Month: September 2020

“We are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” Romans 8:17

            Heirs. What a word! If we find out we’re an heir, it usually means that someone has left us something in their will. That’s exciting, right? But in order to inherit, the individual needs to die first. So there needs to be loss before there can be an inheritance. We hear about people who inherit from a relative they’ve never met but I’ve never actually met someone to whom this happened. Usually, the person who died was a loved one. Perhaps a parent or a grandparent. We may have even watched their physical decline or been with them when they breathed their last.

            In the case of this verse, who died? There actually were two deaths. First, Jesus died on the cross. He shed His blood to atone for our sins. He suffered an agonizing death so that we could have a close, personal relationship with God our Father. In order to fully inherit, there needs to be another death and that’s dying to ourselves. That part of us that puts us on the throne of our hearts needs to be put to death. We need to allow Christ His rightful place on that throne. What it comes down to is that God’s heir is Jesus. If Jesus is on the throne of your heart, that means that you’re included in that.

            While that sounds wonderful, we then stumble across that very important, two-letter word, “if.” It’s quite an “if!” If we share in His sufferings. Whoa! Wait a minute! We just talked about the horrendous death that Jesus suffered. You mean we have to be crucified on a cross in order to be an heir?! Well, yes, in a way. We probably won’t be asked to be physically crucified, but we do need to put our own selfish desires and impulses to death in a very unapologetic way. We need to leave no doubt that we want the selfish, sinful part of us gone. If we spend the rest of our days on this earth rooting out the sin that hides in our hearts, if we put to death anything in us that is contrary to God’s best for us, then we are promised a future that is more than we can imagine. If we are one with Christ, He will share His amazing glory with us. So let’s continue to face death – the death of our sinful natures, so we can inherit what God has planned for us in our eternal future.

“The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

            Peace. Even the sound of the word has a calming effect on our hearts. My emotions may be in turmoil but when I hear that word, it’s like a soft sigh has just blown through my inner chaos. What does that word mean to you? There are so many images that come to my mind. There’s the picture of world peace. What would it be like if every single nation was in complete peace with every other nation? Of course, in order for that to happen, there would have to be peace between individuals. Can you imagine that? No one upset with anyone else. No one angry with another, no one harboring bitterness or hurt, no one wanting revenge. No, you can’t imagine it? Me, either.

            More importantly, though, is this question. Can you imagine having complete peace within yourself? No anxiety, no worries, no anger. Just peace. I don’t know about you, but I wonder if I’ve ever truly experienced it. Not for even one second. As wonderful as it sounds, I’ve never yet had that moment when every single thing within me is at perfect peace. Don’t get me wrong. There have been times when I’ve been close. But complete peace? I’ve always thought, at least unconsciously, that I won’t experience that this side of heaven. But that’s exactly what God has promised. In fact, I’ve been asking you to imagine what it would be like. What God promises is something beyond anything we can imagine. We can’t even understand it.

            This peace does more than just calm us. It also guards us. Why would God want to guard our hearts and minds? Because that’s where things like worry or anger reside. If our hearts and minds are guarded from those thoughts that stir us up, then we’ll know that perfect peace. The problem is that my mind keeps trying to get around that guard. I’m picturing God putting up a wall or a barrier between these harmful thoughts and my mind. But my crazy, disobedient mind keeps trying to peek around that wall to what’s on the other side. Maybe it’s simple curiosity. Or maybe it’s a prideful desire to take control of a situation. Whatever the reason for not remaining safely behind that barrier, I’m choosing to forego the peace God has promised and instead I accept the inner chaos the world provides.

            If we are wise enough to choose to stay behind that barrier, does that mean we’re burying our heads in the sand, ignoring what’s going on in the world? Not at all! It means we’re facing the problems in our life head on. It’s just that we’re choosing to face them from a place of strength and solidity because we’re living in the peace of God. We’re choosing to allow God’s peace into our minds rather than the world’s chaos. We’re living in the full reality of facing problems with a Godly perspective and a superhuman strength. That’s the kind of peace I can get behind!

“Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.” Joshua 14:12

            This isn’t a verse we hear every day. It’s not one of the top ten most-memorized verses of the Bible. In fact, it takes a bit of a history lesson to understand why it’s even important. The person speaking here is Caleb. Years earlier he and Joshua, to whom he’s speaking, and ten other Israelites went into the land of Canaan to spy out the land. What they found was abundance and lushness, a good place to make their home. One little problem: it was already someone else’s home. There were fortified cities, warriors, and even some giants called the Anakites. Only Caleb and Joshua believed that God would deliver them. The other 10 spies convinced the people to run in fear.

            Now Caleb is 85 years old. This man had been born a slave in Egypt, experienced God’s mighty hand at work against Pharaoh, escaped through the Red Sea, waited at the bottom of Mt. Sinai while Moses received the Ten Commandments, wandered in the desert for 40 years because of the sin of disbelief of others, and had helped conquer parts of the promised land. It’s time to rest on his laurels and take it easy, right? Well, that doesn’t seem to be his attitude. Instead, he goes to Joshua and asks for the land that is inhabited by giants. The very people that caused the Israelites to run in fear. This elderly gentleman is ready and willing to take them on! So willing that he specifically asks for it!

            What gives him that kind of courage? One word. God. God had promised that land to him, so he knew without a doubt that God was going to deliver. He knew that God always keeps His promises. Even many years later, God is still going to drive out those pesky giants. All Caleb has to do is believe and obey. Believe God’s promises and obey whatever God is telling him to do.

            What about you and me? What giants are we facing? Fear? Loneliness? Grief? Pride? There are as many giants as there are people. But instead of looking at our giants, what do we know about God? We know that He’s bigger than any giant. We know that He always keeps His promises. And we know that if we only believe and obey, He’ll defeat those giants. Just remember that it may take longer than we would like. I know I want my giants defeated yesterday. But Caleb waited 45 years! Even if it’s a long wait, it will be worth it! Someday you and I will have incredible stories to tell of how God defeated our giants!

“For Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10

            What do you delight in? If you were to list all the things in your life that bring you joy, what are some things that would be included? Is your list long or short? Does it include big things, like world peace, or little things, like the smell of baking bread? I’m guessing each one of our lists is different. I’m also guessing that all of our lists are the same in one way: not one of them includes the things that Paul said he delighted in. Weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, difficulties. Nope, not one of those made my list of delights!

            Our culture teaches us to hide our weaknesses. If we’re struggling in some area, just don’t let anyone know! Insults are something to be stewed over and maybe even returned. If we’re “good” people, we shouldn’t have to endure either persecutions or difficulties. That’s what culture says. And if I’m honest, that’s probably my initial reaction to these situations. But Paul says to add them to my list of delights. Is the man crazy?! No, he had just learned something I still struggle with. That is, that I am weak. Not just in some areas. I’m just plain weak all over. I can’t do it on my own. I’ll never be good enough to earn heaven, I can’t stay true to God without His help, I can’t love others the way they need to be loved without the love of God.

            It’s only when we admit our weaknesses that we can allow God’s power and strength to flow in and through us. We’re still not strong. We’re still the 98 pound weakling. But God is the ultimate strong man! When we admit our weakness, we’re actually choosing to accept God’s strength. Then it’s almost like we’re excited for difficulties to come our way, just so we can experience the power of God working through us. That’s why Paul says to delight in all those things. It’s not because he was some kind of masochist. It’s because he was so excited to watch God at work. What about you and me? Are we willing to get ourselves out of the way so we can experience God’s strength? Are we willing to admit our weaknesses so we can experience true strength in Him?