To Whom Credit is Due

What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. I Corinthians 3:5,6 (New American Standard Bible)

Each of us who are believers in Christ have individuals we consider as the spiritual influences in our life. They were either involved in our salvation experience or in subsequent times of spiritual growth. Maybe it was a pastor, Sunday school teacher, ministry person, author, or just a special Christian God used in a great way to help us along on our journey with Jesus. They would be the first to come to mind if someone asked us who has had the greatest impact on our life. They may have gone on to be with the Lord or they may still be living on this earth. It may have been years since we last saw or spoke with them or we may still get together with them frequently. Whatever the case may be, their specialness and importance to us remains.

This was the kind of relationship Apollos and Paul had with the early Christians. Paul evangelized and established churches and Apollos worked faithfully with the congregations. It was easy for people to grow dependent on them and attribute their spiritual growth to these men. Who of us does not have our preferred speakers, preachers, and authors? Paul’s words are meant for any of us who have our ‘list’ of favorites.

Paul reminds us that any person who has helped us in our Christian life has simply been a servant through whom we have believed. They were the avenue or vessel God chose to use in our life. Then he quickly adds that although they were highly involved in the preaching and teaching of God’s truth, the growth itself was caused by God. Appreciate them? Yes! Highly esteem them? Absolutely! But the real credit goes to God. He is the one who caused us to listen to them. He is the one who caused their message to get through to us. He is the one who nudged us to open ourselves up to them as a person. He is the one who gave growth to the seeds they planted.

Certain individuals will always be special to me for the role they have played in my life. While my love, appreciation, and respect goes to them….the credit for growth goes to God!

Father, for so long I have given others the credit I should have been giving to You. I now see them as the vessels You graciously selected and used in my life. But all the glory and tribute belongs to You! Amen.

Thank You - Ray Boltz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFrdJ2V3r7Y

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

It Has to be Learned

Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:11-13 (New American Standard Bible)

I have often looked at fellow believers, saw godly qualities in their life, and made the false assumption that they came by those qualities naturally. I failed to see what they had to “learn” before they could say “I know.” I was not privy to the times of testing God walked them through in order to develop in them the sterling qualities I witnessed later on. The education they gained in the school of life may have taken years and was wrought with tears and difficulties that few knew anything of. God is reminding me this morning, that the gold I see so profoundly in them was mined out of the darkest caves of their life. He is also letting me know it is no different for me.

As I read today’s passage I noticed for the first time Paul’s phrase, “I have learned.” His contentment in all circumstances and knowing how to get along with abundance as well as poverty, being full and going hungry, having needs met and having needs remain unmet, had to be learned. It had to be learned through experiencing those very things and allowing God to be his Teacher in each situation. It required many moments of saying with Jesus, “Not my will, but Yours, O God.” It required dieing to self. It required walking in the Spirit instead of living in the flesh.

I don’t consider myself a fast learner or cooperative student most of the time. It is usually with difficulty that I finally yield and see the richness in doing so. It takes awhile for God to convince me that He really does know best and is bringing about the best for me. The longer I walk with Him the clearer this becomes.

Presently, I am “learning” the necessity of letting go. I have spent a life time harboring attitudes when disappointment came my way. God has been faithfully helping me to hear His voice as He nudges me to let go of the expectations I have put on others as well as the thoughts I can so easily mull over and stay connected to when those expectations are not forth coming. I see now that freedom is a choice and so are the steps necessary to live in that freedom. For now, most of my waking hours are spent saying, “I’m letting go of THAT!” because “holding on” was so much a part of my life. The change has not come easily but it is coming and in that I delight!

Father, my letting go when I so often want to hold on is coming with Your help. Thank you for Your insistence and assistance. I need You and I love You. Amen.

Spirit Song - Maranatha Singers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC7RDZP7tFw

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Redirecting My Focus

They refused to obey, and they were not mindful of Your wonders that You did among them. But they hardened their necks, and in their rebellion they appointed a leader to return to their bondage. But You are God, ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness, and did not forsake them. Nehemiah 9:17 (New King James Version)

I love the fact that this list of God’s character does not follow a pronouncement of good behavior. It does not read, “When they obeyed, were mindful of Your wonders, cooperated with You, and stayed free of bondage, God was gracious and merciful, etc…” Rather, it lists the truth about their sinful hearts and actions. In their worst moments, God was ready to pardon. In their continual cycling into bondage, God was gracious and merciful. In their rebellion, God was slow to anger. In their stubbornness, God was abundant in kindness. In their forsaking of Him, God did not forsake them. Even at their worst, God remained at His best and continually reached out to them.

I am like the children of Israel in so many ways. As recent as yesterday, I turned (if just briefly) to that which could easily put me into bondage. The sense of what I did filled me with regret and remorse. My choice quickly turned to one of confession and wanting to distance myself from that which I had no business being near. God was gracious. God was forgiving. That is what helped me walk with a sense of cleansing and a fresh determination to remain free rather than guilt and shame.

Seeing God’s graciousness and love in the midst of my sinful choices and actions makes a huge difference. Those are the times I need the reminders the most. Those are the times when seeing the truth about Him has me in awe and wonder the most. For most of my Christian life, however, that has not been my practice. I spent more time beating myself up for the past rather than rejoicing in the character of God. I focused on my sin rather than on His forgiveness. On my mistakes rather than His mercy. On my stubbornness rather than His kindness. On my straying rather than on His staying. No wonder I was prone to live with a sense of condemnation rather than the truth of being loved, accepted, and forgiven.

When I have made wrong choices, when I have failed Him, when I have fallen, God is not wanting me to follow it with a season of guilt and shame. He is wanting me to bring it all to Him and then live with a fresh awareness of who He is rather than a stinging reminder of what I’ve done. He is a God who is always ready to pardon, always gracious and merciful, always slow to anger, always abundant in kindness, and always with me! Always!

Father, the list of Your attributes are astounding and reassuring for me. You outshine and outlast the worst of me. In that I rejoice! Amen.

East to West - Casting Crowns
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyoVJfADlwo

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

What is in the Way?

Thus in Judah it was said, "The strength of the burden bearers is failing, Yet there is much rubbish; And we ourselves are unable to rebuild the wall." Nehemiah 4:10 (New American Standard Bible)

The rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem saw hindrances among progress. In the midst of verbal attacks and threats by enemies, there was the problem of rubbish that had not been cleared away. Debris from years of neglect and damage had not been removed and therefore was a present disadvantage to the work that needed to be done. It was causing the workers to stumble, become weak, and even susceptible to injuries. It was in the way!

God has recently led me into a house cleaning adventure. While the main rooms are looking good, there are closets, drawers, and cupboards in need of cleaning out and straightening up. My method? Clear EVERYTHING out of the space I am working in, put back only what needs to stay, and discard the rest! The results are amazing. My whole family is delighting in the transformation as heard in their words of encouragement and compliments. I am simply removing that which is in the way!

My spiritual life is no different. Solomon said it is the little foxes that spoil the vine. Such is the case with certain attitudes, words, and actions that can find their way into my life. Without continual inspection and extraction, they will grow and become a hindrance to the work God wants to do in me. They are the rubbish that needs to be removed. Be it negative speaking, worry, irritability, unkindness, selfishness, thoughtlessness, ingratitude, laziness, pity, or unbelief, they cannot be allowed to stay once they are detected.

I will continue with the renovation of my home, but throughout today my desire will be for God to show me any internal rubbish that needs to be acknowledged and removed. It is a type of mining that is necessary. Not for gold but for that which could cause me to stumble, become weak, and do much damage. It is called self examination and serves a profound purpose.

I now see the benefits of internal inspections, for they are done under the watchful eye of a God of forgiveness. One who is gracious and compassionate. Slow to anger and abounding in loving kindness. (Nehemiah 9:17) I need not cringe at the search light of His Spirit. As I yield, the results will be even more astounding than my cleaned out cupboards and closets!

Father, reveal to me any hidden places of my heart that need to be cleaned out. Help me to see what needs to go and what needs to stay. Amen.

Draw Me Close to You - Hillsong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB1yDv9_N1k&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

A Necessary Disclaimer

For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. Romans 7:14,15,18 (New American Standard Bible)

Paul was not beating himself up over his failures and weaknesses. He was simply stating truth. What was that truth? That he was not a completed vessel yet. That he did not always do it right, get it right, say it right, or think it right. That he had not arrived at such a spiritual state that his flesh ceased to be a problem. That he was not always in control of his emotions. That what he believed was not always what he lived out of or demonstrated. That his responses, perceptions, and reactions were not always good or accurate. This was his disclaimer for any who would think otherwise. I own it as mine as well.

Like Paul, I fight a daily battle with my flesh. I take things personal, I misread another’s actions or words. I hold on to past hurts and disappointments. I so easily feel unloved, unwanted, and unaccepted at times. I get my eyes off God and focus on myself or others. I have times when I fail to walk in truth. The list (as unpleasant as it is) could go on and on but my point is this: Failures and weaknesses mark my path. It is true of me, it is true of you, it was true of our Bible ancestors, it is true of the authors and speakers we sit under, and it is true of every person ever born except Jesus.

I find encouragement when Paul states the truth about himself and I find freedom when I do because I know where to turn when the truth is blatantly staring me in the face. I turn to the One who loves me and is still working on me. That which I so easily detest in myself He already knows about. It does not hinder His love for me but calls upon His love to minister to me and change me. When I am most prone to back away from Him in shame or disappointment with myself, He extends the invitation to come to Him. While there are times repentance is a must, forgiveness and reconciliation are always the end result.

Father, I want to be all the things I should be and will be eventually. For now, help me to live with a fuller realization of Your love, mercy, and grace. When I see the truth about myself, help me to embrace the truth about You. Amen.

Warrior is a Child/Do I Trust You - Twila Paris
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Pzu-jWpcdw

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Focus and Follow

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1,2 (New King James Version)

I can so easily hold on to the weights and sin that ensnare me and hinder progress. I can also stop running and allow my attention and energies to be directed toward something or someone other than Jesus. He is not only the author and finisher of my faith, but He is the example of my faith. Focus on Him and follow Him are the imperatives for my life. As I do that I will more readily detect the ruts and pitfalls of the path I walk.

Most of the time, it is my mindset and what I choose to dwell upon that causes me the most discouragement, difficulty, and defeat. If I do not purposefully align myself with truth and resist the temptation to think on harmful thoughts, I run into trouble rather than run with endurance. For me, early detection and taking appropriate action are the keys to victory. All it takes is one unguarded, unchallenged thought to slow my progress and get me off course. I cannot afford to allow access to any thought that would distract or destroy me. It has happened recently and it will happen today if I do not heed the warning and advice of today’s passage.

There are things I need to be free of and things I need to be focused on in order to run the race well. It was not an easy race for Jesus and it will certainly not be an easy race for me. There will be things to endure and things to despise but I must keep the goals ever before me. The joy of knowing those goals will one day be realize is what is meant to carry me through each day.

What are those goals? Being transformed into the image of Christ. Knowing God. Complete freedom in areas I battle. Eventually, Heaven. This is a journey of progress and each day affords me numerous opportunities to gain insight, wisdom, discernment, and correction. Complete perfection will not be mine until I am in Heaven, but that does not mean there will be no incredible victories here on Earth. Each day brings me that much closer to those victories. My mantra must be, “Eyes on Him!”

Father, keep teaching me the discipline of focusing on You. Help me to see the distractions early on and to walk in determined victory amidst those distractions. Amen.

Healer - Kari Jobe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvIEJ_PmqJ8&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Who I Really Need

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 (King James Version)


Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2 (King James Version)

Today is a day when I just want to crawl into the truth of who God is. David and Isaiah are both telling me where to take any inner turmoil. God is using their words to probe my heart. He is asking, “What are you looking for? What do you need?” No matter what I tell Him, no matter what I say, His response is always the same. “I am your refuge. I am your strength, I am your help, I am your salvation, I am your song!”

All of my attempts to find what I am looking for in external sources are met with His words. He is not being mean, but rather is doing the most loving, beneficial act toward me. He is actually answering a prayer I voiced several years ago. I saw another person’s walk with Him and wanted to know Him in the same way. I wanted to stand with a confidence that can only be found in Him. I wanted reliance that was aimed at Him. I wanted to live every day of my life out of an intimate relationship with Him. I did not know all that would entail in order to make it a reality in my own life, but He knew!

He knew it would require the removal of all my external props. He knew it would involve taking me out of my comfort zones. He knew it would necessitate learning to cry on His shoulder, take my heart aches to Him, and allow Him to search me thoroughly. He knew I would have to face my own skepticisms and suspicions about His ability to meet my deepest needs. He knew I would have to learn to transfer all of my dependency off my idols and on to Him. And He knew none of those things would come naturally or easily to me. But His knowledge is matched with His patience.

I am learning maturity in Christ does not mean I no longer struggle. It means I know where to take the struggles. At any given moment, as my needs arise, I turn to Him.

Father, life hurts. It is full of disappointment that often leaves me with a sadness inside. I bring it to You again. I need You alone. Amen.

There is None Like You - Lenny LeBlanc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N-JK9iZcrg&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.