the other brothers to Egypt. And then for the younger brother to be kept in Egypt when the brothers returned to Canaan, it must have been almost unbearable for Jacob.
In fact, the brothers told the Egyptian leader in Genesis 44:30-31, “Now therefore, as soon as I come to your servant my father, and the boy is not with us, then, as his life is bound up in the boy’s life, as soon as he sees that the boy is not with us, he will die, and your servants will bring down the gray hairs of your servant our father with sorrow to Sheol. This must have been a terrible thing for Jacob, the father.
But in the end, Joseph tells his brothers:
Genesis 50:19-21
But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
From this story I find great comfort in knowing that whatever happens in my parenting—whatever happens with my children, I must rest in God’s total and complete sovereignty over all that happens. Whatever happens, I know that it will bring ultimate glory to God. In that I must rest.
A father’s grief
Life is hard. Not much more than that needs be said. We often wonder what God is doing as our lives seem to unravel. I was reminded recently by a friend that it is okay to question God as long as we are willing to accept his answer (or willing to accept his decision to not answer our “why?” question). My friend pointed out that Job asked God “why?” on a number of occasions—even, at one point, asking God why he had been born. But in the end we are told that in all that Job said he did not sin.
Many of my why? questions seem to revolve around my role as a parent. Being a father is not an easy job and I often feel that I am not up to the task. But in my personal bible reading this morning and read part of the story of Joseph and I was struck with a different viewpoint on this story than what we normally think of—the viewpoint of Jacob, Joseph’s father
Imagine the difficulties, agony, and emotional pain Jacob had to endure as his sons showed their hatred for their brother, Joseph. Imagine his disappointment when Joseph started saying things that appeared to be calculated to make his brothers hate him even more—such things as, “you all are going to bow down to me one day … and I heard this news from God in my dreams last night.” Imagine Jacob’s pain upon the news that his favored son had been killed by a wild animal, the news of which was brought to him along with a bloodied garment to prove the violent report.
But it didn’t end there. Years later, during the famine, His sons were told to bring their younger brother with them to Egypt or they would not be able to receive food. Jacob must have felt terrible trepidation at letting his youngest son, the only other brother of his favored wife Rebecca, go with the other brothers to Egypt. And then for the younger brother to be kept in Egypt when the brothers returned to Canaan, it must have been almost unbearable for Jacob.
In fact, the brothers told the Egyptian leader in Genesis 44:30-31, “Now therefore, as soon as I come to your servant my father, and the boy is not with us, then, as his life is bound up in the boy’s life, as soon as he sees that the boy is not with us, he will die, and your servants will bring down the gray hairs of your servant our father with sorrow to Sheol. This must have been a terrible thing for Jacob, the father.
But in the end, Joseph tells his brothers:
Genesis 50:19-21
But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
From this story I find great comfort in knowing that whatever happens in my parenting—whatever happens with my children, I must rest in God’s total and complete sovereignty over all that happens. Whatever happens, I know that it will bring ultimate glory to God. In that I must rest.
Gossip, talebearing, and prudence
I find it so difficult to control my tongue. It is very easy to join the gossip-fest or to add fuel to the fire of conversations that should not have taken place to begin with.
Unfortunately, this all-too-prevalent vice is an easy snare for many of us—partly because it is so prevalent. I know that I am likely to say disparaging things about people who I think are doing the same thing against me. It’s almost like the opposite of the Golden Rule: Do unto others because they’re doing unto you.”
In my devotions today I read chapter for of The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis. I am including it in its entirety here because it is so wise and so needed:
Prudence in Action
DO NOT yield to every impulse and suggestion but consider things carefully and patiently in the light of God’s will. For very often, sad to say, we are so weak that we believe and speak evil of others rather than good. Perfect men, however, do not readily believe every talebearer, because they know that human frailty is prone to evil and is likely to appear in speech.Not to act rashly or to cling obstinately to one’s opinion, not to believe everything people say or to spread abroad the gossip one has heard, is great wisdom.
Take counsel with a wise and conscientious man. Seek the advice of your betters in preference to following your own inclinations.
A good life makes a man wise according to God and gives him experience in many things, for the more humble he is and the more subject to God, the wiser and the more at peace he will be in all things.
Where is God when things go bad?
Steve Saint is the son of Nate Saint, one of the five missionaries slaughtered by the Auca Indians of Ecuador in the 1950s. He and his family continued to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Aucas (now known as the Waodani) and the resultant changes to this people group are amazing.
I recently listened to a recording of a message that Steve Saint gave at a conference on worldwide evangelism. His talk was convicting and motivating. He has a wonderful sense of the total sovereignty of God—even in the midst of such terrible things as the murder of his father.
Steve read the poem below to help explain the concept of God’s love and goodness shining through even the seemingly bad circumstances of our lives.
I stood a mendicant of God before His royal throne
And begged him for one priceless gift, which I could call my own.I took the gift from out His hand, but as I would depart
I cried, “But Lord this is a thorn and it has pierced my heart.This is a strange, a hurtful gift, which Thou hast given me.”
He said, “My child, I give good gifts and gave My best to thee.”I took it home and though at first the cruel thorn hurt sore,
As long years passed I learned at last to love it more and more.I learned He never gives a thorn without this added grace,
He takes the thorn to pin aside the veil which hides His face.
"No" means "no"
So often I feel compelled to push my point of view. I think, “surely others would see the wisdom in my way of thinking, I must have simply not stated my position clearly enough.” In other words: “No one could possibly actually have a legitimate disagreement with me.”
What lies behind this way of thinking, is probably a lack of trust in God’s sovereign control of everything. If I truly trust God’s working in all matters, I will state my case as clearly as I can, hoping that others will agree and will put into practice the things I think should be done. But when I hear the word “no,” I will accept that answer and move on.
Those of you with children probably realize already that this is a lesson we regularly try to teach our children—usually a verbal lesson though; teaching by example can be much too hard.
Acts 21:12-14 When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”
Apparently, these early Christians did not have as much of a problem with this as I do. After trying to persuade Paul to go somewhere other than Jerusalem, they accepted his answer and stopped trying to dissuade him.
Maybe someday I’ll learn to be this accepting of God’s will.
When quitting is a virtue
Quitting is not seen as a virtue. From a very early age we are taught that we must continue at a task until it has been completed. But C.S. Lewis points out that if anything we pursue begins to attract our attention more than our desire to know God, it is time to quit that pursuit.
As the author of the Theologia Germanica says, we may come to love knowledge—our knowing—more than the thing known: to delight not in the exercise of our talents but in the fact that they are ours, or even in the reputation they bring us. Every success in the scholar’s life increases this danger. If it becomes irresistible, he must give up his scholarly work. The time for plucking out the right eye has arrived. (C. S. Lewis, “Learning in War-Time”, in The Weight of Glory and Other Addresses, p. 50.)
When quitting is a virtue
Quitting is not seen as a virtue. From a very early age we are taught that we must continue at a task until it has been completed. But C.S. Lewis points out that if anything we pursue begins to attract our attention more than our desire to know God, it is time to quit that pursuit.
As the author of the Theologia Germanica says, we may come to love knowledge—our knowing—more than the thing known: to delight not in the exercise of our talents but in the fact that they are ours, or even in the reputation they bring us. Every success in the scholar’s life increases this danger. If it becomes irresistible, he must give up his scholarly work. The time for plucking out the right eye has arrived. (C. S. Lewis, “Learning in War-Time”, in The Weight of Glory and Other Addresses, p. 50.)
Wisdom from C.H. Spurgeon
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
—Ezekiel 36:26–27
The hard heart does not love the Redeemer, but the renewed heart burns with affection towards Him. Many are the privileges of this renewed heart: it is here the Spirit dwells, it is here that Jesus rests. It is fitted to receive every spiritual blessing, and every blessing comes to it. It is prepared to yield every heavenly fruit to the honor and praise of God, and, therefore, the Lord delights in it. A tender heart is the best defense against sin and the best preparation for heaven. A renewed heart stands on its water tower looking for the coming of the Lord Jesus. Have you this heart of flesh?
Wisdom from C.H. Spurgeon
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
—Ezekiel 36:26–27
The hard heart does not love the Redeemer, but the renewed heart burns with affection towards Him. Many are the privileges of this renewed heart: it is here the Spirit dwells, it is here that Jesus rests. It is fitted to receive every spiritual blessing, and every blessing comes to it. It is prepared to yield every heavenly fruit to the honor and praise of God, and, therefore, the Lord delights in it. A tender heart is the best defense against sin and the best preparation for heaven. A renewed heart stands on its water tower looking for the coming of the Lord Jesus. Have you this heart of flesh?
No sleight of hand
Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been thrown down.
— Kings 18:30
The story of the challenge given by Elijah to the prophets of Baal has fascinated me since I was a child. I’ve wondered at times if some people who reject the veracity of the scriptures might say that the water Elijah poured on the altar was actually some petroleum product, thereby causing the resultant fire.
But today when I read this story in 1 Kings, I noticed the verse above.
Last week my family and I went to the Maryland Renaissance Festival where we saw the magician and sword swallower, Johnny Fox. He’s an amazing magician. We have also seen David Copperfield perform magic on multiple occasions. The common setup for public magic shows is for the performer to be on a stage with the audience seated at a distance from the performer. The audience is typically gathered together in one group rather than surrounding the performer. This allows the magician to perform various feats of visual deception (sleight of hand, misdirection, etc.).
But in the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal, Elijah asked the people (all of Israel) to “come near to me.” In order to do this, the people had to gather around him. In order to see the spectacle (which it was), they must have pressed in on him. There was no chance for Elijah to perform sleight of hand or misdirection. These people saw exactly what happened and they knew it was of God.
What an amazing story!
By His grace - For His glory 