christine

I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law.  Psalm 119:163

God is rarely ambivalent.  He loves truth and He hates falsehood.  David spent enough time in the Torah and enough time in worship that God’s appetite rubbed off.  How our culture needs more like him.  There are far too many prominent Christians in the spotlight who, when asked where they stand on current issues, fail to answer the way God would.  Their tolerance makes them palatable to the masses but it erases their saltiness.  They have confused loving people with condoning what people do.  They have abdicated their chance to speak the language of the kingdom in order to draw others onto the narrow pathway that leads to eternal life.

Having grown up in legalism, I was used to a regular diet of dogmatism.  A church or Christian organization defined themselves by what they were ‘against’ rather than what they were ‘for’.  They had a poor track record when it came to loving people.  Perhaps some of our ambivalence on critical issues is an over-correction to legalistic Christianity.  In our collective responses to rigidity and gracelessness, we have made opposite choices that are equally as detrimental to the advancement of the kingdom.  The cure for any of us who fail to speak clearly about what we love and what we hate, whether it is rooted in fear or poor theology, is time with Jesus and time to immerse ourselves in His Word.  Christian education, in the context of relationship, cures ambivalence.

Today, I follow Jesus who ate with sinners, put his arm around the broken and repentant but simultaneously, spoke clearly about righteousness and unrighteousness.  His speech was so clear that his audience saw no ambivalence.  They left everything to follow Him or they picked up stones to murder Him.  If others fail to react to me in the same way, my speech is diluted and I have a ways to go to look like, and sound like, my Savior.

Sharpen the sword of my mouth with the sword of the Word.  Clearer speech, compelling speech, in the remainder of my life.  Amen

Make yourself an ark of gopher wood.  Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch.  Genesis 6:114

God’s children are not destined for wrath but eternal life.  God’s wrath was about to destroy the earth with a flood but God proclaimed a different outcome for Noah. When the world would groan under the weight of God’s judgment, His child would safely nestle in God’s care.

This is not the last time an ark is mentioned.  When the male children of the Hebrews were being slain by Egyptians, God had one mother make a nesting place for her baby amidst the bulrushes of the Nile.  The same words for ‘an ark made with pitch’ are used again as she made a ‘floating box made with pitch’ to save her baby, Moses.

God’s purposes, written before time, will always prevail.  Even though it may appear that evil has snuffed out God’s promises, His covenant is unshakeable. The end of the story has already been written and God does not have to labor to make it all work out in the end.

What floodwaters are threatening to undo you today?  When trouble rushes in like a flood, I can feel that my life is at stake emotionally, even physically.  Noah heard the roar of the storm, felt the fury of the wind on his ark, but rode out the storm with confidence.  Today, Jesus is my ark, my hiding place .

David said, “The children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.”  When in danger for my life, I run to Him.  Like a child who flees to a parent’s room to hide in their embrace during a storm, I run to Christ.  Under His wing, I hear His assurances.  “Shh, don’t be afraid.  I’m here.”  Under His wing, He even serves me a banquet in the presence of my enemies.   Each morsel holds the most poignant revelation.

I must not listen to voice of my enemy today.  He would assure me that I’ve failed, tempt me with many ways to self-preserve, suggest that I defend myself against accusers, goad me to self-comfort in ways that are not good for me, and encourage me to force circumstances to work in my favor.  All the time, God’s arms are open, He’s stooped down to beckon to the scared small child.  “Come!”

Jesus, my ark of safety.  Sealed by Your Spirit.  I run to You at the sign of the first threat on my life.  Amen

For thus saith the Lord, “Thy bruise is incurable, and thy wound is grievous.” Jeremiah 31:12

Are you languishing under the condemnation of someone else’s words?  The only cure is to allow God to speak the truth.  I must be willing to disown the hurtful words and no longer have them define me in any way.  The injurious words should be dealt with severely at the cross, in prayer.

Damage is done in two ways.  1.) by the words themselves but also, 2.) by the spirit that came with them.  What do I do with the animosity of the one who spoke them?  I forgive them as Christ forgave me.  I remember my own sin.  How many times have I injured the heart of God with my words, my accusations?  How many times, in my spiritual immaturity, did I whine like an entitled child when hard times came?  How many times did I insinuate, even say outloud, that He was a difficult Father to trust?  Yet, despite everything I hurled in His direction, He forgave me.  To understand the love of God, I look at Jesus.  I remember His response to taunting, even while suffering.

“While they hurled their insults at him, He did not retaliate ; when He suffered, He made no threats.  Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.”  I Peter 2:23

When words are spoken against me, I follow Jesus.  1.) I do not retaliate.  2.) I make no threats.  3.) I forgive them and pray for them.  I remember disciples like Stephen who, when he was being stoned to death for his faith, cried out with words that were reminiscent of Jesus on the cross.  Falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.  Acts 7:60

Jesus will deal with my spiritual accusers. I lay down my sword and defer to the King who holds the scepter of authority.  The spirit that came with the words, He will rebuke.  When I forgive them and put them in His hands, the one who judges righteously, I am cleansed from all the word’s effects.

PRAYER: “Lord, I forgive the person who spoke to me so treacherously and I give up my right to take revenge.  Nullify the effects of their comments under the power of Your shed blood.  Take these words from my mind and my heart.  Remove the arrows that wounded my soul so deeply.   Make it as though the words had never been spoken.   I put this person in Your hands for You to rule righteously. 

Now, for my own healing, I will eat the scroll of Your Word.  I will allow Your Spirit to speak truth to me, to lighten my path, and to define me.  I look to Your face for all the love and approval I need to stand today with no trace of shame.  “The Sun of righteousness will arise with healing in his wings.” Malachi 4:2  Amen