Remembering Where I've Been

13 But they soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel.  14 But they had a wanton craving in the wilderness, and put God to the test in the desert; 15 he gave them what they asked, but sent a wasting disease among them. ----- Psalm 106:13 - 15

 

What happens when we forget to look to God, and instead fill up with other things?

When I neglect the relationship--when I decide I don't have time to read Scripture or seek my Father in prayer--it becomes easier for me to forget the great things that God has done in my life. When I choose to give myself to activities of distraction (shopping, eating) or of modern life (watching television, time on the computer) instead of giving that time to God, I put Him at a convenient distance. It's like I say, I'll deal with Him some other time, sometime soon when I feel up to it. When I put the relationship on hold for other things, God is not my centerpoint. And those wonderful experiences of Him stepping into my life become nostalgic memories.

It becomes easier to go ahead with my own plans when I neglect the relationship. And when my plans don't work out, how easy it is to then go to God and tell Him how I expect Him to make the situation work for me. God does sometimes give me what I want. And how often do I then get MORE than I've asked for...more headaches, more disappointment, more frustration...?

When I'm giving to the relationship--spending time in God's Word, praying, putting the relationship into action--that is when I remember. How easily I recall that Christ wooed me, calling me out of the darkness of self-hatred, healing the deep wounds, assuring me that I am His beloved. I remember where I was...and see so clearly where I am today. When I remember where I was, when I take stock of where I am today compared to those dark days not so very long ago, why would I ever choose to go off without Him?

Well, maybe it's not a choice. Perhaps it's simply the outcome of neglecting the relationship. Because when I am consciously aware of what once was, I immediately give God thanks! Remembering the past brings the automatic, I-can't-help-myself love response of praise. And with that, I'm attending to the relationship.

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Dead Is Dead

I have joined Christ in death. My baptism--even my infant baptism--united me to Christ. I share in His death to sin. Having joined Christ in death, I also joined Him in the grave. AND I joined him in the resurrection. I also have been raised to new life. I have new life in Christ Jesus where sin has no power, because it is dead.

Joanna Weaver gives a rather funny illustration of this truth in her devotional At the Feet of Jesus:

...you can't tempt a dead person--or make one afraid. Go ahead and try. Prop him up in a corner and parade beautiful women past him, and he won't even steal a glance (pg 297).

Dead is dead. Our society of violence, promoted through the various media, blurs the reality of death. We get away from the fact that death is final. There is no coming back, no return to normal.

And so it is with sin. It is dead. Jesus put it to death. And that is final. Being baptized to new life in Christ Jesus, sin no longer has rule over our lives.

Yet we live as if we are helpless. We allow sin to victimize us. We continue on in our self-centered passions, not because sin has power over us. We continue in sin because we want to. And we turn to the grace of God to pull us out of the situations we find ourselves in because of the consequence of sin. Yet that same grace of God is there before we choose to sin. We could choose to trust in God for escape before we sin.

By the grace of God we are dead to sin and it's powerful hold. Oh, that we would grab onto that grace before we choose the path of sin.

Lord Jesus, your precious death freed me from the grip of sin. I know I have joined you in that death. I know I have experienced the dank, dark solitude of the grave. I know I have new life that pulls me from trauma and damage when I rely on your grace in times of temptation. Oh, thank you for that grace...amazing grace. Please keep me from abusing it, from taking it for granted. Amen

 

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Reject This

GENESIS 4:5b - 7

5...So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6 The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.

 

I understand how Cain felt. His offering to God was not accepted, while his brother's was. Cain's was rejected; Abel's accepted. And Cain made the leap that I often make: the offering was rejected, therefore he was rejected. My work, words, or outreach are rejected; I am therefore rejected. But the Scriptures provide the key to this dilemma; the truth of the rejection is found in God's word.

Verse 3 describes Cain's sacrifice as an offering of the fruit of the ground. Pretty nondescript. But verse 4 goes into much detail about Abel's offering. It was from the first born of the flock and it was the fat portion of the animal. Abel's sacrifice cost him much: the first offspring of his ewes. We don't sense that Cain brought such a costly offering. He didn't bring God the finest grain. Or perhaps he brought God what was left over after he sold the crop and paid his bills. Whatever the circumstances, Cain made sure he was taken care of and then made his offering to God. And that offering was rejected. Cain was not rejected; but his offering and his attitude toward it was. He had not made a pleasing offering to the Lord. And God would not accept what he offered. Cain became angry...even knowing he had not given his best. And his anger was apparent to God.

Yet, in His mercy, God attempts to correct Cain. Don't let the anger get the best of you, He says. Do what you know is right and you will be accepted; let anger rule your emotions and sin is waiting to trip you up.

Isn't this so true? We know we haven't done or given our best and we get angry when it's rejected. When I haven't given a friend what she needs and she seeks out someone else. When I haven't put in enough time or practice on a sermon and no one seems to get it. When I haven't prayed before a meeting and there seems to be chaos. In these situations I feel rejected and I become angry. God's word is clear: if I give my best it will be accepted.

But of course this scripture speaks of what I offer to God. So often what I offer is presented to humans beings. Sin is crouching at their doors, waiting to enter. I cannot control their responses to that. And what I offer, presented to human beings will be rejected. How I have let this rejection anger me. How I have allowed sin to therefore enter and spoil relationships.

And the mercy that God offered to Cain is available to me. He reminds me to do my best, to offer the best. HE will accept my best offerings. Rejection of what I have to offer is not rejection of me, because HE has accepted me. Sin does not have to have entry into my home/dwelling.

Thank you, Father, for accepting me. How you deserve the best I have to offer in everything I do: my work, my family, my time with you. Thank you for reminding me to give the best...and then to know that it is accepted...by you. Thank you, good and gracious Father.

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