"That servant who knows his master\'s will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. Luke 12:47-48 (NIV)
My wife saw, in a documentary viewed on Channel 7 labeled \"Tales from the heart\" that L. Brooks Patterson, the Oakland County Executive, had a poster on his wall.....it said, \"God doesn\'t give me more than I can handle, but He gives me the ability to hand it all to Him.\" or something to that affect. I was more interested in my wife\'s reaction than to the exact verbage of the poster.
Paul tells us that God will not give us more than we can handle. That is touted by many Christians to point out that someone isn\'t truly saved or isn\'t truly following God\'s will in the situation or their lives. I think it is one of the most abused verses in the bible.
God DOESN\'T give us more than we can handle, true. But in this world of fallen natures, sinful bodies, and broken creation, there is a point that is different for everyone where they are overwhelmed; by the past, the present, or the incorrect view of the future. So, if God doesn\'t give us more than we can handle, then why are Christians overwhelmed? Because they aren\'t given the tools to catch and release. Or, they aren't shown how to give up to God what they themselves cannot handle.
God is LOVE. God desires nothing but the best for us and would never do anything to harm us. There is no fire and brimstone spoken in the modern Church because we simply wouldn\'t want to offend anyone. What if....what if we said that homosexuality is wrong, by biblical standards and statements.....why, we might turn away that one homosexual who was ON THE EDGE of salvation......because we are too judgmental and cruel.
Or that alcoholic that is fighting the disease, that porn-addict, or the sex-addict. The prideful individual who is in a situation of devastation and despair. The husband who is verbally abusive to his wife. The wife who refuses to believe that her spending habits are the cause of financial distress.
These are the people that the modern Church is trying to reach, with a watered down, dumbed down version of the Gospel which is no where near what Christ preached and commanded his disciples to continue with. But the Chrisitan view of tolerance has been so distorted that it has turned on those who described it originally, the Christian.
Am I homophobic? I would say, through the mercy of God, no. Am I an alcoholic? No, again by the grace of God. I have experienced and managed to escape alcohol,porn and their addictive natures. I have a healthy sexual appetite.
But the sinful nature I do fight, the struggles I do face, are just as sinful in God\'s eyes as the homosexual, the alcoholic, the porn-addict. And so, I am no more in God\'s eyes than they are. Everyone sins, everyone falls short, but not everyone is willing to admit that.
So what has this diatribe have to do with the reference found in the physician\'s gospel? What does the fact that the modern Church doesn\'t do what it is supposed to do; speak the truth in love with open and outstreched arms?
Simple.
With great blessings come greater responsibilities. We are called, in our forgiven and grace-given status, to reach out with greater love and forgiveness to those still lost, those still in the enemy\'s grip.
We are called, with the full knowledge of forgiveness and grace, mercy and wisdom, to bring attention to the wayward ways of our lost brethren. Bring attention, not judgment. Too many in the Church today combine judgment with attention rather than attention with solution. We shouldn't water down the Gospel to reach those who would come, but teach it in love and understanding to those who are looking.
As Christians, we feel our sinfulness more than the non-believer because we know better. And it hurts us more when we do sin. With this knowledge and understanding, we should modify our evangelism to address this.
The sinner doesn\'t feel sin as badly, because they don\'t know any better. And it is that conviction, by the Holy Spirit (not us), that allows the sinner to realize the need for forgiveness.
And to seek it out.
Monday, October 29
Friday, October 26
But I am the least of the least....
A dear friend of mine has stood in the gap with me and has spoke words of God's truth for me to hear. It is visions from people like her that have inspired, edified, and affirmed me in the struggles to be "allowed" by man to do what God has called me to do.
She gave me this verse in Judges 6:12 that she said spoke of me and the struggle I have recently endured about 'people's opinions about my call'.
"The LORD turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?""
We all know Gideon's response to this call of the Lord, what could be called a bit of hesistation! Gideon himself has severe issues with the call,
"But Lord ," Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."
Funny thing is, Gideon asked God why the Israelites were having to endure the Midianite raids if the Lord was with the people....
And Gideon didn't stop there, but requested to have the Lord wait for him to give an offering, and asked again for confirmation of the call to save his people, Israel, with the fleece.....not once, but twice! Finally, though, once Gideon was convinced....he was convinced. He is considered one of the greatest generals Israel ever had, not too bad for the least of the least of the least.
And, as this devotion points out, we need to reach a point of decision; full commitment or full disvowing. There is no in-between.
"Somewhere in your life you should have a vision that humanly speaking makes no sense, something you know could never happen without God. When you first receive it, something inside you will say, "I will" while everything around you is saying, "You can't." ....Quit asking people who they think you are. Ask God! If He endorses you what difference does their opinions make?"
As Paul put it in his letter to the Collossians;
"But now He has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation --IF you continue in your faith, ESTABLISHED and FIRM, NOT removed from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, HAVE BECOME A SERVANT."
I cannot do what I am called to do, humanly speaking, but I have the faith that the gospel I know and the Lord proclaimed in it IS capable. And the promises He has made regarding my submitting to the call are valid and true. It's ridiculous to think that I can defeat other's negative opinion of where God has called me to go. And it is foolish to think that there is something I can do, say, or reveal that will overcome their reluctance to follow suit and support this adventure God has blessed me to go on. So what!
God has called me, and God keeps on proving without a doubt that He is fully capable and fully aware of the demands He's put upon my shoulders and He will be faithful to see me through. I cannot do what He calls me to do, but I can surrender myself to the call for Him to do what He would do.
To share in the Kingdom work that He owns is only possible when I allow Him to work through me, a fragile and broken man who endures for the kingdom.
As the Angel of the Lord told Gideon......
"The LORD is with you, mighty warrior."
I will gladly suit up and stand on the battlefield with the other warriors God has enabled for His glory and praise.
Am I fearful? Yes, but my Lord is just and good and would not call me to harm.
Am I sure? Yes, as much as God has worked in my life so far, there is much He has given to be used for the Kingdom glory.
Am I perfect? No, but as a MAN in quest of God, I will move in my broken and fearful state upon feet supported by a Savior's love and a burden made lighter by my Father's assurance.
I will be Issachar, a rawboned donkey, bent to the burden of others to bear them with love and endurance. As a warrior, I will stand accountable in the Army of the MOST HIGH GOD, shield and broadsword, weld in the imperfect hands of this warrior and swung by the might of the Savior's own.
In victory shall we all be,
Jim
She gave me this verse in Judges 6:12 that she said spoke of me and the struggle I have recently endured about 'people's opinions about my call'.
"The LORD turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?""
We all know Gideon's response to this call of the Lord, what could be called a bit of hesistation! Gideon himself has severe issues with the call,
"But Lord ," Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."
Funny thing is, Gideon asked God why the Israelites were having to endure the Midianite raids if the Lord was with the people....
And Gideon didn't stop there, but requested to have the Lord wait for him to give an offering, and asked again for confirmation of the call to save his people, Israel, with the fleece.....not once, but twice! Finally, though, once Gideon was convinced....he was convinced. He is considered one of the greatest generals Israel ever had, not too bad for the least of the least of the least.
And, as this devotion points out, we need to reach a point of decision; full commitment or full disvowing. There is no in-between.
"Somewhere in your life you should have a vision that humanly speaking makes no sense, something you know could never happen without God. When you first receive it, something inside you will say, "I will" while everything around you is saying, "You can't." ....Quit asking people who they think you are. Ask God! If He endorses you what difference does their opinions make?"
As Paul put it in his letter to the Collossians;
"But now He has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation --IF you continue in your faith, ESTABLISHED and FIRM, NOT removed from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, HAVE BECOME A SERVANT."
I cannot do what I am called to do, humanly speaking, but I have the faith that the gospel I know and the Lord proclaimed in it IS capable. And the promises He has made regarding my submitting to the call are valid and true. It's ridiculous to think that I can defeat other's negative opinion of where God has called me to go. And it is foolish to think that there is something I can do, say, or reveal that will overcome their reluctance to follow suit and support this adventure God has blessed me to go on. So what!
God has called me, and God keeps on proving without a doubt that He is fully capable and fully aware of the demands He's put upon my shoulders and He will be faithful to see me through. I cannot do what He calls me to do, but I can surrender myself to the call for Him to do what He would do.
To share in the Kingdom work that He owns is only possible when I allow Him to work through me, a fragile and broken man who endures for the kingdom.
As the Angel of the Lord told Gideon......
"The LORD is with you, mighty warrior."
I will gladly suit up and stand on the battlefield with the other warriors God has enabled for His glory and praise.
Am I fearful? Yes, but my Lord is just and good and would not call me to harm.
Am I sure? Yes, as much as God has worked in my life so far, there is much He has given to be used for the Kingdom glory.
Am I perfect? No, but as a MAN in quest of God, I will move in my broken and fearful state upon feet supported by a Savior's love and a burden made lighter by my Father's assurance.
I will be Issachar, a rawboned donkey, bent to the burden of others to bear them with love and endurance. As a warrior, I will stand accountable in the Army of the MOST HIGH GOD, shield and broadsword, weld in the imperfect hands of this warrior and swung by the might of the Savior's own.
In victory shall we all be,
Jim
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