Mysteries of God

I have been reading So Long, Insecurity by Beth Moore.  This morning I read a powerful sentence on page 196 of her book.  It reads, "One of the most fascinating things about God is that He reserves the right to retain His mystery."  This sentence was strangely comforting to me.  As I continued in her book she went on into the next chapter to discuss the tree of knowledge of good and evil mentioned in Genesis 2 and 3.  She discussed our temptation to still want to be like God as "omniscience: the ability to know it all and see it all" so we can control the knowledge.  As I read these pages I realized that instead of controlling the information we seek we end up with information overload and then become controlled by the information itself.  I found comfort in the words that God can continue to be mysterious to us.  I don't have to know all there is about God and I don't have to know all that God knows.  He releases information to me on a need to know basis.  When I go looking for information that he has not chosen to disclose to me, I can be guilty of sin like Eve.  While that was the point of part of the chapter.  I want to go a little farther with the thought of the mystery of God.  I went looking for verses that talk about the mystery of God.  I found that the book of Colossians is rich with discussions of the mystery of God.  The interesting point in Colossians is that God has chosen to reveal his mysteries to us.  Colossians 1:25-27 reads "...God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness - the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints.  To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."  Again Colossians 2:2,3 reads "My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."  God has revealed his mysteries to us through Christ.  We can know God through his Word yet there are still some things too wonderful for us to understand.  In the book of Job, Zophar asked Job, "Can you fathom the mysteries of God?  Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?  They are higher than the heavens - what can you do?  They are deeper than the depths of the grave - what can you know?"   Job responds to God later in the book.  "Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know."  When the seventy-two returned to Jesus after sending them ahead of him, they were full of joy.  Jesus then prayed, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children."  God has chosen to reveal some of his mysteries to us through His Son, Jesus.  What joy!  Our Lord loves us so much that he wants to share his mysteries with us.  He withholds those things that are too much for us.  Even Moses did not get to see the full glory of God.  God knows what we can handle and gives us what we need to know.  Trust him and relish in the fact that he is more powerful than we are and that he is always in control if we will only allow him to be.  Take comfort that he has chosen to hold some of his mystery so that we can honor and respect him and have something to look forward to when Christ comes again.  Allowing God to retain his mysteries releases us to bask in his control.  Will you not allow the mystery of God to envelope you today and bask in the knowledge of his control of your life?  Let him wrap His arms around you and hold you tight and just let go.  What joy and what peace!

Women and the home

My husband has been writing a series of articles concerning the role of women in the church and the spiritual leadership of men.  To read his blog please follow this link - http://instrument-rated-theology.com/.  I would like to write to the women for a little bit.  In Titus 2:3-5 it reads "Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.  Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God." (NIV)  A few years ago I read several books written by Elizabeth George and she really opened up the depth of these verses for me.  I really picked up on the busy at home and all that can mean.  So many women are in the outside workplace and they have lost the joy and fulfillment of what it means to be busy at home.  We have been sold a lie that if we stay home we are wasting our talents and gifts and that we will not be fulfilled.  Nothing is farther from the truth.  We have been sold a lie that our children need and deserve all the latest toys and electronics so we need to work outside the home to provide all of this.  We are even being sold the lie that we no longer need men because we can do it all ourselves.  I have heard many women say they can do the job better than men.  There are positions that are uniquely suited to women.  Women in nursing and teaching jobs are a blessing because of the natural nurturing instincts of a woman.  We are blessed with an extra measure of tenderness.  We do need study and look at Titus 2:3-5 more and learn what it means for us as women individually and for women at large.  So many women point to the Proverbs 31 woman and say that she worked outside the home.  Did she?  Or - did she use her time wisely and sell from her home or in such a way that it did not interfere with her training of her children and caring for her household?  Let's encourage those who have chosen to be busy at home.  Let's encourage our men to work and lead us both spiritually and in every other way that encourages them to follow God's plan for families.

Paul was perplexed!

I was reading in Galatians this morning and read that Paul was perplexed (Galatians 4:20).  Just why was Paul perplexed?  The Galatians were wanting to follow the Law so that they could be saved instead of trusting in the promise of God through Jesus.  They were trying to be justified by their works.  They had everything backwards.  Read Galatians 5:4.  "You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace."  It seems much easier to follow rules and have a list to mark off as our duty each day so that we can measure whether we are saved that day or not.  But what if we don't accomplish the "to do" list for the day?  We then berate ourselves for not being good enough.  Paul is trying to help us understand in the letter to the Galatians that we have freedom in Christ.  This freedom should release us to behave in such a way that we follow the "rules" out of love not out of duty.  There is a difference.  Our behavior might not be any different but the burden will be.  We will be free.  Let's live a free life today.  Read the letter to the Galatians.  Would the apostle Paul be perplexed about you?

An Undivided Heart

In Psalm 86 David prays to God to give him an undivided heart.  Verse 11 reads "Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name." (NIV)  David wants to be completely focused on God's truth.  When we are divided we want to spend time with God but there are menus to plan, houses to clean, children demanding our attention and more than enough bills to pay.  How can we have an undivided heart in today's world?  Why can't we have the simple life that existed in David's time?  David was a king.  He did not have anything to do - just sit in his castle and run a country.  He could focus on God anytime he wanted to - or could he?  He writes about his enemies.  They were often fighting battles.  He pleads with God to protect him.  But David was a man after God's own heart.  An undivided heart came naturally to him.  But did it?  He committed adultery with Bathsheba and then committed murder to cover it up.  Was this the heart of a man completely focused on God?  David prays for an undivided heart so that he could fear God's name.  He was not perfect.  Still, he asked God to teach him.  Are we teachable?  Do we yearn for an undivided heart?  Yes, it is difficult when the pressures of this world seem to be calling louder than God is but we must keep asking God to teach us.  He is faithful and will help us draw closer to him if we will only ask.  Let us pray daily with David for an undivided heart.

Joy

I have been thinking about joy a lot lately.  So many things rob me of joy.  All of them are internal because no person can rob me of joy.  Songs like "Joy, joy, my heart is full of joy" keep running through my head.  Many scriptures speak of joy.  Joy is a characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).  We are told not to quench the spirit in I Thessalonians 5:19.  So, what are those things that rob me of joy and quench the joy within?   As I was writing this I looked in the back of my Bible and found a list I had written long ago.  It is titled "things that steal our joy."  I have no idea when I wrote the list or why but it is so appropriate here.  There are seven items in the list.

1. Resentment
2. Bitterness
3. Anger
4. Not able to forgive.  Having an unforgiving heart.
5. Fear - lack of trust
6. Too easily offended - Psalm 119:165
7. Disobedience - Guilt

How do we regain our joy?  First of all we should pray and ask God for forgiveness for the items listed above.  Next we must take the steps to remove the joy "robbers" from our life.  Third, we should ask God to fill us with the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) so that there is no room for the joy "robbers" (ref. Luke 11:24-26).  We need all of the characteristics of this fruit for joy to be complete.  Finally, we can read Philippians 4:4-8.  "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!  Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men.  The Lord is near.  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 comprehension shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things." (NASB)  When we follow the words written here joy will follow.  Let us focus on these words and the nine characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit so that joy will be ours each and every day.  "Joy, joy my heart is full of joy....."

Love within God's family

One of my favorite passages is found in Colossians 3:12-14.  It reads "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtures put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."  (NIV)  A few years ago there was a movie and a book about fireproofing your marriage.  The concept was that you could restore a broken marriage in 40 days by doing something special each day.  There was a list to follow.  There are many Christians who have left the church and no longer associate with other Christians because they have been hurt or become disenchanted.  Could the concepts listed in the book about fireproofing a marriage be carried over to God's family?  What are some things we can do to encourage and let our brothers and sisters in Christ know we love them?  Let's start with the list from Colossians and clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Make sure we have a forgiving nature and do not hold grudges or anger in our heart.  Pray for a loving heart toward all you come in contact with.  There are many passages that teach us how to treat each other and how to restore our family.  We will explore more of these passages with time.  For today, pray for wisdom and eyes to see those who are hurting and who need to see our love.  When you pray for open eyes you may be surprised who God will show to you.

Running

The other day I was running with my 5 year old daughter.  We were running on our gravel road just having fun.  My foot caught her foot and down I went.  I was running fast enough that I went down and slid for a bit.  You can imagine that sliding on a gravel road can tear up the skin a bit.  My hands and knees really hurt.  Thankfully she did not fall too.  As I have reflected on the fall and the pain that has followed and the healing that is occurring I am reminded of a passage of scripture.  In Philippians 3:14 we read that the apostle Paul presses on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called him.  How many runners reaching for a goal have fallen?  It hurts but they get up and continue on to reach the finish line.  When you are taking action and working toward a goal falls are inevitable.  As we work out our love for God we will fall on occasion.  This life is not perfect and sin produces times that we must get up, dust ourselves off, refocus and set our sights back on our Lord and keep on pressing toward the prize which God has promised in Christ.  Do you feel like you have fallen lately?  Does it hurt to get up and keep going?  Just as a physical scrape or accident takes time to heal and it hurts for a while as the healing process continues then when we fall spiritually whether is be a "little" sin or a "big" one the pain and knowledge of our sin will hurt.  We must understand that God provides healing and will help us and lead us on toward the prize.  Some falls require the assistance of crutches or casts or just bandages to aid in the healing.  God is there for us if we will only accept his healing power.  Let us do as the apostle said in Philippians 3:13 by forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.  Our Lord promised to prepare a home for us and to be with us.  Come back to center with me and focus on our Lord today.