What Now? Humble Trust

 Wouldn't it be nice if God just did what we asked on our time schedule? We ask for good things and it often seems to take an extraordinary amount of time before anything happens. There are those moments when the Lord seems to answer even before we ask. However, it is not unusual for us to sit in  that heavenly waiting room to receive some response from the Almighty. As we have noted, 2020 has been a difficult year for many people and God's people are not exempt. For some, the turmoil from the American election goes on unabated. In addressing these things there are still things we can do. Advancing God's kingdom does not stop due to a virus or the outcome of an election. With that in mind we have been looking to the familiar verses of Matthew 6:9-13, what is commonly known as, "The Lord's Prayer".

First, we are called to keep going forward, knowing that our heavenly Father is with us. By His holy name we can find comfort and purpose. Second, we were reminded to advance His kingdom. We can do so in a variety of ways, one being the opportunity and responsibility to live out the nine aspects of the fruit of the Spirit. The world needs to see the children of God putting, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, on display. The Lord's encouraging words go on to instruct us to pray for God to give us our daily bread and to be those whose lives are marked by forgiveness. They are examples of holding a humble trust for the God and Father Who loves us.

For some of us praying for, "Our daily bread", might seem a bit of a waste of time. After all many of us live beyond abundance. Finding daily bread might seem easier that trying to curb the intake of bread to help reduce our waste-lines. The phrase would be more meaningful if we were Jewish folk following Messiah Jesus around the highways and byways of Judea. Daily bread was an absolute necessity for the Hebrews during forty years of wilderness wanderings. Manna was the daily bread that came down from heaven to allow the children of Israel to survive. Without God's daily provision the people would have perished. It was a powerful reminder that they were fully dependent upon the Lord for their survival. If you have food in the cupboard such dependence and trust might seem unnecessary. We live in the illusion of self sufficiency. It is humbling to recognize our dependence upon God. Jesus is our bread from heaven. We need Him daily, moment by moment, if we are to survive in this fallen world. John 6:35 explains, "And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst." We need to be humble, trusting, dependent, people if we are to advance His kingdom and move forward in the days to come.

Humility is one of those difficult things to foster and integrate into our lives. We prefer to be independent and self sufficient. This trait may become glaringly obvious when someone offends us. We say things like, "I don't get mad, I get even" or "I can forgive but I will never forget". We hang onto offenses and irritations like they were precious metals. Morbid jewels infesting our lives or closeted away in lock boxed memories. The guardian of pride protects the hurt and eventually sucks the very life from our bones. The Lord knows the danger. Thus, He instructs us to forgive those who have trespassed or become indebted to our wounded spirits. It takes a humble person to forgive. It is often much easier to proudly hold onto the trespass or emotional debt we maintain in their account. It is wise to remember this warning from James, "But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6). If we are to ask our Heavenly Father's forgiveness we must forgive others as well. We cannot move forward anchored to past hurts and preserved transgressions.

The New Year is approaching. Many are praying this would be a year of revival and the outpouring of God's Spirit in new and refreshing ways. To see God's will done here on earth as it is in heaven. If we are to be a part of that revival or to have the power of prayer with us, we need to be those who live with humble trust. To come to the Lord fresh every morning asking to to nourished by the very Bread of Heaven Who rescues our souls. We must be those quick to forgive and slow to take offense. To follow Paul's directions to the Ephesians in 4:32, "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." 

There are yet a few more  forward thoughts here in Matthew 6, but this is enough to think about for this week. What now? Maybe we need a little more of that humble trust and forgiving spirit if we are to advance God's kingdom in the days to come. 

Empty Pages

What will you write in the chapters of your life in the year to come? We who believe have the wondrous promise of forgiveness. There are remarkable verses that give us that assurance. Oddly enough some of the most popular come from the Old Testament. You know that Old Covenant of works, devoid of grace. (This was sarcasm for the literalist among us) For example: Psalm 103:12, "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." or Micah 7:19, "He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins
into the depths of the sea." Even the often quoted, "whiter than snow", phrase comes from Psalm 51:7, however we rarely quote the "purge me with hyssop" part. Getting whacked with a prickly hyssop branch is not a popular idea when it comes to purging sin. The reality is that we are a most blessed people, we  followers of Messiah. We are indeed forgiven and our sins covered and removed.

This being true has given me some cause to pause as the new year arrives. Many are encouraged to do a little review, a bit of reflection as to where we are and we here we are going. Reflection and accountability are Biblical concepts. Good things to do on occasion. It seems each day, each moment, our life is slowly written. It does not unfold a book or a chapter at a time, but one thought, one word, jotted down that form sentences and paragraphs and then the pages of our lives. We write our own biographies one breath at a time. The breaths we take are not our own, they are a gift from the Almighty. They seemed to be numbered, and one day they will cease. Our life book will be written and what remains will be left in the memories of those we loved and who loved us. Some of us will leave markers, more obvious pages to be reviewed, however the most precious parts of us will be held onto by the ones who loved us most.

When that time comes and I bask in the wonder of the very presence of my Heavenly Father I wonder what my life book will look like. Acts 23:19 suggests that all my sins will be blotted out. A very good thing. I do believe that my sins will not show up. Washed whiter than snow, buried in the depths of the sea. That being so, what is left behind? How many empty pages will there be in my life book? How many lines and paragraphs redacted by the blood of the Lamb? How many pages left with snow white forgiveness instead of a record of service for my King? I am not trying to be morbid or self condemning. "There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus," Romans 8:1. I am in Christ Jesus so I am delivered, death has no hold on me.

The Apostle Paul reminds us that there will be an accounting. 1 Corinthians 3:13, "Each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is." Gold? Silver? Precious stones? Or the empty pages where the wood, hay, and stubble were burned away. It is not one of those thoughts that we dwell on very often. Life is overflowing with things to do and responsibilities to carry. Home, work, family, church, and some time for dinner and a movie. None of these are bad. The Lord has blessed us with many things to enjoy. The Word of God is filled with festivals, feasts, and celebrations. We are not called to live in fear or apprehension. The Lord did not call us to a life of anxiety but to a life to live more abundantly. However, maybe this is a good time to reflect. Maybe this is a good time to pray and strive to be more sensitive to the Lord and others. Maybe if I do this next year will will have a few less empty pages.

Self Impossed Destruction

What are the greatest threats to your life? We may look at the world and come up with an imposing list as we see raging forest fires, erupting volcanoes, unstable economies, wars and rumors of wars. The world can be a pretty threatening place. However there may be even greater threats much closer to home. Threats that can grow within our very souls. Quiet thoughts that fester like silent cancers quietly destroying our lives. The past few posts here at Torah Paranoia have been a review of, what is commonly known as, The Lord's Prayer. In Matthew 6 and again in Luke 11, we find some instructions on prayer from Rabbi Jesus, our Messiah. Today's portion may well be the most challenging and the most important. Matthew 6:12 reads, "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." Luke's version in 11:4 is as follows, "And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us." Asking the Lord for forgiveness is a pretty common prayer for most believers. However, there is more to this prayer than asking forgiveness.

The Lord instructs His disciples to ask forgiveness based on the attitude of forgiveness that is already at work in their lives. We are to ask God to forgive us in the same fashion that we have and are forgiving others. We are asking God to follow our example of forgiveness. Our desire is that God, Himself, will model His forgiveness after our forgiveness of others. Forgiveness is a huge deal to God. He knows that lack of forgiveness leads to bitterness which will poison our lives. Lack of forgiveness is incredibly destructive. Back in the days of David, David had a trusted advisor named, Ahithophel. You will find the account in 2 Samuel 16. David's son, Absolom, is trying to kill David and take the throne by force. Ahithophel sides with Absolom to the point of asking to be the one to personally kill David. Why would this close friend and advisor to King David want to see David dead? If you check out the genealogies you will find that Bathsheba is his grand daughter. The woman David took, had her husband killed, and the result was that Ahithophel's great grandson died. Those are some pretty hefty sins to forgive. Ahithophel's counsel to Absolom is rejected so he kills himself. Actually, his unforgiving heart bred a bitterness that was waiting to take his life all along.

Forgiveness is so important God recorded a personal letter from the Apostle Paul to his friend Philemon that is a letter calling for forgiveness. A slave Philemon owned, named Onesimus, has apparently stolen from him and run away. Most guess that Onesimus was a trusted house servant so the violation to his master, Philemon, is no small matter. Onesimus has come to faith under the ministry of Paul. Paul sends him back to Philemon interceding on behalf of Onesimus. Philemon is asked to put Ephesians 4:32 into action, "Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you."

The Lord, Jesus, also shares a parable about forgiveness that has some unsettling words. It is a tale of a man who owed his lord a massive debt. He pleads for forgiveness and that is granted. The forgiven man then assaults a fellow servant who owes him pennies and has him thrown in prison. When the master finds out this unforgiving servant is also cast into prison. The account in in Matthew 18. The point of the parable comes in verse 35, “My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.” Our forgiveness is also to be generous, seventy times seven to begin with (Matthew 18:22). Forgiveness is not optional it is required of the children of God. We are to reflect our Heavenly Father's heart of forgiveness before we ask for forgiveness for ourselves. If we do not forgive, we are told God will not forgive.

I have been in ministry long enough to see the instructive power of an unforgiving heart. I have seen families torn apart as one spouse cannot forgive another. Children haunted by wounds they will not release. Churches have been torn apart by the bitterness of an unforgiving spirit. A lack of forgiveness is also a sign of pride. Pride is a partner with a lack of forgiveness that leaves untold numbers in its ruinous wake. The unforgiving one is never satisfied and often fails to see their own life sucked down into darkness. It is a tragic waste of life.

If there are unhealed wounds that are preserved by unforgiveness it is time to let them go. Death in some measure awaits the bitter soul. Do not let pride keep you from His grace. God does warn us that, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble " (James 4:6). It is time to forgive, so that God can forgive and pour out His grace upon your wounded heart. "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." is no small thing before the God Whose name we are to hallow, to honor, to respect. Your Heavenly Father waits to brings to bring His forgiveness to you. This time it depends on you.

Choose or Chewed, Its Your Choice

As Joshua came to the end of his life he reflected upon all the Lord had done in giving His people the promised land. The land had been conquered with few defeats and God, time and again, had delivered them. With this as a background Joshua comes to God's people and brings this challenge, "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" (Josh 24:15). Whom will you serve? The question is still valid today. Every day we are faced with multiple choices. The ones we make hold consequences. I have been around long enough to see both good and bad choices made in people's lives. The amazing thing to me is how many followers of Messiah choose to live lives under a dark cloud rather than in the illumination and warmth of the light of His Word by the power of His Spirit. They choose to give over their lives to the power of others rather than choosing the power of the Lord.

I am not speaking of those believers in China or North Korea or some Islamic stronghold. Those physically oppressed by ruthless dictators seldom have a choice as to where they are. Yet, many still choose to serve the Lord, even at the expense of their own lives. In the midst of great persecution they know the Lord's freedom. The greater tragedy, to me, is for those who live in the land of the free but choose self imposed oppression. They deny the power of God and live in emotional and spiritual servitude to masters of their own choosing. Their liberty is slowly chewed away as they serve other gods instead of Yahweh.

Their chosen bondage is that of an emotional reaction to those they have chosen to serve. They either do not see it or, in many cases, willingly choose to live under oppression. It may be a lack of understanding, however, it is often pride that holds them there. Sometimes for a moment or two, sometimes for a lifetime. For example, you are driving to work and some moron cuts you off. You choose to react with a touch of your horn. They choose to make an unwelcome gesture to you. You choose to be more irritated, perhaps a little angry. You get to work and someone notices your foul mood and asks why it is so. You explain, "This idiot cut me off, I chose to get irritated, then I chose to dwell on the incident all the way to work. I chose to relive it in my mind several times. I chose to think poorly of the other driver. I then chose to let it ruin the rest of my drive and chose to let them hold me captive with this crummy attitude I now choose to hold. And because of this I now choose to make your day a little worse and perhaps prompt you to choose to think of times of irritation of your own so we both can choose to be held captive by things we could choose to ignore or simply let go. I choose to let bits of my life be chewed away by empowering others to ruin my day." I have chosen to serve other gods, how wise is that?

I have listened and counseled folks for a lot of years and one of the saddest things to hear is, "They make me angry, they frustrate me, or they disappoint me." All these statements are how we feel. but they are also choices we make to empower others to take away our freedom and serve them. We choose to get angry even though Proverbs 15:1 says, "A soft answer turns away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger." So we could have chosen to use soft words but we chose to be angry. Choosing to hold on to disappointment and frustration leads to bitterness even though Hebrews 12:25 tells us, "See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled." We choose the root of bitterness and we are defiled and yes, we invite others to partake in our bitterness and disappointment and thus defile many. Being wounded and betrayed is a reality that we all will face. What we choose to do with it is up to us. In Ephesians 4:32, God tells us, "Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you."  We say we forgive but we choose to cling to the offense and see our spouse through a grid of distrust so they will never do enough, say enough, repent enough, grovel enough for us to let it go and accept them. We choose to not be kind or tenderhearted, we honestly have chosen not to forgive. In all these instances we have made the choice to let others control us. To let others rule or emotional and spiritual well being. The world proclaims that we have rights. We have a right to hold an offense, we have a right to be angry, we have a right to punish another or remind them of their short comings. To make a list of their continued offenses. So we relive the past over and over again. In so doing we deny the power of God. We have chosen to let them be god in place of Yahweh.

When an offense is held onto it is soon a matter of pride. We were unjustly treated or wounded and so was our pride. So we cannot move on. The world applauds and extols our determination to make the other pay for their transgression. However we need to remember, "God resists the proud, but gives grace unto the humble." So says 1 Peter 5:5 and James 4:6 among others. Pride silently, sometimes unknowingly, chews away at our souls as we cling to an offense, we are just too proud to admit it. And if Peter and James are correct God now resists you. Good luck with that. Not your best choice. For every offense, disappointment, betrayal, irritation, and unkind word there is a scripture that tells us how to respond rather than react. There is a choice to be made. We can either choose to respond in agreement with the Word of God or let the chewing begin to damage our soul. Why would anyone what to seed power to another to control them spiritually and emotionally, to choose to let them become our master? It really is your choice.

"But, you do not understand the depth of the hurt, the cutting wounds of betrayal, the harshness of the words." Perhaps not, though I have had my share. However, I do know two things. I have observed what happens to those who choose to allow their reactions to others to chew away their lives. And I do know this is not to be so. We have to choose another god to live that way. For the God of Joshua, "has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7). This God sets us free and empowers us to think and respond in a way that releases us, if we choose to accept it. The God of Joshua is the Spirit who lives in us and produces fruit through us. Galatians 5:22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." We have the Spirit of God to respond with His Fruit. If the fruit of God's Spirit is missing in how we respond to what others say and do then what god are we choosing to serve? If these aspects of the Spirit's Fruit are absent in your life it is not His fault. They are there waiting to blossom, could it be choosing to hold on to some offense has shriveled the Spirit's fruit?

Now, don't misunderstand, I am not saying we stay in dangerous situations. David shows us that you can forgive and continue to love and honor someone, while removing yourself from danger. That is his example with Saul. David chose to continue to love and honor Saul while removing himself from Saul's determination to kill him. However, David never chose to let anger, disappointment, betrayal, irritation or anything else control him. No, he chose to allow the Spirit of God to handle it. He chose to let the Spirit's fruit rule rather than his own emotion or pride. 

Every day we have choices to make. Every relationship, be it marriage, children, friends, other drivers, co-workers, bosses, or the officer who asks to see your license, is an opportunity to choose who you will serve. To choose to have your life chewed away or to choose the freedom God has provided. The choice is yours. His power is available to you, actually resting in you by His Spirit. Joshua's option is still on the table. "Choose this day whom you will serve". Who will you choose?

Got Joy? or What, Me Worry?

Got joy? Joy can be a bit hard to grasp and is often misunderstood. Even the translators of the Biblical text are not sure how to express the word. Is it happiness or contentment or some euphoric feeling that comes from the Spirit's presence? Joy is an important element in our relationship with the Lord and with our walk with Him. It should be evident in our lives. After all if you have a personal relationship with the God of the universe and His Son, who gives you abundant eternal life, there is reason to be joyful. Yet for many believers it remains a bit of a mystery and perhaps a little illusive. Yet, I am convinced that Yahweh wants me to experience a joy filled life. So what do we do when we find ourselves feeling pretty joyless? Well, if we look at a few Scriptures we can learn a few things about Joy and even the cure for Joylessness. 

I Peter 1:8 says, "And though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory". It Seems even Peter has a little problem with joy. For he says that those who believe are to rejoice or express joy that cannot be expressed. Is that really helpful? To express the inexpressible? Joy is to be apart of who we are. It is more than happiness. It is a sense of contented peace and satisfaction in knowing the One true God and His Son. Even in times when happiness is void, joy is to be ours. Habakkuk 3:17-18,  "Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls, Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation." The prophet indicates that joy is not dependent on what we possess but on the confidence we have in the God who is in control. Even with lack of food there can still be joy if our hearts are knit to the one who simply is good. For God is good all the time. He is worthy of praise and rejoicing all the time. We should know and experience His joy all the time for joy is grounded in who He is not how we feel at the moment.

The simple truth is the closer I am and walk with the LORD YAHWEH the more joy I will come to experience. Yet, there are time when joy seems to allude me What do the scriptures say is the disease that robs me of joy and leaves me joyless? David gives us some clues to the cure in the Psalms. Psalm 132:16 ""Her priests also I will clothe with salvation, And her godly ones will sing aloud for joy."  God's priests, which according to 1 Peter 2:9 we are, have been clothed with salvation and her Godly ones, oh there is the issue, Godly ones, sing aloud for joy. You have to be one of His Godly ones or the joy may not be there. See how David felt in Psalm 51:12 " Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit." David had sinned. He was no behaving as one of God's holy ones. He had not lost his salvation but the joy was gone. Disobedience simply takes away the joy we are intended to experience. Sin breaks our fellowship with God and others and until that is taken care of the joy honestly be gone. For we are not trusting in or resting in the God who bought us. The false joy of the prodigal does not last very long. Only repentance and return to the contented satisfaction of trust and obedience can allow true joy to blossom once again.

However, even when we take David's prescription we may not feel all that joyful. In fact we may feel pretty lousy. God's people did and Nehemiah had to tell them to get past the feelings and rejoice. God's people knew they had sinned and so they repented and wept over their sin. However, they could not seem to get beyond that. Nehemiah 8:9-10 " This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep.' For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law. Then he said to them, 'Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." Life without joy is a life without God's strength. If you are honest with yourself lack of joy sucks life from you. It makes you feel weak and even sickly.

Joyless people are either in some sort of disobedience or moping about sin already forgiven, which is really an affront to the God who forgave. Like, somehow His forgiveness isn't enough. Our standards are higher than His so we will continue to morn over what God has forgiven. That is not a humble heart that is more like pride, we just don't want to be honest about it. "I know God has forgiven me but I just can't forgive myself." How remarkably arrogant that really is. Take note, God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. God is resisting those who hold that attitude. Is it any wonder folks like this have no real joy? Psalm 30:5 "For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning." God does get angry over our sin, we repent, His grace is extended for life, we repent and weep in the darkness. But joy returns with the light of our returning to His presence. We can know the return of His joy.

So do you want to know the deep satisfaction and contentment that comes from the Lord? To taste that joy that Peter says is inexpressible? Then take David's prescription. Walk holy. Stay ever so close to the Lord. I believe there are two things that often keep believers in a mediocre and joyless existence. They either dabble in disobedience and do not hunger and thirst for the righteousness that can only be found in a real commitment to know God's Word. Or they have determined to set a standard higher than the Lord's and "Can't forgive themselves" or perhaps someone else. Pride, sin and distance from the Shepherd, who longs to give you joy and rest for your soul, is a sure joy killer. 

The prescription is available, live rightly, live humbly, and repent quickly when we stray. The only question remaining is will we take the cure so we can know His inexpressible joy.