Which Path to Take?

"Righteousness will go before Him, and shall make 

His footsteps our pathway." 

Psalm 85:13

"His footsteps our pathway."

His way of walking, our way to go.

How often we wonder, "Which way should I go?", we often ask, "Which way should I take? What should I do?" For the believer this often leads to, "Where is the LORD leading me?" or "What is God's will for my life?".

But the men of old did not seem to ask such questions over and over again, look at Barnabas, a man known for his faith, he would declare that we should "With purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord" (Acts 11:23b ). It should not be a constant question but an aim we are seeking after. A confident walk. How do we find this?

I want to pose a question for thought:

Perhaps it is not that we cannot see the pathway to take, its just that we would often rather find an easier path to walk.

"His footsteps our pathway."

This is clear, He is not hiding the way to take, He paved the way. We are to put on our shoes and follow. I think the questions come to cause hesitations when we allow fear to strap to our sandals instead of faith.,

When we look at His pathway, we can choose fear or faith, for in looking at His path we see:

A path of constant humility, born in a stable, death on a cross. 

A path of submission, He did nothing apart from the Father, he was raised by a father and mother. 

A path of little comfort, He had no sure place to lay His head.

A path of thin privacy, He was rarely alone, but constantly thronged. 

A path of spiritual labor, He worked so long as there was day, and spent many evenings in prayer.

A path of serving, He lived for the preference of others.

A pathway of denial, He was betrayed with a kiss from a friend.

A pathway of accusation, the religious people never ceased their comments.

A pathway of misunderstandings, even they who walked with Him for years knew Him not.

A pathway of loneliness, He was alone on the cross, bearing our sin.

We all know the final step of His pathway…death, He laid down His life for our salvation.

In knowing this, we are reminded of His words, that no servant is greater than their Master, so we know far well that if we should choose to walk in His pathway, we too will find calvary deaths along the way. Areas where we must die to our self, our pride, our desires, our comforts, our privacies, these are inevitable steps along the path.

But we too quickly get carried away with the "deaths" we must die and forget that His death leads to LIFE.

No other death in history accomplished what His death brought in life. The love that has given new life to mankind.

The enemy has deceived us in seeing only the "deaths", but we must see the life beyond the deaths!

He has also deceived us to think that earthly possessions bring comforts, and that to give up these things are "deaths" indeed…but what if we began to look at things through the eyes of faith, what if we began to see that the earthly things we accumulate don't bring fulfillment in our lives, but actually cause distraction, and an appetite for more. These earthly accumulations cause us to become more attached to this life then we were ever designed to be.

Yet to the feet that walk along His pathway, although some earthly things may be lost along the way, each thing left from your hand gives more space for a spiritual blessing to be carried. Each lessening grip on the world gives opportunity to grab hold of more eternal things. 

You will never know until you travel it, you will never travel it if you settle with fear.

Grace and peace mark the goings and comings of those who choose to make "His footsteps our pathway."

A Search for Willingness...

"And Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head." But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know…" 

Genesis 48:18-19a

     The scene, within culture, the departing blessing. Jacob had come to an end of his life, and he was blessing his children. Joseph presented his two sons. The reason for presenting…blessing. The desired family blessing. However, the verses before these read, that when Joseph saw his father place his hand of blessing upon Ephraim, the younger son, it displeased him.

Have you ever presented yourself before the Lord for blessing, but found that the way He chose to work perhaps "displeased you"?

Perhaps you presented yourself, "Lord, here am I, send me!" A genuine willingness, a heart set upon obedience to His will, yet when He began to place His hand upon your life, and circumstances and situations began to not go as you had expected…perhaps it seems that "Ephriam" the younger, is receiving the blessings that are rightfully belonging to "Manassah", you become displeased. If we are all honest, I think we will agree that we have been there. There have been times when what is "culturally right" seems to not be the way God is working. What are "personal desires" do not seem to be priority.

For some reason, we commonly think that by presenting ourself to the Lord, things will go as expected. The things in our heart, our desires, all of it will be fulfilled. It is true that God desires to give us the desires of our heart, He placed those things there for a reason, but deeper than your desires, is His desire for your growth. That the testing of your faith may spring genuine faith. That your desires would be molded to the Kingdom's desires. The heartbeat of God is found in the cross. The way the Kingdom of God enters a life is through the cross. The way you and I take part in the Kingdom's work is through carrying our cross. 

Genuine faith cannot hold onto its own expectations, its own watch on time, or its own desires, but it must have open hands to carry the cross laid out before.

Genuine faith does not just say, "Im willing" but continually acts willingly despite the changes around. Despite the "flesh displeasing times" of seeing God's hand stretched out upon the "younger" instead of what seemed to be right with the "older". 

We've heard it said countless times, "God's ways are not our ways" but His ways are always perfect.

Jacob's response to Joseph, one you and I can learn from, "I know, my son, I know…"

Jacob, in faith, was going against the culture, and in obedience to the Lord placing his hand of blessing upon the younger son, for God had a plan to raise him up to be a great nation. 

Our God is a God of understanding to his sons and daughters…He knows. He understands the frustrations, the hurts, the confusions that can come when things do not go as we expected, but He also sees far beyond today. He sees the "nation He is building", He sees the spiritual blessings of testing our faith. He sees the way He is using our life as a vessel for the Kingdom. Will you trust Him?

Believing in the sovereignty of God means believing that whatever He has allowed in your life at present is what He desires for His glory, and whatever is lacking in your life today, He has allowed for His glory.

Let us come back to the simplicity of our faith…when we say we are willing, may we be willing. Not for our will, but for His.

He is working something far greater than you and I can see, but in carrying the cross upwards, we will see from the higher view upon the hill, His ways are faithful and true through and through. 

The Lord is WITH us...

Genesis chapter 37-39

Three times within chapter 39, and after much misfortune, 

we read, 

"The LORD was WITH Joseph", "The LORD was WITH Joseph", "The LORD was WITH Joseph".

Have you ever been in a prayer meet ing and heard these words over and over, "Lord be with us, be with this ministry, be with that person, be with this and that." We want God to be "WITH" us, meaning to be there, to be present, to be known, to walk alongside us, to be within what we are doing, to dwell…

Scripture is filled with HIs promise to never leave us (Hebrews 13:5) and to always be "WITH" us (Matthew 28:20) in doing the Lord's work, in being HIs people redeemed by HIs blood. So in all reality, we need not pray that the Lord be WITH us but come to a understanding that He is WITH us.

It is not a request, but a believing that needs to take place.

The LORD is with us. He is Jehovah ROi, the God who sees all things, because He is the God who is with us in all things. HE is sovereign over our lives.

God was WITH Joseph through all the misfortunate events of His life. He was WITH Joseph to ensure that HIs will was done in his life, despite the challenges that came his way. God placed a calling on Joseph's life, HE authored it and He would be the one to finish it. Despite the temptations of Egypt, the bars of a prision, the years of waiting, God was in the working, and God was WITH Joseph. 

In the well, God's presence gave him safety, in being sold instead of killed.

In the selling, God's presence gave him a place in Potiphar's house.

In the temptations, God's presence gave him the way of escape.

In the prision, God's presence gave him favor.

In the dream, God's presence gave him wisdom to interpret.

In the courts, God's presence gave him wisdom and boldness to interpret Pharaoh's dreams.

In the work, God's presence gave him guidance to save and store for the famine.

In the meeting of his brothers, God's presence gave him the strength to forgive.

In the restoration, God's presence gave him blessing in his lineage.

Joseph's life is marked by faith, and marked by the hand of God. His presence was WITH Him, God's anointing made him a testimony of God's faithfulness.

Let us stop praying that God would be WITH us and begin believing that HE is WITH us and instead pray for eyes of faith to see HIm at work in the difficulties, challenges, and blessings in our life…that our life may become a template for a testimony of HIs faithfulness.

Those who desire HIS STORY upon their lives, are those who will see His presence more active in their lives.

HE writes upon the template that has let go, and let God. He writes upon willing templates. He writes upon surrendered templates. What kind of a template are you today? He is WITH you…let Him write.

What is that man, any less than me ? ? ?

What is that man, any less than me?

     He lays there, so frail his feet are nearly bone and marrow. The sickness has brought him to this state--helpless, away from family within an isolation ward, losing strength, weight, and hope each day. The man two beds down died a few days back, the one across from him with swollen legs and pain too much to allow sleep for his eyes. He's given a worn out mattress, a blanket for a sheet, to which the ants crawl by day and the mosquitoes disturb by night. The water beside his bed, not clear enough to see through. Who is this man, is he any less that he should lay in such a state and I should stand where I am. 

     These are hard questions of life that I cannot give an answer to. I think upon our God as Creator. He formed this man from the dust of the ground, just as he formed me. We are the same frame with the same needs. Yet, why have I been so privileged and he not? Is this not injustice? What have I done to deserve my blessings? What has he not done to of not received such blessings? The only conclusion I can come to in all of this is that these sights, these problems, "these ones" in such a state are allowed by God to give us, others, opportunity to work out our salvation. Opportunities to put into practice what we claim to believe. Opportunities to be Christ-like and bring the message, hope, and character of Jesus to another. 

Thus, one question must be given an answer…what am I doing with "these ones"?

With the abundance of resources I have, am I extending unto "these ones"?

With the time I am given, am I making time for "these ones"?

"These ones" are all around us, some in a more sever state than others, but all with one same need, and the cure you hold within your heart--Jesus.

By His grace, I am not one of "these" today, but how quickly life can change; therefore, I want to reach out unto these with the time and blessings I have received. What about you?

Daily Life . . .

     Seeing and hearing of daily life within the country the Lord has called me unto, seems to daily convict my heart.

I know the Lord has me here so that I can be in a place of seeing my need to be ever more dependent upon Him. In lack, I see Him more. I need to see life through this perspective. Here are some things that gripped and taught my heart recently:

     Fire burned down her home, only ashes remained; I stood there with her and her young brothers, half dressed, flames still simmering, the smell still in memory; yet, the next morning she would stand in the house of her God, worshipping. I am humbled and convicted when I think of the little misfortunes or difficulties I commonly face that distract my worship. 

     He gladly opens the church gate rain or sun each day, always wearing a smile. I, within a car, usually thinking of how tired I am from the heat of the day, and he gladly welcomes me in. I am soon to learn that he uses only a mat, raincoat, and thin sheet within a small room as "home" during the week. No money for a proper mattress, separated from his wife and new born baby during the work week, but no lack of a smile upon his face, and joy in his serving of welcoming people into God's property. I visited his home last evening, and as I prayed for him, his humility of kneeling on the floor humbled me. How quickly I complain of too short of a night or tiredness as I awake from my mattress and bed frame, a comfortable pillow and warm sheets.

     How slowly he makes his way to the village local Bible study to find fellowship and hope within his hopeless state. A man who once ran quickly now cradles his own body in an effort to move his crippled legs to walk. A few steps, then a crawl, then a moment or two of necessary rest. The reason he became crippled, no answer can be given. His ability to come to the study is filled with adversity and discouragement; yet he perseveres. How little a difficulty I allow to keep me from getting to where I know I need to be. He knew he needed to be where hope is found, where God's Word was being proclaimed. How much effort do I put into positioning myself to hear God's Word proclaimed?

     God has placed me in the midst of a people group who convict my heart with the effort they put forth into truly living this life. Few and troublesome can be the days of man (Ps. 90:10), but oh! if we would allow the troubles to turn our eyes upon the eternal things, upon the place where there are no tears, sorrow, or pain.

     Dearest Jesus, please use these words and these stories to convict us in our comforts and blessings, to cause us to be discontent without our eyes fixed upon eternity. May we press-on and press-hard in our labor unto You within these "few" days we find ourselves upon this troublesome earth, and may we use our abundance and our blessings to give unto the least of these, knowing we are doing it unto You. Amen.

Trading Poverty for Wealth

May 20, 2013

"And He said to those who sold doves, 'Take these things away! Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise!' " 

John 2:16

     Righteous anger had come over Jesus at the sight of the merchandisers making a profit out of the poor by selling doves. Why would such a sight spark so much zeal fro our Lord? I believe it was for many righteous reasons, but the two that strike my heart this day is: the character of the dove, and Christ's desire that all men be found rich in Him.
     Just a chapter before we read the account of Jesus' baptism when the Spirit of God defended upon and rested upon Him in the form of a dove--giving us a picture of the character of a dove. The dove serves as a representation of His Holy Spirit upon a life. 
We know that our Savior never despised the poor, but He made Himself poor for our sakes. 2 Corinthians 8:9 reads,

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich."

     Christ desires that we be found rich in Him. He is not concerned with the material wealth of this life, but the spiritual wealth of His people in their living within this life.
With these two things upon His mind, I believe a sight of doves being sold at a price to harm or hinder the poor irked the heart of Jesus, and so He defended His Father's house by overturning the tables and re-establishing a call for prayer.
It is through prayer that one receives the anointing of the Spirit upon his or her life, and it is through prayer that we attain our spiritual wealth from the storehouses of His grace.
     Beloved, what need do you find within yourself this morning? Do you feel too poor to buy what you need to overcome? 
Come to your Father's house in prayer. The price of the dove has been paid for by His blood. No man can now try to take advantage of your poverty and sell you such a gift at a high price. No. The price was high indeed, but your Jesus took it for You and paid in full upon that cross. You now no longer ought to walk in poverty of Spirit, but in fullness and abundance, trading your lack for His sufficiency, and your weaknesses for His strength. This day, trade your poverty for His riches and in Him overcome. Romans 8:37. Amen.

Just Enough . . .

"…he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack. Every man had gathered according to each one's need." Exodus 16:18

We read that the pretense of this story was continual complaints from the children of Israel within the Wilderness of Sin. They began to look around at earthly lack and became discontent with the freedom being accomplished in their lives at that present time. Their earthly desire in that moment distracted them from the heavenly sights they had already seen and were experiencing--such as the cloud by day, the fire by night, the bitter waters made sweet, on and on. 

How quickly earthly desires distract us from the heavenly things we need! But in His grace, He sent mana and meat to the people. Each gathered according to their need, and there was no lack. No abundance or overflow either, but no lack. Jehovah provides according to our earthly needs so our hearts and minds may find an overflow of heavenly things. 

How often earthly desires or fears of earthly lacks tempt and are the cause of stumbling in the lives of His people as we walk through this earth--this "wilderness of sin"; sin present on every side.

Dearest Jesus, by the power of Your blood, by the leading of Your Spirit, lead us to the portion we need and nothing more, and give us a yearning for heavenly things.

In Jesus' Name we pray,

Amen.