Concentrated Cleansing

Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined!  

Isaiah 6:5

Meghan was in court for her third DUI in less than two years. She had previously attended drunk-driver’s school, spent a weekend in jail, and lost her driver’s license for six months. The vehicle she might now lose already had a yellow license plate—Ohio’s way of notifying other drivers there was a convicted DUI offender on the road with them—and now faced a possible ten year license suspension with a maximum one year jail sentence.   

“How does your client wish to plead, counselor?” the judge asked.

“No contest, Your Honor,” the young woman answered. “But if it pleases the Court,” she petitioned, “my client wishes to say a few words.”  

Receiving an affirmative nod from the judge, Meghan stood, and spoke just above a whisper, “I am truly sorry for my actions, Your Honor. What I’ve done is not only illegal…it was wrong…and though I deserve the full penalty sentencing will allow, I ask the Court for leniency. Whatever you decide I will accept. Thank you for this opportunity to speak.” She continued standing, awaiting her sentence.   

When asked by the judge, “Have you learned your lesson?” Meghan could only reply, “I hope so, Your Honor. But right now, remembering I thought I was done the last time, I don’t know.”

Meghan was given the maximum sentence allowed by law.

 †

What an image of how sin destroys our lives and what we can expect when our recurring, sinful behavior catches up with us. When Satan finds the crack in our armor he exploits it with the fervency of what he is: a demon possessed.  And he destroys with pin-point accuracy. 

We, like Isaiah, must be convicted in our hearts of the destructive nature of sin in our lives, and the effect it has on those who love us. Until that happens we will continue this cycle of insanity where we continue doing the same thing, expecting different results.

When true understanding comes we will cry out for cleansing. We, too, must ask God to bring the coals of His concentrated cleansing.

Prayer

“I find no rest from this sin, Lord. And I admit that I’ve held on to it by my own choosing. Right now I submit myself to Your concentrated cleansing. Please burn this sin from my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Divine Q-tips

And after the fire came a gentle whisper.
1 Kings 19:12

“Did you hear what I said?” Kelly broke in on his wife’s reverie.
“What? Did you say something?” Her startled response told Kelly that Denise hadn’t heard a word he’d said.
Always the jokester, Kelly decided to have a little fun at his wife’s expense. “You never listen to me!” he wailed in mock frustration, wiping a pretend tear from his eye. “You need to clean your ears out with Q-tips!” He forced himself to keep from laughing, “You don’t give me the time of day anymore! I slave my life away for you and what do I get in return? I’ll tell you what: nothing! A great big nothing!” He couldn’t hold back the laughter anymore.
“You big doofus!” she said, swinging and missing her prankster husband. “I’m sooooo sorry!” She almost touched the floor in a benevolent, servant-style bow, as if humbling herself before her master. “What, pray tell, can this lowly waif do for his highness?” The words dripped with sarcasm.
“Okay, okay,” he surrendered. “We could do this all night. But I seriously thought you were listening when I asked if you minded that I go golfing with the guys tonight? I mean, I know you don’t care. I was just wondering if you had any plans.”
“Nope, nothing that would require the king to stay home guarding his kingdom.” She teased. “Have fun, my dear. Hey, would you call Bruce and have him ask Patty to come over while you’re gone, please?”

†

We complain about never hearing from God when, in reality, we haven’t been tuned in to the sound of His voice.
We desire some ground-shaking form of correspondence, something more tangible than a whisper and easier to recognize. God, in His sovereignty, would rather we learn how to listen for the gentle whisper of the Holy Spirit.
In truth, there are times when we can’t hear God because we don’t want to, so we pretend He is mute. The truth is we are deaf, and what our spiritual ears need a good cleaning with divine Q-tips.
Have you ever dug too deep with a Q-tip? It hurts! The more attentive we are, the less digging is required.

Prayer

“Clean my spiritual ears, Lord, so I can hear You when You speak. Amen.”

Let Me Help

So after ten years … Sarai his wife took … Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife.
Genesis 16:3

“I don’t care what you say,” Grace challenged. “I think we need to give Stephanie the money.” Ralph, on the other hand, felt their daughter needed to learn from her carefree lifestyle and rampant spending.
Protection mode kicked in. “I can’t believe you could possibly want her to have to suffer through the long process of reestablishing her credit!” she said diplomatically.
But Ralph felt he needed to stand firm on this issue. “Grace,” he began, reining in his frustration in light of her opposition. “What would we be telling her by bailing her out? The truth is,” he blurted, “that’s just what she believes we’re going to do!” Sorry he’d momentarily lost the battle over his emotions, he regrouped, saying, “Honey, she’s been way too cavalier about doing as she pleases. I believe she needs to resolve this issue on her own.” Attempting to lessen Grace’s heartache, he pulled her toward him and held her close as he said, “We had to learn on our own too, you know. No one could tell us what to do at that age either.”
“Oh, Ralph.” She sighed in resignation. “She’s my little girl. I just want to help.”
“Me too,” he said with an affectionate squeeze.

†

It can be tremendously difficult to stand aside and allow our children to suffer when any interference on our part would be wrong.
Restraint at a time when someone wants our intervention requires wisdom. Only by seeking God’s guidance will we make the right choice.
We might actually be doing our children a disservice by taking action. We may be helping them out of the very situation God intended to use to bring them to an understanding of their improprieties.
When we get in God’s way, as Abraham did when he fathered Ishmael, we are taking matters into our own hands instead of allowing God to work things out in His way. Abraham’s disobedience has caused two nations to remain in constant contention. We can hurt our children if we’re not careful.

Prayer

“Teach me the difference between hindering and helping, Lord. Show me when to stay out of other people’s business. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Pigheaded

But my people would not listen to me…So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.

Psalm 81:11-12

Karen was conducting research on the stubborn nature of chimpanzees. She had chosen a three-year-old male named, Bart, for this test. She watched as Bart reached through the cage to retrieve a banana she’d placed just outside the enclosure. With a firm grip he tried to pull it between the bars but couldn't because they were too close together to permit the chimp’s clenched fist passage. 

Karen tried to get Bart’s attention so she could demonstrate a way to retrieve the banana but he was so engrossed that he refused to pay attention.

She watched as the chimp tried again and again to retrieve the banana, twisting his hand one way and then another, but refusing to let go. He reached through the bars, shifting the banana to his other hand hoping that would work. But it ended with the same results. She knew that Bart wouldn't succeed unless he overcame his stubborn ‘one way’ approach.

Frustrated with his inability to overcome this challenge Bart launched into a frenzy jumping up and down while jerking his hand against the bars, all the time refusing to let go of the banana.

“Pigheaded monkey. If you’d only listen,” Karen said as she recorded Bart’s actions.

†

Sounds irrational, right? But the truth is we are a lot like the chimp; stubborn, and we prefer to complete tasks a specific way…our way. This close-minded approach to problem solving creates more issues than it resolves.

Attempting to tackle problems on our own when there is competent help being offered is just plain obstinate. By refusing to accept assistance we've already begun the process of failing, especially where spiritual matters are concerned.

Obstinacy is a form of pride. And when we cling to our pride, refusing to acknowledge the truth, God will eventually stop trying to alter our course, allowing us to reap the consequences.  

At what cost do we continue to embrace our pigheadedness? The choice is ours. Will we listen?

Prayer

“Lord, help me lay down my pigheaded pride and become willing to not only accept the help of others, but to seek it before things get complicated. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Assembly Line Christianity

Be imitators of God.
Ephesians 5:1

Jessie’s passion meter was stuck on “I’m here” and didn't seem to register any higher. It wasn't so much that he didn't want a deeper relationship with Jesus; he just wasn't sure how to go about getting it. And six months of attending this church hadn't helped. It was “Come as you are, we’ll accept you. Do as we tell you and everything will be wonderful!” Yet, he didn't seem to know any more about Jesus than he had when he’d first started here.
“Everything here seems tailored to mold people into some kind of automaton,” he’d shared with another 'Newbie', as they were referred to in the membership class. “Doesn't this feel kinda plastic to you?” he suddenly asked.
“I guess I never thought about it,” was the man’s casual reply. “What do you mean?”
“Well,” Jessie began, “I feel like we’re all on this big assembly line headed for the final production stage with nothing but superficial understanding. It’s like a cookie-cutter mentality. As if they’re just trying to turn out Christians, and there’s no understanding required to graduate.” Feeling the need to qualify his comment, Jessie added, “Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying they don’t love Jesus, but it’s like there’s nothing required for membership. We’re not required to share what we believe or why. Do you know what I’m getting at?” Jessie asked.

†

Whose likeness are we trying to imitate? Are we looking for the truth, or are we playing follow the leader, regardless of where the leader is headed?
Many of today’s churches offer a brand of religion that falls short of God’s example in Jesus Christ. And people blindly follow, thinking, “If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it must be a duck,” never understanding they are ignorantly tempting hell.
It absolutely matters what we believe and why because simply saying the name of Jesus will not gain us entrance into heaven. If we do not confess Jesus as Lord and are not required to ask forgiveness through repentance where there is no turning from sin (understanding we will not do this perfectly), then we are deceived. We will be held accountable, regardless of our professed ignorance.

Prayer

“Lead me on the one true path of salvation, Lord. Show me the way. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Walking It Out

How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.
Romans 10:15

Sandra and Ginny had been friends for almost ten years. In that time, they had shared their lives. The most important thing they shared was a deep love for Jesus, and for over nine years, they had committed to deepening that relationship.
Two years into their friendship, God led them to begin prayer-walking their neighborhood, rising in the predawn hours to walk and lift their neighbors and their needs to God.
They watched in wonder as God brought neighbors into their lives with critical timing: someone facing a tremendous struggle or the loss of a family member. They were able to witness God’s love and spend time with each one in prayer. They simply followed God’s lead.
They had been prayer-walking for three years when they felt God asking them to assemble the neighborhood so He could weave their lives together. So they set to work planning the first block night Sharp Road would ever experience. They dropped off invitations to every family, asking them to bring one covered dish, lawn chairs, and an appetite. That inaugural evening had been a remarkable success!
Five years later, they still gather monthly at a home determined the prior month. Volunteers are never in short supply, and the fellowship is sweet.
Sandra and Ginny count it a privilege to be part of the movement of God that has seen seven people, to date, accept Jesus as their Savior.

†

Paul’s prayer at the beginning of chapter ten is that the Israelites might be saved. He makes the case that anyone believing on the name of Jesus will be saved. Then he sets about challenging their conviction and commitment to Christ. “And how can they believe in one of whom they have not heard?” He’s asking them to go tell others about Jesus.
Knowing Jesus is only the beginning for those who are saved. Telling others about the freedom and joy we have in Christ should be, like Paul, the desire of our heart.
Walking it out means taking each opportunity God provides to share His Son.

Prayer

“Lord, lead me to those who have never heard of You. Guide my feet to who needs to hear about You next. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Beetle Boots and Levis

If anyone says to you, “Look, here is the Christ … do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear.”
Matthew 24:23

It was two days and counting; summer vacation was over. “You never get us the original!” Elliott said with the frustration of a fifteen-year-old. “Everybody else in school will have genuine Levis and Beetle Boots. Not some lame knockoffs like these!”
“Honey,” his mother began, “we can’t afford the originals. Those boots and jeans are three times as much as these, and they don’t fit our budget. This is the best we can do.” Had Elliott been thinking about anything but himself, he would have been able to see the hurt in his mother’s eyes. But he wasn't, and he didn't. All he could see were cheap imitations that would elicit ridicule from his peers at school. They’d take one look at these off-brand jeans and low-heeled boots with the zipper on the side instead of in the back, and they’d say what they always said, “Whutsamatter, Bennett? Mommy still dressing you?” Kids could be cruel, and these lessons seemed unfair.
With that thought in his head, Elliott headed for his room. I've gotta figure a way to get what I want or everyone’ll think I’m uncool! And with that, he slammed his bedroom door on the world.

†

There is a knockoff for everything; someone has counterfeited the original and is looking to profit from it. And in most cases it’s not life threatening.
However, there is one counterfeit that we must not buy, and regardless of the cost, we must purchase the original!
Satan has staked his claim to the throne of God and comes deceiving those who would listen to his sales pitch. His minions tell us we’re uncool and won’t be accepted unless we buy what they’re selling.
Jesus, knowing sin is tempting in the early stages because it feels good, warns us so we will be on guard, because there are always consequences. To make the wrong choice in this case will be eternally fatal.
Jesus is the original; there is no other way to salvation.

Prayer

“Lord, help me see past all the bells and whistles when Satan comes to deceive. Help me discern the lies and seek the truth. In Jesus’ Name, amen."