“And He sent a man before them - Joseph, sold as a slave.” Psalm 105:17
Joseph was a man who served the purposes of God in his generation. I don’t think he would have ever imagined or chosen the way it ended up happening though. He was in a sense, an observer of a battle between God and Satan, between Divine Providence and men’s wills that were satanically influenced and inspired.
Our lives are in God’s hands…always. One of the greatest anchors to my faith is that I believe in the providential love of God. I believe that nothing happens in my life that God hasn’t allowed, doesn’t know beforehand, and is not with me as I experience it…nothing.
At the same time we live in a fallen world, a world that is at enmity with God, at war with God. There is a satanic devised plan to destroy all that is of God, all which is born of God and glorifies God. Thus, in a sense our lives are the battleground of a cosmic struggle, and though engaged through faith and devotion to Christ, there are many aspects that we have no control over. This describes the context for Joseph’s life recorded in the verses above. The Psalmist writes that God sent Joseph, but the way that He sent Him was to allow Joseph to be abducted, thrown in a pit, and then sold to slave traders from Egypt by his brothers. So which was it? Did God send him or did men sell him? The answer is “Yes, both.”
There is nothing that helps my life make sense more than the power of the truth of the providence of God. Everything, everything, every thing in my life is under the loving gaze of God. Not only is it under His gaze, it is protected by His power and eternally part of His sovereign plan. Even in death, it will only be because God ultimately predetermined its time, place, and occasion. Though it could appear tragic or perhaps after hundreds of prayers of those who love me, it will ultimately be in the loving providential will of my God.
At times we give more attention to the enemy of our souls than the Lover of our souls. We are more aware of Satan’s schemes than God’s purposes. We are more attentive to spiritual warfare than we are to the grace of God. Yes, we are engaged in warfare, but the Word of God says, “The battle is the Lord’s.”
There is much that is mysterious in this Christian life. What continually creates awe in me is the way God accomplishes His purposes in my life through all the mountains, valleys, laughter, tears, rejoicing, grieving, victories and defeats. The plan and purpose of God is being worked out in my life. His Kingdom will come, His will is being done in my heart as it is in Heaven. And as Joseph was able to say to his brothers who treated him so unfairly and unkindly, so are we. “What you intended for evil, God intended for good to accomplish what is now being done…”
Lord Jesus, my life is in your hands. I truly believe that. Nothing happens in my life except that you have allowed it. I trust you Lord. I relent in my will to you. I rest in your full provision for me Lord Jesus. I love you. Amen
Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Philippians 4:8
The Christian life is a life of faith in a God who cannot be seen. Though revealed through the person of Jesus Christ, we live a life totally devoted to One we have not yet seen with our eyes. Our life is also a life that is grace empowered; not deriving its strength or sufficiency from ourselves, but from Him who gave His life for us.
The result is that the main arena of struggle is within our own minds most of the time. There is a mindset that we must gain that is dominated by truth, life, and hope in the midst of a world that quickly depletes us of those traits and qualities. Paul said in Romans 8, “The mind set on the flesh is death. But the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.” The mindset of Spirit empowered life is the mindset we seek to gain, to develop, to live out of that will become the consistent mindset of our lives.
Paul writing from prison makes it his primary goal in this letter to encourage the church in Philippi. Amazing, the imprisoned apostle encouraging those who are not in chains. How is it that he can do this? Because he had learned to win the battle over his thoughts. If we think rightly, it will enable us to overcome the lies, threats, harassment and just weariness that comes our way in this life both from the enemy and from just living life itself. Paul, though in chains, was able to rejoice and even able to encourage others.
“Think about such things”, the apostle says, those things that are true, pure, right, lovely, admirable, excellent, and worthy of praise. Think about the faithfulness of God, about the power of the blood that not only cleanses us from sin but purifies us from its stain. Think about the Life of God that indwells by His Spirit, a Life that is an overcoming life, enabling us to live above this world’s hold. Think about the grace of God that is at work in His church, building and strengthening a people who are His very own. Meditate on the Word of God, for in it is life. And fix your eyes on Jesus who is both elder brother and Lord, both friend and Risen King, the mediator of a better covenant with our God.
Are you discouraged today, fearful or just bored? Take your thoughts captive for Him, and think on those things that are true today, in spite of what your emotions feel. “And the peace of God will be with you.”
Lord Jesus, again today I choose to believe. I believe your Word and I believe in you. I believe in your goodness and faithful in this life. And though the world around me is filled with much that can steal my joy and peace today, I will dwell on that which is filled with Your life. Thank you Lord, for your faithfulness in my life. Amen
“Stand your ground, and after you have done everything, stand. Stand firm then…” Ephesians 6:13-14
Sometimes we have to just say, “That’s enough!” That is especially true when what we know to be true in God, what we believe is ours in Christ Jesus is challenged and even attacked by the enemy.
Paul is talking in these verses about the armor of God, about making sure our minds, hearts, and faith are protected and prepared. Make sure we are protected from the satanic lies that come through our minds, and be prepared for prompt obedience and responsiveness to God’s Spirit.
As Christians we have been commissioned to take back ground that Satan has stolen illegally. We are to regain the hearts and lives of men and women, including our own. But everything this world has, every evil spirit and malevolent power will come to steal our confidence, joy, peace and victory that has been won at the cross. Paul says, “Having done all, now stand!”
It’s hard to be on the offensive when we are continually on the defensive. Being fruitful in this life is more than existing, just making it. To be effective means that we are proactive and not always just reacting to the world around us. It is with this in mind that Paul says, “Stand your ground.” Stand your ground because you know what is true. Stand your ground because you know whom it is who fights for you. Stand your ground because He has overcome the world.
There are times I may not always be able to move forward. But there is never a time when I retreat, when I shrink back in the face of trial, trouble, difficulty and even attack. In those times though I may not be able to advance, I can stand. And stand I will, for truth, righteousness and for the Kingdom. The armor of God is the very life of Christ indwelling by His Spirit. In Him there is provision to not only survive, but after having stood my ground, to again move forward in faith for the glory of the King.
Lord you are my armor, my shield, my defense in the day of trouble. Though I am at times attacked from every side, the power of your life in me is greater than any power that could come against me. And I will in faith clothe myself in the victorious life of the Lord Jesus Christ. In Him, Father, I stand. Amen
He anointed us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22
We all know what a down payment is. It’s only a portion of what is promised, of what is owed. It is a guarantee that what has been promised will be paid in full. Paul says in this verse amazingly, that the Holy Spirit is the down payment of God of future glory.
God Himself indwelling us is only a deposit for what is to come. What could be so glorious that the Holy Spirit’s life in His people would only be a pre-cursor of what still remains for us?
The glory to come is the power and the majesty of the Risen One as He returns to earth. The glory to come is the complete and total destruction of all that is evil; of sin and even death itself. The glory to come is the mystery of the resurrected body that is mine for eternity. The glory to come is the Eternal, Living God in the midst of His people for all eternity. The glory to come is the new heavens and new earth. The glory to come is the purpose of redeeming love fully realized; the marriage supper of the Lamb and His bride and their intimate relationship throughout eternity.
This life is only a training ground for eternity. It is an unspeakably important training ground, one worthy of our whole heart and life, but it is not the only goal of heaven’s invasion of earth. Myriads and myriads of lives atoned for, reconciled to God, transformed by His love, and conformed into the Holy image of His Son for all eternity; the new creation of God, this is the purpose of it all. And through the trials, travails, and even when the cost seems greater than I can pay, there is an assurance that what I hope for will come to pass. The assurance is nothing less than God Himself indwelling me, the Holy, Sent One promises that what God began in me, He will complete.
Thank you Father, for the Holy Spirit who indwells me. The very Spirit of God lives and abides in me. And He promises and assures me that my future is secure. Lord I thank you for your provision in the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you for the covenant you keep by your blood. Amen
This is what the Lord says:
“Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths; ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” Jeremiah 6:16
We are standing at a crossroads today in our society. Our nation is staggering like a drunken man returning home after a night of partying. The economy is shaky and the nations of the earth are rattling their nuclear sabers. Yet in the midst of this, the Spirit of the Lord is speaking to His church and He says, “Look for the ancient paths.”
What are the ancient paths? They are the paths that the men and women of God who have gone before us have walked. Men like Enoch, Noah, Job, Abraham, David, Moses and countless faceless others, walked in the ancient paths. The Lord says, “Look for the ancient paths. Look for the well worn paths most travelled by the men and women of faith who have gone before you.” Ancient paths are narrow paths so they may be difficult to recognize at first, but the Spirit of God knows them well.
The Lord says, “Inquire of me, ask where the good way is.” The Word of God is a lamp for our feet. The Word of God charts the record of ancient travels and when we ask where the good way is, the Holy Spirit will direct us to the Word of God as our GPS. What is the good way? It is the way that is pleasing to the Lord. The good way will not be the popular way or the way most traveled. It won’t be the way that the majority of the people you know and even love will be walking. It is a way that must be discerned, discovered, and only God can reveal. But He delights in revealing the good way through His written Word as it reveals the Living Word, who is the Way.
“Walk in it and you will find rest for your souls.” The broad, common way will not bring the rest our souls long for. It leads toward what this world lives for and loves; toward ambition, attainment, prominence, visibility, success and other values that men seek wholeheartedly. It isn’t that those are all bad things; it’s just that they can’t provide peace to the human soul. Seeing the way isn’t the same as walking in it. Just hearing about the way will not provide the rest and peace our lives were created for. No, it is only as we walk in it that we will know the life and sustainment for this life that is found in the way.
It is a joy and encouragement daily to know that men and women of God have gone before me and know what I am feeling today. The Lord Jesus Himself walked in the ancient paths; He searched for the good way and found it. And once He found it, probably as a young child, He set his face like a flint toward its goal. And so He could then say, “Come, follow me.”
Lord Jesus, I feel I am standing at the crossroads of life. I ask you, reveal to me the ancient paths. Show me Lord, the good way so that I can walk in it. I’ve seen the way of men. I long to see the way of God, the way of men of God who have gone before me. I trust you Lord, for you are faithful. Amen
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. Isaiah 60:1
Passivity is one of the greatest enemies we will face as believers. Complacency is its close cousin. Once they both set in, all that’s left is drowsiness and we will be asleep in the light in no time.
There are many days, when like David, I have to speak to my soul. “Praise the Lord, oh my soul, and forget none of His benefits.” As Jesus said, “The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” How well we know that to be true. Daily that is is our experience, but the Spirit of God says today, “Arise!”
This prophecy in Isaiah goes on to say that “Darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and His glory appears over you.” Like a blanket thrown over a bed, today our cities are covered with satanic darkness. What a vivid picture of how evil not only influences, but permeates and pervades the earth and its people.
Yet in the midst of the blanket of darkness is the light of God, and the light is greater than the darkness! The light first came in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ and now exists on the earth in His people, the church. The Spirit of God cries out to the church today, “Arise and shine, for your light has come!” Arise, oh church, arise. Shake off the lethargy, shake off the passivity, stir up your hearts, speak to your soul and arise! Fix your eyes on the Author and Perfecter of our faith, the Lord Jesus. He is the Overcoming One; He is the Lord who reigns!
Isaiah says, “This is a day when the light of God has come upon you to the glory of the Lord!” The power of the Risen Christ lives within His people in the midst of a world and its inhabitants that are living in great darkness. Arise oh church, arise, for the glory of the Lord rises upon you! Speak to your soul today church! Speak to your soul son and daughter of God and arise! Amen!
“When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore the wall?” Nehemiah 4:1-2
Have you ever said to yourself, “Where do I begin?” Sometimes the task at hand seems overwhelming and it’s hard to know where to start. When we survey the walls of our lives, at times they appear shaky and vulnerable. Sometimes they have cracks in them and don’t look like they can stand much longer. Those can be difficult times, even for the strongest of hearts.
Of course the enemy, as Sanballat did in the day of Nehemiah, is always ready to ridicule our “small beginnings”, and quick to remind us why there will never be the change we hope for. Hopelessness and discouragement are his goal, because he knows that once we have lost hope and become discouraged there is a good possibility that we will give up. But as believers we’re called to persevere and giving up isn’t in our thinking or an attitude that we will give credence to, as it pertains to the work of God in our lives.
That is exactly the point. The work in my life is a work of God. My life is in His hands. My work is to believe. Because I believe I obey, I respond, and I choose to walk out the right and godly choices. But the actual rebuilding of my life is only something God can do in me and for me. It’s a work that is Holy Spirit empowered, and facilitated by the Word of God transforming me through the renewal of my mind. It is a work that is finished in Christ, and therein lays the power and answer.
When we fall into the rut of self-improvement we doom ourselves to an endless cycle of frustration and discouragement. The lies of the enemy are only relevant when I am still hoping in myself, hoping in my abilities to “get it together”. But when I fix my eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of my faith and I take my eyes off of myself and my inabilities and inadequacies, the enemy loses his ground for accusation against me. When he is confronted with the Son of Man and His righteousness, he loses his boldness very quickly.
Paul said to the Corinthian church, “It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” What a powerful truth; all the Christian life is now lived out through Him.
Feeble in myself? Yes, absolutely. Unable to get it together, no matter how hard I try? Definitely. But He is able! His life has become my life. And I now live my life by faith in the Son of God, and not in myself. The enemy can’t argue with that, and the rebuilding of the walls of my life will be completed.
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:6
Yes Lord, open the eyes of my heart to see Jesus. Continue to teach me the power of the Life that is at work in me. Cause me to walk in the maturity of knowing what is true in Christ, and to put no hope in my ability to live the life. Thank you Lord, for the work of the cross and resurrection. Amen
“They all joined together constantly in prayer.” Acts 1:14
“All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit…” Acts 2:4
“All the believers were together…” Acts 2:44
The power of the Christian life is in its “all-ness”. We repent of all that was our former way of living and follow Jesus. We don’t follow half-hearted; we follow with all that we are. We trust God that all our sin is forgiven, and we trust him for all of our future. We begin to understand that God doesn’t want partial anything from me, but because my life is not my own any longer, He wants all of me. The Kingdom makes no compromises with the flesh. It requires all who follow to do so with their all.
The church is the gathering of these wholehearted followers of Jesus. Because of the all-ness of our individual lives, our corporate life reflects it as well. It is God’s intention that we hold all things in common. One of the greatest ploys of the enemy is to attack our togetherness, our “all-ness”. Because this will be a major focus of Satan’s attacks against the church, we have to resist the temptations to isolate and withdraw into our individual lives, families, and experiences.
Today, we don’t live in the same setting the verses above described. The church was newly birthed. Many of the believers had traveled to Jerusalem for the feast and just stayed after the day of Pentecost. They were forced to live together out of necessity, but this created a strong bond and they experienced the power of being all together and committed to a common purpose. This value was set in the foundation of the church as the Holy Spirit planted it. The way we meet today may have to change to accommodate this “all-ness”, but in the meantime we must not forsake the gathering of the saints, which the writer of the book of Hebrews said, “had become the habit of some.”
Christianity was not intended to be an individual faith that is lived out alone. We have been born into a family; the family of God. We live in this world as aliens and sojourners the Bible says, and we need each other to stay the course, to keep our hearts free from the spirit of the age that will slowly erode our faith and clarity in the Kingdom. As we hold firmly to the heart of our faith as expressed through our all-ness, the power of the Risen Lord will testify of His resurrection life in and through the church. When I find myself withdrawing and wanting to isolate, I can be sure that the enemy is trying to pick me off. That’s his only hope.
Lord Jesus, guard my heart from the lie that I can live this life alone. Keep me from criticism and cynicism that robs me of love for the saints and your church. Thank you for the gatherings of your people. Thank you for the strength and encouragement that come from these times. Be glorified in your church in this day Lord. Amen
When the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is - that she is a sinner.” Luke 7:39
How easily we forget where we have come from, what we have been forgiven of by the Lord Jesus. We’re quick to tell others our horrid sin stories (we call this “our testimony”), but when faced with the prospect of having to endure spending an evening with people in some social setting who are just like we used to be, we dread it. The Pharisee can quickly surface in our hearts. None of us would say that we’re better than others, it’s just that we don’t care to be exposed to the raw realities of unchecked sin in people.
Years ago, there was a young man in our life who had AIDS and was dying from it. He was a friend, so he was in our home often, and we in his. At the time our four children ranged in ages from fourteen to four. I remember initially the fear of the unknown regarding AIDS. Was it “contagious”? Could it be transmitted through casual contact? What if he sneezed? Was I jeopardizing the well-being of my whole family by allowing him this degree of involvement in our lives? I felt guilty hesitating with him at times, because the hesitation contradicted my heart in God. Because I loved him, I welcomed him in. We trusted God with what we didn’t know or understand…just as we have always done.
We don’t understand how radical this account is, as it records Jesus’ contact with a “sinful woman”. She was probably a suspected prostitute and she entered the home of a well respected religious leader uninvited. She approached a guest in the home, a ”prophet” no less, inappropriately. According to the Law, she was unclean, and any Pharisee or religious leader would not even speak to her, let alone allow her to touch him. Yet Jesus did. He allowed her to come near to Him and to even touch Him. And her coming near resulted in worship as she washed His feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. Of course the Pharisees were appalled. I often wonder, were His disciples appalled as well? Would I have been had I been there? I often feel there may be a little bit of the Pharisee still in my heart.
The smells, diseases, language, attitudes, and overall effects of sin in a man or woman’s life are not pleasant. But Jesus receives them as they are. Can I? Will I? Yes I must. To follow Him is to love “sinners” as He does. Because I know that “but for the grace of God, there go I.” The closer we get to the heart of God, the more we understand the full impact of the cross and its freeing work in our lives. We will have daily a deep awareness that it is by grace alone that we now live. And because we too have been forgiven much, we now love much.
Lord Jesus you know my heart. You know what motivates me and what I really think and feel in any given situation. You know if there is bigotry, pride or prejudice yet in me. Free me Lord, from any residue of the Pharisee that may still be in my heart. Let me see others as you see them and to love them with your love. Amen
Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12
Paul was driven by a deep hunger for God. That hunger, he wrote to the Philippians, was to know Him. In this verse he also compares knowing God with the ability to see clearly.
In Paul’s day, mirrors weren’t as they are now. When I look at my reflection in a mirror today, it is an exact reflection of what is looking into the mirror, unfortunately. There is no question of the aging process. It’s all there; nothing is hidden or diminished. It wasn’t that way for Paul. Mirrors were probably opaque or not smooth. As a result, the reflected image would have been unclear and the details were hard to make out. Paul compares this experience of looking into an imperfect mirror with the Corinthian’s inability to “see” and to understand fully in this life. And because their vision and understanding were imperfect and incomplete, he says, above all else love was needed.
Love will bridge the gap, will provide the environment for our inability as humans to see and understand fully. Where there is a lack of clarity, Paul says let love rule. Where there is disagreement, Paul says, love through it all. When there is overemphasis or under emphasis of things we hold dearly, Paul says remember that we only see and understand in part, so continue to love. When faced with the choice of my liberty and rights or those of others, Paul says, deny yourself out of love of others.
We are moving toward the day when the Lord Jesus will be fully seen. There will be a full unveiling, a full revelation of His majesty, His holiness, His power, and His glory. We are imperfect humans who only see in part. We are limited in our vision and our understanding. Let’s walk in humility in this day, fixing our eyes on Him, as the Holy Spirit makes Him known fully to the glory of God the Father. But above all, let love be the incubator for that revelation we all long for.
Lord Jesus, I long for your full unveiling. I long to see you as you are in all your glory. I am your son, but I see and understand in part at best. Help me Lord, to walk in humility in this life. Give me grace to deny myself for others, to believe the best of others, and to give the benefit of the doubt when needed. Lord Jesus, let love be that which motivates me above all. Amen
