Reconciliation or Rapture?

Do you know that the world is far from reaped by the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Are you aware that the majority of people, dead and living, have had no opportunity to know Him? Let’s examine traditional religious teaching about the afterlife in light of knowing about the multitudes, young and old, who have not yet heard the good tidings.

There is a widely accepted teaching about a literal, eternal hell where all unbelievers will go when they die. Many Christians are taught that they will be raptured into a literal heaven in the clouds while unbelievers are left on earth to suffer eternal hellfire and damnation. Though only about 200 years old, this doctrine is well embedded in traditional Christian culture and is the dominant Christian belief reflected in our broader society.

Endless books and movies have been created about the Rapture Doctrine. Pictures of flames licking around the bodies of those condemned to eternal punishment while they scream in torment are common. In contrast to the agony sinners are suffering, the saints are painted as sitting on clouds, playing their harps and walking on literal streets of gold, living in luxurious mansions in the sky. People who have had no opportunity to hear the gospel are condemned with unbelievers who willfully refuse to believe in Jesus Christ.

Are you willing to truly examine this teaching? To consider with God if He really condemns all the millions of people, the innocent babies to the elderly, the living as well as those who have died through the centuries, to literal, eternal hell just because they did not learn of Him in this life? Think about it. We have but a small portion of His love, and most of us would not desire even our worst enemy to live in eternal torment, let alone our unsaved loved ones.

If we do imagine or even enjoy it, that surely is not the attitude of heart that God teaches us to have. Many sincere believers live in fear that their loved ones who have refused faith in God are destined to this place of eternal torment. How does this doctrine fit with God’s redemptive love, which is so far beyond human love? Our God IS love! God’s judgment is always redemptive, intimately connected to His mercy. What is redeeming about sinners being in eternal torment?

What benefit towards salvation is our loving God receiving by allowing a great majority of the world to be put into an eternal place of punishment? And what about the rest of us – whom He knows and loves – having to fear the future of our loved ones in eternal damnation with no hope, even potentially viewing their suffering from the safety of our heavenly home? I don’t know about you, but I would have a hard time enjoying heaven if I had to be aware of such suffering on earth!

Fear of the future of unsaved loved ones drives many believers to desperately pursue a confession of faith before their loved ones die. Fear mixed with love provides no peace until this is accomplished. It becomes difficult to see anything good coming out of this for sinners or believers. The sinners have no hope of ever knowing God and become eternally useless to Him. Believers suffer fear of the future afterlife for themselves and more so their unbelieving loved ones who refuse the Lord before they die.

It certainly adds zeal, if not desperation, to minister the salvation message of Jesus Christ to loved ones before their life on this earth ends. But hope for salvation for those we love becomes finite and without peace.The rapture predicting that the good are taken while the bad are abandoned to eternal damnation just does not ring true with our God’s nature of mercy and redemptive justice. God loved the world so much that He sent Jesus Christ. How could He plan to lose a great number of those He died for?

Let us recall that Jesus ministered to those in hell between His death and resurrection, resulting in many of the dead being seen raised in the city. He cares about the dead who lived too early to know Him and His salvation. His love extends to the innocent who were too young to know Him when they died. He loves all sinners, not wishing any to perish. Is man’s will and the devil to triumph in the end?

Rapture theology surely denies God’s ability to change the hearts and minds of all men, granting an eternal victory to the enemy of our souls. Hear and understand what His word says:

“...Our Savior, God, who wills that all mankind be saved and come into the realization of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:1-4 Concordant Literal.

The Concordant Literal is used here because this version of the Bible translates from the original Hebrew and Greek words to further our understanding. Some translations use want or desire instead of will. If Almighty God wills, desires, or wants something, will He fail to have it? Is He forever facing massive defeat in what He desires, His complete plan, because of man’s will? It is His will to save all mankind. He said so. Will He not accomplish anything that is His will?

Where in the word is there an account of God not doing what He decides to do? He is not somehow ultimately unable to defeat the devil. Jesus has the keys to death and hell. Did He not defeat the devil when He arose, victorious? Our Lord and Savior already has this victory! The Greek translation of this word will is strengthened to “to determine, take for oneself, or choose.” God is determined to save everyone! This is His choice.

This is the word of Reconciliation of all men. What is better news than our God triumphing over all, bringing all of His creation back into intimacy and fellowship with Him? If this is what God wants, it should be what we want: the ultimate reconciliation of all humans back to God. No power in heaven or earth can stand against the blood of Christ, no matter that it take centuries.

In contrast to the word rapture, which does not appear in scripture, this word reconciliation appears 15 times in 12 verses in the New Testament. Yet the scriptural truth of reconciliation for all men has been much maligned in traditional Christian circles, seen as false doctrine or even heresy. There are ministers who admit that they know God will reconcile all to Himself, but will not teach it for fear of losing their audience, congregation or income.

“Wherefore in all things, it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” Hebrews 2:17 KJV

Jesus came to reconcile all to God, making a way for us to be holy and righteous. His ministry will succeed and the purpose of His calling fulfilled through the end of the ages, on into eternity. Yet this wonderful truth, the doctrine of universal reconciliation, is vigorously attacked and rejected by many Christian leaders and their followers who embrace the traditional teaching of the rapture. Though strongly held, the widely embraced teachings about rapture and eternal hell are passed down by traditional teachings unexamined by the Holy Spirit's scriptural study by believers.

The rapture theory is part of dispensationalism, with theologians debating over whether the tribulation happens before, during, or after the Second Coming of Christ. Debate by men rarely results in the truth of God, no matter how much we might enjoy it or even make a living from the practice. Did you know that this doctrine of the rapture was not part of the foundation of the early Christian church? It’s only about 200 years old, but the way it has become foundational, one would think it was something Jesus Himself taught in His earthly ministry.

Our differences in doctrinal beliefs cause so much division and strife, but God said it should not be so. Man’s ideas and theories do not shed a great deal of light on our understanding of God’s word in context. While we fight among ourselves and divide the body of Christ, unbelievers watch our confusion, along with our judgment for those who see it differently, learning lessons that do not fit with what we want to show of Christ and His ways.

Few Christians, including those in Christian leadership who teach it, have really searched these rapture teachings out in the scriptures. Becoming doctrine recently in church history, the rapture teachings are not a part of the foundations of Christianity. It’s also puzzling that Christians who stand for the love of God are so comfortable with this condemning judgment of others who remain ignorant of our Lord. Why is it so many believers are extremely invested in insisting that the majority of earth’s people be condemned to the fiery torment of hell for all eternity?

When you search the scriptures to see if these things are true, the spirit reveals the entire doctrine of the rapture is built on a few misunderstood or mistranslated scriptures. Rapture theology was created in the 1830’s by the English Protestant minister John Nelson Darby. Darby created the rapture doctrine without sound scriptural basis, despite foundational Christian teaching.

Though Darby did many wonderful things for the Lord through his years of ministry, the rapture theology he developed is far more popular and established than its scriptural base would warrant. It was extensively promoted by 19th-century minister C.I. Scofield and rapidly accepted by many. Both Darby and Scofield have bible versions named after them. This teaching is well entrenched in the culture of many Christians, with those who resist it being considered heretics and false in their teachings.

The rapture doctrine teaches that Christian believers will escape the coming end time of tribulation and judgment of the sinners on earth, but there is no place in the scriptures where God says His people will escape judgment. The truth is that His saints will be judged first, which we will scripturally examine shortly. The primary scriptural basis for the rapture doctrine is found in Darby’s interpretation of this scripture:

“By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise.

After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord." 1 Thessalonians 4:17 Berean

The phrase caught up in the air was translated by Darby as rapture from a Latin derivative of these words, not from the original Greek or Hebrew. He further promotes the belief in a literal, rather than a spiritual, rising up in the clouds to an actual place in the sky called heaven. Jesus was raised from the dead by the spirit and we, too, will be raised by the spirit to be where He is. The debate has been about who gets to go and where we are actually going.

Teaching that God will take His people out of danger on this earth is in sharp contrast to His dealings with His own. We wish that was the case when we are struggling, but Christians have been left on earth for centuries, suffering much for the kingdom of God. Can you name any Old Testament saints who were removed from rather than enduring suffering along the way? We, like all saints then and now, go through difficulties or tribulations right along with unbelievers, shining our light in the darkness.

God is with us during times of trouble, but there are few, if any, examples where He literally takes us out of the adversity that comes in this life. And we also learn much more by what we go through than what we escape! There is not one manmade or natural catastrophe or disaster God’s people were not subject to in some way, despite eventual deliverance. And it remains so today.

“For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. And they were oblivious until the flood came and swept them all away.

So will it be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come.” Matthew 24:39-42 Berean

Here is another passage of scripture that is foundational to the rapture theory. It is understood to mean that God will literally take His people and leave the sinners. But if the Lord’s coming is like the days of Noah, it is not the righteous who are taken but the evil doers who were destroyed from their earthly existence. In Noah’s day, every living being was subject to the flood. No one escaped going through it though God saved a remnant by Noah’s obedience to God. God made a way for the righteous to live through it and remain on the earth.

This scriptural passage states we do not know the day of the coming of our Lord. Nonetheless, many have prophesied the exact time of the rapture, only to watch it pass, as it has for all the years of this doctrine’s existence. Millions of dollars have been made to promote the rapture theory through numerous books, movies, pictures, and promotions. The more income leaders receive for promoting a lie, the harder it is for them to accept the truth that this is not God’s word nor His way.

Another part of this teaching is a key error in the King James Bible translation of eon as “eternal.” The original Greek meaning of eon is “age-lasting, a lifetime.” That is quite different from eternal as in “everlasting, without end.” Translators do their best but they are human and may see things according to what they believe rather than the intent of the original Greek and Hebrew. We must rely on the holy spirit to teach us, comparing spiritual with spiritual, as we explore the Greek and Hebrew meanings of the original texts.

Yes, it is true that those who sin shall surely die, and then comes the judgment, as the Apostle Paul states in Hebrews:

“Nor did He enter heaven to offer Himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Otherwise, Christ would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared once and for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment, so also Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation [redemption, reconciliation] to those who eagerly await Him.” Hebrews 9:25-29 Berean

Jesus kept that appointment with judgment in dying for all of us sinners. He did it for all the world that His Father so loved. Mankind no longer has to look for a fearful, tormented, eternal ending where they are abandoned by God forever. God makes no mistakes and we are not a bad project that He started but is unable to complete. Jesus Christ has already made the way open to the Father, just as the Father is always with Him.

He is coming again a second time, within His people to rule and reign, wherein dwells His kingdom not made with hands. He is bringing salvation beyond sin-consciousness, open for all. His second coming, just like His kingdom, is within His people and He has been coming within ever since His work on earth was complete. We are the temple of God, and He has been continually coming, to take up His abode in us and be seen through us, just as those who saw Jesus saw the Father.

We are His habitation, the Kingdom of God. His kingdom isn’t far off, as Jesus said in Luke:

“Now being inquired of by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God is coming, He answered them and said,

‘The kingdom of God is not coming with scrutiny. Neither shall they be declaring, ‘Lo! Here! Or ‘Lo! There!’ for lo! The kingdom of God is inside of you.’” Luke 17:20-21 Concordant Literal

Do we see this truth, so long ago established by Jesus Christ? The kingdom of God does not come with critical observation or examination, not by scrutiny. We’re not to say, “Look here! Look there! See the external location of the coming of the Kingdom!” It is not an externally observable place because it is inside of us, revealed by the spirit as God chooses. If we cannot point to it and say, “There it is,” it is not to be found in a concrete physical place on earth such as Jerusalem or a literal place in the sky called heaven.

We are the kingdom in which God intends to rule and reign. It is in a people that God has called and chosen, who are being purified by Him, judged until we come forth as pure God-nature revealing the Christ to others. The Greek word entos means “within,” from the root en meaning “a fixed position or place of rest.” Many translations use in the midst,”failing to convey the message the original language is saying: “The Kingdom is inside of you.”

The King James version translates it as within, and the Concordant Literal, quoted above, further clarifies it from the original Greed to inside of you. Without the spiritual eyes and ears of which Jesus often spoke, this kingdom scripture really cannot be understood. God is a spirit and it is our spirits that come alive in Him.

“We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.

The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:12-14 Berean

Some will not pass from this life to go directly into God’s presence, despite the myths, stories, and sermons about everyone who dies being immediately in heaven. We surely don’t hear ministers preaching at funerals that the deceased will be in hell rather than found immediately in the presence of God. The exception is the Catholic doctrine of purgatory, revealed in church history to be invented to get more money for the Catholic church of the time.

That message is just not done at funerals, for obvious reasons, nor is the truth about the deceased unbeliever spoken of at that time. Yes, we will all be judged in order to be fully redeemed, but Paul states that those who do not know him sleep until their time of change comes. They remain unaware until it is their rank being called up.

“For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; afterward, at His coming, the people of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:23 HCSB

Note the surety of Paul’s first statement. It is inevitable that in our Adamic, fleshly nature, we all die. There is no exception. So, then, is the certainty that in Christ all will be made alive. All. No exceptions. We don’t see it yet as God has an order for each one. First those with the fullness of the Christ nature, His first fruits company, then the people of Christ. This is a deep truth that takes much to understand as the holy spirit teaches the hungry heart wanting to know.

The people of God are the first to be judged, just as Peter stated:

“For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” 1 Peter 4:17 NIV

Peter knew that judgment had already begun for believers who belong to God. The presence or coming of the Lord Jesus Christ within began that work long ago. Were not the 120 in the Upper Room continually changed by the holy spirit coming within? He came within to make it possible for us to be changed, redeemed, brought back into the fellowship with God lost in that long-ago Eden.

Satan, the enemy of our souls, gains another advantage with the rapture theory. There is a complacency that settles in while Christians are waiting for the rapture. It limits or stops spiritual growth on this earth. The changes in our hearts to be like Christ are postponed until death or the rapture. Many believers become soulishly anxious for the rapture to be delayed so they have more time on earth to marry, have children, or experience other life events significant to them. This strengthens their focus on this earth and its pleasures, rather than on spiritual matters of the kingdom of God.

Many believers have not heard nor allowed the Lord to change their hearts in this life. They die without having gained the nature of Christ that Paul so vigorously pursued and promoted. While many faithfully sit in the same pews listening to the same sermons, they are not becoming clothed with His nature. They are far from being perfected in Him, because they do not know to do so while on earth.

Look around and within at human nature and character. Has anyone the fullness of Christ, showing forth His complete character, all the fruit of the spirit? The law cannot do it and the faith of lukewarm Laodicean churches fall short as well. If this were so, there would be a distinct recognizable difference between Christians and unbelievers, in their character and their walk. Some do show forth the Christ nature in their daily lives, but there are also unbelievers who are good humans showing forth much quality of character.

Added to this confusion of doctrine is the debate about literal vs. spiritual interpretations of scripture. There is fear that some will spiritualize the Word too much—actually anything that the Bible says beyond their human comprehension. But insisting on a literal interpretation of every word in the Bible results in teachers and believers flip-flopping randomly from literal to spiritual understanding throughout the bible.

A simple example is the many times Jesus repeated those that have ears to hear in His ministry. We all have literal ears, so doesn’t He have to mean spiritual ears? If so, then is this spiritualizing? If He is a spirit and His words are to be spiritually understood, how about the parables He told the crowds? These were not in plain language, hard to understand even for His disciples. There was a deeper spiritual understanding they could not catch until they, themselves, had the Christ within to teach them.

“‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.’

‘Lord,’ said Thomas, ‘we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?’ Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

If you had known Me, you would know My Father as well. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.’” John 14:1-7 NIV

Where was Jesus? Where is He now? Jesus said the Father is known to the disciples through seeing the Father in the Son. He showed them the Father by the spirit, while He was yet on this earth. Why then would we only be able to see and dwell with the Father and the Son in a literal, visible place on this earth or in the actual clouds in the sky? The kingdom of God is within us and He has prepared a place where we can dwell with Him forever in the spirit. Heaven is where God rules, His throne of spiritual authority and we are promised to be where our heavenly Father is, along with Jesus Christ our Lord and King.

Yes, doubters or unbelievers may want to say the story of creation did not really happen or Old Testament saints were not real people but that’s not spiritualizing, that is unbelief. God said the natural man cannot understand the things of God. When our natural minds apply human understanding to the scriptures, it leads to confusion and division, not godly wisdom. So, what and whom can we trust?

God the Father sent His Holy Spirit so that we will be led into all truth. He is our great Teacher. He is able to provide discernment to any and all of His people who come to Him with sincere hearts, desiring to know the truth. It matters not to Him if we are great men and women of God or scholars of the scriptural teaching. God graciously reveals truth to anyone who sincerely seeks it from Him.

If we are believing or teaching error to His people, whether knowingly or not, God will deal with us. God is no respecter of persons. We do not have to believe, without spiritual examination, all that many great teachers may want to teach us. The early martyrs died for just this cause when they rejected the teachings of the church realm that contradicted with what Jesus Christ taught.

Our heavenly Father is our teacher, living in our hearts. God guides our understanding as we seek His wisdom and truth, including from great men and women of God who worship Him in spirit and truth. He desires truth in our inward parts:

“Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part [of my heart] You will make me know wisdom.” Psalms 51:6 Amplified

With revelation from God, we see that His word is spiritual because He is spirit. The events of the Old Testament did happen, but for our edification, they have a far deeper spiritual meaning as He sheds the Holy Spirit's light upon them. The Old Testament is filled with examples and patterns for our Christian walk, understood to be types and shadows of things to come. They teach and foreshadow much of God’s plan and God’s ways.

God does not want His people to fear, but the rapture doctrine relies on fear and condemnation to motivate change, rather than the ultimate power of God’s love which no man can defeat. Jesus Christ is coming again, has been coming, and will continue to come. There is no mention of a second coming in the Word. We all long to be with Him in the fullness of His coming. That is truth.

What is presently a matter of controversy and debate—the how, when, where and to whom—is unprofitable for the heart, though it may swell the head with knowledge. One area of unity that most sincere Christian believers hold is the longing for and looking to the return of Jesus Christ to end the sufferings of our present age. Only God can sort this all out to bring His promised unity among His body of believers:

“But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.

And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is worthless, and so is your faith.” 1 Corinthians 15:13 Berean

It is critical for this present age that we know there is a resurrection of the dead because Christ has been raised. Christians look to Jesus Christ in faith that He will—in fact, is—coming again. The details of His coming, however, have been clouded by the minds and imaginations of men. God allowed this truth to be hidden from many of His faithful followers, but now is the time to be ready, not to be caught unawares. Christ is in us, reconciling the world to Him:

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them.

And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 Berean

Consider this statement that God was reconciling or restoring the world to Himself through our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus opened the door to the Father that was closed in Eden. If He does not count men’s trespasses against them, why would Father God condemn people to hell for all eternity? The purpose of His creation of man, the salvation through Christ, is for the world, not just a small portion of the billions of people, past and present, on this earth who had opportunity to know Him.

It is not the nature of our God to leave His purpose and plan partially accomplished. If this is God’s will, desire, and purpose, will He fail to accomplish it? He can do anything according to His will, with or without us. God chooses to use us, His people, to accomplish His plan for the ages. We are to fulfill His directive about the message of reconciliation of all people to Him. He has given us the ministry of reconciliation. This is good news!

The rapture teaches that God’s people will be taken out of the coming judgment. Rather, the word clearly states that God’s judgment starts with His own people. Here is another version of this important scripture, illuminatin the truth of His judgment for redemption, not condemnation:

“But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?

And, if it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”’ 1 Peter 4:16-18 Berean

Peter stated that it is time now—way back in Peter’s day— for the judgment to begin with the family of God. It makes no sense to say that this time of tribulation comes upon the earth after Christians are gone. If it is yet to come upon us in some future time, what have we been living through since the fall of Adam? For centuries, we have had many tribulations, a hell on earth, and it continues, the just with the unjust, until He says it is the time of the end.

Yes, there is judgment and the people of God are the first to experience it. What a privilege! Our flesh is being judged every time God exposes it so He can burn it up in His passionate love. It’s good news! It started happening then, on the earth, in Jesus’ time. God’s judgment was already working within His called and chosen people to reconcile all to Him. It continues as He faithfully works within to change our hearts of stone into a heart that He can write His truth upon:

“I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 11:19 ESV

“And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26 ESV

“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” Jeremiah 31:33 ESV

“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Hebrews 8:10 ESV

Is this promise of a new heart and spirit available only after we die? Is it not something He begins to work within us here on this earth? To accomplish these necessary heart and spirit changes, God brings judgment. Those who resist Him in this life, the “ungodly and sinners,” are dealt with here or in the afterlife. God will not forego the judgment that all need and must face to bring us fully back to Him. Wisdom teaches believers to welcome His judgment, not to fear it.

We, His called, chosen, and faithful, are to be lights shining in the darkness of every age as He works within to change us into His likeness and image. Through the fall of Adam, God’s people lost our intimate relationship with Father God, the supreme privilege of walking and talking with God while resting in all of His provision for us. Jesus Christ our Lord, the second Adam, is sent to bring us back, to reconcile and redeem us back to the Father.

He made the way and yes, it is a long long way back to the Father, but all will be accomplished in God’s time.

“The spiritual, however, was not first, but the natural, and then the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven.

As was the earthly man, so also are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven.” 1 Corinthians 15:46-48 Berean

Jesus Christ is the only man from heaven Who is preparing us to be like the heavenly man He is. His judgment is redemptive, always. We are promised to be with our Lord through eternity, with no fleshly barriers between God and man. Just because we have yet to see it does not make it less true. Isn’t that faith—believing His word over what we humans can see, hear, and understand?

He is coming within us while we are on this earth and will continue coming until the day of Jesus Christ is fully revealed. In Revelation, this is referred to as Jesus Christ conquering and to conquer:

“I looked, and behold a white horse, and the one who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.” Revelation 6:2 NASB

The Concordant reads “He came forth conquering and to conquer…” Our Lord and King, crowned with spiritual authority, is on this white horse. Has He not been coming forth to conquer within His people, taking His place as our Ruler and King now over every fleshly, soulish way in us, giving us His victory? Is He not continually coming again and again, from the time of Jesus and the apostles until now?

He will conquer until all within is subdued and we all bow our knees to His victory in us. He comes to rule and reign, is always just, and will have a purified people.

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2: 9-11 NIV

Jesus’ name, His nature, will cause every knee to bow, every tongue confess. There are no exceptions in the celestial realms of heaven, the terrestrial realms of earth, and the subterranean realms of those who died without submission to Him. The truth of reconciliation of all things does not do away with expecting Jesus to come again. Instead, it shifts our focus from looking out there or up there in the clouds externally expecting His appearing, to inside of us now.

The amazing truth is that Jesus told His followers His Kingdom is within us! He is bringing His redemptive justice joined with mercy, coming a second time unto salvation until all are made one in Him. In contrast, where is mercy in an eternal tormenting hell, separated from God’s presence forever, such as the doctrine of rapture teaches? Haven’t we all been separated from God’s presence, in a hell on earth, at one time or another, as we learn of His ways?

This doctrine works fear, not faith. It postpones our obedience to His directive to be perfect as He is, but there is no qualification of being perfect when you get to heaven. Jesus is coming again, bringing the complete salvation He has already obtained for us. His coming in a people is a process begun on the Day of Pentecost.

“Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

For the perishable must be clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass:

‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’ ‘Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?’” 1 Corinthians 15:51-54 Berean

The only imperishable things are those of the spirit of God. The spirit from God to every living thing is lasting, eternal, because it is Him. We must put on Christ, be fully clothed with our spiritual body, not appearing naked before our God. Many are held in sleep until the time of their change comes, each in his own order. As Paul states, what happens in the afterlife is a deep mystery, a secret with much to be revealed by the holy spirit.

Though we all have much more to learn, we do have some keys to understanding this mystery. He promised to reveal His secrets to those who love Him.

“The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death— the lake of fire. And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.” Revelation 20:13-15; 21: 1-3 Berean

Many are taught that the lake of fire is hell, but why, then, is hell and death thrown into it? There will be a new earth as well as a new heaven, our spiritual dwelling place in God. We surely do not need a new earth if we are raptured out of it. If the lake of fire represents where unbelievers are condemned, separated forever from the presence of God, there is destruction of the earth. What use does God have for it if we are all in the clouds of heaven with Him?

Understand this: our God is a consuming fire. It is in the fiery presence of God that we are judged for change. Consider the lake of fire in light of our God being the consuming fire first established in the Old Testament. Moses talked with God face to face and the glory of the Lord upon Him was like fire:

“When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered it, and on the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from within the cloud.

And the sight of the glory of the Lord was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.” Exodus 24:15-17 Berean

God is not described just as fire but as a devouring fire. His presence devours or consumes our flesh, our earthly selves, the dross of our humanity, so that eventually, we, too, see Him face to face. Seeing someone face to face means we can see Who He is, have an intimate connection with our Father.

He is still consuming and destroying all of our enemies as we head for our promised land of His kingdom within. The Israelites’ enemies were external forces intent on robbing them of the land of milk and honey God had promised. Now it remains true that we have many enemies, within and without, intent on robbing us of His kingdom of righteousness, peace, love, and joy.

“But understand that today the Lord your God goes across ahead of you as a consuming fire; He will destroy them and subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them swiftly, as the Lord has promised you.” Deuteronomy 9:3 Berean

Jehovah’s presence with His people while leading the Israelites out of bondage was a consuming fire. God’s fiery presence is in us to lead us out of fear of bondage and death to true freedom and rest in Him. He was a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, destroying enemies before His people on their way to the Promised Land. When we are illuminated by the spirit, we have the light of His fiery presence to lead us. When we are in the the darkness of our own souls on our way to our homeland, He is a consuming fire to burn up our ways that cannot enter in.

The Kingdom of God within us is a land of peace, joy, and love. We need His cloud covering our flesh in the light of day, and the presence of His fire in our darkness. Being raised up in the clouds as Jesus was in view of His disciples after appearing to them in the spirit represents a spiritual transformation. Jesus was transfigured before their eyes, leaving the earthly form of man to be fully dwelling in the spirit where His Father dwells.

Thus we are destined to be raised up into the holy presence of God by the spirit to be with His redeemed in spiritual Mount Zion. God is so thorough in what He uses to teach us. It is such an incredible metaphor to teach us about God’s use of fire in describing His presence in the scriptures. Consider the nature of fire. all-consuming, destroying anything in its path. But after the fire, new growth begins to appear amidst the ashes. Out of tremendous death and destruction, new life shows up in barren, charred land.

This is the pattern of God: death to resurrection, endings to new beginnings. Mature Christians welcome the fires of God to purge out the dross. The seed of His word then flourishes in the cleansed landscape of our being. His internal judgment of our hearts prepares us to be joined and married to Him. We are the earth in which He allows the fires of adversity and tribulation to cause new growth, bringing a new heaven and new earth within us.

The seed of Jesus Christ, planted within our hearts, absolutely bears the fruit of the spirit.

“For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:8 NKJV

Similarly, our God is a consuming fire who provides new heavens and a new earth wherein dwells righteousness:

“Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable [imperishable] kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. For our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:27-29

They were receiving the kingdom even then, not waiting for a rapture to receive it where it does no earthly good to those who most need it, the sinners left on the earth. When we understand by the spirit that God’s use of fire to describe Himself through the scriptures, His word of truth reveals itself differently. Righteousness dwells in people as our earthly ways are swallowed up by the fire of His presence.

The lake of fire is mentioned solely in the book of Revelation, found in 5 scriptures.

This lake of fire can be understood as symbolic language for the concentration of the fire of God’s presence in one place within His saints. God’s saints in Zion, here and on the other side. are this lake that brings conviction and change. When God brings judgment to His own, it burns in our hearts.

It wasn’t until over 200 years past the coming of Christ to this earth that a Roman scholar began to link the lake of fire to the old Jewish concept of Gehenna, our modern-day concept of hell. Yes, multiple teachings equate the lake of fire with an eternal hell where God puts the unsaved. It’s amazing how many of us Christians have no idea about the source of what we believe, assuming that it is all God because we are taught by our leaders that it is.

What is hell? Do we have to die to be in hell? Hell is separation from God, which all earth dwellers experience to some degree. All through the centuries, God’s people have existed in many hellish conditions. There are many present hellish conditions multiplying on the earth now. Many, many saints and sinners have and are experiencing hell on this earth. God has allowed humanity to go along, the just and the unjust growing together.

Tormenting fears, deadly illnesses, famine and drought, hurricanes, tornadoes and typhoons, war and conflict all are increasing in frequency and severity. What is able to be shaken is being shaken and all that can be burned up is being consumed by the fiery presence of our Lord’s coming. God is burning up all that is not Him, which is indeed deserving of eternal destruction. If our God is a fire sent to consume, the lake of fire is a whole lot of fire, the collective presence of God in His holy people!

Here unbelievers must dwell, in the fiery presence of His word within a people until they, too, are made spotless and without blemish. It can and will be hell when God comes to conquer even that religious man in us, burning up all our fleshly religious works. It happens even now when believers are around those who do not believe and feel the fiery presence of God within us. We do not have to say a word to have others sense and even begin to be drawn by or resist the presence of God within us.

There is hope, there is redemption as we all hear what the spirit is saying, repent and be changed. It’s vital that we do not put this off into a future time, but ready ourselves through submission to His truth. We desire to be ready for His kingdom to be further established within, where restoration is unfolding now. Let us turn our eyes from the worldly events around us to the kingdom of righteousness, of peace, joy, and love ruling within.

It matters not that I believe this. What matters is what God reveals to you as you seek Him daily. God bless your seeking!

The Whole Book

Some Christians find the Old Testament boring, difficult to read, and even irrelevant to their Christian walk today. They cannot relate to Jehovah God, the strong taskmaster and fearsome Ruler of the Israelites. Others of us love all the stories of the Bible, not just the stories of Jesus. After all, He is the Word, present from the beginning with Father God and Old Testament accounts foreshadow the New Testament in beautiful ways. What wonderful teaching you are missing if you don’t get into the stories of the heritage of Christians!

It’s fascinating how very human the struggles that God’s people faced in ancient times, how familiar they seem to us still. These accounts in the Old Testament often reveal circumstances and situations we continue to face today. That same God is our God. That same human nature is still in us. We can stand on His promises, trusting that He will fulfill them all. He will complete every one of His promises about us claiming our land of promise: the kingdom of love, peace, and joy within.

We also learn from their mistakes, connect with their troubles, and identify with them—the obedient and the rebellious! Perhaps I love the stories of God’s people in the Old Testament because I learned them at my father’s knees. We were privileged to have a father who read us Bible stories from the Old and New Testament every night after supper on the farm, carrying out what his parents had done in his growing-up years. These were short biblical accounts in language that we children could understand.

Some of it was quite puzzling and brought up questions. While Dad did not know all the answers to why Jehovah God did what He did, what a gift my siblings and I were given through his ministry, sustained to this day within us. What wonderful memories these are! Our Christian father created in us a knowledge of the history and the word of His people and we are forever grateful for it. This built up our most precious faith as we learned about God’s faithfulness to His people through all their tribulations:

“And the Lord gave them rest on every side, just as He had sworn to their fathers. None of their enemies could stand against them, for the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand. Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to the house of Israel had failed; everything was fulfilled.” Joshua 21:44-45 Berean

God was faithful and trustworthy then, just as He is now though His people failed again and again. What amazing truths we can learn as we seek the Lord to understand His word. One powerfull account is of the difficulty in yielding their superior role to the next generation God is calling. King Saul’s jealousy of David’s popularity with the people and the sense of his future as King led Saul to treat David very badly. He continually tried to kill this young man he had loved and brought into his household.

You can read about all David went through dealing with Saul’s murderous jealousy of him, learning lessons from his life and experiences. David spent fifteen years running for his life from Saul, waiting and being taught by God until witnessing the fulfillment of his calling to be King. He could have killed Saul more than once but he did not. Saul was still God’s anointed and David let God decide when the nation’s leadership would change.

David did not take matters into his own hands about this while believing God’s word for his future. What a godly attitude King David had toward Saul, a friend who had become an enemy. Surely His judgment of Saul was redemptive:

“After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, ‘David is in the Desert of En Gedi.’ So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats. He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself.

David and his men were far back in the cave. The men said, ‘This is the day the Lord spoke of when he said to you, `I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.' Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul's robe. Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe.

He said to his men, ‘The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord's anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.’ With these words David rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.

Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, ‘My lord the king!’ When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. He said to Saul, ‘Why do you listen when men say, `David is bent on harming you'? This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, `I will not lift my hand against my master, because he is the Lord's anointed.'

See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. Now understand and recognize that I am not guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you.” 1 Samuel 24:1-12 NIV

It did not change Saul’s heart beyond that moment, but consider this godly leader who absolutely refused to avenge himself and rebuked his followers when they urged him to do so. When his men advocated that David to “take his revenge,” David refused, leaving it to God. He still called Saul his father, remembering how he had been a member of Saul’s household and treated like a son.

David shows Saul that he has no evil intent towards him, despite what men are telling him, but Saul’s heart is unable to believe or trust. What a lesson for us! How hard it can be when God seems to give us an opportunity to hurt or destroy others who are trying to do that to us. It is particularly wounding when a former friend has made us their enemy. David could have railed against Saul for all the suffering he was causing David but he did not. David was obedient to the Lord despite years of misery caused by Saul.

There are always those who urge us to seek victory and revenge at every opportunity, but David acts only according to God’s will. He had his enemy’s life in his hands but left that to God. David found he could not even cut off a piece of the robe of the Lord’s anointed. This was taking action into his own hands rather than waiting on what was the Lord’s business. Instead, David revealed his continuing love and respect for King Saul, even though Saul did not trust him.

What do you think this taught David’s men about doing what God leads you to do, rather than taking matters into your own hands? God says not to repay evil for evil. Yet how common it is for us humans to feel justified in taking revenge? In fact, any of us can find a circle of support in “getting back at” those who wrong us.

In human eyes, the more deep, lengthy and costly the wrong done to us by others, the more many believe such actions are due and justified rather than what God has said about these matters. The phrase “you get what you deserve” sounds wise, but it is not true. None of us have gotten what we deserve as sinners saved by grace. Thank God He sees it differently!

It was typically a rocky road for Old Testament saints on the way to fulfilling their promised calling and purpose. Consider the Old Testament example of Esther being born for “such a time as this.” God did not make her a queen to enjoy the palace and its riches. Oh no, He had her there to save her people! Are we not born for such a time as this?

Consider Jacob living in a household of ongoing conflict between his two wives. This was created by the jealousy and competition between sisters Leah and Rachel. Jacob was unfairly treated by their father, who promised him Rachel for seven years’ labor. Instead Jacob was tricked into marrying the apparently unattractive older sister, Leah. Jacob had to work another seven years for their father before he was allowed to marry Rachel and establish his own land and flocks.

The battle between these two wives sounds sadly familiar! While no longer two current wives battling for supremacy, jealousy and competition are surely present today as it was then. There’s a commonality in all our human battles for position, pride, and even love. We seem to have a built-in fear, an assumption that we won’t get our share, that someone else will get what we want or at least have an easier time in getting it.

Old Testament stories of the men and women of faith show us that, whatever our calling, God will have us in readiness to fulfill it. Our confidence builds in Him as we relate to the struggles and doubts of the saints. Read about Moses, who told God he wasn’t fit to lead His people because he did not speak well. Consider Sarah laughing when God said she’d have a baby when she was 90, long past childbearing age. Read about Jeremiah who was faithful, even compelled, to say what God told Him to say, despite being repeatedly rejected, beaten, and jailed for it.

Meditate upon the powerful words of prophecy foretold by the faithful obedience of Old Testament prophets. They told of God’s future plans as well as called to speak corrective words to others. They did not understand all God had them say and many did not witness repentance to salvation from their words, many suffering greatly for obedience to God. They learned there was no guarantee that others would honor or receive their anointed words and behavior, neither promised nor routine.

In the Old Testament, we also find many saints to identify with in their struggles. I can understand Jonah refusing to go to Nineveh because he knew God would have him predict disaster, the people would repent, and he’d look like a fool. Maybe it is not a good thing, but it makes me chuckle to read about Jonah pouting, sitting under a tree when it happened just as God said and he’d feared.

Jonah shows himself to be one stubborn dude, apparently preferring to be proven right more than obedient. Jonah also did not hesitate to tell the Lord what was in his heart, which was no surprise to God. This reluctant but faithful prophet did not agree with God’s redemptive judgment, to the point he wanted to die:

“But to Jonah this [saving the city of Ninevah] seemed very wrong, and he became angry. He prayed to the Lord, ‘Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish.

I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.’ Jonah 4: 1-1-3 Berean

Jonah learned that God gives and He takes away. Either way, it is God’s business, God’s justice and mercy that was provided or withdrawn. Thus He made His point as He did to Moses in Exodus:

“And he said, ‘I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lordbe fore thee, and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.” Exodus 33:19 KJV

And in Romans:

“For he saith to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.’ So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.” Romans 9:15 15-18 KJV

God rains on the just and the unjust. He decides about mercy and judgment in each situation. We could sum up His message this way: He is God and we are not! We realize this as we deal with anything that is far beyond our understanding. Along with Jonah, however, we may occasionally become angry about God’s decisions regarding mercy and justice.

Why does He heal, save, bless, and deliver this one and not the other? Why are our circumstances allowed to be so consistently unequal, at least in outward appearance? Why does this world of sin wax worse and worse? He does not have to explain His ways to us, but He often chooses to do so, particularly for those who are seeking truth and understanding from Him. We also learn much from the Old Testament about His ways.

We assuredly need to eat the whole book by the spirit as the angel told Ezekiel in the Old Testament and John in Revelation:

“And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, ‘Give me the little book.’ And he said unto me, ‘Take it, and eat it up and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.’” Revelation 10:9 KJV

We need to eat the whole of His word, though it may at times be a bitter pill to swallow. Peter spoke of our path of growth as the way to become participants of the divine nature, to make our calling and election sure:

“…employing all diligence, in our faith supply virtue, yet in virtue, knowledge, yet in knowledge, self-control, yet in self-control, endurance, yet in endurance, devoutness, yet in devoutness brotherly fondness, yet in brotherly fondness, love. . .

Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble.” 2 Peter 1:5-10 Concordant

Layer upon layer, all works together to be like our Lord, like building blocks of His character within us: diligence (persistence), virtue (being morally right), knowledge (wisdom), self-control (restraint over impulses), endurance (ability to withstand hardship), devoutness (devotion to God), brotherly fondness (loyal affection), and love (unconditional agape caring).

His ways are beyond understanding, but He promises to explain Himself by the spirit and reveal His secrets to those who love Him. We surely do not need to explain or defend our God in what He does or does not do, unless the Holy Spirit directs us to speak. We can and should read and learn from the whole book, Old and New Testament, because as Paul tells the Corinthians:

“Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall…” 1 Corinthians 10:11 Berean

Read the whole book and let the holy spirit allow you to see the Old Testament saints as humans struggling to deal with their God, just as we do. There are vast differences in culture and lifestyle, but they were all people learning to follow Him and do His will…or not. None had the depth of the Holy Spirit within that we have since Jesus Christ came, however, so no wonder they struggled to obey and serve God!

When you eat the whole book, you will consider the Old Testament feasts, their patterns of tabernacle worship, the rise and fall of ruling dynasties, and the great leaders and prophets of the ages as patterns from which we can learn and grow. While we cherish the words and behavior of our Lord Jesus Christ in the New Testament, we can be sure He is present all the way through God’s book.

The writings of the Old Testament also teach us much about heaven and the foundation of our faith:

“The place where they [the Israelites] serve is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the Tabernacle: ‘See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.’" 1 Corinthians 2:17 Berean

“Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord.…” Ephesians 2:19-21 Berean

Is it not miraculous how this one Book continues to teach God’s truth through the Holy Spirit? God refines and clarifies, showing us more and more of Who He is so we may be more like Him. We learn that we are in great company with the saints who have gone before us. He is fitting us together as lively stones growing into His holy temple, a dwelling place for God.

“Come to Him [the risen Lord] as to a living Stone which men rejected and threw away, but which is choice and precious in the sight of God. You [believers], like living stones, are being built up into a spiritual house for a holy and dedicated priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices [that are] acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.

For this is contained in Scripture: Behold, I am laying in Zion a chosen Stone, a precious (honored) cornerstone and he who believes in Him [whoever adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] will never be disappointed [in his expectations.” 1 Peter 2:4-6 Amplified

Peter was quoting directly from the Old Testament:

“So this is what the Lord God says:‘ See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken.’” Isaiah 28:16 Berean

We are a part of all of the saints that have gone before us. God is building His house with us. We offer spiritual sacrifices from our hearts rather than the animal sacrifices of that era. The great prophet, Isaiah, foretells the coming of Jesus as the precious Cornerstone, our sure foundation. It is a spiritual house with us as Living Stones joined to Christ Jesus, our Lord.

All of the disciples saw Jesus Christ fulfilling what they had learned from God’s people of old. Jesus often quoted the Old Testament in His teachings, as did other New Testament writers. It was still truth to them and had stood through time, though it did not bring the righteousness God so desired in His people.

God knew it would not and could not, so He prepared His only Son to be revealed and known as the righteous Cornerstone of the house of God, not built by hands. All is fulfilled only through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The whole Book is good to eat and absorb. It will continually nourish us on our walk, reconciling us back to God. He will write His truth upon our hearts so we may believe and never be shaken. Aren’t you glad?

All the Truth

We can completely trust the Lord to lead us into all His truth by His Holy Spirit. All men are liars. Only the Lord is always truthful. God desires us to know the Truth to set us free as well as to have His wisdom in sharing His truth with others. As we desire the truth from God, the attitude of our hearts in searching the scriptures is important to the Lord:

“Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.” Acts 17:11 NKJV

The Bereans examined the Word they were hearing from the disciples to see if it was confirmed in the scriptures. They were listening and searching for truth. They did not search the scriptures with the intent to prove this message, new to them, as false. They were not looking for ways to support the truth of their current understanding or to validate their traditions. They were open, teachable, and willing to search the scriptures for confirmation.

Thank God many were open to our Lord’s new teachings or we would not have a body of believers today! In contrast, Jesus chastised the leaders of His day for their erroneous motives in searching the scriptures. The Lord does not desire Christians to search the scriptures to prove someone wrong, though He has saved more than one unbeliever such as the well-known author C.S. Lewis, who set out to do just that!

When we are growing spiritually in God’s Holy Spirit school, we recognize and welcome God’s refinement and correction of erroneous understandings we have had. We ask Father God and He grants understanding to teachable hearts. Can any of us as Christians say that we yet understand as we should? We grow as the truth He is teaching us by His spirit continually refines our spirits, working out a more pure comprehension through the fire of His presence.

This is how he creates gold in us, the gold of His nature. He is the Master teacher, always willing to show us His ways that are past our human understanding.

“Your faith will be like gold that has been tested in a fire. And these trials will prove that your faith is worth much more than gold that can be destroyed. They will show that you will be given praise and honor and glory when Jesus Christ returns.” 1 Peter 1:7 CEV

We don’t grow when we see only through our biased lens, looking to prove and justify what we already believe. We all have biased, subjective filters residing in our souls—our minds, will, and emotions. Filters are created by unique life experiences: our religion, personality, family, culture, society, and unique life path. These develop a “lens,” a way of viewing through which we see life, inevitably limiting what each of us can see, hear, and understand.

Understand this: we literally do not have the same reality as others. It’s astounding to realize how much our human nature influences what we believe is truth. We can’t help developing our own unique ways of seeing things according to our unique life experiences. But our God is a consuming fire, an excellent refiner of His own:

“And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, ‘It is my people’: and they shall say, ‘The Lord is my God.’” Zechariah 13:9 KJV

What we have been taught, what we come to believe, is the pattern of how we see ourselves, others, and the world around us. Our perceptions limit and determine truth. God says that every man is right in his own eyes. One small, but astounding example is the difference in how people living in snowy areas perceive snow. Most of us in the northern midwest US distinguish snow in pretty basic ways: wet snow, heavy snow, fluffy snow, lots of snow.

But the Inuits native to Alaska who have generations survived in the cold world of snow, see dozens of types of snow. They have many more ways to distinguish various types of snow in their world. They had to see the reality of snow in many different ways. Our vision of the “reality” of snow is overlaid —limited or expanded—by our learned filters to what we know as snow. This is just one example of how we literally do not see the same world.

There is so much more to the universe than our finite mind can comprehend, but we do have the mind of Christ within us and He is Life. He is our covering, overlaying and exponentially expanding the believer’s vision of our human reality. The Lord is able to be our vision, as the beloved song “Be Thou My Vision” requests, and thankfully, He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

The Lord cares about and exposes the motives of our hearts as we seek truth. He knows if we really and truly want to understand Him or if we are more intent on justifying ourselves and our beliefs. Let us see, hear, and understand what God said through the great prophet, Isaiah, about an acceptable motive for seeking the Lord when we enter into a time of fasting and prayer:

“‘Why have we fasted and You do not see? Why have we humbled ourselves and You do not notice?’ Behold, on the day of your fast you find your desire, and oppress all your workers. Behold, you fast for contention and strife [to justify yourselves], and to strike with a wicked fist. You do not fast like you have done today to make your voice heard on high!

Is it a fast like this that I choose?...Will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to the Lord?...Is this not the fast that I choose: to release the bonds of wickedness, to undo the ropes of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke?...

Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; You will cry for help, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ if you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness..” Isaiah 58:1-7; 8-11 NASB

Isaiah chastises the leaders of his time for fasting in a visible way, giving the outward appearance of religious holiness while inside, in their hearts, they are far from it. While fasting, they continue to oppress those that work for them. They have many wrong motives for fasting and prayer, with God naming each of them. God chastises them for fasting to point the finger of blame rather than to bring redemption to others.

Clearly, God cares a great deal about the motives in our hearts when we fast, pray, or search the scriptures for truth. This is particularly true when someone tells us something different from our established understanding. Do we go to the Lord to teach us the truth or immediately jump to expose or condemn the error of this new information? Do we search the scriptures to justify our position, to prove we are right?

God needs no defense so who are we justifying or defending in these situations? God may lead us to speak His truth to those in error but it must be in His way, truth in love as led by the holy spirit, with His timing when ears are open to hear. We’re not to search for truth in order to get more ammunition to challenge others. We have likely all done it at one time or another, but it is not ideal.

We do not have to defend God. He is perfectly capable of doing that and He will let us know what He would say or do when His truth must be shared. Yes, there are, indeed, foundational truths upon which we are built. Once the foundation is established in our hearts, however, we are encouraged to go on to maturity rather than settling down with what we already have. This often requires a change in our current spiritual understanding.

“Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so.” Hebrews 6:1-3 NIV

Our knowledge and understanding of the foundational principles of this faith are already established in most of us. God is faithful to write such essential principles deeply in our hearts to remain unshakable. We know Jesus Christ was a God-man who lived and died on the cross. We know He was resurrected and gifted us with the Holy Spirit within. Through Him, we are saved and have eternal life.

We know these things to be true and have no need to search the scriptures or hear message after message to establish them again and again in our Christian walk. God takes us forward to maturity, teaching us through daily food to nourish our spiritual bodies for ongoing growth in Him. We pray He will “Give us this day our daily bread,” daily spiritual food needed to sustain and further the Christ within us to grow into maturity.

These are continual feedings where the Father and the Son come to sup, to dine with us, as promised. Each day we are to build on these solid foundations, not to lay them again, as Paul admonishes. God is continually creating this house of His habitation for His body as we are built up in Him. As we increase in spiritual understanding and knowledge, we grow up into His mature stature. His knowledge, truth and ways are so vast, so beyond our present ability to comprehend, there is always more to learn.

We cannot digest too much meat of the word at once nor when still needing the milk of the word. There are new things God brings to our spiritual minds to be examined with a pure heart to see if they are true. We can trust the Lord to keep us from any error, and there is already plenty of that! There would not be division and strife in the Body if everyone was right. Much confusion and misunderstanding arise about some very popular teachings of doctrine based on one scripture and passed down through the traditions of men:

“Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” 2 Corinthians 13:1b NIV

We have been given a clear direction about what the Lord expects of us in order to continue to grow:

“Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.” Lamentations 3:40-41 KJV

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns.” Psalms 139:23 KJV

“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Can't you see for yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you--unless you actually fail the test? ” 2 Corinthians 13:5 Berean

Some of us were fortunate to spiritually grow up in a ministry that did not caution us to fear the ministry of other groups or sources of spiritual knowledge. Our leaders trusted God to lead us into all truth, spiritually relying on the holy spirit to protect us from error as we learned and grew under their leadership. Such ministers, while guarding their flocks from grevious wolves, do not fear losing their flock to another. They see no need to warn or control those in fellowship with them. They trust God, standing on His word:

“So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, ‘If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” John 8:31-32 NASB

God’s truth is making us free. It begins with our faith in His salvation and is a continual process. As we know more and more truth, taught by God’s spirit, we are more and more free from the bondage of old ways and beliefs, laws and traditions, as well as our sinful past, free from others who want to limit our liberty in Christ. Hasn’t this been the experience of many of us?

We are created for fellowship with Him, learning new things, further refinements of what we believe from His word and spirit daily. Without this, there is no growth, and our entrance into His Kingdom of peace, love and joy is limited. When we remain in God’s spiritual school, we don’t set up camp, put down stakes, and think we have all the truth there is.

We are freed of old understandings and fleshly ways. Each new truth He reveals makes us more free of the old. Sin and death must loosen their authoritative grasp upon us. We are being made free, as true disciples who know the Truth. God says to search ourselves, to try or test our ways before God. It can be astonishing when the Lord corrects long-held misconceptions of the scriptures!

That’s why Christians continue to read the Bible year after year. Same book, same words, but endless growth and teaching from the holy spirit. Whether it be fasting, prayer, studying and searching the scriptures, or receiving ministry from others to gain His truth, we are to present ourselves to Him with pure heart motives. We come humbly to the Father as a faithful and maturing son or daughter, hungry to know His ways.

We are not to come in order to prove ourselves right (pride) and others wrong (revenge), or maintain control (fear) over another. This only brings contention and strife. God help all of us men and women of God to move past doing battle with each other about the Word! Isaiah prophesied that a Day will come when many people seek the Lord:

“In the last days the mountain of the house of the Lord will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. And many peoples will come and say:

‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we may walk in His paths, for the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.’” Isaiah 2: 2-3 Berean

What a time this will be! Zion represents God’s spiritual government, the highest, holiest and chiefest mountain of God’s house. Here is found the New Jerusalem, descending from heaven to be seen within a people here on this earth. In Luke, Jesus said His kingdom is within us.

“When asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, ‘The kingdom of God will not come with observable signs. Nor will people say, ‘Look, here it is,’ or ‘There it is.’ For you see, the kingdom of God is in your midst.’” Luke 17:20-21 Berean

Natural Jerusalem is not God’s destination. There is no literal, geographical place for God’s kingdom on this earth nor should we listen to those saying it is visibly here or there There are no nations in the spiritual realms. This promise of the law going forth out of Jerusalem to nations on this earth, being drawn to the kingdom of God established in His people and growing to maturity. Jesus as representing Father God was the kingdom already in their midst!

All will be drawn to this heavenly spiritual dwelling of God by His sons and daughters who are called to do this end-time work. If this is a new understanding of scripture for you, take it to God so that He may lead you in examining the scriptures concerning this truth. It is an opportunity to search the scriptures to see if these things are true. Examine your heart to see what is there as you do so.

There need be no fear of error when we leave it in His hands. We all are already in error, anyway! Who can say that we understand all we should, all of the Truth from and about the Master of the entire universe? Day by day, He teaches us as He writes truth in our hearts. It’s His job to correct errors so that we are made free. God knows everything and is the searcher of the thoughts and intents of the heart. When we examine or test ourselves, it is to see evidence of Jesus Christ within us.

God continually reveals the motives in our hearts so we, His people, may have pure hearts without guile. The very first word God whispered in my spirit when I received the baptism of the Holy spirit in the 70’s was “Purify your motives” and is still a work in progress! Oh, how tempting it is to defend, to justify ourselves, but Jesus, our Example, did not. Our need to be right when there is a difference is fundamentally human but falls short of what the Lord desires for His own.

And even when we are right, speaking the truth, we can be wrong in the motives of our hearts. The first motive of my heart God exposed at that time was chastising me for my anger at the sinner rather than the sin. God said my anger stunk in His nostrils more than the unbeliever who was doing wrong but did not know His ways. What a shock to this self-righteous believer who thought she was so right!

That is one of the strongest words of correction I have received in my walk with the Lord. It was the most humbling of the new things He was teaching me! There followed several years where I continually was led to humble myself by asking forgiveness for my anger even though I was right in my standard of truth. Human anger surely does not bring the righteousness of God!

This was not an enjoyable test but it worked further truth and righteousness in me. God was training me to act and react according to His truth instead of my own selfish senses. How clear it is, over and over, that it is about the heart, the character of Christ within.

“No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11 Berean

During this period of learning with God, God revealed the futility of being angry, figuratively beating unbelievers over the head with my godly words and beliefs. Many do not know our Lord nor His truth. They may know religion but they do not know Him. He bluntly told me I was beating a blind man, as He continued His correction in dealing with my heart.

God was purging my pride and self-righteousness through the humble, repetitive process of asking for forgiveness for my anger. My flesh did not like it but my anger could never do God’s will because it was not coming from His spirit. God’s focus was on me, not on the other person, an unbeliever who did not know God or His truth. My soulish anger had no good effect on someone who did not even know God.

How could I continue to righteously condemn someone who does wrong and lives in error because he does not know the truth? There are multitudes all over the world who have no opportunity to know God, let alone understand His ways. Thank the Lord, He exposed my sin to me and corrected it through obedience to Him. It is embarrassing now to recall how long it took for the Lord to work His truth into my stubborn heart!

Jesus is Truth. He is the only true and righteous one, yet was continually accused unjustly by many ignorant souls who did not know Who He was. Consider all of the opportunities Jesus had to defend Himself when the scribes and Pharisees, the religious leaders of His days on this earth, attacked and discredited Him. He did not defend or explain Himself to His enemies. Jesus only explained His ways to those in intimate fellowship with Him, and then only spoke what Father God gave Him.

More than once, when the disciples reported disagreements in opposition to Him, Jesus essentially told them to forget about it. He expected those Jewish religious leaders and their followers to resist and discredit Him. He knew what they were saying as well as what was in their hearts. No one had to tell Him about it. Jesus revealed the ugly, secret motives of their hearts, uncovering what was underneath their outward religious ways. That really insulted them, stoking their anger at our Lord!

Isn’t it time for the people of God to allow Him to purge our hearts of such falsity, such hypocrisy? We are not just to talk the talk, but walk the walk! We do this not by more fleshly effort or more good works, but by fully surrendering to the only One who can change our hearts into His heart of love, peace and joy. We are meant to continue on this path of heart-purging as He writes His truth within us, as He promised.

We are called to be the righteousness of God, the light of the world, not to just make proclamations about our faith.

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV

The Lord has not given us a message of “try harder, do better” like some heavenly motivational speaker. Rather, He is saying in this hour for us to yield, surrender, lay down our heavy burdens and let Him teach us His rest. We are learning to become peacemakers, understanding His ways of peace, surrendering to His work of change in us with faith in His promises. We in our flesh cannot do it and the law will never make us righteous. If it could, we would have seen it by now.

He is our righteousness and His dwelling within our temple will produce a purified people.

“It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” 1 Corinthians 1:30-31 NIV

For some, like the religious leaders and well-established Jews of Jesus’ day, it is most difficult to let go of past beliefs when new light is shed on our understanding. The more time, energy, and effort we have invested in it, the harder to allow God to disentangle us from old beliefs that are not His truth. It is a very common battle, won by Jesus Christ Who now fights our battles, too!

The need to be right to prove who you are to others is one of the three tests our Lord passed in that time of trial and temptation. The devil tempted Him in the wilderness to prove who He was and He refused, quoting His Father’s word in rebuke of the enemy. The devil was working to have Jesus act in self-interest rather than obedience to God:

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil…the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. ‘If you are the Son of God,’ he said, throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’

Jesus answered him, ‘It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ Matthew 4:1;5-7 NIV

Do you notice that the devil is using scripture to deceive? This is his highest and most evil deception, the most powerful spiritual attack our enemy has in his arsenel. He excels in getting believers to use parts of scripture for self-interest, to fight with each other over doctrine, and to be accusers of the brethren by bringing God’s truth in a deceptive way, knowingly or not.

He must have talked with His disciples about His Gethsemane experience or it would not be written. Three of the four gospels give an account of Jesus’ testing in the wilderness. Jesus knows all of us will be tested to see what truth we stand firmly upon in our lives, just as He was. It’s a critical issue of humanity. Our human need to be right, to prove we are good and worthy, is a destroyer of many things.

Examine any country’s story over time. Harm and destruction to others is a part of any great nation’s history, including our own. This is routinely revealed in national and international politics. It’s rare to hear a politician acknowledge their adversary as right and humbly admit they are wrong when exposed in error. It is quite powerful when national leaders actually apologize to people their country has harmed or destroyed in the past, as some have done for past slavery and colonization of other peoples.

The sad thing is that many of us would respect and perhaps even be inclined to vote for such a leader or politician if they were to do so. But it remains rare in the world of politics. And how many honest and dedicated politicians find it difficult to sustain their values once they get into the ways of our system of government? Those in politics have campaign managers and public relations advisers who promote attacking, denying, and covering up any error as the way to win votes and stay in power.

Worldly advisers assist by finding more ways to avoid taking responsibility, particularly when facing loss of wealth, power, position, or elections. We will never be perfected in politics or by human government, but we can learn much from God by discerning observation. He gives wisdom to see His truth about the motives of others. All the ways of the world do not stand in the face of God’s Kingdom, as Jesus Christ has overcome the world!

These ways of man may lead to earthly success, but it is neither godly nor righteous. The ungodly underlying motives are just those things God is purging from His own. There continue to be many ways that our pride and ego lead us down a path of arrogant, closed-minded beliefs and assumptions. The former politician, Upton Sinclair, said: “It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it.”

How true in government as well as strongly present in religious leadership. Such self-interest, rather than God-submission, thrives in the hearts of many Christians, particularly those who refuse to examine their own motives and actions before God. What if we as Christians looked to the heart, the character of our leaders? The heart is revealed by words and actions, but some are more deceptive and wily in their manipulation of truth than others. God is and will continue to deal with those of us with teachable hearts, knowing human hearts are very easily deceived.

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:9-10 KJV

It is even more powerfully expressed in the Concordant Literal translation of this passage:

“The heart is crooked above all things, and it is mortally ill; who can know it? I am Yahweh Who investigates the heart, Who tests the innermost being, so as to give to each one according to his ways, according to the fruit of his actions.” Jeremiah 17:9-10 Concordant Literal

Even in the supposedly objective field of science, what researchers already believe—their filters—influence their studies. New information is strongly resisted by the scientific establishment earning their living by current scientific findings that are later discredited. Think of the persecution the originator of the germ theory went through from his contemporaries. Science does take a long time to catch up with God’s wisdom!

Thus is man’s wisdom. Once a theory begins to be discredited with more advanced research, those who are still embedded professionally and financially in the old view put up a huge fight. This happened in the 19th century with the germ theory. It was a brand new new idea that washing the hands could stops the spread of germs and disease. The established ways of the medical field and care of the sick were slow to embrace this new understanding.

Historically the supposedly objective field of science has fought vigorously against and discredited many a scientist who learns new and most valuable information when new data has the potential to destroy their incomes, if not their life work. We humans have great difficulty in being objective, seeing beyond our own limited vision. In fact, we are likely not aware of many of the areas where our vision is limited because we don’t even recognise it.

None of us know all truth and most of us stubbornly cling to more than one questionable, unexamined thing we picked up somewhere along the way. It is impossible to be fully objective, so the best we can do is be open to seeing our own subjectivity. All of these biases and misconceptons are icarried into our walk with God, who is all truth, all the time.

Because of human limitations, our ears may be closed to the present truth now being revealed by God. Yet, there is much truth in every move and every era of God, even as He moves on. Consider the great moves of God in the past. Where are they now? It was and is truth, but God is moving on, moving us further, doing a new thing.

There are always those who just stop learning, encamped and resting on their present storehouse of knowledge, no matter how dated or unexamined. Such were the religious leaders of Jesus’ time and not much has changed. And how many of the next generation get weary of hearing us older ones resist change, crying “But we have always done it this way!” It would be wonderful if God’s people were different, but we are not.

Many religious leaders resist what God is presently doing, unwilling to examine new truths if it does not fit with the basis of their ministry, particularly if the ministry is popular and lucrative. They hang on long after God’s presence is no longer with them, many sitting with empty buildings with only a few loyal followers left. Great ministries who have been anointed by God for a time fall into decline and error because of this.

What was a godly foundation becomes wood, hay, and stubble that God has to burn to ashes when the leadership no longer hears Him. Some will be wailing and gnashing their teeth as God continues to burn up their old for the new He is now bringing.

“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. After the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ But he will reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’

Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ And he will answer, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers.’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves are thrown out.

People will come from east and west and north and south and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God. And indeed, some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.” Luke 13:24- 28 KJV

Why would the last be first? Because those who came first are more often entrenched, unwilling to move on with the Lord. Those who come in last have much less to lose, not having years of religious accumulation and indoctrination to lay down. They just want to know God! Jesus said the Master does not know those who were using His name, doing things with and for God. God did not have their hearts in intimate fellowship for they have not yielded them in surrender to Him.

It is not how long we have been a Christian, professing faith and outwardly following religious ways. It is how intimately we are coming to know the Master and His ways. God is spirit and we are to worship Him in spirit and truth. The Jews of Jesus’ day were at the top of the religious order, having studied much to gain knowledge of the Mosaic law for years, but Jesus was quite clear in saying the tax collectors and prostitutes would enter in before them. These known sinners were last in that culture but first to enter in because they saw their need for a Saviour.

It can be a good thing not to have any worldly standing, no religious or cultural status or benefits to defend or prove right. The sinners of Jesus’ day had much less to lose than those who held positions of honor and pride that they fought to keep. The Jews of Jesus’ time had centuries of the law of Moses, but Jesus was not impressed! The law could not bring about a deep change in the character of man. God saw how their hearts were far from Him, putting heavy burdens on others while not being themselves able to fulfil the law. No one could.

The established leadership, as is often the case, resisted the new covenant while blocking others from the present truth that Jesus was bringing. It seems we just can’t keep from putting our stakes down into what we already believe. Instead, we resist, refusing to pull them up until we are sitting on the ashes of our works. We need to trust God to keep the good, the foundation, while expanding our hearts’ understanding of His ways.

This human need to be right, the “pride of life,” has a negative impact on personal relationships as well. Relationships are damaged and even destroyed when one or more prioritize being right above sustaining their relationships in love. Marriages fail because one or both partners insist on their point of view as being the truth rather than their viewpoint. Such partners refuse to humble themselves to truly listen and hear the other’s viewpoint nor are they able to see the heart of the other during such conflicts.

The pride of life is destructive and damaging, bringing many intimate relationships to an end. When we resist, becoming unable to acknowledge our lack of understanding and our own shortcomings, we can neither hear what another is saying nor comprehend the root of the issues between us. Resolution of conflicts, of differences, eventually becomes unattainable. After a time of entrenchment, one or both in relationships become unwilling to work towards reconciliation.

Conflicts in intimate relationships appear to be about the rules for the relationship, but they are really about who makes the rules. Isn’t that our ultimate wrestling match with God and our flesh? God will not be satisfied until the heavens rule in us. Daniel told this to King Nebuchadnezzar, the second ruler of Babylon, when he was called upon to interpret the King’s dream. Fulfilling the warning in this dream, Nebuchadnezzar was granted a glorious kingdom by God but forgot Who had provided for the success this King experienced.

Nebuchadnezzer had to go through seven years of humility, losing his mind and becoming like the animals, eating grass, until he repented of exalting himself over God. Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar he would endure this:

“…until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes.” Daniel 4: 26b Berean

This came true for the King of Babylon and it is true now. Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. The Heavens do rule! We believers know that Almighty God makes our rules to live by and writes them in our hearts. He is the
Way, the Truth, and the Life. God’s truth written in love within our hearts by the Holy Spirit creates the only unity possible.

Yet disagreement on the rules of life in God is rampant. Only Love is the unifier, stronger than any power on earth, any thought or belief. Love unites, it does not divide. And there’s no point in a power struggle with Him such as we might indulge in with people. He remains faithful as His mercy endures forever, covering our fleshly ways and human error when we do not yet know the truth.

When we allow the Lord to shine His light into our hearts, He reveals the root of conflicts. He uncovers our hearts, showing what our arguments are really about. Conflicts and disagreements are often rooted and nurtured in one of these sinful motives within: lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. Beneath our human desire to be right and pronounce it to others are these sinful motives that fall short of God’s best.

Often we, ourselves, do not know what is in our own hearts. Others sense it and even accuse us of feeling that way, while we remain unaware, denying its accuracy, creating discord and distress. Who can know their own heart? Only God knows our hearts, knows all about us and loves us the same, regardless. Aren’t you glad this is so?!

Our arguments are often not about the topic at hand but about whether people feel understood, loved, and respected by the other. All humans desire to be heard and loved, to have their loved ones understand and respect them. Conflict comes more from what is in our hearts than what we are saying, leaking through in tone of voice, facial expression, and gestures with meaning beyond our words.

In fact, for many cultures, more of what is not said, the nonverbal signals, are relied upon for communication rather than the actual words being said. The tone of voice, word emphasis, and a visual expression if face-to-face, are a stronger, more believable way we rely upon to understand communication from others.

We can make a statement of absolute faith, such as “The Lord is my helper. Why should I be afraid of what man can do to me?” and make it sound like a completely different message just by adding a sarcastic, mocking tone to these precious words. Think about it! What is in our hearts does come out. He will have a people whose hearts are pure, whose words bring no offense.

God will deal with us when we resist learning something new, including seeing the truth of our ways that displease Him. We risk being unteachable when someone we consider beneath us, less knowledgeable or respected than we are, someone who has no authority over us, tries to tell us the truth. Sometimes it is a child who shows us, but can we receive it from them?

God has both vessels of honor and dishonor to teach us so we may be the truth teller or resister. I dare say most of us have been one or the other on occasion. His lessons are all around us and He reveals His truth in many ways. We can consciously and unconsciously block out His truth, particularly if we resist the vessel through whom God chose to speak to us. Human bias rejects true wisdom from many a source whose outward status or history would, in our eyes, disqualiy the truth they are sharing.

Have you ever rejected someone’s potential for truth-sharing because they are “too young, uneducated, too educated, divorced or single or childless, a recovering addict, too old, too rich, too poor, culturally limited…”? God is the qualifier of any vessel, not man. Through our walk with God, we realize He is always teaching us, even when we do not realize it is Him as we resist the vessel through which it is being delivered.

God used an unbeliever to humble me and teach me about my own angry self-righteousness. He was with me in that situation and wanted me to learn. The unbeliever had an opportunity to witness this and change as well, learning to know the Lord I was passionately trying to follow. Sadly, that never happened. I benefited but the only reward I got from the unbeliever was a comment on being impressed with my steadfast belief in God in spite of apparent rewards when things were not going my way.

Our rewards are from Him, not other people! God does not waste any of our experiences when we long to know His ways and are prioritizing seeking the kingdom of God. He is very efficient in using each circumstance or experience to teach us all if we are willing. God’s truth is everywhere, not limited to religious people or religious gatherings. His truth is everywhere in this world, just as He is everywhere. It is seen especially as we seek it with our whole hearts.

God’s lessons are everywhere when we have spiritual eyes to see and spiritual ears to hear the truth He is teaching us. When someone points out that we are in error, we can return to the account of King David, the man after God’s own heart, as our example. He committed grievous sin when he took Bathsheba, another man’s wife, to his bed, then arranged to have her husband killed when Bathsheba became pregnant.

It had to be difficult for a King (or any prominent leader) to admit to wrongdoing. After all, most Kings surround themselves with others who support them, even many who will agree and bow to their every wish, right or wrong. It is dangerous to challenge a king who can kill you with just an order.

Wise rulers, in contrast, surround themselves with people who will speak the truth in love to them. Such leaders know their strengths and have those around them who add their necesssary skills and knowledge. Truly wise advisers know they have permission to tell the leaders when they are wrong. Those who are wise in ruling others desire to be aware of areas of lack, shortcomings, and error so they may grow in their leadership of others. Such are wise rulers indeed!

When Nathan the prophet confronted David about his grievous sin against God, David’s eventual response is written in the Psalms:

“Create in me a clean heart, God and renew a steadfast spirit within me.…For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You do not take pleasure in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, God, You will not despise.” Psalms 51:10-11:16-17 NASB

What David immediately feared was the loss of his relationship with the Lord of his life. He pleaded with God to grant a restoration of the heart-to-heart relationship David had with God. We hear nothing from David about asking God to allow him to remain King. God could have stripped David of this calling, as He did Saul, but He did not. You see, He had given David His word of promise about David’s kingdom.

We can assume David had not been discussing these sinful actions with the Lord while the affair with Bathsheba was unfolding. He surely was not seeking God’s advice when he ordered Joab to place Bathsheba’s husband in the front of the battle so Uriah would die. He was already distancing from the Lord so he could do what he wanted—but he still had a heart for God. He knew God was the source of His life and the success of his kingdom.

But it took someone else, the prophet Nathan, to speak truth to David, to confront him with his sinful actions. Unlike Nebuchadnezzar, David immediately humbled himself before God with this beautiful prayer. He was well aware that the sacrifices and burnt offerings required as part of his religion would not suffice. Sacrifice and offerings are all external acts that could be done without the motives of the heart being purged.

David was wise to know God required a change of heart within him for the restoration of their relationship. David made the best, the only acceptable sacrifice: a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart that is acceptable to God when our behavior causes harm to others as well as our Lord. God is a master at humbling us so that we can let go of this need to be right and all its accompanying self-righteousness. If we do not humble ourselves when we hear the voice of His spirit, He will allow circumstances to do it for us.

When we persist, our disobedience may eventually be publicly known, shouted from the housetops, rather than just between God and ourselves. God will do what it takes to discipline us in order bring about the righteousness in our hearts that He desires.

“By this time the crowd, unwieldy and stepping on each other’s toes, numbered into the thousands. But Jesus’ primary concern was his disciples. He said to them, ‘Watch yourselves carefully so you don’t get contaminated with Pharisee yeast, Pharisee phoniness.

You can’t keep your true self hidden forever; before long you’ll be exposed. You can’t hide behind a religious mask forever; sooner or later the mask will slip and your true face will be known. You can’t whisper one thing in private and preach the opposite in public; the day’s coming when those whispers will be repeated all over town.” Luke 12:1-3 The MSG

After such trials and tests as are common to believers, it may take years before we see what God was teaching us. In my early years of walking with God, I saw myself as a butterfly pinned against the wall, flapping my wings but unable to fly. I could not escape what had me pinned to the wall. I only recently realized that it was God Who had me pinned, so that I could not fly off and do what I wanted.

I had asked Him to keep me in His will, to not allow me to turn back no matter what happened. He was faithfully answering my prayers, denying what I wanted while I learned to submit to His will. How unfathomable is His love for us and His patient teaching of His own! When we persist in our own ways, though we really want to know God’s truth regardless the cost, understanding of why we resist His truth eventually is revealed.

It is our flesh man that is in the way. Something of self does not want to hear Him, fearing the loss of something we want though, deep down, we often know that it is neither God’s will nor God’s best for us, as David’s heart knew. When we truly love the Lord, as David did, we desire the full gospel, all the truth, to remain teachable in God no matter who is bringing us the truth as God’s vessel.

We do not want to stubbornly hang on to something we have always believed or insist on having our own way in life while missing out on what God has for us now. As a line from a chorus says, “Our God is moving on but His name [nature] remains the same.” When God wants to move us on with Him by refining the truths we have had or correcting erroneous beliefs, we want to move on with Him!

God is very clear about what happens when we stubbornly refuse to go on to maturity. We lose Him, the light of His presence and countenance, becoming at risk of:

“…having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” 2 Timothy 3:5 KJV

This is what the scribes and Pharisees did and exactly what Paul warned Timothy to avoid. They clung to the law of Moses, to what they already knew. Their knowledge of the Law of Moses gave them stature among the people. These all-too-human leaders did not want to yield one inch to this new Messenger from God Who threatened to rob them of all they had established and held dear. They had too much to lose!

It is difficult for us humans to lay down what we have known, particularly from years of dedication and study. But Jesus told them:

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. I do not receive glory from men; but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves.

I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?

Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope for if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” John 39-47 NASB

They searched the scriptures but remained blind to the Savior in their midst. Jesus told them that He knew all about them and their lack of love for others. In sharp contrast, He did nothing to receive the glory and adulation of men, knowing that, while he was honored and respected, it would quickly fade. Jesus confronted the leaders of His time for seeking the glory of man rather than God, the living embodiment of the Father of all.

Jesus only did what the Father showed Him to do. His heart intended to please God, not people. As then, when we hear something new in our spiritual walk, we can take it to Father God and trust that we will be taught the truth. We can, like the Bereans, search the scriptures to see if these things are true. We have no spiritual growth when we refuse to keep learning from God.

God is the best Teacher we can ever have. He is all truth and does all things for our good. What earthly teacher can say that? When we are willing, His teachings bring about a change within us. God can establish right motives in our spiritual lives so that we shine forth His truth in who we are, not just what we say. He refines and corrects what we have learned as we continue in our walk with Him.

Aren’t you glad that His word is many-faceted, like a diamond depending upon where the light is shining upon it? The Lord is mindful to equip us with His truth and His love, essential to fulfill our calling in Him:

“This is what the Lord says, He who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is His name: ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’” Jeremiah 33:2-3 NIV

What God told Jeremiah when He called this prophet into His service is still true today. When we call to Him, He will teach us more and more. There is no end to what God will teach us when we are open to Him. The holy spirit is given to guide us into all truth, including the motives of our hearts. God prepares His people, most particularly His leadership, when there is humility and submission before Him.

God will teach us of His ways and reveal His secrets to His elect. He discerns the thoughts and intents of our hearts, revealing these to us as His light shines within, so that we may learn how to live in peace and harmony with God and others. God owes us nothing but because He loves us and we have a heart of faith to know Him, He graciously teaches us Truth by the spirit within us.

Isn’t it wonderful that we have an eternity to learn from our Lord?

“O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor? Who has first given to God, that God should repay him?

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.” Romans 11:33-35, quoting Isaiah 40:9-31 NKJV

When God Says No

What a crushing experience it can be to be a person of faith who had been praying and believing for healing with all their heart for a loved one or friend, only to have them continue to suffer or to die. We have been believing God to bring miraculous healing despite ongoing evidence to the contrary. After all, isn’t this what faith is: believing for those things that are not yet seen?

We absolutely know our Lord can do it, regardless of whether we’ve seen other miracles of life or not. And yet…the person dies. Or continues to suffer with no relief. It is so very difficult to accept that our loving God allowing such pain as we walk this earth. This is a turning point of faith, resulting in spiritual maturing or loss of trust and hope in God.

We may become angry with God. After all, we have done everything right in our prayers according to scripture. We claimed the right scriptures. We spoke out in faith. We remained faithful intercessors, sharing words of encouragement and hope. We asked for what we believe, from our viewpoint, is God’s best, a restored, healthy life on this earth.

When those we love continue to suffer and die regardless of our prayers, these are times of great spiritual struggle. Our belief in a loving and merciful God who heals is greatly challenged, perhaps shaking the very foundation of our faith in the Lord. We struggle to understand and accept outcomes that are the opposite of our prayers. We know He is an all-powerful God who is able, and, indeed, has provided much healing and deliverance. So why doesn’t He?

We may start to think “Why even pray? You are going to do whatever You want anyway.” Some conclude that God loves us but really is not able, has no power or authority to intervene in our lives. Our human free will supercedes His will and our prayers. In addition to this not being scriptural, why believe in a God that is just as limited or helpless as we are? It negates the work Jesus accomplished on the cross when He defeated death and rose in victory over death, hell, and the grave.

Some of us get into a power struggle with God, which of course, we won’t win. We start to warn God that we’ll just quit talking to Him since He isn’t listening anyway. All of this happened to me in 1984. My brother, Dick, was diagnosed with metasticised kidney cancer, I was the “chief intercessor,” convinced God would heal him.

Within two months, God allowed my brother to die. He was only 39, leaving a wife and two young children. I was confused as well as devastated. Without admitting it, I got angry with God. I believed with all my heart for healing and Dick still died. I did everything according to the Word. I did not understand or agree with this decision on God’s part. God shortly showed me rebelliously sitting down in the middle of the road, mad and sad about it all.

This, of course, did not move the heart of God though I know He understood my very human response. What it did do is cut me off from the comfort and peace I needed that only He can provide. I had gone out on a spiritual limb of faith and He cut that off. It was no surprise to Him that I was angry!

But just as the disciples said, who are we going to go to if not God? He alone has the words of life. God knows how to handle His pouting children when we do not like, agree with, or approve of His decisions. Our loving Father will not be manipulated. Most of us have faith to believe God could have intervened, as I had believed and counted upon. When He does not, it is difficult to swallow the bitter pill of His inaction.

Questions flood our souls:“Why didn't He heal? Why didn't He prevent it? Why did He give us children or jobs or homes, etc. etc. only to take them away? Why did my neighbor’s child live and mine did not? Why why why, Lord?” And on and on we can go, stuck in the dark pit of our soul’s reasoning as we search to understand God. God is in this darkness with us and does bring healing, but it may not be the healing in the body that we are asking for.

Of course we want our loved one to stay on this earth with us. We don’t want them to suffer through dying nor others to suffer such painful loss of those we hold dear, regardless of what God can accomplish through the process when surrendered to Him. Our hearts don’t see or understand the outcome, at least until some time has passed.

“Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me.” Micah 7:8 KJV

When I sat in the darkness of my soul, having no understanding of God and His ways, He was with me. He helped me to heal from this first, huge, tragic “No.” God does not sustain life on this earth for all of our loved ones. There are so many painful, tragic events that cause much suffering and loss that are a part of our earthly existence.

When we allow it, however, when we are ready to hear and learn, God will heal our wounded hearts of faith, bringing us closer to Him in the process. Who else has answers to life and death? Our lives will never be the same but God is still with us, even with such painfully unanswered prayers vital to us. It becomes easier to see the good that comes after we have passed through such times of pain, distress, and testing.

We see that love and grief exist together, one inevitably paired with the other. God obviously does not see death as we do. He dwells in eternity while we are stuck in time. God has been allowing suffering, illness and death as part of the curse of this life ever since Adam and Eve in the Garden. He is able to shed His light in our dark times. He is able to break our will while comforting our hearts through these circumstances He’s allowed.

Nonetheless, these life events, common to man, remain one of the stumbling blocks along many a Christian’s path. When we are patient and ask, God will graciously help us understand His will and His ways. He may even explain His timing, as He did after I was done being angry and could listen. Following this period of great spiritual struggle for me, God kindly lifted my oppression and grief so I could hear Him provide this answer to me:“I picked Dick when he was ripe.”

I knew that was His voice, in part because I would never have thought or said such a thing! We were all raised in a Christian home, with parents who demonstrated their faith. My brother had a believing wife but had resisted a strong commitment to the Lord. From his struggle with cancer, facing death, my brother had returned to the faith of our childhood. He had turned to Jesus in his suffering. He was at the “peak” of his spiritual walk.

God took him home so he would have a better resurrection. Had he lived, Dick might have drifted back into a lesser walk with the Lord. God always prioritizes the things of the spirit over life on this earth. My brother’s death many years ago brought about the biggest change in my spiritual walk I had experienced to date. It was a crisis of faith that became an opportunity for growth. Knowing that God loves us in spite of allowing things to happen that are very painful and cause suffering is a valuable lesson.
God’s will does not bow to the fact that we have done everything scripturally right in our intercessions. We can claim the healing scriptures, have faith and trust in His healing power, implement all we know from our religious teachings, but the outcome still remains in His hands.It is not our will, but God’s will that is done, though that is a harsh truth for many unable to accept or understand.

People often wonder if it is something they did or did not do that causes disease or accident or adversity. The choices we make in this life certainly impact our health. We know daily habits, stress, and emotions such as suppressed anger and bitterness surely damage our physical bodies and impact our mental states. But we can always find someone who has made many poor choices that should have impacted their health or longevity and yet they live to a ripe old age.

The disciples had a similar question for the Lord about a blind man:

“As Jesus passed by, He saw a man who had been blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?’ Jesus answered, ‘It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.’” John 9:1-3 NASB

The works of God are displayed when people learn to live with affliction more ofthen than being healed and delivered. Paul learned that with the thorn in the flesh that God did not remove. Paul does not say what it was. It could have been a physical affliction or more likely, God did not remove the “thorn” of the opposition and persecution to his ministry from the Jewish religious leaders and divisive leaders in the churches he established.

Paul did not have an easy time of the calling God gave him. He learned many things through beatings, persecution, inprisonment and adversity he confronted. Paul testified that the power of Christ is revealed through our human weaknesses and afflictions:

“Even if I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me, or because of these surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.

But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:6-10 Berean

Leading up to this passage, Paul was listing all the achievements he had when he was Saul, the persecutor of the Jews. It had to be challenging for him to go from being a leader held in high esteem, a “top Jew”, to one who faced opposition and controversy at every turn. It was God’s idea, God’s calling for Paul. So why didn’t He make it easier for His apostle?

Paul instead had a character change through surrender. He learned to delight, even celebrate, all he faced, including this thorn in the flesh, to show forth the power and grace of his Lord. It was not an easy road, as is often the case with God’s own, but God was glorified in the difficulties more than He would have been in the blessings of deliverance from this affliction. Unbelievers witness faith in spite of adversity, rather than because of blessings.

There is little evidence in the Bible that God ever makes it easy for those called and chosen by Him! Yet we persist in believing that He will or should eliminate all of our suffering while serving Him. It turns out to be a childish, immature idea that He will reward us with what we want, because God loves us and we are being good—sort of like the fictional idea of Santa Claus.

Our merciful God is certainly able to reverse or change what we do for His purposes but it depends on His plan for us and for those we care about. This is hard to see and understand while we walk on this earth and use our soulish minds to comprehend His ways. Of course, there are consequences to our choices, but the key is to know that God is not punishing us.

Disease and death are part of this life. Sometimes it’s a natural consequence of our actions, but more often things just happen. Someone gets lung cancer who has never smoked. Another is in a car accident caused by someone else. Children with disabilities are born to believing parents limiting their health, quality, and length of life. Mass disasters and destruction happen, even more frequently. in various, random places around the world.

Christians suffer loss, pain, and death all the time, without exclusion, the rain falling on the just and the unjust. We must learn to deal with times when God says no. We may not see the good coming when we are in the bad, until and unless God teaches us more of His ways. How many saints grew up with an issue, weakness, affliction or flaw that God later uses in their calling and ministry?

This is not only a comfort to others suffering similarly, but shows the unbelievers that we have faith in spite of as well as because of God’s faithfulness. This is an ultimate lesson in surrender. He is God and we are not. It is His will, not ours. It is out of our control. We learn to surrender more rapidly, to really praise Him in all things, not to give up in despair or unbelief.

How many times do we have circumstances where all seems lost to us, and it turns out to give us a new beginning? We are not alone in needing to learn how to handle God’s NO at His feet. Whether we agree at the time or not, whether we suffer the loss patiently as part of life, or get bitter and upset with God, He is in control.

Illness and death is rarely a punishment from God to an individual Christian, though it may be a consequence of an individual’s choices. When it is, however, God is able to let us know our sin and deal with it. We are forgiven, but the decision about wiping out the results of our sinful choices is up to God. There’s more than one Christian who continues to suffer consequences for past choices, but God redeems and restores His people anyway.

This is the lesson God taught many Old Testament saints who thought about, prayed, sought God, hoping and planning, only to have life unfold differently. King David experienced God’s NO when he grievously sinned against the Lord. David earnestly sought the Lord’s healing for life for the son he conceived from his affair with Bathsheba.

David knew enough of God’s nature to earnestly fast and pray for a week in hopes that God would change His mind about this severe consequence because of his sin. Nathan the prophet, whom God used to confront him, had foretold their baby son’s death as a consequence of David’s great sin:

“And the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s widow bore to David, and he was very sick. David therefore appealed to God for the child [to be healed]; and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. The elders of his household stood by him [in the night] to lift him up from the ground, but he was unwilling [to get up] and would not eat food with them.

Then it happened on the seventh day that the child died. David’s servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, ‘While the child was still alive, we spoke to him and he would not listen to our voices. How then can we tell him the child is dead, since he might harm himself [or us]?’

But when David saw that his servants were whispering to one another, he realized that the child was dead. So David said to them, ‘Is the child dead?’ And they said, ‘He is dead.’ Then David got up from the ground, washed, anointed himself [with olive oil], changed his clothes, and went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he came [back] to his own house, and when he asked, they set food before him and he ate.

Then his servants said to him, ‘What is this thing that you have done? While the child was alive you fasted and wept, but when the child died, you got up and ate food.’ David said, ‘While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I thought, ‘Who knows, the Lord may be gracious to me and the child may live.’ But now he is dead; why should I [continue to] fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him [when I die], but he will not return to me.” 2 Samuel 12:15-23 NASB

David was denied his request for his son to live. He got a very painful and resounding “NO” and had to live with it being a consequence of His own actions. He did all he could through an intense time of intercession in hopes of reversing God’s judgment because He knew God was merciful and gracious.

David understood the heart of God but the elders and others in his household were confused by his actions after the child’s death. David was not afraid to ask, to intercede for his child’s life, but when the child died, he immediately surrendered to God’s will in the matter. The scriptures record that David got up and went to God’s house to worship. He had been heard but God’s answer was no.

We may not know what the Lord might be saving our loved ones from by allowing their death when it happens. Some questions we have to wait upon or may never understand while on this earth. Taking my brother when he was “ripe” meant, to me, that my brother’s faith, strengthened by the short months of his suffering, would be sustained in the afterlife. Had he been restored to his life before, he may have once again drifted from his faith in Jesus.

God does not have to explain Himself to us, but it is wonderful when He does. Some of us have a long list of questions for God. Either they will be answered or none of it will matter when we are completely with Him in the spirit. While we walk this earthly path, however, we would like God to conform to how we see living and dying.

The truth is that our thoughts and ways, our limited human viewpoints, are truly not His thoughts and ways. As did David, we continue to ask until the spirit releases us from intercession. And there are those seemingly rare occasions when He suddenly reverses a predicted outcome. Read what happened to King Hezekiah when he begged the Lord to live longer:

“In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.

Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying, ‘Remember now, O Lord, I beseech Thee, how I have walked before Thee in truth and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in Thy sight.’ And Hezekiah wept bitterly.” 2 Kings 20:1-2 Berean

After this, God sends the prophet back to tell Hezekiah that He has heard his prayer and seen his tears. He grants Hezekiah fifteen more years, during which Hezekiah accomplishes much. But also during this time, Hezekiah fathered his son, Manassah, who was twelve when Hezekiah died. Manassah took over the kingdom and did not do right in God’s eyes. The Israelites ended up in bondage in Babylon.

God graciously changed His mind about Hezekiah, an outcome that seemed good to him but appeared to cause problems later. This gives us more to meditate upon in understanding when God says no. Surrender to God’s will when we lose someone we love remains one of the biggest obstacles on our faith journey. Simple platitudes such as “It was just God’s will,” or “God wanted Him in heaven,” bring little comfort to someone who is too young or too immature in their walk with God to be comforted by such easily said words.

Such casual “comfort” is least helpful when the person is in deep pain, overwhelmed with grief, loss, and confusion. Sometimes not saying anything, just listening to whatever the grieving person needs to say is the better path of wisdom. We sit quietly and provide love and support while resisting advice that is neither helpful nor welcome. We need to listen and wait upon the Lord before offering such “spiritual bandages.”

We learn to be sensitive to the spirit’s leading, God’s timing and wise counsel as well as His strength, to walk with others who find themselves facing difficult times. It is through our own times of affliction when we painfully learn how to share comfort and strength with others. Though others don’t want to hear “I know just how you feel”, the best words of comfort come from the Lord. The holy spirit knows just how and when to support and comfort others.

But how long it can take for us to see things God’s way! In God, endings are eventually new beginnings when we allow Him to work within us. Life without our loved one is forever changed but it does go on and, incredibly, we do have joy and peace again in the Lord. We may or may not see the good it might work for the future, but His word is sure and His nature remains the same.

These struggles teach us more than we learn in our good times, as we continue to ask like the Psalmist:

“Make me understand the way of Your precepts, so that I will meditate (focus my thoughts) on Your wonderful works. My soul dissolves because of grief; renew and strengthen me according to [the promises of] Your word…

Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, and I will [steadfastly] observe it to the end. Give me understanding [a teachable heart and the ability to learn], that I may keep Your law and observe it with all my heart. Make me walk in the path of Your commandments for I delight in it. Incline my heart to Your testimonies…

It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.” Psalms 119:27-28;33-36;71 Amplified

God’s no’s bring unwelcome changes in our lives, such as following the death of someone we love after much sincere intercession. God remains the same and will strengthen us, comfort us, and even help us understand when we are ready to hear Him. We can be grateful He has patience with us, though we may lack it ourselves in such situations. He truly does work all things for good, as He states in a favorite scripture:

“And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes ALL things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.” Romans 8:28 Amplified

Patience in Affliction

“During the days of Jesus’ earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered.” Hebrews 5:7-8 Berean”

What kind of father is our Father God? We learn about Father God by observing God’s interactions with Jesus, His only begotten Son. He did not make an easy path for our Savior. He did not destroy Jesus’ enemies from this earth. He did not create a family life where His siblings all knew and honored who He was. He had no earthly possessions, no wife or children, not even a permanent home. Yet Father God was always with Him, always giving Him words, wisdom, and strength to deal with His earthly sufferings.

When we begin walking with the Lord, it is so good to know He loves us and will take care of us. Our Father expects, however, that we grow up into Him. It doesn’t work much character in us if He always and immediately grants what we ask for. Realizing that God’s judgment, His discipline, is meant for our good, helps us mature in trust and faith. Despite human doubt and questions, God does know what He is doing!

As we experience more adversity and suffering, it’s tempting to blame this on the enemy. But God Himself, like all excellent parents, disciplines us through affliction as we learn. As His children, He disciplines us for our good, so we are made fit for His kingdom. If Jesus learned obedience by what He suffered as a Son, so do we. We may not understand it, but, quoting Proverbs 3:11-12, the writer of Hebrews wrote:

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you because the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and he chastens everyone He accepts as His son.” Hebrews 12:5-6 NIV

We can easily recognize our need for patience while we wait for the Lord to set things right on this earth. He will do so. He promised. He is faithful and true, but He sure never seems to be in a hurry! The only account of a nearly instantaneous change in the Bible is what happened to Saul on the road to Damascus when he was still persecuting God’s people. He is always able to do this but rarely handles things in this manner, a disappointment to many of us!

As a Jew, Saul was fully immersed in the Law of Moses and had a zeal for righteousness. We might say that he had the right heart, but was going the wrong direction! Christians were destroying all that Saul had believed and stood for in his life thus far. He was completely opposed to the New Covenant brought by Jesus. Yet, God’s conversion of Saul of Tarsus to Paul, the great apostle, happened in a very short time:

“Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. He approached the high priest and requested letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

As Saul drew near to Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’ ‘Who are You, Lord?’ Saul asked. ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied.’‘Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.’

The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless. They heard the voice but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could not see a thing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was without sight, and he did not eat or drink anything.” Acts 9:1-7 Berean

God took Paul’s natural eyesight until his vision—his understanding—was changed. God directed Ananias to go to where Saul was to lay hands upon him for his sight to be restored. Can you imagine Ananias being told that he is to go to this great enemy of Christians, who had been arresting and turning believers over for execution? Ananias is understandably a bit reluctant given Saul’s reputation, but God has everything prepared:

“‘Get up!’ the Lord told [Ananias]. ‘Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.’

But Ananias answered, ‘Lord, many people have told me about this man and all the harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And now he is here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.

‘Go!’ said the Lord. ‘This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.’

So Ananias went to the house, and when he arrived, he placed his hands on Saul. ‘Brother Saul,’ he said, ‘the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’

At that instant, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and his sight was restored. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. And he spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.” Acts 9:11-18 Berean

How amazed the people of that time must have been! Ananias immediately calls Saul his brother and he was accepted among the disciples in that city. God made these changes, saving and baptizing Paul with the Holy Spirit, all within a few days. God had need of Paul to carry the news of the New Covenant to the Gentiles and also as an example to his Jewish brothers and sisters.

Paul spent three years learning the ways of Jesus, without consulting the brethren from Jerusalem. Paul did suffer much for the cause of Christ. His afflictions brought about further changes in his heart and character from which we still benefit today. But it remains a rare event to be changed this rapidly by God. Saul, now Paul, already had the right heart for this work, but needed the Truth to change the determined direction he had been taking.

We surely know that God changes our understanding so we are seeing more of His perfect ways. Much of the time it takes years for us to change as completely as Saul did when meeting Jesus Christ. For some, God’s dealings await another eon (era or age) for fulfillment beyond life on this earth. Thankfully, God is an excellent and most patient Father, waiting for the good fruit of His spirit to develop within our hearts to shine forth to others.

God’s discipline is meant to help us, changing us right here and now so we may live in His Kingdom of love, peace and joy. It’s a process, not just an event. Saul’s dramatic conversion was just the beginning of wisdom. The key is what God requires for God’s plan to be fulfilled. Many of us follow Paul’s example, pursuing the prize of His high calling. His plan is redemptive as it continues to unfold through the ages, though our hearts long for it now.

There’s where patience comes in for us! It is so difficult to see the pain and suffering of the innocent, to pray and pray for change in harmful situations of war, famine, drought, floods, hurricanes, tornados, typhoons, and other disasters, sweeping illnesses causing multiple deaths, poverty and economic troubles adding to personal, family, national and international afflictions. It is constant on this earth!

We are surrounded by human suffering—pain, distress, suffering, and horror on a daily basis. We pray for Him to “pull down spiritual strongholds” in the leadership of all countries, including our own. But God has privileged us, His people, to partner with Him in bringing about change, most especially as intercessors. God always has humans to carry out His will::

“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence, for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:1-4 NIV

Intercessors are continually lifting up painful circumstances to the Lord, praying for all men everywhere, particularly leaders, as He directs. Sometimes, though, the unrelenting evidence of continual human suffering becomes hard to bear for compassionate hearts. We grieve for parents and children in countries torn by war and famine and disease, either having to flee multiple times or stay without clean water, air, utilities, safe food, adequate health care, shelter or warmth. We hurt for mothers who must walk hours just to get water for their families.

We grieve with those who grieve, intercede for those under great burdens. We are saddened by the illness and death of others who lose their lives to all the illnesses caused by the suffering in our earthly bodies. We are concerned for those whose entire lives are destroyed by natural disasters increasing in frequency and intensity in our present day.

We feel sadness for the homeless everywhere who don’t have the basics of food, clothing and shelter, including every city in the US, many with untreated mental illness, invisibly suffering, and with children making up the homeless majority. We ask the Lord to intercede for the children, the innocent all over the world, impacted by the decisions of others.

These things are not just occurring in some faraway country we hear about. These are here, whether invisible to our daily lives or not. Many children in my very own prosperous midwest state go to bed hungry, every single night, with parents working two or three jobs just to survive. How can we “take our ease” when so many around us are heavily burdened? How can we hide out and care about only our own lives and those we love with such a needy world crying out for God, in need of salvation and redemption?

As we continually pray for all men everywhere, we may question if it is doing any good. Our puny efforts to pray or to help in other ways do not visibly change the overall landscape of global suffering. It’s like we’re pushing against immovable mountains. We surely have need of patience on this prayer quest. Recently I asked the Lord, “How can you, God Who is love, stand to see all of it? I can hardly stand to see what I see, with my small amount of love.” He said, quite clearly, “Because I know the end from the beginning.”

Whether it takes years, ages, or centuries, His plan, what He wills, is accomplished. Do you doubt that Almighty God will not have everything He wills to be done? Who is to prevent the Master of the Universe from accomplishing this? God does know the end from the beginning and shares more of His plan for the ages with us as we walk with Him. His will is to save all men. All will be dealt with, redeemed in His way, in His time, and by His spirit.

This life is not our homeland nor our final destination. Our God does not miss anything! If the salvation of all men, sometimes called the “word of reconciliation for all” is the will of God, as is clearly stated above, I say again, who or what will prevent God from fulfilling His will? This requires enduring faith in what we have not yet seen as well as patience in the unfolding of His will.

We require His presence to teach us to look beyond this life, this earthly existence, our finite circumstances during this time and age on the earth. If this life was the end of the story for humanity, we would, like Paul said, “be of all men most miserable!” We, too, learn obedience by what we suffer. God says not to fret yourself about evildoers which the Concordant Literal translates:

“At the fall of your enemy, do not rejoice, and at his stumbling do not let your heart exult, lest Yahweh should see and it be evil in His eyes so that He turns His anger from Him.

Do not grow hot over evil doers. Do not be jealous over the wicked. There shall be no good end for the evil man. The lamp of the wicked, it shall be extinguished.” Proverbs 24:17-20 Concordant Literal

God does not want the attitudes of our hearts to get in the way of His dealings with our enemies. Often we do not see the “no good end” that evil men come to, but God says “Don’t worry about it.” Do not be envious. Evil men and women may appear to be prospering in this life, but God says absolutely they will come to a bad end. Some of us have done just that—grown hot over evildoers, wanting God to eradicate them, literally take them out, preferable right now!

We are surely and absolutely in need of God’s patience in this walk of faith! The Concordant version of Psalms 37 expresses this so beautifully:

“Do not heat yourself up because of evildoers; Do not be jealous over those doing iniquity. For like grass they shall quickly be snipped off, and like green verdure, they shall decay. Trust in the Lord and do good; tabernacle in the land and graze in faithfulness…

Be still before Yahweh, and wait for Him: Do not heat yourself up because someone prospers his way, because a man is carrying out his schemes. Hold back from anger and forsake fury; Do not heat yourself up: it leads only to evil. For the evildoers, they shall be cut off.” Psalms 37:1-3; 7-9 Concordant

Be still and wait?? Don’t get all upset about it??? But we do get heated up, fretting about the apparent ongoing success of evil all around us. God reminds us that they will be cut off. All will come to the end of their evil deeds …but when? It seems as if they are always getting away with schemes to deceive, lie, cheat and steal their way to success in this life. It’s even more difficult and painful when it is not an evil dictator in another country, but someone in our own lives who repeatedly hurts us or others despite professing to love us.

We pray to God that He stop all evil persons and their hurtful ways, but they seem to continue on their merry way with no obvious hindrances to their schemes. Then, like it or not, we turn again to the Lord to learn the many lessons about loving the unlovable as He does. God may even direct us to limit our time and actions with others who continually abuse our love and fellowship. Forgiveness is not the same as consequences and God protects His own.

There will be a time in the ages when we won’t just go in and out of the peace, joy, and love in His Kingdom's land of promise. We are promised a future where we will go in and come out no more. In this psalm, David predicts the day when we will tabernacle — dwell — in our land of promise permanently. He will empower us to live in the kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy with no disturbance, no tears, no woe. We will be changed into His image and likeness so that we will forever be with the Lord. We need patience to wait for God, to see His promises unfolding in our lives. As my husband recently said, “We are moving from woe into wow!!”

We learn to endure wrongful treatment while not murmuring or complaining about God’s failure to fix things for us. This is an aspect of character that grows much under affliction rather than blessing, while He turns the troubles for our good. We can relate to David’s frustration with all the opposition he faced in doing what the Lord told him to accomplish. He’s in the right, doing God’s will, but those coming against him appear to be effective. Here God says “Don’t heat yourself up, don’t fret.” Don’t do it!

Evildoers will be dealt with in this life or the next. Our anger, our fury at them only leads to evil for ourselves, robbing us of rest and peace. Paul’s zealous fury and delight in arresting and killing those who believed in Jesus is one example. God had a purpose and a plan for this man who was such an enemy of Christ. He alone decides who will be changed in this lifetime and who will only be changed after passing on. All things will be corrected in the ages to come, for the living and the dead. God said so.

We are to trust the Lord and do good, and our expected end is to dwell in the land of promise peacefully. This is the fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles when God fully tabernacles in His people. We always see others suffering in ways God has not allowed in our lives. Many of us are blessed with better circumstances we did nothing to earn. Being born in the US is a great circumstance regardless of our country’s problems and faults. If it were not so, we would not have the multitudes of immigrants wanting to come and live here.

One blessing builds upon another, easing our lives even when we all experience distressing world circumstances. As someone said about the pandemin in 2020, we are all on the same water of affliction, but we are not all in the same boat! Even the family to whom we were born adds favor to our lives. The Lord promises blessings for the children of the godly from earlier generations. When we are born into a family of godly believers, this is another tremendous blessing unearned by us. It’s provided because previous generations in our heritage faithfully served the Lord. There is reward in that!

Given this undeserved favor, we risk arrogantly priding ourselves in how good we are doing while discounting the layer upon layer of advantages God has allowed for His purposes.

“You shall not worship them nor serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, inflicting the punishment of the fathers on the children, even on the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing graciousness and lovingkindness to thousands [of generations] of those who love Me and keep My commandments.” Deuteronomy 5:9-10 NASB

These are blessings He has freely granted, having nothing to do with our worthiness or self-righteousness. It is His grace, His unearned favor. How unwise to assume we are or would do better than others when we have never lived in their lives nor faced their challenges! That’s a judgment we truly should not make. How can we know that we would do better when we have never been in their exact circumstances?

Whether we like it or not, parents pass down generational characteristics to their children that also cause unearned suffering. These are taken care of on the cross, but we need to bring them there and leave them. As we walk with Him, He frees us from His punishment stemming from generational sin, including ancestors who hated Him. No blame or excuse will do with the Lord.

We do not have to accept any generational curse, nor excuse our sin by saying we are “just like that” because of our heritage. God breaks generational patterns while blessing future generations of those who love and serve Him. We are fortunate, indeed, if we have been blessed with godly parents and grandparents, but God has allowed others to be born into different circumstances and their suffering may be greater as a result.

And there are always those whose afflictions are permanent. One stellar example is Joni Eareckson Tada, who experienced lasting affliction as a quadraplegic. Her spinal cord was severed after a diving accident over 50 years ago when she was just 19. She speaks eloquently and with much credibility given the suffering she has had that formed her abundant faith. Her website, Joni and Friends: Sharing Hope through Hardship. is particularly impactful for others who have permanent physical disabilities as she has.

Joni’s third book, A Step Further, written in 1978 and republished many times, made a deep impression on me. As a quadriplegic, Joni fields many questions from those struggling with their own circumstances. Some feel guilty about their distress when comparing themselves to her situation. She explains that we are all in different places on this ladder of suffering. Some are above us in deep distress and unease in this world, higher on the ladder of suffering. Others are below us, not having gone through what we have to be disciplined and defined by God in this life.

Wherever we are, suffering is suffering. Joni shares what God has taught her about suffering and hardship in this life. Here is one of her gems of truth:

“Jesus went without comfort so that you might have it. He postponed joy so that you might share in it. He willingly chose isolation so that you might never be alone in your hurt and sorrow. He had no real fellowship so that fellowship might be yours, this moment. This alone is enough cause for great gratitude!’”

The truth of the matter is, Satan and God may want the exact same event to take place – but for different reasons. Satan’s motive in Jesus’ crucifixion was rebellion; God’s motive was love and mercy. Satan was a secondary cause behind the Crucifixion, but it was God who ultimately wanted it, willed it, and allowed Satan to carry it out. And the same holds true for disease.” (Tada, 2017)

Joni had more nightmarish experiences through the years of her accident and recovery as a quadriplegic wheelchair-bound adult. She steadfastly holds to the truth that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called by Him for a purpose. She did not see her life destroyed by Satan’s actions but rather, blessed and grateful to God for His love and mercy in it. She surely had need of patience before she moved from adversity to hope!

In addition to being in a wheelchair most of her adult life, Joni has also recovered from cancer several times. It is unlikely that she anticipated the life she now lives as an author, skilled artist who uses the paintbrush in her mouth, ministering to thousands through speaking and writing, married and busy with teaching others. With God, the end is indeed better than the beginning!

God does not seem to fairly distribute the sufferings He allows in His plans for us. Comparing ourselves to others only leads to feelings of being better than—superior—or less than—inferior—rather than just different in what God allows for our good. The phrase comparisons are odious is said to have originated in the 14th century and is still quoted to remind us that comparisons, frankly, stink!

We don’t see what has come easy to us, what blessings flow from God that gives us an advantage. We are often, however, much more acutely aware of the adversity He allows for our growth. We don’t understand why we suffer something while others are suffering less. The answer is God’s purpose and calling for us, with gifts differing needed to equip us for the path of life we are to follow.

People minister, teach, and write books about their experiences of suffering and loss to help the rest of us. Many Christian “how to do it” books zealously promote their path of success after adversity, urging others to do it their way. Joni, however, is sharing hard-earned wisdom from God, not a prescribed formula for spiritual success as some do. She reveals patience in affliction and hope for the suffering in her ministry.

Thankfully, we all do not have to have the same circumstances for our refining and growth. God knows His plan for each of us, the adversities in this life that will bring about change within each of us. Later, many of us are used to strengthen our brothers and sisters in Christ who have similar challenges. Thus it was with Peter before he betrayed the Lord three times after Jesus’ arrest:

“But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” Luke 22:31–32 KJV

Who better than Peter to deliver the first Holy Spirit empowered Word to others after Pentecost? Who is enabled to minister so powerfully to the disabled like Joni? Just so, others may not be able to do what we are specifically called to do because it’s not God’s plan for them. God has taken us on His path for us, where we are measured by the stature of Jesus Christ only.

We are God’s workmanship, and, as we surrender, He is in charge of making us what we ought to be.

“For we are God’s handiwork [workmanship], created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 NIV

We suffer what we suffer, with clear differences in our own pile of difficulties. While this does not seem fair in our human judgment, God never said our lives would be fair. Jesus did not experience fairness in His life, did He? The good news of the gospel is that God always makes a way of escape for even the most unbearable suffering a person may experience.

We are in awe of others who walk this earth with great serenity and godliness while experiencing unspeakable pain and suffering. Joni helps us to recognize that we are all hurting while being disciplined by our circumstances, even though there are others suffering more or less than we are. In Romans, we are reminded of the promised outcome for believers in God:

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 NIV

How God’s people handle suffering and adversity can be quite amazing! Another saint from whom we can humbly learn about patience and hope in the midst of hell on this earth is Corrie Ten Boom. She, her sister Betsie, and her father were taken to one of the Nazi concentration camps for harboring Jews in their Dutch home during WW II.

They were all treated cruelly, deprived of basic needs, living in squalor, so very many viciously treated and dying all around them. After their arrest and incarceration at a concentration camp, Corrie saw her father die 10 days later and her sister, Betsie, shortly thereafter. Surely God would not expect a believer to forgive these heinous crimes. But Corrie’s God-given forgiveness and mercy for the Nazis who murdered her family and tortured her happened and is absolutely mind-blowing.

God was with them in this “lowest hell,” allowing them to lead others in scripture and worship while suffering unspeakable harm. Corrie’s testimony underlines the truth that God is everywhere and with us in everything. He even used the fleas that plagued their prison barracks to keep guards away when they were worshiping the Lord and sharing the Word!

This remains a wonderful example of unity of believers despite their various religious backgrounds. Betsie, Corrie’s sister, shared these words with Corrie before her death in Ravensbruck:

"… (we) must tell them what we have learned here. We must tell them that there is no pit so deep that He is not deeper still. They will listen to us, Corrie, because we have been here." (Carlson, Carole C. Corrie ten Boom, Her Life, Her Faith: a Biography. Old Tappan, NJ: F.H. Revell Co., 1983.)

Corrie was commissioned by God to do this very thing. Only a few years after the war ended, Corrie returned to Germany to preach about forgiveness. One of the guards who had been in Ravensbruck came up to her after her ministry. He told her that since the war, he had become a Christian. He knew he was forgiven by God, but wanted her forgiveness as well. What a challenge for Corrie to have her heart and actions match her ministry of forgiveness:

“In 1947, I traveled from Holland to defeated Germany with the message that God forgives. ‘When we confess our sins,’ I would say to audiences, ‘God casts them into the deepest ocean, gone forever’. At the end of one meeting, I saw him, working his way forward right towards me in the crowd. This man had been a cruel guard at the prison where we had been sent.

Now he was in front of me, and he thrust out his hand: ‘A fine message, fräulein! How good it is to know that, as you say, all our sins are at the bottom of the sea! You mentioned this prison in your talk,’ he said. ‘I was a guard there. But since that time,’ he went on, ‘I have become a Christian. I know that God has forgiven me for the cruel things I did there, but I would like to hear it from your lips as well. Fräulein, will you forgive me?’ And he reached out his hand.

And I stood there… and could not speak. I had to forgive him – I knew that. Jesus says, ‘If you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.’ I stood there with the coldness clutching my heart.

But forgiveness is not an emotion. Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart. ‘Jesus, help me!’ I prayed silently. ‘I can lift my hand. I can do that much. You supply the feeling.’ And then this healing warmth seemed to flood my whole being, bringing tears to my eyes.

‘I forgive you, brother!’ I cried. ‘With all my heart!’ For a long moment we grasped each other’s hands; he, the former guard, and I, the former prisoner. I had never known God’s love so intensely as I did then. I had forgiven, and I was restored to my heavenly Father.” (New World Encyclopedia on Corrie Ten Boom.)

In her obedience to God’s will, Corrie was given what was necessary to truly forgive this man from her heart. What precious wisdom she has in stating that forgiveness will follow in our hearts (mind, will, and emotions) when we willlingly obey His commands. Corrie Ten Boom is an outstanding example of how God brings joy for sadness, peace for all our pain! How can any of us deny that God is in truth the changer of obedient hearts! He is able to work forgiveness and even good from the most heinous of human cruelty against humanity.

Another gem in Corrie’s writings is the wisdom Corrie’s father gave her. She worried about facing the Nazis during the years they harbored Jews. How would she be able to handle it? Her father told her that it’s like when they are waiting for their ticket to travel by train. God will give what is needed when we need it. We don’t need that ticket until we have to get on the train. It is so reassuring to know that what God calls us to do, He equips us to accomplish. When Corrie unexpectedly faced that former Ravensbruck guard, He gave her the necessary “ticket” for forgiveness.

Both Joni Eareckson Tada and Corrie ten Boom are saints whose wisdom remains written upon my heart years after reading about their lives. Their messages of hope and faith make a difference for the rest of us. Many more have not had the calling or opportunity to share their stories but God knows them. Christians have endured centuries of martyrdom and cruelty, mistreatment and abuse, in so very many places around the globe —and still do.

The early Christians were tormented and killed, all of the disciples were put to death except John (though they tried), many Christians have and continue to suffer unimaginable adversity and oppression. All show forth what God is able to do when, in the midst of incredible suffering and adversity, His people surrender to Him. We need patience to understand the end from the beginning if we are to be like Him.

Just look into the wise eyes of mature saints of all ages. We see a confident expectation of the end of their suffering as they forget the past and continue to walk with the Lord. In Job, it states:

“For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be steadfast, and shalt not fear: Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away. And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.

And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety. Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.” Job 11:15-18 KJV

We often cannot see or imagine it during times of affliction, but our end in the Lord is better than our beginning. The apostle Paul tells us to forget the past and move on. God is an ever present help in times of trouble to those with an obedient heart and willingness to learn His ways. We can always reach out for His comfort and understanding. He knows when our suffering is overwhelming, whether deserved or not. He promises that we will come out of each hard time able to forget our misery, getting better rather than bitter.

It can be challenging to accept the truth that the yoke of our loving Lord is easy and the burdens He allows are light. Who deserves the severe droughts that hit many parts of the world? Do people living in some areas deserve the increasing weather changes bringing more tornadoes and hurricanes, floods and natural disasters? Does one population deserve the forest fires that follow extended dry spells? Did any of us earn all the suffering and loss brought by the global pandemic?

How can we say people who live in constant warfare and danger due to political leaders and dictators deserve their suffering? Do all the poor deserve to be poor, judged by others because of it? Do we deserve more because we happened to be born into a healthy prosperous family or nation? Whatever our circumstances, God always turns it for good for His own:

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.” Psalms 46:1-3 KJV

Surely this is the Day of the Lord, where many spiritual mountains we have stood upon seemingly are being carried away. The soulish places in our earth are changing, with earthquakes within and shakings without. Everything is changing rapidly. God is dealing with the strongholds of men and their refuge of lies, tearing down what has worked against us.

God is preparing the hearts of His people to be His representatives on this earth, with all the fullness of the seven spirits of God. Yet have we seen all of this come to pass? We need patience as we stay strong in the Lord:

"Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:14-16 KJV

We can absolutely count on the Lord to empathize, understand and change our hearts through the discipline of suffering adversity. We are called to share in His sufferings, with our hearts rejoicing.

“But insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, keep on rejoicing, so that when His glory [filled with His radiance and splendor] is revealed, you may rejoice with great joy.” 1 Peter 4:13 Berean

When we get a glimpse of the end from the beginning, we rejoice with great joy in the midst of affliction. Imagine that! Only God can create rejoicing, giving us joy while we endure such suffering. Check out a photo of Corrie Ten Boom or Joni Eareckson Tada. After all these two women have gone through—or because of it—the joy of the Lord radiates through these saints with a visible light of the spirit.

What is more joyful than when God changes us in circumstances that should overwhelm and even break us? It is humbling to even write about such things, given the incredible journey God has allowed so many of His precious saints to go through. Their lives are confirmation that there is nothing, absolutely nothing, we can go through that He does not understand, provide for internally and externally, and turn for good when it came from and was meant for evil.

Yes, we do have need of patience, waiting upon our Lord to fully come within His people:

“For you have need of patient endurance [to bear up under difficult circumstances without compromising], so that when you have carried out the will of God, you may receive and enjoy to the full what is promised. For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay.” Hebrews 10:36-37 Amplified

In the Revelation to His people, the angel (messenger) speaking to the apostle John speaks to that future time for which we wait:

“And he swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and everything in it, the earth and everything in it, and the sea and everything in it: ‘There will be no more delay!’” Revelation 10:6 KJV

No more delay! The time will come and is unfolding even now. While we wait for this to come to be, we prayerfully sing the words from this song with other believers:

God Turn It Around

I'm praying, God come

And turn this thing around.

God, turn it around

God, turn it around

God, turn it around.

I'm calling on the name

That changes everything, yes

God, turn it around

God, turn it around

God, turn it around.”

(Church of the City. Songwriters: Anthony Skinner / Jess Cates / Jon Reddick)

Amen and amen, Lord, so be it!

God's Spiritual Language

A symbol is a thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object that represents something abstract. A metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable. Both are used as a pattern or representative of something literal, but neither are the actual, literal things that they are being used to represent.

Using symbols and metaphors further our understanding of the unfamiliar by illustrating its truth with something with which we are familiar, often from the world around us. The word of God is full of symbols and metaphors. Our God is an expert at spiritual symbols and metaphors, using “types and shadows” from the earthly world to explain and clarify His world of the spirit.

We need a relationship with God in the spirit to understand Him and that is just what He desires of each of us.

 “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” John 4:24 KJV

Jesus only said what the Father gave Him to say, speaking in parables that utilized metaphors and symbols. It is impossible to understand this spiritual book full of metaphors and symbols without the holy spirit. God is spirit and we need His spirit to understand spiritual language. Jesus had to interpret the meaning of His parables shared with the crowds so they would understand His meaning.

The literalists think we should not spiritualize the word because it will lead to error. They insist that the Bible is to be understood literally. But there is plenty of error in the standard translations of the Bible, written by human men who did the best they could. There is even more error when God uses words meant to be spiritually understood but are applied to actual, literal things of this earth.

One clear example is “He who has ears to hear,” oft repeated by Jesus when He spoke to the multitudes. Jesus was not referencing these appendages on either side of our heads, but speaking of our spiritual ears necessary to understand Jesus Christ and Father God, Who are spirits. He also referenced “eyes to see”, which symbolizes our spiritual, rather than our natural eyes for vision.

Not very many in those days had spiritual ears or eyes to hear and see what the Lord was saying, including His intimate followers. Then and now, He veiled His word to carnal minds so we have to go beyond our natural understanding. God also laid out a precise and detailed pattern in the Old Testament to teach us about our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who was to come. The old laws of Moses regarding worship in the Tabernacle are but a “shadow” of what is to come:

“Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ.” Colossians 2:17 Berean

“Yet death ruled [over mankind] from Adam to Moses [the Lawgiver], even over those who had not sinned as Adam did. Adam is a type of Him (Christ) who was to come [but in reverse—Adam brought destruction, Christ brought salvation].” Romans 5:14 Amplified

Here the word type is used in Romans, coming from the Greek word “tupos.” This means “figure, a die or shape, a model, form, a pattern.” God has a plan that is revealed layer upon layer to those who will know Him in spirit and in truth, through the centuries unfolding many patterns for His own to understand and follow. God uses everything at His disposal to further our spiritual understanding of Him and the world of the spirit!

From the beginning, Adam was the perfect “pattern son,” walking in fellowship with the Father until the fall. Throughout the Old Testament, we read of other historical events that further our understanding when we see the type or model of each event. What our Christian ancestors experienced in Old Testament days are not only powerful and entertaining accounts of their lives, they show us a pattern of how our life will proceed back into full fellowship with our Father through what Jesus Christ has done.

God’s plan for the return of His people to full fellowship through His son, Jesus Christ is patterned, foreshadowing His plan through the Old Testament ways of worship. We are to learn many things from our Abrahamic heritage, as this scripture confirms:

“Now these things happened to them [the tribes of Israel] as an example and warning [to us]; they were written for our instruction [to admonish and equip us], upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” 1 Corinthians 10:11 Amplified

It is not surprising that the book of Hebrews, written to the Jews, talks about the traditional patterns of the Israelite worship in the Tabernacle as a “copy of heaven.” God talked directly to Moses about exactly how the Tabernacle of worship was to be built because it is predictive of our Lord Jesus Christ:

“Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer gifts according to the law. The place where they serve is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the Tabernacle:

‘See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.’ Now, however, Jesus has received a much more excellent ministry, just as the covenant He mediates is better and is founded on better promises.” Hebrews 8:4-6 Berean

We learn much from the Old Testament when the spirit grants us an understanding of the patterns revealed there. It’s fascinating to learn just how thorough and specific are the stories of our spiritual ancestors as we understand how they are laying out the steps for us. An example is the study of the names of Jacob’s twelve sons, revealing a pattern of qualities for spiritual growth. The life of David teaches much about how to worship and praise the Lord, ask for God’s specific guidance when in conflict, and how to humbly repent of sin.

The Old Testament prophets were given visions from God, though it was not given to them to see or understand all that God was revealing through them about the future. They were cloaked in spiritual language until the time for their meaning to be revealed. Daniel was the prophet of time, given the ability to interpret symbolic dreams and see visions. He asked what the visions God gave him meant and God told him it wasn’t given to him to understand.

The prophet Joel saw the future Day of the Lord, given in spiritual symbols and metaphors to predict the eventual restoration and reconciliation of all. And the prophet Isaiah speaks directly of the coming of the Lord:

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of His government and peace, there will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” Isaiah 9:6–7, NIV

In the New Testament, Jesus taught in parables, a Jewish style of storytelling to convey messages through allegory and symbolism. Drawn from ordinary life, Jesus ensured that people could choose whether or not to think about and accept his messages. He knew only a few would see beyond the metaphors and parallels to the deeper spiritual truths He was ministering. His own disciples even asked why He spoke in parables to the crowds:

'“Jesus replied, ‘Because they haven’t received the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but you have. For those who have will receive more and they will have more than enough. But as for those who don’t have, even the little they have will be taken away from them.

This is why I speak to the crowds in parables: although they see, they don’t really see; and although they hear, they don’t really hear or understand. What Isaiah prophesied has become completely true for them:

You will hear, to be sure, but never understand; and you will certainly see but never recognize what you are seeing. For this people’s senses have become calloused, and they’ve become hard of hearing, and they’ve shut their eyes so that they won’t see with their eyes or hear with their ears or understand with their minds, and change their hearts and lives that I may heal them.

Happy are your eyes because they see. Happy are your ears because they hear. I assure you that many prophets and righteous people wanted to see what you see and hear what you hear, but they didn’t.’” Matthew 13:10-17 NIV

God revealed the meaning to those He was drawing at that time. Still, the disciples often had to ask Jesus privately to explain the meaning of the parables He ministered. They did not yet have the Holy Spirit within them, so the spiritual depth of what Jesus was saying was hidden even from them:

“But the disciples did not understand any of these things. The meaning was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend what He was saying.” Luke 18:14 Berean

“Do you still not understand? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? How do you not understand that I was not telling you about bread?

But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Matthew 16:10 Berean

When Jesus talked about bread, He was not worried about what to eat. He meant the bread of heaven, the word of God. And though He told them about His crucifixion and resurrection more than once, they could not fully understand what was to come. Jesus called His body a temple, a tabernacle of God. He did speak of how it would be torn down and raised up again. Because the disciples did not comprehend with their limited natural understanding, they were devastated and lost when He died.

It did not matter that they had walked with Him and learned from Him for over three years. They did not have the spiritual capacity through the indwelling presence of Jesus Christ to know what to expect. He spoke in metaphors, using spiritual language that cannot be understood literally. Why would the Lord not teach us, today, in the same way that He taught the disciples?

He is with us, within our hearts, even more than He was with them in the days of His flesh. Jesus Christ desires us to come closer to Him, to connect with our Father, the Father of spirits, Who will reveal the spiritual meaning of His words. The holy spirit is our source of spiritual understanding of the special, veiled God-language used in the Bible.

What God said happened in the Old Testament happened. Period. What it is to mean to us, today, requires a relationship with God that reveals His spiritual truth and wisdom in it all. Paul said:

“But as it is written, ‘Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.’ But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so, the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:9-16 KJV

Paul states clearly and unequivocally that our natural mind, our soul’s understanding, cannot receive and understand the deep things of God. Compared to us, everything about God is deep! He does not say we will have the mind of Christ, but that we have it already! God knows what is in His spirit and we are enabled to know as well because we have the mind of Christ. Through His mind, we are learning to receive instruction, edification concerning the things of God.

The wisdom of God is spiritual, revealed by the holy spirit. We cannot receive it in any other way. Man’s wisdom from our natural mind, our fleshly understanding, cannot be compared to the spiritual wisdom of our Lord. We are to compare spiritual things with spiritual! The disciples thought of their Lord’s future rule from their earthly perspective, just as we often interpret His word today while missing His meaning.

The disciples had a portion of spiritual understanding because they followed and were intimately in fellowship with Him, but did not yet have the depth the Holy Spirit would later reveal to them. Jesus knew the disciples could not understand His words in their present state, but it still wore on Him. Jesus told them:

“I still have much to tell you, but you cannot yet bear to hear it. However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you.…” John 12:14-16 Berean

Because all believers have Jesus Christ in their hearts, we have a measure of the Holy Spirit. But Jesus spoke of more than that. On the Day of Pentecost, all 120 disciples of Christ were gathered together in one accord and were filled with the Holy Ghost, all at the same time. They were strengthened, given access to understand spiritual things, learning and teaching the truth of what the Lord was saying. They were empowered to spread the gospel despite great persecution.

Does this not tell us that we, too, need the Holy Spirit to be guided into all the truth of His word? If it could be understood just by words, the disciples who were with Him would have understood His teachings. God spoke in veiled spiritual language purposefully, to draw whosoever will to come to Him.

We are drawn to learn of Him and His spiritual thoughts and ways that are higher than human thoughts and ways. We need more than initial salvation to understand the types and shadows of the Bible. This is why Paul said we need to move on:

“Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith in God.” Hebrews 6:1 Berean

There is a tendency for us humans to settle, to stay in the “comfort zone” of what is familiar, what we already understand and believe. The Israelites showed this in their longing to return to the bondage of Egypt. They became weary in the 40 years it took them to get through the wilderness to the Promised Land. Early on, they were already complaining to Moses about wanting to go back to the familiar leeks and garlic of their lives as slaves in Egypt. Eating manna every day in the wilderness must have been tiresome and boring!

And it surely took a lot longer than they had hoped as is true for us humans still. How tempting the familiar can be, even the Israelites’ former “familiar hell” of slavery in Egypt. So God begins to take the “feathers out of our nest” until we become uncomfortable enough to leave it. When we hang on to where God has led us in the past, eventually He moves on without us. He takes the light, the “candlestick” of His presence from us, so it becomes dead to us.

Dead works and dead worship can go on for many years as change is resisted by God’s people. Sometimes His own do not even realize He has left! There remains a certain comfort in familiar traditions and rituals but the power of His presence is absent. We need to remember that the disciples had never heard anything like what Jesus told them, but if they had not left their Jewish beliefs to embrace something new, even though they did not understand its depths, we would not have the foundation of faith they were enabled to lay down for us.

Our hearts need to rejoice when He brings something new by the spirit to us. We can trust God to confirm new truth as we turn to Him and His word. He reveals our spiritual errors in understanding Him, continually correcting any lack of wisdom that our carnal mind has designed or absorbed from others. God is more than able to show us not just His acts, but His ways, like He did with Moses.

God surely can choose to whom He speaks in revealing His ways. God spoke to His prophets in visions and dreams, such as Daniel’s prophetic vision. Moses, however, needed to understand God face to face because Moses was charged with doing things in the right way as a pattern for us:

"Hear now My words: if there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, shall make Myself known to him in a vision. I shall speak with him in a dream.

Not so, with My servant Moses, he is faithful in all My household; with him I speak mouth to mouth, even openly, and not in dark sayings, and he beholds the form of the Lord." Numbers 12:6-8

God frequently speaks in dark sayings that are murky and unclear unless He grants us understanding by His spirit. Translated as dark speech, the Hebrew root is “chiydah”, meaning “a puzzle, a trick, hard question, proverb or riddle.” He did not make His communications to the people easily understood. They had to get closer to God, be in intimate fellowship with Him to understand His ways. He spoke plainly to Moses, as He does to leaders today, because it is needed for the fulfillment of His plan and purpose.

For those in leadership, such as prominent Old Testament saints like Moses, David, Isaiah, and Daniel, God granted more understanding by the Holy Spirit because of their calling. They needed to understand God’s ways and His communication with them, to do what God had set before them. Often, even these saints did not understand completely—sometimes not at all—what these visions and messages meant. They obeyed regardless and we have the record of it all.

The prophet Daniel was given a most powerful vision, a word for the future that included events at the end of the ages. It troubled him that he did not know what these things meant but obediently recorded what God showed him anyway. After the angel, God’s messenger, had shown all to Daniel in powerful spiritual language, Daniel said:

“I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, ‘My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?’ He replied, ‘Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.’” Daniel 12:8-9 NIV

God seals His word until it is time for us, His people, to understand. It is hidden from the wicked but the wise in God will understand. We too hear things from God and wait to be given further understanding of what He means. He resides in our hearts and talks to those who have spiritual ears to hear Him. He shows us spiritual things as He gives us spiritual vision.

There’s a reason John’s Revelation from the Lord to His slaves, His own people, says seven times in the 2nd and 3rd chapters: “He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear.” (KJV) It is His job to open the eyes and ears of our spiritual understanding for those of us who love Him and desire to know His ways. He reveals Himself to us when it is our time to move on, just as He showed the Israelites to move on in the wilderness.

We have a natural body and we have a spiritual body with all 5 senses, including metaphorical spiritual eyes and ears to understand our Lord and His spiritual language.

“It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.” 1 Corinthians 15:44 Berean

We have a spiritual body now so we are able to understand our Lord in an ever-growing measure through the mind of Christ. He uses our spiritual eyes and ears to teach us His ways. He cannot rely on our body’s physical eyes and ears to teach us as they are of the earth, earthly, and cannot grasp spiritual things. Jesus called this “being carnal,” a limitation present with us since the fall of Adam.

We have no wish to go back to our former days as He faithfully teaches us the present truth required for this time in His plan for our lives. As we walk with the Lord, and have the pleasure of getting to know Him, more is revealed to us about the meaning of His spiritual language. He shares further truth about the dark sayings that can only be understood by the spirit.

Since the resurrection of our Lord and His gift of the Holy Spirit, we continually grow in knowledge and understanding as we seek and worship Him. Spiritual types and shadows, the patterns and examples used by Him, are to be comprehended as He builds us up into Him. We go higher and higher, always seeking to be where He is. Though He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, there are varying times and seasons in the Lord. His plan is ever-changing and evolving as we walk with our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus the Son is ruling with our same Father God whose purpose is to make us like His firstborn Son:

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” 2 Peter 1:3-4 NIV

When Peter wrote these words, he made it clear that participation in our Lord’s divine nature was available and promised to them now. He did not say to have patience until you die and go to heaven. No, Peter said the divine power of Jesus Christ gives us everything we need to do this now. God’s promises are kept, though we wait upon the Lord for the fullness of their time to be completed in us.

When we understand more of God’s spiritual language, the entire vastness of God and the rulership of our Lord Jesus Christ begins to unfold in greater depth. God gave me a chorus years ago that calls us to ever increasing intimacy with the Lord for this purpose of growth.

Get Closer to God

Get closer to God.

Get closer to God.

Hearken to His heavenly rod.

Like Him, you’ll be

And the whole world will see.

Get closer, get closer to God.

(B. Mikelson 1982)

Closer and more intimately do we know the Father as we walk with Jesus Christ our Lord. He brings us more deeply to this precious fellowship of Father God that was lost in the Garden. He reveals that His plan is even better than we knew! He changes our understanding of revelation while working a character change in our hearts, from our earthly nature to God’s nature wherein is the kingdom of love, peace, and joy.

Without the nature of Christ working within, an abundance of revelation that builds our intellect just puffs up pride and ego. Head knowledge about God can amaze others but it is empty words unless God’s truth is written within. We are to live His word, not just talk about it! It’s time for our words of ministry about godly living and our Christian behaviors to match! Then others will see Jesus in us and be able to trust what we are saying about Him.

We Christians have been accused of not practicing what we preach, but, as someone said, “We are practicing our faith–we’re just not very good at it!!” I would further add that we cannot be while we are still trying to get this carnal flesh-man to do it. Working to become righteous in our flesh is worthless as no flesh can enter into the Kingdom. We will fail in any fleshly works of self-improvement, rules and laws, in order to please God.

There’s no fixing up and improving our “old man.” It must be reckoned as dead as the spirit forms the Christ within us.

“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we will certainly also be united with Him in a resurrection like His.

For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, and that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we die with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him.

For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over Him. The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God.'" Romans 6:1-10 NIV

We are free from sin ruling us by what Jesus has done, but we still must learn to walk in it. We need to walk out all He has accomplished and put within us. We are to consider or reckon the old man of sin as dead even though we still see it. If that old man was truly dead in us all already, others would see the Christ, the Love of God, in us rather than our human lack and failings. Thus, we continually turn again and again to the Lord, seeking what only He can provide for the overcoming of the world, the flesh and the devil.

Some object to needing to overcome all, to do more because Jesus Christ took care of everything on the cross. And so He did, but are we walking in all He has done? Would the New Testament apostles such as Paul speak so much to what we ought to be if it were already accomplished within us? We must apprehend all for which we have been apprehended. Paul encourages the Philippians to seek more of the character of Christ working within the heart:

“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.” Philippians 2:14-16 NIV

Paul was working toward the building up of the Christ within those he taught. Just so, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to focus upon and live in Him, recognizing that the sin functioning in our flesh has lost its power to rule us. We continually turn to Christ for our victory so that He rules over every sin that still works within us. We are to see or reckon the old man of sin as dead, not to consider it as who we are now, even though we may still see its evidence in our lives.

All of us have areas where our words do not match our behavior. These are an important area of focus in God’s refining of His own. Our characteristics, what is in our hearts that falls short of God’s fruit of the spirit, prevent the shining of the pure light of His countenance outward. Then God cannot be seen because of the remaining spots of darkness in us.

Our religious words and works at these times lack the pure power of truth and love behind them. They are spots and wrinkles in our garments. Only the Lord can cover our nakedness until He completes His work in us to be like Him. How can others be drawn to Him and learn to trust Him and His word if His light within us is fractured and bent by our own character?

Our own flesh, what remains in our hearts that falls short of God’s fruit of the spirit, prevents the shining of the pure light of His countenance outward. Our religious words and works at these times lack the full power of truth and love behind them. What is in the heart does come out, if not in words, then in tone of voice and expression.

But we are His workmanship, as God develops and nurtures sons and daughters to be just like like Jesus, the firstborn of many brethren:

“For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.” Romans 8:29 Berean

In other passages, our Lord tells us that we are to be perfect or complete, as He is perfect. He would not have said it if it was not possible. He made no qualification that we must wait until heaven for this work to be done. This is the day for our hearts to be changed to be like His heart of mercy and justice, compassion and truth. We “come up hither” to where Jesus is in the spirit, in Zion where God is perfecting the saints in His presence.

The bible does not say we must wait until after we die to be perfected or complete in His fullness. Search for it and you will not find it. God sets the limits on our life span and decides how far can we go before He takes us to the other side. There are many such promises yet to be fulfilled, waiting for this Third Day we are in to more completely unfold.

God’s symbols and metaphors promise many more things in this call to perfection that our earthly understanding of words does not comprehend

The Book of Revelation

The keys are all there in the Word, revealed by the spirit in the original meaning of Hebrew and Greek, comparing scripture to scripture, gifted to humans by spiritual revelation, confirmed in the hearts of faithful ones who are coming to know Him. The Book of Revelation is just such a spiritual book, filled with symbolic language. It is so veiled in God’s spiritual language that some believers just leave it alone, confessing that they don’t understand it at all.

Full of symbols and metaphors, the book of revelation has brought much confusion and disagreement in Christian leadership. It is much misunderstood when literally interpreted or projected unto unbelievers rather than to us, His slaves. It continues to be a source of theological arguments and differing denominational teaching. But this book is the revelation—the revealing—of Jesus Christ in all His majesty. And it is written to His people, His slaves!

Revelation can only be understood by the spirit as God reveals His truth in the spiritual language He used through John. But now is the time to understand the truth of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, as written by this precious apostle. The revealing of Jesus Christ to His own could not be more vital or timely to understand.

The first three chapters explicitly speak to several of the early churches, symbolically representative of stages of growth that modern Christianity experiences. It is a blessing to read and begin to understand this precious book! Revelation applies to us, His slaves or bondservants:

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, everything that he saw.

Blessed is the one who reads, and those who hear the words of the prophecy and keep the things which are written in it; for the time is near.” Revelation 1:1-3 NASB

We are blessed as we read, hear, and understant the words in this vital book. We, the people of God, are to be judged first, to ready us for what is to unfold.

“For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” 1 Peter 4:17 NIV

The message that God relates through John to the seven churches is to us, His people. Each church is confronted with factors that limit or stop their growth, hindering His further blessing and presence. “To those that can hear, let them hear.” He warns more than once that if they do not repent, or change, He will take their candlestick, their light from the presence of the Lord out of their their midst until they do.

As we move out of the church age, we leave what God has caused us to outgrow and keep what is a valuable part of our salvation as our foundation. We go beyond the camp, the place where others have settled, to where He is now.

“Therefore let us go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore.” Hebrews 13:13 Berean

This too is following our Lord and Master as He also was outside the camp of Jewish religion. He was raised in but no longer immersed in the Jewish beliefs and traditions of His natural Jewish heritage. He brought a new covenant, a new way to follow the Lord. So He chooses our path as we follow on to know the Lord.

We do not want to set our stakes deep down into the current camp of belief and fellowship, but be like the Israelites in the wilderness. They obeyed when God said to stop and pulled up their tent stakes to follow on further when He said to do so. Let us all follow on to know Him in the deepest measure of which He makes us capable.

The true Body of Jesus Christ differs from what we have called “church”. When two or three gathered together, we are joined in His name, His nature. What is gathering in His name mean for us today? It is whenever and whomever the holy spirit leads us to gather. It matters not what denomination, location, size of the group, or its particular label. The key is to be joined by the spirit or there is no true fellowship or assembling at all.

God looks at the heart of His people and we are to be joined in His nature of love. We have liberty to be joined with all of God’s people wherever they are in this season and time. we are assembled with others heart to heart, not doctrine to doctrine. In this day, we are not joined to systems or programs, but to those who have the heart of God within, wherever they may religiously reside.

God surely is looking at our hearts. Our joining is to be heart to heart through love of the brethren in Christ. It is not when, where, how, or with whom that is important. It is not that we need to “go here…” or “go there...” to find Him. He is within us and all such joining must be by the Spirit. We can only be joined together when there is unity in our hearts, with God and with each other.

Love unites. It is not divided. No true fellowship or assembling—putting together or joining—is possible lest the Holy Spirit do it. Such is the true assembling that is not to be forsaken. We are to leave dutiful assembling that is restricted to forms and traditions rather than led by the Holy Ghost. We are to move on into our Promised Land, not settling in the various camps along the way.

Of course, many gatherings have the spirit of God present in between rituals and pre-planned programs. God loves His own and is present within as people who love Him gather. But far too often, Jesus is left at the door, knocking to be let in like the Laodicean assembly in Revelation.

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Revelation 3:20 NIV

Meditate on the Lord standing outside the door and what this means. Is He outside the door of our hearts, outside of our structured and pre-planned gatherings, outside of our busy days laboring in the church realm, knocking to get in? The early church had a few years of glorious growth and freedom in Him, then began to fall to division from the rule of man.

By this church example in Revelation, He is standing outside, knocking to get in. Isn’t it time for all our gatherings to be led by Him, as best we can allow in our current level of maturity? May we let go of the rules and regulations that are so familiar, even traditional, but are not God’s leading by the Holy Spirit. Is this not part of what He means by “making all things new?”

He is about the business of freeing His people from the bondage of fleshly ideas and ways, traditions and habits that do not cause growth of His character. Of what use is our presence, our participation, if God has not led us to gather, to speak, or even take over to be in charge of our meetings? We know we cannot do it, but He can! What difference does it make when, where, how or who we fellowship with when God is leading us by the spirit?

Many of us prefer not to gather with others in a mixture of flesh and spirit unless the spirit so direct—including our own! We require ongoing purging as God’s time and ways are revealed to us in this New Day. We do experience precious gatherings in the Lord and have wonderful fellowship with the saints. We have many beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord, with whom we had holy times of communion with God and His people. But it is neither a habit nor a religious practice as we continue to look to be led of Him.

God is calling those who can hear to free themselves of religious bondage in all Babylonish systems established by the traditions of men. This is not just one church or denomination or non-denomination or organization. It is the imprint within believers of all organizations that carry the name Christian, practicing and promoting their “brand,” some of whom are fostering division and strife for personal gain in stature, power, influence and wealth.

Neither poverty nor wealth is a sign of godliness, let alone correct doctrine. None of this can unite us in the love of God. Some have left these external systems, being outside the camp but still need God’s purging from Babylonish ways within us. Babylonish ways were imprinted in our hearts and that’s where we learned to minister and worship: in these former realms of glory. We were shown how to worship in ways that remain familiar from our religious past. We picked up catch phrases and common mannerisms modeled after our teachers and elders, using commonly understood and acceptable ways.

But there is no one way to speak God’s word, one right way to preach, teach, or prophesy. Let us allow God to teach us the present way He chooses when we are to be His mouthpiece. We want to be free of the past, no longer modeling or mimicking former religious styles and mannerism of our elders. Though gaining much gold from their treasure houses, Jesus is the pattern Son, not humans.

There should not be such a mark of human leadership on us that others can tell who we have followed in the past. Our God is focused upon each heart in those desiring to show forth Who He is now. We are now pursuing that prize Paul diligently sought:

“But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.

I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to Him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:7-14 Berean

All of Paul’s considerable external achievements, the religious stature and knowledge he had gained, the credentials he had among the Jews, the multitude of religious ways he learned as the best Hebrew he could be, were rubbish! Paul taught that the gathering is to be unto Christ. Carefully consider this: can we honestly say that we manifest the full power of His resurrection? If Paul desired and pursued more, despite the magnitude and abundance of revelation given to him, it seems obvious that there is more for the rest of us.

Settling for salvation to get us out of hell is not sufficient as an entry into His glorious kingdom. Fortunately, it’s not up to us only to be led by the spirit to understand the deep things of God. He will lead us to brethren and sisters God has gifted to teach the depth of God’s symbols and metaphors. We continue to learn much from such anointed teachers and preachers as they write and share the meaning of God’s spiritual language.

We are meant to receive the blessings that come from understanding and living the words of John’s prophecy (Revelation 1:3) along with many other messages in the Bible. We see signs of this change now. Look around you and you will see many empty buildings from this era, either abandoned or with a few faithful trying to keep it going.

When those who represent God’s leadership do not heed the call to change, but hang on to what they’ve built, God will eventually bring it to an end. They will find themselves sitting on a great pile of ashes, trying to breathe life into their old, dead works. As it happened with the great Pentecostal ministries of the past and the early charismatic outpourings of the spirit, God has moved on. Those heavens, glorious though they were, are gone.

Heed the call to come out:

“Then I heard another voice from heaven say: ‘Come out of her, my people,’ so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues…” Revelation 18:4 NIV

We may have been taught that Babylon is one specific domination, one group of God’s own that are stuck in this whorish system that has been in bed with all kinds of earthly rulers and kingdoms, but that is simply not the truth. Symbols such as those of prophecy, of revelation, of Jesus’s teachings, are understood as taught by God, leading to a change in character, which we all require to grow up into Him.

We are learning to lay down what we thought we knew so He can give us His present truth, a deeper understanding, sharing with us about what He has planned for us now. And it is a glorious future! Take another prayerful look at the book of Revelation. The whole Bible is wonderful, of course, but this book is particularly for our time now. Read enlightened writers on Revelation such as my husband Rich’s Feast of Tabernacles website to further your comprehension.

The truth of God is, indeed, good news! We can be equipped with spiritual truths in order to share them, waiting upon the Lord as He reveals how we are to live in His kingdom, worshipping Him in spirit and in truth. He promised!

“Therefore My people will know My name [nature]: therefore they will know on that day that I am He who speaks. ‘Here I am!’ How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’

Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices, and together they shout for joy. For every eye will see when the Lord returns to Zion.” Isaiah 52:6-8 Berean

How we long to bring GOOD NEWS! There is a deep longing in our hearts to be among those used in this hour to roar out of Zion with good news for the people of God. It is time for the good news of the plan of salvation for all that God has for the world He loves. Enough of frightening people into conversion rather than drawing them by Love into the kingdom of God. Enough bad news!

All God’s news is “yes and amen” as we await more of His kingdom to unfold within us to flow out from the Zion saints in a mighty river to others. We are destined to see His truth in love in increasing clarity as we understand God’s spiritual language.

“But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not ‘Yes’ and ‘No.’ For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas and Timothy—was not ‘Yes’ and ‘No,’ but in him it has always been ‘Yes.’

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through Him, the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.” 2 Corinthians 1 NIV

A Good Report

A good report! Our feet are beautiful on the mountains, the high places in God, where our walk brings good news. Dare we risk it? We announce peace, not war. We announce salvation to all, not condemnation to unbelievers forever. We show the way into the kingdom, without human judgment for the sin and death in which mankind lives. We speak life, not death, into others. We draw with love, not fear. We have the privilege of proclaiming to all that OUR GOD REIGNS!

How critical it is to bring a good report to the people of God today! Our redemption is drawing nigh in this Day of the Lord. He is in charge of it all, including the fate of the earth and all life dwelling in it. And there is always more and more bad news, a continual onslaught of the darkness, with much to complain about! So many are most unhappy about what’s happening in our lives. There is little national or international agreement on the direction we are going.

America, with its wealth, privilege, and technology, has become a nation of argumentative complainers. For generations, there have been wars and rumors of wars, with periodic escalation and thousands of deaths. We are reportedly having more natural and man-made disasters, more destructive and dangerous storms of all types, more famine, more war and rumors of war, more destruction, more violence, more illness, more loss. We continue to develop more ways to kill each other, either directly, or indirectly through what we allow for financial gain.

Did you feel the weight of discouragement and hopelessness begin to settle upon you as you read the above sentences? It is all truth, but causes no joy or peace in our hearts to know it, let alone rehearse it to ourselves and others. We must see God’s hand in our lives, regardless. Our joy is in the Lord and He has good news for all of creation. We are the light of the world and the world needs us to be, NOW!

The darkness is deep indeed, with world experts delivering bad news, divisive news, news of disagreement, dishonor, horror and defeat. Many make their living by sharing bad news and it must be difficult to be positive as a newscaster. That’s not really their job. Having all good news does not share the majority of what is happening in the world, let alone sell the news, even though some news outlets now add a “feel good” story following the words and images of death and tragedy.

A good report is speaking with encouragement about things, focusing on what is worthy of praise and admiration. Christians do need to be informed, to be alert and pray, to apply spiritual wisdom and understanding to the events of the day. But our focus is on Him, showing forth faith flowing from His heart of love. We know He has everything in His Hands of love and mercy, justice and truth.

If that is truth how can we not flow out in a stream of His love and goodness to all? What is the treasure in our hearts that can flow out with a good report?

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21 Berean

What is stored up in our hearts of the treasures of heaven to encourage and give people hope in these times? What words do we have that are edifying to the body of Christ? Our hope is in God! We can create darkness and negativity when we speak only bad news, giving a bad report about others, ourselves, or the world. But that is not what God called us to be and do. There really are consequences to words.

There’s a saying that “pessimists are realists while optimists are blind.” That saying is not God’s wisdom! In fact, some of us Christians are accused of being entirely too positive! They fail to understand us when we remain positive and faithful to our Lord. But God told us in Philippians to focus on the Good News, fulfilled in Jesus Christ our Lord.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:6-8 NKJV

What can be more clear than this passage, starting with telling us not to worry? We can be thankful in, though not necessarily for, all of our circumstances. God was the first One to say, “Don’t worry. Be happy!” This is good news! It is all a good report as we are encouraged to think about these things. Who embodies all that this speaks of but our Lord Jesus Christ? He is the good report: all that is true, honorable, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy is found in His nature and character.

What we turn our gaze upon, who or what we worship and adore, becomes a part of us. The Christ is being formed within a people as we rest in His presence, allowing Him to make us more than conquerers in all situations. As His heart is revealed to us, as we are learning of His ways, He creates these things within us, too. A good report is easy as we meditate on all His faithfulness, His kindness, mercy, love and forgiveness for His people.

Paul told the Thessalonians to keep building each other up:

“He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:10-11 Berean

Why is a good report so vital? Well, let us consider the consequences of making a negative, bad news report to the people of God. The account of the Israelites led by Moses out of Egyptian bondage for many days through the wilderness, finally arriving at the border of the promised land is a powerful example of this. Moses directed 12 spies to go into the land to assess the people, their possessions and crops, the fruit of the land, in preparation for finally entering in.

Joshua and Caleb were two of the twelve spies sent to check out the Promised Land. Ten of the twelve spies, all except for Joshua and Caleb, came back with a bad report which had serious consequences for the people of God:

“They reported to Moses and said, ‘We went into the land where you sent us, and it certainly does flow with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. But the people who live in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified (walled) and very large; moreover, we saw there the descendants of Anak [people of great stature and courage].

The people [descended from] Amalek live in the land of the Negev (South country); the Hittite, the Jebusite, and the Amorite live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live by the [Dead] Sea and along the side of the Jordan.’

Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, ‘Let us go up at once and take possession of it; for we will certainly conquer it.’ But the men who had gone up with him said, ‘We are not able to go up against the people [of Canaan], for they are too strong for us.”

So they gave the Israelites a bad report about the land which they had spied out, saying, ‘The land through which we went, in spying it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants. And all the people that we saw in it were men of great stature. There we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim), and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” Numbers 13:26-33 Amplified

How they had forgotten the promises, the miracles, let alone the might and power of their God! It was a very bad report, formed in fear and deception. This bad report magnified the enemies they were to conquer while disclaiming God’s promise of victory. The ten spies forgot all about God and His words to them when facing their future enemies. They saw their enemies of great stature and themselves, God’s people of promise, as weak and small.

These 10 spies were completely overwhelmed by the outward appearance of their foes. Even though the land was found to be rich and flowing with milk and honey, just as God said, they skipped right past that to get to the bad news. When Caleb attempted to speak in faith, they contended strongly with his good report. They were already captivated by the bad report that had planted fear, negativity, and defeat in the people.

Caleb didn’t get anywhere with his positive, faith-filled, encouraging report because hope and faith had already been destroyed. This bad report seriously damaged the people’s trust that God would do what He promised in giving them the land flowing with milk and honey. It brought death, not life, rapidly spreading unbelief throughout the camp:

“Then the whole congregation lifted up their voices and cried out, and that night the people wept. All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, ‘If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us into this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and children will become plunder. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?’

So they said to one another, ‘Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt.’ Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown before the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel.” Numbers 14:1-5 Amplified

How contagious negativity is! Bad news travels fast. The seed of fear and unbelief from these ten spies sharing a very negative report was infectious. Their bad report about the promised land caused such rapid despair that the people wanted to go back to the bondage of Egypt or die in the wilderness rather than go in to take the country promised to them by God.

And this was a people who had seen many miracles in their escape from Egypt’s bondage and sustenance during the days of the wilderness travels. They had experienced much love and provision of God, including their miraculous deliverance when the Red Sea parted for them to escape their oppressors. By this time in their travels, the Israelites had been miraculously saved and provided for over and over, yet fear and anger swallowed up their faith.

God is not pleased when we forget all His benefits. It surely does not delight the Lord when we quickly accept an overwhelmingly bad, negative report, forgetting and discounting past blessings, deliverance and benefits. These people of God should be pillars of faith after all God has said and done for and within them. Caleb is just that, stating clearly that they all should believe this land is theirs already because God promised it to be so.

As David said:

“Bless the LORD, O my soul; all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all His kind deeds.” Psalms 103:1-2 Berean

Caleb’s statement of faith came from a heart that believed all God had said to them. Caleb did not judge by the sight of his eyes or what he had heard about their enemies. His faith in God’s promises, in His word to His people, was not shaken when seeing powerful adversaries in their path. Caleb is strong in his faith that their God can do all things. Caleb stands on God’s power to do what appears impossible, over and over, for those He has called and chosen.

Negativity, fear, and darkness, however, rapidly take hold of their hearts, when the Israelite camp fully accepted the majority report of impossibility and loss. And isn’t this usually the case? Bad reports swallow up God’s word and that of faithful trusting servants like Caleb, a lone voice except for Joshua, giving a good report. It seems so easy for us Christians to accept the majority report rather than God’s word.

The results of a bad report for those who are not garrisoned by God in their hearts remain costly today. Just be around someone with negativity, carrying a theme of darkness with words such as “Isn’t it awful…I knew this [bad thing] would happen …the devil is getting to me…the world is getting worse and worse…we’re heading to a catastrophe, a fatal end: (pick one): World War 3, global destruction, being overrun by ‘foreigners’, lethal destruction, loss of democracy or freedom or income and… and…so on.”

We can add to the endless flood of bad news, negativity, condemnation and “Ain’t it awful!.” It is easy to join the crowd in doing so. The gospel of fear is rampant, and so familiar, but it is not God’s way. There are always these things and yes, in this day of the Lord, there seems to be even more of it. But the Day of the Lord, coming as a thief (a surprise) to some is welcome to us. It’s good news regardless of disasters and calamities in our lives or all around. Our words of faith in this hour are important! We are able to bring a good or bad report about entering into our Promised Land, the Kingdom of love, peace and joy, right here, right now, on this earth, because God promised.

Bringing a Good Report

We surely can continue to give the bad report that the majority have, that our flesh will never defeat the enemy until we die and go to heaven. We can complain that we are fighting the devil all day long. We can shake our heads about how impossible it is for Jesus Christ to bring His body of believers into unity. We can accept that war and destruction are inevitable, as we know humans deserve it. We can even give up and wait for heaven, where all will be made right.

There is a constant flood of bad news coming at us, now minute by minute with all our technological advances, even in third world countries. Are we caught up in this, flowing with the majority, more often the bearer of bad news about how others or we, ourselves, continue to fall short? It’s surprising how powerful the draw of darkness is in our lives. But what kind of crop are we getting when sowing these negative fear-based words with a bad report?

God’s people can see with spiritual eyes and hear with spiritual ears the good news of what is coming upon the earth today, regardless of this world’s affairs. We can learn to speak life rather than death. We can foster love and mercy instead of division and hate. We can speak peace, truly being peacemakers, rather than stirring up animosity for anyone different than we are. When will God’s people, who are called by His name, speak the good news to others?

We are chosen for such a time as this, to be in the world when darkness threatens to swallow up His light completely on our earth? Do we trust His word rather than what we see or hear on this planet? Let’s proclaim that God’s love is true and available, that His peace is possible here on this earth, and that His joy is eternally within us as our strength. Oh yes, there is much shaking and trembling as God is dealing with all within us and around us.

But even that is good news! The fire of God’s passion, His wrath, burns up the dross in those of us who draw ever closer to His presence. His refining fires consume our dross. We are thankful for all that God is doing in this world. He is bringing to an end the ways of man. That’s good news! So many things created by man’s efforts alone are coming to an end. Hallelujah!

Only God can correct the chaos and destruction on this earth by changing the hearts of men. That’s good news! He is coming back within a people to reconcile all to Him, as He so loves the world. That’s good news! His compassions fail not, they are new every morning. That’s good news! His justice is fully joined with His mercy and compassion. That’s good news!

“Now the day of the Lord will be arriving as a thief, in which the heavens shall be passing by with a booming noise, yet the elements shall be dissolved by combustion, and the earth and the works in it shall be found.

At these all, then, dissolving, to what manner of men must you belong in holy behavior and devoutness, hoping for and hurrying the presence of God's day, because of which the heavens, being on fire, will be dissolved, and the elements decompose by combustion!

Yet we, according to His promises, are hoping for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness is dwelling." 2 Peter 3:10-14 Concordant Literal

It sounds terrifying, doesn’t it? We can relate to the fearful Israelites, ten out of twelve, the majority opinion, who brought their negative and fear-filled report to the camp. These passages spoken in God’s symbolic language are not ministering condemnation and destruction, lest we forget that God’s endings always bring new beginnings. He makes all things new!

Then, as now, when God’s people look into the future of God’s kingdom, they do not see with spiritual eyes and ears, and are only able to give a negative, discouraging and demoralizing report. In Moses’ day, those chosen to spy out the land were trusted men of stature that Moses saw as leaders of the people. Though they were in error, they were men of influence, so their report was believed by the people.

More than one Christian leader has taken a position to preach fear instead of faith in God.It’s so much easier to yield to fear and unbelief, then and now, particularly when respected leaders are trumpeting evil and destruction all around us. Our human vision, clouded by our carnal understanding, cannot see the way for God to be victorious given the factual situations facing us all in this world. We surely need a new earth, but how?

Some admit they know they are not ministering truth about the future of believers, but cannot abandon it for fear of losing their position, congregation, income, or stature in the religious world. Few preach that we are able to take the kingdom, that the heavens and earth to be destroyed are the former spiritual heavens in which people have dwelt along with our earthly ways, that God promised after the flood in Noah’s day, never to destroy the earth, though we are doing our best to do just that.

With such voices from their religious leaders, God’s people continue in living far below the promises and privilege of God. Those who spy out the land and give a good report, like Joshua and Caleb, are rejected, reviled and accused of false doctrine. Our good report, when countering the prevailing limited doctrine of rapture of the saints while unbelievers are sentenced to eternal hell on this earth, is not well received or even understood. We are not going with the majority opinion and people resist that.

But there are those voices that continue to bring a good report. Let’s return to our Old Testament account to see the eventual impact of the good report Caleb and Joshua brought back:

“Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes and said to the whole congregation of Israel, ‘The land we passed through and explored is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, He will bring us into this land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and He will give it to us.

Only do not rebel against the Lord, and do not be afraid of the people of the land, for they will be like bread for us. Their protection has been removed, and the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them!’ But the whole congregation threatened to stone Joshua and Caleb.” Numbers 14:1-10 Berean

“If the Lord delights in us…” Well, does He? Consider all the statements of faith their report brought:

1) it is an exceedingly good land.

2) the Lord delights in us.

3) He will bring us into this land.

4) He will give it to us because He said so.

5) Don’t rebel—this does not work with God.

6) They will be like bread, easy to conquer.

7) They are no longer protected because the Lord is with us.

Such confident truth they brought, but as it was then, so it is today. This was a powerful word of faith and truth but the people had already heard and believed the prevailing bad report. They refused to receive the truth being spoken to them. Fear and resentment of God and their leaders overpowered them, and the majority opinion ruled. As a result of their unbelief, Moses and Aaron had to intercede with God so He did not destroy all of them right then and there.

In fact, those who repented but still tried to go up to take the land without God’s blessing were destroyed. There are always voices against anyone who dares to go against the majority of negativity and fear. And how can we share the Good News of God’s kingdom if we cannot even believe it ourselves? It seems so difficult to trust good news, even for us Christians. God allows adversity in our lives to train and refine us, so sometimes it seems we get used to the bad news.

The voice of negativity and defeat is louder, more frequent, and sadly, more believable, than God’s words of promise and victory:

“‘I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.’

His disciples said, ‘Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.’

Jesus answered them, ‘Do you now believe? Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:25-33 ESV

Jesus spoke in symbolic language, using figures of speech that He had to translate into commonly understood words in order for His disciples to understand. Jesus’ work was to show the Father in Him, drawing all back to the Father through His marvelous work that brought His being right into the hearts of men and women. He states clearly that when His work is finished, He will not have to intercede between Father God and believers, because Father God loves us, too!

What does this say about the teaching that Jesus is needed to intercede between believers and a wrathful, angry, condemning Father? Jesus’ intercession is between us and our enemies, not our loving Father God. He is interceding for us so that we may fulfill God’s will on the earth. Can you hear this good news? We may hope for news, but, often in our hearts, we expect the bad. We become unable to trust that all God does is good and that His news is always good news to those who love Him and are called according to His purposes.

“And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8: 27-31 NIV

What, indeed?! When God is for us, who can truly be against us? There are Christian people all over who are following leaders today, looking into the Promised Land of His Kingdom. Some continually bring a negative report back to the people, including all the work we have to do to qualify to enter in. In contrast, how many sermons are preached about entering in to His rest? What is in our hearts will flow out to others.

May God continually plant a good crop of His fruit, the Word of His good news, filling our hearts with His water of life to flow out to all mankind! Watch for faith-defeating reports to discern as messages that are repeatedly bringing bad news to God’s own. Many believe the bad report of eternal punishment from God for all in His judgment, working fear and condemnation for unbelievers in the hearts of God’s people.

Some oppose any others bringing good news that is contrary to their own limited and fearful vision. They somehow shrink the Lord’s called and chosen into weak and defeated earthly people unable to enter in, constantly fighting or fearing the devil whom Jesus Christ defeated, reminding us of our sinful nature that Jesus paid the price to eradicate , blocking the truths of His kingdom.

Such messengers focus on the flood of evil and disaster evident all around, the threatened judgment of God who remains unappeased by what Jesus Christ has done, instead of the God of their salvation along with all His mighty power to bring victory. This is the flood of death through bad reports to which we are subjected now. Only a few seem to see beyond the present, trusting God to be faithful, loving, and true, to do what He said He would do.

We can proclaim that we are able to follow on to know the Lord, we can conquer the world in us, just as Jesus conquered, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. We can learn to live in all the Lord Jesus Christ has accomplished, here and now, instead of waiting to die or escape in a literal rapture. We can be in the world, but not of it.

God hears and knows all, then and now. He knows when we are murmuring and complaining about our lot in life, or the worldwide daily news of loss, death, and tragedy. Father God knows and, while humanly understandable in our present times, it is not pleasing to Him. Because of Jesus Christ, however, He has compassion and forgiveness for all. The Israelites, back then were pardoned by the Lord because their leaders interceded:

"I have pardoned them as you requested,’ the Lord replied. ‘Yet as surely as I live and as surely as the whole earth is filled with the glory of the Lord, not one of the men who have seen My glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and the wilderness—yet have tested Me and disobeyed Me these ten times— no one will ever see the land that I swore to give their fathers.

None of those who have treated Me with contempt will see it.” Numbers 14:1-10; 20-22 Berean

There was forgiveness and also consequences. God will deal with all those, past and present, who have continually brought a bad report about what He has promised His people. All those who are fearful cannot enter into the kingdom in that condition. False teachings from the mind of man disqualify them due to unbelief in His promises. We cannot treat with contempt all that God has already done, with signs and wonders, providing for us in our times of walking on this earth.

There is no lack of good news, but there is a lack of vision to see beyond the flood of bad news. The limited scriptural interpretations based on man’s understanding, man’s reasoning, fail to convey the spiritual good news within the Book. The fearful and unbelieving cannot enter in:

“He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” Revelation 21:7-10 KJV

Look who the fearful are coupled with: unbelieving, abominable, murderers, whore mongers, sorcerers, idolaters, and liers. There are some giants to overcome on our way to our inheritance, as He comes to reign in our hearts. Fear and unbelief rule our earthly minds, and must be overcome by the spirit and the word. Many things are promised to the overcomer but one must believe the good report and go up to the battle! The second death described in this symbolic language is just that—bringing the fire of God’s presence to burn up fear and unbelief.

The lake of fire is a purifying place and cannot represent hell, as death and hell are thrown into it:

“And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” Revelation 20:13-14 KJV

All are judged, with judgment coming first to the House of God. This is good news! God brings His judgment toward redemption, not eternal condemnation. His judgment is for correction, not punishment. Does it not say that every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord? Be not deceived, God will judge with righteous judgment those who are looking into the things of God’s kingdom and bringing back a bad report.

God is even now destroying the refuge of lies that have dominated and robbed His people. This is good news! We are promised a new heaven, a high spiritual place in which to dwell, a new earth that is no longer headed for destruction. When we understand what God is saying by the spirit, that the fires that He’s bringing on our earth (internal and external) are the fire of His presence to bring about redemption, long-awaited for positive change, fear is gone and faith is built up in us and others.

After all, did not Jesus say:

"But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:31-32 NIV

Do you think our Father, the ruler of the universe, is incapable of giving us the kingdom? And just where is this kingdom? It is somewhere out there in the sky, the atmosphere which surrounds the earth? Does our Lord ever tell us that the kingdom is or will be in a place found outside of us, somewhere that will be geographically located in Jerusalem or any other address in this literal earth?

No, our Lord is very clear about this, if you but let the Holy Spirit reveal it to you. Jesus clearly said in the gospels that the kingdom of God is within us. He warned His disciples:

“Then he said to his disciples, ‘The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. People will tell you, ‘There he is!’ or ‘Here he is!’ Do not go running off after them.’’” Luke 17:20-23 NIV

Consider another of God’s own, the great leader and Israel’s king, David, who had many enemies. In the Psalms that he wrote, he continually reminds himself that God is trustworthy. Over and over, David reiterates his trust in God. There is no fear in trust. Perfect love casts out fear. There is no fear in trust. Fear and trust cannot co-exist in our hearts if we are to enter into His spiritual kingdom of peace, joy, love, and righteousness.

We seek God to swallow up our fear, building a complete trust in Him when we are afraid. Meditate on this good news:

“When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?” Psalm 56:4 NIV

Christians today, like Joshua and Caleb of old, are to persist in modeling and influencing our brothers and sisters to see the truth of God in overcoming all of our enemies, without and within. It does not say we must wait for these changes after we die. We are changed as we walk and talk with Him. We share the Good News of the Kingdom, enabled to boldly risk being markedly different from the majority.

We are enabled to bring back a good report and sticking to it despite rejection or persecution. The martyrs of old have done just that despite torture and evil from others who were threatened by their good news. What words of faith and trust in our God Joshua and Caleb displayed for our edification! The Lord does delight in us, His called and chosen people. He counts on us to bring a good report to the people who are unaware of God’s kingdom within.

We share the good news of His kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy residing and taking over inside of us. Now that is good news indeed! Do we need to be reminded that the Lord is with us? That our Lord Jesus Christ has conquered all things on our behalf? That He has conquored death, sin, and the devil? That the battle is not ours but God’s?

What a formidable internal enemy fear is, and only our Lord can conquer it. No matter what we see and hear about what is coming on the earth in this hour, we are not to be afraid. We do need to be reminded Who holds the keys of death and hell, Who has already gained the victory for us, Who is interceding against the enemy of our souls, Who is giving us the victory though it is yet to be fully evident.

Jesus Christ our Lord is ever interceding on our behalf, personally and for His people. We can have a good report, despite obstacles to Kingdom life. We are able to learn to rest in Him and His provision. We have the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord and we are learning to walk more and more fully into all that He accomplished.

Joshua and Caleb eventually prevailed and were honored with leadership in the land of promise. But first, the ten who gave the bad report were dealt with by God:

“So the men Moses had sent to spy out the land, who had returned and made the whole congregation grumble against him by bringing out a bad report about the land— those men who had brought out the bad report about the land—were struck down by a plague before the Lord.

Of those men who had gone to spy out the land, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh remained alive…’But because My servant Caleb has a different spirit and has followed Me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he has entered, and his descendants will inherit it’…

Early the next morning they got up and went up toward the ridge of the hill country. ‘We have indeed sinned,’ they said, ‘but we will go to the place the Lord has promised.’ But Moses said, ‘Why are you transgressing the commandment of the Lord? This will not succeed! Do not go up, lest you be struck down by your enemies, because the Lord is not among you. For there the Amalekites and Canaanites will face you, and you will fall by the sword. Because you have turned away from the Lord, He will not be with you.

But they dared to go up to the ridge of the hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the covenant of the Lord moved from the camp. Then the Amalekites and Canaanites who lived in that part of the hill country came down, attacked them, and routed them all the way to Hormah.” Numbers 14:24; 36-38; 40-46 Berean

Some of the people did agree they had sinned, but stubbornly insisted on proceeding to the land God had promised—without God! What they had feared and predicted came upon them. They were severely defeated and God destroyed their leaders. In fact, all were lost as they were not armored with God for the battle. Some of the camp may even have trumpeted this defeat as proof of their bad report, admonishing the rest: “See! We told you God would do this. We warned you that the people in this Land are too strong and mighty for us.”

Their defeat and destruction was caused by their disobedience to God, unbelief swallowing the words He had spoken through their leaders. They suffered most painful and dire consequences because of it. Though the loss may not be of lives today, there is always loss from disobedience to God and His promises. Those who continually harbor negativity and fear in their spirit, soul, and body eventually show it in loss of peace and health, if not relationships, some literally bent over in their bodies from continually bearing the heavy weight of fear and defeat.

Joshua and Caleb stuck to their good report in the face of majority disdain and were honored for it. God said Caleb had a different spirit, one that followed the Lord wholeheartedly, nothing held back. Do we realize that there is a spirit to good and bad reports? Oh, yes there is! Ask any coach of team sports about what happens when members of their team, and in particular, the leadership, get a negative and defeatist attitude. This spirit of negativity and defeat takes over, contributing to the very thing the coach is working against.

This is true in any organization, workplace, family, or gathering. It’s difficult to achieve success when a negative fearful spirit takes over a group. It was true for the Israelites and it is true for us, His called and chosen people. We are lights shining in this present darkness and, oh, how the world needs us to be just that! Can it be more clear that the way of life in the kingdom of God is through the good report of faith in God and all of His promises?

All negative, fearful things, especially those used to keep power and control over God’s people, will eventually be destroyed by God as death is swallowed up by life. We have yet to see this perfected, but faith is considering those things that be not as though they were, as Abraham, the father of our faith did:

“As it is written, I have made thee [Abraham] a father of many nations, before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.” Romans 4:17 KJV

Abraham’s faith pleased the Lord such that He was a friend of God. God allows fearful things to come upon us so we become strong in our trust in Him. He swallows up fear of death with His everlasting light. We do not have to join the crowd of naysayers bemoaning the state of humanity in this world. We keep our eyes upon Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, pursuing the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus, along with our beloved brother, the Apostle Paul.

In the Old Testament, God destroyed the people because of their unbelief, not because of the strength and power of their enemies. He remains capable of removing the disobedient if they will not repent of their failure to preach the truth of His word. He lifts the anointing of His presence, extinguishes their candlestick, reveals the lack of godly power in their words.

For the called and chosen of His people, however, He creates faithfulness now, through Jesus Christ. He is destroying our enemies within us by the refining fire of His presence, writing His truth in our new hearts, no longer stony, as Ezekiel prophesied centuries ago:

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.” Ezekiel 36:26-27 NKJV

He did this very thing when Jesus Christ rose again and came back as the Spirit to dwell within us. Even little children know to say “I have Jesus in my heart” with complete faith that it is so. He knows we are subject to vanity, unable to do anything to become righteous ourselves. What good news it is that we are His workmanship, that He does in us what our flesh can never do! His promises are eternal and will be fulfilled.

We watchmen upon the wall are eagle-eyed in warning of the enemy while having faith that God will conquer all our enemies in our Land of Promise. Kingdom living is peace, joy, and love. Can we believe God will bring unity among the brethren, let alone peace in the world? His love unites, it does not divide. He said so and He will do it. He will accomplish His will and purpose. Now is the time to hope, pray, and believe Him.

Oh, how we need to see the sons of God, led by the spirit, joining spiritual Zion to bring about change for all.

“You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You--in both ]inclination and character], because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation].

Trust [confidently] in the LORD forever [He is your fortress, your shield, your banner], for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].” Isaiah 26:3-4 Amplified

The Path of Life

Christians do what we do before God, not to win favor with man. We daily seek His thoughts and direction about everything in our lives. He promises to show us the path of life, how to live fully in His presence. He knows every detail of the life He has for us, including the number of hairs on our heads! We need the light of His higher life to see through the darkness to the way He has planned and purposed for each of us:

“‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 NASB

“Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts.” Proverbs 21:2 Berean

We need His light within our own hearts, because who can truly know their own heart?

“The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, to give to each person according to his ways, according to the results of his deeds.” Jeremiah 17:9-10 NASB

God searches our hearts, revealing what needs to be dealt with, purged for change. He shines His light into our darkness to show the way. God deals with His sons and daughters always from His heart of love, mercy and justice. When we ask in faith, He shows us specifically how He would have us handle each event in our lives. Sometimes, He tells us: “Wait. Let me deal with this until you have the right heart, my heart, the right balance, to take this on. You don’t yet see as I see.”

God knows we cannot see as He sees, because His thoughts and ways are truly higher than our thoughts and earthly viewpoints. There’s a song that starts “Let God arise and His enemies be scattered.” It should say “and our enemies” —the enemies of His people—be scattered. God has no enemies but we do. God is at rest, totally in charge of everything, so what power can come against the God of the universe?

Jesus Christ our Lord has the position of intercession for us with our enemies. He takes on our battles when we belong to Him. The adversary rules the earth as a roaring dragon in the world, bringing adversity that is our battle, with our Lord by our side. Like it or not, He takes us through rather than out of most of them. God leaves us in the battle brought by our circumstances, if not our choices, until the refining process has done its work.

Adversity brings growth in character, maturing a child, natural or spiritual, quicker than blessings do. We need both but it is a hard truth for some to accept. Thankfully, God is able to reveal His thoughts and ways to His people. He has a very unique and specific path for each of us. His ultimate purpose is for His saints to have purified hearts without guile, prepared to bring redemption for all.

We need to stay in God’s school to become like Abraham, a Friend of God who understood God’s heart:

“And the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,’ and he was called God’s friend.” James 2:23

We must understand and learn Who God is to discern the intent of His heart. We have to go deeper to settle critical questions with Him by the Holy Spirit. We search to find out what God’s thoughts are, His purpose in what He does. Perhaps more frequently, we search to understand the purpose in what He does not do — what He allows.

“You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.” Psalms 16:11 Berean

“But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” Proverbs 4:8 Berean

We need the light of His spirit to show us the way, literally, to then be the light for others. King David, the psalmist, was assured that God would show him the path of life. Read about David’s many battles leading the Lord’s people and you will see, over and over, how David went to the Lord first, asking God what he should do. God told David, very specifically, what to do in order to win the battles against the enemies of the Israelites.

We too can receive this specific guidance in our daily lives. We don’t have to be a great King to hear from the Lord! You might be surprised at the small details God will help us with when we ask. Small, daily things that we might think we should not bother Him by asking are okay as well as asking about large and critical decisions we need to explore with Him. When we know that Father God is responding with holy spirit directives even in the small details of living, it increases our faith and trust in Him with the bigger issues.

Our Father is a very attentive Parent. He cares and listens to the smallest details of our lives. He already knows them all and is yet most gracious in listening to our prayers about anything. The more we pray for God’s guidance in everything, the more we show our Lord that we trust Him more than ourselves. God did not say we have to reserve one part of our life to handle ourselves because it’s too small or petty to bother Him about. If He knows the hairs on our heads, He surely cares about everything we are and do.

We are learning more and more to listen to hear His voice within. There are many things God allows that we just don’t understand so we have many questions! Without the Holy Spirit revealing and teaching us His ways, we become troubled and confused by His acts. These include the deep pain and suffering within and around us, quite difficult to comprehend, let alone accept.

We risk going into a deep ditch, struggling with anger or loss of faith when God does not do what we think is right nor prevent such awful tragedies and violence in the world. God’s timing is something we also question, being locked in earthly, limited time in contrast to His eternal perspective. We are not alone in this. Mary and Martha got upset with Jesus about His timing, which allowed their brother, Lazarus, to die:

“When Jesus arrived, He found that Lazarus had already spent four days in the tomb. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, a little less than two miles away, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them in the loss of their brother.

So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet Him; but Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give You whatever You ask of Him.’

‘Your brother will rise again,’ Jesus told her. Martha replied, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies. And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?’” John 11:17-26 Berean

Martha had faith that her Lord Jesus could ask the Father and He would grant whatever was asked. That is true faith! She already believed in the resurrection, though she did not see the Resurrection before her. Such is one of the many challenges we have in understanding God’s spiritual ways from our limited earthly perspective.

We humans prioritize events on Earth, stuck in this spiritual dimension. We question and doubt, failing to see how the Lord will make something good out of this! He often seems to tarry, to show up in our circumstances when all else is lost and undone. We do not yet live in eternity in spirit, soul, and body, so we cannot help being limited in our understanding of matters of life and death.

Remember, this is not our homeland! It is just our training ground for eternal life to become more like Him. God prioritizes the spiritual world more than the earthly world in which we live. Of course He does! God is spirit, living in eternity, not in time. He invites us to have this perspective, even when someone we love dies. While we grieve at such most painful losses, we are not to grieve without hope.

God reminds us that it is a release for them. They enter into rest in their rank and order in the unseen, delivered from the earthly challenges we continue to face.

“Now we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are reposing, lest you may sorrow according as the rest, also, who have no expectation. For, if we are believing that Jesus died and rose, thus also, those who are put to repose, will God, through Jesus, lead forth together with Him.

For this we are saying to you by the word of the Lord, that we, the living, who are surviving to the presence of the Lord, should by no means outstrip those who are put to repose.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Concordant Literal

Our world is His world, designed to shape, train, and develop us, His children, into the fullness of His path for each of us. He reveals His path of life for each faithful Christian who looks to Him for direction. Sometimes it’s like the headlights of a car driving in deep darkness with no other light around. We see just what is right ahead of us and how to keep going. At other times, He reveals this path of life in glorious technicolor so we cannot miss it! We love when He says clearly “here is the path—walk in it!”

His word powerfully reassures us of His hold on us, His constant presence in our lives. This is beautifully expressed in this passage from the Amplified translation:

“...I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down nor will I relax my hold on you [assuredly not]!” Hebrews 13:5b Amplified

How compassionate and emphatic! God has us, in all circumstances, always and forever. But, let’s face it, it’s still challenging to endure God’s timing. We wait and wait, sometimes a lifetime, for some things to be worked out for our lives, or those we love, or in this sin-ridden world. When we are in God’s waiting room, we learn a great deal about Him and ourselves. Once, when God finally said “Soon.” in response to a ten-years-long answer to prayer for a baby of my own, I honestly replied: “Your soon or my soon?”

My “soon” was in a few months, not two years later when His “soon” was fulfilled. By that time in my walk with the Lord, I knew that His “soon” was rarely what I considered soon. I had no desire to be 90 like Sarah when God quickened her womb, particularly when a year is like a day to Him:

“Beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice: With the Lord, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:8 Berean

Well, no wonder things look messed up now! The Lord intends all to come to repentance and that surely will take, from our perspective, a long, long time. He has an eternal plan that we are trying to understand in the context of our brief lives here on Earth. Clearly, God does what He does when implementing His perfect plan, regardless of our impatience in waiting. God’s timing definitely is not ours. He does not operate on our timetable!

When asking God how He can stand all the pain in our world that is so hard to bear, He told me: “Because I know the end from the beginning.” Peter cautions us to not think He is slow in keeping His promises to us, though that is exactly what it feels like! What we think is a long time is mere seconds to the Lord of the universe. We wait, patiently or not, building up our faith and trust in Him as we do, or not.

We get so focused upon and limited by our present earthly life and circumstances that we forget this is but a blink of time in the life of the spirit. God is most interested in bringing our perspective up to His, in a higher realm to learn of His ways. He will have a people without spot or wrinkle. He will save all, through the ages bringing this world He loves back into Himself. He will accomplish all that His word has said. In His time.

Sometimes it seems He delights in showing up in circumstances at the very last minute, when all human hope is lost. Then it’s very obvious that no human hand accomplished what He proceeds to do. Such was the experience of many in the Bible. Consider Hannah, the most beloved one of Elkanah’s two wives. Being barren, Hannah was tormented by Elkanah’s other wife, Penninah, who easily produced children for Elkanah.

Penninah taunted and ridiculed soft-hearted Hannah about her childless state, making her life most miserable. Though Hannah became more and more despondent and heartbroken through the years of waiting and hoping for a child, there’s no account that she complained or defended herself to others, even her husband. Here’s what eventually unfolded for Hannah:

“Year after year Elkanah would go up from his city to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of Hosts at Shiloh, where Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests to the Lord. And whenever the day came for Elkanah to present his sacrifice, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah, he would give a double portion, for he loved her even though the Lord had closed her womb.

Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival would provoke her and taunt her viciously. And this went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival taunted her until she wept and would not eat. ‘Hannah, why are you crying?’ her husband Elkanah asked. ‘Why won’t you eat? Why is your heart so grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?’” 1 Samuel 1:3-8 Berean

Note that the Lord closed Hannah’s womb—what an astonishing statement! This confirms the path of life for Hannah was set by God to become a mother when it was HIS time, regardless of what she wanted. How painful and difficult for Hannah! It was really the only role for wives in that era, to produce and raise children. Elkanah favored Hannah with extra portions and tried to comfort her about not producing a child. As her husband, he did what he could for this wife that he loved.

Penninah surely saw the favor her husband bestowed on Hannah, likely making her even more jealous and cruel. Penninah’s torment of Hannah happened every year when they traveled to the annual feast times to worship the Lord. This may have been when Hannah was forced to be with Penninah, while at home she could avoid her tormentor. We do not know what Elkanah knew about Penninah’s abusive treatment of Hannah, but it appears that he was unaware.

But Hannah knew it was God with Whom she had to deal. Hannah became desperate about her desire for a son, pleading and bargaining with the Lord:

“In her bitter distress, Hannah prayed to the Lord and wept with many tears. And she made a vow, pleading, ‘O Lord of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever come over his head.’

As Hannah kept on praying before the Lord, Eli watched her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard.So Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, ‘How long will you be drunk? Put away your wine!’ ‘

No, my lord,’ Hannah replied. ‘I am a woman oppressed in spirit. I have not had any wine or strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the Lord. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; for all this time I have been praying out of the depth of my anguish and grief.’

‘Go in peace,’ Eli replied, ‘and may the God of Israel grant the petition you have asked of Him.’ ‘May your maidservant find favor with you,’ said Hannah. Then she went on her way, and she began eating again, and her face was no longer downcast. The next morning Elkanah and Hannah got up early to bow in worship before the Lord and then returned home to Ramah.

And Elkanah had relations with his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. So in the course of time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, ‘Because I have asked for him from the Lord.’ Then Elkanah and all his house went up to make the annual sacrifice to the Lord and to fulfill his vow, but Hannah did not go.

“After the boy is weaned,’ she said to her husband, ‘I will take him to appear before the Lord and to stay there permanently.’…Once she had weaned him, Hannah took the boy with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. Though the boy was still young, she brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. And when they had slaughtered the bull, they brought the boy to Eli.

‘Please, my lord,’ said Hannah, ‘as surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. I prayed for this boy, and since the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him, I now dedicate the boy to the Lord. For as long as he lives, he is dedicated to the Lord.’” 1 Samuel 1:10-18; 24-26 Berean

Hannah got her deepest desire. She gave birth to her precious son, Samuel, and raised him for a few years. She then kept her bargain with the Lord, taking Samuel to live with Eli to be trained as a priest in the house of the Lord. And Samual was born for just that time! There was a critical lack in the priesthood at that time because the current priest, Eli, had two priest sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who did evil in the sight of the Lord.

Samuel became the Priest to replace them, going on to become one of the great prophets of the Old Testament. Hannah’s desire, her petition were a part of God’s path of life for her, and, as such, was eventually fulfilled. The deeper truth here is about God’s investment in birthing children at His specific timing and for His purposes. Those of us who wait and wait to be gifted with a child often struggle as Hannah did.

When we are serving the Lord, His timing is necessary not just to fulfill our heart’s desires, but to fulfill His plans. Sons and daughters of God’s chosen people are often born to such a time as this. God makes sure our precious children are birthed for a particular work that is needed in God’s plan for that age. This is not often revealed before the child’s birth but nonetheless, each generation has those called and chosen to do God’s work. Remember, Abraham and Sarah waited for their precious Isaac, the Child of Promise, until Sarah was 90 and past childbearing years!

It is so difficult to wait, and yet for God’s best, we need to do so. There’s another Old Testament wife who was unhappily childless. Rachel was barren, longing to have a child with Jacob. She stands by, heartbroken and jealous, as her sister Leah, Jacob’s other wife and her older sister, produces four sons with him: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah. Once again, Rachel is the wife Jacob loved while Leah was forced upon Jacob through deception by Rachel’s father.

Jacob served their father for seven years to win Rachel, only to be tricked into marrying Leah instead. Jacob served another seven years to finally win Rachel. Yet she remains barren for years after that, watching, waiting with building resentment, impatience and anger. Rachel finally becomes convinced she cannot live unless she has a child. We hear her anguish and pain when she erupts with anger at Jacob:

“Now when Rachel saw that she [still] had not borne Jacob any children, she became jealous of her sister; and she said to Jacob, ‘Give me children, or else I am going to die.’ Then Jacob’s anger burned against Rachel, and he said, ‘Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?’” Genesis 30:1-2 KJV

Rachel had been waiting for God to give her a child with Jacob, to no avail. Over time, she became more and more bitter and jealous, searching for someone to blame. Is this possibly the first appearance of the “blame the husband” way of coping when we wives are unhappy?! How often had Jacob heard about this from Rachel? She was not one to keep quiet about what her troubles , like Hannah had.

Jacob had probably responded many times to Rachel with comfort and compassion. He longed to fix the issue because he so loved Rachel and desired her happiness. But Jacob realized he could not make it happen, only God could do so. This time, he exploded with frustration and anger at Rachel. Many husbands find themselves in situations like this. They long to do something, to fix what is troubling their beloved wives but they cannot.

It’s easy to speculate this as Jacob dearly loved Rachel, waiting and working for 14 years to win her as his wife. She was the wife of his heart, and yet he could not give her what she most wanted. His angry frustration is not an uncommon response from a loving husband who feels helpless when his wife is most unhappy—and making him most unhappy in dwelling with her! Jacob knew it was up to God if she was to bear a child, not him.

God is the one who had closed up her womb all this time, while Leah and both of their maids had 10 sons for Jacob. What he said to Rachel was truthful, though not comforting. We would hope that, after this, Rachel would leave it to God, but she does not. Rachel takes matters into her own hands, devising a plan to give Jacob her maid, Bilhah, to produce children. Bilhah birthed sons, Dan and Naphtali, on Rachel’s behalf. And do you think God was surprised and unprepared for this?

Rachel’s actions again stirs up the competition with her sister, Leah. As Leah was older, past her childbearing years, when she saw Rachel producing two sons through her maid. She couldn’t have that, so she got her maid, Zilpah, to produce two more sons for Jacob: Gad and Asher. Leah also conceived again later in life, after bartering with Rachel for another night with Jacob. She produced two more sons, Issachar and Zebulun. Then, finally, in God’s timing and to fulfill His plans for Jacob’s sons, Rachel has her sons, Joseph and Benjamin.

The twelve sons of Jacob are, of course, the foundation of our faith, the beginning of the twelve tribes of Israel. These men and women all fulfilled a destiny in God. Each was a child of promise and God’s idea, yet at least half of the 12 sons of Jacob were conceived as part of the ongoing competition between these two women! We can be thankful that polygamy is no longer God’s way, but how many of us 21st-century women can identify with the pain of childlessness.

We relate to feelings of resentment and competition with other women who seem to easily have children, including those who do not want them or are not able to care for them as we know we would. Perhaps we haven’t seen it in ourselves, but surely we can see it in the women around us – at home with our relatives, at work, fellowshipping with our Christian sisters.

Strife and jealousy are hard to resist when another woman seems so easily to have what we desperately want. We may not jealously wish that they do not have their blessings, but we envy them being mothers and grieve in our hearts that conceiving a child has not been allowed for us. God knows:

“There are three things that are never satisfied—no, four that never say, “Enough!”: the grave, the barren womb, the thirsty desert, the blazing fire.” Proverbs 30:15b-16 NLT

Hannah and Rachel present a contrast in their differing ways of coping with very similar situations. Rachel is a fighter determined to get what she wants no matter what it takes. Her later behavior about her sons’ future also reveals that she is willing to manipulate to get her way. Hannah is an internalizer who is passive, depressed and oppressed by her barrenness. She has much unrest while continually appeals to God. Neither are at peace with their lack of children nor God’s timing in addressing their passionate desire to be a mother.

Even though we don’t have a polygamous society, this all-too-human behavior shows up in the world today, including within our Christian communities, causing harm and discord, robbing us and others of peace. Envy and jealousy are devouring emotions that can literally eat us up. These draining emotions add turmoil and unhappiness to family relationships. Holding on to them eventually develops bitterness, which Paul tells us defiles many:

“Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many.” Hebrews 12:14-15 Berean

Competition, jealousy, envy, and manipulative plans to be the most important”and the one favored appear in many families today. Siblings may not get along because of it. In blended families, a wife and ex-wife may battle for position and favor with husband and/or children. Some fathers and mothers are masters at setting their children against the other parent, whether separated or together, to the detriment of the children more than anyone else.

Parents and their adult children may fight over who gets to decide how the children are raised, particularly when grandparents provide childcare. Adult siblings without children may resent the time and attention, the emotional and financial investment parents have with their grandchildren. Conflicts arise about which side of the family has the privilege of their time and presence for holidays and other important family occasions. Resentments arise because of centering family occasions around those who do have children.

We could go on and on, as it is the way of all flesh. Selfishness and competition can often be passed from generation to generation. Even close friends display jealousy when their friendships are robbed of time together and shared activities, when one becomes a parent while the other is not. It takes God for us to truly rejoice in another’s blessings when we are seemingly deprived of the same.

Rachel was the beloved one but remained barren for many years. Clearly, this blessing being denied for so long was not because Rachel was unloved by Jacob nor by God, though Rachel may have felt that way. When we do not get what we want in life, it can be easy to slip into the lie that God does not love us enough to give what seems to be provided so easily to others.

Ten sons were born to Jacob with three other women – Leah, then Bilhah, Rachel’s maid, then Zilpah, Leah’s maid, before Rachel had Joseph, and then Benjamin. Our hearts ache for Rachel as we connect with her strong will, her determination to have a child one way or another. Rachel did not know or accept the hard truth that God is the giver of life or the closer of the womb.

Rachel’s anger at Jacob is a childish, immature way of blaming someone else, extended to Father God, the ultimate Controller, when we don’t get our way. We can certainly take similar foolish actions today when we insist on having something God seems to be denying us. Rather than waiting for God’s timing and direction about if/how/when He chooses to fulfill this desire, we, along with Rachel, want it now, in our “soon” rather than His.

There are now more acceptable ways to become a parent when unable to conceive. Many a happy child is being raised by people who did not literally bring them into the world. It is no less a “meant to be” plan of God than becoming pregnant, one way or another, after a long wait and petition to the Lord. In our present age, God has opened many wonderful paths for people to have children when they remain biologically childless.

Most options are not easy paths, but there are fertility drugs, foster care, or adoption. Siblings, aunts and uncles, close friends or neighbors may take on a child to raise when the biological parent(s) are unable or unwilling to do it. Children benefit from the love and care that they so wondrously provide, having a family when they, through no fault of theirs, did not have this most essential blessing.

Painful though the wait is, God surely turns childlessness into good over time. Some are blessed with a long-awaited child, well worth the time it took to be gifted of this treasure. Unless God intervenes, others must surrender, seeking God for peace about their remaining childlessness in this child-focused world. Our struggle with God’s timing and provision is because we do not understand or trust the heart of God. He is love! He does not withhold any good thing from us, regardless of our struggles in the path He has opened for us:

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows grace and favor and honor; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” Psalms 84:11 Amplified

When we are walking uprightly, obedient to His ways, He graciously grants us all good things. But perhaps, and this is not meant lightly, we disagree with what God defines as a “good thing!” Isn’t that what we are pleading with God about? We are not usually begging God for something unclean or bad, so of course we are asking for a good thing! In fact, most Christians seem to have this good thing that we covet. Why not us? Why NOT us??!!

Though we know it’s not right to be angry with our Lord, we start to feel anger toward Him in our hearts. We may try to hide this from God, as we know it is not right. We may avoid Him as we might with another human with whom we are angry. Or we hide it from ourselves, pushing it way down in our souls, not wanting to see it because we know it is wrong. But it’s there, simmering and waiting to erupt, as Rachel’s anger did with Jacob or Hannah’s did in bitter tears and prayers.

But why pretend to God when He can see into our hearts better than we can? We are in a Father/child relationship where He delights to teach us the truth. We might as well talk with God. He’s the One with whom we have to deal and the only One who can help. There are many examples of God’s servants having angry conversations with the Lord: just read the Book!

Even when we are angry, or most especially when we are, we can run to our Father to talk about it. The sooner we do this, the better it will be for us. We won’t have a root of bitterness and jealousy growing further in our hearts. A root of bitterness does defile others around us as well as causing much personal depression and unhappiness in life.

God will not operate within any immature human idea of “If He loved me, He would give me what I want.” We may try out this emotional blackmail to get our way with people, but God cannot be manipulated. He will do what He will do. But He is with us either way! We can talk with Him honestly about what’s happening. Our marvelous Lord is able then to change our hearts to surrender rather than to harbor anger and loss of peace, no matter what we’ve allowed to build up within us.

Ultimately, we may need to forgive God. What an astounding thought! If you are still uncomfortable with admitting to God that you are angry with Him, it’s even more astounding to hear Him say you need to forgive Him! But why not? We know He does no wrong, but our hearts with our limited perspective, judge Him, seeing Him as a withholding, rather than generous, Father. God seems fine with allowing us to go on hurting and unhappy, as He did with Hannah and Rachel.

We do love Him but we don’t understand His ways. It feels like a betrayal of His love to deny us this good thing or to postpone it until we’ve given up in despair. So, the Holy Spirit may direct us to forgive our perfect Lord because we don’t understand and are angry and hurt. It’s another way to clear out our hearts so we can understand the path of life He has destined for us. With clean spirits and peaceful hearts, we are much more able to see the specific, careful, and wondrous path of life He has in store for us.

God may grant our most important desire, as He later did with Rachel, Hannah, and many others, including myself. Or He may help us understand that He has good reason to keep this good thing we want from us, granting us peace regardless. Surrender to His will, not ours, is the key. Then all our distress is eventually swallowed up in peace and rest. God absolutely will do what is good for us, what allows us to fulfill His purpose in our lives.

No human can keep something from us that God wants us to have, regardless of the miracles required! Sometimes He will reveal why it is not a good thing for us even though others have it. It is because He loves us that He has planned another life for us. He says, “No, my beloved son or daughter, it is not a good thing for you.” The sincere, true surrender to God’s will reveals that He has ordained another path of life for us.

Along the path He has ordained for us, we learn to accept what God allows in our lives, including what He denies us. As we grow up in Him, we gain enough maturity to not desire anything God does not want us to have. We learn to hold our desires loosely before the Lord while He confirms His direction. No one except the Lord can grant us, His servants, something that we don’t need, regardless of what we think about it. (See the post on The Desires of the Heart for more understanding about this most challenging part of spiritual life).

When we are servants of the Most High, neither can anyone take anything from us that God wants us to have. We must settle this in our hearts as we continue to walk with the Lord and search for His path for us. God, not humans, is in control, just as Jacob said to Rachel. We can come to say “God, if it is your will for me not to have what I want or believe I desperately need, if I can serve you better without it, help me accept it and forgive You. And Lord, along with the answer of NO, please take away the strong desire for this. Grant me peace in this surrender to your path of life for me.”

When we accept the Lord’s rulership, He takes away our desire or grants it in His specific timing for each of us according to our calling. He surely is most able to give us peace regardless of the outcome, no matter how impossible it may seem in our circumstances. Then, we do not have to be envious of others who have what we want. We can rejoice in what God has given us, without coveting anything our neighbor has.

Sadly most of us only understand more of His ways in hindsight. Our ways are definitely not His ways until He changes us more and more into His likeness and image. Our heart’s surrender is the priority in God’s waiting room, not our understanding or agreement. Surrender is not giving up, resigning ourselves to an unhappy life. Surrender is yielding our spirit, soul and body to Him.

God becomes more important than what we desire in our lives. That inner working of understanding and acceptance, the surrender to God’s plan for us, is a longer-lasting lesson than getting what we want when we want it. And, remember, we do have a Savior who has gone through what we have:

“For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin.” Hebrews 4:15 Amplified

Can you think of anyone who suffered more unjustly, anyone who was more unfairly denied many things in this life that others expected and had? Consider that Jesus, Who loved children, may have desired to be married and have children like most men of His time. We know He did not yield to sinful envy or jealousy, but he had a human side from his mother, Mary. Jesus also did not live beyond 33 ½ years. His life was cut far shorter on this earth than even His contemporaries were allowed.

We can rest assured that Jesus gets it. He had a human side so He could know what it is like for us. Like Him, we have our own Gethsemane experiences, where we struggle to yield, to finally say “Not my will, but Yours be done.” God is more than able to grant His amazing gift of peace in yielding to Him. He sees our hearts and understands. He takes away the sting of envy and loss, graciously teaching us how to learn of His ways when we are either waiting or denied.

God has a Path of Life for us. It is the most satisfying when we learn to find and live in His will for the way He has determined is best for us as well as our purposes in His kingdom. Consider these words in the following chorus, Nothing Can Happen Outside of God’s Will:

Nothing can happen outside of God’s will.

Trust in His love; be patient, hold still.

The clouds will all vanish, and the sun again shine

If you will make the Father’s will thine.

(author unknown)

Believe and trust in that.

What About Gentleness?

In the above scripture, gentleness, in various translations, is also called “kindness, long-suffering, or meekness.” The dictionary says that gentleness is the “quality of being kind, tender, or mild-mannered; softness of action or effect; lightness.” Gentleness involves having a humble heart that displays kindness toward others, showing itself as soft hearted, touched with the feeling of others’ infirmities like our Lord.

Gentleness is a type of meekness sometimes erroneously thought of as weakness. The truth is that it takes great strength to be truly meek, particularly in the face of adversity. Some may believe that a strong person, particularly a male, cannot show gentleness as it is somehow emasculating to show such vulnerability. That is surely not God’s viewpoint. Jesus was gentle, meek and mild, yet also spoke with authority such as the scribes and Pharisees had never heard.

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29 NIV

Gentleness is recognized as the special quality of strong and mighty people humbling themselves in meekly deal with a child, kindness to all, including those others consider beneath them, dealing gently with spouses, friends and neighbors, and communities. We are truly touched, for example, to see a big strong man hold his precious child with gentleness. It’s impactful when a famous or powerful person remains humble and kind to others.

This is just like Jesus, Who was gentle with sinners, never berating them for their sins, speaking to them harshly, or chastising them as He did the religious leaders of His time. This is tempered, controlled strength rather than weakness or a lack a strength. More than one leader God has chosen is meek and gentle in their nature while God uses them as strong and mighty warriors on behalf of His kingdom and His people.

Consider Moses, the great leader of the Israelites whom God used to bring them out of bondage:

“Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman. And they said, ‘Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?’ And the Lord heard it.

Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth… ‘Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the Lord make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream.

Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house. With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?’” Numbers 12:1-2; 6-8 ESV

In this account, Moses did not defend himself with Miriam and Aaron—God did. Meekness is an attitude, a quality of character resulting in gentleness when interacting with others. It’s submissive and yielding rather than dominant and intractable. The powerful impact of gentleness is clear in other Old Testament passages:

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1 NIV

“Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.” Proverbs 25:15 NIV

“You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great.” Psalms 18:35 NIV

These passages show the great power of gentleness in interactions with others. David realized that the gentleness of God made him great, a mighty and powerful warrior with a heart for God who was humble even when corrected for grievious sin.

Gentleness may be admired, but is it sought like the other fruits of the spirit? The fruits of the spirit are not rank-ordered, though love, of course, encompasses all of them. Yet ow many sermons have we heard about gentleness?When we follow after to know the Lord in His fullness, we should desire to display them all! Would every Christian, however, take it as a compliment if told they are gentle?

Gentleness is surely valued and highly recommended to believers in the New Testament as well:

“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.” Titus 3:1-2 NIV

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” James 3:17 NIV

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Colossians 3:12 NIV

Gentleness is a fruit of the spiritual seed the Lord has planted and will nurture in us as we are maturing to be like Him in His kingdom. Our Lord was born a male and fully masculine while displaying all the fruits of the spirit in His nature. While gentleness may be undervalued whether in our American culture or many others, we surely do not want to miss out on this wonderful quality of the fullness of Christ within.

We are a nation of doers so perhaps that is the reason gentleness does not get ministered in America like other fruits of the spirit. But gentleness is much appreciated by the sensitive hearts and spirit of children, even if some may think such gentleness is a lack of strength. When a child tests a gentle, godly parent, they often learn there is a cord of great strength present as well. Gentleness does not mean lack of strength, but strength under control in word and deed.

All God’s creation appreciates a gentle spirit! Animals are particularly attuned and responsive to a gentle approach. Their spirit senses when being approached by a gentle and loving human. A soft answer surely does turn away wrath. Where there is fear or shame, gentleness, even in confrontation, helps others hear more easily what is being said. Paul, that bold apostle, says:

“Let your gentle spirit [be known] to all people. The Lord is near.” Philippians 4:5, NASB

In this scripture, the King James version translates gentle spirit as “moderation.” The Greek word is epieikes, meaning “mild, gentle, moderation, patient.” Going deeper into the Greek root, eiko means to “be weak, that is yield–give place.” What an interesting thing for Paul to tell the Philippians! You would think he would say “Let your faith…” or “Let your joy…” or any of the other aspects of His nature be known to all men.

This quality of gentleness must have been highly important to be followed by the reminder that the Lord is near! When the Lord is near, so is His gentleness. God enjoys His people distinctly showing forth qualities that are rare, less valued by human nature. Gentleness is a quality that is sensed perhaps even more than seen. While people seem to value the powerful and rich, He shows forth His distinction in highly valuing gentleness in His people.

Harshness drives others away, but gentleness is a magnet. Most respond to gentleness, maybe even melt a little inside, when receiving a gentle or kind word or gesture, particularly if it is unanticipated or even undeserved. Our Lord, without doubt, was the strongest human ever and He IS gentleness. Jesus tells us that being gentle and humble will bring rest to our souls.

When we are not arrogantly insisting on our position or our rights, we humbly accept what comes our way, yielding to what is rather than what we would like to be. Pride is the opposite of humility, is it not? Human pride is easy to activate, but when we are humble, we neither defend nor explain ourselves unless God so leads. And we certainly do not need to defend God! Jesus modeled being a servant, not an arrogant master. He came to serve and so are we in this world, the servants of God to others. To minister is to serve, not to be waited upon and exalted.

Though we are not all created with gentle and kind natures, we cannot use the excuse “Well, that’s just not how God made me.” God would not list gentleness as a fruit of the spirit if He was not able to produce that characteristic in each and every one of us. Sincere Christians desire to have an appropriate Christ-like heart response in every situation. In the fullness of God, we are able to allow the Lord to write these characteristics, each one of the fruit of the spirit, on our hearts, so we can be like our Lord.

If we only have one style of interacting, even if it is just gentleness, we are out of balance. There’s a saying, “If the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem you see is a nail.” (A. Maslow, 1966) Our wonderful Lord has many different responses to a variety of people, endless tools to change us into His likeness and image. Do you suppose He interacted with strong-willed Peter the same as tender-hearted John? Peter and John had very different personalities, but Jesus knew their hearts.

Peter and John both became mighty servant apostles, laying down their lives for their Lord. He knew what experiences would shape each into what was necessary for their calling. We are not to be concerned with such differences. Jesus told Peter not to worry about how others will proceed in their calling:

“Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved [John] following them. He was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper to ask, ‘Lord, who is going to betray You?’ When Peter saw him, he asked, ‘Lord, what about him?’ Jesus answered, ‘If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you? You follow Me!’” John 21:20-22 Berean

Gentleness does not co-exist with superiority or dominance over others, in competition for power and position. While there are gifts differing, we are all of one Body. When one of God’s people is elevated over another because of God’s calling, the human heart may begin to harbor all kinds of fleshly considerations but that is not the Lord’s way. God takes no pleasure in one part of His body “lording it over” or being envious of another part of His body.

In fact, God hates division and there is no division in Love. Such behavior comes from our flesh, showing up immediately in the early church’s competition for leadership and power. Jesus said we are called to be servants, humble as He is, not to rule with pride of position. Many religious leaders of today seem to have forgotten this in their ministry to others. Perhaps this is part of the reason for Paul’s admonition to Timothy:

“But avoid foolish discussions with ignorant men, knowing--as you do--that these lead to quarrels; and a bondservant of the Lord must not quarrel, but must be inoffensive towards all men, a skillful teacher, and patient under wrongs.” 2 Timothy 2:24 Weymouth

Timothy was closest to Paul during Paul’s ministry, with Paul fathering him in the Lord. Just so, God knows how to Father each of us in our calling. Inoffensive responses to the quarrelsome who want to debate foolish topics surely require gentleness. It is not effective to respond to the quarrelsome with a quarrel. A soft answer does work wonders!

“A soft word turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 1:1 KJV

Surely this takes humility, and gentleness is a close companion to it. It’s hard to imagine humility and kindness being displayed at the same time as pride and arrogance. How much more of the light and presence of God is noted when strength is humbled to gentleness and meekness as in our Lord?

And we are definitely not all alike! It does take God’s wisdom and understanding to respond in edifying ways to all we encounter. We may have a gift for being straightforward in our conversation, or tenderly empathic and loving with others. But God promised we’d have all the tools, not just one, for the work He calls us to do. Each of us is created with the capacity to show forth the love of God, to be enChristed in our own unique ways.

It does not take much to share a genuinely kind word of encouragement to those around us, particularly others who provide for our needs in so many little and big ways. To share an appreciation for what others do, to find ways to acknowledge others’ work and its value to us, is a small thing greatly appreciated by others, particularly the invisible in our society. People often recall good words, kindly and sincerely given to them, in their lives. Such words are valued and cherished by many.

Gentleness can be practiced as God leads until it is established in our hearts and easily flows out in sincerity to others. Gentleness does not desire another to suffer hurt, responding tenderly when it happens. Gentleness rather than harshness has soothed many an angry or troubled soul. Anger begets anger and such emotions, though humanly understandable or even justified, rarely lead to problem-solving.

When we return anger for anger, we become too busy defending ourselves or our position, thinking of our answers rather than listening for understanding. We are in the emotional, rather than the thinking part, of our brains, reacting instead of spiritually responding. When we feel personally attacked, our attention is drawn away from what we may have actually done wrong that was offensive or requires correction.

Children especially, in their innocent foolishness, need gentle understanding when they make mistakes and create messes. They don’t have the mental or emotional development to understand their behaviors nor the consequences. This is in contrast to the child—or adult—who routinely, willfully, and arrogantly challenges authority. Many such children become skilled in getting others into arguments that distract from what they have done. A gentle answer can stop them in their tracks.

It is also a red flag for the future of a child who does not show gentleness or compassion, particularly with animals. This child may not have the capacity for empathy. Some children have to be taught how to be empathic, to put themselves in the place of others so they can identify with their feelings. And, of course, children learn harshness from adults so it is imperative to have the Lord in our parenting.

Softened hearts can receive the word of the Lord in a way that a hard and arrogant heart cannot. God uses the rain, the presence of His Spirit, to soften our earthly hearts so He can plant the seed of His word. It is the same with natural rain so necessary to plant crops on formerly dry earth. Our softened hearts become even more thirsty for the word of truth along with the rain of His spirit, the love of God.

We know we are to love as God loves, loving our neighbor as ourselves. When asked by His disciples, Jesus said this is the second commandment, after loving the Lord:

“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.

And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself .’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40 NIV

Does love co-exist with harshness and arrogance? No, it does not. As we grow into Him, we anticipate our Lord dealing with our hearts, removing any root of harshness and arrogance, pride and control. More than one arrogant person does not, deep down, have much confidence. It’s sad when someone uses pride, arrogance, and controlling ways to cover up their vulnerability and fear. When people attempt to control rather than be kind and gentle, they need even more love!

There is a way for Christians to honor all people, to show forth the gentleness of our God with everyone. This is not weakness, but meekness. What would happen to national and international politics if those in authority practiced gentleness and kindness in their interactions with others? Jesus was known for His godly authority and His leadership is unparalleled. So too would kind and gentle leaders be most powerful. There probably are some leaders like this, but they usually don’t make the news!

Finally, let’s look at the need to be kind and gentle to ourselves. Love your neighbor as yourself. There is a balance here that Christians may miss. It is not selfishness to love ourselves, it is natural. Many times we may speak very harshly to ourselves, saying things we would never say to another. Perhaps our internal conversation even sounds similar to harsh and critical voices of correction from our past.

Jesus does not mistake a lack of confidence or self-esteem as a display of love. God loves us no matter what. He is not the one battering us in our consciences. If you have ever had the Lord “on your case,” prompting you to do the right thing, you know it is not the same. Harshness and arrogance, internally as well as externally, attempts to cause fear, shame or even, so to speak to beat” us into submission, railing at us with words or threats. This is coercion by fear, not truth in love.

This way of interacting may reap compliance at most, but rarely a changed heart. It is less likely to work the recognition of wrong by heartfelt submission or genuine change. God does not speak to us in this way, though He has a very firm voice to get our attention when we are in danger or being disciplined. God’s truth is always fully married to His mercy and love.

God the Father, as seen in His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, is always and forever compassionate and of great patience with His children. He comes internally to judge our flesh to change us, showing us where correction is necessary for growth, always with a redemptive purpose in mind. Aren’t you glad He is gentle?

Think about it. Should gentleness be something to pray about, to seek?

Called, Chosen, and Faithful

Jeremiah was called to be a prophet, chosen to speak God’s word. He was obedient even when he knew he would be repeatedly beaten and thrown in jail for speaking God’s word as God commanded him to do. Hear the faithful prophet’s lament:

“For each time I speak, I cry aloud; I proclaim violence and destruction because for me the word of the LORD has resulted in reproach and derision all day long.

But if I say, ‘I will not remember Him or speak any more in His name,’ then in my heart, it becomes like a burning fire shut up in my bones and I am weary of holding it in and I cannot endure it.’” Jeremiah 20: 8-10 NASB

Jeremiah is weary of giving God’s word to people when it is always rejected. His messages are not what they want to hear. He is repeatedly shamed, ridiculed, punished, beaten, and jailed for His ministry. Through it all, however, he trusts God to bring about what is intended. Jeremiah goes again and again to talk things over with God, but the truth is that he couldn’t not obey. He was compelled to fulfill his calling even though he was made a laughingstock.

Jeremiah was created to speak God’s word to the people, whether he wanted to or not. He had to speak regardless of the consequences to him, because Jeremiah was called to be a prophet at a time when God’s people were rebellious and disobedient.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1: 5 NASB

Such difficult paths so many of God’s saints are called to walk! It helps a great deal when we are assured that what we are called to do is God’s idea, not ours. As we obey, the outcome is in His hands. More than once, we may remind the Lord (as if He doesn’t know), that it was His idea when we experience challenges and opposition while faithfully fulfilling our calling in obedience to Him.

Early in my calling as a Christian mental health social worker counseling God’s people—some of whom did not know it—I was complaining about doing His will and still having people come against me. God told me “Nothing worth doing is without opposition.” When we are in His will and it’s going wrong for us, it brings great peace to know this. Opposition, though we don’t enjoy it, makes us strong.

Like Jeremiah, we would prefer no opposition to the work God has given us, but that is not what He promised. In fact, it is rare for those called according to His purposes. As the disciples said when spreading the gospel to others:

“We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22

God often calls us to do many things that have never entered our hearts. We end up doing things we never thought of or even considered ourselves able to do. This includes future endeavors we definitely did not want to do and would not have chosen for ourselves. When we are in the center of His will, as Jeremiah was, He promises us that He will equip us to do it all and keep us going.

This is regardless of whether we feel prepared for it or not, or whether we always want to, every moment of every day. God’s chosen work for us may not be on our list of goals for our future. Even if the calling is one we desire, we cannot count on all to go smoothly, just like it did not for the Old and New Testament saints. Barriers and difficulties arise, but we can rest in the assurance that He led us down this path.

With surrender of our own will and ideas, it becomes a joy to walk the paths God chooses, regardless of the inevitable adversity as we do so. God is never surprised or unprepared for the obstacles we face, the opposition we encounter from others who do not share our vision or calling. He is always gracious to reveal how to handle each obstacle, providing a way for each obedient servant. These obstacles do strengthen us in the Lord, just as the apostle Paul experienced.

"For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:10 NIV

When He calls us, we can rest in knowing we are chosen as we obey His calling. God does not have volunteers, but designated soldiers in His army. We are in the kingdom for such a time as this. The Old Testament shares many accounts of others besides Jeremiah who were called in specific times when God required them. Such was Esther’s experience when she was called to be Queen for King Ahasuerus (Xerxes).

This is a wonderful story of God’s calling to a future never considered by this beautiful young Jewish woman. As the biblical account goes, King Ahasuerus’ Queen, Vashti, displeased the King, so he sought for another. Raised by Mordecai, her uncle, Esther had learned to submit to his godly guidance. Thus, Esther was well prepared to be the next Queen. Because of God’s calling on her life, Esther found favor with all those in the palace and was chosen by the King to be his next Queen:

“Now the king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she found favor and kindness with him more than all the [other] virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen in the place of Vashti.” Esther 2:17 Amplified

Being Jews, Mordecai, Esther’s uncle, directed Esther not to share their Jewish heritage. Mordecai was a respected elder in the community, serving in the King’s court, along with another man of ambition and pride named Haman. Haman eventually was promoted to be the chief authority over all the officials. Haman hated Mordecai and persuaded the King to decree that all bow down and pay homage to Haman. Mordecai refused to do so and it made Haman furious:

“When Haman saw that Mordecai neither bowed down nor paid homage to him, he was furious. But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him who the people of Mordecai were (his nationality); so Haman determined to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, who lived throughout the kingdom of Ahasuerus.” Esther 3:5-6 Amplified

Haman was offended and angry at Mordecai’s continual refusal to honor and recognize Haman as he thought was his due. He devised a plot to destroy all the Jews in the kingdom, not just Mordecai, his hated enemy. He convinced King Ahasuerus that the Jewish population in the King’s domain was a threat to the king’s rule. Acting upon this lie, the King was persuaded to issue a decree that all Jews were to be killed.

What an illustration of pride and jealousy, the pride of life in this man, working such evil in his heart to completely annihilate God’s people! Because of this, all Jews were greatly afraid and began to fast and pray, including Mordecai. He was at the gates of the court in sackcloth and ashes, mourning this decree when Queen Esther was told about what her uncle was doing. She also became greatly afraid for herself and her people.

Mordecai wanted her to go to the King to intervene for her people, the Jews. But the king had not called for her for some time and Esther was frightened, knowing that anyone who went to the King without being summoned could be put to death. Mordecai sent this word back to her:

“Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, ‘Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews. For if you remain silent at this time, liberation and rescue will arise for the Jews from another place, and you and your father’s house will perish [since you did not help when you had the chance].

And who knows whether you have attained royalty for such a time as this [and for this very purpose]?” Esther 4: 13-14 Amplified

God had placed Esther in the position of Queen for just this time. And Esther, as she had been trained to do, obeyed her uncle and saved her people. She risked her life to go into the King without being summoned. She did what she was called to do and relied on the Lord to see her through. She asked Mordecai and the Jews in that area, as well as her handmaids, to fast and pray for three full days. After this time was completed, she said:

“Then, I will go in to [see] the king [without being summoned], which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.” Esther 4:15-16 Amplified

Esther put her fate in God’s hands to obey what her uncle, Mordecai, told her to do. God showed her exactly how to proceed, and His plan worked to save her people. The outcome for Haman and his entire family was to be hanged on what he had built in preparation for Mordecai and other Jews. Esther was called to something she never sought nor anticipated. She proved herself faithful to this glorious calling despite the risks, and the people rejoiced in her obedience on their behalf. Esther laid down her life, literally, for this cause. She was truly placed in this royal position for such a time as this!

Many of us are called and chosen, placed exactly when and where God would have us. We arroive on the earth to do His will. We are remaining faithful to the fulfillment of His purposes as they unfold. God’s people are in specific positions for just the time they are needed, all over the world. You cannot limit God by saying He would never have His own in a certain area, profession, or work. He always has a people prepared to do His will as various events come upon His own.

God has a plan and we are essential to it, faithful servants to God and His people! Children are birthed into this world to be ready for what is needed in their era. God is now moving many into position as the sons and daughters of God take their place today. They are prepared, called, chosen and proving to be faithful in the fulfilling of their ministry for such a time as this. God has a destiny for us, so it matters not to God whether we are known, incredibly gifted, or even trained for the future path of life He has for us.

When God chooses us, we will walk the path to carry out what He needs for His great plan of redemption. Whom He calls, He equips, opens doors, and lights the path before us. God always knows what He is doing, even when His plans are unknown to us beforehand. Whatever we are called to do, we are chosen in Him for this purpose and He makes us faithful to our calling.

What Mordecai said was true, however: if Esther did not step forward, God would raise another to save His people. But God knew she would do it. He knew she was well prepared and would succeed. It was His idea! Such biblical accounts can teach us much. It’s reassuring to read how very human and very holy the people of the Old Testament were. We see how challenges and obstacles are presented to each man or woman who served Him.

The message is surely that we should expect challenges in our calling. This is reiterated, and confirmed, in multiple New Testament passages of scripture. Can you think of anyone in the book, old or new, who was called in God and had a smooth path? Numerous biblical characters reveal just the opposite.

Abraham and Sarah had much sorrow and distress before producing Isaac, the child of the Promise. Then God the Father tested Abraham even further in ordering him to sacrifice Isaac. Abraham’s obedience in this test confirmed him as the Father of our faith. Through Isaac, God established the lineage of Jesus.

Another founding father of our faith, Jacob, had no easy time winning the love of his life, Rachel. Rachel’s children were slow to arrive but, along with her sister Leah’s, these twelve men held destiny in God as the originators of the twelve tribes of Israel. Both Joseph and David were called to highly exalted positions in the Lord but faced many years of adversity before they were able to fulfill what God had told them would unfold.

Both were foolish or innocent enough to tell their siblings how God had revealed He would use them and were ridiculed and mistreated by them. Joseph was sold for the later purpose of saving many, including the brothers who had betrayed him. On the way to managing Egypt for the king, Joseph was betrayed and imprisoned for many years. David had to flee from Saul, his former benefactor, fighting to save himself, his men, and his future kingdom.

The enemies of the saints of God in the Bible are an extension of how society—humankind—views the rewards of high and lofty positions in the world. People who desire to be rulers covet being powerful, admired, and exalted in the eyes of others. They’re jealous of anyone God calls to these positions and typically work against them. Jesus saw through the scribes and Pharisees who held these attitudes in their hearts despite their pious words and religious behavior.

God’s chosen leaders are servants who do what they do unto the Lord, not for the admiration and esteem of people. To minister is to serve, translated as such in both the Old and New testaments. It is not to rule, exalting oneself over those who are being served, but even Jesus’ disciples displayed this behavior. After two of them asked for a position of prominence on His right and left in the Kingdom, Jesus said:

“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you.

Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:25-28 NIV

God’s servants have a heart for His work placed within them by God Himself. Those called to sonship are sons of God indeed, given authority in the kingdom while also being priests who serve the people. They walk in intimacy with the Lord as they fulfill their calling and purpose on this earth. A dear Catholic friend shared this wonderful story of St. Teresa of Avila, a nun who was known to have a very intimate relationship with Jesus her Lord.

In The Life of St. Teresa, we find this account of her experiences, written in 1582:

“Teresa describes the journey thus: ‘We had to run through many dangers. At no part of the road were the risks greater than within a few leagues of Burgos, at a place called Los Pontes. The rivers were so high that the water in places covered everything, neither road nor the smallest footpath could be seen, only water everywhere, and two abysses on each side. It seemed foolhardiness to advance, especially in a carriage, for if one strayed ever so little off the road (then invisible), one must have perished.’

The saint is silent on her share of the adventure, but her companions relate that seeing their alarm, she turned to them and encouraged them, saying that ‘as they were engaged in doing God’s work, how could they die in a better cause?’ She then led the way on foot. The current was so strong that she lost her footing, and was on the point of being carried away when our Lord sustained her.

‘Oh, my Lord!’ she exclaimed, with her usual loving familiarity, ‘when wilt Thou cease from scattering obstacles in our path?’ ‘‘Do not complain, daughter,’ the Divine Master answered, ‘for it is ever thus that I treat My friends.’ ‘Ah, Lord, it is also on that account that Thou hast so few!’ was her reply.” Reprint: J Franciscus Archiepiscopus WestMonest. 27 Sept., 1904.

Such stories of God’s chosen are very real ones with which we can identify, perhaps even joining this beleaguered saint in such a comment. It is clear that anything worth doing does bring opposition! God allows such opposition to strengthen and refine us. What the enemy of our soul means for evil, God means for good.

Let us learn also from Joseph’s life, another powerful biblical account of the consequences of being chosen by God. He told a dream in which his brothers bowed down before him. Because of jealousy and resentment, his brothers treated him cruelly, sending him into another land. When the time of famine came many years later, Joseph’s brothers who had betrayed him and thought him dead, encountered Joseph as the overseer of all Egypt and keeper of the food supply everyone needed to survive those years of famine.

Joseph’s trials continued year after year to be most unfair following his brothers’ betrayal. With God’s provision, Joseph had survived being promoted, unjustly accused of wrong doing, imprisoned for years while fellow prisoners he helped promptly forgot about him when they were released. Through much adversity, Joseph was prepared for a position of authority and responsibility in Egypt that was key to many, including his own father and brothers, in surviving the famine.

At God’s direction, Joseph stored up grain in the prosperous years for the future famine God said was coming. When his brothers had to go to Egypt to get food, here’s what Joseph, the brother they betrayed and thought dead, told them as he revealed himself to them:

“But Joseph replied, ‘Do not be afraid. Am I in the place of God? As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people. Therefore do not be afraid. I will provide for you and your little ones.’ So Joseph reassured his brothers and spoke kindly to them.…” Genesis 50:19-21 Berean

We can be sure that Joseph did not always realize why things had happened to him the way they did. Joseph’s life is surely an example of more than one fiery trial necessary for God’s called and chosen to faithfully complete God’s plan. It was no easy path for him to gain this victory, taking many years to understand the purpose of all the evil that God allowed to befall him on the way. Joseph came to know that what was meant for evil, God had turned for good, using all the adversity to prepare him for an exalted and most critical calling.

Consider also the account of David’s life during the time from when he, as a young shepherd, is anointed King by the prophet Samuel until, years later, finally being placed as the King of Israel. He was not granted this position because he, as the youngest, or his father and brothers were prominent, nor did he inherit this calling by family heritage or tradition. He was solely chosen by God because of the condition of His heart, the faith he had already developed as a shepherd. We can be sure that David was a much better king after all he went through to get there.

We know from New Testament accounts that the beloved Apostle Paul had many obstacles in his ministry, including eventual rejection by the very churches he had birthed and nurtured. He later writes that these churches were divided such that Paul himself was no longer accepted in certain areas. Local ministry seized leadership, bringing division and strife among the Lord’s people.

Thus it has ever been so that God’s anointed suffer persecution and loss by those coveting their God-given calling. Where do any of us get the idea that God’s calling will create a smooth path for us? And yet, some of us are still surprised when we encounter obstacles on our way to being faithful to what He’s called and chosen us to accomplish in His kingdom. Through the lives of His precious saints, then and now, we learn that when it is His idea, He will make His intended outcome happen.

As we are faithful, He promises:

“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalms 16:11 KJV

These words are more than just a statement. He is faithful and true to show us our specific path for the very life He calls us to live. And what a surprise it can be! While God’s love is eternal and extended to all, we are definitely not the same in our calling. He created us with specific distinction and uniqueness. It is not better or worse than another’s, it’s just different. God knows this but Christians continue to yield to jealousy and strife today, just like in the early churches.

Many attempt to make their way the only right way, changing the truth just enough to split off for their own following. Many judge others who do not follow the same road they are on, desiring other believers to be under their direction in place of God. And more than one of the Lord’s called have tried to talk God out of their calling. Some of us immediately attempt to disqualify ourselves when God calls us to do something we have never considered—or even desired!

We soon learn through the word and our life experiences that if He calls us, He equips us and blesses us in it. Our part is to say, “Yes, Lord, let it be as You say.” We are prepared to become what we are not, in order to fulfill His will about who He says we are. He sees what we are to be, not the lack we know we have. Whatever He has made us thus far, He takes us further in Him in preparation for our calling.

“And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.

And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:28-31 Berean

God could do everything without us, we know that, but He makes a plan that includes us. We will be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. He predestined some to be called, chosen, justified, and glorified as sons of God as we remain faithful to His calling. He is in charge of any refining needed for us to fulfill what He has destined for us. If we have a nature that is gentle and shy, God will give us boldness when we need it. If we tend more towards bold leadership, the quality of gentleness will be enhanced as needed.

Adversity is God’s way of preparing and refining us to be at the center of His perfect will. He brings a balance of just what skills and characteristics we need to fulfill what He asks of us. We are called to leave some things, and even some people, along the way. We are led to let go of many experiences that have been a wonderful and most blessed time in our lives. This may happen after only a short time or following many many years of fellowship and shared ministry.

When we resist God’s timing for moving on, when we do not submit and yield this precious time to be ended when He determines, He gradually removes the sweetness of His presence in the doing of it. Yes, some experiences are so very difficult to move on from because they are so wonderful! Many of us have had precious years of fellowship with other saints that now are scattered, the work gone, and most of the leaders passed to the other side.

These remain treasured times of Christian companionship and growth. It is wise to cherish these times as gifts held loosely because our God is always on the move. We do not want to put our stakes down and set up camp, only to be left behind while God has moved on. It is difficult to move on when it has been so good, so rich in Him. We become reluctant to leave, questioning and desiring to know what more God could have for us than this wonderful place we have been?

Do you know that actual rivers do not flow in a straight line but have many curves and obstacles to go through in their path? Just so is the river of life flowing out from within. It has many curves and bends as it flows out to the sea of humanity. God takes us through all of life’s curves and bends as we follow on to know Him.

“‘And this is My covenant with them when I take away their sins. Regarding the gospel, they are enemies on your account; but regarding election, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.’” Romans 11:27-29 Berean

Yes, His calling is without repentance, meaning He does not change His mind about it. How, when, where and with whom—or alone—He decides to use us in our calling surely does change. Thus it behooves us to remain faithful, following the Lord wherever He goes. Sometimes we have wonderful fellowship with the saints, other times we are in the wilderness alone with God. At times, we are outside the camp as He dictates. We need to be quick to obey, ready to move on when He tells us it is time.

Just like the Israelites on the way to their promised land, we are to be prepared to move as God moves, surrendering quickly when He lets us know the season for this part of our calling has ended. Sometimes God causes others to end this season for us as they leave us to fulfill God’s purpose for them. Other times, we are ejected from the work with others we have been doing, and it is God, not the devil, that allows it.

Endings are new beginnings in God! Too many times, however, we assume we are here to stay, continuing to fulfill our calling as we are currently. With few exceptions, humans like things to stay the same when all is going well. There are few of us who embrace change but most seem to cling tightly to the familiar even if it is something God wants us now to leave. Sometimes He must even pry our fingers from what is to move us on in Him.

When God says, “It is done,” but we determine not to listen or obey because of what we want—or think it is the devil instead of our Lord—it does not go well with us! Yes, it is difficult to leave, especially when it has been such a good thing! But whenever we insist on staying in what is familiar and present, including all the patterns and traditions we’ve developed, Jesus our Lord is eventually left outside, knocking at the door.

God has seasons for us to be with certain others, accomplishing His work for that time, providing mutual growth. He also moves each of us further along the path of life He has ordained for us. They may not understand either, accusing us of being backslid or the devil attacking us. When we are faced with something we don’t want to do, we may also waste time searching around for action that we might take to avoid it.

But the key to an easier time of transition is surely to submit to His change for us as quickly as we can. This is like Jeremiah the prophet getting tired of the outcome of his words from God given to rebellious people. He decided he just wasn’t going to do it any more—but look what transpired! Read the entire chapter and you will see just how frustrated and worn out Jeremiah is in his lament to God.

You will also see his eventual confession of faithfulness to God in what he is called and chosen to do. He recalls the very reason he was in the world, in that place, for such a time as this. Read again in chapter 20:

“You have deceived me, O Lord and I was deceived. You have overcome me and prevailed. I am a laughingstock all day long; everyone mocks me. For whenever I speak, I cry out; I proclaim violence and destruction. For the word of the Lord has become to me a reproach and derision all day long.

If I say, ‘I will not mention Him or speak any more in His name,’ His message becomes a fire burning in my heart, shut up in my bones, and I become weary of holding it in, and I cannot prevail.” Jeremiah 20:7-9 Berean

We too may feel deceived when we are obedient and it still does not go well for us. Like Jeremiah we still have to do what God purposed us to do from the time we were formed in his mother’s womb. We are destined to fulfill what God requires of us. When God wills it, shall it not happen? Read other accounts of both biblical and other Christians through the centuries who attempt to escape their calling.

Cosider Jonah in my post The Reluctant Servant. We are not alone. When the call to move on comes, we too may try to make our present circumstances better or seek to rationalize and defend our desire to stay the course. Without God’s blessing, however, what we are doing becomes empty works without power. How many of the great pentecostal and charismatic ministries lost their anointing, but continued with words without power?

We have seen multiple examples of this from the great Pentecostal and charismatic ministries of the past. Rarely did the leaders choose to lay down their works. Instead, many chose to believe God was with them, working to continual growth, expansion, and building of their work beyond what God called them to do. Eventually, such great works die, to be no more. They were for a season but their time was over. The buildings that housed many of these wonderful works of God’s past spiritual movements may remain, but the people are gone.

How sad to see God strip these great men and women of God instead of them allowing Him to work a willingness to lay down what God was no longer doing! This continues to occur in this Day of the Lord, as the great church era of two thousand years is coming to a close. Whether yet visible or not, many works will lay as a pile of ashes at their feet while leaders blame the devil.

Such is the work of the Lord, not the enemy! Jesus told His disciples:

“I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!” Luke 12:49-50 Berean

Jesus experienced this baptism by fire to accomplish what He was called and chosen to do. He accepted the change, the ending of His earthly ministry, in Gethsemane, changing the entire world by the faithfulness He displayed in His calling. He had to leave many things that surely were enjoyable and meaningful in His earthly life and ministry, facing a cruel death at a young age in order to do all He was sent to do. Yet God used the religious leaders of His time to condemn and crucify Him, unwittingly doing the Father’s will.

It is sad when we continue in our same beloved work long past the time that God has moved on. Without the holy spirit’s leading and presence, it is as dead as those external works that are no more. Any human way to attempt to avoid obedience to God only extends our suffering and loss in the transition from the old to the new. Our eventual surrender becomes much more difficult because, when we are called, chosen, and faithful, God will have His way.

It’s particularly hard when He directs us to let go of a dream we thought He gave us that is no longer bearing fruit, or perhaps never did. We may have sadness and grief as a period of ministry, a cherished time of work and fellowship, a hoped-for future, ends in our lives. Obedient surrender, however, brings rest, peace, and an anticipation of the next door He will open. Endings are new beginnings in God.

Think of all the endings in the Bible that opened the way for new beginnings for His people, including the critical ending of our Lord’s earthly ministry. Our Lord opened the way to the Father, coming to live within us rather than just in an earthy region where a few knew Him. When God’s people traveled through the wilderness, He guided them with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

“The [presence of the] Lord was going before them by day in a pillar (column) of cloud to lead them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light so that they could travel by day and by night.” Exodus 13:21 Amplified

Every time the cloud by day or the fire by night moved, the people had to pick up, pack up, and move on. No matter that this spot in the desert was really nice and they wanted to enjoy it longer. And they surely did complain along the way! In Exodus, we read about their travels out of Egypt, the land of bondage, to the Promised Land. They complained and rebelled so much that they nearly wore their leader, Moses, out! Surely the transition from the familiar “leeks and garlic” in Egypt to the promised “land of milk and honey” they’d never seen was a challenging as well as remarkable transition from the old to the new.

But the most vital and dramatic ending that is a new beginning is the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. What an ending God brought to the Hebrew’s faith in Moses and the Law through Jesus’ new covenant of love! God is with us throughout, showing us the path of life. His earthly ministry ended in death, bringing a new beginning through His resurrection. He brought an end to the old Jewish ways of worship and tradition, ushering in a New Covenant of the Heart. Oh, how the Jews of His day fought Him, resented Him, and were angry that He was a threat to their traditions and laws.

The disciples also did not understand the ending of their wonderful time with Jesus. They were lost and undone by the tragic crucifixion of their beloved Lord. What a painful time that must have been! Though Jesus tried to tell them what God’s plan was, they did not understand and could not see by the spirit what He was predicting. They wanted to stay walking with Him, learning from Him, continuing not only in their fellowship but also being a part of His ministry.

Who wouldn’t love being with Jesus as a part of His earthly ministry? Such exciting and wonderful days they were, learning and growing, seeing the power of God manifested before their eyes. And then, suddenly, it was done. Jesus, the Perfect Son, knew from the beginning that it would only be for a season that He would be on this earth. Yet He had great compassion on the disciples, indeed all of His followers, who thought it would always be the way it was until, hopefully, Jesus ruled over the Romans as their earthly King to release the Jews who were in captivity.

God’s endings bring new beginnings, but the disciples of old, like us now, did not know how much better for everyone it would be when Jesus was able to be within all people through His resurrection from the dead. This was a new thing, never seen before! Jesus changed everything for everyone, not just those who were around Him for those few years. Aren’t you glad that Jesus laid down His life and earthly ministry for all of us, that He surrendered in the Garden of Gethsemane, being faithful to God’s will for His calling?

For Jesus, as for us, such times of transition from the old to the new are hard on our flesh. We may long for former days, the old ways, the comfort of the familiar. This is one reason some stay in relationships with others that are so unhealthy and damaging to them. It may be hell, but it is a familiar hell compared to the unknown. How difficult it is to move on from what we know to the unknown!

One of the most difficult transitions in this life is the death of our loved ones. The loss of a parent, spouse, or beloved child destroys many dreams and hopes, robbing us of the future we had anticipated was ours. While it is a new beginning for those who have passed on into the spirit, we are forced to find a new path, a different life, without them, with our lives forever changed by their absence.

God remains willing to answer our prayers for Him to show us the path of life after such powerfully painful losses. He faithfully builds something new within and for us. Some Christians who suffer loss of loved ones in tragic ways are given ministries to comfort and assist others who are suffering similar losses. The very events we think will disqualify, if not destroy us, He uses to qualify us as we submit to Him, fittingly prepared for our calling in His kingdom.

God’s next work for us is just around the bend in this river of life! Our future in God as we follow along is more glorious, always, but the changes He allows along the way are often unexpected, surprising and difficult for us humans to comprehend. It’s not always a glorious new work that He leads us into, at least not right away. He may lead us into the wilderness, for a season, alone, in a desert of our spiritual lives. There we wait, with enduring faith, while He prepares the new path for us.

To add to our pain and loss, our Christian brothers and sisters who no longer see us in fellowship think we are backslidden! They don’t understand and may feel betrayed by our changes. Times of transition can be lonely and painful, just as the disciples experienced in the months following Jesus’ death and resurrection. They did not have a vision of what God would bring about through them, particularly without their Leader and beloved Teacher.

The disciples could not discern His plan and purpose until He returned to them by the spirit, on the Day of Pentecost. We, His servants, also may feel alone and abandoned by God, as well as other people. No one can go through these times fully with us other than God. To Him we cling, as He is the source of life. Who else can we go to for that? As we saw with Israelites whose bondage in Egypt became increasingly horrific, we can still long for the past, the old familiar ways that God has burned up behind us.

The Israelites of old had left a living hell during their years as slaves and yet how difficult it was to trust that where they were going would be worth it. In spite of all the miracles and victories God had granted in freeing them, Moses had quite the time with their rebellion along the way! The trip was difficult and they had no vision of the land promised to them. The miracles of deliverance God had done to free them from this bondage faded in their memories, while complaints and rebellion rose in the camp.

Finally at the border of the the land promised to them by God, most were unable to enter in due to unbelief. Only Joshua and Caleb and those born in the wilderness remembered God’s promises to them that they were more than able to go in and take the kingdom. Are we any different when God says “Move on!”? Here we are, busily and joyfully fulfilling our calling and God begins to dry it up, no more anointing, eventually wiping the current path out.

We encounter more and more thorns in our comfortable nest. He allows those we love most to be taken from our lives, ending cherished relationships by cut off or death. He changes what we thought was our future to what His plan for our future is to be. God may do so abruptly, shockingly, or gradually over time, but surely change is a part of life for His called, chosen and faithful servants.

God is making new paths for our feet. We may not understand our current time in our calling, why it may be ending, or have a vision of what will be next. He can reveal these things to us by the spirit, in a vision or dream, or by telling us directly, but sometimes He does not. We just have to put our hand in His and walk together until He shows us more. These are times when trusting God for good becomes most challenging—and strengthening!

God gave me a song years ago about this:

Jesus Hold My Hand

Jesus hold my hand. You’ve been this way before.

Jesus hold my hand, and the storms will rage no more.

Jesus, you said you’d always care for me.

Jesus, teach me to be free.

When the storms of life surround me and I don’t know what to do,

Jesus, please be near me, show me Your way through.

Teach me where You’d have me walk, show me how to be

Keep my hand in your hand, teach me to be free.

I can’t see, I don’t know, and I do not understand

All your will, all your ways for living in this land.

When I’m lost and alone and I don’t know what to do

Show me your way through.

Jesus hold my hand. You’ve been this way before.

Jesus hold my hand, and the storms will rage no more.

Jesus, you said you’d always care for me.

Jesus, teach me to be free.

(B. Mikelson 1980)

Before He gave me this song, I did not realize or understand that we all must be taught to be free in Him. Jesus Christ has gone through all that we might face—and more. He knows we will encounter others who want to limit our liberty in Him by man’s rules and laws established in the traditions of Christian religion. But Jesus Christ, through our spiritual walk with Him, is always teaching us to be free. We are familiar with bondage, but what do we know of freedom in the spirit?

We are promised that the Lord will free us of sin, redeem us from our fleshly ways, our earthly identity and heritage, our past, and all the rules and regulations that fail to make us righteous. Like the Israelites of old, we are to move on at God’s direction. God may have to withdraw His presence, His anointing, and His blessing to get us to move on to the future He has planned.

But this new future always proves to be more glorious, more blessed than what we have had or what we could imagine. God desires a people after His own will, not a continuance of hollow habits and past traditions that are not serving Him from a heart of submission and willingness. Now is such a time in God. His people all over the world have had much joy and fellowship working in His fields in the church realm. But now, He is causing a move in the spirit, can you sense it?

While everything in the world is worsening, God is surely on the scene to move us on in Him. It is the Day of the Lord and the time for God to do a new thing. Shall we not know it?

“Do not call to mind the former things; pay no attention to the things of old. Behold, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19 Berean

How we long to witness and experience the way in the wilderness He is making, to see the streams of His living water flow out to all people of the earth in all the dry desert places, to see that rose of new growth blossoming there! We do not need to dwell on the past. We learn from the past but should not long for it, recalling past experiences with yearning to return.

As we read His word, there are many wonderful examples from which we may be taught, despite years, even centuries, that separate our ordained paths in God from the saints of old. We see the chosen and made faithful in Him and we are edified, taught of His ways. Now there are coming new streams of water from His throne within His own, meant to flow out to all from His called, chosen, and faithful in this hour.

Our future in Him will have the army of God, none breaking ranks, each satisfied and joyful in the part God has given. What a work this will be and how desperately this world of darkness needs His Light!

Lessons of Praise

Jesus is the reason for praise. Without Him, we are lost and undone. It is quite reasonable for Father God to direct us to continually offer praise to Him. We may need to learn how to do this sincerely from our hearts. Our world floods us with bad news, with danger and turmoil on all fronts. There is no lack of things to complain or be upset about. Yet we are to shine as a light in this present darkness. Praising and being thankful in the midst of this mess is surely a noticeably different response to what this world is going through!

I first learned God’s lessons about praise in the 70’s and 80’s, a time of great spiritual hunger and growth for me. In addition to devouring wonderful ministry, as an avid reader I was absorbing wisdom from various Christian authors to learn even more. I also was a therapist who desperately required God’s wisdom and understanding. I so desired healing words of wisdom as I sat with the troubled and wounded in the work God called me to do.

During my early years of serving the Lord, without no child to raise, I was able to sit at the feet of Jesus, a precious time of spiritual growth that I have now come to greatly appreciate. Through many wise and wonderful saints, wisdom was written in my heart, many gems of understanding. I continue to draw on these truths as I walk with the Lord. One such author is Merlin R. Carothers, whose books have been re-published and translated into many languages.

Merlin Carothers \learned lessons of praise in combat and many other life experiences, becoming a Master of Praise. His writings taught me the power of praising God at the first sign of adversity. Putting this into practice, however, was an interesting process! Once during this time, the trunk of the car accidentally fell on my fingers. I found myself madly hopping about, shouting “Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, praise the Lord!” It had become an automatic response by that time, but it sure looked comical! Nonetheless, it was a sign of progress in praising God immediately in all circumstances.

God taught Merlin Carothers to praise Him in every circumstance and he absolutely lived the power of praise. One account of God’s many lessons for him was unexpectedly waking up one morning unable to move. God held his entire body, every part, immobile while He taught Merlin to praise Him for the ability to move each part. He was gradually able to open his eyes, wiggle his fingers, and move his limbs.

He never forgot the graciousness of God in just waking up every day and living in a body that worked! It’s a powerful reminder of how God truly is the life of our bodies. After all, not everyone wakes up each day able to see, hear, move all their limbs, and get themselves out of bed. When you have any type of affliction in your body, whether acute or chronic, you learn to empathize with those who are physically, emotionally or mentally disabled. No matter what we suffer, someone else in God’s kingdom is suffering more.

God worked these and other lessons deeply into Merlin’s life, giving him the ability to write about it. Through his books and writings, he shares many more ways to learn about praising our God. His sound doctrine based on the holy scriptures wast written into the hearts of anyone who read his works. The challenge through the years is to remember these lessons in praise. How easy it is to get bogged down in the trials of this life, and forget this wonderful way of staying in the spirit and immediately turning to trust our God in every circumstance.

The power of praising God at the first sign of adversity is the way it changes our focus immediately from the situation to our Source. It’s the foundational means of submission to whatever God allows in our lives. Instead of allowing fearful or discouraged thoughts to build up and take root in our minds, giving access to the enemy of our souls to pile on more, we look to God immediately. Praising God defeats the enemy, within and without!

So why is it that I still forget, years later, to praise God at the start of any problematic situation? Why is it so easy to neglect the power of praise when we are in times of affliction? Why not praise Him all the time, anyway? True praise from the heart has significant qualities that are most pleasing to the Lord. Praise that flows from a heart that truly adores God is a way to turn our focus to Him at all times and it pleases Him.

We are expressing gratitude for who He is and His capacity to make all things turn for our good. As we focus our attention on Him instead of ourselves and our situations, He strengthens and encourages us. We are practicing trust in our heavenly Father’s promises and His nature. Through praise, we demonstrate a lively surrender of all that is to all that He is. When we truly overflow with praise to our God, alone or with others, gratitude and thanksgiving bring reminders of all His past goodness.

The Psalmist said that God lives in the praises of His people:

“But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” Psalms 22:3 KJV

Dwelling in the praises of His people is a marvelous statement of God’s love for us, His way of spiritually embracing us. It’s a huge God-hug! He really is, as the Concordant Literal states, very fond of us! How many of us have been with our brothers and sisters in Christ, feeling God’s presence settling beautifully among us as we lift up praise and worship to Him? Is there any greater pleasure on this earth than being surrounded by the presence of God?

“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” Psalm 100:4-5 KJV

While we mature past praising Him for the feeling it gives us, we can count on His presence whenever true praises are uttered from the hearts of those who love Him. A most powerful account of the power of praise to defeat the enemy is found in the conquering of Jericho by Joshua and the army of God’s warriors in Israel. It was the first battle the Israelites fought to defeat the Canaanites as they were claiming their promised land.

What a marvelous illustration of the way God approaches battles in contrast to man’s ways. He is a master strategist Who has endless ways to do so as we obey His directions. Here is the account of the fall of Jericho:

“Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, ‘Are you for us or our enemies?’

‘Neither,’ he replied, ‘but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.’ Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, ‘What message does my Lord have for his servant?’ The commander of the Lord’s army replied, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.’ And Joshua did so.

Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. Then the Lord said to Joshua, ‘See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days.

Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.’

So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, ‘Take up the ark of the covenant of the Lord and have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it.’ And he ordered the army, ‘Advance! March around the city, with an armed guard going ahead of the ark of the Lord.’” Joshua 5:13-15: 6:1-5 NIV

Joshua led the army to do exactly as God told him to do it. God delivered this walled city and all its occupants into Joshua’s hand. They did not lift a weapon until the last trump. They did not utter a word until they shouted the victory. At the sound of the ordained trumpets and their united victory cry, God brought the walls of the enemy down. Their faith, expressed in obedience and praise, gave the promised victory.

One wonders what the inhabitants of Jericho thought through the days of this activity. Trumpets were blown for each section or movement of an army, so the multiple trumpets on the 7th day convinced the enemy that there were thousands of Israeli soldiers about to attack them. What an amazing way to defeat the enemy! Note that thi messenger of God, the commander of God’s army, God’s Son, does not state that he is with one side or another. His focus is on Father God’s purpose to be accomplished to gain the victory.

Joshua was told the enemy was already defeated. We, too, can count on this truth as we turn to Him. On the seventh day, God’s day of perfection, multiple trumpets or messages will ring out as the Lord leads us, His army, to victory. We’re enabled, through the leading of the Holy Spirit, to surround our enemies without a word or a weapon and defeat them as God directs!

We can do so without assuming that God is on our side and not our enemies. God so loved the world, not just those who name His name. How many wars are fought with soldiers realizing that both sides have saints of God doing their best to follow His will? God shows forth His plans and purposes once again through another account of His people in ancient days. When in civil war against their Benjamite brothers, the other tribes of Israel inquired of God, who told them to send the tribe of Judah first.

“Now the sons of Israel set out, went up to Bethel, and inquired of God and said, ‘Who shall go up first for us to battle against the sons of Benjamin?’ Then the Lord said, ‘Judah shall go up first.’” Judges 20:18 NASB

What is the significance of Judah going first? Judah comes from the Hebrew word yadah which means “praise”. There’s a chorus that begins: “Send Judah first and the battle will be won.” Here’s that spiritual key again: as we praise first, the battle will be won. This powerful message is etched upon us as God’s Spirit teaches and trains us to inquire for His council before any battle. David did this over and over, every time when he led the armies of Israel into battle.

David did not just assume he should go to battle or, being a wise warrior and King, think that he already knew how to do it. He asked, every time whether he should and relied on the Commander of God’s army to show him just how to do it. God did not always have the same battle plan for King David. Now He doesn’t always tell us, by the spirit, to use the same strategies for what we face. The strategy is His as is the glory when the battle is won.

Sometimes God says to wait untl iwe get more information or resolves the conflict differently than the actions we are considering. He always knows the way to victory for us in our challenges and struggles, within and without. So now we praise Him first. Then we can’t help but be aware of His presence and power on our behalf as situations change, problems are resolved, and our overwhelmed spirits are lifted higher into His spirit of peace and gratitude to Him.

Praise is the expression of love we give to our Lord, trusting that He has all things under His care. It is an immediate confession of faith in our God regardless of our circumstances. We will never see God frowning in concern or sighing in hopelessness or despair when bad things happen. Though it certainly was a grievous thing that changed the course of life on earth, God was neither surprised nor caught without a plan when Adam and Eve disobeyed Him.

What He allows He will manage in and through us for our good. Satan, the enemy of our souls, brings the battle to us in our minds and hearts through life experiences, but that same adversity, any weapon formed against us, will not prosper:

“Behold, I have created the craftsman who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its task; and I have created the destroyer to wreak havoc.

No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their vindication is from Me,’ declares the Lord.” Isaiah 54:16-17 Berean

This is truth: God set up adversity to be a training ground for us. Through the dark times, we see the contrast with the light the Lord brings. Weapons are formed against us but He promises that they will not prosper. It’s a part of our heritage! This is in sharp contrast to those who blame the devil for adversity and credit God with all that is good. That’s eating from the garden of Eden’s Tree of Good and Evil. Can you see the evidence of good in people who do not know or serve God, and evil that is allowed to befall the most faithful servants of God?

If you doubt the truth of this, study the Book! There are no servants of God who are free from this life’s problems. We are all learning to prosper in the face of much adversity. Some of us got the idea that God’s favor will include no adversity or difficulty once we confess our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Instead, over and over, God takes His people through adversity, much more often than out of it.

God forms the adversary to bring the trials while promising that evil intent would not prosper as we walk faithfully in Him. Our enemies will be destroyed as we are vindicated by God. We, fellow saints of Zion, have a good heritage! To be sure, what is in our hearts will come out. There’s another favorite verse that speaks to what happens when our ways fully please God:

“When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him.” Proverbs 16:7 Berean

When our ways please the Lord in a matter, God no longer needs to use that particular trial to refine and strengthen us. He makes even our opposition, within and without, be at peace with us. This is true whether it is a literal external enemy or more often, the enemy within us that wants to rob us of our Kingdom inheritance of peace, love, and joy. There are trials that we do pass, that no more weapons need to be formed to use against us.

We look back in thanksgiving and praise, recalling past troubles and being initiallly upset by certain things that now are unable to rob us of our peace. The powerful Psalms 91 expands on what those who dwell in God’s shadow can expect. This psalm concludes with:

“‘Because he loves me,’ says the Lord, ‘I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.” Psalms 91:14-156 NIV

Yes, we have much to praise and thank the Lord for in light of all the promises He has made to us. It is helpful for us, and even our health, to practice such gratitude, to remember all His benefits. Many in the secular world are recommending the practice of gratitude but we Christians should be the experts at it! Christians practice gratitude differently as our thankfulness and praise go to God. We go beyond things for which we are grateful in our lives or present circumstances. Our gratitude is to our Lord, expressing a heart of thanksgiving for all that our loving Provider has given us and accomplishes on our behalf.

Our gratitude flows forth in praise to our awesome heavenly Father for Who He is and all He has done. This works an abundance of good things in our hearts, ready to overflow into praise. Jesus said to the Jewish leaders opposing Him:

“O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Matthew 12:34 KJV

Just like the food we put in our stomachs, what we allow our souls to consume gets stored in our hearts. We have a choice: consume the good things of God or eat up all of the world’s reasonings and information, good and bad. Our God is one of contrasts: light and dark, good and evil, prosperity and poverty. We may wish it were not so, but God created opposites to illustrate His world and its ways. How would we know the Light, without the darkness that comes?

To be sure, what we consume, what our mind, will, and emotions—our soul—are focused upon, will come out. Filling our minds and hearts with the goodness of God, all that He is and all that He has done for us, gradually creates a flow of praise that requires no labor. What we focus on, grows! This is truth for all aspects of our lives. When parents focus on the strengths of their children, when teachers and bosses build up or edify rather than criticize and tear down, when we encourage others rather than chastise or judge, this richness of love flows from our hearts to strengthen and bless those around us.

Paul admonishes us to turn our focus thus:

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8 NASB

The Amplified Bible adds beautiful explanatory words to further understand this passage:

“Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart]. Philippians 4:8 Amplified

When we focus on all the abundance of good things, our hearts flow out in praise and worship to our God. When we are troubled in the night, we can do as the song says, “Count your blessings; name them one by one.” If we are so fortunate, we can thank Him for having a home, a bed to sleep in, clean water and healthy food, ways to keep warm or cool and a myriad of other things not everyone, even in our modern, privileged Western world, have.

Some of us have been given so much just by who and where God placed us in this world. It is astounding to learn of the families, including many children, who are homeless and live in the streets of our own prosperous cities! We can have a continual song of praise within, no matter what we are occupied in doing externally. Praise within will also flow out in edification and encouragement to others.

Some of God’s saints have the gift of encouragement operating within their beings. These are Christians who always uplift others, making them genuinely feel good just to be around them. Encouragers provide hope, cheering us on in this life. Just being in the presence of an encourager is uplifting!

God knows that what we focus on, what our mind is centered upon, will plant seeds that will produce a crop. The word of God is a seed that is destined to change us into the likeness and image of Christ. There’s a reason for loving the precious words of the chorus from the well-known song, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus.

Look full in his wonderful face.

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of his glory and grace.

(Helen Lemmel )

Our Lord Jesus Christ embodies all of the things Paul tells us to dwell upon in our hearts and minds. He is pure, lovely, admirable and of good repute. As we gaze upon Him and fill ourselves up with His mind, His life, everything else fades. We are now eating from the Tree of Life! We see His glory and grace, we experience the powerful love of our Father, and all else disappears from our awareness.

God is the only way to keep us in balance while living in this life. We learn to be thankful, to praise Him for His provision of our smallest needs and comforts to our greatest blessings here on this earth. We praise our Lord through the ups and downs we all have, times of light and times of darkness. We are enabled to live a life of praise no matter what we are doing, as God works within us a continual awareness of His presence while we go about our daily tasks.

God is there when we are enjoying the many entertaining and absorbing options available to us. God enjoys us, His children, enjoying ourselves with a clean heart. He does not expect us to deny ourselves enjoyment for all the good things He provides. We do not have to make ourselves live a rigid religious life by reading the Bible for a required amount of time, denying any pleasurable activity, or make a law of a pre-planned periods of time to be with Him.

Sunday mornings need no longer be the one time, even the main time in the week, where He has our full attention. God is a continual presence dwelling within, tabernacling in His people just as He has promised. He looks at our hearts to see why we do what we do before Him while we are expressing adoration for our Lord. He knows that most of the world’s people are busy surviving, so He’s not calling us to more fervent or continual religious activity for Him. Any such work needs to flow from our relationship with Him, led by His spirit.

The more we know Him, the more we love Him. Unbelievers will really love Him when they get to know Him too! And we, His beloved, are actually created to be the ultimate praise of God:

“In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:11-12 Berean

Zion is God’s holy city, Abraham’s city not built with hands. The father of our faith knew this life was not his homeland. The destiny for God’s called, chosen, and faithful is this high spiritual dwelling place in God, His highest heaven where He and His Son dwell and rule from the throne. Abraham longed for and saw Zion, God’s city made without hands. We are God’s temple, and Jesus said the kingdom of God is within us to show forth His handiwork.

God is at the center of every moment we face, He is working in every circumstance to impact our lives. We can be honest in our hearts with any struggle we have while praising Him in all things.

“Rejoice at all times. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”! Thessalonians 5:16-17 Berean

We are not thanking Him for the circumstances but in every circumstance. His will for us is to give thanks, rejoice, and pray all the time. Think of it! God of the universe loves to hear from us. He desires that we talk with Him every moment, not just on certain occasions. He is not asking us to pretend we are not devastated by the death of loved ones or suffering from loss of health or income, the impact of natural and manmade disasters, or all the adversity that comes our way.

Oh, no, we do not have to pretend to be joyful when we are not. He is our joy and lives within. We are enabled, particularly through heartfelt praise, to submit our soul—our will, our mind, and our emotions—to Him in order to receive strength, endurance, and hope for better days to come. We are learning to do as Paul directed the Thessalonians to do, to pray without ceasing. We cannot pray without ceasing if we consider prayer as only for formal times, in a meeting or on our knees.

Prayer is a conversation with God and we can do that from the time we get up until we fall asleep. He is always with us so we can truly pray without ceasing. As He takes the central place in our hearts, it becomes more and more easy to talk to and listen to Him all day, every day. It is a joy to always have this Friend who sticks closer than a brother, to remain in continual connection with Him. And guess what? He loves it too!

Jesus Christ will come and keep coming within until we are made like Him. He promised. Just as many life events change our lives forever after, our lives will never be the same as our faithful Father guides us in His loving, compassionate ways. He is able to turn our circumstances around, with or without praise, but it goes better, reducing our distress and suffering, when we praise Him! The very act of praise lifts our spirits from the earthly to the heavenly.

The best Biblical example of this is the many Psalms, most especially David’s, that start with heaviness, a grievance, even despair, and end with being renewed in mind and spirit by the knowledge of our God and His faithfulness. Read the battle of Jericho as God’s way of going into battle, surrounding our enemy with an order of uplifting thought and praise toward God Almighty for the victory…in advance!

Don’t you think these Israelite warriors were thinking of and praising God as they obeyed what God had told Joshua? As they were fully human, I am also guessing some were thinking. “I sure hope this works!” We, too, can begin winning more battles more quickly with God-directed praise. Praise God in obedience, as instructed, even when we don’t feel like it. It’s not about feelings, it is about faith. Our own heart then becomes a sacrifice of praise.

David tells us that God cherishes the sacrifice of praise from a broken and contrite spirit. Surrender to the Father’s will first, and a changed heart will follow in God’s timing. There are numerous examples of this ability of our Lord to change our complete being—our thinking, our soul, our intentions— to match His will. He is aligning our feelings into love for Him and our fellow man, as we submit and worship Him in everything.

Jesus Christ has won every battle. He is ever interceding on our behalf against our enemies. We see the manifestation of His victory now, in His life within us. This is working to move us through all difficulties at hand, regardless of time or severity. Every single event that we might think is beyond His power to restore and heal, we can find a saint whose life shows that He can and does.

All things are possible with God. He is faithful to raise us out of all circumstances. He is with us as we are praising Him while walking out the divine faith He is forming within us. As our trust in Him grows, we see He is worthy of true praise and worship.

“If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.

To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:11 NIV

The Reluctant Servant

I love reading about Jonah pouting and complaining to God about His calling to Nineveh. Jonah is prophet with whom I can identify, though not necessarily with pride, because Jonah’s behavior and conversations with God are so familiar to our human condition. God told Jonah to do something he absolutely did not want to do. Ever been there?

God’s directive to Jonah was to go to Nineveh to convict them of their wicked sins. Jonah did not want to go because He knew God would be merciful and gracious, slow to anger, one that relents concerning coming calamity. Jonah unwisely runs away, thinking He can escape the presence of the Lord.

“Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai, saying, ‘Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before Me.’ Jonah, however, got up to flee to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.” Jonah 1:1-3a Berean

On his way sailing to Tarshish, a storm threatens to capsize their ship, drowning them all. Jonah’s shipmates knew that he was fleeing the Lord God Almighty and suspect the storm was due to him. So they threw Jonah into the sea:

“‘What have you done?’ The men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them…” Jonah 1:10b Berean

God had a whale prepared to swallow Jonah up, thereby saving him. While in these dire circumstances, Jonah calls out to the Lord. With every expectation of dying, Jonah has a change of heart, sees the vanity of life, and prays a most beautiful prayer of petition and renewed commitment to obedience:

“As my life was fading away, I remembered the Lord. My prayer went up to You, to Your holy temple. Those who cling to worthless idols forsake His loving devotion. But I, with the voice of thanksgiving, I will sacrifice to You. I will fulfill what I have vowed. Salvation is from the Lord!” Jonah 2:7-9 Berean

Jonah’s prayers when helpless and facing death are heard by God, Who makes a way of escape for Jonah. So it is for us when we initially refuse and try to run from His will. God is not surprised and has already prepared rescues for many of us, saint and sinner alike, rebellious or not, saving us from our dire circumstances. Hearts do change when facing death, many becoming fully convicted without any other hope.

Jonah was then sincere about obeying God’s orders. But wait—was he? Well, Jonah obediently preaches the coming doom and disaster to Nineveh’s inhabitants if they do not repent, just as God commanded Him to do. But he is not happy about it! He is resentfully obedient and, as he predicted, the people of Ninevah became aware of their sins, repenting with fasting and prayer.

Jonah watched the city from a hill as the people of Ninevah turned back to the Lord to receive forgiveness. Instead of rejoicing that all were saved by God’s mercy, Jonah gets angry that God does not destroy them. Apparently Jonah is tired of preaching disaster when He knows that God will show compassion and mercy when they repent. If God is going to save them anyway, why bother preaching a word of judgment if they do not repent? Perhaps in his own eyes, Jonah feels like a fool.

After having been miraculously saved from death himself, Jonah was so furious he actually wanted to die:

“Jonah, however, was greatly displeased, and he became angry. So he prayed to the Lord, saying, ‘O Lord, is this not what I said while I was still in my own country? This is why I was so quick to flee toward Tarshish. I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion—One who relents from sending disaster. And now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.’

But the Lord replied, ‘Have you any right to be angry?’ Then Jonah left the city and sat down east of it, where he made himself a shelter and sat in its shade to see what would happen to the city. So the Lord God appointed a vine and it grew up to provide shade over Jonah’s head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was greatly pleased with the plant.

When dawn came the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant so that it withered. As the sun was rising, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint and wished to die, saying, ‘It is better for me to die than to live.’ Then God asked Jonah, ‘Have you any right to be angry about the plant?’ ‘I do,” he replied. ‘I am angry enough to die!’

But the Lord said, ‘You cared about the plant, which you neither tended nor made grow. It sprang up in a night and perished in a night. So should I not care about the great city of Nineveh, which has more than 120,000 people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well?’” Jonah, Chapter 4 Berean

Jonah, the reluctant servant, is actually angry about God’s compassion and mercy! He accuses God because of His benevolent nature: “See, I know what You are like. You’re gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion—One who relents from sending disaster. I knew you would do this and that’s why I ran away!” He is still in disagreement with God’s plan, though He did do as instructed.

Disagreeing with God’s instruction, as well as His decision to save Nineveh, teaches Jonah some valuable lessons. God finds Jonah pouting and complaining that God is forgiving the people of Nineveh instead of punishing these sinners as he had predicted. Jonah gets really angry, just like some preachers get angry and preach against sin with threats of eternal damnation instead of salvation and redemption. Some continually rail against sin without mercy for the sinner instead of ministering the way out of it.

God teaches Jonah about compassion by His nurturing of a plant that brings comforting shade, later causing it to die. God shows Jonah’s care about the plant is like God’s care for the people of Nineveh. Seeing it from God’s viewpoint, Jonah was humbled and had nothing more to say about it. The plant and the people belong to God and He will do justly with all in His hands.

Basically, God says to Jonah: “It’s all My creation, My business, not yours.” And it is surprising how many of God’s servants do resent God’s mercy towards others. So many seem to want others to earn it, pay for it, or be punished because they don’t. Perhaps we want others to suffer the same struggles we have had in coming to God, but where is love and mercy in this? Where is God’s compassions that never fail? Jesus said that all would be paid the same: granted salvation freely.

Consider this parable Jesus told in Matthew 20:

“The kingdom of heaven is like a person who owned some land. One morning, he went out very early to hire some people to work in his vineyard. The man agreed to pay the workers one coin for working that day. Then he sent them into the vineyard to work.

About nine o’clock the man went to the marketplace and saw some other people standing there, doing nothing. So he said to them, ‘If you go and work in my vineyard, I will pay you what your work is worth.’ So they went to work in the vineyard.

The man went out again about twelve o’clock and three o’clock and did the same thing. About five o’clock the man went to the marketplace again and saw others standing there. He asked them, ‘Why did you stand here all day doing nothing?’ They answered, ‘No one gave us a job.’ The man said to them, ‘Then you can go and work in my vineyard.’

At the end of the day, the owner of the vineyard said to the boss of all the workers, ‘Call the workers and pay them. Start with the last people I hired and end with those I hired first.’ When the workers who were hired at five o’clock came to get their pay, each received one coin.

When the workers who were hired first came to get their pay, they thought they would be paid more than the others. But each one of them also received one coin. When they got their coin, they complained to the man who owned the land. They said, ‘Those people were hired last and worked only one hour. But you paid them the same as you paid us who worked hard all day in the hot sun.’

But the man who owned the vineyard said to one of those workers, ‘Friend, I am being fair to you. You agreed to work for one coin. So take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same pay that I gave you. I can do what I want with my own money. Are you jealous because I am good to those people?’

So those who are last now will someday be first, and those who are first now will someday be last.” Matthew 20:1-16 NCV

Are we jealous? Good question! We belong to God and it is His decision what He does, how He blesses those that serve Him. We see God’s heart revealed, as well as perhaps His sense of humor, in this account of His dealings with Jonah. He knows Jonah’s heart and has made preparation for Jonah’s lesson. God’s promise of universal salvation of all expounds on the Lord’s nature of compassionate mercy. The decisions God makes can be trusted to teach us His truth.

God works within us through Christ until we accept and surrender to His ways. He may not put us in a whale’s belly, but there are innumerable troubling situations that He uses in this world to bring us to repentance. He surely can leave us trapped in dark and dismal circumstances until we yield, surrendering to His directives. In this way, we learn His ways, as we obey what He tells us to do with a clean heart.

We can then say with the Psalmist:

“It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.” Psalms 119:72 Amplified

It is good news that our God is compassionate, slow to anger, and ever merciful, even to us reluctant servants! One does wonder, however, what happened to Jonah, clearly a prophet of God practiced in bringing forth God’s message to the people of that day. Was Jonah weary in well-doing, delivering all the threatening judgments that God said would happen that did not come about because our God is a forgiving and merciful God?

Perhaps Jonah became so tired of seeing sin rule all around him that he finally saw his own vengeful heart. The lessons to Jonah are clear. It is God’s business to extend His mercy and compassion to whomever He will, stated this way by the Apostle Paul in the New Testament:

“What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Certainly not! For He says to Moses: ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’ So then, it does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.” Romans 9:14-16 Berean

“This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” I Timothy 2:3-4 NASB

Our Lord’s compassion is present in this account of God’s dealings with Jonah. Praise God that man’s desires or efforts do not determine the outcome, God’s mercy does. The servants of the Lord are carrying out His will in many matters, but the final outcome is in always up to God. What happens to us is totally dependent upon God’s mercy, and He’s got a lot of that!

“We can make our plans, but the final outcome is in God’s hands. We can always prove that we are right, but is the Lord convinced?

Commit your work to the Lord, then it will succeed. The Lord has made everything for his own purposes—even the wicked for punishment.” Proverbs 16:1-4 Living Bible

God’s nature is mercy and love. His decisions affect all that happens, choosing what and with whom the truth and justice of His nature is revealed. We who desire to be more like Him find we have hearts increasingly filled with His compassion and mercy for all. We know it will take time, even ages, but due time will come, whether it seems that way or not, for every knee to bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord.

Sometimes Christians do speak and act as if God is not in charge, that He is helpless to defeat satan, unable to fulfill His plan because of the will of men. Do we not yet know that there is not one decision God has made to which fallible man is not subject? He oversees the choices people make in life. God is absolutely not dependent upon what man desires or works hard to accomplish. He made a way of escape for all through Jesus Christ our Lord.

God wants us as loving sons and daughters, not robots. Yes, the people of this world have long been subject to an enemy, but we do see the Lord of the universe having a plan for this world of people He so loves. Remember, satan can only work in the dust realm of the earth. The father of lies has already been defeated by our Lord Jesus Christ, who is leading the battle for victory over our enemies within and without.

Our Lord and King intercedes between us and our enemies, leading the charge as Michael, the archangel, the Chief Messenger of Revelation. Jesus Christ most certainly does not need to intercede between us and a vengeful Father, for our sins are blotted out and God remembers them no more.

“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” Isaiah 43:25 NIV

“For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more." Hebrews 8:12 Berean

Our Lord Jesus does not need to plead with His Father for our forgiveness. It is already accomplished. Jesus is the Door connecting us with Father God. He clearly states in the gospels, “if you have seen me, you have seen the Father.” Father God is one with our avenger and protector, Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords. We have God the Father’s power and authority through our Lord Jesus Christ fighting every battle on our behalf.

We are at rest while ever ready to provide God’s words of comfort, wisdom and deliverance to others. Nothing happening in this world surprises God. Evil has not caught Him by surprise, nor is He wringing His hands at what we humans do. When we are called and chosen by Him, our lives move on to the path God has set out for us whether we understand or agree, even when we join Jonah in being reluctant servants.

There are many, many, mysterious things that God does that we may not correctly discern but obey because He is God and knows best. When we surrender to Him, we are locked in, destined to go His way. God is a most excellent Father who will train us up in the way we ought to go. He is a God Who builds relationships and connections, creating us for His own pleasure.

God teaches willing hearts of His ways, delighting in our growth as well as being merciful at our stumbling. Remember, stumbling while learning to walk is natural for young ones. God, like the parent of a toddler celebrating their little one’s first stumbling steps, rejoices in our process of growth. He promises us:

“The steps of a man are ordered by the Lord who takes delight in his journey. Though he falls [stumbles], he will not be overwhelmed, for the Lord is holding his hand.” Psalms 37:33-34 Berean

The Lord delights in the steps of a man who is walking after Him. Do you believe that? It is far from the preaching some hear, where God’s supposed disgust with His sinful creation is expressed. Earlier in this Psalm, we are admonished not to fret, not to get all heated up about evildoers, because God will deal with them. If we can only accept that God is not a vengeful God but a God of mercy, love, and hope, we won’t be troubled by the evil in the world, either.

We learn not to observe and judge the man who stumbles, condemning their unsteady spiritual walk, when it is just what God has set up to teach this one. Mistakes equal learning when God’s Spirit is instructing us concerning the kingdom of God. What God allows, even when disastrous events remove all human hope, is used for good to change His servants.

God’s purpose is always just, beyond the purposes and efforts of humans, always working towards unfolding His great plan for the ages. Many times we can look back at losses and endings, seeing now the blessings and growth from those times of discipline through adversity. He provides His discipline, required for us to mature in His ways. We then grow beyond observing or being confused by His acts. We are learning to rest in knowing that God knows what we need.

God has the purpose, plan, and power to redeem us to the uttermost. He says so, many times. When we, His people, delight in His ways, here is His promise to us, in three different translations:

“The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him.” Psalm 37:23 NIV

“The steps of a man are established by the Lord when he delights in His way; Psalm 37:23 ESV

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in His way.” Psalm 37:23 KJV

How we need to show God that we delight in Him, as He is delighted with us! If He created us for a loving relationship with Him, why wouldn’t He be delighted to hear from us, to have us draw near His throne to worship and learn from Him? We may fall into disagreement with God’s decisions, be reluctant to obey —until God invites us to come up a little higher in the spirit to see as He sees. We know that His ways and nature are higher and better than ours.

If God thought like a man, He may have said about Jonah: “I’ve had it with this guy and his rebellion. Thinks he can hide from Me? Ha!” God could have just rubbed Jonah out. Instead, God sees Jonah’s weary heart and provides instruction that comforts him. What a tender and patient heavenly Father!

Sons as Servants

As Jesus taught the parable of two sons who were told by their father to work in the vineyard, He reveals differences in their hearts about obeying their father. One son is reluctant but later is obedient, while the other says he’ll do it but doesn’t. With whom do you think God is pleased?

“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ ‘I will not’, he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir’, but he did not go. Which of the two did what his father wanted?’ ‘

The first’, they answered. Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.” Matthew 21:28-32 NIV

Here is evidence that reluctance does not equal disobedience. Most parents would rather have a reluctantly obedient child who disagrees with them but still obeys than a child who superficially agrees but does not obey, or is rebellious and refuses their direction. Jesus said the tax collectors and the prostitutes, thought to be the worst sinners of the time, would enter the kingdom before His audience of learned but unbelieving Jewish religious leaders. They knew they needed Him.

Jesus is saying it is less significant how you start out than when, in the end, you obey the Father. The (self)righteous Jews say they are obedient, doing what their Father wants according to the laws of Moses, yet it is just words without action or heart to fulfill them. This same condition exists today in lukewarm believers giving lip service to God’s will while their hearts are far from Him.

Rest assured, God’s love has them covered, though they may arrive later than the ones who have turned from deeply sinful lives to find God’s ways. Great need always searches out great love. It is not the appearance of being religious that will open the gates of His kingdom. If that were the case, the religious leaders of Jesus’ days on earth would have been first to enter. God looks upon the heart of man, discerning the thoughts and intents of us all, judging beyond our words and our actions to our inner man.

“For ‘God has put everything under His feet.’ Now when it says that everything has been put under Him, this clearly does not include the One [Father God] who put everything under Him.

And when all things have been subjected to Him, then the Son Himself will be made subject to Him who put all things under Him, so that God may be all in all.” 1 Corinthians 15:27-28 Berean

Isn’t this absolutely great news? We do not need one thought of vengeance for sinners nor to be disappointed like Jonah when God restores all to Himself. We can be eager, not reluctant, to be a part of wiping tears off faces until He completes this work. It has begun, this Day of the Lord, and the completion may take eons, but it will be fulfilled. Why would He say it if He will not do it?

We are the light in the world that all need to see to know the One True God, to see the mercy and justice, love and compassion that is our God’s nature. God brought it to Nineveh, but they surely did not witness it in His servant Jonah. Yet God was so compassionate and merciful with this man who had been serving Him and actually did know God’s nature better than some do today!

We are to be clothed with His nature, not found naked, in this hour. God has a Body of believers in unity who are already being refined by the fires of God’s presence. The purification is happening as the day of our salvation draws nigh! Those who do not believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, trusting Him to lead us to the Father, just don’t know the Nature they are ignoring. If they knew Him, they’d love Him like we do!

He does create in us a willingness, a desire to run to do His will rather than be reluctant to accept it, let alone fulfill it. God is the changer of hearts and has all in His hands. Regardless of occasional reluctance to go where He leads or stumbling upon the obstacles in our path of life, we are invited to progress in God. We remain in His spiritual school, enduring all with patience and faith until His promises are fulfilled within us.

The kingdom of God is within us and we look to its completion, for God surely has begun a good work within the hearts of His chosen and He will complete it.

The Desires of Our Hearts

Sometimes, it can be confusing when placing our requests before the Lord. He does not always grant the desires of our hearts. There are times when He does, frequent delays, denial of our prayer requests, or seeminly no answers at all. Those of us walking with our Lord and serving Him as best we can soon must deal with Him concerning the desires of our hearts. It takes spiritual growth to understand His ways in all of this.

How are we to understand spiritually what His desires for us really are and the mysteries of the responses we receive? What are we to do with the many desires we have, for others and for ourselves, that we take to the Lord in hopes of a positive answer? Psalms 37 beautifully guides us:

“Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.

Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He will do it.” Psalms 37:3-5 NASB

Trust, delight, commit. That is the formula. We know that God answers prayer! When first reading this, perhaps as beginning '“babes in Christ,” we think we can ask our Lord anything and He will grant it. We delight in being able to go to Jesus with all of our requests. This is as it should be! He made the way for us to be in a relationship with our very loving Father, who delights in our communion. We are to come to Him as little children would, in complete trust and faith.

This is how we learn to trust and delight in our Lord and commit all our ways to Him. Jesus Christ made the way for us to talk with our Father by spirit. Our Lord is continually interceding for us in our battles and experiences, being in constant communion with His Father about us:

“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25 KJV

Looking back on our lives, we see His hand in the interests we have, the choices we’ve made, even when we thought it was our idea! We learn that we can count on the desires that HE places within us being fulfilled. He creates each of us with certain purposes in mind, planting these desires in our hearts. Yes, He does answer prayer!

As we mature on our walk with the Lord, however, we realize that His desires vary from ours, that God’s answer to even the deepest desires of our hearts is not always yes. He loves us and He is faithful to answer but it may be: “Yes.” Or “No.” Or “Wait.” Or “I have a better idea.”

Yes!

When we hear God saying yes to something we most desire, it may seem the easier to handle than the rest of His possible answers—but perhaps not. We celebrate with an hallelujah and go on to enjoy it, right? But wait. We may hesitate to fully embrace the “yes” we had hoped and pleaded for God to grant us. It can be a bit daunting to trust that it is HIS voice saying yes rather than our own strong desire and will to hear that affirmative answer. We may fear that it is too good to be true!

God does give us good things according to His purposes. When we have been waiting, when we have had previous misery and loss, God may need to teach us how to receive with thanksgiving and joy, how to be happy and trust this wonderful affirmative answer to our heart’s desires. God has many ways to confirm and reassure us, including “putting out a fleece,” as Gideon did when desiring to be sure of God’s direction.

In the Old Testament, Gideon was very cautious and concerned when he heard God say he was called to defeat the enemies of his people. The desire to defeat their oppressors had burned in the Israelites’ hearts since they were captured. In Gideon’s day, the Midianites had ruled the Israelites for seven long years. God told them that this defeat was because of their disobedience in worshipping idols.

Not unlike others called by God for an unexpected and very important purpose, Gideon did not think he was eligible or qualified for this calling. He never dreamed God would choose him to lead the charge. Gideon’s first response was to tell God immediately why he wasn’t the one for the job. Though he desired a victory over their enemies, he felt ill-equipped, based upon who he was, a person of no stature in the eyes of others.

Gideon joins many others through the centuries in waiting and searching for God to give victory when oppressed. Think of all the prayers the people had been praying, all of those seven years, for God to deliver them. When God seems to finally say YES, we quesion it. When it was time, God chose Gideon, calling him a “mighty warrior “ when he knew he was no such thing. Here’s Gideon’s story, told in this NIV version in a way that sounds like how we might in similar situations:

“The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, ‘The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.’

‘Pardon me, my lord,’ Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.’

The Lord turned to him and said, ‘Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?’ ‘Pardon me, my lord,’ Gideon replied, ‘but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the weakest in my family. The Lord answered, ‘I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.’” Judges 6:11-23 NIV

It was difficult for Gideon to believe this message because they had been asking and asking. He’s heard of all the miracles God did in the past, but he, Gidion, has yet to see them. He can’t see what God sees in calling him and feels inadequate to the call. Isn’t that just like many of us when we first hear from God about a very critical matter that we had no idea He wanted us to be dealing with, let alone leading the charge?!

Many Christians have similarly “put out a fleece,” asking God for a sign of confirmation that it is Him; that He is saying our desires are granted. He knows we do this to be certain of His word and direction. He knows when our hearts sincerely desire confirmation that it is His will. This is a common response when He drops something into our spirit that we had never considered doing nor feel prepared to take on.

God begins to speak to us about doing something new, something not in our awareness at all. It may be something we have long desired or even secretly dreamed about but have little hope it will ever happen, just as with Gideon and his fellow Israelites. Or, like Gideon, we have wanted it but never dreamed God would use us to lead the way in bringing it to pass for ourselves and others.

Gideon was a nobody and he certainly did not view himself as a mighty warrior! God told Gideon he would succeed because God Himself was sending him. It did not matter what his external rank and qualifications were. We too may feel ill-equipped to do the calling, the mission God sets before us, just as Gideon did, but that matters not to God. All Gideon needed was to know God was with him and was sending him.

Gideon did not just accept that it was God talking to him. Gideon respectfully replies to the Lord’s messenger with his doubts and concerns. He needs more time and confirmation. God was not surprised, as He knew what was in Gideon’s heart. He knew that Gideon would need more assurance from the Lord to believe and obey. He needed proof beyond what he heard the angel, this Messenger of God, say to him, particularly since the outcome was so critical, long desired but unfulfilled.

“Gideon replied, ‘If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you.’ And the Lord said, ‘I will wait until you return.’

Gideon went inside, prepared a young goat, and from an ephah of flour he made bread without yeast. Putting the meat in a basket and its broth in a pot, he brought them out and offered them to him under the oak.

The angel of God said to him, ‘Take the meat and the unleavened bread, place them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” And Gideon did so. Then the angel of the Lord touched the meat and the unleavened bread with the tip of the staff that was in his hand. Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. And the angel of the Lord disappeared.

When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he exclaimed, ‘Alas, Sovereign Lord! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!’ But the Lord said to him, ‘Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.’ So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord Is Peace.” Judges 6:36-40 NIV

After Gideon’s offering is consumed, he is finally assured that it is the Lord speaking to him. The Spirit of the Lord came upon him and he blew a trumpet to gather others to join him in fighting the Midianites. But why did the people listen to him, this lowest of the tribe of Manasseh, not known for their leadership? Obviously, God told him what to do and what God says to do, works! God was with him or they would not have heard his call to war as a message from God.

Later, Gideon asks God for one more sign of confirmation before he leads the Israelites into battle. He needs certainty about the task and its promised outcome of victory. After all, this was a life and death situation and the Israelites had not seen a victory for some time:

“Gideon said to God, ‘If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised, look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.’ And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water.

Then Gideon said to God, ‘Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.’ That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.” Judges 6:36-40 NIV

As the story continues in Judges Chapter 7, we read how God directs Gideon’s every step, even showing him how to successfully spy on the enemy by listening in on their plans. God tells Gideon exactly how to bring about a successful attack and reduces the number of Gideon’s army to 300 men. Who but God would reduce the number in His army?! He directs Gideon to choose only those who drank water while still scanning the area for their enemy.

Is this not symbolic of the balance we are to have, drinking the water of the spirit while staying alert for the enemy of our souls? It’s doubtful that Gideon could think or imagine all that God would do through his obedience. He had to repeatedly hear the promise of victory from God. But think of the joy the Israelites had in this great victory for which they had waited so long. We may think or imagine what the Lord will do, but His reality is so much better! When HE says we are mighty warriors, He makes us into just that! He makes the timid strong and the weak able to lead others to victory.

God does talk to His people, even now. He still directs our paths in very specific ways as we learn to listen and to desire His will above all. God is the best strategist there is, whether it is how to fight the enemy in times of battle without or within, or with anyone or anything else that comes against us. It may be our professional or personal opponents, or our inner spiritual enemies stealing our peace, love, and joy.

God has the weapons of warfare that we require by the spirit for every single plan we must undertake. When faced with a new task, big or small, God knows the best steps for success in what He calls us to do. He knows how to fulfill His will in us. Some of His own people might be quite surprised at just how specific can be His answers. After all, He is invested in our success. Like with Gideon, He assures us of victory in many things before we even do them.

He can choose to act without people, but that is not His way. He gives us the great honor, privilege, and responsibility to carry out His will in many matters, big and small, that impact lives on this earth. When we hear God’s YES, we still talk it over with Him. Not everyone has conversations with the Lord like Gideon, but He knows how to communicate His desires and plans to each one of us when we have willing hearts.

As we are ready and willing to hear His will, to set aside our own will, we can count on the Lord to do His part in communicating to us. After all, doesn’t He want us to know His will? When our hearts are as open as possible, we will hear what He is saying. And when we have heard the affirmation that our request has been granted, we then, like Gideon, ask His direction in proceeding or wait patiently until this most important desire as Father God unfolds this desire as a reality. He is a good Father and grants many of the desires of our hearts, including some surprising plans He plants within us to fulfill our calling.

No!

What about when God’s answer is no? When He firmly shuts the door on something we so wanted and thought we required, it can lead to quite a struggle between flesh and spirit. We may not have the maturity necessary to immediately lay down what we want in surrender to Him. We protest in anger and disappointment, searching for why not? We may go further in trying to persuade Him, just as a child who hears “no” does.

Even we adults cry and get depressed when we hear this answer from God concerning a desire we have in our hearts. It’s an area of spiritual growth to gain for maturity, and what better way than hearing God’s NO! We may start to hear the enemy’s lies: “See, the Lord does not really love you. You are not good enough for Him to grant what your heart longs for. He can’t really do that anyway.” We diminish what God is capable of doing, despite His multitude of promises and blessings.

Gideon had seen much defeat, so his first reply sounds accusatory: “So what have you done for us lately? I heard about your past great works but I haven’t seen them!” Have we ever thought that or even said it to the Lord? Many of our spiritual fathers and mothers lived in more glorious times of seeing God’s miracles than many of us have now.

Years ago, a wonderful minister, Rev. Emil Boktor, was visiting our home and fellowship from Egypt. He asked us what miracles we had experienced since his last visit to America. When we had no examples, he shared many with us and gently but pointedly stated that, in Egypt, they need miracles and therefore, they get them. Christians in Egypt, having been much oppressed, learn to rely on God’s miraculous provision for their daily needs—unlike America, where suffering and deprivation are uncommon for many.

When God says NO, some believers still blame it on the devil, that enemy of our soul. Others explain away their disappointment and ongoing loss by stating that God has just left us to our own devices and has no power to change things. Because we do not understand Him or His ways, we use our human reasoning to conclude that He’s a loving but powerless God who cannot intervene. There’s even a book that takes this approach as a way to explain why bad things happen to good people.

This diminishes our all-powerful God and is no comfort when we know God is more than able to anything He chooses to do. Reducing God to our understanding is of little assistance when believers seek to comprehend and accept God’s decisions. It takes maturity to understand God is all powerful, in charge of th darkness and light He created. Father God’s NO is for our good. He is protecting us, like any good Father, from things that are not the best for us and the path we are to take.

Check out Job’s afflictions and the hollow comfort of His friends when he lost everything by God’s hand. They said, among other things, that it was his fault that he lost everything. He maintained that it was God with whom He had to deal. He never once blamed satan or turned to any other power to understand what had befallen Him. God, in turn, dealt with Job’s complaints as well as the ineffective counsel given by his friends:

“Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: ‘Who is this who obscures My counsel by words without knowledge? Now brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall inform Me. Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?

Tell Me, if you understand. Who fixed its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its foundations set, or who laid its cornerstone, while the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?’” Job 38:1-7 Berean

God goes on to remind Job of Who He is and all He has done since the beginning of time that Job, or any man, could not possibly understand. All through Job chapters 38, 39 and 40, God chastises Job for questioning His ways and contending with the Almighty. He lists all that He has created and accomplished, far beyond anything humans can comprehend. Job’s wise response is to humble himself before the Lord:

“Then Job answered the LORD: ‘Behold, I am insignificant. How can I reply to You? I place my hand over my mouth. I have spoken once, but I have no answer—twice, but I have nothing to add.’” Job 40:3-5 Berean

God goes on through more chapters to remind Job and his friends of His mighty power and majesty. All of these things are far, far beyond Job’s understanding in making his complaints to God. God challenges Job:

“Will you really annul my justice? Would you condemn Me to justify yourself?” Job 40:8 Berean

Our human reasoning does just that! We malign God’s character as well as His promises when His acts do not fit with our understanding of justice and fair treatment. Remember, Job did nothing to deserve what happened to him. God said Job was righteous and allowed all of these calamities to befall him as a test. It certainly does not sound like justice to wipe out every blessing Job had, especially since God Himself said he was a good man.

It is just so in this life. Much of what God allows to happen to us, though we’ve prayed the opposite, is not of our own doing. It is a consequence of living in this sin-filled world. Humans have choices and some of them bring harm to believers as well as unbelievers. Job is not the only one of God’s servants to go down this path. We may join Job in assuming we know what is happening and even that God is wrong in what He’s allowed.

We use our carnal minds instead of the holy spirit to understand and justify ourselves about what happened to us. When our hearts are bruised and weary with overwhelming loss and pain, we pull God down to our level. We argue that we are innocent, undeserving, treated unfairly, or believe God is less than Who He is. We forget that Jesus was innocent, undeserving, treated unfairly, allowing the worst to happen to His only begotten Son because of Father God’s purposes.

This becomes a lonely place because the God of all comfort is the One who allows these things to happen. It’s difficult to go to someone for comfort thinking they could have changed the outcome and chose not to do so. How angry and betrayed we may feel, but eventually, we must humble ourselves and yield completely, confessing that we do not understand His ways, just as Job did:

“I know that You can do all things and that no plan of Yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this who conceals My counsel without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.

You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak. I will question you, and you shall inform Me.’ My ears had heard of You, but now my eyes have seen You. Therefore I retract my words, and I repent in dust and ashes.’” Job 42:2-6 Berean

Job truly sees God, repenting and changing his mind before Almighty God. The contrast between what little he and his friends know and all that God is becomes glaringly apparent. He is the God of the universe, this Lord with whom we have to deal. God is a master at humbling us when we need to be humbled. Often it is in the privacy of our conversations with Him, but occasionally it happens in the presence of others.

After Job was humbled, God chastised Job’s friends for not speaking the truth about Him. Unlike Job, they did not speak accurately about God and His ways with Job. Their well-meaning attempts to help their friend led to speaking from their own reasoning, not God’s truth. We need more than an eternity to understand God!

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and His ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counsellor? Or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto Him again?

For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to Whom be glory forever. Amen.” Romans 11:33-36 KJV

As with Job, we are wise to yield, to surrender, regardless of our limited understanding. We need to say, as Jesus did in Gethsemane, “Not my will but Yours be done.” The more quickly we surrender our will to what God is saying and doing, the more quickly our wayward emotions will come in line with that surrender. Our submitted will is like an anchor we can hold on to when our thoughts and emotions buffet and sway us in the matter.

It begins to sink in that God Himself is in charge of every aspect of our lives. Other people cannot overrule what He allows to come and buffet us. When we wrestle with acceptance, resisting surrender, we find ourselves in a battle we cannot win. Anything that we resist just grows stronger, prolonging our suffering. With our resistance, we are focusing on what we want that He is denying or has taken away, whether big or small.

Our self-focus and desires grow stronger as we hold on, rather than surrender to the refusal God has given as our answer. If it is within our power to proceed without God’s blessing in the matter, when we think we know better than God, we definitely will suffer more, as many Biblical examples reveal. When Christians take matters into their own hands, there are lessons of pain, loss, and regret.

God is not surprised and is always prepared for the willfulness of His children We are learning God’s lessons the hard way, which some strong-willed people seem to require. And we all can be strong-willed in desires we are determined to have fulfilled, insisting on our rights, seeing them as essential to our happiness and wellbeing.

It may be surprising to discover we are among the strong-willed when God says NO, but remember, this is about the deepest desires of our hearts. God has just said “No” to what we most desperately want. When we insist on pursuing the desires of our hearts that He is not endorsing, we bring pain and sorrow to ourselves and others. Most of us, sadly, have gone this way at some point or another.

When God says NO, the sooner and more completely we yield to God’s NO, the more quickly He is able to remove that desire from our hearts so it no longer plagues us. So many seem not to realize that God cares about EVERY aspect of our lives. He is able to direct the desires of our hearts in the path He has chosen for us. More specifically, He not only works a surrender to and acceptance of His will, but we learn to trust that He does know best for us, far beyond what we desire.

This is how we learn to trust, then delight, then commit our ways to Him. He is building our faith every time we surrender to Him, regardless of understanding why. He is able to turn a resisting heart into a willing heart:

“…for it is God who is at work in you, both to desire and to work for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13

Wait!

Sometimes when we are considering an action or a choice, seeking an answer, God’s reply to “Wait” launches another growth process. Learning to wait with patience, to postpone gratification, brings more refinement of our spiritual character. He is working the gold of His nature into our hearts, developing the fruit of the spirit within us through the refinement of being in God’s waiting room.

In God’s waiting room, we can wait with resentment or fear or wait with patience and peace, learning to trust in faith. Self-control when waiting for God to deal with some issue in our lives, particularly something we strongly desire, is one of life’s most essential lessons. To illustrate, there are revealing short videos on social media of little children being tested by having to wait a few minutes for a treat.

Parents put candy in front of their child(ren), telling them they cannot eat it until they get back in a few minutes. While the camera is on these little ones, they struggle to obey, to wait for their treat. Some successfully pass the test of waiting, whether patiently or not. Most have at least a little struggle, picking up the candy to look at it or smell it.

Others don’t even bother to struggle, stuffing the candy in their mouths as soon as their parents are gone. It’s cute to see these little ones and their contrasting reactions, even between siblings. But it is not so cute when the child who so easily yields to temptation becomes older. For some of these children, self-control issues will arise unless they have further growth and practice in controlling their desires, learning to delay gratification. Then it is no longer cute but problematic and brings future adversity into their lives and to those who love them.

We have so much immediately available to us in our modern society, these qualities may not be as well-developed for many of us. Learning to postpone gratification, waiting with patient endurance for God’s will to unfold, is a part of spiritual maturity. Some of us adults are still asking the Lord to strengthen our patience in waiting and our self-control to resist running ahead of the Holy Spirit!

These essential godly characteristics Father God, if not our own parents, work within us because life is full of waiting! We need this fruit of the spirit in our lives. When we live in a society where so much instant gratification is possible, the wait for things to unfold in God’s time in this eternal kingdom seems like a ...well, like an eternity! We all have this struggle in our own childhoods and in raising our children.

Whatever is forbidden, whatever is not allowed that others have, the parental NO seems to increase the desire to have it. Sadly, it is not just children who have such battles. Many of us Christians feel exactly this way about the rules and limits we believe God has put in our path. Adolescents will often test limits and be attracted to what is forbidden, though it changes generationally and from culture to culture. It’s not about what is right or wrong, so much as it is about what is expected in that culture, the “norm.” Look at any culture and teens are drawn to whatever is forbidden by the adults. Interesting, isn’t it?

But when we ask God what is the best way for us, our path of life, He will show us, including the wait for His perfect timing. He made each of us and knows we do not all need the same things or have the same challenges. With God’s leadership, we gain wisdom and patience to guide our ways. These times surely work very important truths into our hearts. God sees the difference in our hearts when we want to wait with patience but have a hard time doing it.

It may seem like God is doing nothing while we are waiting, but He is working out things for our good. Waiting on God for direction, to show us His path of Life changes the desires of our heart to the desires of His heart as we yield to Him. God is making changes inside, in our character, as well as changes in our circumstances according to His plans, while we are in His waiting room. God’s answer is always on time but not our time.

As one song line says, “God's been IN time, ON time, EVERY time for me.” (Belinda Lee Smith). It’s a most inspiring song, reminding us of all the times He has come to the rescue of those who love Him though we think He tarries. We are also told to forget not all His benefits. When we must wait, a wonderfully blessed way to encourage ourselves and others is to count our blessings with a thankful heart. We delight in all His past goodness to us, the answers and ways of escape, often by the spirit, when we need it.

We recall His words of promise, His character of mercy and justice, and learn to trust while in His waiting room. We thank Him for the answers we do not yet see, and we learn to accept His timing rather than ours, delighting in our Father God and His wonderful Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. God will not be rushed and it does seem that He likes to show up at the last moment when we think it is all over!

Abraham and Sarah were in their 90’s and childless, with Sarah past childbearing. Then God shows up to give them Isaac, the promised seed! God is showing forth that it is He, not people, Who is in control. The majesty and glory is His and our hearts humbly bow in obedience to Him. We can wait with frustration, resentment, and bitterness or we can wait with faith, gratitude, and patience. Either way, God is the same and cannot be manipulated.

“No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11 Berean

Notice the qualifier at the end of this scripture: we can go through trials and not learn from them. Wait, what?! Is this perhaps why we seem to go through the same things over and over? Most of us would prefer to pass our test and move on to the next trial. The key in this passage is allowing God to train us in times of discipline when we are waiting on God. All Christians have things big and small we are waiting on God to address and correct, looking for the time in God’s plan when His promises to us and all creation will happen.

When the discipline is to wait, it is painful but He is teaching us through it all when we are willing to learn. The requirement is to pass the trials and tests in this situation, learning the lessons He is providing so we can harvest righteousness and peace within. This is why God may leave us in difficult circumstances for a period of time, rather than immediately delivering us. We think He is not hearing or caring about the situation when He is strengthening us through it.

It is somewhat disappointing to realize that the very thing we battle, that we may fear, comes upon us to strengthen our character! God always cares more about the inner man of the spirit than our outer circumstances. This inner change lasts while a change in circumstances, including getting what we want immediately, does not. We can pout, even trying to plead and manipulate our Lord to get our way, but He is one Father who can’t be manipulated!

He will do what He will do, bringing redemptive justice and compassionate mercy in every situation. It is Who He is and as we see with Job, He does not always choose to explain Himself to man. He is God and we are not. Eventually, He will release us from waiting upon Him, and the answers will come. We may have a long period of waiting while He is arranging things perfectly on our behalf. We may not see what He is doing or the answers that are coming, but they are on the way. And when the answers are revealed, we usually can see why His plan was the better one.

There are certain things in our lives that we wanted or needed right now, but after the wait, hindsight brings gratitude that God did things in His time. The more quickly we surrender to Him, the easier the wait gets! Sometimes God grants insight into what He is doing and sometimes we are in the dark until the answer is revealed. We may need to be reminded, as Peter tells us, that with the Lord a day is as a thousand years.

“But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” 2 Peter 3:8 KJV

He’s in eternity and we are in time, creating a vast difference in perspective! But what He does provide or accomplish after we hear a YES or a NO, waiting longer for His plan rather than ours, is so much better than we could ask or think! God’s ways are eternal, in no way limited by time. Aren’t you glad?

“I Have a Better Idea!”

“I have a better idea” is another answer we may hear from God. There are countless times when God will take our plans, the desires of our hearts, refining them into something so much better. In this process, we experience doors being closed that we thought were open to us. We may feel that’s a NO, but instead, we see the new door that is open to us. Once again we are enabled to agree that His plan is better than ours, by far!

It should not surprise us to have Him provide an alternate plan that is so much better than anything we could have imagined. In God, endings are new beginnings, just like death led to resurrection for our Lord. The law ended by being fulfilled in Jesus Christ. God is a master at showing us “Do this, not that,” by the spirit. When He is leading, when it is His plan that He has put in our hearts, we will have trials but we will succeed. The storms will come, but we will survive through Him.

God takes us through life’s storms much more often than taking us out of them. More than once, His alterations in our plans are a complete surprise to us, including the specific way our calling in Him continues to unfold. As with Gideon, God is able to assure us of success because He is our help, as the prophet Isaiah says:

“Because the Lord God helps me, I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I will not be put to shame. The One who vindicates me is near. ‘Who will dare to contend with me? Let us confront each other! Who has a case against me? Let him approach me!

Surely the Lord God helps me. Who is there to condemn me?” Isaiah 50:7-9 Berean

Even more challenging are times of testing where the heavens seem like brass and all our prayers bounce off the ceiling of our understanding. God may have a better idea but we sure don’t know about it! He may be saying wait without responding but we don’t know it. We need reminding that all of God’s responses to us are always for our good because that is His nature. He is there, loving us, even in those silent times when He seems far away. These, too, are part of His plan.

But it can be devastating to think or feel that He is no longer there for us when we are unknowingly in His waiting room. Someone described these times as God going a little further ahead of us, waiting. We may also have received His answer but rejected it, so it seems He is not answering when He already has. Whatever the reason, there is that gap of time between when He tells us His plans and when they happen.

These are times of testing and yet, some saints wait their entire lives for God to fulfill His specific promises to them. Think of Abraham and Sarah waiting all those years for a child, only to have Isaac promised when Sarah was long past childbearing years. Think of Joseph, who suffered much for many years before he was put in a position of rulership that allowed him to feed his brothers who had betrayed him during years of famine. Consider the wait King David had from the time that he was anointed King to when he actually began to rule.

God had a path of life for each, spoken by a prophet but “Wait” came first. There was a period of training through adversity before He finally gave David the promised rulership of the people. There was a long season between when Joseph was sold into slavery and when he once again met his brothers. Joseph was not that young brother then knew, and they may not have been the cruel jealous siblings they were in the past, either.

There’s God’s word about the future, then a season of time before seeing the outcome. Consider this beloved verse from Romans:

“And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.” Romans 8:28 Amplified

We remind ourselves, if not God, of this promise when difficult times fall upon us, when adversity prevents our progress or when unexpected loss occurs. Is God true to His word, this word that all things work for good—or not? Do we love the Lord? Are we called unto His purpose, this purposeful path in our lives in His kingdom? Is He still working on our behalf despite what it looks like to us now?

Victories did not come easily in biblical times and they don’t often seem to now. When God feels far away, it does not matter whether we hear or feel Him. What does matter is His Word. We recognize that our feelings are not consistent with God’s word. We remind ourselves of Who He is and what He has said. This challenges the lies seeping in our hearts that feel like abandonment, rejection or loss of His love.

We learn to settle in our hearts that He is Who He says He is, merciful, loving, and just. We stay committed, regardless. He is God and we are not. His promises are true, no matter our present circumstances or lack of understanding of His ways. Our thoughts are below His and our understandings are limited as humans. At such times we go back again and again to His words of promise and hope, strengthening our faith in such difficult times in our spiritual walk.

It is the most delightful experience to feel God’s presence within us and around us, but we do not need to depend on that feeling. Faith is not dependent upon our fluctuating feelings, aren’t you glad?! He promises never to leave or forsake us. Period. That word is certain and eternal:

“God is our refuge and strength [mighty and impenetrable], a very present and well-proved help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains be shaken and slip into the heart of the seas, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its roaring. Selah.” Psalms 46:1-3 Amplified

Selah. Pause and weigh this. Whatever happens, His faithfulness endures forever. When everything is shaking, He is the same. The Lord takes us through adversity so that we learn more of His eternal faithfulness and mercy. His promises of love comfort us in our dark times, when we cannot see our way and God seems to be standing still. We wait, knowing that He will be our light, able to dispel any darkness with His very presence.

He will show us the path of life:

“Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.” Micah 7:8 NASB

This scripture challenges any habit we may fall into of railing against the darkness. When we indulge in this unproductive behavior, our focus is on the darkness rather than His light. This is like some Christians constantly battling the devil in their daily lives. They risk focusing on the enemy or the battle rather than on the Lord.

The Lord is our light, and there is no darkness in Him. There’s a short chorus that became the first song God gave me, years ago, and is still a comfort to me. At the time, I didn't even know that God being in the darkness was in the Bible, yet the truth of it still rings in my spirit.

When I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.

When I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.

There will be no sorrow or mourning in the night.

The Lord is IN the darkness, He will be my light.

(B. Mikelson, 1977)

We do not have to pretend there is no darkness or devil, but we are not to dwell upon it. We are to keep our eyes on Him and what He is working out in this better plan He has for us. His light swallows up our darkness, causing it to disappear. When God writes on our hearts as we keep our eyes, our gaze on Him, things begin to change. We have faith and trust as we look for this new idea, the new thing God is about that is different from what we thought or planned.

If we are truly growing in the Lord, the desires of our hearts very much change from our beginning walk with Him. A child desires childish things, things that are understandable, even appropriate for that child’s age and development. As that child grows, those desires mature, becoming less selfish pursuits. Just so, the beginning desires of our hearts, often for external things to meet our own wants and needs or take care of concerns for those close to us, lessen over time.

We then become able to recognize and trust this scripture operating in our hearts:

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.” Matthew 6:33 NASB

When we get our priorities straight, putting the Lord first, He provides all that we need as we wait upon Him. We need to be in the spirit and know the truth as we worship our Lord. He is spirit and truth. We are learning to trust that God is in charge of the desires of our hearts. We can anticipate many changes in these desires of our hearts as our walk with the Lord continues.

As we age, many things we thought were so important in our youth just don’t matter any more. In the light of His glory and grace, we learn true submission, with deep gratitude to our God who does all things well. We grow in our ability to rejoice through our ongoing lessons in God’s spiritual school. We learn that His thoughts and ways, His “better idea” is always better than ours. His ways are higher—of a higher purpose—than ours.

Earlier desires fade away, particularly for possessions, opportunities, or experiences that others have or enjoy, as God matures our character by changing our hearts. So very many things are no longer important to us. We prioritize His peace and rest in His kingdom above all. There is much that God has promised that we have yet to see. We cry out to Him when our earth is ending within us:

Hear my cry, O Lord, attend unto my prayer;

From the ends of the earth will I cry unto You.

When my heart is overwhelmed,

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I,

That is higher than I.

For You have been a shelter unto me

And a strong tower from the enemy.

When my heart is overwhelmed,

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I,

That is higher than I.

Psalms 61 (author of melody unknown)

It is always about what He is teaching us. What is the lesson here? It is all good because that is Who He is. If we always had light, we would not know about our Lord being in the darkness with us. Whatever His answers are to the desires in our hearts, He has us covered. There’s not one of us who escapes God’s dealings in the midst of His blessings. This shows we belong to Him.

We learn our lessons through the path of processing that He plans for us. Our hearts are eventually so changed that the peaceable fruit of righteousness becomes apparent through it all. May we encourage each other on the way!

Principles of Spiritual Sharing

“You know this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Now everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; for a man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness of God.” James 1:19-20 ESV

Quick to hear has much wisdom to teach Christians, especially us talkers! Though it is more difficult for some than for others, it’s a key part of learning to be led of the Lord. Being quick to hear means being ready to understand. We enter any conversation with the intent, the heart motive, to truly hear the other so we understand before we react or respond. Oh, how difficult that can be!

The blessings in being slow to speak are many, however. When we pause and really listen, we have understanding that a quick reaction does not provide. When we are slow to speak instead of anxious to talk, we allow time to hear from the spirit, to be guided by Him in our responses. We learn to yield our immediate fleshly reactions, even those rationalized as “right” or “justified,” to His way of handling things. We wait upon the Lord for His guidance and direction.

On our path of life in becoming like our Lord Jesus Christ, we long to be just like Him in only speaking what the Father speaks. He is more than able to change this in our hearts, for which we are deeply thankful! Through the pruning process of His two-edged sword, the Living Word that brings the fire of change, we edge closer to being like Him, daily gaining ground as He changes our hearts. Some of us need many cautions as we learn to stop useless or profane chatter with others, and even with our God!

Responding in Conflicts

When we find ourselves in an argument, does God remind us that His desire is for us to listen so that we really hear? Some believers are always anxious to speak, to correct, to explain, to defend, to minister to others, including—or perhaps especially—in Christian gatherings. Yet this passage exhorts us to be quick to hear. This speaks to purposeful listening, hearing with the intent of gaining understanding. God wants us to grasp what the issue really is, the root of the conflict.

Listen for understanding! More than one conflict becomes totally unnecessary if both listen long enough to understand what the other is saying. Sometimes we are even in agreement and don’t know it. Arguments appears to be about something superficial but very often, it’s more about intangible things like a sense of validation, respect, or loved. As one expert in marital conflict shared, it’s not about the rules as much as who will make the rules!

There is a time for all things when we rely on the holy spirit to guide us. Let us visualize our Lord teaching His Body of believers how to flow in unity in Him as if we are making heavenly harmony together. There are those who need a stronger voice. God is waving His spiritual baton at these members of the body, directing them to come forth, more frequently speak up, rather than being quiet and listening. Others who around these saints are missing out on the treasures God has within His quiet servants.

We all know saints who rarely share, but when they do, we glimpse the gems of wisdom that may have been held back. God knows who needs to be brought forth, heard more and with a louder emphasis in the choir of spiritual humanity. Not that this needs to be in an abundance of words, only when and what the spirit prompts. All of the Body of Christ is precious, not just those who happen to have a platform or designated function or role.

Consider Paul’s beautiful discussion of His body:

“The body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So it is with Christ. For in one Spirit, we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink. For the body does not consist of one part, but of many.

If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?

But in fact, God has arranged the members of the body, every one of them, according to His design. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I do not need you.’ Nor can the head say to the feet, ‘I do not need you.’

On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts we consider less honorable, we treat with greater honor. And our unpresentable parts are treated with special modesty, whereas our presentable parts have no such need.” 1 Corinthians 12:12-23 Berean

Think of it! The parts of His body are all one, though differing in appearance, function, and form. We are not to give more honor to those who already shine, but to those parts that are weaker, and less honorable in outward appearance. That is not the way of man! We typically honor those who are visibly prominent: the leaders and speakers, the writers and authors, the talented worship leaders and musicians. But God says through Paul that we are all needed!

A further question to ponder before the Lord: could the unpresentable parts in the Body of Christ include those things that need to be covered in love by others until changed into His likeness and image? We will not be unified in doctrine until we are unified in faith by love. Paul does not talk about that bringing unity and the reason is obvious. Doctrine brings division and God hates division.

In creating spiritual harmony, God also knows which of us need to step back, be slower to speak, learning to more perfectly wait upon God before sharing. His spiritual baton is giving direction to another while His hand is saying wait to those who are always sharing, regardless of the holy spirit’s leading. We may have many good things to say, but is it God’s timing to say them? Are those listening to us really hearing and understanding what we are saying? Are they able to absorb the wisdom and truth we have? Do they have a teachable heart?

“There are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all people. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 NIV

In formal times of ministry, ministers who sharing are to be respected rather than interrupted. God would have His own have some manners! When teaching in conversations with other saints, however, we may need to learn to have an exchange. Rather than holding forth like we do when the platform is ours, we are directed to become quick to hear. When others interrupt our flow, their intent may be seeking to understand or even share a gem we would want to hear.

We are trained by the holy spirit to more perfectly prefer the other or to grant courtesy for others to speak, ask questions, comment—having a conversational exchange when there is opportunity to share. This is all part of that slow to speak scriptural message. We pause in our sharing of knowledge and wisdom to check for understanding. Are they catching the meaning of our words? Or are we sharing all we know without regard for its reception?

What good is it to know and say a lot of spiritual wisdom and knowledge when it is not reaching the hearts of of those we sincerely want to hear? God calls teachers of the word and He is the expert Teacher. He teaches us how to teach and how that is different from preaching. We cannot effectively and powerfully teach something that God has given us, whether in secular or spiritual settings, without going through something similar, being tested on the very things we are endeavoring to impart to others.

“Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you. Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding. Prize her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.” Proverbs 4:7-8 Berean

Wisdom is supreme or, as the KJV says, wisdom is the principle thing. Understanding follows wisdom. That’s how Jesus Christ became the best Teacher: by the things He suffered as a human. He went through all we go through here on this earth but without sin. That is why He understands and knows the way above it all, when to speak and when to hold our tongues.

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.” Hebrews 4:15 NIV

When we hold back though God is pressing us to share, others also miss the wisdom and truth we have to share. It’s just as much a robber of the Body to say lots of words that are not understood as it is to hold back because we are quiet or intimidated by a stronger, more vocal part of the Body. Either way, others sadly are missing the power of God’s word alone. His word never fails, it always does the work for which it is sent!

Even more sadly, when two knowledgeable Christians converse, it can deteriorate into a battle of knowledge instead of an exchange of wisdom. Each assumes they have what the other needs to know rather than that both may benefit from understanding what the other person has to say. Often a peaceful discussion enhances rather than detracts from God’s truth in both, resulting in mutual edification.

We can even learn to disagree openly and in love. It does not have to cause a conflict to disagree. We can learn to say God’s words, such as calmly saying, “Help me understand…” or “I see that differently…” God’s way of peace will teaches us how to settle all things, to truly be the peacemakers that are called the sons of God. We are learning to wait to be led by the Lord, to sense His timing, to not run ahead, to discern if they have “ears to hear” our viewpoint.

Some are not ready, particularly for what Paul calls the meat of the word. Babies choke on meat; they are not ready to digest it for growth. It is not profitable to share wisdom that cannot be digested into spiritual growth. We may also feel in a rush to correct errors, particularly when we are passionate about truth and, sincerely in our hearts, want others to have God’s truth. But Father God is never in a rush (have you noticed?) so we learn to wait upon Him.

We don’t have to be threatened by any viewpoints that differ from ours nor have a driving need to set others right. We are not required to either explain or defend God, His ways or His truth. God leads by His spirit to come from a place of rest and interest in others as our brothers and sisters in Christ. What God has written on our hearts will remain. Error is continually dealt with by Him Whom we seek and His timing is perfect.

We are called, chosen, and faithful to what God has taught each of us while we wait for God's ability to bring the unity in love that He promises but not yet visible amongst the saints. In all things God brings a balance as we learn to be led of the spirit, as all sons are directed to do.

“There are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all people. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” 1 Corinthians 12: 4-7 Berean

Are you able to visualize God with His Holy Spirit baton in His hand, directing those of us anxious- to-speak members of the choir, His heavenly band, to soften our intensity, hold back a bit, and wait upon His timing? Do you see His wisdome as He directs others to be more prominent, adding their part to the heavenly harmony of His spirit He is making of our fellowship and our life in Him? Can you see Him bringing a balance of all the parts, the smallest to the greatest being necessary and led by the spirit into unity?

The principle is to do all things in love. It is something we believers haven’t seen and surely sounds impossible, but He will do it! When we are led by His Spirit, He has the power to create the most beautiful harmony we have ever experienced! In our walk toward the complete salvation God has promised, we are to be perfected by Him in all things.

“Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:48 NASB

We cannot be perfected in our flesh, it has to come by spirit. It is my conviction that He continues to work on this within our hearts until we are perfected, whether on this side in our earthly existence or in our future dwelling in the spirit with our Lord. Notice that He does not say to wait until heaven to be perfected. We are on this path to perfection here and now, shining our lights in the darkness.

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” 1 John 3:2 KJV

If it is God’s will that we are perfect (complete), you can be sure He will fulfill His will. We are not yet perfect, but He is working within us to achieve His will, to live out His promises, revealing the life and character of the Lord Jesus while we enjoy our allotment. Learning His principles of spiritual sharing is a vital part of our path to perfection. How we need one another!

Oh, yes, there are enemies we must battle but they are not mortal men and women:

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:1-12 NIV

Our enemy operates in the earthly realm of the soul, planting doubt, fear, anger and rebellion against God in our hearts and enmity towards one another. He appears in heavenly places to bring spiritual things down into carnality, the reasoning of man. But in every time and every circumstance, He appears when we have eyes to see, to discern, and ears to hear in order to comprehend His word.

His appearance is not just a one-time event in the future. He appears daily in the midst of our hearts, wherein His kingdom dwells. Though it may be eons, He will have a people without guile:

“And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.” Revelation 14:5 KJV

In this key scripture from the Revelation, when we are completely like Him, we are found to be without guile, faultless before Him. Here is a heart that is pure and clean, most pleasing to God. When the heart is right, not mixed with self, the words flowing from that heart are pure. The theme of the condition of our hearts is critical to God from Genesis to Revelation, whether it is our hearts toward our Lord or toward others.

It is God’s priority to make us a people with a pure heart. It takes God to teach us to learn to listen and to share along the way. A heart of righteousness like His heart does not develop from following external rules and customs, adhering to rules and traditions about who is allowed to speak and teach, but from worshipping Him in spirit and truth. What defiles us is what comes out of our hearts:

“…Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, ‘Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands before they eat.’ Jesus replied, ‘And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?

For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ But you say that if anyone says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever you would have received from me is a gift devoted to God,’ he need not honor his father or mother with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.

You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you: ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’ Jesus called the crowd to Him and said, ‘Listen and understand. A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it.”’ Mark 7:1-13 Berean

Have we forgotten this emphasis upon what is inside of a man with our focus on rules and customs, our religious and cultural standards of right behavior? God has a heart of righteousness and desires the same for His people. Some don’t eat pork and others do. Some formally worship only on Sunday morning while others gather on Saturday. Some have set a standard for religious dress while others do not. Some only do water baptism as a sprinkling for babies, others do baby dedication or immersion.

We could go on and on, listing all these outward traditions that God says nullify, literally wipe out the power of His word when they are the focus of our efforts at righteousness. Regardless of our outward religious practices, God always sees when our hearts are far from Him. Words and behaviors that appear knowledgeable but are not worked as truth in the heart are laced with guile, useless and even damaging in His kingdom.

God would have a people who are enabled to spiritually share without guile. Guile isn’t a very modern word, but most of us sense it when we are being spoken to with guile. The Greek word for guile in this scripture is dolos meaning “decoy, trick (bait), wile, craft, deceit, subtlety.” When we have discernment, we see when this is the condition of the heart. Jesus’ example of those denying to honor their parents by making a rule that appears to do so but misses the mark is a prime example of guile .

Words with guile are subtly manipulative, with an intent to deceive. The motives are usually to get something for ourselves or to protect ourselves in some way, rather than or in addition to sharing the love of God. A heart without guile has been purified to speak as Jesus did. He only spoke what the Father speaks, with no ulterior motives. All of our ulterior, self driven motives are to be purged from the heart before God’s throne.

No seemingly holy but hollow religious words remain there, words that don’t match behaviors, words that stem from mixed motives. He has no guile, and we are to be like Him when we see Him as He is. As we continue our walk with the Lord, He becomes more and more precise about dealing with the heart conditions that displease Him. He refines us further and deeper to create the righteousness He desires from His people. Remember:

“Now the wisdom from above is first, indeed, pure, thereupon peaceable, lenient, compliant, bulging with mercy and good fruits, undiscriminating, unfeigned.” James 3:17 Concordant Literal

When once we would have said and done things with mixed motives, not thinking a thing about it, now we feel the prick of our conscience letting us know that we are falling short of God’s best, despite what our words appear to say. There are all kinds of reasons for our guile, but they all can be categorized within the lust of the eye, the desire of the flesh, or the pride of life. We see something we want and we use guile to get it.

It may just be another’s good opinion or it may be bigger than that. We are not honest about it but subtly pursue it. We desire to point out another’s error or cover criticism with outward niceness. We want to get our way or do certain things in our flesh that are not the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God. We may even reason with guile in our mind, will, and emotions, in our soul realm, rationalizing our behavior to ourselves, if not justifying it to others.

“All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart. To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the Lord than sacrifice.” Proverbs 21:2-3 Berean

Guile is a part of the pride of life. It shows up whenever we use deceit and even trickery to get what we think is due us. Our faithful, wise Father goes layer by layer, allowing each experience we submit to Him to teach us His ways. Aren’t you grateful that God doesn’t deal with all of our motives at the same time? I thought I was a much nicer person until God began to strip the layers in my heart to purify my motives!

His ways are indeed not our ways and His thoughts higher than ours. We learn to be thankful when we sense the Holy Spirit’s prompting before we speak, to allow the spirit to examine our motives, the condition of our hearts. He is able to purify any guile within by the light of His spirit. As we continue, some areas become easier and no longer need intervention. We continually pursue Him.

Oh, to speak only what He speaks, to rest in knowing that our words will be effective and true, free of guile and pleasing to Him! We may seem far from this standard today, but as we follow on to know Him, He brings the refreshing rain of His spirit in times of change.

“So let us know—let us press on to know the Lord. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the earth.” Hosea 6:3 NASB

We are invited, encouraged to press on to know Him. Not the scriptures, not the law, not the do’s and don’ts, but Him. Right living comes from knowing the Lord deeply and intimately. It’s our relationship with Him, our beloved. When this is our heart’s desire, when we pursue Him with all of our being, we find Him everywhere: in the scriptures, in others, in nature, as well as in our hearts of faith.

“Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.” Romans 14:19 KJV

“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12 KJV

Building Others Up

We are empowered by God to look for and follow after what will make for peace and edify, to build up our brothers and sisters. This is to be our focus. But God’s love is not to be used as a reason to fail to uphold God’s righteousness. His standards do not change. Unlike humans, however, He is always merciful, longing to be compassionate when we or others miss the mark. When we follow after the things necessary for peace, it will truly edify others.

To edify means to “build a structure,” and is from the Greek word, oikodome. In the passage from Romans 14, above, it goes on to say:

“Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.” Romans 14: 20-21NIV

What religious people were taught of God’s dietary laws about what to eat and drink was a huge controversy in those early years of Christianity. The Jews were taught many dietary laws through Moses that were handed down by tradition. God cared for His people and gave these guidelines for their health and benifit. Many have been proven to have a sound scientific basis that were protective but unknown in those days.

Yet Jesus comes along and says none of that matters. It is the attitude of the heart that makes a food good or evil. This is significant when we spiritually share with others while breaking bread with them. What a change when Jesus said the Father desires a heart for Him that extends outward to others more than focusing on outward sacrifices for sin. No wonder He was a radical that the Jewish leaders hated and condemned! It is difficult to have everything you have ever believed about serving God be revealed and now pronounced unimportant.

God prioritizes what makes for peace and builds up our brothers and sisters in Christ.

This was powerfully revealed to Peter, a devout Jew who all his life had followed the dietary laws laid out by God to the Israelites. Peter was shocked and initially disbelieving when God spoke to him as he fellowshipped with Gentile believers who did not follow Jewish dietary laws.

“…Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven open and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.

It contained all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, as well as birds of the air. Then a voice said to him: ‘Get up, Peter, kill and eat!’ ‘No, Lord!’ Peter answered. ‘I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.’ The voice spoke to him a second time: ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’ This happened three times, and all at once the sheet was taken back up into heaven.” Acts 10:9b-15 Berean

Peter accepted the change from following dietary laws to prioritizing what may cause another to stumble or bring offense. It is important to be sensitive to others and their beliefs, though we have many differences and preferences. God made it clear: it’s not about food or drink, it’s about the heart, over and above any rules we may embrace in His kingdom. God made each of us and knows what will sustain and build our health as well as what will rob us of physical well-being.

For example, some Christians feel free to drink wine on occasion (all things in moderation) without any guilty conscience of wrongdoing. Others feel to abstain as part of their spiritual commitment. But to insist on the freedom of drinking wine when in the presence of a brother or sister in Christ who does not and further, believes it is wrong, is neither ideal nor edifying. It’s just not a good idea to risk both the peace in fellowship and the potential for causing another of God’s people to stumble.

Peter had to be visited directly by God in a vision to be able to accept eating foods that His Jewish traditions considered unclean when he was in the home of gentiles who did not follow them. It is difficult to go from something you have believed your entire life is unclean to being at peace with it. Some things, such as the right to drink or not to drink wine or any spirits are just not worth the conflict.

We are God pleasers who learn to follow His wisdom for us but need not impose this on others. Consider God’s prediction about the futility of being successful in pleasing people. Jesus exposed the futility of man’s opinions and judgments, essentially saying in regard to others’ opinions that, in the eyes of others, you can’t win no matter what you do…

“For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He hath a devil’. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners’.

But wisdom is justified of her children.” Matthew 11:18-19 KJV

Jesus anticipated such criticism from humans because He knows judgment to condemnation is in our fleshly hearts. He and John the Baptist were both doing the will of God. But what if it had been Jesus and John criticizing each other? John was out in the desert, eating locusts and honey, calling for repentance. What if John resented Jesus lounging around, eating at feasts and wedding ceremonies, drinking wine with the same sinners John was calling to repent, spending most of His time with them rather than the good and righteous people deserving of His company?

What if Jesus had become upset that John was out wandering around, preaching and baptizing when there were so many needs Jesus had to attend to among the people? What if he thought: “Why can’t John help out more with My ministry?” It may seem ludicrous to imagine this but is this not what happens when we begin to speak about gifts and callings that differ? It’s so tempting to think what we are called to do should be what everyone else should do. There seems to be a part of us that wants to see differences as a sign of error—of course in others, not ourselves. But differences do not equal badness!

Our projection of judgment and blame, focusing upon, amplifying, condemning, having conflicts with others whose beliefs and walk differ from ours—that’s the error! Yet this is what we are doing when we criticize another’s calling or behavior, when we rigidly hold to laws and standards rather than love, when we want to share our truth regardless of whether it builds up our brother or sister in Christ. We see with our natural eyes what they are doing and judge by outward appearance. It does not appear to us like they are doing what God wants.

In the scripture passage above, however, our Lord does not stop here. In Him dwells all hope. He doesn’t leave us with the description of the contrasts between John the Baptist and Himself. He goes on to say that when we have wisdom, it is shown by our children—that is, by what we produce. Both John and Jesus had ministries that bore much fruit. They honored each other’s calling and both died a tragic death because of it. They did not do what we sometimes do when we are in competition rather than cooperation in God’s work.

Is it any different today when churches count their parishioners, the crowd that comes to hear them, the many programs of helping others, comparing their success to another church, or feeling superior because of worshiping at home gatherings rather than in a structure called a church, or any number of other differences? Such either/or thinking or behavior towards each other, our fellow servants of God, does not show forth God’s heart of righteousness. It is not either/or. It is us, the Body of Christ.

Love unites, it does not divide. Both John and Jesus were doing the will of God, though in very different ways. Our unity is in love, in our spiritual hearts of righteousness, not in habits of behavior, choices we value or reject. We are all reading from the same (or very similar) Book of God’s word and we are all seeking the same Lord. Yet we see, hear, and understand differently.

We are called by God in such a variety of ways and we are to spiritually share with one another, talking often about the Lord and what we are learning of His ways. He loves us all. Oh, how He does love us! We, the people who follow after Him, are near and dear to Him. He is quite fond of us! This is what is critical, much more important, than our differences. God hates division, which stems from pride, lies, attacks on the innocent, wicked plots, evil behavior, false testimony, all that brings discord:

“There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil, a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers.” Proverbs 6:16-19 Berean

Do you see the sins of the flesh prioritized here? Yes God hates sin, but He is quite clear about the source of sinful behavior: it comes from these attitudes, motives and behavior that He hates. The fruit of our doing things God’s way will be seen in visible evidence of the righteous heart of God in our lives. This is what we desire to produce, the fruit of His kingdom.

When what we share with others pleases the Lord, our own heart does not condemn us. There is a wonderful scripture about this:

“When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” Proverbs 16:7 NKJV

What a promise! This is the way of peace even with our enemies. We have the freedom to live before God as He directs, regardless of others’ opinions or disapproval as we are enabled to speak the truth in love. We have the peace of God in our hearts about all we do in God, while remaining mindful not to cause stumbling in another walking in God, our fellow travelers on the way to rightousness.

God will be manifested in His people, but how will God ever accomplish the unity among believers that He has promised if it is based on external things that just do not matter to Him? Without spiritual eyes to see, we remain blind, and without spiritual ears to hear, we don’t understand. Yet we humans take in what we visually see, hear, and feel regardless if we are in the right heart space to discern God’s wisdom.

Our God, however, lovingly grants understanding when we need it, stretching our hearts across the gulf of strange differences between us, to unite us in love by the spirit. Amazing!!The key is not outward acts nor differing lifestyles. Many a vessel is walking with God while we remain ignorant of Who they serve. Jesus and John had the same heart of service, remaining respectfully aware of the other’s calling and purpose in God. Both were called and chosen by God to minister to sinners, but each carried out their calling in different ways.

What a model of brotherhood—and with a relative at that! Jesus and John were cousins, connected in infancy by the Holy Spirit. They met first when they were in the wombs of their mothers, connected by their mothers who were close cousins. God revealed to Elizabeth Whom her cousin was carrying in her womb. Following that, there is little indication of how Jesus and John the Baptist’s relationship unfolded until Jesus goes to be baptized by John.

John was joyful in meeting his Lord and Jesus honored John as well as obeyed His Father in being baptized by His cousin. They surely were in agreement about the religious leaders of the time, the scribes and Pharisees, whom they both strongly rebuked and chastised. Whatever their differing paths, each had a spiritual understanding and respect for the other’s calling. Both saw that these leaders had hearts that were far from the God they proclaimed to others:

“But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his place of baptism, he said to them, ‘You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance.

And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones, God can raise up children for Abraham. The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

I baptize you with water for repentance, but after me will come One more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.’

At that time Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to prevent Him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?’ ‘Let it be so now,’ Jesus replied. ‘It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness this way.’

Then John permitted Him. As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went out of the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on Him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!’” Matthew 3:8-15 Berean

Jesus is the Pattern Son, showing us the path of righteousness we are to follow. He was baptized, immersed in water to fulfill all righteousness—to do all things in the way Father God showed Him. He laid the pattern of His life down so we, too, are baptized in Him. Yes, there are different traditions and beliefs about what baptism looks like, and how it should be done, leading to conflicts among us along with so many other outward differences in doctrine and tradition.

May I suggest that God is less concerned about immersion or sprinkling, infant baptism or baby dedication, and other differences that separate? He is much more interested in the believer receiving the message about the purpose of water baptism and other directives be written into their hearts! Water baptism represents the truth of being washed by His spirit, to be cleansed of the old and birthed into the new.

It is not merely a tradition, it is the way of righteousness Jesus revealed. If the heart is sincere, the act of baptism pleases the Lord, no matter how it is done. It is important to follow His lead, but the specifics cannot be more important than the heart. Jesus was dedicated to God the Father as a baby and immersed in water for baptism by John the Baptist. This is the pattern He laid down, but pure and peaceable wisdom honors sincere hearts of those who follow His example in the way they believe.

God always sees the heart and will sort all of that out.

"For the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7 Berean

It surely is not good for such differences to cause division among brothers and sisters in Christ. There are endless ways we Christians do things differently while sincerely believing we are doing it God’s way. We will never achieve unity in focusing on these aspects of our faith and walk in God. It’s further grievous if we are trying to force our beliefs on another, including unbelievers, as we stand before our Lord.

Such conflicts are more about who makes the rules than about what those rules are. Who has the right to make religious rules for another? We need caution not to judge by outward appearance, as Samuel was tempted to do when sent to anoint Saul’s successor to rule Israel. But we all do it, making assumptions by what we see or hear though it is clearly not God’s way. God sees all of it, everything in our hearts. He is the sifter, the one who prioritizes what gets dealt with through His everlasting love for us.

He is a true and faithful Friend who is always with us. We are so grateful that He loves us while knowing everything about us! There is not one human on the planet who is empowered to genuinely love us like that without God’s love within.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.

You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value.

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.

‘A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.’ I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty. Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves! Galatians 5:1-12 NIV

Mark Paul’s words: the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself in love. The only thing! Circumcision was no longer required, in fact Paul saw it as adding “a little yeast” that would lead back to other Jewish laws now superseded by Christ. Christ fulfilled the laws, all those rules, whether it be the Jewish rules of law such as circumcision and not eating unclean meats or those religious traditions and rules that we impose on ourselves and others, robbing us of the freedom we are granted in Christ Jesus.

What we do in love is eternal, swallowing up former things that have never brought righteousness in the Body of Christ and never will. If God chooses to allow us to share with another, particularly about our differences, we are to see with His eyes of love and mercy as we gently share what we know and believe. Offenses when spiritually sharing our walk in God come from the attitudes and motives of our hearts much more than our words.

In giving counsel or as an intercessor, the Lord reveals what we need to know in order intercede and edify. He does not tell secrets. When entrusted with this information about another, we are to keep His secrets as well. It can be tempting to want to share what we know, under the guise (guile) of helping another to understand or even as a prayer request. But God entrusts such precious information to those servants in whom He has confidence, through testing of past experiences, to use such intimate knowledge wisely, for His good and the edification, the building up of His people.

God knows who will be able to move past judgment to mercy and redemptive justice. Again we are admonished:

“Therefore let us stop judging one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way. I am convinced and fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself.

But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. If your brother is distressed by what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not destroy your brother, for whom Christ died, by your eating.” Romans 14:13-15 Berean

Could God be any more direct in this passage? Stop judging! Make up our minds to stop judging each other! Nothing is unclean in itself. If that is true, how your group of believers does certain things that vary from how another group of believers do it is surely not unclean! It’s the attitude of the heart God that is unclean, that the Lord is addressing in these words. Acting in love is more important than what people are doing.

In fact, this is a crucial factor in what we choose to do or allow. The love of God is the most powerful force in all creation! God is not looking at food, drink, dress, companionship, or even outward required patterns of worship and service to Him as the measure of the Christian. He always and continually looks at the heart. God is also able to cover in love the errors we may make as we share spiritually, when we have His pure motive of love in the doing of it.

When our motive is love, we won’t miss the mark with others, just as He did not.

“Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured.

It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening].

Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]. But as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for the gift of special knowledge, it will pass away…. And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love. “

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Amplified

Mercy, Not Sacrifice

“But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Matthew 9:13 KJV

“But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.” Matthew 12:7 KJV

It’s challenging for us to realize now what a radical statement Jesus made in telling the Jews of that time to “have mercy, not sacrifice.” The entire Jewish religion was about sacrifices to God. Jesus was bluntly stating that their entire way of worship, from generations of tradition and history, as taught by Jehovah, was not what God desired of them now. These external acts were to instill righteousness and repentance for sins, but such practices did not change their hearts. Through the centuries, the Israelites had continually drifted far from God. Their hearts were hardened towards others, far from the mercy and compassion God desires.

Jesus’ new covenant set forth a new order of the heart for God-followers. His word is still calling to us to lay down traditions and history, habits of worship and praise, patterns of fellowship and performance of rituals that have become hollow, lacking spiritual power. Though it may not be animal sacrifices, many today rely on external acts sacrificed to God, doing good works, following rules and laws, church traditions and expectations of their leaders, while losing sight of their relationship with the Lord Himself, along with His promise to change Christians from within.

The word mercy comes from the Greek word eleos, meaning “active compassion and tenderness.” It appears many times in the Bible, in both Old and New Testaments. God’s essential mercy for us is shown in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, planned for our redemption from the foundation of the world. The gift of His son to the world is exemplary of what mercy is to accomplish: it flows freely, forgiving all, showing forth compassion without blame or condemnation.

Because of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and restored to the Father. None of us get what we deserve because of our Lord Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for the world! Our Lord clearly states His desire, His preference for mercy over any outward acts of sacrifice. We deceive ourselves, if not others, when we continue with unexamined ways of serving God without meaning or power to change our hearts, our essential human nature.

You are missing out if your faith in God is not changing you! When Christians look back on the days since meeting the Lord, we should surely recognize how our heart and character has been changing. God is in the business of changing us to be like Him and He can do what we cannot do. He is able to create in us His heart of love, mercy and faith. The Lord Jesus Christ came so that His words and His ways can be written within, by the holy spirit. Paul spoke passionately and definitively about this:

“But we have this treasure in earthen containers, so that the extraordinary greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying around in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NASB

Of course, sacrifice to the Lord, such as times of fasting and prayer, are a part of our walk as the holy spirit leads. Traditions can be meaningful when they come from the heart. The key is our purpose in doing so, in the motive and intent of our heart in carrying such acts out. There are those who sincerely sacrifice something they love during the Lent season, for example, doing so as a worship to the Lord. There are others who do this as a rote law because it is expected or part of their tradition.

Paul warned Timothy about following a form without the power to change the heart:

“...But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without the love of good, traitorous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these!” 2 Timothy 3:1-5 Berean

The Amplified Bible states this even more succinctly:

“…holding to a form of [outward] godliness (religion), although they have denied its power [for their conduct nullifies their claim of faith]. Avoid such people and keep far away from them.” 2 Timothy 3:5 Amplified

Paul was talking about those who claim to be godly but inside there is no power of change that is revealed as godly character. Words without power are a waste of time, accomplishing no spiritual work. He lists many common conditions of the heart, then and now, naming many of the things we love instead of loving God and His ways. God will not settle for His people merely appearing good and religious. He wants our all, everything in us. That is how we are gaining the power to overcome as He did and obtain all of the promises to overcomers He has made.

Paul was teaching Timothy that God changes us and that the godly change in believers should be visible to the world. Yes, God leads us to spiritual acts such as fasting when we sacrifice the pleasure of food and drink for a period of time. He calls us to fast and pray on specific occasions of intercession for others or ourselves. God puts in our hearts a desire to temporarily sacrifice our usual life’s pleasures, including the most basic-–food and drink—to be separate, alone, consecrated to Him and seeking His face.

If you’ve ever done a fast in the Lord, you realize it is a sacrifice. But such a spiritual fast is not will worship, gritting our teeth for self-control. When God lays a fast on us, He locks us into this purposeful sacrifice for intercession or answers or deeper worship and understanding. He causes our focus to be on Him, not our hunger. It is quite different from dieting, to be sure! The key here is what is in our hearts at such times as this. We recognize that all things are in Him:

“For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.’” Acts 17:28 KJV

Because God is our Father, we are all His offspring and He is dedicated to raising us well. Though it takes a lifetime and beyond, we are learning how to live and move and have our being in Him. What if we submit ourselves to His hand in working true mercy – kindness, compassion, empathy, understanding – instead of outward religious busyness? We learn to listen to that still small voice of the Holy Spirit, being led by Him as we walk together.

The distinction and volume of His voice is more apparent as we know the Lord more intimately and deeply. He works within us, creating a clean heart to be willing and to do His will and purpose from the heart. When we know God wants us to do something but our flesh is weak, even disinterested, we can “back up” our prayers to where we actually are by asking God to create willingness in us. He is the changer of hearts.

Why pretend with the all-seeing, all-knowing God of the universe that we are willing when we are not? He knows. This can be a particular battle when God is whispering to us about leaving something or even someone we love, to forgive when we are angry and hurt, or a myriad of other trials He allows to come our way. It is challenging when we sense God telling us to do something that our flesh really does not want to do.

God is not pleased by a show of obedience, doing these things for outward appearance, to look like we are godly or to become worthy enough or to persuade God to do things our way. Only God knows what is in the heart. He does not delight in outward acts, such as the Jews’ animal sacrifices, that no longer have lasting power to cleanse the inner man. Here is the future hope of what He is able to do:

“Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalms 37:4 NASB

Untold numbers of children and adults have used this phrase, “If you loved me, you would…” This is guile, the speaker's selfish manipulation to get what they want. Love requires no such proof and makes no demands. God could make us different in a moment, but He gave us free will to choose to serve Him and learn of His ways. He is not interested in robot Christians! Thus, we cannot not manipulate God into giving us our hearts’ desires. The trials and tests of this life are sent to make us strong in Him.

Certainly love in the heart should parallel love in thought, word, and deed. No matter how far away we seem from this ideal, we continue to pursue being like the Lord we love. When we seek mercy, we are seeking God Who is mercy. He desires us to delight in Him, doing everything to please our God and making melody to Him in our hearts. We do need much more understanding of His Love because it is far beyond our human ability to love.

It’s easy to love those who is lovable. It takes God to love the unlovable, including the unlovable aspects of others we love, to have His perfect balance of mercy and justice. God’s loving ways are hard to comprehend with so much wrong around us—let alone when He reveals what is within us. One of our faith challenges is resolving how a loving God can allow such pain of loss, sadness and suffering for those He loves when He could so easily fix it. Unless you have abandoned the belief that God is all-powerful, this becomes a serious challenge to faith.

God leads us from within, by His Spirit, beyond the expectations and confusion of our human condition. God is able to cause unnecessary as well as ungodly desires to die. Our Lord is replacing our will, thoughts, and emotions— all of our soul realm—with His thoughts, emotions, and will. Thus we are becoming more and more like our Master, just as He directed us. God is a passionate God! He’s not against emotions, He created them:

“‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: ‘I will imprint my laws upon their heart, and on their minds I will inscribe them [producing an inward change],” Hebrews 10:16 Amplified

This is the new covenant brought forth by Jesus Christ our Lord. God has always known that we humans cannot serve Him in our flesh. There’s no good or lasting thing in our flesh. The scriptures clearly state it is impossible to please God in our flesh! We all require the mercy of which Jesus Christ speaks and represents. We are promised that He can give us His mercy, writing it in our hearts and minds so that it lasts, changing our human nature forever.

Such is the way to His fullness, to be delivered from working at it and brought into His rest. We are His workmanship, not our own self-improvement project. As He does this inner work, we move past acting as if we have love in our hearts to being filled with His love for others and His creation, including the most unlovable of His people! This inner change results in good works from the character and mind of Christ within.

“For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].” Ephesians 2:10 Amplified

Of course, this is a very difficult transition! Wouldn’t it be easier if God just gave us a to-do list to follow? Or zap us into change as He seemed to do did by changing Saul into Paul? Well, the Bible puts many things on our to-do list that Father God knows we cannot do. He knew it in the garden with Adam and Eve and had already prepared before the foundation of the world for the sacrifice of Jesus to make the way. When we love the Lord, we really do try to do it ourselves, to bring this flesh under submission to Him. It doesn’t work, have you noticed?

Without our Lord’s coming within, all we have is outward acts. When we are raised to have a strong work ethic, taught to try harder, do better, it certainly can be key aspect of success in the world. Hard work never hurt anyone, despite what we might have thought as children! But this can also become an unnecessary spiritual burden leading to constant busyness for God. Some of us even get in the habit of routinely assessing our own progress on our spiritual to-do list, whether it be self-improvement in health and relationships or our walk in the Lord.

This continual review of our spiritual status is not His rest and is not likely to be accurate. When we constantly measure ourselves against the Lord’s character and ways, it leads to discouragement and fatigue. We are to delight in the Lord, and He will bring it to pass. There is only one measurement, to which Paul speaks after the list of ministries given by God for the edification of the Body of Christ:

“…until we all reach oneness in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, [growing spiritually] to become a mature believer, reaching to the measure of the fullness of Christ [manifesting His spiritual completeness and exercising our spiritual gifts in unity].” Ephesians 4:13 Amplified

It is so easy for us humans who love the Lord to want to do what pleases Him, but how do we do mercy? God has no interest in an outward show of being a good and merciful Christian. Unbelievers do many acts of mercy and kindness. But doing acts of mercy that do not stem from the heart are difficult to sustain. With the measure of the fullness of the Christ within, we all fall short, but nonetheless, this is what we are reaching for, why we pursue Him above all. We cannot even successfully measure ourselves, it takes God to do that, too.

How hard it can be to rest in His work, with patient endurance, until He creates more depth in our love and mercy for self and others! It helps to remembering that Jesus did not help everyone around Him. He dealt with who and what the Father brought and showed Him to do, only speaking the words of the Father. If Jesus only did what the Father showed Him to do, then we are not required to minister and assist everyone with needs around us. This truth frees us from self-condemnation and frustration, as we remember we are His workmanship.

His workmanship, not our own, with all the glory going to Him! God has been about the business of teaching and changing us throughout our lives. Some desires we thought were our own, even bringing them to God for His final decision, were His planting in our hearts to begin with! Oh, how carefully He guides His own! Reflecting back, we can all see how God planted His desires in our hearts from the beginning, even when we were not serving Him!

God is in charge of changing Christians who desire to serve the Lord, creating mercy where there is none. He has prepared our paths and will enable us to walk in them. He is mercy, He is love, and He is the beginning and end of all things within and without, as we are taught of Him. His intent, even the disciplines of adversity and loss, is always redemptive, for our good:

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 Berean

Yes, it’s about the heart! Only God knows when we search for Him with our entire hearts. He sees any hidden areas within that are not in accord with His plans for us. He provides a future and hope for us, making us know that all things are possible in Him. Mercy makes a way when there is no way. Mercy considers the root, the heart of the matter, not just the act or behavior. There’s a higher purpose of God’s mercy seen in redemptive justice.

And how wonderful to know that God cannot help but be merciful:

“The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. The Lord is good to all and His tender mercies are over all His works. All Your works shall praise You, O Lord, and Your saints shall bless You.

They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom and talk of Your power, to make known to the sons of men His mighty acts and the glorious majesty of His kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and Your dominion endures throughout all generations. The Lord upholds all who fall and raises all bowed down.” Psalms 145:8-14 NKJV

Mercy is revealed here with its specific qualities. David says that our Lord is gracious, from the Hebrew word channan, meaning “to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior; to favor; show mercy; show pity.” God surely is gracious to all of us, as David notes in another of his psalms:

“He hath not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” Psalms 103:9-14 KJV

Do you want a guarantee in life? Here it is. How very gracious and compassionate is our heavenly Father! It is very comforting to remember He knows what we are made of and considers that in His mercy. It’s wonderful to remember that He understands His creation. He is never surprised at our human lack and failure and has provided for this in His eternal plan. Thankfully, He does not deal with us after our sinful nature, which Jesus dealt with on the cross. Yes, that work is done, but we are now learning to walk in all He accomplished.

Mercy is the source of the Lord’s great compassion:

“The Lord’s acts of mercy indeed do not end, for His compassions do not fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 NASB

Our compassions fail but God’s compassions never fail or come to an end. They are always available to us and others, freely given, never earned. Isn’t that what grace is, His unmerited favor? Why, then, would we think that others need to earn what we have been freely given, to shape up before they come to God for salvation? Why would we expect sinners to behave as we are taught before they know Him? We do know Him and we often can’t get it right!

When we wake each morning, we can rest in knowing the faithfulness of our God. His compassion renews each morning, regardless of what the day brings. He definitely allows
do-overs in His growth plan! Going back to Psalms 145, David states God is “slow to anger and great in mercy”. We know our all-powerful God could take us out of this earth in anger and disgust for what the human race has become any time He chose to do so, but He is slow to anger.

This is a different nature than the one some preachers talk about that creates fear and dread of an all-powerful and wrathful God who condemns the faithless to an eternal hell, ready to inflict His anger in an instant for any wrongdoing. Actually, God’s wrath is His passion, meaning that He feels strongly about us and the world! He loves the world so much, and yet it is difficult for us to love people, particularly when we see the ugliness and evil in human hearts and all the suffering this costs.

If God so desired, He could be angry day in and day out because of what we humans have wrought upon this earth. But He is not. He is slow to anger…think about it! Here slow to anger means “long-suffering, patient.” We rejoice along with David that this is our Lord and King! He is good to all, whether they know it or not. He raises us up when we fall and lifts our spirits when we are low, just like He faithfully did for David, over and over again. God hates sin but the sinner…well, He loves us passionately and eternally!

And there is a special promise for being merciful, for allowing God to grow and nurture this aspect of His nature in us, His called, chosen, and faithful ones. It is clearly stated in the Beatitudes:

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.” Matthew 5:7 NASB

When we sow mercy, we receive it back from God. What a deal! The chorus of a favorite song encourages us this way:

Sow Mercy

“Sow mercy. Sow grace.

Sow kindness. Sow faith.

Words are like water, sprinkled with love.

You will harvest all your heart's been dreaming of.

Sow mercy.”

(D. & R. McGuire)

What an awesome God we serve!

His Ways Are Not Our Ways

“Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.

But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink for in so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.’” Romans 12:17-21 NASB

Our God says to leave retribution, our vengeance, to Him and He will repay. But when first reading this scripture of God “heaping coals of fire” on the heads of our enemies, it may sound like a great idea! We can trust God to “get ‘em” for us! But these burning coals are not to be brought with a vengeance taken into our hands. We are to endeavor to leave all that to God, seeking for peace, overcoming evil with good.

We need to get out of the way and watch how God deals with them. We can trust He will, having faith in what we do not yet see. Consider what motivates us to offer food and drink, literally or spiritually, to our enemies. If we are overcoming evil with good, we are doing it in God’s goodness, with His care for all. When moved by the Lord to show mercy, kindness, and care to our enemies, we are heaping those coals of fire by bringing the fire of His wrath—His great passion—into the situation.

We become passionate to do right in God’s eyes regardless of the role of this enemy in our midst. It is definitely the wrong heart motive to apply this scripture to exacting our vengeance on our enemies. God is in charge of any vengeance and His retribution is always just. He knows exactly what our enemies need to change them, now or in the life to come. We must know that God’s wrath is His passion, not His anger. It is indignation against sin, never the sinner.

The root word for wrath in Greek is orge, meaning desire or violent passion. God is deeply passionate about the world coming to know Him, for all to be reconciled unto His purposes. God is very, very passionate in His great love in redeeming all who miss the mark. He has a fiery passion for everyone to be in a relationship with Him. Oh, how He loves us!

His retribution is perfect, just as He is perfect. He strongly, passionately desires us to receive and walk in the fullness of all Christ has accomplished. Just so, His fiery passion is directed at our external enemies to change them for good, on this side of heaven or in the afterlife. He is promising us that He will deal with our enemies with His redemptive justice and mercy. God is not a man that He can lie!

Our human judgments do get in the way of God’s actions in dealing with our enemies. If we act with vengeful delight in response to our enemies, they cannot see God through the condemnation we’re placing upon them. Our personal loving compassion for others we care about may also get in the way of what God would choose to accomplish. We are not to pray away the fire that God has set to change them though we surely can pray them through it as the holy spirit leads.

If we attempt to rescue others from the fire God’s presence is bringing, we lack understanding of God’s ways. We do ask God to be with everyone from a heart of forgiveness and peace with others, even our enemies, but God knows best what needs to unfold and when. We are not to take into our own hands what is only God’s business. We do not want to get in the way of God’s intentions!

Our Lord’s walk on this earth models this for us. Jesus knew His enemies could only do what His Father allowed them to do. We can learn to rest in that and be sure it is fitting, doing the work He intends. Even when being betrayed and arrested, Jesus said that all He had to do was ask and His Father would send a myriad of angels to rescue Him. That was not God’s plan. He knew His Father was in charge, not those who betrayed Him.

Vengeance is His, so if there is to be punishment, including consequences, He knows what is redemptive for our enemies. How many words have we wasted in our relationships when the other person is unable to hear truth, though it is correct and right? What if their receiving of our truth is hindered by impatient, angry, blaming, and even disdainful attitudes in the heart impacting the spirit of our words?

God always sees the thoughts and intents of our hearts when we want other people to be punished rather than redeemed. Words are very important but God desires more than words spoken to others. We are to speak truth in love; that is His way. Human vengeance, particularly without God’s balance, is ineffective and makes things worse. It distracts the person from the truth to the vengeful attitudes coming at them, only prolonging the issues in the situation.

Yes, indeed, God does tell us in this passage and others to get out of His way! Vengeance here is from the Greek word ekdikos meaning “carrying justice out.” Is there anyone more just, more right in their doings, than Father God? Yes, this word includes the intent of punishment, which God is capable of doing when necessary. Father God, Who is love, is carrying out this justice. His vengeance is sure to deal with sin and wrongdoing, and His word is powerful, far different from the angry words that sometimes feels so good to say, but accomplish nothing.

Behavior has consequences and we are not to tempt the Lord by doing something to put Him to the test.

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 NIV

God does not chastise people because He feels like it, had a bad day, can’t take any more, or all the other reasons we justify our behavior to others like we do. His purpose is always to bring about a change, to purify rather than punish. God wastes nothing in His redemptive purpose. He has no need to “pay back” those who harm or wrong us, though He does allow natural consequences to occur.

This life is our training ground, designed to teach us about God through our experiences, including all we suffer. As we mature in Christ, we recognize God’s work when others wrong us undeservedly. God’s judgment always has the purpose to redeem, flowing from His heart of mercy for a better outcome. His purpose is for our character to be refined as well as for the wrongdoer’s salvation, even if it takes centuries.

God brings His purifying presence upon our enemies’ heads, their understanding. He brings the fire of His presence to consume what is not of Him. Of course, nothing can stand in the presence of our Lord without being changed. As Peter stated, our God is a consuming fire. He promises to burn up our dross—everything that is not Him. The author of Psalms 119, believed to be David, stated:

“It was good for me to be afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes.” Psalms 119:71 Berean

No, God’s ways are not our ways, but they can be! We need to consider what is in our hearts as we deal with our enemies, those who come against us or those we love, to hurt and harm us. And how shall we deal with those who do love us yet cause wounds and harm? We learn to ask God immediately “What are you trying to teach me? What are the lessons for me in this situation with those against me?”

We surely do not want to miss any of God’s lessons for us when we are dealing with external or, more often, internal enemies to our promised spiritual land. One key lesson from the Lord is to learn from His heart of forgiveness. The process of forgiveness can be a challenging experience for us Christians, yet our Lord says we are to do so, over and over, many times:

“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!’” Matthew 18:25 Berean

This number is not a recommendation to count until we get to 77! It is representative of the countless times we are to forgive our brothers in Christ, sometimes harder to do than forgiving our enemies! Jesus goes on to share the parable of the Master who loans money to two servants. One is mercifully forgiven when he cannot repay but goes right out to deal harshly with someone who owes him. The Master is most displeased about this!

The other servant, after the Master dealt graciously with him and forgave his debt, is merciful to his debtors. The unforgiving, merciless servant is then punished by the Master, putting this servant in jail until he pays the last farthing. Mark my words: when we are unforgiving, we pay a price! We live in a “jail” of our own negative emotions. What judgment we have for others is what God will put on us. The point:

“That is how My heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.” Matthew 18:34 Berean

God is not pleased with mere words of forgiveness. He desires true forgiveness from the heart. We are debtors who have been forgiven much by our Lord. So, too, should we forgive those who “transgress against us” as the Protestant Lord’s prayer states. The judgment we put on others is how we are judged. God says so. He doesn’t want us to just go through the motions. He wants this forgiveness to be deep within us, a true change in the thoughts and emotions, in the intent of our hearts.

God is the only one who can work such a change in wounded hearts and lives, regardless of circumstances. Some err in believing we can harbor unforgiveness and even hate without paying an internal price. When we refuse to forgive our brother in Christ, we are building a prison of our anger and thoughts of revenge, sometimes for many years. Those who have been grievously harmed, suffering great loss, may live in perpetual distress in mind and body when unable to forgive.

Only God, in His mercy, can work forgiveness in such hearts, reminding us that our Master has graciously and repeatedly forgiven us for our transgressions. Unforgiveness is a robber of peace and love, for sure! Circumstances vary greatly so this is a work that the person takes to God, who works amazing forgiveness within a willing believer’s heart for the most heinous and damaging acts. We know of such saints doing so, in circumstances far beyond what many of us experience.

There are times when we know He says to forgive but honestly, we just don’t want to! We know we are supposed to forgive, but where do we start if we aren’t willing? It’s surprising how many Christians strongly condemn the sins of the flesh yet harbor unforgiveness, resentment, and even bitterness in their hearts towards others. It may seem like forgiveness is letting the other off the hook, excusing or even condoning their behavior.

Sadly, this is not reserved for just our enemies. It’s often found in our hearts towards those we love—our family and friends as well as our brothers and sisters in Christ. Lack of forgiveness brings much harm to human relationships. That’s why God told us to keep our hearts clean, not to go to bed angry, to prioritize having a pure heart toward others. Every one of us Christians need to exercise our spiritual forgiveness muscles to be ready for implementation!

God has us covered when our hearts do not want to do things His way. When we don’t want to forgive or can’t see our way to do so, we can count on His ability to change our will to match His will:

“...work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

Do all things without grumbling or disputing; that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world…” Philippians 2: 12-16 NASB

What great news! When we are not willing, God works on our willingness! He does this when we ask—and sometimes when we don’t, because someone else is praying for us. He starts where we are, creating in our hearts a desire to do His will. We may be reluctant, but He is able to change that so we can forgive without grumbling and disputing, ruminating and resenting, with an inner rebellion in our hearts.

As we see how our ways are not His yet, we might as well be transparent with the Lord by acknowledging honestly where we are in our hearts. God already knows but we surrender to His inner working when we admit it to Him. Where there is resistance, we ask Him to plant a willingness. There are deep hurts that wound in devastating ways that cannot be rapidly resolved, but we can surrender to His will regardless of our feelings.

We do desire deliverance from our soul’s struggles within but how long it takes depends upon the hardness of our hearts in the situation or relationship as well as the grievousness of the wound. In all circumstances, our will is surrendered to God, becoming an anchor for our soul into God’s will. While our thoughts and emotions may sway the rope back and forth on that anchor, our will to do His will sustains us in the purpose of forgiveness.

We are to forgive as we have been forgiven–freely, without merit or worthiness, without conditions, as unto the Lord. None of us are deserving of God’s mercy or able to earn His forgiveness. But we use our human reasoning to justify why another does not deserve our forgiveness. We have many reasons, all humanly understandable. We’re still too hurt and angry, we want to protect ourselves from more hurt, we want justice or to see the other suffer before we forgive, it is absolutely unforgivable, they deserve retribution, and on and on.

Throug this, God teaches us about His ways in our the struggle to forgive.. We find God’s way instead of holding on to hurts, resentment, anger, unforgiveness or even bitterness. We all have family, friends, teachers and fellow Christians whose behaviors and choices cause undeserved suffering and pain. One cannot be in this world without having incurred offenses. The load becomes quite heavy as these increase in life. God says, “Don’t carry it! Release it to Me. Rest in My ways to bring about change.”

Yet some people still carry resentment and bitterness about a sibling or parent’s past behavior, cut off or continuing to fume, bringing up old transgressions, still believing they “got away with” something. Yet, unless we see into the heart of the one who hurt us, how can we know what God has done in them? Confusion around the process of forgiveness is very common but be clear about this: when we carry unforgiveness in our hearts, we become the burdened ones, in bondage to our thoughts and emotions.

The guidance of the holy spirit is also necessary when wanting to support others struggling with the directive to forgive. Just telling someone they should forgive only applies a surface “band-aid” to an infected wound without cleaning it out first. It becomes a law rather than a process wrought by the holy spirit.With deep and grievious wounds from this life, a deeply damaged heart may not be ready or able to hear.

Yes, forgiveness is God’s command for us, made possible through Jesus Christ our Lord. But He goes beyond the law of forgiveness to creating a heart that forgives. Forgiveness is too important to apply as merely a cover over a festering wound of emotions. We should not lightly or casually say, “Well, you need to forgive” when we have no understanding of the situation, no discernment from the Lord. Horrendous, seemingly unforgivable things happen to others that are far beyond our experiences and understanding.

It takes God’s wisdom and time to understand, let alone assiswt others in this process. When we don’t know why such things are happening to a fellow believer, it’s best to stick with what we do know. And we do know that it is not that God does not love them! While children need to be taught forgiveness by word and behavior, mature Christians cannot have the fruit of the spirit fully manifest in their lives with mere spoken words.

When we are the offended ones, it is even more challenging if the person continues in hurtful ways and showing no remorse. But God does not make any exceptions in His forgiveness policy. His forgiveness is unconditional—no conditions! His love truly has no limit, His grace no measure. We do not get a pass on forgiveness because others continue in their hurtful or harmful ways. God may allow or evencause the relationship to end as a consequence of the other’s continual harmful behavior—but the heart still needs to forgive.

Consider a woman who is in an abusive, violent relationship. There is the daily wear and tear on a person’s entire being of being ridiculed and mistreated, threatened with or experiencing physical harm, the fear of being abandoned and alone. She may need to leave in order to keep herself and her children safe. This is the heart of the matter for Christians who are praying about being seriously mistreated, abandoned, abused or living in violence with no safety within or without. What is God leading them to do, inside their hearts where they listen for His will?

Many would keep such a believer in an unsafe prison to follow the law against separation or divorce. But there is a time when those in prison are set free. God, in His mercy and grace, releases His called and chosen to go further in His purposes. To be truly free, the survivor of abuse and violence needs forgiveness in their heart whether staying or leaving, and whether the partner knows about it or not.

Forgiveness, however, does not require staying in dangerous situations. God protects the innocent. Those who are victimized by the use of abuse or threat of harm to violently control another are innocent, despite the abuser’s rationale of “Well s/he deserved it. S/he is disrespectful, disobedient, and I have the right to control or correct.” Even some Christian leaders, lacking in discernment and often having no experience in these matters, have directed those who are being abused to stay or return for the sake of the marriage vows.

This is prioritizing the law of staying married over mercy for the one victimized, lacking in understanding of the victim.It is more often offered by someone who has never been in this position. The key is what the holy spirit directs that person to do, but what a time to lose the spiritual support of those who disagree and judge the victim for leaving. They lack understanding of God’s standard of forgiveness as an inner work that truly frees one inside, whether the relationship is sustained or not. That is God’s business.

While it is God’s ideal that hearts be truly repentant of the harm and hurt caused to another, it is not our job to require this. Perhaps we want the other person to be good and sorry before we extend our mercy and forgiveness, but God’s forgiveness frees us regardless of what the other person’s attitudes may be. This idea of “earning forgiveness” likely stems from childhood experiences when we are disciplined for wrong and rewarded for right behavior.

Most of us experience some discipline or consequences at home and at school when we do wrong, so we learn to expect rewards for doing good and punishment for not. There is value and truth in this as children, but as adults, the key is acting to please the Lord, not ourselves:

“The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have an opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.” Galatians 6:8-10 Berean

Goodness to all must be done in the spirit. How rapidly might the world change if all of us Christians will endeavor to do good to everyone? It is impossible to sustain goodness in the flesh, though some have a head start with a God-given compassionate nature. But good works done for any other reason than God’s leading by the spirit are as worthless as sinful or evil works. This is “eating from the tree of good and evil” instead of from “the tree of life.”

As children, and later as adults, we may struggle when this model of reward and consequences doesn’t show up fairly in our lives. We dislike the tests that come when unfair things happen to us that we do not deserve. We may cry out: “It’s not fair!”, not understanding God’s redemptive justice is higher than our ways and our desire for equal distribution of suffering. God clearly does not make His decisions based on what we humans consider fair. This is a hard lesson in God’s kingdom that should be obvious by now but we struggle with it.

It comes as a disappointing truth for many of us until we understand more about how His ways are not ours. Surely Jesus was treated most unfairly and yet, in His suffering on the cross, He asked the Father to forgive them. He knew they did not know what they were doing, that they were actually fulfilling God’s plan to sacrifice His only son for all. Yet I have Jewish friends who have been persecuted and rejected by Christians, even as children, because Christians blame the Jews for Jesus’ crucifixion.

We desire a word of life, not just of good and evil. Good and honorable behavior is not exclusive to Christians, though we should be specialists in this. Unbelievers may have good hearts that flow out to others without godliness working within. When we grow and change in our understanding of His ways, however, our harvest of reward is spiritual and eternal. It may never result in others treating us like we treat them, a disappointing fact of life, but the joy of pleasing the Lord in our well-doing becomes more and more satisfying.

How little do we believers understand the purpose and plan of God when we get stuck in blaming humans for what God did! Ironically, the offender may have totally forgotten what happened, while we continue to ruminate about it. God understands the many hurts and unfairness we all experience in this life. He comforts and directs us, knowing the price we pay for carrying them around.

“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving devotion for those who fear Him. As far as the East is from the West, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Psalms 103:11-12 Berean

“I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.” Isaiah 43:25 Berean

If God puts our transgressions far away like east from west, He certainly is not taking them out and examining them on a regular basis. He is not warily watching us to see when we do it again or checking if He needs to remind us of our errors and sins. He is certainly not rehearsing our sins when He remembers them no more!

Christians don’t necessarily act as if we believe this about God, but it is what He said. The Hebrew word for “remember” in the scripture from Isaiah is zakar, meaning “to mark so as to recognize, to remember in order to mention, mindful, recount, bring, or call to mind, think on.” This is what God is promising never to do when He states unequivocally that He will remember our transgressions no more. Ever. Period.

We are called to be the light of the world, yet unforgiveness and the judgment it feeds are part of what some people hold against Christians – our hateful, poisonous self-righteous attitude toward others. This is not speaking the truth in love! It may be truth, but stems from a different spirit than God’s spirit of love and mercy. It is particularly noted when we Christians are holding forth and judging what we know nothing about except for what it looks like to use from the outside.

We all have found ourselves doing this despite knowing it is not to be a part of our Christian walk. There are endless attitudes and assumptions, including stereotypes, that we all have. It’s part of life, how our marvelous God-given brains are made to work. These biases influence us, knowingly or worse, unknowingly, in our attitudes and behaviors towards others. When we know our biases and submit them to the Lord for cleansing, then our human viewpoint will not negatively impact others in our world.

How beautifully the Lord works within us to have humility to teach us that we do not know what it is like for another, even if we think we do! We may share similar outcomes, but the details vary from person to person. There are many ways Christians end up divorced, unemployed, eating, drinking, and socializing in unholy ways, living and loving in ways unacceptable to others. How do we show the light, despising the sin—the failure to meet the mark— while not displaying human judgment or harshness towards others in error.

After all, are we not all missing the mark in some way? Dare we rank order sins while ignoring the carnal attitudes in our hearts? When Christians fall short in these matters, unbelievers ask, “Where’s the love?” God tells us that it is what comes out of a man that is defiling because it flows from what is in the heart. Jesus spoke to this when the Pharisees were upset because He and His disciples did not follow the established traditions of the elders. Jesus confronts them about speaking holy words while their hearts are far from Him. Jesus said to the crowd:

“‘Listen and understand. A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it.’ Then the disciples came to Him and said, ‘Are You aware that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?” But Jesus replied, ‘Every plant that My heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by its roots. Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.’

Peter said to Him, ‘Explain this parable to us.’ ‘Do you still not understand?’ Jesus asked. ‘Do you not yet realize that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then is eliminated? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a man.

For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander. These are what defile a man, but eating with unwashed hands does not defile him.” Matthew 15:10-20 Berean

Jesus was teaching the crowd before Him that the Pharisees had their priorities wrong. They outwardly worshipped God, extolling the many virtues of keeping their rules and traditions, while inwardly, their hearts were full of pride and deceit. Did Jesus love His enemies? Of course! Did He know that most of the Pharisees and elders at the time would not hear or follow Him? Yes, He knew what was in their hearts. He wanted the crowd, as well as His disciples, to understand this.

But Jesus still forgave all, even His enemies. Jesus was delivering a radically different message to the Jews listening to Him. Their religion was based upon following the law of Moses, requiring outward sacrifice and religious customs that were a show of righteousness. But there was no focus on what was in their hearts until Jesus came along. Like many of us when God reveals the ugly things in our hearts, they did not like it at all! They got offended, resisting or denying the truth of their inward condition.

What is in our hearts, when not dealt with by God, eventually comes out as behavior. Yes, God is against the sins of the flesh, but where do they come from? The scribes and Pharisees were the only people Jesus repeatedly chastised and publicly judged. Jesus was ministering a word that exposed what was in their hearts. He neither chastised nor rebuked the sinners who came to Him. In His mercy, He saw all and sinners knew it. He spoke a word to each that so changed them they were able to truly “go and sin no more.”

The way of Jesus was to speak a word of power and light, a word of life that changed the course of their lives, freeing them from sin and error. Jesus holds our present dayt erroneous, uber-religious, blind leaders to a higher standard than their followers, because of the authority and power they have. They keep others in their prison of self-righteousness. This is spiritual wickedness in high places:

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:11-13 Berean

It’s really the spirits within others that have power in this world’s darkness. It’s the spirit of darkness coming from the hearts of those who harm us or those we love. There are spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. That means there is evil where God is, on every level humas still sin. There are evil spiritual forces working in the heavens, and there are realms of heaven. That’s a lot to consider here, but one thing is certain: it is the spirits that rule in darkness within our enemies and we are at risk of allowing them to grow within us.

His ways certainly are different than our human ways! What about the horrific things that man does to others far beyond our human understanding, that thankfully remain completely outside the lives of many of us? We desire justice in this world, but we know that the world is sadly, even horribly, lacking in true and righteous judgment. As our earthly conditions worsen, what is happening in this 21st century sounds a lot like this scripture in Amos.

“It is as if a man runs from a lion [escaping one danger] and a bear meets him [so he dies anyway], or goes home, and leans with his hand against the wall and a snake bites him.” Amos 5:19 NIV

We believers cannot deny that there are terrible things happening in this world, one after the other. Multitudes face danger, death, and loss on a daily basis. More and more are victims of frequent natural disasters. It is particularly offensive for Christians to casually and without thought or prayer, provide superficial advice for dealing with such extremely adverse circumstances. While being grateful that we are not tested in some ways, we need to remain humble in realizing we have not dealt with anything close to the challenges of multitudes of other believers.

Many of us have not been asked to deal with someone who caused a fatal accident that took the life of a loved one, or the murder of a child or family member, or watching lives and homes destroyed by our country’s enemies in times of war, or being tormented and defiled by those who are supposed to love us, harmed and murdered because of the color of our skin or any outward appearance of the flesh, or captured and tortured by our enemies.

Unless God gives us understanding for such circumstances, we cannot grasp them. It’s best to listen and learn, rather than think we know. God is able to teach us His ways in all circumstances when we recognize our lack and humbly ask Him. Some say that there are things that are just unforgivable, but God makes no exceptions. There are saints through the centuries who have deeply suffered and done just that.

When well-meaning Christians attempt to comfort others with platitudes, they end up causing the person, particularly children, to feel misunderstood or confused rather than comforted and supported. How we all require the wisdom of God when interacting with those who are angry and suffering unspeakable pain and loss! Sometimes we rush to this response because it is too difficult for us to hear about such experiences but silence can be golden!

God, help us to share scriptures wisely in HIS way—in God’s time, with God’s motivation of love and compassion for the suffering of others. God is fully able to work His compassion and understanding for them into our hearts. He may respectfully reveal the roots of their issues to give us understanding of the roots. Many sinful things are understandable by the holy spirit even though they remain wrong. Hate the sin and love the sinner isn’t easy!

Though we may never know what it is like to have such things happen, we all know pain. When offering godly counsel to the deeply wounded, we cannot just give what we think is good advice. When not led by the Lord, we inevitably say unhelpful things, causing further distress. The wise path is to wait until we know what to say and when to say it. As Ecclesiastes says, there is a season for all things.

How the Lord’s heart must grieve to see all of us, including little ones who suffer so much, experience things that so many others cannot even imagine. No one really wants to hear the worst that humans can do to another, particularly to innocent children. But God hears. He knows. God sends some of His own to be wise counselors who offer comfort and hope His way, not their own ideas and words.

We are to handle carefully the precious bruised and broken hearts of others, praying that they will allow God to give them His comfort and rest:

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 12:20 Berean

We want to be like Him and are able and willing to do so.

“Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked man forsake his own way and the unrighteous man his own thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.’” Isaiah 55:6-9 Berean

We continually pray for His will, not ours. God is a Healer of all in every situation when submitted to Him. He is faithful and just to create that same ability that He has: to be willing and then to do His good pleasure by forgiving others. We cannot provide true redemptive justice without a change of heart. Laws can’t do it, though they are necessary to protect the innocent. It is the work of the holy spirit in the hearts of men and women, sometimes one heart at a time.

As our will is submitted to Him, He softens our hardened hearts and changes our emotions to compassion and mercy. He changes our hardened hearts into hearts that are soft, pliable, able to to be written upon with His ways. He is an amazing, incredible God whose ways are not ours until the full redemption of His plan makes us into His image and likeness is unveiled.

God’s Judgment Is Always Redemptive

I’ve been reading and editing my husband Rich Mikelson’s Feast of Tabernacles teachings for several years now and have benefitted so much from his deeper understanding, particularly of the book of Revelation. God has been writing these truths on my heart along with the rest of the treasure house He is creating through years of walking with Him.

Recently, in one of Rich’s posts about mercy and justice, the statement, “God’s judgment is always redemptive,” burned itself into my heart. This statement is an answer to a years-long search for understanding God’s judgment in contrast with human judgment. He judges righteously from a perfect union of His mercy and His justice. In His perfection, God the Father is both mercy and judgment. God’s judgment has a purpose—to redeem us from sin, the flesh, and the devil.

God is always merciful, and His judgment is certain. Because He is love, He has the perfect balance between the two.

“Mercy and truth are met together: righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” Psalms 85:10 AKJV

Now, this is something I have found most difficult for us human beings to achieve. It is challenging to resist being judgmental, including judging others for their critical and condemning attitudes and behaviors! When we judge others who display critical judgment without compassion or understanding, we find ourselves in the unhappy dilemma of being judgmental about others who are judgmental!

Human judgment of the behavior and choices of others is typically drawn from external information—what is seen, heard, or reported by others. Rarely do those who are judging have accurate information, especially about the person’s internal heart, their history, or the circumstances of those they are judging. Check out any of today’s social media platforms, and you will see just how rampant and even vicious people’s opinions of one another can be—and this is in the Christian community!

Whether it is entertainment, politics, sports, business, or personal life choices, judgment displayed with lack of love is thriving. Such judgment is the reason the great Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi said, "I like your Christ, but not your Christianity." (as quoted by Dr. J.H. Holmes. 1927). As with Gandhi, judgmental attitudes and opinions displayed by Christians and the conflicts these generate are a common turn-off for those who have not met the Lord.

Our human judgment, our opinions and reasoning, is an ugliness that is far too commonly displayed, even among close Christian brothers and sisters and within Christian families. Judgmental attitudes and behaviors are spots on our garments, yet appearing to approve ungodly behavior is not the answer either. How can we avoid human judgment while remaining true to our own Christian beliefs?

God’s judgment differs from human judgment in its purpose of redemption, so how are we Christians to display this godly judgment? There are things that are wrong, sinful, and missing the mark that God will not wink at in our lives or the lives of others. How do we show mercy and compassion to others whose choices differ from ours? How do we exhibit love and mercy that does not seemingly agree or approve of what we know is not according to God’s word?

Consider what Paul taught Timothy about dealing with others from a pure heart:

“Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.

Opponents must be gently instructed in the hope that God will grant them repentance, leading them to a knowledge of the truth and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” 2 Timothy 2:22-26 NIV

Many a fiery sermon from the pulpit is not delivered with gentle instruction, using zeal rather than God’s ways to convict sinners. God desires us to have the right attitude and motive of the heart because that’s where our words begin. We are to gently edify and lift up others, particularly those in our faith communities. When God’s love is the Master of our motives, His love will check our spirit, pricking our conscience when we say critical, judgmental things that tear down rather than build up.

More than one Christian has had their testimony or even ministry destroyed by words spoken by others who neither know nor care about the effects of their words. Without mercy or grace, words hurt!

“…but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.” Ephesians 4:15-16 Berean

There is only one way we can grow the Body of Christ: by building each other up in love. As we mature, growing up in the Lord, we become more skilled at speaking His truth in love. Love is the strongest, most powerful force in the universe! What people will do and how they can change under the power of true and faithful God-love is amazing! God is able to teach us to show love and mercy to everyone, even the unlovable, though we disagree or even hate what they might do.

We all need to be covered in grace and love when we are in this battle to live the right way, God’s way, in our sin-filled world. We can leave the judgment to God as He draws those missing the mark —which is all of us—more powerfully. There’s a God-place in all of us that brings an awareness of the very things about which others are judging us. Deep down, where God’s seed is, there’s a hidden awareness when we are falling short of the mark.

It’s a built in awareness of sin, unless the consciousness is seared.

“Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron". 1 Timothy 4:2 NIV

This describes those who still teach laws about what is forbidden rather than grace through faith. Their conscience has become numb, insensitive to right and wrong, often due to hypocrisy and a hardening of the heart, leading to a callousness toward God's will and the ability to commit evil without remorse.

“So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts.” Ephesians 4:17-18 Berean

The heart is hardened so that this God-given small, secret awareness of truth and righteousness is quenched and eventually deadened in some who practice evil on a daily basis, but it is still there. God knows the hearts of humans, including ones whose hearts may be softened in this life. Others must wait until their time to appear before the judgment seat of God to change and redeem their natures.

We humans are usually unaware of what is in that person’s heart when we judge another. We do not know what happens in the privacy of another’s life and relationships. Careless or critical comments are discouraging, rather than strengthening, for hope of any possible change. After all, what can one expect from a person who believes they are so bad that there is no hope for them? God came to save the world, so there is no one who is beyond His love.

Most of us would be surprised at the self-condemnation in others' hearts who seem to be doing wrong without conscience. The last thing some need is to have others joining in their own self-condemnation and even self-loathing. Hatred of sin does not bring us to full life, Christ does! People do get trapped into wrongful situations, and some have are even beseeching the Lord to free them.

Others have done no wrong, but circumstances may appear as if they have. God gives wisdom not to speak words that are wasted on those without conscience or ability to hear. We are not to “cast our pearls before swine” but we are to:

“…Therefore, encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Berean

We are to encourage those who can hear along the way, building each other up by edifying our brothers and sisters in love. God’s way is not our way but it can be! He does not look at what a person is doing, judging casually or carelessly. His judgment always has the purpose of redemptive change. It’s always focused on reconciling us to Christ! Let’s ask ourselves: is this the pre-eminent motive for us Christians when we judge another individual or group? Is it possible that self-righteousness and superiority are harbored in our hearts when we do this?

The apostle Peter says this to Christians:

“Above all, love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8 NIV

Love covers first, it does not first expose sin. This, above all, includes every single thing that we judge when someone misses the mark. Covering sins is not the same as excusing, denying, or ignoring them. We lay the blanket of love over the sins of others, covering them rather than broadcasting them. We see them there but cover in mercy and compassion, interceding with God on their behalf rather than exposing them. It is God’s choosing, not ours, to reveal unrepentant behavior of others.

“Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value and only ruins those who listen.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and correctly handles the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:14-16 NIV

Speaking negative things to or about others is so easy, particularly with our intimate friends! At these times, many motives other than love are present in our hearts. Perhaps we want to gain status, sympathy, get attention, appear to be in the know with the inside scoop, displaying our righteousness in contrast to the person we are discussing, or even gossiping under the guise of a prayer request!

We can catch ourselves repeating past categorical judgments, holding them in our hearts when we have no idea of what has currently transpired nor God’s will in the matter. We apply laws rather than mercy, when Jesus Christ came for offer a way for all. We all grow up with cultural blind spots that are not truth about others. These may unknowingly offend but the desire of love is not to offend but to enrich. Here we need more covering in love and less exposure of others. Paul further told Timothy:

“Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.” 2 Timothy 2:16 NIV

The words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts are to be pleasing to the Lord, as David says in the Psalms. Love and respect–what we social workers call unconditional positive regard–is displayed just because someone is another human on this planet. It is acceptance of humanity as is, as God sees us all. Who else knows everything about us and loves us just the same?

God enables us to show forth His nature to others, including those who choose to reveal their innermost struggles or when God allows us to see their hearts. When we understand that human judgment is ineffective in redemption of others, our ears are open to learning what life-giving spiritual principles of God are available in the matter. We may be right in principle, standing for the truth, but very wrong, unloving and critical, in our hearts.

There are untold examples of many Christians who have committed grievous errors against God and man who have been redeemed by the love of God in His people. The most dramatic of these is the conversion of Saul, the persecutor of Christians. One powerful appearance of Jesus to Saul changed him to Paul, a great apostle of Jesus Christ. But what if the Christian community’s justified judgment of Saul would have led them to refuse his entry into the Kingdom? Thank the Lord He sent Paul to an obedient servant who did not judge him from his past!

Christians are to be known particularly for their love and mercy towards others, most especially for the people of faith. “They will know us by our love.” Well, do they? Redemption from our old ways of judging by external behavior or appearance leads to new life in Him. In our human judgment, we prioritize many external factors that God does not prioritize, just as the scribes and Pharisees of Jesus’ day did:

“At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. 2When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.’

Jesus replied, “‘Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for them to eat, but only for the priests. Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and yet are innocent?

But I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. If only you had known the meaning of ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.’” Matthew 12: 1-7 Berean

These religious followers of the law also condemned Jesus for healing on the Sabbeth and for eating and drinking with sinners and tax collectors. Read the Book and you will find that these workers of the Jewish laws looked at outward appearance rather than the heart. But now, we have His love, an unlimited source within us. We go to the Source of love when we don’t have what we need.

Faith through love is the only answer, as Paul told the early Christians who were being persuaded to get circumcised according to the Law. He stated that if you insist on part of the law, you are required to fulfill it all, nullifying the sacrifice of Jesus Christ:

“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.” Galatians 5:6 ESV

God does not look at or evaluate our righteousness by all the outward things our society, specific culture, or even Christian community relies upon to measure the godliness of a man or woman of faith. How we treat one another is much more important than the sins of the flesh we love to condemn. God is able to teach us to respond to others through His judgment and mercy which are never separated in Him.

This is godly judgment, coming from the pure heart of love God has for the world. God does not change His standards, but He does change what is in our hearts. It’s not a matter of pretending not to see what misses the mark (sin), but a choice to focus on the love of God, to see others with empathy and compassion. Learning to speak the truth in love is a most refining characteristic God is working within His people.

Even when we don’t speak our judgments out, as many in this age are doing, we still need them purged from our hearts to become ever more like our Lord. When we speak to others with these things hidden in our hearts, we speak with guile that is unacceptable to God. It is not that we cannot see or are not given spiritual discernment about what is righteous. It is about the attitudes of our hearts when we do. And guile is something we may hide from ourselves. It’s in the mixed motives of God and self from which we speak our words.

God always prioritizes having the character of Christ working in our hearts over what we do for Him, flowing out into righteous behavior towards all. Understanding that God’s judgment is always redemptive means that His heart, His sole purpose and intent, is always and eternally focused on redeeming or saving the individual. Always. God looks at a man's heart to see the underlying motives of human behavior and judgment. Father God and the Lord Jesus Christ have no mixed motives like we do!

Judgment with condemnation rather than compassion causes a loss of hope for many who are struggling with sinful conditions or unexpected changes in their lives. Many have a story or a history that we know nothing about. To put it bluntly, it doesn’t help! Even well-meaning but continual correction meant for good is discouraging to others. Watch a child being raised with continual criticism and judgment for their failures. A child who is repeatedly told she or he is worthless or bad loses hope, often becoming what he or she hears.

Everyone needs someone to believe in them, encouraging them on their way. When a person is criticized for every mistake, regardless of its purpose, their confidence as well as their hope and ability to change is decreased. Who is it, indeed, that is without sin, thus able to cast that first stone of condemnation? All fall short of the glory of God. And what sense does it make to judge others according to our principles when many people do not even know these same spiritual life truths by which we are living?

Others’ choices and behaviors are often incomprehensible to us because we are outside their situations. How can we know why a Christian is facing divorce or loses their job or appears to be involved in an activity that seems fleshly to us? We have not faced all of the past and present things that others have walked through. How do we presume to understand and empathize with an issue or problem, let alone repeat it to others, when we have not personally dealt with it?

Only God can work this within when we have not walked the same path. He is wisdom so He prepares us to help those who have walked paths we know nothing about. The key is realizing as well as sharing that we do not know from experience while we do know God’s ways. Jesus was tested in all things, yet was without sin so He is the only One who enables us to walk with those who are transgressing. As our High Priest, He understands. He has been there and overcome it all, providing hope and a way of escape for all.

Through many experiences and interactions, we learn to empathize with another’s pain and suffering; we better understand what it is like for them in their particular troubles should God reveal it. We also learn godly responses when someone treats us in a way we would never dream of treating another. God says:

“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12 NASB

Sadly, treating others well is no guarantee they will treat us well in return, but it does increase the chances! We do it to please our Lord, not to gain a reward from man. God is building this principle into good character within us. Though it should not be so with Christians, it is rare for others to treat us well when we are not treating them well! When we expect others to treat us well, as we have treated them, it is disappointing when they don’t!

Sadly we cannot earn being treated well by others. God will teach us what we need to know as we humble ourselves to learn. We need to listen to others with a heart that desires to understand. So many people are isolated, having no one to care, let alone share their struggles. But when we do hear what experiences another has lived through, instead of judging them, we often wonder, considering their history, if we would do as well as they are doing!

It is very easy to judge someone’s actions by outward appearance, by what we can see externally, but that is not God’s way at all. The Word is full of God’s prioritizing of the heart of humans. Redemption is defined as “the action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil.” In the Bible, it means the promise and power of God to deliver us from sin and death. Jesus Christ, our Lord, came, ministered, and died for this purpose. Any judgment He has is to redeem that person, with truth in love creating that change.

Jesus came to save the world, not condemn it, by swallowing up darkness in the light of His presence. Do you realize that Jesus never condemned the sinners to whom He ministered in His earthly life? Jesus never spoke one word of judgment to any sinners with whom He interacted. He did not even condemn Judas when it was revealed that Judas would betray Him, still calling Judas friend as Judas led the Roman soldiers to arrest Him He knew what Judas had to do.

Jesus also knew what was in the hearts of his enemies. Jesus’ words of chastisement and judgment were directed at the Hebrew leaders and priests of His time, whom He rebuked strongly, bluntly, and repeatedly. Why? As leaders, they knew the truth about Moses’ law, and taught it to others but did not live them. There is judgment towards change for leaders whose words to others are not a part of their character, further causing followers to stumble. Through the centuries, many church leaders have done just that.

The law brings death, rather than the living Word that brings life. When our words and our behaviors do not match, lacking the life of character of Jesus Christ, we are truly hypocrites as Jesus called them in His day. It does not create change in the hearts when judgment and condemnation is delivered with no path to redemption. Such leaders were self-righteously preaching to others, laying burdens or “heavy loads” on their people to fulfil the demands of the law without doing it themselves.

Jesus called this a snare, because it sounds right and has the appearance of truth. The truth is just and righteous but their ways are not:

“Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and His disciples, saying, ‘The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things, and do not do them. They tie up heavy loads and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.

But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men, for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. And they love the place of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues, respectful greetings in the marketplaces, and being called by men, Rabbi.

But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ.

But the greatest among you shall be your servant; whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.” Matthew 23:1-12 NASB

This passage of scripture shows what our Lord Jesus Christ thinks of others, especially Christian leaders, who rail against sin but fail to do what they tell others to do. Jesus clearly saw their hearts, and that is why they hated Him. The Jewish leaders of Jesus’ time, and many since, have mixed motives in their hearts, retaining power and position without showing forth God’s nature in their lives.

Jesus agreed with what they were saying— the law of Moses is truth. It’s the right standard of behavior but comes from the wrong standard within as well as the wrong way to communicate it to others. He exposed and condemned wrong motives of their hearts, their self righteous, better-than attitudes towards listeners. Jesus saw right through such exalted external displays—and still does! And, more importantly, He came to fulfill the law, as no human, including the leaders of that time or now, can do without Him!

No one can trust another whose words and behaviors do not match. Humans may believe what they see, the outward behaviors, rather than becoming aware of the heart inside. He looked beyond their outwardly religious righteous behavior into the heart motives of pride, power, and position in their hearts. Jesus judged the scribes and the Pharisees, calling them “hypocrites” and “blind guides.”

Jesus’ words exposed the darkness of human lust for power and the esteem of men, the “pride of life” to which all flesh is subject. They loved to “lay the law down” heavily on their followers but were far from fulfilling the law themselves. They created a snare by speaking words of law they could not live out while judging and condemning others who did not do so. This never shows the people the way into life, judgment toward condemning rather than saving. People do not typically embrace another who exposes them in this way! Few will accept truth as an opportunity to change.

Jesus called them out, as we might say now, for their great hypocrisy. He knew their hearts were hardened toward Him. They orchestrated His crucifixion because of what was in their hearts and the threat to all they held dear in their world. They had no idea that they were doing the will of God! But Jesus never spoke in any such way to the individual sinners or to the multitudes. Instead, He spoke of encouragement and hope.

Jesus convicted them of their sin without chastisement, such as the woman caught in adultery. He knew she was sinning and she likely did too! Instead, He saw the intent of her accusers, the motives in their hearts to set a trap for Him. They judged her while having sinned themselves. Unlike some Christians today, He did not severely judge such outward sins of the flesh in the same way that He did the heart condition of her accusers.

Jesus always sees in the hearts of humans. Yes, He knew what this woman had been sinfully doing, and wanted to provide opportunity for her to change, to be redeemed, through his love and kindness. She certainly was surprised at how He treated her, and it surely was not what she was expecting. He did not join the self-righteous leaders who were attempting to trick him with how He would handle a woman caught in such an obvious sin of adultery.

Jesus dealt with this situation wisely, with very few words:

“..the Law of Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?’ And they were saying this, testing Him, in order that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and, with His finger, wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up and said to them, ‘He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.’

And again, He stooped down and wrote on the ground. And when they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the midst. And straightening up, Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?’ And she said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go your way. From now on, sin no more.’” John 8:3-11“ NASB

Can you imagine Jesus’ piercing gaze as He said these words to the woman’s accusers? We wonder what He wrote in the sand, and some speculate that it may have been each of the accusers’ sins He was quietly revealing. Jesus did not tell the woman that the way she was living was wrong. She knew this already but did not know how to become free. More than one Christian has found themselves caught in the snare of adultery, seeking diligently through prayer for the strength of God to be released.

We can be assured that this woman, speaking with the Lord of glory and seeing what compassion and righteousness He showed toward her, did not sin again.He neither placated her nor excused her sin, but spoke truth to her that she was in an adulterous relationship now and had been before. Then He told her, “Go, and sin no more.” The Lord deals with any who sin, falling short of the mark, so that they no longer continue in wrongful behavior. He speaks a word of truth in love about what the issue is and provides a way of escape.

God is the changer of hearts, where the root of any issue begins and ends. This woman was forever changed, without condemnation, chastisement, or rejection by Jesus. Are those who commit adultery now treated this way by the Christian community? Or do we behave the way these religious leaders did in dealing with this woman? Stoning of women still occurs in some countries, but our country and many others would never do that.

Instead, do we stone the sinner with words and gossip rather than rocks? Do we continue to judge the woman who commits adultery more harshly than the adulterous man? Are we quick to condemn, identify with and even support one partner over the other without knowing anything about it? With no condemnation in His heart, our Lord showed love and compassion as well as a way of escape from her sins, giving her only His word of life. Redemption! Reconciliation! Heart change!

Jesus is our model, the Pattern Son. Without God working within us, none of us can live a righteous life, let alone possess a powerful word to free others. Aren’t you glad that God knows we need our Father just as He did and that He provided the way?

“For He knoweth our frame: He remembreth that we are dust.” Psalms 103:14 KJV

We love the Lord of mercy and compassion Who sees and understands our human condition. He well knows that without Him, we can do nothing. None of us are yet fully enabled to speak to others with pure motives, no guile in our hearts, but God is writing His standards within us by His spirit. In our Christian relationships, love is to be the cover as well as the driving force in all we do. Above all, we are to have a deep love for our brethren.

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. For whoever serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men. So then, let us pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” Romans 14:17-19 Berean

May God help us to continue growing up into Him. There is so much to learn at His feet!

Part 1: The Foundation

“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.”

Ezekiel 36:26-27 ESV