Tag: righteousness

Posted on

God’s Holy Heat

Dear Sister,

We know the analogy. The refiner’s fire. Precious metals undergoing intense heat in order to remove impurities resulting in glimmering gold and silver readied for the artisan’s creative mind and hand—And God’s ramping up of trials in our lives in order to surface besetting, even egregious sins, in order to elicit repentance and bring forth the purity of Jesus in our souls and behavior.

Which one of us Christ-redeemed sisters has not felt the singeing, the distress, the anguish of our Father’s furnace? The pain is often excruciating—especially when the refiner must make the fire hotter. The initial temperature did not remove the dross.

Those of us who have birthed little ones know the agony of labor and delivery and the sweet reward of the child laid on our breast. God wants that for us in the fires of refinement. He desires that the pain in the trials and the outcome of holiness be sweet to our remembrance and taste.

Is it enjoyable in the fire? Obviously not. Do we love the travails of infertility, losing little ones, wayward children, betrayal, cancer, lupus, accidents, death, the agony of our babies born with special needs and medical equipment displacing all the pretties in the room? Those are the big ones. What about the daily scrapes and bruises, disappointments, unmet expectations, anxieties, frustrations, elusive peace? Do you often feel like the sons of Korah in Psalm 88, lamenting God’s seeming abandonment?

Do we truly believe all things are working for our good? Are we being conformed to the image of Christ in patience and purity and holiness? (Romans 8:28-29) God tells us that the peaceable fruit of righteousness is the yield for those who are trained in life’s painful trials. (Hebrews 12:11) Are we indeed being trained or are we chafing and rebelling under the yoke of the One who is gentle and humble in heart and promises rest for our souls? (Matthew 11:29) Do we trust that discipline proves we belong to the Master and we are not illegitimate? (Hebrews 12:8) Can we honestly say, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised”, when our undesirable situation never changes? (Job 1:21)

Do we toe the line because we love our Savior’s face and groan at disappointing Him or simply because we are afraid of punishment? Or do we not care all that much and rely on distorted meanings of mercy and grace, not comprehending that these two can be severe in order to bring us to Himself in struggling or glad submission.

In the gifting, yes, gifting of trials in life, do we give thanks, obeying His admonition to be grateful in all things which is His will for us? (1 Thessalonians 5:18) Do we rejoice in difficulties because of the glorious fruit they produce in us? Do we find evidences of His holy attributes when our emotions are bent low with the weight of the present burden?  Can we say, “He is the Always Good” even when we do not understand?  Or do we grumble and complain, thrusting our fists at God, telling Him He does not know what He is doing?

Dearest Sister, let us ask ourselves these questions and ask the Lord of all to give grace to answer these queries according to biblical principles, with bare and honest hearts. Let us reckon His holy heat as good because He is good—always good. Embrace the emotions of pain and grief because they are real, but bring these under the authority of Christ. Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5)

Bear in mind:  All trials are ordained through His loving hands; all trials are His discipline/teaching in the school of becoming like Christ; our sufferings will not always resolve in relief on this earth; some trials are actual chastening for sin. It is not for me to figure that out in your life, dear Sister, only in mine. Whatever our conclusions about the why of a difficulty, one thing is certain: All is for our good and for His glory.

“Count it all joy, my sisters, when [not if] 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 1:2-4

I’m so grateful for His preserving love and His holy, refining heat in my own life, preparing me for the perfections of my heavenly home, causing me to love the Savior more deeply and yearn to see Him face-to-face when trials will cease and I will truly be like Him forevermore. Oh, yes, I still grumble. I still question. I resist thankfulness. Rejoicing is not my first go-to.   But these times are shorter in duration and always end in repentance. That’s an advantage of aging physically and in the Lord, by His grace alone.

“Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!” (Psalm 31:24)

“Though He slay me, I will hope in Him…” (Job 13:15a)

Enjoy this song by Shane and Shane and let the truths of its words sink deeply into your heart.  http://Though You Slay Me

With love,

Cherry

 

Posted on

Starving or Feasting

Dear Sister,

Have you ever helplessly watched as someone starved to death?  For two weeks I stayed by his side and waited. And then he died and we buried him. He had wanted no heroics in those last days and so we simply watched and waited as the sweetest man in the world also waited quietly to see Jesus.

Physical starvation is not unlike spiritual starvation in certain ways. Though physical inability to take in nutrition is usually a medical issue, not a choice, it is similar to spiritual starvation in that life and energy are sapped, the body or soul shrivel, and life is seriously compromised.

Most of us love to eat, some live to eat. Eating is enjoyable. A lovely dinner laid out on a linen cloth accompanied by fresh flowers, good friends or family and conversation feed the body along with many of our senses. But even eating on the run benefits us without our even thinking much about it. We must have food, with or without all the bells and whistles, in order to survive.

Souls must be fed or they too shrivel and languish. Sometimes a meal will be luxurious, sometimes it will be ordinary, sometimes it will taste delicious, sometimes it will be bitter, but every spiritual meal or morsel is important for the health of our souls.

From where does this food come? From a plentiful garden of sorts. A garden with seeds sown from and by the hand of God, watered by His Spirit, brought to harvest in our souls by His means of grace. We resist these means to our great peril, to the endangerment of our souls. We must take and eat. Sometimes the meal is perfectly prepared and shared with others as we worship together on a Sunday morning…God’s Word in a sermon, our hearts and voices united in songs of praise, biblically informed prayers, the works of Christ portrayed in His supper and in the baptism of His children.

Sometimes the emotions are elevated with the food. At times we barely taste the sumptuous fare, our hearts heavy with burdens or sins.  But it is food, nonetheless, whether a sermon, the personal reading of God’s Word and prayers, the symbols, all vital to our souls’ well-being for correction, for discipline, for instruction in righteousness, for encouragement, so that we, as God’s children, as we feed on Christ, grow and mature and become thoroughly equipped to obey Jesus and become like Him.

We can gorge physically, hindering optimal health, but it is difficult to overeat in the things of God unless we fail to use His meat and resulting energy in the exercising of righteousness and love and good works. His food whets our appetite, not only for our own consumption and energy and outworking but for the feeding of others beyond ourselves.

Eat, dear Sister. Eat from His abundant banquet. When you’re hungry. When you think you’re not. The strange thing about His food is that the more one ingests the more it satisfies, simultaneously causing more and more hunger.

This is a food that is vital to consume whether or not we feel the pangs of hunger. Don’t neglect the things God deems beneficial to spiritual health, things which sometimes taste as sweet as honey, things which sometimes can be bitter in the swallowing but all things which nourish every cell of our spiritual selves.  Eat from His Word, pray, worship by yourself and with others, feed on Christ in the Lord’s Supper, be baptized, watch baptisms, fellowship with God’s people. When you feel like it. When you don’t feel like it. Your spirit will imperceptibly grow stronger, more mature, more robust, more like Jesus. You were made for this. And someday He will take us home where we will see the Bread of Life face-to-face, whole and safe and fully satisfied.

Until then, eat heartily and often.

Cherry

“My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness…”
Psalm 63:5a

Posted on

Please, Just Let Me Tie Back Your Hair!

“Hey Annabelle, come on over and I’ll pull your hair back so it won’t get stuck in the honey that’s on your toast.” An easy request, right? Simple, straightforward, clear, and for her own good. Yet, she didn’t come. In fact, she went the other way. “Annabelle, come here.” She grabbed her hair on each said of her head clutching all she could of her now sticky strands. “No mom, I don’t want to.” My insides churned. Oh I HATE defiance. I think I can use the word “hate” as defiance is the in-your-face disregard of obedience and submission while doing the opposite of what is asked. This has been the norm of late with this child that I love. Everything I ask is returned with defiance; whether it be quiet looks, delays, or loud fits. Not only does it drain me, it makes me realize how much of this defiance is in my own heart.

Instead of obeying my parents, boss, authorities, or submitting to my husband, I hold my prideful ground in defiance. This defiance does not come from a heart of love or a desire of the things of God, this defiance comes from me not wanting anyone else telling me what I should or shouldn’t do. Although our movies and news often hold those that defy authority in honor, we need to realize that this heart of defiance should not always be emulated.

Jesus again is our best example of how to use defiance in a way that honors the Lord. He defied Satan during his dessert temptation, but do you remember what he used as His ammunition? Scripture! Then, when faced with religious leaders that did not want the things of God, he gave them history lessons, parables, or scriptures that showed them what they were doing or thinking was wrong. After that, when He was told by His friends that He should not suffer as the Messiah, He again defied them with scripture and history. I have to admit sisters, my reasons for defying my authorities are not rooted in biblical history and doctrine; rather, they come from emotional anger that protects my prideful desires. Oh wretched woman that I am! Who can save me from this?

Sweet sister, Jesus came to live a perfect life that we could never live. He fulfilled God’s law and died for it. He rose again satisfying God’s wrath and curse that was meant for us! Then he gave us His righteousness so when God the Father looks at us He only sees us obeying and submitting like His perfect Son. He does not see our sinful defiance against the authorities He has placed in our lives.

In Annabelle, I see how the depraved heart responds to a call to obey and submit. The depraved heart will defy in anger every time. Yet sister, we have the spirit in us that helps us obey and submit when we don’t want to. Call on Him! Beg Him for help! And remember, when sinful defiance comes out, we have a Savior that died for that sin too.

Your Sister,

Colleen

Posted on

Apparent Injustice…Nevertheless!

Dear Sister,

There is a certain passage in the Bible that is my go-to when I can’t sleep at night, or when I am running or swimming those seemingly endless laps. They are not the typical motivational verses; in fact, the chapter begins with the author recounting how he resents God’s version of justice.

So why would I choose this particular chapter to regularly camp out in, memorize, and meditate out of the whole treasure of God’s Word? Well, because the writer questions God’s decisions to allow evil, lazy, prideful people to have abundance on earth and he finds the answer to his question about God’s justice (how often do I ask God “Why?!”). How is that justice good and right? The writer goes to church. There, in his time with God, his eyes are opened. He peers into the future of those people content without God. Their future is complete destruction. In His mercy and desire that none perish, God may be slow to wrath by our perception of time, but those who finally meet Him after choosing to shun Him throughout their lives will be utterly undone! No escaping, no hiding, no excuses, just stark, bold truth and devastating judgment.

Then, the author remembers in the midst of his jaw-clenching, passionate (even beast-like) resentment of God’s apparent injustice that his only recourse is to cling to God. There is no one, and nothing else on earth or heaven that can save (and which has imperishable, immeasurable worth) but God. He is God—there are no comparisons. He will do things incomprehensible to me, for I am like an infant in wisdom and righteousness.

“Nevertheless”

Defined: “in spite of that; notwithstanding; all the same.” Whatever I may think, whatever I may want, whatever I may do (or others do), He is my all: “I am continually with Thee.”

“You have taken hold of my right hand.” He holds me. My strength and convictions would surely be insufficient—what a comfort He has taken my hand. Those who choose to forsake or ignore God are destroyed. Resentment dissolves as I too decide, “But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works.” (Psalm 73:1-28)

He is our all. Our hope, our promise, our treasure. Set aside any resentment you might have toward God, dear sister, for this is not our home—simply our race. The race is supposed to be difficult—testing us, refining us, stripping away the imperfect, building eternal muscle. Our reward will be hard won and that much more beautiful for the sacrifices. (Heb. 12:1-3)

Running with you,

Rebecca

Posted on

Counsel From The Cross

Dear sister,

We have all given counsel. Most of it is never done officially in an office, yet we do it everyday. We have given it to countless strangers, friends, and family. We have been helpful and probably not so helpful, done it well and done it poorly.

Sisters, we love to talk and share our stories and opinions to others. Think about a time when someone told you of a person with a particular health issue or someone who was pregnant, what did you do? If you are like me, you replied with a story of someone YOU knew of that had/has the same thing and what the outcome was. Then I told the person what they should or should not do based on this account. Look back this day or week and just think of the counsel you have given your husband, child, friends, or stranger. How did it go? Was it biblical counsel?

As believers, we all are called to give biblical counsel (Acts 20:20, Rom 15:14, Col1:28). We are to instruct, teach, admonish, and encourage people to live their life to the glory of God. But how do we do that? Crazy enough, the Bible actually shows us how to give Godly, biblical counsel for any and all circumstances. The Lord inspired Paul and others to write letters to many Christian churches who were struggling with every day issues and questions and Paul gave them biblical counsel. But that begs the question: how did he counsel? From the cross.

Paul starts almost all of his letters with rich theology. He reminds the believers of their history, how they were dead in their transgressions and deserved God’s eternal wrath. That their good works done in righteousness got them no where and are like filthy menstruation rags (that’s the picture the Greek word paints). Then at the right time, Jesus came and bore their sin debt on the cross and granted them forgiveness for all time and put His perfect righteousness on them! Now they are seen by their creator as perfect and adopted into His eternal family as a son complete with all spiritual blessings and inheritance. In light of this theology, he then gave counsel on how they should behave and convicted them of any sin that was seen. He counseled them to love their wives as Christ loves the church, for wives to respect and submit to their husband, for children to honor their parents. He told fighting people to make up, to not get drunk, to always work hard, to not quarrel about what spiritual gift the Lord has given you. He tells believers to rejoice always, to be humble like Christ, to think on right things and not to gossip or speak ill of others. He tells them to love God and love their neighbor. Not to earn favor, but out of thankfulness and joy from what they have in Christ.

Oh sister, the Word is full of counsel for us to give and take. It says that we have an active-responsible heart and not a passive-reactive-victim heart. It says that we may have things that have contributed to our lives but they have not determined our lives. It says we are sinners that need to be forgiven not a being that simply needs more self-esteem. It tells us to repent, have faith, renew our minds, and that we are being sanctified, not that we need our inner needs met or to have more self-worth and confidence. Our worth and confidence need to be in Christ alone (remember what our own righteousness looks like)! Scripture tells us that our Lord is sovereign over all things and to get to know Him and trust Him, not to think that He doesn’t care or see us in some of our most sticky situations.

Can you see and feel the difference? Our counsel should be full of hope! We can face anything because of Christ! There is an answer and ultimate cure for every situation…the Bible says so! Counsel at the heart level…where we think and what we believe…is wise counsel. And wise counsel comes from scripture. Can you see how daily reading of the Word helps with our counsel? Can you see being overwhelmed with Christ’s grace and mercy helps view circumstances differently? Can you counsel someone in light of the sovereignty and character of God? This is discipleship in action. We are commanded to give it. Oh sister, read your Bible, pray, go to a Godly church, feed your mind on spiritual meat so when people come to you for counsel, you can give counsel based on the cross.

~Colleen