What Are We Becoming?

Judas probably did not set out, at the time he joined the Lord's little band of roving rescuers, to betray Jesus. Judas got off to a great start, in fact, called along with the others by Jesus Christ in the flesh:

. . . he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. - from Luke 6:13-16, ESV (see passage in context)

Judas Iscariot had every advantage. He was most likely deceived by degrees, one day at a time. He didn't start out in infamy; he became a betrayer one step at a time. What are you and I becoming?

It is NOT Too Hard

You and I are not the first to fail at walking in and fighting for what has been promised to us. The people of God are subject to the human condition which makes it extremely difficult to focus on God's promises (which he longs to give us) when we're confronted with a mental mess (our own habits, shortcomings, limitations and failings). Joshua assured the people they could claim the promise:

". . . but the hill country shall be yours, for though it is a forest, you shall clear it and possess it to its farthest borders. For you shall drive out the Canaanites, thtough they have chariots of iron, and though they are strong." - Joshua 17:18 (see whole chapter for context)

Now, we all know what happened in history. These people of long ago failed to attempt to claim the promise. They didn't fail in their attempt, but they failed to attempt. It is NOT too hard to walk in and fight for what God has promised us. We are assured success, in fact, but only if we make the attempt. God help us to try!

Ask for More

Don't be embarrassed, ashamed, or afraid to ask God for more! Even as adults, God encourages us to view him as a children see a loving father. Caleb's daughter knew that even though she was grown and married, she could go ask her dad for the resources at his disposal:

She said to him, "Give me a blessing. Since you have given me the land of the Negeb, give me also springs of water." And he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs. - Joshua 15:19

Fight for What You Won

Seriously? The things God promises are not handed out on a silver platter? God made a promise to Caleb, that he was to receive all the land he had traversed on his spy expedition beyond the Jordan. Now, forty years later, he has to actively claim that promise, and then he will have to fight for it, too.

He says:

So now give me this hill country of which the Lord spoke on that day, for you heard on that day how the Anakim were there, with great fortified cities. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as the Lord said. - Joshua 14:12

Let me learn from Caleb to claim and then fight for what God has promised me!

Choices, Choices!

Here in the land of plenty, we have choices. We have resources and distractions, and the leisure time to consider them. I need to make a conscious decision to prepare my heart so that I will NOT follow the example of God's people in ancient times (see Psalm 78:8, 33).

They had everything they needed at their disposal, yet ended up wasting all their time. Lord, let me be wise enough to consciously and intentionally choose to prepare my heart to seek and follow you today. (See also 1 Cor. 10:1-13) for an overview.

This blog post based on today's reading.

Power to Help or Overthrow

May the Lord hide his followers “from the secret plots of the wicked, from the throng of evildoers who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows . . .” per Psalm 64. God can and often does take 'em down suddenly and with poetic justice, “with their own tongues turned against them.” And He can do it without any help from you and me!

2 Chronicles 25 illustrates the monumental truth that God has the power to help -- or to overthrow. Sometimes our job is as simple watching His justice play out. This passage contains the factual account of a Hebrew king who was serious about his goals. He had a war to fight, and had even hired mercenaries to march with his army. The only problem: God wasn't in on the plan! A prophet warned and encouraged him with words that still ring true:

But a man of God came to him and said,
“ . . . Even if you go and fight courageously in battle,
God will overthrow you before the enemy,
for God has the power to help or to overthrow.”

Amaziah asked the man of God,
“But what about the hundred talents I paid
for these Israelite troops?”

The man of God replied,
“The LORD can give you much more than that.”
- from 2 Chronicles 25:7-9

May we not doubt God's power, nor count the cost! Let us not be concerned with what we could lose, but count it a joy to lay claim to the promise that the LORD can give us more, so much, much more than anything we could lose for following Him.

God says, “Be still, and know that I am God . . . ” (Psalm 46:10). Let's listen!

P.S. See also, Job 12:14-16

God's Good Motive

Why should I trust God enough to do what He says? Today's reading reveals God's motive for my obedience: it is for MY good. God lays out the ten commandments not because it does anything at all for Him, but as a solid framework for my happiness. He has no selfish motive but is simply looking out for my welfare, success, and security. He wants things to go well for me. How do you like that? God says:

"Oh that they had such a heart in them,

that they would fear Me and keep all My commandments

always, that it may be well with them and with

their [children] forever!" - Deuteronomy 5:29

If I truly trust in God's good motive, then maybe I could at least claim complete willingness to obey. But even then, I would lack the power! Today's New Testament portion reveals my own weakness -- not just Peter's. We are all in the same situation as Peter in the garden, wanting to do what's right, but unable to stand up to even the simplest test. When Jesus found him asleep at the switch, his response was not condemnation, but a comment:

" . . . the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." - from Mark 14:38

I pray that God will give you and me the motivation and power to do as we should today, and that He will grant us the humbling awareness that He alone is the source of both willingness and strength to comply.

P.S. March 17, 2011. As I've continued through Deuteronomy, I have noticed again and again God's good motive for my obedience. Another specific example is in Deuteronomy 30:6. Even my love for God is for my own good, that I may live.