Active Faith

What is it to be faithful? Per dictionary.com, it is "strict or thorough in the performance of a duty . . . true to one's word . . . steady . . . loyal. . . . reliable, trusted, believed . . . true to fact, a standard, or an original." By definition, sounds like faithfulness takes some active effort -- not a passive, ho-hum, nebulous, mystical term at all!

When the prophet Habakkuk uses the term in today's reading, he seems to draw a comparison between faithfulness and the lack of it:

. . . his soul is puffed up; it is not upright

within him, but the righteous shall live

by his faith (footnoted "faithfulness"). Habakkuk 2:4

The New Testament section was way over my head for the most part, but I did pick up on a reference to faith:

Here is a call for the endurance of the saints,

those who keep the commandments of God

and their faith in Jesus. " . . . Blessed are the dead

who die in the Lord from now on . . . Blessed indeed,"

says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors,

for their deeds follow them!" - Revelation 14:12-13

The deeds of the faithful follow them. Habakkuk's comparison between one who is "puffed up" and a righteous person is very pertinent, since endurance and consistency can be a problem for me when it comes to faith. I am moody! Sometimes I feel like pursuing God, and sometimes I don't so much. Some days I'm willing to squeeze in time for prayer and focused Bible reading, and on other days things get in my way. This is a reminder to you and me both. It takes an active, steady effort to live by faith, but our deeds will follow us. It is well worth the time and trouble to keep up the discipline of an active faith!

Ridiculous Expectations

"The thing that the king has asked is difficult . . . " Are there ridiculous expectations place upon your time, finances, emotions, or intellect? Today's reading was a great encouragement to me as I try to keep my head above water and juggle the numerous balls I have in the air.

There is an answer. Seek counsel from the God of mercy, draw together with others of in prayer, and rejoice that God gives knowledge to the wise, and reveals hidden understanding today, just as in Daniel's time:

. . . he gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to those who have understanding;
he reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what is in the darkness,
and the light dwells with him.
To you, O God of my fathers,
I give thanks and praise,
for you have given me

wisdom and might . . .

- from Daniel 2:21-23

The light dwells with God, and is freely shared with us, available for the asking in the name of Jesus. Give thanks! No matter how frazzled and overwhelmed we may feel, God will make known to us everything we need to know concerning the matters befor us.

Furthermore, God will bless those around us as a result of our trust in Him. Daniel was able to save the necks of his peers as well as his own (see verse 24). Others will reap the benefits of God's presence in our lives, and through our testimony, God's character will be revealed.

I'm rejoicing in the middle of my busy, impossible day, and I pray wisdom and might for you today, too.

. . . there IS a God in heaven

who reveals mysteries . . . - from Daniel 2:28

EXTRA ACCOUNTABLE

If I "hide idols" while I claim to seek the God of the Bible, I am accountable for my error, and in for real trouble. In today's reading, Ezekiel describes certain prominent people who went through the motions of seeking God's direction, yet their loyalties were divided. In reality, God's directives for them were anything but top priority. Here's what God said through the prophet:

For any one of the house of Israel,
or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel,
who separates himself from me, taking his idols
into his heart and putting the stumbling block
of his iniquity before his face, and yet comes
to a prophet to consult me through him,
I the Lord will answer him myself.
And I will set my face against that man;
I will make him a sign and a byword
and cut him off from the midst
of my people, and you shall know
that I am the Lord. - Ezekiel 14: 7-8

These guys were admired, respected, and looked up to in their community. They were in a position to be emulated, and would certainly lead others astray by their bad example. They thought they'd have their cake and eat it too by consulting Ezekiel to keep up appearances, while at the same time keeping certain things separate from God's rule in their lives. Those idols they treasured were surely not worth the cost of having God set his face against them!

What do I treasure above God's rule, though it may not be made of gold? What would I withhold from God's sovereignty? What have I taken into my heart that's more important than what God wants for me? What am I doing that might lead others astray by my bad example? Is there an area in my life where I want to look like a Christian but act otherwise? I'd better watch out if I say I want to seek God. If I am not sincere, that makes me extra accountable, directly to him.

My prayer for you and me is from the New Testament portion of today's reading. May we be like Moses, who "considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward" (Hebrews 11:26). Here's to greater wealth!

THE FIRE HAMMER

Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord,
and like a hammer that breaks
the rock in pieces?
- Jeremiah 23:29

God's word IS like fire, an unspeakably powerful precision tool. It's an instrument that breaks in pieces any rock that stands in its way. Whether the rock is my own heart of stone, a boulder of self-condemnation or pride, a roadblock of contention or resentment, or an entire mountain of circumstance, I'm going to turn that power tool loose to do its good work.

Just when I was wondering if my fifteen minutes a day of Bible reading was really necessary in my tight schedule, today's reading was a great reminder (and reprimand) to keep at it. Yes, it is necessary, and yes, I do have the time -- nearly 100 times that much in every day, when I stop to think about the 1,440 minutes on the clock at my disposal.

This rock-crushing fire hammer doesn't do a thing unless I pick it up, plug it in, and turn it on. I'm going to try even harder to plug God's word into my brain on a daily basis, and switch my mind into active mode about letting it cut away some rock! I pray that you, too, will be unhindered in your time spent using your power tool: let it be plugged in and the willpower switched ON. And may God's hand be ever present, teaching us how to handle his awesome word of truth.

Do your best to present yourself to God
as one approved, a worker who
has no need to be ashamed,
rightly handling
the word of truth.
- 2 Timothy 2:15

Praying Thru' to Daylight

Sometimes there's nothing to do but pray through until the light of day, mentally laying claim to the promises of God's word. Isaiah claims a promise when he prays to God in the dead of night:

You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you. - Isaiah 26:3

Isaiah encourages others, as well, telling them:

Trust in the Lord forever,
for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. (verse 4)

Deliverance is a promise and a PERSON, the One who gives grace to endure deep discouragement and trust that morning is on its way:

But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” - Ephesians 4:7-8

Yesterday's reading was a great encouragement! I'm thankful for Jesus, who went before me through every kind of despair and leads me out of darkness, handing out gifts as he goes.

A Lot Like Work

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. - Ephesians 2:10

Today's reading says believers are created in Christ. We're created not just in two dimensions as the image of the perfect man, but IN him; we're not a static creation like a painting or piece of sculpture to be admired, studied, and occasionally dusted, but as living art. We're made to move, created to do good work and lots of it - jobs that God laid out for us with care. YES, we're cut out for what we're called to do. Sounds like an active and interesting pursuit, does it not?

Sometimes I need to be reminded! I don't always feel so very active, and at times I'm so tired that even I am not interested in my mission -- so how can I expect that anyone else will be interested in what I have to offer, namely the gospel? At times I feel my activity is a futile process of repeated chores and duties. The soundtrack of my life seems like Lamb Chop's annoying unending loop, "The Song That Never Ends" (Shari Lewis, gotta love ya, you'll live on for that one!)

But life isn't really like that awful song, an unending cycle of sameness. Life is linear. There is direction and purpose, even when I feel like I'm going round and round in circles. Perhaps during the dizzying dry times that seem to do nothing but drain me, the purpose is to learn the hard humility, the obedience, the focused faithfulness to the Lord (and NOT to the prosperity gospel), and steady trust in his word regardless of how I feel.

Christians are like athletes in endurance training for an expedition. It's tedious to reach the top of a steep ascent, back and forth, back and forth, crisscrossing a shaggy mountain, every new turn looking just about like the last. The joy is that to every climb, there is a crest, a stopping point of looking over the top and catching a glimpse of something breathtakingly worthwhile. I pray for a stopping point of rest and refreshment the next time you are wondering whether the work you are doing really matters. The answer is YES!

Like a Bug

You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it. - Psalm 139:5-6

Ever felt like a bug? Sometimes I catch one in my house, where it shouldn't be, and trap it by throwing a tissue on top and "hemming it in" with my hand so there's no escape. This passage reminds me of a bug in a tissue, yet it is a comfort to me! I am snug as a bug, hemmed in with God's hand over me. I know who's got me, and I'm glad of it. I'm not about to be crushed, smushed, or flushed. Instead I'll be moved, protected, comforted, or blessed. The passage continues:

Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
. . . even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you. - from Psalm 139:7-12

For the entire reading, see Sunday, August 29.