Shaken Into The Unshakable

These have come so that your faith—may be proved genuine.

1 Peter 1:7

It had been two years since Lawrence and Kimberly had said goodbye to their six year-old son in the local ER following a freak accident. Hoses and lines still attached, they had been given a few minutes before their son’s lifeless body was transferred to the morgue for an autopsy.

Ayden had somehow slipped into the narrow space between the cargo net and decking of their jungle gym—an expansion zone set up to allow movement—his head had become lodged, resulting in suffocation.

Life had slowly resumed, they had moved past the deepest heartache and had found some semblance of normalcy; life had prevailed. Thinking back on the tragic event, Lawrence admitted to a time of blaming God for Ayden’s death. But anger over the loss of a child is no stranger to blame. God certainly understood. Lawrence also had to admit, had it not been for his faith having been tested and shaken time and again prior to his son’s death, he might have walked away from God.

But God had remained close through it all. He assured them through the details of life that He was ever-present. The two years had strengthened their faith and relationships. He and Kimberly were excited about their current situation; Kimberly was pregnant!

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Our faith will be tested; and in many cases shaken. But that shaking causes a process by which our faith becomes unshakable. There are physical rewards for those who lift weights and work out; their muscles gain strength and endurance. Their hearts grow stronger and will tolerate more stress.

The same principles hold true in spiritual application. Perseverance in the midst of spiritual trials builds spiritual muscle and endurance! If we continue to persevere our strength and understanding become solid and unshakable and our hearts will tolerate more emotional stress.

It is impossible to experience trials without having our faith tested and shaken. By placing our hope in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the shaking will produce a faith that’s unshakable.

Prayer

“Your word says these trials are for my development, LORD, but sometimes it hurts more than words can explain. In those times hold me close, LORD; carry me through to the other side. Amen.”

Why Bother?

How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!

Hebrews 12:9

Elgin was screaming at God, “Why should I even bother?! I get it right nine out of ten times, then boom! my life comes crashing down because of one bad choice. What’s up with that?!” After a long silent pause he raised his head…and his voice, “You never answer when I ask the tough questions!”

The truth was Elgin already knew the answer. He knew what he was doing when he’d made that one wrong choice. He just didn’t like experiencing the after-the-fact consequences of giving-in to temptation.

In the next breath he screamed, “Yes! I knew it was wrong! So why didn’t You stop me?!” He also knew the answer to that one, “Yeah, yeah…free-will,” he muttered and slouched back on the couch. “I get so tired of being free. I always manage to screw it up. Why bother?” Now self-pity had set in. This was a recurring scenario: fight the good fight for awhile…experience closeness to God; get complacent…stop asking for God’s assistance…get tired of fighting and give in; suffer consequences and blame God, asking stupid questions like why bother?

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Being holy isn’t easy. Most of our yielding to temptation stems from our inability to determine reality from counterfeit. Satan is all about counterfeiting God’s promises.

God says, “There is a reason to resist temptation; sin will ruin your life. Through the power of My Holy Spirit you can be delivered from sin’s temptation.”

Satan counters, “It’s foolish to resist! You’re destined to fail! God’s promise is a lie! Why bother?”

The tug-of-war between our conscience and free-will can be wild and violent until it’s brought under control. Undisciplined, our heart says, I want what I want, and I want it now! The lack of spiritual discipline creates self-will run amok; in the end we reap turmoil.

The more we actively resist temptation, looking to God for strength, the more peace and confidence reign in our hearts.

Until we submit to the Father, allowing Him to make His vision of us a reality, we will continually settle for the counterfeit.

Prayer

“I submit my spirit to Yours, LORD. Discipline me when I need it and teach me how to share in Your holiness. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Choose Wisely

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…

Joshua 24:15

Jane was tired of always having to be sure she made the right choice. How can I possibly hope to do the right thing every time?!

Talking to a friend about her plight, she asked, “There’s so much that appears to be okay on the surface, yet once you peel away the outer layer it’s not what it seems. How do you keep from making the wrong choices, Connie?”

Connie smiled, “I don’t.”

Seeing Jane’s amazement she qualified her statement, “It’s not that I don’t try to make the right decision; I do, but we all make mistakes. I’m no different than you.”

Jane posed an incomplete question, “So…?”

Sensing the direction Jane was heading she asked, “Do you mean, how do I know if I’m doing the right thing?” Getting a nod she formed her response carefully, “First, I ask God for His thoughts on the matter when time allows. He always gives me good advice. Split-second decisions I trust to the Holy Spirit’s ability to give me discernment; if it doesn’t feel right, I don’t do it. But here’s my litmus test: Ultimately, God gives me the right to choose for myself, so I ask, ‘How will what I do affect my relationship with Jesus?’ and immediately I am faced with the truth. It’s the best spiritual barometer I’ve ever encountered.”

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God gave us free will for a reason. He knows what perfect love is. He understands it cannot be forced upon anyone; we must choose to love. For this reason He did not create automatons with their receivers transfixed to an exclusive frequency; we have options.

And the choices we make will determine whether we experience joy or sorrow.

When Joshua wrote today’s text he meant exactly what he said, It’s our choice.

Bringing our will under control is our responsibility. That is why it’s called choosing.

Our will…Our choice. God will not intervene. Choose wisely.

Prayer

“LORD, rid me of myself; I belong to You. I want to obey You alone. Show me what is right when I’m confused and encourage me as I bring my will under control by submitting to Yours. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Rose-Colored Glasses

This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. Romans 3:22

Tim had worn rose-colored glasses as long as Bruce had known him. Curiously, Bruce had never wondered why. Today, however, Bruce noticed Tim squinting in the bright sunlight, and jokingly ventured, “You mean to tell me your rose-colored glasses don’t filter out the brightness of the sun?!”

“On the contrary,” Tim replied as if he hadn’t noticed Bruce’s derogatory inference, “the sun intensifies their clarifying effect by magnifying visual definition. Everything becomes brighter, more vivid, and well-defined in the sunshine. So much so I have to squint.” Tim went on to explain, “I actually wear them to increase my visual acuity.”

Bruce didn’t know whether Tim was pulling his leg or not, “Yeah, right!” he said.

Tim, in all seriousness, continued, “Believe what you want. They help me see more of what’s going on.”

“You can’t be serious?!” Bruce asked incredulously.

“Completely,” Tim said offhandedly. “As a matter of fact,” he went on, “my so-called rose-colored glasses improve the view. When wearing them I am able to see a greater number of objects within my filed of view. The enhancement causes me to see things in a more positive light.”

Bruce, not wanting to appear ignorant, and conceding in his own mind that what Tim was saying was possible, decided to let the matter drop.

†

Calvary’s sacrifice is the only thing that enables God to look at us without our incurring His wrath and judgment for a debt we owe. Because of the sacrificial blood of Jesus, when God looks at us He sees that debt paid in full, and, in essence sees us through rose-colored glasses.

Even though we have failed, He doesn’t see imperfect sinners, He sees the redemption of the cross. His vision is exponentially enhanced so He is able to view us in a positive light. Through Jesus, God sees in us the brightness of His Son!

Prayer

“I lay claim to the cross of Calvary, LORD God, and thank You for the blood of Jesus Christ that allows You to see me in the perfect form I was created. Amen.”

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 having thought the last time was 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 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.”

Burnt Bridges

A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor.

Proverbs 11:12

Rich and Mahlon were pranksters. They loved nothing more than setting up elaborate schemes to surprise people. The problem was they had never seen a need to set boundaries. And because of the lengths they went to to pull off their elaborate plans many people ended up more than a little surprised.

Being targeted by these two never ended well for the object of their intentions. As a result, people tired of their childish behavior. Eventually Rich and Mahlon managed to alienate everyone who knew them.

Unfortunately, their escapades had not gone unnoticed by their employer, and one day both men were called to the plant foreman’s office. The plant owner no longer wanted them on the payroll as they represented an insurance risk, so he had told the plant foreman to terminate them.

Unable to secure employment anywhere in the small town, they were forced to seek work in the neighboring towns. Every business where they applied took their applications but the two men never received a call-back; their reputations had preceded them. No one was willing to hire the troublemakers.

Out of money, and no place to work, they pulled stakes and headed for the Metro area in hopes of landing a job. News filtered back of how they had ended up homeless for a time before finding gainful employment. Sadly, further news reached their hometown that once re-employed the two men rekindled their destructive antics.

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The troublemakers of the world see themselves as entertainers. However, they are their own audience. When our actions are based in self-satisfying behavior, with total disregard for the feelings or welfare others, coupled with no sense of remorse, we will burn our bridges behind us.

Proverbs warns that this kind of behavior will end badly for those who carelessly revile their neighbor. In time their habits of misguided adventure will backfire, ruining any hope of a productive and rewarding life.

Treating people with contempt will not win friends. If we wish to be treated with consideration and kindness we must do likewise at every opportunity.

Prayer

“Lord, help me be kind and considerate of others. Not only because I wish to be treated the same, but because it’s the right thing to do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Death Is a Comma,

We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For…what is unseen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:18

The widow smiled warmly as each guest passed by and paid their respects. In return, they embraced her with a tender hug and heart-felt condolences. She and her husband had been generous with their time; their home had always been open. They humbly practiced hospitality.

The guests gathered in small groups, reminiscing and reliving fond memories of times spent with this couple. They lingered, keeping the memories alive.

Near the end of calling hours the widow asked if the guests would mind having a seat so she could address them. They willingly complied.

“I thank you for your outpouring of love and support. Don and I have been blessed by knowing each of you.” Hankies were pulled from purses and back pockets alike as she continued, “You have shared our lives, and we are richer for it. Today is not a day of mourning but a celebration of Don’s transition from his temporal bondage,” she touched the body in the casket, indicating Don’s mortal body, “and into the unfathomable eternity Jesus promises all who call on His Name!

“I will be reunited with Don in just awhile. You see,” her smiled broadened in advance of her next statement; “Death is not a period. It is a comma! So don’t weep for me. Instead, embrace the One Who saves us from our sin.”

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We are here but for a short while, and then gone from this life. Yet that is not the end, but merely a transition to our eternal home. The choice we make here will determine our eternal destination.

For Christians, the moment of death is followed by a forever of great rewards. We will be healed of our suffering, and released from life’s struggles in the presence of the One Who gave His life for our sin!

For those who reject Jesus’, their last breath here will be followed by unending turmoil as they realize the error of their indifference.

The unseen is forever. Choose as if your life depends on it; because it does.

Prayer

“Lord Jesus, help me fix my eyes on the unseen glory of eternity. May my last breath on earth be followed by my first breath in Heaven. Amen.”