They Are Not the Enemy

John answered and said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow along with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not hinder him, for he who is not against you is for you.” Luke 9:49,50 (New American Standard Bible)

There was a time in my Christian life when I felt like these disciples. It was hard for me to accept differences among believers. If I were to go to a women’s event and during lunch sit at a table with 6 or 7 other women I was rapidly doing some calculating in my mind. I somehow had to figure out what they believed doctrinally and what standards they held. My findings would help me determine to what degree of fellowship I could enjoy with them. I have shared that aspect with others and they stand amazed that I would ever have such a rigid view.

What was my problem? I could not conceive of the fact that within the body of Christ there is much variety. I felt a need to constantly figure out who was “right” and who was “wrong” in many scenarios. I had to be the judge and the jury when it came to determining the validity of another person’s walk with God. Heaven forbid that someone should talk differently, walk differently, think differently, believe differently, and live differently than myself! I had set up a standard in my mind and with that standard I had built wall upon wall. Brothers and sisters in Christ were treated more like the enemy than family…..even within the same denominational circles.

Today’s passage brings things into perspective. The disciples knew this person was casting out demons in Jesus’ name but they were hung up because he did not do things the way THEY did things. Jesus’ answer? Leave him alone! He is not the enemy! I love the reading in the KJV for it says, “He who is not against us is for us.” If Christ says they are for us then I am free to enjoy fellowship with them. Fellow believers no longer have to listen to the same music I listen to, read the same version of the Bible I read, duplicate the same list of boundaries I have established, attend the same church I attend, hold to the same opinions on gray issues that I hold to, or worship in the same style I worship in. It is no longer my desire to live divided or separated from others within the body of Christ as I spent so many years doing. The joys I missed! The joys I now have!

Father, the day You helped me to remove the first bricks to the walls I had built within Your body of believers was memorable for me. I love Your family! I love You! Amen.

If We Are The Body - Casting Crowns
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SExJ9od-0zQ&feature=related

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

Finally At Home

That's why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldn't stop thanking God for you—every time I prayed, I'd think of you and give thanks. Ephesians 1:15-16 (The Message)

John F. Kennedy gave us the famous quote, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” That can often times become the mantra for many churches, “Ask not what your church can do for you; ask what you can do for your church.” I spent many years thinking my main reason for being in church was to worship God, learn doctrine, and serve in some capacity. I would not argue that those are true and biblical objectives. But I often missed many other beautiful aspects of being part of a local church. Not wanting to make my church experience all about “me” I found myself struggling to become involved and at home within any body of believers.

Church, for me, had been reduced to attending, listening, remaining shallow and surface in communication, and walking out the door with my “duty” done. There was little excitement about being there and little anticipation for going. I am not blaming the churches, I am confronting a lie the enemy handed me and that I received. I had a distorted view of my place within the body of Christ and their place within my life. I wanted things to be different but had no idea how to make them different. God knew my struggle and graciously came to my aide.

I have spent the last five weeks attending a small Baptist church near our home. Each Sunday and Wednesday has been rich with Bible teaching, precious fellowship, and a deep sense of belonging and feeling at home. I have begun to ask myself, “Where can I get involved?” This place of worship is now like family to me and I marvel at how God brought it about. I would have to say, my heart was made receptive and open because of simple acts of kindness on the part of the people in that church. They reached out to me. Not to “get” from me but to simply nurture and minister to me and that has had a profound effect on me. For some it was done through hugs, showing an interest, upholding me in prayer, and just making me feel welcome. One in particular has come along side me and given me a safe place to discuss some places of pain, struggle, and strongholds. The result? I am ready to serve and minister to others out of a heart that has been ministered to. The very part of church that was minimized in my mind has been used of God to nurture me back to life and I am beyond amazed.

Father, I thank you for the believers who have been Your hand and heart to me. I am now ready to be that to others. Amen.

Becoming Willing

For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, “In repentance and rest you will be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength.” But you were not willing. Isaiah 30:15 (New American Standard Bible)

God knows us thoroughly and will go to any length to bring us to the place He most desires for us to be. Yet, it is easy to misunderstand where He is leading and what He is doing. Many times, He must walk us through numerous issues and places to finally get us to the “starting” point of His desire.

Several years ago when I began this journey I had my own idea of what God was doing. I thought it was all about learning the truth about God and learning the truth about myself, realizing my freedoms in Christ, tearing down the denominational walls as well as the versions of the Bible walls, seeing His Word come alive and practical, eventually writing devotionals, and sharing with others the things God was teaching me. Did those things happen? Absolutely! Were they exciting to experience? Yes! Did they happen over night? Not at all! Have they reshaped and drastically changed the way I live my Christian life? Definitely! At the same time, they were simply the preliminary parts of God’s longing for me. God’s purpose ran much deeper than merely the dynamics of my internal and external life.

I am just now beginning to see that God wants to bring me to the place of living in repentance, rest, quietness, and trust with Him. To seek Him for confidence and comfort. The learn to embrace my emotions in His presence instead of seeking to deny them, anesthetize them, or ignore them. To not allow aloneness to cause me to feel separated from Him. To prefer to spend time with Him more than with anyone else.

I am picturing myself in a large mansion. Many of the rooms are filled with people, things, opportunities, or treasures. One room is where God alone waits for me. As I review my life I see how often I have bi-passed that room for all the others. Those have been my “you were not willing” moments. It is now that I have finally reached for the door knob, stepped inside, and come face to face with the One who will help me to walk intimately with Himself. He is assuring me I am safe, known, and loved. Others have been in this room with Him and their lives attest to the fact that it made all the difference in the world. I long to receive what they received and have that be my central focal point.

Father, You are calling me to a deeper place with Yourself. No human guides will be used at this time. It is just You and me. Amidst the uncertainties and insecurities are hope and anticipation. I come and I bow. Amen.

An Open Invitation

Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, a good distance from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting and everyone who sought the LORD would go out to the tent of meeting which was outside the camp. Exodus 33:7 (New American Standard Bible)

The invitation found within this verse has profoundly stood out to me today. At other times I have missed it but today it is coming alive to me. This tent was not the Tabernacle in which only the priests were allowed to enter. It was not like Mount Sinai where Moses alone met with God. It was a tent for anyone to meet with God. ANYONE! And yet I read how the children of Israel “watched” as Moses went to the tent. They watched as the cloud of God’s presence descended on the tent. They watched as Moses came out of the tent and as Joshua stayed for an extended time with God. And the whole time I am asking myself why they chose to stay distant observers of such an opportunity?

Immediately I am struck by the comparison that can be made today in the life of many believers and of myself for too many years. I spent decades accustomed to observing other people’s walk of faith. Like the children of Israel, I watched them talk to God, listen to God, follow God, connect with God, and know God. I longed to have what they had but I remained a distant observer. Jesus’ words of “come unto Me” fell on deaf ears, blind eyes, trembling hands, and a cautious heart. While I saw what others had with Him and heard them tell me I could experience the same for myself, I doubted it could ever happen. I had no trouble connecting with those who connected with God but limited myself to that connection. I settled for far less than God was offering.

What changed? God used disappointment and pain to bring my gaze around to Himself. My searching was finally directed toward Him. He began to help me hear His voice with my own ears and see His face with my own eyes. Even though my steps are often slow and my insecurities are still apparent, He is passionate about wooing me to Himself. I am learning to ask Him the questions and to listen for His answers. I am experiencing the moments of crying on His shoulders and sensing Him drying my tears. I am learning how to allow Him to reveal truth from His Word to me in order to replace the lies of the enemy. I am learning what it means to have an authentic walk with my Creator and He is faithfully blessing each time I enter the tent of meeting!

Father, Your invitation has finally made its way to my heart. I revel in the relationship You are helping me to establish with Yourself. Amen.

Preferring God's Way

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another. Romans 12:10 (KJV)

I am discovering the many layers of Romans 12:10. For the past three or four days I have been meditating on the phrase ‘preferring one another.’ It has not only affected my thinking but my actions as well in regards to people. There are two aspects God wants me to see and apply.

The first aspect is that of deferring to others. Submitting to, regarding, and giving way to another person’s wishes, needs, and desires over my own. Accidents on the road happen when two vehicles simultaneously possess the same territory. If one vehicle does not give way they collide. Hence, injuries and damage will be the result. Preferring one another simply means I put the other person’s needs above my own. I look for what will convenience them, what will minister to them, what will encourage them.

The practical ways to carry this out each day are innumerable. It means letting others go first whether in traffic or in a line. It means putting away what I get out, picking up what I drop, and closing what I open. It can even mean putting away, picking up, and closing what another has gotten out, dropped, or opened. It means stopping what I am doing to be attentive to a person who needs to talk or needs my help. All day long I have a choice to do what I want to do or do what another person needs me to do for them. As God opens my eyes to the opportunities to flesh out this phrase it can bring variety, enjoyment, and even laughter to my day.

The second aspect was a surprise to me. Preferring also means to lead the way for others. In other words, make the first move! Whether it comes to showing kindness, initiating reconciliation, demonstrating concern, or acting out of love let me take the first step! The rewards are rich!

These are tall orders from a heavenly Father who has already shown me how it is done. While it is impossible for me to generate this behavior on my own, I know I can seek the desire, will, and ability from Him. For no command is ever given without His assistance to see it through to completion.

Father, my nature is such that I fight against the thought of preferring others. Help me to be more like You! Amen.

Separated But Not Apart

For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ. Colossians 2:5

Paul was a person who knew how to stay connected with the people of faith. Many of his epistles were written from prison and yet he was able to express a closeness and a love for his fellow believers even though they were separated by many miles. They were in his thoughts, his heart, and his prayers. His joy came from knowing they were growing in their faith and firm in their relationship with God. While he could not be with them in person he could still be with them in spirit and that is one of the most encouraging and beautiful aspects of the Christian life.

I am a very social person. I love getting together with friends over lunch or being in their home for a day or two. The fellowship of believers is something I enjoy immensely. But separation is a difficult thing for me. While God would bring incredible people into my life it seemed I only had their presence for a short time. I often joke with people and say when I get close to a person, God tends to move them out of state! He knows my tendency toward dependency and even idolatry. Relying on Him is easier done when the ones I would cling to are far removed.

How encouraging it is to know that while we are apart from each other, Paul’s words express our sentiments toward each other. This morning, God has used this verse to encourage me. I have several very significant people whom I miss a lot. Sometimes our ability to get together is separated by years! But God is letting me know that what Paul is saying in Colossians 2:5 is the very heart of how we feel toward each other. Former mentors of mine are thinking of me, praying for me, and rejoicing to see God’s work in me. And when they enter my mind it is always cause for rejoicing and thanksgiving for the part they played in my life. I also know that God continues to use them in the lives of others.

So while I long to see them and miss them deeply I am resting in the fact that we still share a closeness and connection. Miles and time may separate our bodies but NOTHING separates our spirit.

Father, You have caused some incredible people to cross my path. The mere thought of them brings me joy. Thank you for our continued togetherness. Amen.

Finding the Least Among You

Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me. Matthew 25:40

In a Sunday School class I attend, the question was asked, “Have you ever been an enemy of God?” Instantly, people’s minds went to individuals who opposed the Bible, hated God, and persecuted Christians. With that image in their mind the answer to the question was, “No.” I too was thinking along the same line until God nudged me and brought this verse to mind. God wanted me to realize that my treatment toward others IS my treatment toward Him. If I have ever treated someone as my enemy then I have treated God as my enemy. In light of that, I would have to say there have been times when I was an enemy of God. Ouch!!!! I shared the thought with the class and you could see the light bulbs coming on for them.

Jesus is wanting each of us to realize the way we interact with Him and the way we interact with the people in our life cannot be separated. They are so closely tied together that He says when you do one you do the other…automatically. This point is driven home even deeper in I John 4:20 when it says, “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.” There is no mistake. What I do for others and how I treat them is noticed by God, important to God, and directed toward God.

As I begin to digest this truth a phrase from the verse stands out as well…..”even the least of these.” I find it easy to treat well the ones I love, admire, and respect. But today’s passage (Matthew 25:35-40) gives me a list of people to consider that I might otherwise not see. The hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, the imprisoned. In other words, the ones who have very little in the way of this life’s goods. They stand among us but are not seen by us. Am I willing to ask God to open my eyes to the ones in the most need of my attention and help? Jesus invites me to love Him by showing love to them.

Father, help me to see ‘the least among us’ today. What I say to them I will be saying to You. What I give to them I will be giving to You. What I think of them I will be thinking of You. May I never again separate those You created in Your image from You as their Creator. Amen.

Friendship At Its Best

You are My witnesses, declares the LORD, and My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me. Isaiah 43:10

Friendships are built on mutual interest in each other. We come across new acquaintances all the time. Some remain merely acquaintances. Conversations remain shallow and deep heart sharing never takes place. Some acquaintances become friendships. You recognize each other in passing, smile, and have brief conversations. Then there are the intimate friendships. You have shared with them parts of your story that few people have heard.

I love making new, deep friendships. I can tell when a friendship moves to that level because I am filled with a desire to really get to know the person. I want to hear their story so I can begin to see how their life was shaped. I want to hear of their blessings as well as their wounds. When I am allowed to see where they have been hurt and what hardships they have been through, and when they see the same revelations about me, there is a closeness and bonding that is experienced. I never feel we know everything about each other. There is the continual desire to just keep knowing them better and to be known better by them.

God is no different. He chooses us so that we can begin to know Him, believe Him, and understand who He really is. The day I opened Scripture and said, "God, show me Your heart," was the day God became a deep Friend rather than a mere acquaintance. He knows me thoroughly and wants me to know Him as well. I want to be passionate about Him. I want to feel each talk we have is like opening a treasure chest of His heart.

Father, may I hunger and thirst after You. Share the secrets of Your heart with me. The best human relationships I have are mere shadows of what I can have with You. Amen.