SCRIPTURE"Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way." (Psalm 139:23-24)
OBSERVATIONPsalm 139 lists things that God knows about us:- When we sit down and stand up (2)
- Our thoughts from far away (2)
- Our travels and our rest (3)
- All of our ways (3)
- Our words even before we speak them (4)
- When we were formed in the womb (15)
- When we were formless before a single day began (16)
Because God knows everything inside and out, He has the ability to search. To know our hearts, concerns and our ways.APPLICATIONGod is familiar with everything about me. Even things I'm not consciously aware of. I can invite Him in to look around my heart. The invitation to houseclean is really for that reason...to see if there are any offensive ways. Then, when He reveals those things I can fess up and seek to go His way, the everlasting way, or I can flee. However, this psalm reminds me that even if I run I can't get away from God. "Where can I go to escape your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?" (139:7) Up (heaven), down (Sheol), east, west or trying to hide in the dark, He is there. The best course of action is to let Him make the necessary changes because I can't run and hide. He knows all about me. Inside and out.PRAYERLord, search me and know my heart. Lead me in the everlasting way.
SCRIPTURE "The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you." (Psalm 9:9-10)
OBSERVATIONOppression and trouble are facts of living in a fallen world. However, in the midst of all this, God can be a stronghold. He is the safety and stability in world that can feel out of control. But this isn't a given, something that's automatic. The Psalmist reminds us that we need to know Him (a person's name stood for the whole of the person). Only by understanding God's character and who He is will we want to put our trust in Him. He is good, trustworthy, loving, in control, etc. However, it goes one step further than just knowing Him, we have to seek Him. We look for how God is working in the middle of our trials. Here is the tremendous promise...when we seek Him, He will not forsake us, or turn his face from us, but will be there when we need Him the most.
APPLICATIONI'd prefer to have a life without trouble. Honestly it's a pain at times. There is something that is greater than my trials. That something is actually someone...God himself. He is a stronghold. I need to know Him, trust Him, and seek Him, especially in the difficult times of trouble. But I can't start knowing Him, trusting Him, and seeking Him only when times are tough. I need to do that daily, in the in between times. Then I will be prepared to seek Him when difficulties come.PRAYER Lord, you are the real God in the midst of the realities of life, even when it's a pain.
SCRIPTURE "So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Corinthians 12:7-9)
OBSERVATION Paul's thorn was a way to temper his mountain top experience of receiving revelation from God. It reminded him not to think of himself more highly than he ought. "I must be pretty great in God's sight. Look at this experience. I'm Paul and I'm entitled to a life of ease." He obviously prefered that it be taken away. It harassed him and caused him pain and frustration. He didn't say the thorn was a good thing. He did recognize the thorn was not caused by God but He was able to bring about good through it. God had a bigger purpose. He wanted Paul to rely on His grace and not obtaining a pain free life. This humbling thorn was used by God so Paul would not rely on his circumstances but on the grace of God in the midst of his circumstances. He realized he did have something to brag about and it wasn't himself or a life that was well ordered and free from pain. It was about his weaknesses because they were the very points where the power of Christ came through and if he was going to boast it was going to be about the Lord.
APPLICATIONMy weaknesses, thorns, are opportunities for God's grace and power to shine. These tough situations are ways to keep me in check. When life is good I tend to take the credit or think somehow God owes me. He is supposed to remove the thorns. However, when I get stuck by a thorn I'm reminded it's not about me. It's all about Christ. Where I lack, Christ's power can be demonstrated. I can live life always looking for the elusive "someday." Someday when there's enough money, time, no stress, etc. But God wants me to look for his grace in today. Relying on his strength and power in my weakness, now that is something to brag about.PRAYER Lord, help me to see your grace and power in my weaknesses and in spite of the thorns that stick in my life. Amen.
SCRIPTURE"As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.'" (2 Corinthians 7:9-10).
OBSERVATION Paul's first letter to the Corinthians obviously caused them grief because he addresses it here in Second Corinthians. In an age where no one wants to hurt someone's feelings (not on purpose but by godly confrontation), Paul's tactics seem a bit harsh. However he was more concerned about the larger spiritual issues surrounding life. He recognized two kinds of grief (godly vs. worldly) and the kind that he inflicted (godly) led them to repentance which led to salvation. Godly grief means we see our sin in light of God's holiness and respond accordingly. It leads us to repentance...a change of mind about our situation. Worldly grief can occur on many different levels. We are more sorry that we got caught than over the actual deed. We misdirect our anger to the person who challenges us. What business is it of theirs? We fall into shame. "I'm such a bad person." Each of these are unhealthy responses when we come face to face with our sin because none of them leads to repentance. They do lead to anger, frustration, or self-loathing, none of which offers life, only death, because we still haven't dealt with the issue at hand. As long as we are caught up in worldly grief, grief without God, we have not repented.
APPLICATIONI need to develop Godly grief. Grief that is actually good for me. Recognizing my sin and repenting, which brings about reconciliation with God....and others. It's easy to get caught up in worldly grief. When I do, it's all about me, not about what God wants to do in me. Only a healthy evaluation of my condition produces the change that brings about life. In order to do that I need to honestly look at my sin (without blaming others or shaming myself), take it to God and allow him to work in my life. I can spin my wheels in the mire of grief (I'm such a bad person. God doesn't love me. I'll never be useful. Why did I do such a stupid thing?). Or, I can allow the grief I experience, when confronted with the hard teachings of God's word, to motivate me to holiness and repentance. That is where I find life and freedom.PRAYER Lord, I need to develop godly grief, the grief that leads to repentance instead of worldly grief that leads to death. Help me to get out of my own way. Amen.
SCRIPTURE
"And as soon as he saw here, he tore his clothes and said, 'Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low, and you have become the cause of great trouble for me. For I have opened my mouth to the Lord, and I cannot take back my vow.'" (Judges 11:35)
OBSERVATION
Jephthah made a vow to the Lord, to offer him the first thing that came out his door, should the Lord give him victory over the Ammonites. Israel did subdue the Ammonites, Jephthah returned home, and the first thing out of his house was his daughter, dancing with tambourines to celebrate his victory. Jephthah suddenly realized the situation he was in (probably never anticipating that his daughter may come running out). I like to think he was hoping it was the neighbor's dog or the pesky cat, but that is pure speculation. Jephthah now had a very hard decision, one that brought him "very low." He could spare the life of his daughter and renege on the vow he made to God. Or, he could keep the vow he made to God and offer his daughter. He chose the latter.
Talk can be very cheap. We can make commitments or promises, especially to God, with either no intent to fulfill them, or only keeping them if it is convenient. Jephthah kept his word, a decision that was neither easy nor convenient. He understood the seriousness of a vow that is made to God. It is not just idle words. It is a contract.
APPLICATION
God takes my commitments, promises, and vows to him very seriously. He would rather me not make a vow than to make one and not keep it. I find it is easy to make promises as a way to manipulate God. Give me this and I'll give you that. "Lord, if my car doesn't run out of gas before the next exit I promise to pray more." But there inevitably comes a time when the promise is not convenient. I don't have time to pray. Or, I don't want to pray. A time when I no longer want to fulfill the promise I made. And there will come a time when my promise is tested (thankfully, not to the degree of Jephthah's). In those moments Jephthah provides a great example of making, and keeping, a commitment to God. No matter the personal cost.
PRAYER
Lord, I want to keep my promises to you, no matter how small they may seem from my perspective. If I say I'll do it, I want to do it. Amen.
