Post for November 13, 2012: Inspiration
This year, our Men’s group is going through the third series of lessons in The Men’s Fraternity, titled “The Great Adventure”. At the end of the fifth lesson, one of the discussion questions asked us to share a dream or two with the others. I shared my dream of being an inspirational writer who would help draw others closer to God. They asked me how that was going and I told them I had started a blog, but had been challenged lately seeking material to write about. Our group leader asked me to write something and bring it to our next class. After a fair amount of ribbing regarding how inspiring my effort would be, someone else suggested I ask what God would have to say to inspire the group. Class ended and I had my assignment.
I woke up in the middle of the night and thought to ask God what He had to say. It may sound odd, but I often find that the middle of the night is one of the best times for me to talk to God. I think for me, it’s because the busyness of the day isn’t running around in my head and I can hear from Him better. It’s also easier to have an informal conversation. So I said, “Lord, what do I write about to help the class draw closer to you?” Jesus said this, “I love you”, and “I have a place for you.” When He said those words, I felt such a sense of completeness come over me. I felt solid and anchored and strangely satisfied in my soul. The closest analogy I can think of is the way you feel after you’ve eaten a substantial meal. Not stuffing yourself to the point of discomfort, but that point where you can feel the weight of the meal inside you and a sense of fullness spreads through your body. You have satisfied your need for food and you are content. That’s how my soul felt.
With those words, Jesus addressed two of our most basic needs: the need to be loved and the need to belong. We find it first in our families as we grow up, but as we mature, the desire to be loved takes on a different meaning and our development as an individual causes us to seek an identity outside of the family. So we look for love in others and we try to fit in with those around us. But all too often, we go through life feeling unloved and alone because we haven’t sought the love of our Creator, nor felt the sense of belonging that comes from a relationship with Him. In Genesis, we learn that God created man for fellowship with Him. Even though man betrayed that trust, it didn’t remove the desire within us, and it certainly didn’t change God’s desire for relationship. Quite the opposite happened. God so loved us that He sent Jesus to die in our place, to pay the price for our reconciliation with God.
If you’re feeling alone and out of place, call out to Jesus now. You will know you belong to Him, He will fill the void in your soul and He will bring you Peace.
P.S.: I don’t usually add post scripts to these writings, but there were a couple of other things that happened while writing this that need to be included. First, when I was receiving instruction from God, I could sense anticipation on His part. Then He said, “I’ve got great things for you to do!” At first I took it personally, but after reflection, I believe it’s what God has for every one of us. He is not a God who thinks small and none of us are disqualified from mighty deeds in His eyes!
P.P.S.: Just one more thing and then I’m done. It was two nights later, and I again woke up in the middle of the night. I said, “Hi Lord,” and He responded with “Hi Chris!” with such excitement in His voice that I had to ask why. He said, “I know our future and it is glorious!” My human side took over and I started to mention the uncertainty everyone was feeling. I was quickly corrected when He said, “There’s no uncertainty in Me!” It made me think of how we miss out on so much because we fail to trust in the God who exists outside of time and who knows the end of all things. I look at this as a call to all of us to take our eyes off the world and put them back on God! It’s time to live the adventure God has prepared for us! Remember what it says in Philippians 4:13: “I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me! Now, get out there, be amazing and live the adventure God has for YOU!
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
The Pharisee in me
Post for October, 2012: The Pharisee in me
(Note: I was going to post this in early October, but a couple of things intervened and this is the first opportunity I've had to put this out there. My apologies.)
Writing this isn’t pleasant for me, but if I am not honest with you, my testimony is worthless. Last week I gave in to offence and anger due in large part to my expectations. Here’s what happened. My wife and I were attending a church service and towards the end of it, the Minister conducting the service, (who has a prophetic gift), came up to us and said “I have something for you, but now is just not right. Will you be here tomorrow night?” We said yes. Going home, I was flying inside. First because of the service and second because, God had a word for us and we would receive it tomorrow! That night I had dreams of being blessed and I just sailed through the day. That evening we got to the meeting early and found good seats on the front row. During the service, the Minister informed us that he would be laying hands on everyone there and providing an impartation. Things were just getting better and better! At the end of the service, we cleared the chairs from the room and folks lined up to receive the impartation. My wife and I were standing together and my excitement was building as he drew nearer. What did God have to say to us? What would be unleashed in our lives through the impartation? The moment was at hand…he stood before us. He put his hands on our foreheads and said something like “Receive in the name of the Lord.” Then he moved on. No personal prophecy for us, and even worse, I felt nothing from his touch. I was stunned, and then I was angry! I felt lied to and cheated. I was angry with the Minister, but even angrier with God. Then I sank into depression, because I knew in my heart that I could never really turn my back on God. I remembered the passage in one of the gospels where a large number of Jesus’ disciples have just left Him. He’s looking at the 12 who stayed and asked them if they were going to leave too. I think it was Peter who responded, “Where else would we go Lord, You have the Words of Life!” That got me to tone down the angry rhetoric in my head, but didn’t do much for the hurt feelings. That got me thinking of the Pharisees and how much my actions were like them.
They knew the Law and the Prophets. They knew they were God’s chosen people, and they knew the Messiah was coming to save them and establish His kingdom here on earth. I think they had an expectation that Christ would praise them for their righteousness and exalt them when He restored the Kingdom of Israel and freed them from Roman control. Instead, they were chastised, challenged and ridiculed before the common people. Nor did Jesus take them aside and explain to them what was really happening. Small wonder they took offence. In similar fashion, my expectations were not met, nor was there any explanation. I, like the Pharisees, lost sight of the fact that God is God. His ways are not our ways and He is under no obligation to explain Himself to us.
But that is not the end. A day later, I was at our Men’s Night Out dinner at our local church. We were singing worship songs and I could feel my heart softening. I was still hurting a little, when I heard His voice inside my head. He said, “Let it go, Chris. I still love you and I always will.” And that was the end of that!
We may never know God’s reasoning, but we can always be certain of His Love.
(Note: I was going to post this in early October, but a couple of things intervened and this is the first opportunity I've had to put this out there. My apologies.)
Writing this isn’t pleasant for me, but if I am not honest with you, my testimony is worthless. Last week I gave in to offence and anger due in large part to my expectations. Here’s what happened. My wife and I were attending a church service and towards the end of it, the Minister conducting the service, (who has a prophetic gift), came up to us and said “I have something for you, but now is just not right. Will you be here tomorrow night?” We said yes. Going home, I was flying inside. First because of the service and second because, God had a word for us and we would receive it tomorrow! That night I had dreams of being blessed and I just sailed through the day. That evening we got to the meeting early and found good seats on the front row. During the service, the Minister informed us that he would be laying hands on everyone there and providing an impartation. Things were just getting better and better! At the end of the service, we cleared the chairs from the room and folks lined up to receive the impartation. My wife and I were standing together and my excitement was building as he drew nearer. What did God have to say to us? What would be unleashed in our lives through the impartation? The moment was at hand…he stood before us. He put his hands on our foreheads and said something like “Receive in the name of the Lord.” Then he moved on. No personal prophecy for us, and even worse, I felt nothing from his touch. I was stunned, and then I was angry! I felt lied to and cheated. I was angry with the Minister, but even angrier with God. Then I sank into depression, because I knew in my heart that I could never really turn my back on God. I remembered the passage in one of the gospels where a large number of Jesus’ disciples have just left Him. He’s looking at the 12 who stayed and asked them if they were going to leave too. I think it was Peter who responded, “Where else would we go Lord, You have the Words of Life!” That got me to tone down the angry rhetoric in my head, but didn’t do much for the hurt feelings. That got me thinking of the Pharisees and how much my actions were like them.
They knew the Law and the Prophets. They knew they were God’s chosen people, and they knew the Messiah was coming to save them and establish His kingdom here on earth. I think they had an expectation that Christ would praise them for their righteousness and exalt them when He restored the Kingdom of Israel and freed them from Roman control. Instead, they were chastised, challenged and ridiculed before the common people. Nor did Jesus take them aside and explain to them what was really happening. Small wonder they took offence. In similar fashion, my expectations were not met, nor was there any explanation. I, like the Pharisees, lost sight of the fact that God is God. His ways are not our ways and He is under no obligation to explain Himself to us.
But that is not the end. A day later, I was at our Men’s Night Out dinner at our local church. We were singing worship songs and I could feel my heart softening. I was still hurting a little, when I heard His voice inside my head. He said, “Let it go, Chris. I still love you and I always will.” And that was the end of that!
We may never know God’s reasoning, but we can always be certain of His Love.
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