Saturday, March 23, 2013

Nehemiah's Prayer

Nehemiah Chapter One

There is value in Nehemiah's prayer that is quite usable today. The Jews had not listened to God for generations so He allowed the Babylonians to attack Jerusalem and carry the survivors off into exile. Years later, good King Cyrus let the remnant return to their city but they were sitting around a burnt gate and broken walls in disgrace. So, when Nehemiah heard about this, he fasted and prayed.
First, he rightly paid homage to God:

"O Lord, God of Heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands..." (verse 5)

Then he goes on to confess not only his sins, but the sins of his family and his nation:

"I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father's house, have committed against you." (verse 6)

Then he reminds God of his promise by recounting Scripture:

"Remember the instructions you gave your servant Moses saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, BUT if you return to me and obey my command, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.'" (verses 8 and 9)

Sometimes it seems Americans are at "the farthest horizon" in their thoughts and deeds, but it never occured to me that I can confess the sins of my nation as I pray for it. Maybe folks don't recognize sin as they promote gay marriage and abortion, but I know it is wrong in God's eyes. I can ask God to forgive Americans, myself at the top of the list, and help us rebuild the walls on the foundation of Christ.
Second Chronicles 7:14 bears the very promise I can pray back to God, reminding him of what he said:

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and forgive them their sin and heal their land."

It's not too late. God is faithful and just. He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

I Want To Die

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."
Philippians 1:21

When I was younger, I feared death. I did not want my mom and dad to die, nor did I want to leave this world. My ties to those around me were too strong. I was not yet dependant on Christ. But, as I've aged and gone through various valleys, seen the beauties of creation, tested the mechanics of faith, I see that "to die is gain." Why the change of heart? It's because I have been living in Christ. As I live in him, I want to see his face, explore his neighborhood, dine at his table, listen to his hearty laughter. As long as I am on this side of the chasm, I will see but a poor reflection, but when I cross over, then I shall see my Beautiful Savior face to face and it will be like meeting an old friend.

Sunday, March 17, 2013

God Cares for the Lost

    My father accepted Christ as his personal savior after World War Two and I am so glad he did. Now, as dementia slowly assails him, I know that Jesus has sealed his soul until the day of redemption. Salvation is not an issue of intelligence, nor does it ebb and flow like the tides of the heart. Rather, it is a matter of the soul. This can never be lost!
     Recently, after a particularly sorrowful time with my father, I came home and opened my Bible, searching for verses of assurance and hope. When reading Psalm 139 (the Living Bible translation), I inserted my father's name within the text, bringing such peace. Perhaps this will help anyone who is experiencing a similar loss.

     "O Lord, you have examined his heart and know everything about him. You know when he sits or stands. When far away, you know his every thought. You chart the path ahead of him, and tell him when to stop and rest. Every moment, you know where he is. You know what he is going to say even before he says it. You both precede and follow him and place your hand of blessing on his head.
     This is too glorious, too wonderful to believe! My dad can never be lost to your Spirit! He can never get away from his God! If he goes up to heaven, God is there...If he rides the morning winds to the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide him, your strength will support him. If he tries to hide in the darkness, the night becomes light around him. For even darkness cannot hide from God; to you, the night shines as bright as the day. Darkness and light are both alike to God...
     How precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are thinking about Russell constantly! He can't even count how many times a day your thoughts turn toward him. And when he wakens in the morning, you are still thinking of him."

    
    

Saturday, March 16, 2013

If You Were a Guard at the Tomb

"Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, 'We are going up to Jerusalem and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law.  They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day, he will be raised to life!'"
Matthew 20: 17-19

"The chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 'Sir,' they said, 'we remember that while he was still alive, that deceiver said, 'After three days, I will rise again.' So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.'"
Matthew 27: 62-64

"There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men."
Matthew 28: 2-4

"While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, 'You are to say, "His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep"...So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed."
Matthew 28:11-15

     Pilate, after condemning an innocent man to death, gave permission to have the tomb sealed "as secure as you know how." The Roman Empire was the top-notch society of its time and the crucifixtion of Christ was a raucous mob scene at a time when the city was filled with visitors for the Passover. I would imagine the strongest materials and the best guards were used on this tomb.
     Now imagine being one of these elite guards. Perhaps you were even there at the crucifixtion mocking Christ, driving the nails or controlling the mob. Or maybe you were the one who reverantly proclaimed, "Surely, this was the Son of God" when Jesus gave up his Spirit. Here you are again, assigned to guard the tomb. Would you risk your job and reputation by falling asleep? Preposterous! So, you're pacing back and forth, (perhaps passersby are looking askance at you, wondering why you are guarding a grave) you're keenly watching the bushes for the lurking disciples to jump you, when suddenly, all control is lost as the Lord of Hosts takes over the scene with an earthquake and an angel. The brilliant appearance is so terrifying that your knees buckle in a faint.
     Christ in risen! He is not here! A man who died via crucifixtion has folded up his grave clothes and walked away! When you come to, do you then believe in the Son of God?
     I know I do, and I wasn't even there!

Saturday, March 9, 2013

God is Not Idle

"Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion, for the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him...Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'"
Isaiah 30: 18, 21

I love these verses because they demonstrate an active, loving God: He longs, He rises, He speaks. He did not only hand me Life's Instruction Manual (the Bible) and then go sit down on his throne. No. He rises from his seat when I've fallen into despair, helping me up with a compassionate embrace. I can visualize his concerned expression, his soothing words, as he follows me, advising me which way to turn. He actively cares for me.
I will gladly wait upon you, Lord, so I don't run ahead and get lost.

What Lasts Forever?

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."
Luke 21:33

One day, all that I see and know to be real, concrete and reliable will die. The Laws of Gravity will be broken. The very firmament I stand upon will be gone. The stars will fall, the moon will be shaken as all nature heaves. Government, society, family - all will pass away. In Luke chapter 21, Jesus describes scenes of terror: "Nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea...the heavenly bodies will be shaken." No one will be exempt "for it will come upon all those who live on the face of the earth."
Yet throughout all of this, Jesus' word will always be! Thank God for the Holy Scriptures and I have them right here on my dining room table! No wonder God tells me to write the words on the tablet of my heart so I may stand firm in any situation.
The next time you see a Bible, don't pass it by. Pause and digest the eternal words. Belief in Jesus will save your soul!

Guard Your Heart

"Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkeness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly, like a trap...Be always on the watch and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man."
Luke 21: 34-36

The Day Jesus is talking about is the day of his second coming. The ways he advises us to be prepared are in the spiritual sense. He doesn't say to build a bomb shelter or store up supplies, but he wants us to be ready on the inside. What does it mean for my heart to be weighed down with dissipation? It means "any wasteful use of time or energy." I can think of plenty of wasteful actions: too much television or time on the internet, for example. Anxieties or worries are also a drain on the heart. Jesus told us in Matthew 6: 33-34: "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." To be prepared each day, I pray for his Spirit to reside in me, forgive me and keep my eyes focused on Him.

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Accept Your Blessings With Humility

"(Jesus) said to Simon, 'Put out into deeper water, and let down the nets for a catch.' Simon answered, 'Master, we have worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.' When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break...When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, 'Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!' For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken."
Luke 5: 4-9

Were you ever so ashamed by your own sinful condition that your heart caught in your throat when blessings surrounded you? When I see myself for who I truly am, listening to what I have said or seeing what I have done, I know I do not deserve to be in Christ's presence. He is holy, sinless, almighty, omniscient and just. Who am I that he should bless me so? I have never been hungry, rarely ailed, been loved unconditionally by my family. I have intelligence, passion, humor and sympathy. Each day, the beauty of nature displays itself wherever I go, painting a gorgeous landscape where I walk, paving my way in sunshine or shadow. God has given me the gifts of his Holy Spirit, the Scriptures, prayer and the Lord's Supper. When I sin, I want to cry out as Peter did, "Lord, go away from me!" but, I am so glad he doesn't!

Love One Another

This is one of my favorite poems that I have committed to memory. I only wish I knew who penned it.

Love One Another As I Have Loved You
 
"Love one another as I have loved you"
May seem so very impossible to do.
But if you will try to trust and believe,
There are many great joys that you will receive.
 
For love makes us patient, understanding and kind
As we judge with our hearts and not with our mind.
For as soon as love enters the heart's open door,
The faults we once saw are not there anymore.
 
And the things that seemed wrong begin to look right,
When viewed in the softness of love's gentle light.
For love works in ways that are wondrous and strange,
And there is nothing in life that love cannot change. 

Saturday, March 2, 2013

What are you searching for?

"He who seeks good finds goodwill, but evil comes to him who searches for it."
Proverbs 11:27

Trouble seems to find troubled people. I read a book about a schizophrenic woman who was seeking to buy cocaine, thinking it would help her find cessation of the voices in her head. She seemed to be able to find all the right connections without even saying a word.
What am I searching for today? May I see the good in others today. May I look for each cloud's silver lining. May I be an optimist whose glass is not only half full, but overflowing with God's blessings. May I actively hunt for God's fingerprints all around me - in creation, in delicious tastes, in sweet aromas and kind words (both spoken and heard). May my hands be open in servitude, not clenched with rage. May I live like Jesus today, courageously empowered by his Holy Spirit.

Surrender, Jesus!

"So Pilate decided to grant their demand. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they had asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will."
Luke 23: 24 & 25

I was struck by these words: "surrendered Jesus to their will". Indeed Jesus gave Himself up for us all, willingly, but look what happened when He surrendered to mankind. He, an innocent man, was mocked, insulted, falsely accused, beaten, injustly sentenced to death by crucifixtion.
But, what happens when I surrender to Him? I wear the robe and crown of righteousness that I in no way deserve. I have life abundant in His name.
I am not mocked.
I am not insulted.
I am not accused.
I am not beaten.
I am not sentenced to death.
I am freed!
Freed from all that I deserve because Jesus took my place. I surrender all to you, Lord. I would be a fool not to!