Like Jesus

Posted on December 21, 2016 by suemariericker

I thought, mistakenly so, that when the presidential campaign in the U.S. was in our rear-view mirror, the vitriol, the accusations, the fear and fearful predictions would rapidly abate.  Didn’t happen.  In fact, if anything, the anger, hatred, and fear have greatly escalated.  Decades of political process are being tried in the courts of opinion and for many, coming up as a broken system.

Can we ever be the “United States of America”?  It certainly doesn’t look or sound like it!  I couldn’t possibly take on the many issues dividing us; most people are impassioned about their opinions, making it virtually impossible to interject scriptural perspectives if one is not inclined to receive them.  The apostle Paul wrote this to the church at Corinth: “We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word…and even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing.  In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:2-4).  Scripture also reminds us that, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death” (Proverbs 14:12).

It is easy to proclaim that certain individuals are the source of our nation’s problems and possible (in some minds) demise.  However, without a common moral foundation supporting us, or unity of purpose and understanding of justice to serve as a compass to guide this country, there is little hope for America to be united. 

And it is so easy to forget the spiritual war raging around us in the unseen realm when we are inclined to engage in arguments to support our views as Christians.  Scripture counsels, “He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, and he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself.  Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.  Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:7-10).

When Eve stood gazing at the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, an aspect of satan’s deception was the enticement to be like God—she looked at the tree and viewed its desirability to make her wise, and she longed for a wisdom equal to, but apart from, God.  The apostle John referred to the wisdom offered by demons and rampant in this world “the pride of life.”  “For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world” (1 John 2:16).

If one is not serving the God of heaven, he or she is held captive by the devil and constrained to do his will (2 Timothy 2:26).  Pride is a huge prison for many people as it was also satan’s pride that cast him from the presence of God.  Interestingly, Ezekiel speaks this of satan: “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor” (Ezekiel 28:17).  It is in pride that wisdomi becomes corrupt!  –The tricky thing about pride is that it is so much easier to see in others than it is to recognize it in ourselves!

God’s wisdom is much different from the wisdom of this world: “Let no one deceive himself.  If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.  For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their own craftiness’; and again, ‘The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.  Therefore, let no one boast in men” (1 Corinthians 3:18-21).

Sometimes I feel baited into responding to “discussions” or the assumptions (and accusations) about choices Christians should or should not make in the political arena.  Sometimes I am frustrated by the prognostications of the fearful and the media manipulators.  Sometimes I am angry at the suppositions some make of my character and my faith in Jesus.  Always I am perplexed by those who use the name of Jesus, who profess to be Christians, but also think that it is morally acceptable to destroy the lives of unborn children.

It is inexplicable to me just how intensely I am drawn to the controversy raging in this country—and I think many people feel compelled to join in, which is a problem, I believe, for Christians.  The enemy and his agents come at us with anger, hatred, and intimidation, and exposing ourselves to his lies makes us vulnerable to them.  His strategies rarely change, though; he initially attacks the moral character of God (and His children), and he proffers worldly (which is demon-inspired) wisdom, and tempts us with a sense of entitlement.

Our best response is to “…lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us…and run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2); and to pray that we, as God’s church, will “be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that [we] may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light” (Colossians 1:9-12).

Winning arguments is not at all important in this world held captive by the forces of darkness; however, being like Jesus and extending His life, His compassion, and His ministry is essential.  “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.  And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.  But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?  My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.  And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him….this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another as He gave us commandment” (1 John 3:16-19, 23)

 

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A Spirit of Fear

Posted on November 19, 2016 by suemariericker

“God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”  (2 Timothy 1:7).

Some days I spend way too much time on social media – I need to do something about that!  However, spending a little time scrolling through the various posts has proved to be quite informative!

By far, the most intense post-election emotion that I’ve been reading about is fear; and that fear has been a springboard for anger, hatred, rebellion, and violence.  For Christians, it is essential to recognize the spiritual component behind fear (“spirit of fear”) and respond as warriors equipped for battle:

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” [That’s us! We are his brethren, and we have a responsibility to “be strong in the Lord!”]  “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual host of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:10-12)

It has been easy to blame individuals and the media for misinformation, bias, and misrepresentations—and for igniting tremendous fear and violent responses—without acknowledging the spiritual forces motivating the divisions and hatred.  Scripture lays out for us many characteristics of demonic activity:

Deceit, Fraud, Enemy of all Righteousness, Perverting the straight ways of the Lord: “Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, ‘O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?’” (Acts 13:9-10).

Unrighteousness, Hatred, Jealousy: “In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.  For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother.  And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.” (1 John 3:10-12)

Murder, Absence of Truth, Telling Lies: “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do.  He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him.  When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” (John 8:44)

We, as Christians, need to suit up for battle and take our fight to where the war is being waged—in the unseen, the “heavenly” realms.  We can start by taking control of our own thoughts: “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

Arguing with people is fruitless (as many have discovered by now), particularly with those who refuse to accept the lordship of Jesus Christ.  The apostle Paul wrote this to Timothy, “If anyone…does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.  From such withdraw yourself.”  (1 Timothy 6:3-5)

And: “But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.  And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive to do his will.” (2 Timothy 2:23-26)

Wow!  Think about this—those who lie, who oppose the truth are captives of the enemy and are commissioned by him to do his will; they are his spokesmen, his press secretaries, if you will.

And when we give place to the demons of fear, anger, or rage, we become their slaves— “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey…?” (Romans 6:16)

As Christians, we must confront the enemy where he is, with the armor given us for warfare: “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:13-18)

Paul also counseled Timothy, “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

Talking about problems and complaining are so much easier to do that praying—but God calls us to pray, to “fear not”, and to trust Him.  Let us raise a banner to God in the midst of the battle!  Let cry out to Him in faith—let us worship Him who is the author and finisher of our faith!  And let us pray for His kingdom to come, and for His will to be done on earth!

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Weighing in…

Posted on October 22, 2016 by suemariericker

I’m pretty sure most people living in the United States right now would admit that tension is extremely high in anticipation of the November presidential election.  It seems that much is at stake, no matter what your political views are—which is why so much emotion, tempered by angst, is propelling angry, vindictive words, actions, and strategies during this political season.  And it is true, the decisions we make now could affect the character of our country for years to come.

As a Christian, I am adamantly pro-life.  I read one pro-life blogger, though, post that she wouldn’t vote pro-life because there are other considerations to take into account—yet I have to vote to protect the least protected in our society.  I couldn’t help but remember the title of a book, “Small Sacrifices”, written by Ann Rule about a woman from the area where I lived at the time, who shot her three children—one died, one was paralyzed, and though the other also survived, she suffered a stroke as a result of being shot.  I personally cannot let there be any “small sacrifices” for what some may think are bigger, more important issues.

How is a Christian to approach the hostile climate in which we are living right now?

My daughter and I were talking this morning about how, sometimes circumstances we encounter seem to smack us in the face, forcing us to decide whether to believe what the situations are telling us or trust what God’s Word says is true.  When we see dishonesty or corruption in government, while “legally” supporting the murder of innocents, and immorality and perversion as identified by scripture, it may be difficult to accept that God’s Word also declares, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.  For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.  Therefore, whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment” (Romans 13:1-2).

Which is why it is important to vote, as long as we have to opportunity to do so.  Even if it is only for one issue, to save the lives of many innocent babies. 

And still consider the Children of Israel, foreigners, and slaves in a hostile land.  God worked through Pharaoh’s pride and hostility to accomplish an astonishing delivery for His people.  Also, God used pagan kings to bring about the rebuilding of the temple, the return of His people to Jerusalem, and the reconstruction of the city walls after the Babylonian captivity.

Remember the caution given God’s people through the prophet Isaiah, “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord.  ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).  We have, over the millennia, not managed to get smarter than God!

I know there are a number of social issues that concern many people, such as poverty, addictions, homelessness, brokenness, immigration, and racial tensions, just to name a few.  As easy as it is to pass the responsibility off, the answer is not in a more socialistic government that continues to dive deeper into debt; as Christians, we must respond to the needs we see around us—not compromising truth, yet serving others with compassion.

“If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.  Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this:  to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world” (James 1:26-27).

“Is not this the fast that I choose:  to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?  Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him…” (Isaiah 58:6-7).

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 5:2).

The church must step up and be the people of God.  And we must pray!

The apostle Paul instructed Timothy, his son in the faith, “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people.  Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.  Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity…” (1 Timothy 2:1-2 NLT).

Sometimes it is difficult to know how to pray effectively (praying, “Lord, strike them with lightning” isn’t actually a legitimate prayer), because it is easy to forget in the midst of animosity and conflict, that the Holy Spirit goes on to say to Timothy through the apostle Paul, “…This is good [praying for all people and interceding for those in authority] and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth” (vs. 3-4)

Praying for the salvation of those in government, both elected and appointed officials (supreme court), and those running for office is a good first step.

Approaching God in faith as we pray is essential, knowing that “it is impossible to please God without faith [and] anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him” (Hebrews 11:6); therefore, we acknowledge, in faith, that Jesus is “mighty to save!” (Isaiah 63:1).

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Here are some prayers for our nation based on passages from the book of Jeremiah:

Jeremiah 18: “You are sovereign, O God; you establish nations and tear them down.  I live in a nation that once honored you, but many of our leaders and citizens no longer have any regard for you.  Selfishness, greed, stubbornness, human understanding instead of godly wisdom, calling good evil and evil good, idolatry—these are just a few of the characteristics of many countries who have rebelled against you.  Forgive your people who have been seduced by the lies of the enemy.  Give us humble hearts to turn back to you in repentance.  Grant us courage and perseverance to intercede for our families, for your people, your churches, and for our nation.”

 “Raise up Godly leaders in this nation who will listen to you and lead with integrity.  Protect your people from the injustice and hatred that the enemy stirs up against us; give us courage to defend truth with love when spiritual opposition undermines and assaults righteousness.  Grant your people discernment to walk with integrity, avoiding compromise with the cultures of this world.  Draw the hearts of the leaders and people of this nation back to you, I pray…In Jesus’ name, amen.”

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Jeremiah 19: “I lift up both civic leaders in this nation and spiritual leaders within your church; I pray that the Holy Spirit would bring them to account for their words and actions.  Forgive your people, forgive this nation for their rebellion against you—humble our leaders and guide us to repentance for idolatry and sacrifice of young lives on altars of selfishness, pride, and rebellion.  Encourage your people to stand strong against the lies and intimidations of the enemy, O God!”

“I pray for families—parents, children, grandparents, aunts, and uncles—all who have opportunities to influence young lives—and ask for your wisdom in raising our little ones to know you and grow up to serve you.  Touch our hearts with conviction when we are inclined to selfishly sacrifice the needs of children for our own interests and diversions.  Forgive us for our misguided priorities, Father, for spending more time on our computer, our phones, in front of the television, or whatever else keeps us away from the people you put in our lives.  Teach us to love you most, and our families more than anything else in this world.  In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.”

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Jeremiah 22: “O God, I lift up the leaders of this nation—only you know the intentions of their hearts.  Yet it seems injustice and unrighteousness abound!  Do not let oppression succeed; expose every lie and deception of the enemy that are cloaked in what appears to be good.  Give your people discernment to recognize evil at work and grant us courage to stand strong for truth and righteousness.”

“Raise up leaders in this nation, and in your church, who will oppose oppression, who will do justice, uphold righteousness, will do no wrong to the resident alien, the fatherless and the widow, and will not shed innocent blood.”

“Encourage your people to listen to you and obey your voice.  Expose every attitude of rebellion in our hearts and lead us to repentance.  Raise up shepherds for your church who will seek you and speak truth.  Expose false shepherds whose hearts are swayed by the direction of the wind—I ask that they would humble themselves, repent, and turn back to you.  In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.”

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Jeremiah 23: “Father, I lift up the leaders of this nation and ask that you expose the deeds done in darkness, every evil intention motivated by greed or lust for power, and the enemy’s attempts to discredit you or your people.  Release your Spirit of righteousness and justice, I pray.  Give your people singleness of purpose to honor you with their words and their lives.”

“Your presence fills the earth and skies, O God; you are near at hand and far away.  You observe the secret places and see the intentions of all hearts.  You alone are faithful and true—I worship you!  Expose everyone who speaks falsehood in your name and raise up leaders who speak truth—may your name be exalted throughout the earth, Father!”

“Grant me wisdom and understanding—keep my words from perverting truth.  I pray these things in Jesus’ name, amen.”

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I cannot pray for this nation without remembering to pray for Israel because God made a covenant with Abraham, saying, “I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed” (Genesis 12:3); God also told him, “I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.  And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God” (Genesis 17:7-8).  King David proclaimed, “Pray for peace in Jerusalem.  May all who love this city prosper.  O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls and prosperity in your palaces.  For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, ‘May you have peace.’  For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek what is best for you, O Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:6-9 NLT).

And:

Jeremiah 3, 16, 30: “Father, I pray for peace in Jerusalem and ask that you would restore the fortunes and heritage of Jacob; fulfill your promises to Abraham, O God!  Remove every veil from the eyes of the Jewish people and help them to recognize Jesus, the Messiah.  Draw the hearts of faithless Israel into your covenant of grace.  Cleanse their land from all that is abominable and restore their inheritance, I pray.  Establish your kingdom and throne in the hearts of your children, Lord, and draw all peoples and all nations unto you.  In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.”

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Just Regular Folk

Posted on October 8, 2016 by suemariericker

One thing I enjoy about Bible narratives, other than just loving to read stories, is recognizing the humanity that characterized ancient civilizations and individuals continue to exemplify who we are/I am many, many centuries later.  We can see (if we are willing to look) those sins, attitudes, and behaviors which either drew men and women away from God in ancient times, or elevated their relationships closer to Him, still at work in individuals, societies, and churches nowadays.

Genesis 27 records the account of Rebekah conspiring with Jacob into deceiving Isaac, securing for Jacob the blessing that rightfully belonged to Esau.  I am sure that Rebekah felt justified in doing such a thing because she had God’s promise to her, “Two nations are in your womb, two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve the younger” (Genesis 25:23).  Apparently, she believed God needed a little help in getting His purposes accomplished; and Isaac made blessing his son contingent on getting a good meal!

There are a couple of things from this account that touched my heart; the first one concerned Rebekah and her collusion with Jacob to deceive Isaac.  Admittedly, Jacob was not a child at this point, and he was capable of making his own decisions whether to trust God or take matters into his own hands, yet Rebekah was the parent, supposedly the model of faith and faithfulness to God and to her husband.  We are told very little about Rebekah other than the chronicle of how she became Isaac’s wife, this story, and the fact that she did not like the Canaanite women that Esau married.

I am impressed with the understanding that parents have the potential to influence their children well into adulthood; and I am convicted about some of the ways I have not modeled faith in God to my children…and my granddaughter, who I am blessed to take care of while her mom is at work or deployed.  While I am driving down the road, having a conversation with my daughter and complaining about other drivers, complaining about the weather, “discussing” difficult people, or commiserating with friends or my kids about difficult circumstances or work situations without breathing words of faith or hope into our conversations—and my granddaughter is sitting in the backseat listening to me—I am not demonstrating faith in the sovereignty of God, His ability to “work things all together for good” (Romans 8:28), nor obedience to His admonition to let my speech always be seasoned with grace (Colossians 4:6).

We had an interesting experience the other day at Walmart.  After unloading our purchases into my car, my daughter noticed a little thirty-three cent skein of embroidery floss hidden underneath our bags in the shopping cart.  I put it in there but also knew that I hadn’t seen it or paid for it when I came up to the register.  She handed it to me and asked what I wanted to do about it—I could see her eyes probing mine, and I knew what I didn’t feel like doing, taking it back to the store and either purchasing it or putting it back on the shelf, which was the right thing to do. 

I could see an intensity in her eyes as she watched me.

Because I have a rather sensitive conscience, I took it back and put it on the shelf (because I didn’t have change with me and I didn’t want to use my debit card).

Currently, she is facing one of the most difficult transfers of her career and we are experiencing several difficult decisions.  Some of the people in authority over her have implied that things would be so much easier for her if she was not completely honest—yet my daughter is not willing to compromise her integrity.  More than that, we know that the One who spoke the worlds into existence is able to move mountains for us. 

There are no insignificant decisions for Christians, as Jesus indicated: “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much” (Luke 16:10).  This doesn’t mean we don’t explore legal and legitimate options available to us while maintaining our integrity—not resorting to lies, deceit, or manipulation—it’s just that Jesus is there when we come to the end of our resources, and He can accomplish what we cannot.

It also touches my heart that “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29)—this is true for the nation of Israel, as it is for every person who has really messed up their life at one point or another, yet returned to God in humility and repentance.  We have this admonition tempered with amazing assurance, “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but give grace to the humble.’  Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:5-6).

I love the stories in the Old Testament because honesty informs me that I am looking into a mirror at many of the mistakes, errors in judgment, and lousy, ungrateful attitudes—sins—that have characterized my life in the past and still have a propensity to tempt my soul even now.

But God…

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-7).

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“But God Promised!”

Posted on September 15, 2016 by suemariericker

I am continually amazed at how some very familiar portions of scripture have verses tucked away in them that seem incongruent with what I imagine are God’s intentions and the way He works.  I like them! …those challenging verses.  I like being caught off guard so that I can pause in my reading the Bible to come before the Father with my, “hey, wait a minute”-s. 

That happened the other morning when I read Genesis 25:21. “Now Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived.”

Here’s what we know about Isaac:  He was the promised, long awaited son of Abraham and Sarah.  Even though Abraham had other sons by Hagar and Keturah, Isaac was the intended son of the covenant that God made with Abraham…  “Then God said: ‘No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him.” (Genesis 17:19).  Yet, Isaac and Rebekah were married for 20 years, and they had no children.

How is it that God waited until Isaac pleaded with Him before allowing Rebekah to become pregnant? 

What drove Isaac to his knees?  Despair?  Hopelessness?  Fear?  He had the promise of God, he just didn’t have its fulfillment—he grew up in a household of faith, in fact, his father is considered “the father of all those who believe” (Romans 4:11), however, Abraham’s faith was not sufficient for Isaac.  God knew that the promised Messiah was going to come through the lineage of Isaac, so why did He wait for Isaac to pray? …and why did God wait until Isaac prayed for his wife to cause the conception of their twin boys?

…which leads me to ask, “what drives us to our knees, to cry out in anguish?”  We have the promises of God, so are we unclear about His intentions or do we not know (or believe) what His Word says?  Do we forget to claim the promises found in God’s Word if we think we don’t need them— or Him?  Can realizing God’s specific promises be bound up in a relationship with Him, where it is necessary to ask instead of assume?  Could it possibly be that God waits until the “last minute” to respond to our prayers because we waited until the last minute to plead with Him?  Are we too slow to pray for those we love, our family members and closest friends, as well as our enemies, because our hearts are clouded with indifference or presumption?

Jesus taught, by way of parable, that we ought to always pray without losing heart (Luke 18:1-5).  He also instructed, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Matthew 7:7, 8).

I’m not so good at seeking, in fact, I often wonder if I even know what it means to seek—until I misplace something or some paperwork that I really need and I search every place I think it could be (and even the places I think it couldn’t be).  Seeking God is a lot easier than searching for something I have lost—for there is only one place to look, and that is to our Father, and there is only one resource for our search and that is His Word— which is why knowing scripture and praying it is so essential for us!

Although Isaac had God’s promise, God didn’t move to fulfill it until he prayed.

Lest we think for a moment that the genealogy of Jesus and the history our redemption hinged on Isaac’s response to God, I believe that it was God’s work in his heart and Isaac’s desperation that caused him to cry out to the Father.  The apostle Paul reminds believers that God is at work in our hearts “both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

This is God’s promise to the children of Israel through the prophet Jeremiah (a conversation we can listen in on and claim for our own): “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:11-13).

I find that seeking God is an elusive concept; for me, guilt is built into the idea of seeking God, because if I’m not hearing or experiencing the answers I hope for, then I figure that there must be something wrong with how I am approaching God, that I am not praying accurately or hard enough.   Why is it that religious “works” are so often associated with what must be received by faith?  The issue isn’t so much about my seeking or inquiring of God—the issue, for many of us I think, is “with all your [my] heart.”   I’m quite sure that there are times when God does not have all of my heart or my attention, that frequently I try to work out my own solutions first and when they fail, I turn to Him.  And there are times when people have asked for prayer, for encouragement and help during a trial or for healing, that I have whispered prayers, yet came away knowing that all of my heart, my soul, and my commitment were not engaged.

There is a place for guilt in our lives, though, when we deliberately violate God’s intention for us— “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.  By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil:  whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother” (1 John 3:9-10).  Also, consider Jesus’ words to His disciples; “I am the vine; you are the branches.  Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing…. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:5, 7).

James admonishes in his epistle, “…you do not have because you do not ask.  You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures” (James 4:2).

God also allows the testing of our faith: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2). 

And, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.  But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:12-13).

I think prayer is a challenge for most people.  We are so easily distracted, particularly in this electronic age!  Sometimes it takes coming to the end of ourselves or of our resources to ignite a desperation that causes us to cry out to God.  We say we have a relationship with Him, which we do through faith in Jesus Christ; yet often our praying or our seeking is based on “Need Help. NOW!” moments instead of a daily sharing of our lives and intimacy with our heavenly Father— yet intimacy with God is available to us!  Since we have been reconciled to God through the blood of Jesus, we are encouraged to “draw near to God, and He will draw near to [us]” (James 4:8).

Let’s do that!  Let’s spend more time considering God’s Word and abiding in Jesus; let’s spend less time assuming (and presuming) and more time opening up our hearts and sharing our lives with Him!

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A Target On My Back!

Posted on August 1, 2016 by suemariericker

Ok, I need to sit down here and write this out, working through some teachings on spiritual warfare, my history with the assaults of the enemy, and what the Bible has to say about the enemy, his character, and his tactics.  Not a cheery topic, but one where I’ve become increasingly aware of my need to gain scriptural insight.

I am convinced that Satan and his cohorts do not want us to understand them nor their devious tactics; in fact, leaving us ignorant, unconvinced that he either exists or cares about individuals would suit him just fine.  However, I needed scriptural evidence to back up the concept that the devil and his demons take a personal interest in people, particularly followers of Jesus.

The most compelling reason I can give for Satan’s individualized attacks against Christians is God’s interest in us, and Christ’s commitment to our salvation—to the point of going to the cross.  From the moment of our conception, the gift of life, where we are knit together in our mothers’ wombs (Psalm 139:15, 16), to the moment we breathe our last and slip into eternity, God has a future and a hope for each person (Jeremiah 29:11).  The devil’s intentions for us from the moment of conception, though, are to steal, kill, and destroy.  “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.  I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

Frequently, I have been tempted to think, “Why would demons bother me?  I’m pretty insignificant.  But I am significant to God.  You are significant to God—enough so that Jesus was willing to die for you and me.  And because we are important to God, our destruction is important to the enemy—Satan is at war with all whose lives are surrendered to God and have received Jesus Christ as Savior. (Revelation 12:17)

The apostle Peter wrote through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “Be sober-minded; be watchful.  Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  Resist him, firm in your faith…” (1 Peter 5:8, 9).  This is personal for the devil!  And the battlefield is our faith—because “without faith, it is impossible to please [God]” (Hebrews 11:6), and Satan does not want God to be pleased!  Demons may sling darts and arrows at us, causing us pain or distracting us in some way or another, but as long as we are armored-up, he cannot defeat us.

The best way to defeat an enemy is to know the enemy, and that can go either way—both our knowing the characteristics of demons – or their knowing the attributes of humans.  The very first characteristic of Satan that mankind encountered was cunning (Genesis 3:1), a dubious quality denoting deceit, craftiness, and guile.  In tempting Eve, he cast doubt on God’s Word and God’s character, and he appealed to her desires (which is where she chose to focus)—it worked well for him then, and it continues to work quite well on many people nowadays.  “Do not love this world nor the things it offers you…. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions” (1 John 2:15, 16 NLT).

Satan is a murderer and liar; in fact, he is the father, the propagator, initiator of lies (John 8:44), which is why it is imperative for Christians to be immersed in truth—taking up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17).

The enemy is a tempter, as we see in the Garden of Eden and in the life of Christ (Luke 4:1-13).  …and he doesn’t use things that don’t matter to us to cause us to stumble!  The enemy knows our vulnerable places and the things that are important to us—he then approaches from those directions (my life experience has shown that demons may “test the water” just to see how I respond in different situations, and when they find weaknesses, they tend to focus their attacks in those places).  In areas where we find our strength in the Lord, Satan and his minions will go scurrying away: “Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you” (James 4:7, 8).

The devil is a deceiver (Revelation 12:9), and unfortunately, many are willing to be deceived!  “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12).  There are many ways Satan uses his “gift” of deception; a few ways I have observed include swaying whole segments of society to accept as “right” what God calls unrighteousness— “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!  Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!” (Isaiah 5:20, 21).

I have experienced false doctrines that “pervert the gospel of Christ” (Galatians 1:7), implying that God becoming man and sacrificing His life on a brutal cross was not a sufficient sacrifice for our sins, that our religious performance can make up the difference that Jesus’ perfect life and perfect sacrifice could not completely fulfill.  Sounds blasphemous to write, but sadly I was once entrapped in such a system—but by the grace of God, no longer!  In Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church, he wrote, “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”  He goes on to write about “false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ,” identifying the evil source of their deception… “And no wonder!  For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.  Therefore, it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works” (1 Corinthians 11:13, 13-15).

Another way demons hope to deceive Christians is by fraud, broken promises, and even disappointments caused by other believers—tempting us to quit trusting God, His sovereignty, or His love for us.  When these things happen, it is easy to become frustrated, upset at one’s self, and angry at others—disrupting the peace which comes from the good news of Jesus.  This is a precarious place and the enemy has every intention of taking advantage of it, if we let him.  Paul wrote in his letter to the Ephesians, “‘Be angry, and do not sin’:  do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:26, 27).  When we hold onto frustration instead of faith, we provide a doorway for demons to wreak havoc in our lives. …which is why it is necessary to understand, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.  For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

As Christians, we all have targets on our backs; we have an enemy who wants to defeat, disable, discredit, and destroy us.  Our greatest danger is to grow sleepy and forget that he is hard at work, seeking to steal, kill, and destroy our lives.  His greatest danger is the one who will keep his (or her) eyes on “Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).

 

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“The Father of All Those Who Believe”

Posted on July 4, 2016 by suemariericker

I read Genesis 22 recently—not an easy chapter, I think particularly for parents.  How could God possibly ask Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac, as a burnt offering?  Wasn’t child sacrifice a characteristic of pagan cultures then (and now), a practice extremely odious to our Creator, the designer and initiator of life?  I’ve heard arguments purporting that God couldn’t possibly be trustworthy or loving if he would ask a man to sacrifice his precious son…something some use as an excuse, saying that the Bible contradicts itself.

I think we as Christians need to examine this chapter, to not blithely explain it away in Christian words and phrases—this is a really difficult situation, though I believe the answer isn’t in Genesis 22, it is in the chapters leading up to it.

Abraham had a history with God—he was called and guided; he received promises and blessings, and experienced God’s mercy and forgiveness for some huge blunders (sins).  He had seen cities destroyed by God’s judgment and fire, and he also witnessed the Father’s tender mercy as his nephew Lot was pulled from the flames.  Shortly before that day when God told Abraham to sacrifice his “only” son, He confirmed to His servant, “…in Isaac your seed shall be called.” (Genesis 21:12).

So when Abraham and Isaac began their journey to Mount Moriah, he knew that they both would return.  When he told the two young men, who traveled with them part of the way, to wait as he and Isaac traveled on, he also affirmed, “we will come back to you.” (Genesis 22)

The Holy Spirit also acknowledged through the writer of Hebrews, “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of who it was said, ‘In Isaac your seed shall be called,’ concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.”  (Hebrews 11:17-19)

Isaac also trusted his father and his father’s God; he didn’t fight, he didn’t resist—he allowed Abraham to tie him up and lay him on the altar.  He watched Abraham lift the knife; yet he knew his calling, his destiny, and recognized that what seemed to be the end wasn’t the end at all.

I can imagine they both had inner voices and demons whispering words of fear and planting thoughts of “this is too much; God has gone too far this time.”  They may have trembled at the thought of following through.  But they laid aside every fear and concern for themselves and followed God to the mountain, to the altar.  And God blessed them for their obedience.  “Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, and said: ‘By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son—blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven…. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”  (Genesis 22:15-18)

Abraham’s faith came from a lifetime of seeking God and intimacy with Him.  From the first command to leave his home and his country to the moment when God told Abraham to take his son up to Mount Moriah, he experienced the love, the forgiveness, and the faithfulness of his Redeemer.

The story of Abraham is not the only challenging story in the Bible (see also the stories of Joseph – Genesis 37, 39; Jephthah – Judges 11; Elisha and the youth – 2 Kings 2:23, 24); accounts, where, if we are honest with ourselves, or particularly for the skeptic and unbeliever, it may be difficult to recognize the long-suffering kindness and love of God.  In our own lives, we may experience disappointments, difficulties, or heart-breaking moments when we are inclined to ask, “Who (or where) are you, God?” and wonder from the depths of our being what the Word actually means when it says that “God is love”, thinking, “Is this how love treats others?” – It is essential to remember that we have an adversary, the devil—an accuser and slanderer—who seeks to quicken thoughts of doubt and fear.

I’m a grandma now; I’ve gone through times of sin and rebellion, heartbreak, disappointment, and financial crisis in my life.  I’ve also experienced my Father’s forgiveness, as well the abiding peace and joy that comes from growing intimacy through a personal relationship with my Savior (I struggle with the phrase “personal relationship” because it has become so common that its meaning is lost).  I have seen the trustworthiness, faithfulness, and “the love of God…poured out in [my heart] by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:5).

It really takes Holy Spirit enlightened study of God’s Word, the Bible, to begin to grasp the eternal, endearing qualities of God.  Sometimes, in the midst of trying circumstances, all we have to cling to are prayer and promises in His Word, which are more than enough (though it sometimes it is easy to think they are not enough).  Yet as our personal history with God grows, doubts about His righteousness and love disappear.

My prayer echoes Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians:  “…I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you [and me], according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts [and my heart] through faith; that you [and I], being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you [and I] may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:14-19)

 

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Earthquake!!!

Posted on June 15, 2016 by suemariericker

I was jolted awake by an earthquake one night last week; initially, when I woke up, I saw our cat standing at the foot of my bed and I thought it was her jumping up that caused the bed to shake.  Although she is a substantial cat, I quickly realized that she couldn’t cause the low rumble I heard emanating from deep within the earth, or the sound of rattling glassware and dishes coming from the other room.

On later reflection, I was intrigued by the thoughts that darted through the slumbering consciousness of my mind—not completely awake, but not asleep either.  I looked towards the window, hoping to see a great light, hoping to see that the heavens were opening and the Lord descending.  But not this time, not this earthquake—I was disappointed.

“Oh, that You would rend the heavens!  That You would come down!  That the mountains might shake at Your presence—” (Isaiah 64:1).

“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:25-28).

The other sensation I experienced was fear. 

Wait a minute!  Fear? 

Why should I fear?  I recounted why I had no cause to fear…

I have confessed Jesus before men, He will confess me before His Father (Matthew 10:32).

I am justified by faith (Romans 5:1); and I am justified by His blood, saved from wrath through Him (Romans 5:9).

“For [I] died, and [my] life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ who is [my] life appears, then [I] also will appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:3).

God invites me to “come boldly to the throne of grace, that [I] may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

Yet something in the earth’s movement awakened me with a sense of power that was far beyond my ability to understand or control.  I was gripped with awe for the One who holds the not only the earth but the universe in His hands, who directs the winds and is in control of our planet’s shudders—and who holds my life in His hands.

I recalled some of the apostle John’s phrases as he described the throne room of heaven: “…behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne…and He who sat there was like jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne…And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices.  …around the throne were four living creatures…and they do not rest day or night, saying: ‘Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!’  Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him…. saying, ‘You are worthy, O Lord, to receive honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created’” (Revelation 4:2-11).

I believe that fear is a valid response when we consider approaching the throne room of our sovereign, all-powerful, all-knowing God!  Because of our advocate, Jesus, who lives to make intercession on our behalf, I know I have an eternal home with Him. …and yet, our God is not only a king; He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords!  This was Isaiah’s response to a vision of God on His throne: “…I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple…. So I said: ‘Woe is me, for I am undone!  Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” (Isaiah 6:1, 5).

Isaiah survived being in God’s presence by having his iniquity taken away, his sin purged.  The same holds true for us—those who rely on the righteousness of Jesus will be transformed before we enter the presence of God: “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.  Behold, I tell you a mystery:  We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:50-52).

There is something about twilight consciousness, that place between waking and sleeping, surrounded by darkness, and visual is input limited, that heightens my sensitivity to spiritual things.  I recognize that a spirit of fear has no place in my life and I “did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but [I did receive] the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father!” (Romans 8:15); I also acknowledge that The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10).

The writer of Hebrews counsels us on the approachability and the awesomeness of our God: “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.  For our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28, 29).

I confess that it is often easy to forget who I am serving—my words, my attitudes, the judgments I make, or how I spend my time are not characterized by “reverence and godly fear”.  Or for some of us, it could be in how we treat people—fallen, broken, sin-twisted humanity –however, created in God’s image and loved by Him.  …or we could be defiling—making common—God’s Word by adding our own twists and interpretations to suit ourselves or to fit into the cultures of this world.

 

I look forward to Jesus’ soon return.  I just do not want my recognition of His majesty, the Father’s authority, or the Holy Spirit’s power to diminish in any way.

 

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Torn

Posted on June 2, 2016 by suemariericker

I posted a picture of my birth mother on a social media site for Mother’s Day—I was four years old when she died, a loss which had a well so deep that it was impossible to hear a pebble drop as it fell to the depths below.  There are many losses like that, and because of the broken, fallen nature of this planet there really are few people that cannot identify in one way or another with intense, penetrating grief.

After posting the picture, I experienced some guilt and mixed emotions about not mentioning my step-mother.  My dad remarried two years after my mom died and the most accurate word I can come up with to describe our relationship is to say that it was an “ambivalent” one.  From my understanding, I concluded that what was once a loving, adventuresome family home became a violently angry, controlling one.  What, for me, began in hope became constant conflict so that it was a great relief when I was sent to boarding school at (almost) fourteen.

I think most people recognize that forgiveness is an integral part of spiritual growth and emotional healing – no matter how difficult it is to do sometimes.  It is possible to have wounds so deep that they are impossible to forgive without the power of the Holy Spirit at work in our hearts and minds.

When Jesus spoke to the desperate father, whose son was tormented by an unclean spirit, He told the man, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:23).  And “immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, ‘Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!’” (v. 24)

Sometimes I think, “Lord, I forgive; help my unforgiveness!”

Forgiveness is always an act of faith, believing that what another may have intended for evil, God’s purpose is to use it for good—echoing the words of Joseph, “…you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive” (Genesis 50:20).  …trusting “that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).  Acknowledging that “in all these things [tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or sword] we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us…persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:35-39).

And recognizing (though often forgetting) that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual host of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

Mother’s Day provided an opportunity to examine my heart (1 Corinthians 11:28; 2 Corinthians 13:5), to identify my actions and understand my motives. I didn’t see a root (or a plant) of bitterness; however, I became aware of a seed of bitterness.  Though seeds may appear to be dead or dormant, they retain the capacity to sprout and grow—seed found in the ancient ruins of Masada provide stunning evidence to support that!  

So I had the opportunity to confess the sin lingering in my heart, knowing that when I confess my sin to God, He is faithful and just to forgive me and cleanse me from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Yet I’ve had difficulty finishing writing this because so many thoughts have bombarded me about seeds, a root of bitterness [“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord; looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled…” – Hebrews 12:14, 15], forgiveness, and examining myself.

Interesting that the concern the Holy Spirit expressed through the writer of Hebrews is that we should fall short of the grace of God.

Grace isn’t something we work for, it is something we receive by faith—and when we receive God’s abundant grace, recognizing how desperately we need it—we can eagerly extend it to those around us who need it just as much as we do!

And I got to do that in the last few years of my step mom’s life.  After my dad died, she suffered severe dementia; and, although I lived 120 miles away I drove up to see her as often as I could—often several times a month, sometimes weekly—cooking her favorite meals and sitting with her.  I recently discovered a memory I recorded at that difficult time…

“A couple of times when I was sitting with mom, she asked me ‘Who are your parents?’ and ‘Are you happy with your parents?’ I told her that she is my mom. One time she said, ‘But I’m not your real mom. Who is your real mom?’ My reply was that Frankie was my real mom. She asked me why I wasn’t with her, and I reminded her that Frankie was dead. So we agreed that she could be my mom.”

God’s love is so all encompassing, so forgiving, so healing—He can work the miracles in our hearts that are impossible for us.  He sows seeds of “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, [and] self-control” (Galatians 5:22, 23) through His Spirit who dwells in us.  Even when we wrestle with our own humanness, we can rest in the assurance that the one who began the work of redemption in our lives will continue to carry it out until we look on His glorious face (Philippians 1:6).

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Blameless!

Posted on April 29, 2016 by suemariericker

Lately I’ve been struggling with my schedule, how I’ve been using my time, and having a lot of difficulty sitting down to write this blog.  I’ve been wrestling with my own imperfections (besides being confronted about them) and struggling with disappointment with myself, discouragement, and a huge sense of inadequacy.  …and this morning I read God’s covenant promise to Abraham: “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.  And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly” (Genesis 17:1, 2).

I was taken up short by God’s command to “be blameless”.

Here I am, post cross, filled with the Holy Spirit, and there is no way I am anywhere near blameless!  And this was God’s command to Abraham, a man living in the wilderness, yet surrounded by pagan cultures, called to be a father of many nations, an imperfect man, one who made some stunning mistakes!

So how could Abraham, pre-cross, be blameless? 

The same way we are—by faith!  “What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh?  For is Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.  For what does the Scripture say?  ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’  Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt” (Romans 4:1-4).

Jude concluded his epistle with these hope-inspiring, spirit-strengthening words: “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever.  Amen” (Jude 24, 25).

It is Jesus who justifies us— “having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1)—yet my inclination is to either blame others or circumstances, or try to justify myself, making excuses for my weaknesses and failures.  Keeping my mouth shut when challenged about an action or behavior that affects others, is not easy!  I would rather attempt to justify myself, making excuses for my actions by either denying or minimizing them and their effects on others.

…which is ineffective for strengthening my relationships with family and friends, deepening my intimacy with God—or for presenting myself as “blameless”, because only Jesus can do that.

When I consider why I am inclined towards denial, the word “shame” immediately pops up—an emotion I’ve carried from times past.  Words, wounds, and broken hearts are often instigators and ministers of shame; so are faulty beliefs—particularly beliefs about oneself combined with twisted religion—family members many times will heap on guilt and shame, and failed attempts to reach goals (particularly religious ones) that we set for ourselves tend to spark discouragement and a sense of hopelessness.

…and discouraged and hopeless is where I might remain if I didn’t have scripture to remind me to “…run with endurance the race that is set before [me], looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…” (Hebrews 12:1, 2).

The Holy Spirit reminds us that Jesus was “wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities…” (Isaiah 53:5); He was sent to “heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound, … [to give] the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified” (Isaiah 61:1, 3).

We also have the assurance that, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

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A couple of conversations have come up since I started writing this a few weeks ago and they served as reminders that sometimes people will not let go of the past, and they often seek to manipulate friends or family members with guilt or cruelty.  This is the reason why Christians need to stay active with prayer and Bible study—because we need to keep our relationship with Jesus fresh and intimate so that we will be able to respond without being devastated to the attacks of others and the attacks of our “adversary the devil [who] walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

The other thing is that we must not be like the ones who point fingers at others, speaking words of condemnation while promoting our own innocence.  Some news items recently and the various responses of Christians condemning unsaved people, and Christians condemning other Christians caused me to wonder just what exactly are we using to season our speech?  “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.  Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you out to answer each one” (Colossians 4:5, 6).  We mustn’t wander away from “when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us…” (Titus 3:4, 5).  Jesus taught, “Judge not, and you shall not be judged.  Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned.  Forgive, and you will be forgiven…” (Luke 6:37). 

I won’t be intimidated by the opinions of others, either, because of who I am in Jesus (an heir of God through Christ—Galatians 4:7; God bestowed His love on me and made me His child—1 John 3:1); therefore, I have the confidence to take a personal stand for righteousness based on the Word of God in an immoral society…without pointing a finger of condemnation at those who disagree with me.

“Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another, love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous, not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing” (1 Peter 3:8, 9).

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