Filled but never Full ...

A member of my Truth at Work Peer Advisory group was facing an important decision in his career and life path after a lengthy period of, what you might call, “wandering and wondering in the wilderness”. A seven year wander. As a group we listened to his story, the unfolding circumstances and the several paths or opportunities that were presenting themselves.  He expressed his concerns and explained his anxieties over the many “what if” scenarios he had conjured in his mind. After much listening, the eldest and most experienced member of our group very matter-of-factly said, “Brother, you’re way over-thinking the situation. Rest, assured that God will make clear the right path.” The rest of the group agreed with this man’s assessment and I, for one, harbored a keen sense of excitement and anticipation and what was to unfold for my friend.

As it turns out, the opportunities sorted themselves out. One, a safe and secure option was dropped altogether by the other party and fizzled to nothing. Another, a high position in a very lucrative but cutthroat environment, ended with my friend not being selected for it. Two doors closed, which in itself presented an “otherly” path. A third, the least likely and the one that our friend had least considered as viable wound up being the place he came to rest. On closer examination, this unlikely, risky situation drew the most from our friend’s professional experience, it resonated with some deep convictions and prayerfully discerned revelations he had not shared with the group and if fit perfectly with his life trajectory.  I have never seen this man more excited than when he announced to the group that he had accepted the challenge and had already begun.    

It’s the story of Joseph, Moses, Abraham, David, Paul – you and I. Wait, wait, trial, wait, trial, accept, rest – Revelation!

It has been said that humility is recognition of what is truth. For most of us, such humility is not our nature. And so, we are given a yearning heart for who knows what and we wait until we embrace patience that coexists with an optimism that comes from an assurance that we are His. We learn to let go of our agenda. God allows our resources and our own resourcefulness to be depleted as He pokes holes in our capacity to hoard. Jesus is the Lord of abundance not the Pharaoh of scarcity.

In Paul’s heart felt opening words to the church in Philippi, he writes, ”being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Phil 1:6). He has begun a good work in all of us and He WILL complete it.

As I reflected on my friend’s journey and considered my own I remembered the rich young (flattering) ruler in Mark 10 and Luke 18 who said to Jesus, “What must I do?” How many times have I said that in my prayers. How many times have I said, “THIS I will do.” only to find myself no farther, no closer, no more joyful no more fulfilled with a sense of having “done”. That rich young ruler went away sad. Of course he did. He cozied up to Jesus like any self respecting, good religious man. Then he rather ignorantly and arrogantly asked the Lord of the universe how he could do it by himself. Jesus knew his heart and gave him the task He knew he “would not” do. That man’s pride set him up for his dismal outcome. Knocked off his horse just like prideful, self righteous Saul. I wonder what ever came of that rich young ruler. 

Peter asked Jesus to call him out onto the water. Jesus said “Come.” Paul walked for a moment, diverted his eyes, and then nearly drowned.

When I ask God “what must I do?” or dare say, “this I will do!” I am not motivated to operate in His power nor in His rest but in what I might do. I am not resting in Him, I am wrestling with Him. I am an unyielding, water tight bucket that may be filled to simply hold water and not a bucket with holes poked in it - overflowing with resource – filled but never full.

1 Thessalonians 5:24 is clear; “He who calls you is faithful and He will do it!” 

Blessings,

Bill

 

What's the use?

Have you ever asked yourself what impact you could possibly have on this enormous world and how, in God's name, you could ever make a difference in the marketplace for the sake of your Christian faith?

Discouragement is the mark of an authentic Christian walk. If this wasn't so there would not be so many messages of encouragement contained in scripture. Discouragement tests our patience and perseverance and so helps develop our character. Discouragement prompts us to draw together with the Body in fellowship. If you never experience frustration and discouragement you aren't growing. Absence of trial is absence of walk.

FACT: The world hates what you love and what you are drawn to.

FACT: The world hates the truth. It hates Jesus because He is offensive to the fallen world - and you are offensive by association.

FACT: You are an alien in the world and your Christian Faith is not wanted here.

Jesus prayed for His disciples in John 17:14-17: "I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth."

And so, here we are - now strangers in a strange land. If this world doesn't somehow seem stranger to you since you've been "saved" - you've got to wonder ...

Our encouragement is this; We have a power, the power of light in darkness that is irresistible. You know that and you know that without a doubt. Yet you doubt - things. The darkness MUST retreat from the light. The darkness is displaced by the light. You know that. The flood of greed, dishonesty in the name of profits, poor character, inconsistency, carelessness, posturing and unsavory business practices that turn your stomach amplifies the enormity of the lost souls out there who are grasping at all the wrong things.

And it doesn't let up. Just because you are Christian doesn't mean that God plows a path of ease and pleasantness before you. If anything, it's gotten harder. Or has it? Or has it just become more obvious to you now that the blinders are off and you can now see things plainly - as they really, truly are?

Let there be no mistaking, everyone around you recognizes the light that now shines through you. That light convicts them and they don't like it. Some will be draw to it. Those drawn will be those who have or are coming the end of themselves - just as you did. You have a testimony for them.

Some (most) wish you were the way you used to be. They wish you liked the things you used to like. You're no "fun" any more. But you know you can't go back. Once in a while you lapse and give yourself to those old things but there is nothing in those behaviors - they don't satisfy - and you are left hollow and loathing yourself for having given in to them. Yet you find yourself thinking thoughts and doing things that satisfy your need to take control and look out for yourself and control the outcomes. You try to play the game the way the others do - and you stink at it more and more and you hate it. You're heart isn't into those approaches. You can't jump out of God's hands. Once you are His you are HIS.

The light of Jesus shows the way to peace. That light is in you. And so you convict those around you but you also represent the way toward peace. "God has placed eternity in their hearts" (Eccl. 3:11) and so while you offend and convict them they are also drawn ...

My Pastor recently taught on the three things that Believers (you and I - - - the Church) do; 1) We Pray, 2) We share the Gospel and 3) We wait for God to bring the harvest. That's it. We share the gospel first through the mysterious and remarkable testimony of our transformed lives.

In the midst of the race of the marketplace, the temptation to throw down your faith and plunge thrashing back into the mire is strong. But you also know you can't. When you try you're even more miserable and those around you scratch their heads and marvel at your hypocrisy. You lose your testimony. Your ministry suffers. YES - YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN STEWARDSHIP OF A MINISTRY.

God created everything, God uses everything. What's the use? EVERYTHING'S of use right down to the most minute gesture, thought, impulse and interaction. Your life is a string of those minute things - one after another - a string of precious pearls of life intersections. Let go, let God use you. That's the use!

Blessings,
Bill   

Storm - or just a great day to be out on the water?

¹² Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. ~ I Timothy 6:12

This week has been a spiritual theme week for me. You know, one of those weeks in which God causes your local universe to conspire in such a way that circumstances, things you read, sermons you hear, songs you listen to all keep bringing that one thing to your mind. It started with a song on the radio; “No Longer Slaves” (of Fear) by Bethel Music. Then there was a blog posted by a friend of mine “Lord save us, we’re going to drown!”. Then in Philippians 3:10, “… and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death…”.

Slavery, fear, storms, suffering, death. Familiar adversaries of the authentic Christian. These are familiar adversaries that cannot withstand the assault of sustained prayer and immersion in the Word of God. These are familiar foes in the adventurous life of a blood-bought overcoming believer and disciple of Christ who lives in victory.

Spiritual maturity brings with it a familiarity with adversity and a capacity to endure hardship and setbacks with a meekness that astounds the world – and makes them wonder. That capacity to endure is grace. That meekness is humility of self and perfect trusting submission to the direction and commands of one’s Master. These confounding character traits draw others to their authentic source – Jesus Christ.

Why wouldn’t individuals who possess such character traits be tested over and over on the playing field of life before an audience who does not know God? Like well-trained, seasoned professional athletes we enter the arena day in and day out. Why wouldn’t we face challenge upon challenge to the glory of God? For what other purpose do we exist? A life of comfort in isolation? Called to the witness stand again and again. Expert witnesses for Christ. Expert wearers of the full armor and deft wielders of the Sword. We perform for an audience of one before a witness of multitudes to amplify the love, the Lordship and the power of Christ.

Several years ago I published a book titled, Fruition ~ Reflections on a life grafted-in © 2011. I want to share a portion of that book that goes with this theme (found in Chapter 6 beginning at page 79);  

“A tropical storm was strengthening as it thrashed its way up the coast threatening New England with hurricane force winds and damaging waves. At the last moment, pushed by a fast moving high pressure system charging down from Canada, the storm veered, safely, as they say out to sea. Safely, that is, for landlubbers. The only impact to New England seaboard would be enormous surf from the swells that radiated out from the storm’s center. People flocked to the seashore to watch one massive wave after another rise up, hang ever so briefly being pushed back by a stiff off-shore breeze, and then atomize on the rocky cliffs at Castle Hill or on the more distance outcroppings of Brenton Reef off of Newport, Rhode Island. Cars were parked along Ocean Drive facing “out” in drive-in theatre fashion. Spectators, eyes wide with amazement, ooooh’d and ahhhh’d at the spectacle from the safety of their cars, the park benches or the cement retaining walls that ran fortress-like along the entire length of the drive. Visions of the destructive force wafted through the minds of the spectators as they shuddered at the thought of being out in “that”. Images of shipwrecks and broken bodies and impossible rescue attempts by superhuman Coastguardsmen were conjured.

Then, out of the right peripheral field of view appears a glint of something. In the crazy twinkling sunlight one has to squint to see a lone windsurfer darting along a line of breakers, balancing wind and wave to beat a path across the stage. One by one the spectators spy the defiant marauder as he creeps from right to left swerving, negotiating the rising and falling breaking waves one by one. Then his progress slows, his sail luffs ever so slightly and there is a jerk on the mast and he begins to execute a turn. But something goes wrong. The sail wobbles and topples backward and there is a barely perceptible splash. A collective “oooooh!” rises from the crowd. For a moment the defiance of the intruder seems to be reaping its just reward. The small sail lies flat on the surface like some disconnected insect wing, rising on the face of a wave and then disappearing in the trough. Someone runs toward the edge of the breakwater as if there is something he can do. Most are silent – watching. Then, suddenly the sail bubbles to life and rises out of the foam dragging its rider with it. There is a cheer. Someone claps. The wave rider shakes off water and settles down onto a determined tack as he drifts from left to right and out of view. Someone says something about being crazy. Many shake their heads. Most of the crowd settles back into their mesmerized gaze. Some seem to snap out of a trance and abruptly leave…        

What strikes one about that recounting are the relative perspectives of the spectators and the wind surfer. To one the waves are terrible and destructive. To the other the waves are a ride to be harnessed – a rush – a thrill to be had. Fear or thrill? Do doubt, the wind surfers first ride on a stormy day involved facing fear, taking a risk and participating in a casual adventure that required that he have what it takes. Over time and with experience the fear transforms into thrill.

Perspective is very important. Viewed in its entirety a hurricane can be an overwhelming, fearful system of chaotic and destructive forces. It can also be admired with awe. At a more narrowly focused level, a foul weather day on the water may be seen as a strong wind creating large waves that behave a certain way. The windsurfer, focused in the moment is not taking in the immensity of the storm, he’s reckoning with the wave he’s riding and the wind gust on his sail. Through experience his senses pick up and interpret the forces directly affecting him and he makes adjustments. With practice and experience this sensing and responding becomes automatic and the wind surfer can take his eyes off of every wave encountered and focus on the exhilaration of the moment and the anticipation of continued exhilaration as the adventure unfolds before him.

Not everyone in that crowd is a fearful voyeur. Many assembled were probably delighting in the powers of creation on display and those who abruptly left may have been heading home to get their own windsurfing gear - inspired by the one who ventured out alone.

The eternal security of a Christian underpinned by the prolific promises of God to His children throughout the Bible should imbue the believer with a keen sense of overcoming capacity that makes every encounter with conflict and every challenge an adventure. Has not the battle already been won? Why are we instructed to don our spiritual armor in order to “stand firm”. The outcome has been assured by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The kingdom will be restored. Our daily battles are defensive actions against an enemy who knows he is defeated. Do we know it? Carpe diem, seize the day, is a battle cry of confidence in the outcome.”

See you in the arena!

Blessings.

Bill

Fruition ~ Reflections on a life grafted-in is available here at: Amazon.com and also at Barnes & Noble in hard/soft cover and in digital Kindle/Nook formats.

5 Stars.