Forgetfulness and Faith

    

Phil 3:12-14

 

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

NKJV

 

I love the beauty of the Word of God.  I can study a passage of Scripture for years and gain understanding.  Then all of a sudden, on a day like today, a difference nuance springs to life that I have never seen before.  Something new to encourage me, challenge me or change me.

 

That is what happened to me today.  As I read this passage, I was reminded of all the application, teaching and preaching I have heard concerning the importance of forgetting what lies behind.  Always this has been applied with an emphasis on not staying stuck in past sins or failures.  A time or two I was exhorted to not hold on to yesterday's victories either, because they keep  me from living in today. Both are beneficial application of this passage. But as I read this verse this morning, I realized that there is yet a third way that I could benefit from applying this passage.

 

Sometimes in my journey of faith,  I struggle with believing because things have not worked out as I had hoped.   In those moments, I find myself left with less hope, less courage and less audacity to believe.   I recently had a minor disappointment.  But somehow,  without me realizing it,  I allowed that to completely halt my forward progress in faith for a prayer need. I allowed it to limit me, not only in that moment, but for the months that followed.   I was not even aware that I had done that.

 

I know when an athlete is competing, those that do the best are those who forget the pass that was not caught, the strike that they swung at, or the hoop that they missed. Each moment is a new opportunity to capitalize, and hopefully turn the tide in a forward motion.  A winning direction.

 

What if we approached our Christian walk in the same way?  What if we chose not to focus on disappointments or failures, but instead, focus on the moment at hand?   I believe that would revolutionize the way we live our lives.  You cannot stay on the road if you only look in the rear-view mirror. We have to look at the road before us.  What is behind us has little impact on where we are now.  In Christ, it has even less importance than we even know.

 

Give it a try!  Seize the moment! Believe this time it will work.  Give God some raw  material He can work with-  faith, trust and belief!

 

  Dear God, help me to live in the moment, looking to the future.  I choose now to repent of past sins and failures, as  well as disappointments.  I choose to go forward in You.  Please renew my hope.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

 

 

 

Faith Remediation

 

 

Mark 9:17-24

 

17 Then one of the crowd answered and said, "Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. 18 And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not."

19 He answered him and said, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me."  20 Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.

21 So He asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?"

And he said, "From childhood. 22 And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."

23 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe,* all things are possible to him who believes."

24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"

NKJV

Honesty and humility are traits not esteemed by our society.  I know this because of experience.  It is  very rare indeed to encounter someone willing to admit when they are wrong, weak, or lacking.  Most people will lie to cover over a shortcoming,  rather than just "fessing up". 

Possibly that is why this dad is one of my favorite in Scripture.  Not because he was a man of great faith or renown.  But simply because he was a real guy, with real weaknesses and a real problem.  And he knew to come to Jesus.  That sounds a lot like me. (Except for the guy part.)  How about you? 

I want to be a person of great faith.  I am endeavoring daily to increase my faith, to meditate on truth and grow.  I do not  want to stay where I am.  But I thank God that perfect faith is not required.  Just like this passage with this father, we can approach God and be honest, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"

I do believe.  I do know that He is God.  He is all powerful.  He is able.  But if I am really real, I will admit that I am not always convinced that He will work a situation out as I hope.  That is when I identify with this father. My dialogue with God goes something like this:

Yes, Lord, I believe.  I know you can.  But help me on the part that is lacking.  Help me on the unbelief issue.  I cannot make it go away.  I need You to help me!  I need something.  I know that You are the answer.  Whatever is lacking in me, that hinders my answer, O God, please help!"

Are you like this dad today?  Do you need help with a problem?  Are you struggling to fully believe?  Jesus can help on both.  Call on Him today!

Dear Lord, help me to grow in faith.  Forgive me for my faith-failings. Increase my faith, O Lord.  Thank you for covering my lack.  In Jesus' Name. Amen.

 

Mastering Fear

 

 

Mark 4:35-41

 

On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side."  36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"

39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"*  41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"

NKJV

Why are you so fearful? Is it because you are uncertain about your future?  Is -it because you are running all of the worst-case scenarios in your mind?  Is it financial concerns that leaves you shaking in your shoes?

According to today's verse it appears that fear is caused by a lack of faith.  Ouch!  That stings, but nevertheless contains a "helping" truth.  When we are afraid we are out of faith and are trying to steer our own lives. Fear is a common affliction of humanity. There are times we all find  ourselves in a fearful  situation.   The Lord allows us to have that emotion for good purposes at times.  It keeps us from leaping from tall buildings, or grabbing a cast iron skillet barehanded from out of the oven.  Fear helps to keep us in safe parameters within this application.

But beyond the healthy, life-preserving fear, is an ugly monster- a dark spirit, really- that the enemy uses to box a child of God in.  He  uses it to keep them from stepping out in faith when the Lord  calls them.  Fear keeps us from praying faith-filled prayers. Fear  keeps us from walking in the Lord's peace.  The Bible is plain that "God has not given us a spirit of fear."  So  when that spirit comes, we must know  it is not from God and we must resist it.

No matter how I grow in my faith, fear is a constant foe to overcome.   We have to learn to cast down the fearful thoughts that the enemy plants in our minds.  We have to bring these thoughts into captivity and make them obedient to Christ- what He says and what He has promised.   And yes,  at times,  we have to follow the advice of Joyce Meyer and "do it afraid."  What this means is that our knees can still knock, but we do not allow it to prevent us from doing what we feel we should.   We go ahead and volunteer for a ministry, we step out and go back to college, and  we share our testimony with that neighbor.   As we step out around the fear boundary, we push it further back in our lives.  Every time we stand against fear, it loses a little bit of its hold on us.

Some people allow fear to become so prevalent in their lives that they cease to truly live.   They stay in their house.  They avoid social situations.  They are eaten up with all kinds of fears and phobias.  Child of God, that is not His plan for your life!

"Even the wind and sea obey him," even nature has more sense than we do sometimes!  The natural elements know Who is God and we must do the same.   We cannot allow fear to hem us in.  We must pull against that yoke and choose, instead, a life of faith and belief.

Dear Lord, I do not want fear to have a stronghold in my life.  Break it off of me.  Teach me how to resist fear and choose faith.  In Jesus' Name. Amen.

 

 

 

Don't You Care?

 

 

Mark 4:35-41

 

On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side."  36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"

39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"*  41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"

NKJV

 

Our relationship with God can sometimes be complicated.  Not on His side, of course, but on our side.  We have a hard time understanding His sovereignty.  We see Him as the One who  should protect us from life, shield us from pain, and deliver us quickly. And certainly He does all of these things.  But there are things that He permits to come our way.  And yes, sometimes from the human perspective, it appears that He is asleep in our boat.

I guess that is why I so often relate to these poor, wind-battered apostles.  They are walking with Jesus, they are following Him to the best of their ability.  They are in the same boat with Him and going in the same direction.  So how can He sleep when they are facing certain death?

These are the types of questions we will ponder until we reach the other side, and all answers are known.  When we are with Him in heaven, in His fullness, we will have no more confusion, no more unanswered questions.  So what do we do until then?

I am not sure that there was anything wrong with them waking Christ up to ask for his help.  But the way that they did it presents a problem, they asked, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"   We must never doubt that He loves us and cares about us more than we will ever know.  We can never forget what He endured at Calvary and why He did it.  His love allowed Him to die a sacrificial death for us, mere sinners.  So our question should instead be, "Jesus!  I need you!  I am in trouble!"  He wanted them- and us- to ask Him to meet their needs.  The fact that He was not presently acting, did not negate His love and providential care for them.  It was a faith-stretcher.  Nothing more.  As soon as they called on Him, albeit in a faithless manner, He took care of them.

What are you facing today?  What is causing you fear and  frustration?  Look  to Jesus.  He is  your  Source of help and strength.  When you cannot see His activity, when it seems He has forgotten you, do not give up!  Don't be like the disciples in this passage who lost all faith at the first obstacle.   Sometimes He just wants us to ask and keep on asking.

Dear Lord, help me today to be a person who clings to faith in hard times rather than falling into doubt.  I ask that you come on the scene today in the situation of ___ and protect me,  defend  me and calm me.  In Jesus' Name. Amen.

 

The Balance of Love

 

    

 

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.  Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;  Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;  does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;   bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

NKJV

    

 

This  portion of the passage is  getting down to the nitty-gritty.  Love is strong and able to withstand a load. It makes me think of one of those paper towel commercials where they wet the towel and then put a piece of fruit on it, to show it is strong enough to withstand damage and a load and not break.   That is the case with true love.  When we love  someone we can bear up a whole lot, without breaking.  

 

True love also believes the best in the other person and for the other person.  Love is not suspicious or paranoid.  It is  not stingy  or selfish.  When we love someone, we believe that they have the best intentions and a good heart.  In addition, we can believe in prayer for their needs to be met.  The believing component is based in God's love- but that does not mean we are foolish and cannot see what is  obvious.  Love does not negate wisdom and discernment, it just filters out pettiness and paranoia!

 

Love also has hope contained within it.  We can hope for the best for someone we have the God-kind of love for. We are able to stretch our faith to cover their need.  We have an eager expectation of good for someone we love, rather than dashing their hopes and nay-saying over their lives.  Ultimately, when we walk in true love, we are able to share in God's feelings toward that person, selflessly wanting what is best for them.  There is no competition in that.  Instead, we  are their number-one fan and advocate.

 

Love endures all things.  Even when we believe the best, and they act the worst, love enables us to stay faithfully by their side.  Love is not wimpy, weak, or short lived.  True love is strong, stout and bold.  When they hurt our feelings, we choose to let it go.  When their weaknesses are exposed, we choose not to see.   When forgiveness is needed, we extend it freely.  When they are following our advice, or ignoring all of it,  love enables us to steadfastly support them.

Love is a beautiful, strong, and divine act.  The different facets outlined in these passages are beautiful and poetic.   They are ideals that we should strive for. To keep this message in balance, though, we have to apply it alongside the totality of the Word of God.  So we can be loving and yet discerning.  We can be loving and still confront sin.  We can walk in love and protect ourselves and the weaker ones involved in a situation.  Love does  not mean being a door mat or presenting ourselves to be used.  Jesus walked in absolute love and absolute wisdom.  He knew when to trust himself to someone and when not to.   Ask the Lord to reveal what love, in practice, would look like in your life and current situations.

Dear God, help me to walk in love and in wisdom.  Jesus, show me how you lived out love on this earth.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

Genuine Faith

1 Peter 1:7

"that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,"    NKJ

Genuine. The real deal. There are lots of counterfeits in this world. Some offers seem too good to be true, then you ask about them and find out that they are. Too good to be true... instead they are a gimmick, a deception, a lie of some sort. But we never know for sure until it is put to the test. We recently took a trip that was paid for by "points" that we had earned. Until the moment that I received a written confirmation, part of me was a little concerned that there may be a catch.

As Christians, we profess many things. We make comments about what we believe. We claim that we trust the Lord. We state that we will follow Him, no matter what. But until the trial or test comes, it is only lip service. There has to be the experience that bears out the proclamation. That is how the Lord tests and develops our faith...by putting it through some stuff that is bigger than us. When He does this, He wants us to pass. He wants us to be found faithful. When the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job?" God wanted Job to succeed in proving his faithfulness. He never sets us up to stumble or fall. We are only brought tests that we can stand through in His grace.

Our faith is more precious than gold. More precious than job security, health, or having a life mate. Our faith is the most precious possession that we have.

 I pray that when it is tested, it will be found to "praise, honor and glory" in the Lord Jesus, and that we may not be found ashamed before Him. Dear Lord, help me to pass the tests and trials that come. Help my faith to be found to be pure and sustainable. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

 



Fully Convinced

 

 

    

Matt 9:20-22

 

20 And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. 21 For she said to herself, "If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well." 22 But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, "Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well." And the woman was made well from that hour.  (NKJV)

 

Have you ever been desperate? The kind of desperation that does not care that you are making a fool out of yourself,  crying in the altar?  The lady in this passage had experienced 12 years of failure, sickness, weakness, social isolation and medical treatment. She had nothing left.  Nothing but her faith.

I am amazed that she was able to hold on to her faith for so long after so many attempts and failing results.  But in this passage we see an inspiring glimpse into her mind. She does not say, "I might as well touch Jesus, I have tried everything else."  No!  She said if I can just touch the very tip of his garment, I SHALL BE WELL!  Not possibly.  Not a 20% chance of success.  This woman was fully convinced.

I cannot prove it by Scripture, but it is my opinion, that the Holy Spirit had given this woman the gift of faith- a supernatural impartation of belief.  It seems improbable that she would have the courage to believe after so much disappointment without it. But regardless of whether or not she was operating in a gift of the Spirit, or old-fashioned, garden variety faith, ahe knew who Jesus was and what He could do for her.

No matter how long you have prayed. No matter how disappointed you have been in the past, make up your mind to believe in the healing power of Jesus.  Believe in His miracle working power.  What have you got to lose?!

 

Dear Lord, increase my faith.  Help me to be fully convinced of your faithfulness and ability.  Forgive me for any mixture of doubt.

In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

 

It's Sin

 

 

But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.   Rom 14:23 (NKJV)

 

To eat or not to eat- that was the question.  This passage is about people whose conscience would not allow them to eat food sacrificed to idols. Whereas, other people recognized that idols were nothing and had no problem eating the food.  Freedom vs. respect of others was the issue.

 

But the part I want to focus on today is the second part, "For whatever is not from faith is sin."  If I look at this verse alone- what a sinner I am!  How many things do I do out of fear?  Out of habit?  Out of obligation?  Out of personal lust or greed?  This passage starts dealing with where we live.  This is "Christian sin"- if there is such a thing!  This passage deals with the attitude of the heart and mind.  This goes beyond outward acts and cuts directly to our motives.

 

I have walked with the Lord all of my life. I have made many choices based in faith.  But lots of times, I will confess, I have made choices off the top of my head.  I remember when I started catching the vision that I should include God in my decision-making.  I had decided I needed a new laptop for my business.  But it was going to be over $400.  I remembering lying in our bedroom floor asking God if it was the right decision.  Why?  Because I was unsure about accruing debt to get it, and we certainly did not have that much extra lying around.  To be honest, I have bought cars with less prayer than I did with the laptop!  But once I felt a peace about it, I was able to move forward in faith.  And I did so knowing that I had sought the Lord's direction.

 

A lot of time I make decisions based on fear.  Other times I make decisions based on faith, but fear shows up to taunt me.  It is sometimes difficult to stay in faith when so many negative emotions wage war against our minds.

 

We cannot go wrong trusting God with whatever situation we find ourselves in.   He is faithful.  Therefore, we must be faith-full.

 

I have had some failed "faith projects"- things I have believed for that did not work out, things that left me bankrupt in my faith tank.  Some of them, 7 or 8 years later, I am still in a crisis of faith about (if I am honest with myself). It is not OK to let that remain within us.  We have to work through the doubt, the unbelief and the fear.  Faith has to be the spiritual gas that propels us through life.

 

Dear Lord, please forgive me for all the times that I made decisions based on my own desires, thoughts, opinions, fear or dread.  Please help me to discern your will and to step forward in faith.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

 

A special shout-out today to my mom, Judy Sullivan.  Today is her birthday and I just want to praise God for the gift she has always been to me! I love you, Mom! 

 

Sherri

Reckless Faith

 

    

 

"Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You."  Ps 56:3 (NKJV)

 

He had felt this way before!  He was  thrilled, he was ecstatic, he felt dangerous and adventurous.  But this time was different.  This was a very big deal.  This was a challenge like none before.  He kept his gaze fixed upon the goal- he could not look down, around or away from his destination.  He swallowed hard, and slowly, he began to move his trembling, sandaled feet.  Just a little more...  finally he stepped over.  Slowly at first;  but then, he began to pick up speed and confidence.  And then... and then, came the loudest howling wind he had ever heard.  The waves of the sea towered over him.  And for a moment, a single moment, he took his eyes off of his destination... he quit looking at Jesus and he faced the object of his fear.  Immediately his foundation gave way and began to collapse beneath his feet.  The water that had held him so soundly before was once again liquefied.  He was going under. He would drown.  Unless... he then turned his now-bobbing head to Jesus and cried out, "Lord, save me!"

 

Ah, the Apostle Peter.  The only recorded human to ever walk on water; besides of course, Jesus Christ.  What a story he had to tell his grandkids!  I feel that any time the story was repeated, it was with increasing bravado about the walk of his life.  Hopefully, he also had enough humility to recount how Jesus had saved him just in the nick of time. 

 

We face stuff in life.  Scary things; intimidating things.  The voice of Jesus continues to cry out, "Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in me."  (John 14:1)  Our minds and our fleshly nature wants to trust in the tangibles, the things we can control ourselves.  God is calling us to greater.  He wants to reach beyond what we can see, feel or understand.  "But I am afraid," you may say.  Me too!  Horrified even.  But today's verse puts it in perspective- when you are afraid, trust in God!  You are right, it is bigger than you.  The waves are, in fact, towering over you.  Trust on in faith!  Your ability to walk on water is rooted in nothing other than you trust in God.   Fix your eyes on Jesus, swallow your fear and do it afraid! 

 

I am out of the boat.  Care to join me?


Lord, I am leaving the safety of the ship.  You said, "Come,"  and here I come!  If you do not come through, I will go under.  Thank you that I can trust you to be greater than my fears.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

 

Sherri