How are you? Blessed. Have a blessed day. I received an added bonus today. Boy am I blessed. My cancer is gone. I am so blessed. Over and over again, we talk about be blessed. What do we mean by this little word?
I know what is generally meant - the Lord has watched over me and has done something good for me. He made me healthy. He gave me something I needed. He kept me safe from a moment of crisis. He has helped my family through a difficult time. And truly, you are blessed when these things happen. What a joy it is to be able to see that the Lord is the One who has guided you through a situation and brought it to an end that you appreciate. It is wonderful to see the Lord do good in your life, my life, the life of a loved one.
But what about when the cancer doesn't disappear? What about when the money doesn't come in? What about when the family is torn apart? What about when there is a death? Are you still blessed? Or do you turn from that statement and say, "No, I am not blessed. The Lord messed up and didn't do what I wanted Him to do."
I guess what I am thinking about today is how the Lord responds to our prayers. We have developed into a Christian culture that uses God to get what we want. We pray. Then expect that the answer is always going to be "yes." Now I know that what some will point to: "But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord: he is a double-minded man, unstable in his ways." (James 1:6-7) See, if we ask, believe that God will give it to you, and He will. He has too. He has promised that He will give it to you. If you doubt that He will do it, then He will not do it. If you believe that He will do it, then He will do it.
Wait, does that mean I can control what God does? Does it mean that if I pray for something, really believe that I will receive it, then I will receive it? If I really, really, really believe that God will fix my heart problem, then He will fix my heart problem? If I believe that God will give me a better paying job, then He will give me a better paying job?
Some would say yes. I would say, I don't know. You see, God is still God. He is in control of my life and my situation. I do not control God. I do not control the destiny of my life. I am not God. That's right, I am not God. I am one who trusts in God, loves Him and follow Him. But I do not control Him. But what about these verses? They tell us that if we believe it, then we receive it.
Let's look at the verses that precede these. Let's get the context. James writes, "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 nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting..." (James 1:2-6a) Does this talk about using God like a grandfather who will give you whatever you ask? Does it mean that you control what God does or gives to you? No. It is talking about the fact that God will guide you, uphold you and be with you through all sorts of trials and tribulations. It talks about asking for wisdom. Wisdom for what? Wisdom to understand that God is producing steadfastness of faith in you through the trials that you are facing. It isn't telling you that God has become your Amazon.com in the sky.
How do I get here? I have been thinking about being blessed. Are we only blessed when things go well? No, we are blessed every day as we live in the grace of God. We are blessed to be called children of God. You are blessed when the cancer continues and the treatments make you ill. You are blessed when job stinks and the people around you are a pain in the neck. You are blessed when the car doesn't start, when the traffic is backed up and moving slow. You are blessed when the family doesn't make it home for Thanksgiving or for Christmas.
How can I say that? You are blessed because blessing doesn't rely upon receiving that which we ask for. Blessing comes from God day in and day out, without your asking. It comes because of His love for you. You are blessed in Christ Jesus. You are blessed as you receive forgiveness of sins. You are blessed as you live each day as a child of God. You are blessed.
I know why we say "I am blessed because my car started in this cold weather." What I want you to remember is that you are blessed when the car doesn't start on that cold morning. You are blessed because the Lord is still with you. He hasn't turned His back on you because your car didn't start. He is still right there, with you, blessing you. The blessing we receive from the Lord is a blessing that transcends the here and now. It is a blessing that is much deeper and more meaningful that the physical. It is a spiritual blessing that is part of our lives day after day, 24/7, 365.
I will still say that I am blessed when the health is given. I will tell someone that the Lord has blessed them when the family is all together. I will rejoice that the Lord has blessed the physical life. Yes I will. And I am sure that you will too.
But remember this, you are blessed. Period. Good or bad in your life, you are blessed. Health or illness in your life, you are blessed. Why? There my friends, take a look in the manger. You will see your true blessing.
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
Randomness in the morning.
Cold air. Darkness. Christmas lights. Barking dogs. Hot tea. What do all these have to do with each other? As I sit here this morning, all of those things are tied together. Here in December, it is dark outside. The sun comes up later and later. It goes down earlier and earlier. For many, these are difficult days. There is not enough hours of daylight. And for most folks, those hours of daylight are spent at work, where they cannot experience them. If they are lucky enough to have windows to see the short hours of daylight, they rejoice. Darkness - into this darkness comes a Savior, the Light of the world. He comes to lighten the darkness of sin that encompasses each heart. He comes to break the grip of darkness on the hearts and lives of all people. The Light is Christ, the Child born in Bethlehem.
Cold air. It is December. It is supposed to be cold, at least here in Illinois. This cold blast has reached all the way to the gulf coast. They are probably grumbling about the cold more than we are here in the central part of the country. But I tell you what, I sure seem to be affected by the cold more now than when I was younger. That is part of life. It reminds me that I am living in a world affected by sin. It is fallen. I am fallen. My very nature is sinful. As the years go on, as more things seem to pop up in my life, like the less than pleasing effect cold has upon me especially in the morning, it reminds me that I need a Savior. Yes, once again such a thing points that out. Each time I grumble about the cold, it reminds me that I am not able to change anything, including the weather. I can't even change my spiritual situation. Without a Savior, my heart remains cold and lifeless. Without a Savior, my heart will grow colder as I grow older. Only through the new life given by Christ Jesus can my heart grow warm (metaphorically speaking). He comes into this cold person that I am and gives me a new life that is filled with the warmth of His love and forgiveness.
Darkness, cold air. What next? Christmas lights and barking dogs. Hmmmm. What about these two things? Well, the Christmas lights make things brighter. They brighten up a dark neighborhood. They are meant to remind us of the Light of Christ that has come into this world. We have a neighbor down the road who decorates greatly. He has more lights out than one can imagine. It really brightens the neighborhood up. He leaves them on all night. As such, they remind us of Christ shining in the dark world. As joyous as that is, it leads to barking dogs. My dogs. Sorry neighbors. I get onto them in the early morning hours and don't let them stay outside barking. But they are able to see things they wouldn't normally see/ Why? Christmas lights brighten things up and cast strange shadows in places there have not been shadows. They causes "concern" in the dogs minds and they bark. Yep, they bark because of the extra light that is not normally there. Barking dogs and Christmas lights - go together. Christ brings light into the world and Satan doesn't like it. Satan would prefer that it remained dark. He would be silent (not really but he wants us to think that he would). If Christ didn't bring light into the world, then Satan would be content to let the darkness continue. Christ's light exposes those works of sin, the works of darkness. Turn the lights out, then those works would not be seen and there would be no problem. What to do? Light up the world! Make it shine brightly, not with Christmas lights, but with the Light of Christ. Show sin for sin. And bring Christ to all who are struggling.
Hot tea? I threw that in because I like to sit here and drink my hot tea in the morning. It warms me up. I enjoy it. I like to drink my tea while I read my Bible, do my devotions and prepare for the day. So hot tea is part of my daily routine. So is the Word. One is desired and one is needed. I will let you decide which is which.
Cold air. Darkness. Christmas lights. Barking dogs. Hot tea. Random thoughts brought together in the rambling mind of this preacher. All of them point me to one thing - Christ Jesus. Yes, living in the Light of Christ sure ties everything together.
Cold air. It is December. It is supposed to be cold, at least here in Illinois. This cold blast has reached all the way to the gulf coast. They are probably grumbling about the cold more than we are here in the central part of the country. But I tell you what, I sure seem to be affected by the cold more now than when I was younger. That is part of life. It reminds me that I am living in a world affected by sin. It is fallen. I am fallen. My very nature is sinful. As the years go on, as more things seem to pop up in my life, like the less than pleasing effect cold has upon me especially in the morning, it reminds me that I need a Savior. Yes, once again such a thing points that out. Each time I grumble about the cold, it reminds me that I am not able to change anything, including the weather. I can't even change my spiritual situation. Without a Savior, my heart remains cold and lifeless. Without a Savior, my heart will grow colder as I grow older. Only through the new life given by Christ Jesus can my heart grow warm (metaphorically speaking). He comes into this cold person that I am and gives me a new life that is filled with the warmth of His love and forgiveness.
Darkness, cold air. What next? Christmas lights and barking dogs. Hmmmm. What about these two things? Well, the Christmas lights make things brighter. They brighten up a dark neighborhood. They are meant to remind us of the Light of Christ that has come into this world. We have a neighbor down the road who decorates greatly. He has more lights out than one can imagine. It really brightens the neighborhood up. He leaves them on all night. As such, they remind us of Christ shining in the dark world. As joyous as that is, it leads to barking dogs. My dogs. Sorry neighbors. I get onto them in the early morning hours and don't let them stay outside barking. But they are able to see things they wouldn't normally see/ Why? Christmas lights brighten things up and cast strange shadows in places there have not been shadows. They causes "concern" in the dogs minds and they bark. Yep, they bark because of the extra light that is not normally there. Barking dogs and Christmas lights - go together. Christ brings light into the world and Satan doesn't like it. Satan would prefer that it remained dark. He would be silent (not really but he wants us to think that he would). If Christ didn't bring light into the world, then Satan would be content to let the darkness continue. Christ's light exposes those works of sin, the works of darkness. Turn the lights out, then those works would not be seen and there would be no problem. What to do? Light up the world! Make it shine brightly, not with Christmas lights, but with the Light of Christ. Show sin for sin. And bring Christ to all who are struggling.
Hot tea? I threw that in because I like to sit here and drink my hot tea in the morning. It warms me up. I enjoy it. I like to drink my tea while I read my Bible, do my devotions and prepare for the day. So hot tea is part of my daily routine. So is the Word. One is desired and one is needed. I will let you decide which is which.
Cold air. Darkness. Christmas lights. Barking dogs. Hot tea. Random thoughts brought together in the rambling mind of this preacher. All of them point me to one thing - Christ Jesus. Yes, living in the Light of Christ sure ties everything together.
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