ScriptureDig, Author at Do Not Depart

When God is Silent – Because He’s God

July 14, 2011 by ScriptureDig 6 Comments

Because He’s God

There are times when God is silent and we really don’t have a clue why. That is exactly what happened to Job. Job was a righteous man – a pillar of the community – a godly father and a hard worker. Yet, in a moment of time, his world came crashing in on him in monumental proportions.

In one day, he lost all of his children and all of his livestock. Illness then began to ravage his body leaving excruciating boils festering with pain. His wife, overcome with her own grief, told him to curse God and die. His friends had dubbed him a secret sinner, because in their minds, tragedies like Job’s only happened to the vilest of sinners.

In contrast to their conclusion, it was not Job’s sin but his righteousness that caused his calamities. When you’re serving God and trying to lead your family to do the same, seeing the bottom drop out from under your feet can be a hard thing to swallow.

Job maintained his integrity (Job 27:3-5), but he really didn’t have a clue why he was going through such a difficult time in his life. He cried out to God…but God was silent. In Job 30:20, Job told the Lord, “I cry to you, O God, but you don’t answer. I stand before You, but you don’t even look.”

Job was experiencing a serious season of silence from God…it was unexplainable; and when he called on God, he received no explanation.

Job was never told why he had to experience such tragedy and heartache, but we are told that Job was given twice as much as he had to start with. His lost children could never be replaced, but he came through that season of silence with his integrity in tact and his faith affirmed.

We don’t always get to know why God chooses seasons of silence in our lives. But when God’s silence is deafening, we can rest in the reality that His silence does not mean that He is absent, nor does His silence mean that He is inactive. He is with us, He sees us and He is at work in our present circumstances.

Like a beautiful painting hanging in a museum. We never see the artist at work as he carefully brushes each stroke of vivid color on the blank canvas. We never hear a sound. We only see that he has secretly created something beautiful for the world to behold. When God places us in a season of silence, we may not see Him at work, but He is creating a beautiful masterpiece out of the blank canvas of our lives that the world may behold our heavenly Artist at work in His creation.

There’s an old poem written on a cellar wall in Cologne, Germany,where the Jews were hidden during World War II, which says:

“I believe in the sun, even when it isn’t shining.

I believe in love, even when I’m alone.

I believe in God, even when He’s silent.”

I hope this series has helped you get a clearer biblical picture of the various reasons why we might experience a season of silence. Perhaps this series may have even helped you pinpoint the reason for your own season of silence. I pray it has, sweet friend…I pray it has!

GOING DEEPER:

Are you experiencing a season of silence in some area of your life? Review the examples given and ask the Lord if there’s something He wants to show you today.

If you’re being tested by God’s silence, write out some ways you can successfully pass the test, with your integrity in tact and your faith affirmed.

When God Is Silent – To Know Him More

July 13, 2011 by ScriptureDig 8 Comments

TO KNOW HIM MORE:

There are times when God is silent right before He chooses to reveal Himself to us in a new and profound way. From Malachi to Matthew the world experienced what is known as the “Silent Years.” But when God spoke, the silence was broken with the life-changing message that the Messiah had come to the earth to be the Savior of the world and nothing would ever be the same.

In the town of Bethany, a friend of Jesus lay sick and dying. His name was Lazarus. His sisters, Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus, “Master, the one you love so much is sick.” Perhaps they thought they would be able to persuade Jesus to hurry…after all, He loved Lazarus “so much.” Instead of a making a mad dash to Bethany, the Bible tells us that Jesus postponed his trip for two days.

Jesus arrived on the scene to find the somber sisters grieving the loss of their beloved brother, Lazarus. If He had just gotten there sooner, perhaps Lazarus wouldn’t have died. The truth is, if He had arrived sooner, they would not have been able to see the glorious resurrection of their already decaying brother. His delay magnified His miracle and they were able to see Him work in their lives in a way they could have never seen if He would have been there four days earlier.

In My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers said that many times, “His silence is the sign that He is bringing you into a marvelous understanding of Himself.” His silence allowed Mary, Martha and Lazarus to see Him work in a way they would have missed if He had been there earlier.

Don’t faint in your season of silence, sweet friend. God may just be wanting to do exceedingly, abundantly above all you could ask or think! Your “new thing” may be just around the corner…just a whisper away. Hold on and keep doing the next thing. Never forget in the dark what God has shown you in the light.

And remember, God’s silence NEVER equals God’s absence – God’s silence NEVER equals His inactivity. He is consistently working behind the scenes of our lives for our good and His glory!

Are you waiting on God to move in a specific area of your life? Are you desperate to see Him work a work that only He can? What are you longing to see the Living God do when He breaks the silence and speaks that new thing into your life?

When God is Silent – Tested by Silence

July 12, 2011 by ScriptureDig 15 Comments

I recently remember asking an older believer what his thoughts were about those seasons of silence we all go through. He quickly responded, “Well hun…that’s when God is trying to show us what we’re made of.”

Sometimes, we need to look in the mirror of God’s ‘silence test’ to reveal those areas where we are weak…where our faith is shaky…and where our pride is getting in the way.

Sometimes, we experience seasons of silence because God is testing us.

TESTED BY SILENCE

Anything of value must be pass a three-fold test :

Authenticity – Is it the real deal? Is it genuine or a fake?

Flaws – Does it have imperfections?

Value – What is it worth in today’s market?

1 Peter 1:6-7 tells us that the trials we go through reveal the genuineness of our faith and are much more precious than gold. When we are tested by God’s silence, it’s reveals if we truly believe what we say we believe; how strong (or weak) our faith is; and how will God use it in your life and the lives of others

Hezekiah was described as a king who trusted the Lord and kept His commands. He had a great testimony, but a perfect man, he was not. Hezekiah had a pride problem and 2 Chronicles 32:31 tells us that God chose to deal with his pride by withdrawing from him in a specific area. He wanted Hezekiah to be aware of his own propensity for pride.

Sometimes God chooses to step back and be silent in a certain area of our lives so that we can see ourselves as we really are. Flawed people in need of a flawless God. Seeing ourselves as we really are prevents us from thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought and gives us compassion for others. It’s hard to throw stones when you know you deserve a few of your own.

Nothing you go through is wasted, dear one. Perhaps you are experiencing the “Silence Test” in order to reveal how real your faith is, to unveil your weakness or to place you in a position to minister to others. Remember, nothing is given value unless it has first been tested.

As we walk through the Word and discover more about those times when it’s hard to hear from God in a specific area of our lives, it’s important to remember that regardless of why we are experiencing a season of silence, for the Christian, God’s silence NEVER equals God’s absence – God’s silence NEVER equals His inactivity. He is consistently working behind the scenes of our lives for our good and His glory!

Have you ever experienced the “Silence Test”? Is your faith the real deal? Does your faith stand when your world is falling apart? Are you weak when you pride tries to be strong?

Come back tomorrow as we discover how the Bible shows us that we sometimes experience seasons of silence when God is just about to reveal Himself in a way we would never be able to see otherwise.

When God Is Silent

July 11, 2011 by ScriptureDig 8 Comments

This week I’ll be sharing about an evergreen topic in a Christian’s life. It’s one I speak on at retreats and conferences and one that we all unfortunately can relate to…Those times when God is silent.

We’ve all been there. Some of us are there now. But seasons of silence often speak louder than words. When we feel as though we are going through a season of silence, we begin to question everything. Yet God’s Word is not silent about those times when He is.

Walk with me through this week’s study as we shed some spiritual light on those dark places of silence. Perhaps you’ll soon begin to tilt the ear of your heart upward and hear the still small voice of God again.

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While recently thumbing through an old prayer journal, I was reminded of a very difficult time in my life when our son had drifted far from God and far from all he knew to be right and good. I never even saw it coming…he had become a prodigal. Night after night, I soaked my pillow with tears and wore holes in the carpet next to my bed where I cried out to the Living God to do something in his life. But nothing happened. God was silent.

We’ve all been there. Desperate to see God move. Crying out for heavenly help, yet nothing seems to happen and we begin to wonder if God even cares. Does He see us? Why won’t He answer us? We know the Bible teaches us that God’s sheep hear His voice. So, what’s going on when we can’t hear Him? Why is it that we experience seasons of silence?

Oftentimes, God’s silence seems to be selective. It’s somehow compartmentalized into specific areas. Sometimes His silence shows up in the form of unanswered prayer. Perhaps you have experienced God’s silence in the area of your marriage, your finances or your children.

Let’s look at what Scripture says about the reasons why God may choose to be silent in various areas of our lives:

THE SIN FACTOR:

When we are baffled by God’s silence, we normally begin flittering through the mental files in our minds. “What have I done wrong?” “Do I have any sin in my life?” “Is God chastening me because of some hidden sin?”

Sin has the capacity to create a barrier in our fellowship with the Living God. Sometimes it is sin that prevents us from hearing God’s voice. But 1 John 1:9 provides us with a remedy to restore that fractured fellowship and re-establish that line of communication. If sin has somehow silenced the voice of God in your life, it would be to your advantage to employ 1 John 1:9 now. No sin is worth the inability to hear from your loving, heavenly Father.

LIVING LOUD LIVES

There are times when God is silent in our lives because our lives are just so loud. Let’s face it, we’re all busy…maybe too busy. We’ve got distractions coming to us from every direction. We’re constantly on the go. We allow our lives to be so loud that we drown out the still small voice of God and then wonder why we can’t hear from Him.

Psalm 46:10 tells us to be still and know that He is God…to bask in His presence and to abide in under the shadow of the Almighty. There we will find rest for our souls and give our hearts time enough to be attentive to His coveted voice.

This week you’ll have a chance to examine your life. Is your life too loud right now? Are you holding on to something that’s preventing you from hearing the still small voice of God? Are you experiencing your own season of silence?

Tomorrow, we will look at some other reasons Scripture explains why we may experience seasons of silence from God. Don’t miss this journey, sweet friend!

Friday Favorites: Bible Translations

July 8, 2011 by ScriptureDig 3 Comments

Ever wonder which Bible translations we like best? Everybody has a favorite and we wanted to share ours with you. And if you are curious about the differences in translations and translation methods, we encourage you to read How to Judge a Book by its Cover.

Teri Lynne: Oh so hard!! I love the English Standard Version (ESV) for study and that’s what I carry to church. But I also use the New Living Translation (NLT) for devotional reading. So those are the two that I turn to most often … but I can’t deny my fondness for the Amplified Bible (AMP) or the New American Standard Bible (NASB) which is what I grew up with.

Julie: I’ve been using the English Standard Version (ESV) as my primary translation for the past couple of years. Not only have I appreciated the word for word translation, I’ve also really enjoyed the study notes in my particular version. Much of what I have memorized and studied until now has been from the New American Standard (NASB). I logged most of my early spiritual growth in the NASB.

Sandra: My go-to Bible translation is the English Standard Version. I think it’s easy to read while sticking close to the original text. I especially love the study Bible version (it’s heavy though so it stays home!). I get this question every week because I work at LifeWay, and I always recommend the ESV.

Kathy: I use the NIV and the ESV for study, but I love to use the New Living Translation for my devotional reading. The NLT is a “dynamic (or functional) equivalence” translation, which translates thought-for-thought rather than word-for-word as in the formal equivalence. Although not as literal, it makes for easier devotional reading since it updates idioms and figures of speech. (Here is a great article about the kinds of translations and how to choose one.)

Stephanie: Amplified. Since I’m a studier and a word girl, my hands-down favorite is always the Amplified. I read the New King James for my quiet time and I use the New Living Translation when I want to convey something in modern terms. Yet, I still love the King James Version – especially when I’m reading through the Psalms.

Kristi: For serious study, I love my NASB! Just this past year I have begun using the ESV for study, also, and I’ve really enjoyed it. My most common go-to is the NIV, however. I grew up on the NIV, have memorized most consistently out of the NIV, and just find it comforting and familiar. Speaking of… my favorite well-marked, well-traveled, well-loved NIV disappeared after church a few weeks ago, so if you’ve seen it send it back. I miss it. :)

24/7 Streamside ~ Psalm 1

July 7, 2011 by ScriptureDig 2 Comments

Understanding how verses 1-4 apply to me personally makes all the difference when I get to verse 5 … “Therefore…” It’s like God hits the turn signal, it’s flashes a warning, and we turn in to the conclusion of Psalm 1.

If we grow beside living water, we bear fruit. God uproots us and tranplants us to life, but we have to reject wickedness and, instead, embrace truth constantly.

The wicked lead lives apart from God and produce nothing lasting. “Therefore,” the righteous are approved of by God; the wicked don’t stand firm in the judgment. It’s a turning point with an eternal difference.

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Fast forward to the 21st century … How do I avoid walking/sitting/standing with the “wrong crowd?” God isn’t talking about avoiding the world. Jesus said He doesn’t want us to be taken out of the world (John 17:14-16); He wants us to be salt and light IN the world (Matt. 5:13-14). “Walking … sitting … standing” are active verbs revealing a decision to stay with people who reject God. Instead of accepting the companionship and counsel of wicked men (who haven’t turned to God), someone who seeks to be blessed won’t continue with and listen to/heed the wicked. In our modern world this may mean:

not exchanging the truth of God for opinions found in books, blogs, tv, etc
not going to someone who doesn’t follow God for counsel, advice, or partnership
not spending regular time with someone who makes fun of, argues against, or shames God and His truth
not putting ourselves in a place to be influenced by someone who doesn’t delight in God’s Word

How do I meditate 24/7? Maybe this was realistic for someone herding sheep all day, but be come on?!? Meditating really means searching for insight, continuing to try to know, staying with truth, and always returning to truths of God’s Word. (Kathy gave thoughts on meditation here.) This may look like:

reciting Psalm 101:3 each time I turn on the tv or computer – “I will set no worthless thing before my eyes … “
remembering the words of Psalm 4:8 when I return to a dark house at night and fight fears – “In peace I will both lie down and sleep,
For You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety.” If I’m alone & feeling insecure, I may keep muttering this truth over and over until the Lord covers me in peace and brings me sleep.
reminding myself that “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God,” (Psalm 20:7) when I’m at a family gathering or school meeting or lunch with co-workers, and they’re laughing at people who need the “crutch” of believing in Jesus.

How do I stay by the stream? We live in arid times when men would rather wither than trust God and bear fruit for others. Strangely, it’s never been easier to access God’s Word! We have it in so many forms at the touch of a button or stroke of a finger, but we’re more distracted than ever. Enjoy drinking from God’s Word!

Invest money and time and thoughts to dig in and discover God’s truth and application to YOU in the 21st century.
Think about it throughout your day, in all events of life.
Memorize it, hiding it in your heart. (Psalm 119:9-10)
Talk about it with others who love God, and worship with others who follow Him.
Be a committed part of a church family that’s bearing fruit.

Sweet Scripture Dig friend, there’s no need to wither. We’re meant to be living on God’s Word and bearing fruit!

Psalm 1 gives us a glimpse of treasures in the song book of God’s people. If you’d like to spend more time in select chapters over the next few weeks, join me at Come Have a Peace as we pass through this gateway chapter and look into the garden of the Book of Psalms.

What helps you most to stay close to the stream of living water?

Useless. Irritating. Chaff. ~ Psalm 1

July 6, 2011 by ScriptureDig Leave a Comment

Tossing Chaff — Tossing chaff as seen from my window

From the window of our bedroom, I looked out across the rice fields surrounding a distant mountain. During harvest, people covered their faces and arms, threshing stalks of rice and separating sharp hulls of no use. As farmers tossed the stalks into the air, chaff filled the sky and was caught by a hot wind; it blew in from the fields and irritated our lungs and eyes. Useless. Irritating. Chaff.

Psalm 1 leaves us wondering about who first wrote its words. We’ve looked at observations and considered some meaning, but how did the words of the 6 verses apply to the original audience? As God breathed these words, what did He know about the early worshipers that made this song so powerful?

Water – Since the Psalms were first given to Israel as a national hymnal, the audience would’ve been made up of people familiar with life in arid places. Precious water was the life blood of prosperity, and distance from it was the difference between life and death. To bear fruit, a plant has to be planted or transplanted to a place where it can live.
Covenant – They also knew that prosperity and perishing were part of the covenant God had made with them as a people. This was not brand new information, but it gave voice to their song of commitment. (Exodus 19:3-9)
Farming – Most of those listening knew first hand the labors of the field and the process of moving from planting to fruit bearing. To those in agricultural Palestine, a tree intentionally planted to flourish by a life giving stream was a familiar contrast to the useless chaff removed during threshing, leaving behind the valuable grain as it was blown away in the wind.
Kings – The people of God who first sang this Psalm knew that a king has the right to approve of or prefer a man who please him. Many had suffered in captivity and knew the anguish of a disapproving king. As God’s chosen people, He has the right to receive or reject those in His kingdom.

The blessed man bears fruit, but the wicked man bears useless chaff.

“Scoffers” refused to follow the covenant given by the King to His people. At that time, that mean following the first 5 books we have, the Torah. Walking it’s truths led to either bearing fruit for others or perishing without being a benefit (Useless. Irritating. Chaff.)

God repeated the priority when His people prepared to cross into the land He promised them. He challenged Joshua, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Josh. 1:8).

The people who first sang Psalm 1 knew that to be prosperous, they must constantly consider and practice God’s holy Word. Every harvest season, as they tossed grain into the air and watched chaff blow away, they would remember and be warned.

The blessed man bears fruit, but the wicked man bears useless chaff.

So what about the non-farmers of the 21st century? Does Psalm 1 apply to us?

Come back with me to the life-giving Word tomorrow, and let’s make it personal.

Little things say a lot ~ Psalm 1

July 5, 2011 by ScriptureDig Leave a Comment

In the South Carolina low country, there are marshes and rivers and ponds, lined with haunting moss-draped live oaks from which Dogwood trees peak out like little girls in brightly colored party dresses. At first glance, it’s just a beautiful garden. Strolling along the pathways, however, the lives of people with titles like “Enslaved Africans, Overseer, Owner” unfold as you walk through the restored rice plantation. As you follow the garden walkways the story of the founding couple is woven through acres like the vines that cling to trees framing the canals; two people who loved the land, art, writing, and history had a vision to preserve something of great value. The garden is a collection of what caused their hearts to sing and all they treasured.

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The Psalms are deeply personal, yet mean to be sung corporately. They often give voice to what can not find expression within our own limits. Understand the meaning of the basic facts gives us a glimpse to why these treasures have been preserved for us to enter into.

What does it mean to be “blessed?” ~ showered with favor from the Lord; in it’s Latin form, the word “beatus” is the same that gives us the word for “beattitude” in the Sermon on the Mount of Matt. 5:3-11. The Greek equivalent of the original Hebrew word means “blessed,” and it’s the same word used in James 1:12, where the we find, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”

Sometimes the smallest things in the garden give me the most awe, and words are no different. The word for “man” refers to a “specific person,” meaning this is the example of a specific person to be followed. In Hebrew it’s literally “the man.” This is the example we are called to follow, that of “the blessed man.”

This man – this blessed one – resists moving with, stopping with, and staying with those who reject the instruction of God. He embraces God’s truth and focuses on it consistently. To “meditate” on the law has the idea of “active pondering.” This is not sitting uselessly, staring into space, emptying our minds. Instead, it is repeatedly remembering, thinking with focus, calling to mind again, staying with one thought, considering carefully …. While our world rushes on to the next idea, gets a “short link,” abbreviates, and flags for reading another time, meditating is making a decision to spend extended time resting in one place of truth until it soaks in and takes root.

Little things say so much. When verse 6 tells us the Lord “knows the way of the righteous,” it means He looks with affection, approval, and preference on the righteous man. It’s quite a contrast with the wicked man who will perish. People are and will be known by God. People do and will perish. God doesn’t want to keep us from discovering the truth of what makes the difference. He invites us to step inside the gateway and understand.

Tomorrow … the tree and the chaff … and me. Will you come with me?

It’s just a little further inside the garden gate.

The gateway ~ Psalm 1

July 4, 2011 by ScriptureDig 2 Comments

As Tara and I entered the garden, we saw abundant plant life, a magnificent sculpture, and a pathway leading beyond. It was my first time to Brookgreen Gardens, and my dear friend was eager to share it with me. Approaching the entrance, the beauty drew me in, stirring my interest to see more, but the gateway itself was only a glimpse of all that awaited.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Psalm 1 is what the ESV Study Bible calls “the gateway” to the Book of Psalms. This week we’ll spend four days lingering at the gateway to this Book, the song book of the people of God. If you want to know some background for the Psalter, I invite you to read here or to go here to note some of the landmarks that will help you journey further into the Book. If we take time to see the elements included in the first of the 150 Psalms, we prepare ourselves to appreciate and enjoy the beauty of what lies beyond the gateway.

To know this passage of 6 verses, it helps to observe the facts. Tomorrow we’ll consider more of the meaning of what we find in this first poem that was and is still meant to be sung.

This Psalm describes 2 kinds of men: blessed men and wicked men.

Blessed men prosper. Wicked men perish.

Blessed men do 5 actions in the first 3 verses:

walk not … in the counsel of the wicked

stand not … in the way of sinners

delight … in the law of the Lord (meaning the Torah, first 5 books, at the original time of writing)

meditate … on God’s law

prosper … in all he does

Wicked men do 2 actions in verse 5:

stand not … in the judgement

stand not … in the congregation of the righteous

There are 3 “but” statements:

Blessed men don’t linger in wickedness BUT delight in God’s word.

Wicked men are not like a prospering tree BUT are like chaff.

God approves of the righteous BUT the wicked will perish.

2 Similes are used in this poem:

Blessed man … like a tree that is by a stream, yields fruit, & doesn’t wither

Wicked man … like chaff blown away uselessly by the wind

Tomorrow we’ll reflect on what some of this means, but for today, let’s recognize that “the Lord knows the way of the righteous.” Since there are 2 kinds of men, it’s important to know that God is fully aware of our hearts.

As I entered through the gate of the southern garden, I saw sculpture, plants, and architecture. I acknowledged the pieces, but uncovering their meaning amplified the beauty of the discovery.

Join me tomorrow as we pear further into the meaning of the facts in these 6 verses shaping the arch through which we enter the Book of Psalms. I encourage you to take time to read Psalm 1 aloud; find it here. Better than that, would you memorize it with me over the next 4 days? It’s not a hard Psalm to commit to memory, and we already know the “pieces.” The rest of the week, let’s look at questions like:

What makes the blessed man proper?
Why doesn’t the tree wither?
Why is chaff useless, and what is it, anyways?
What does it mean the “the Lord knows”?
What does it really mean to be “blessed”?
How in the world can you “meditate day and night”?!?!?!?
What does the counsel of the wicked and the seat of scoffers look like in the modern world?
What do you want to know about this Psalm?

I’ll see you tomorrow ….. just inside the gateway….

Friday Favorites: Biblical Character

July 1, 2011 by ScriptureDig 2 Comments

{For the next several weeks, we’ll be sharing with you some of our favorites every Friday.}

With so many outrageous and interesting people mentioned in God’s Word, we thought you might be interested in knowing who some of our favorites are.

Teri Lynne: Rahab. I find myself continually in awe of her determination and willingness to stand against her culture and possibly even her family in order to assist the Hebrew spies. While she had no personal knowledge of God, she had seen and heard enough to know that He is the true God and was willing to risk everything in order to know more about Him. How I pray that I’ll have that same determination to stand strong!

Julie: Phoebe. While sitting at the Port of Piraeus near ancient Corinth, a national teacher and friend challenged me with the legacy of Phoebe. She was a sister in the Church who was entrusted with carrying the precious letter of Romans from Paul. Though she lived in a pagan region, she was known for her godliness and her active support and care for God’s servants. She began a great legacy for women today!

Sandra: Paul. I relate to his struggles. I have to remind myself everyday that I am the chief of sinners and that I’m saved by grace alone.

Kathy: Peter. I’ve always been partial to the Apostle Peter because Scripture clearly shows us how Jesus shaped this hard-working, headstrong, common fisherman into a passionate leader he could use to change the world. Jesus strengthened the shaky faith of this impetuous Galilean into a rock-solid, unshakeable faith willing to face martyrdom for Christ.

Stephanie: Deborah. I love how she defines the kind of woman I want to be when I grow up. Strong in faith. Strong in character. Brave. Bold. Determined. Wise. Not only was she a wife, but she also nurtured a nation. She was a world changer who was not afraid of taking a risk and trusted God to be faithful to His Word

Kristi: Joshua‘s life story is amazing to me. He was Moses’ aide and matured into manhood next to this humble man who talked with God face to face – and when Moses left the tent of meeting after his times with the Lord, Joshua stayed behind. No wonder he could see with different eyes as they spied out the land! No wonder he could courageously march around Jericho! A bigger view of God changes everything; I so long for God to consume my thoughts and compel me to live courageously with eyes of faith.

What is Your Name?

June 30, 2011 by ScriptureDig 1 Comment

All this week I will be sharing some thoughts on the life of Jacob, based on a series of messages I gave at a youth retreat last fall. I pray that this has been encouraging and challenging for you, as it was for me!

Jacob wrestles — Image from visualBiblealive.com

Monday we asked the question, “Who are you?” Tuesday, we considered “What do you really want?” Wednesday the question was, “Where are you?” Today we finish our studies of the life of Jacob with one final, very important question: what is your name?

Today we find Jacob, the heel-grabber, the deceiver, fearing for his life as he nears his reunion with Esau. In verses 9-12, Jacob prays as we have never seen him pray before.

Then Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the Lord who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your family, and I will deal well with you’: “I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant; for I crossed over this Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two companies…

Genesis 32:9-10

This is the first time we have seen Jacob acknowledging God’s undeserved mercy and blessing toward him, and expressing faith in God’s promise to watch over him. And what is God’s answer to his prayer?

After dividing his family and possessions into two groups, hoping at least one of them would escape if Esau attacked him, he sends them across a stream ahead of him and prepares to spend the night alone. Then verse 24 says, “Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day.” What? How random is that?? It seems strange, but really it is God’s answer to his earlier prayer. If you haven’t read this recently, take a few minutes to brush up on this account – Genesis 32:24-30.

Who is this random man who wrestles with him? Jacob apparently knows – in verse 30 he says, “…I have seen God face to face…”

He is wrestling with Jesus himself! (This is what is known as a “Christophany” – an Old Testament appearance of Christ.)

So Jesus is wrestling with him and Jacob just will not give up. He is fighting and fighting and fighting, so Jesus touches his hip socket, dislocates it, and forces him into submission. Then Jacob refuses to let go of Him unless He blesses Him. Jesus asks Jacob his name, he gives it, and then Jesus says he is no longer Jacob, but will be Israel.

Here is my rephrased version of this chapter.

Jacob, “the deceiver,” the “heel grabber,” finally cries out to God. He finally recognizes that he is absolutely unworthy of all of God’s blessings upon Him, and begs for God’s protection and deliverance. God’s answer to the prayer? Jesus Himself comes and fights Jacob into submission – it is a long struggle, but He physically forces Jacob to submit. Jacob then clings to Him until he receives His blessing.

And then, Jesus asks him what his name is.

Isn’t that a strange question, since God created Jacob, has watched over him, pursued him, and knows him intimately? Did Jacob’s “hello, my name is:” tag fall off during the wrestling match? Why does He ask Jacob’s name?

Imagine the tension here. He is clinging to “the Man” he somehow knows is God Himself and has asked for a blessing. Jesus looks into his eyes and says, “What is your name?” And now Jacob has to say it: I am Jacob. I am a deceiver. I am a heel-grabber. And he knows full well that he has done a bang-up job of living up to that name. Jesus hears his answer and then replies, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel…

This change of name was very significant. He is no longer the deceiver. His name has been changed because his character has been changed.

Imagine that your deepest, darkest sin in your life was your name… what name would you have to confess to Him if you were in Jacob’s position?

We all have something to confess to Him. No one is good except God alone.

It is interesting to me that in Genesis 32:28, Jesus changes Jacob’s name to Israel and says, “because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.”

In Revelation chapters 2 and 3 there are seven letters to different churches- and each ends with a promise to those who “overcome.”

In Revelation 2:17, Jesus says that He will give to those who overcome “a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him to receives it.”

We overcome the same way Jacob did… we don’t overcome by following rules. We don’t overcome by looking the part. We don’t overcome because we have a Christian heritage. We overcome by submitting to Jesus Christ, admitting to Him who we really are, and clinging to Him with all of our strength.

When you do that – He changes your name.

And He changes your story.

Where are you?

June 29, 2011 by ScriptureDig 2 Comments

All this week I will be sharing some thoughts on the life of Jacob, based on a series of messages I gave at a youth retreat last fall. I pray that this will be encouraging and challenging for you, as it was for me!

Monday we asked the question, “Who are you?” Yesterday, we considered “What do you really want?” Today the question is, “Where are you?”

: Image via Wikipedia

While I was in college my family lived north of Chicago. My sophomore year I had my own car and was driving home from Ohio for the first time with a couple of other girls who lived in the area. I dropped one of them off deep in the city in an area that was unfamiliar to me – a very confusing area where all the highways twist and intersect. Needless to say, I got completely turned around. The girl who was with me in the car didn’t know how to read a map, and after we realized we were lost we were in a terrible part of town late at night and knew it wasn’t safe to sit in a parking lot trying to figure out where to go. [Oh, for a GPS!] :)

I called my dad frantically and told him what was happening. He told me, “find the Sears tower. Drive toward it, and keep it in your front passenger window.” I had no idea where I was, but by finding that one unmistakable Chicago landmark, my dad gave me a sense of direction and helped me find my way home. Having that one fixed landmark gave me the direction I needed to find my way out of utter confusion. Knowing where you are changes everything.

We’re picking up Jacob‘s story today in Genesis 28 as he flees from Esau and stops for the night in Bethel.

Remember the wording: a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. (28:12)

What is this dream all about? Access to God. God is basically offering Jacob a personal relationship with Him – which is the only access to heaven.

How does Jacob respond to God’s offer? Check out 28:20-21.

Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God.

In other words: Ok, God. IF you are with me and bless me and give me everything I need or want and bring me back to my family, THEN you can have the privilege of being my God. Is this a genuine response of faith and gratitude for God’s amazing offer? I’m afraid not. As we discussed in yesterday’s post, Jacob seems far more interested in receiving God’s blessings than he is in knowing God Himself. Jacob didn’t understand that the real treasure was knowing God. Now, keep all of that in mind and fast-forward to the New Testament. In John 1:51, Jesus says

“Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

(The Son of Man is a title used for Christ). The wording Jesus used would not be lost on the men he was speaking to at this point- He was claiming to be Jacob’s ladder! He is the only point of access to the Father!

Through Christ, God has offered us an unbelievable gift – a way of access to Him! Unfortunately, our wayward hearts often respond similarly to Jacob’s: “If God will take care of me and keep me safe and keep me comfortable and give me everything I want, THEN He can be my God. [And if He allows me to experience pain or suffering or sickness or the results of my own bad choices or if He just does things I don’t understand, all bets are off.]”

My friends, we have to decide what we really want! Not only that… but do you know where you are?

Jacob realized that he was in the presence of God, and it made him afraid – but he didn’t allow it to change his heart and life.

Do you know where you are? Not just physically where you are… do you recognize that you are, right now, in the presence of God? That He wants to meet you where you are and have a true, vibrant relationship with you?

Stop settling for stuff. Wake up and realize that God is offering you access to Himself. Just like the Sears Tower offered me a fixed point of direction that allowed me to find my way, realizing that we live each day in His presence – longing to know Him above all else- will change the way we live, the choices we make, the priorities we have.

Do you realize where you are?

What do you really want?

June 28, 2011 by ScriptureDig 5 Comments

: Image via Wikipedia

Yesterday we asked the question, “Who are you?” Today, I have another question for you to consider: What do you really want?

My husband and I are terrible decision makers. We will go to a restaurant and our waitress will come back three or four times before we’re ready to order! And just when I think I’ve made up my mind, I turn the page on the menu, or a waiter walks by with someone else’s dinner, or my husband tells me what he’s having… and suddenly I don’t know what I want again! I am almost always the last person at the table to order.

I just hate it when I finally have made my decision, the waiter brings the food to the table, and someone else’s food looks better to me than my own. Restaurant regret. All that time deciding… and I still picked the wrong thing.

You know what would be so much worse than restaurant regret? Life regret. What if we reach the end of our lives and realize that what we decided we wanted wasn’t really the best thing? What if we find ourselves standing before the throne of Jesus realizing that we settled… that what looked so good, so appealing to us was a cheap substitute for what life should have been?

As we consider this question of what we really want, we’re going to be rejoining Jacob again in Beersheba. At this point in his life, he is still home with his family. Thinking about our discussion last night, remember that we can safely assume that he has heard a lot about God’s promises and faithfulness to his family. Jacob has seen and heard what God has done; now we’ll find out what he has decided that he wants.

In Genesis 25, what does Jacob want? The birthright – the birthright is a double portion of the inheritance [if Isaac left his sons 1200 sheep, Jacob would have received 400 and Esau would have received 800!]

How does he get it? Deceiving his brother! Remember why he was named Jacob: he is the heel grabber- the one who trips up, takes the place of, and deceives. His name literally means “deceiver,” and this is just the beginning of him living up to his name with gusto. Not only that, but the birthright is most definitely not all he wants.

Notice what he wants now – the blessing. I can’t fully explain to you how the blessing worked, but somehow God would work through the spoken blessings of the patriarchs to pass on the supernatural blessing. Genesis 26:12 tells us that Isaac planted crops and in the same year reaped a hundredfold because God had blessed him. Jacob surely noticed this, and his sights became set on the blessing in addition to the birthright. Why just inherit riches when your own wealth could exponentially increase?

You know the rest of this story. In order to secure the blessing, Jacob and his mother work together to “jacob” Isaac – time and time again he deceives and outright lies. Once his actions are discovered, Isaac and Esau’s summaries of the situation are telling.

But he said, “Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing.” Esau said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob? He has deceived me these two times: He took my birthright, and now he’s taken my blessing!”

Isaac points it out clearly – he came deceitfully. He came “jacobly.”

It begs the question: God had richly blessed this family. He had taken care of them, He had allowed them to become wealthy and influential. Did Jacob want the God of his father and grandfather… or did he just want stuff?

Under the New Testament covenant, God doesn’t necessarily bless us with wealth and power for following Him; there are other types of blessings. Blessings such as:

Peace
Joy
Direction
God’s provision
Fellowship with other believers
Fewer self-inflicted problems
Salvation

Friends, let me ask you a hard question. Do we want God, or do we just want this stuff?

Do we treasure knowing Him, or do we want a “get out of hell free” card?

Do we obey Him because we love Him, or do we want a reputation as a good Christian?

What do you really want? Are you going to reach the end of your life and realize that you spent your days in pursuit of the wrong thing?

To be continued tomorrow!

Who are you?

June 27, 2011 by ScriptureDig 3 Comments

This week I will be sharing some thoughts on the life of Jacob, based on a series of messages I gave at a youth retreat last fall. I pray that this will be encouraging and challenging for you, as it was for me!

: Image via Wikipedia

Did you ever read one of those “choose your own adventure” novels?

As you read along, you came to places in the story where you could decide if you wanted the story to unfold with plot A or plot B. Then you would come to another place where you could choose again. Each choice built on the one before to create a particular story.

Just like that “choose your own adventure” novel, your life is a series of defining questions, defining moments, and defining choices. At one point, we might seem to be in relatively the same place right as our peers, but as we go through our lives we will have particular moments that change and mark who we become. Some of these moments you will have control over, some you will not.

We will also all make defining choices. We will come to places in our lives where we must choose what is most important to us, who we are, if we will serve God or ourselves.

Underneath these defining moments and defining choices are some particular questions we must answer. Questions like, “What is the purpose of my life?” “What will I do with Jesus?” “Is God who the Bible says He is?” – the way we answer these questions will radically change the way the rest of our lives unfold.

This week we will be considering four questions that tie together into one big question – what’s your story? As you come to those places where you can choose plot line A or plot line B… what decisions have you already made? Which ones will you make next? Ultimately each of those things will define the story of your life.

To look at our own stories and consider what God might want to do in the next chapters of our lives, we will be considering together the life of Jacob.

Everyone’s story begins with a family, and this is true for Jacob, as well.

As I think about Jacob’s family, it makes me wonder if he felt lost in the shadow of those around him. His grandfather was the Abraham – Jacob grew up hearing stories of his grandfather leaving Ur, believing incredible promises that God had made to him, waiting for years and years for their beloved son Isaac to be born. Surely his father had told him stories about the day he hiked up Mount Moriah with his dad, finding that God had commanded that he be sacrificed on top of the mountain… and the dramatic way God stopped them and provided a ram in the thicket.

These were the stories that were told as the family sat around their fire in the evenings. We read the book of Genesis… but these were their lives. Their stories.

And then there was Esau. Jacob was already a twin brother, and he was the twin who didn’t really get along as well with his father. Esau was the “man’s man.” He was an outdoorsy hunter, while Jacob preferred to stay near Rebekah and help her around the campsite.

I wonder if Jacob felt forgotten, unimportant, lost in the shadows of those around him. I wonder, after growing up hearing amazing stories of what God had done for his father and grandfather, if their sin caused him to view them as fakes.

Sometimes we can feel lost in the shadow. We can begin to rebel and reject those around us, thinking that they are fake. We can start to want to give up, comparing ourselves to those around us, feeling that we are unimportant or less valued than others we interact with. We can also begin to coast by on the spiritual heritage we have been given, resting in their testimonies of walking with God rather than striking out on a journey of our own with Him.

The question is – “who are you?” Not what kind of heritage do you have, how much knowledge do you have, what church do you belong to… who are you? What choice will you make to walk with the Lord Jesus Christ – no matter how fake or how spiritually outstanding others might be?

At the end of your life, what will be your story?

To be continued tomorrow!

Distractions

June 23, 2011 by ScriptureDig Leave a Comment

Kathy posted one of my favorite posts from her in late January of 2010, just as New Year’s resolutions don’t seem to be going as planned. I appreciate Kathy’s honesty in this post, not only how she’s been distracted, but also how she overcomes the distractions and is rewarded with longer and sweeter time with God!

I have a confession to make. Recently my morning “computer routine” has been cutting into my daily time with God. A few minutes to check email and Facebook before sitting down with my Bible and prayer journal turned into more than a few minutes.

Checking email led to responding to email. Checking Facebook messages led to taking my turn at Scrabble. You get the idea. And because I only have so much time at home before I have to head out from my day, my time with God got shorted.

I made a new commitment just two weeks ago. Time with God comes first. Since the computer is a temptation it doesn’t even get turned on until after. And you know what? My time with God has already grown longer and sweeter. And I anticipate our time together more. Long for it. It’s funny what God will do when I put Him first.

What about you? What are some things that keep you from having regular, quality, and quantity time with God? Let’s talk about it.

Pink Scooters and Big, Yellow Dogs

June 22, 2011 by ScriptureDig 1 Comment

In getting to know Kathy, her respect for God and His Word are quickly evident. I love it that she loves Him, and knowing how she regards Him causes me to tune my ear to what she shares. I’ve never had a pink scooter or a big, yellow dog, but when Kathy used them to paint a picture about life with the God we love, I could relate. I realized that I’m actually a lot more acquainted with pink scooters than I thought I was, and I’m a lot more like Kathy’s Chihuahua Harley than I want to admit! Kathy uses the ordinary to point to the divine in this inspirational challenge about fearing God, first posted in January 2009 on kathyhoward.org.

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Pink Scooters and Big, Yellow Dogs

I took our not-so-small, black Chihuahua for a long walk recently. About 3 pounds overweight, Harley needs all the exercise I’m willing to give him. He does well at all the dog walking basics. He stays right at my side, keeps the pace I set and rarely stops to sniff at a fireplug or lamp post.

But this particular day something spooked him. About two blocks into our walk, Harley not only came to a screeching halt, he dug his heels in (or whatever dogs have) and refused to budge. Looking ahead I spotted the object of his fear – a kid-sized, pink scooter in the middle of the sidewalk. I tried to encourage him with soothing comments, but his rump remained on the concrete. Then I combined pulling on the leash with some not-so-soothing comments. But Harley still wouldn’t move. I ended up carrying him around the scooter while he climbed me like a tree.

Harley’s fear of pint-sized power toys seems completely irrational – particularly considering the fact he has absolutely no fear of our eighty-five pound yellow lab. Boone could crush Harley with one miss-step or send him flying across the grass with a swipe of a skillet-sized paw. Yet, Harley acts like “king of the yard.” He lunges, snaps, and barks at a powerful animal ten times his size, but won’t walk at my side past a child’s toy abandoned on the sidewalk.

I thought this was ridiculous until God showed me how I do the very same thing. Early in His ministry, Jesus prepared His disciples to go from town to town and preach about the Kingdom of Heaven. He warned them they would experience trouble. Some people would persecute them because of their message. Yet, Jesus emphasized the truth that these persecutors didn’t have any real power over them. “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:28).”

I often balk at pink scooters. I fail to talk about Jesus because I am afraid what people will think. I squander the peace of Christ while I worry about the economy, our retirement, and the security of our nation. I disobey the holy, all-powerful God and reject His blessings, but tremble before some temporary, earthly circumstance. What’s wrong with me? My God deserves my fear. Pink scooters do not.

The Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love. Psalm 147:11