Real and Ready

Every employer looks for certain skills and characteristics in potential employees: knowledge, experience, dependability, integrity, work ethic, etc. then uses his best judgment before hiring. Through the apostle Paul, God said: "I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, Who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season ..." (2 Timothy 4:1-2, NASB). Let's make sure we get the time reference: in and out of season ... at all times! Oswald Chambers describes some Believers as "spiritually unemployable" because they are neither inclined nor inspired to testify of The Gospel at any time ... neither in-season nor out-of-season - how tragic! When life comes at us with its disappointments, grief, hurts, circumstances, etc., we are often unprepared to respond with Christ-likeness because we haven't heeded God's charge to "be ready" at all times. Only time spent with The Father in study and prayer and fellowship prepares us for true inspiration; Chambers refers to those times as "exceptional moments" when it is God Who makes us really His and ready to testify of Who He is. As for me, I don't care to be identified as one "unemployable" for God's work; my prayer and plan is to at all times be ... real and ready.

Words of Truth

Do you ever seriously consider your words? My Dad was a wordsmith; he knew how to choose and use his words skillfully - it's one of the things I admired most about him. Truth is, we tend to use words so casually sometimes it's almost silly and [often] shamefuly. Among others in the Bible, David was one who skillfully penned what God said: "Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me! ... Say to my soul, 'I am your salvation!'" (Psalm 35:1, 3, ESV). We read these words and agree with David - God is our contender and our salvation YET we take up our own battles and contend for ourselves. Wait! Didn't we just agree with David's words, accept his words as our own - that it's The Lord Who asserts Himself for us? Indeed, let us consider our words! Jesus asked a pointed question: "Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?" (Luke 6:46). You see, our words are cheap - easily spoken - but our actions reflect the truest belief of our heart. David concludes his song with these words: "Let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say evermore, 'Great is the Lord, Who delights in the welfare of His servant!' Then my tongue shall tell of Your righteousness and of Your praise all the day long." (V.27-28). David's words are neither silly nor shameful; they are neither casual nor careless. Let our words be ... words of truth.

Spiritual Grit

Grits are us - yes, Mister Bill and I love some grits. My Granny taught my Mama,  who taught me, who taught my boys how to make grits. The recipe has been “tampered” with a few times nonetheless -- grits rock! God is never in a hurry.  We, on the other hand, are seldom patient!  Have you noticed the more unpleasant the circumstances, the more impatient we grow? Mostly, we don’t do well in God’s greenhouse yet it’s where spiritual growth happens. If only we’d surrender to His sovereign hand in quiet-peaceful-obedient patience.  Oswald Chambers makes this observation: “If we wait, we shall see that God is pointing out that we have not been interested in Himself but only in His blessings.”  Say it ain't so that Believers are more interested in what God does and gives instead of the awesome Creator and Redeemer and King He is!  When we persevere [by God’s grace], the spiritual hammering produces a Christ-likeness, a “fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:2). Truth is, we need spiritual grit!  The meaning of the word “grit” is something produced by pounding, and we [Southerners] love the taste that pounding [of corn] produces! I don't understand it but I'm aware there are those who just don't fully appreciate a hot steaming bowl of grits but oh how this lost world could come to appreciate God glorified when His Children patiently wait upon the Lord.  Pause, take a breath and put forth some spiritual grit to the glory of The Father!

God of Enough

Life is filled with failures: shoes wear out, jobs end, money runs out, car batteries fail, relationships are broken. When you look and consider the big picture of it all, it's enough to ... wear us out! Elijah found himself worn out after what happened on Mount Carmel; his next move was to flee Jezebel's rage. Elijah "was afraid and arose and ran for his life ... went a day’s journey into the wilderness ,,, sat down under a juniper tree ... requested for himself that he might die, and said, 'It is enough; now, O LORD, take my life' (1 King 19:3-4, NASB). Enough is what he said - he had enough and just wanted to lie down and be done. I suspect many of us have had enough of this or that amd in our exhaustion, like Elijah, we aren't thinking clearly. Can you recall such a time, and what you did next? During those times, I remember my Dad's words - "Bev, now let's see what you're made of." Truth is, while elements such as water, carbon, hydrogen and such function well to make the human body work, they do little to cause us to press-on through difficult times marked by weariness-of-heart. God said, "I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish" (Jeremiah 31:25, ESV). We read in Verses 5-6 that it was underneath a juniper tree that Elijah found shade, rest, bread and water - replenishment for his tired weary soul. You see, it's not a motivational book or conference, pep talk from a friend, or even a long-soaking bath or shower that fills and satisfies the weary heart. Jesus said come to Me all who are weary and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). When you've had enough, rest confidently in ... God of enough.

In God We Trust

Oh, the many - even trivial and silly - things in which we trust these days! We feel so confident and secure in these things until one day ... they fail or are no longer there. One of my favorite songs is "Oh The Deep Deep Love" - the chorus goes like this: "Oh the deep deep love - All I need and trust - Is the deep deep love of Jesus." The song's verse describes Jesus' love as unmeasured, boundless, full, surpassing, underneath and all around. The psalmist writes, "I have trusted in Your steadfast love" (Psalm 13:5, ESV). In case you've not noticed, there are few things to which we can apply the word "steadfast" - steady and immovable. God introduced Himself to Moses as "I AM" and Moses testified that God was his dwelling place and and "underneath are the everlasting arms" (ESV). In what do you trust? In Whom do you have all confidence? Where do you find your greatest security? If your answer is anyone or anything other than God Himself, expect failure and disappointment. That phrase on our coins and car tags, say "in God we trust" ... do you?