Safetypinlove

Over the past forty years, I’ve been a firm believer in giving God the very first part of my day. Way before the chaos of the world has a chance to seep in and its noise becomes deafening in my mind. For I know He doesn’t want my left over minutes, rushed thoughts, or the remnants of a harried and exhausted day. No, what God desires are those quiet, undivided moments when it’s just Him and me…no distractions, no diversions…just His illuminated Word.

I wanted to build on the Devotional from yesterday about achieving happiness in our lives, and living for today. When the enemy can keep us either consumed with our past, or fearful of the future…we are oblivious to the present. We walk through the day unaware of the needs around us, and with no mindful attention to the blessings available. When we dwell in the past, it shows lack of dedication, commitment, and forward focus. (Luke 9:62) Isaiah 65:16 reminds us that all our former troubles are forgotten and hidden from God’s eyes…so if He does that, we must also. As for worrying about the future, this also shows lack of faith and trust in God…for anxiety is incompatible with trust. (Philippians 4:6) So today, fix your mind on Jesus and practice mindfulness in the here and now…refusing to let your thoughts wander to things you have no control over.

We’re all striving for peace and happiness in life, and Mother Teresa has given us a road map to achieve it Biblically. First, Isaiah 43:18 tells us to, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.” That’s because God is not part of the past…but rather the God of restoration and renewal. So we should also let go of the past and embrace the new things of God in our life. Secondly, we should enjoy the present…for each new day is indeed a gift from God. Hebrews 3:13 says we are to, “Encourage one another daily, as long as it’s called Today.” For today is all we have, and tomorrow is never guaranteed. Finally, we need to trust God for our future. Ecclesiastes 8:7 makes it quite clear, “No man knows the future.” Life is unpredictable, and it takes humility and trust in God to face what is to come, but we can rest assured that God’s love will be ever constant and unchanging in the years to come. (Romans 8:38)

In the verse prior, Isaiah was made acceptable as a minister of God’s Word by the purification of his lips. The Lord then allowed him to ease drop in on a session of the royal, heavenly court. That’s because, God’s call was not directed specifically towards Isaiah or a select few, but for everyone. Though whether we hear that call or not depends entirely on our spiritual attitude. Jesus made this clear in Matthew 22:14 when He said, “Many are called, but few are chosen.” In other words, few prove that they are worthy of the call of God on their lives. So how can we hear the Voice of God? It takes open ears and open hearts…for the Lord will never plead, beg, or pressure you…rather it will be a quiet, yet passionate insistence of, “Follow Me.”

God has shown His unfailing love and mercy by replacing the Tablets that Moses had smashed at the sight of the golden calf. This rhetorical question calls the wayward people to justice, mercy, and humility in their walk with God…for with God, love and obedience go hand and hand. (John 14:23) Moses ends his speech with the practical application and benefit of obedience to the One True God…protection, guidance, and a covenantal relationship…for His glory and their good.

We read of Lot and his family living and prospering in the fertile Jordan Valley where he amassed a great amount of livestock and property. Over time he became a well respected member of the community, often sitting at the city gate to oversee commerce. But Sodom was known for its pervasive immorality, violence, and social injustice, (Genesis 18-19) therefore, God determined that it would be destroyed, and sent two angels to warn Lot to flee. But Lot lingered. He was well aware of the danger…yet he tarried. Why? The answer is easy. Lot was comfortable and didn’t want to leave behind all he had. He had become accustomed to the world of Sodom, and so desensitized by the sinfulness, that he didn’t want to leave…even if it meant his relationship with God. And it was only by God’s mercy that he was saved. But God’s Word has always been firm…we should have an engaged presence in the world without adopting its values. .in other words, to be in the world but not of it. (John 15:19 & John 17:14-16)

The people were bringing their babies to Jesus…but all the disciples saw was a distraction from His real work. However, what really aroused Jesus’ ire was the disciple’s harsh and cutting remarks of disapproval to the parents. Especially since He had used the term “little children” to describe the very disciples coming into the Kingdom,(Matthew 11:26-27) and had used a child as an example when they had asked Him who was the greatest in the Kingdom of God. (Matthew 18:1-4) So again, Jesus firmly reminded the disciples that the Gospel Message was all about coming to Him with nothing…in order to receive everything. And that the Kingdom of God was bestowed by God’s grace… not by human achievement.

In the 40th Chapter of Isaiah, the prophet is confronting God’s people for being blinded by their idols and not being able to see God anymore. He implores them to “Look up” and see God and not at their guilty pleasures. When we say Yes to Him, God will start using His holy sledgehammer to demolish anything that as Paul describes in Galatians 5:19-20 are the obvious acts of the sinful nature. Which to even a brand new baby Christian would be apparent and condemned. But Paul goes on to add sins that we could easily justify, rationalize, or just plain choose to ignore. These are called unrestrained indulgences of pleasure seeking, but they’re still idols that are standing in the way between God and us and trust me, He will not relent until they’re smashed to smithereens.

Throughout the Bible we learn about the Sovereignty of God. Amos 9:3-4 tells us that God is sovereign over all creation. Which means He is the supreme Authority and absolute Ruler over everything created…and that nothing in the universe escapes His notice or unfolds outside His Divine purpose and Will. So even though we may not know what the future holds…God does. And we can then have confident hope of His lovingkindness…knowing that He rules over all things for our good and His glory. So today, if the unknown looms large in front of you…take heart and rejoice…for God’s in control and already working on your behalf.

The Apostle Paul used his own sufferings and defeats as opportunities to display Christ’s character to others. He wanted to show us that with each adversity comes the decision to either become bitter or better. Life’s not fair, and when we’re passed over for a promotion, betrayed by a friend, or abandoned by a loved one, our first reaction is usually hostility, irritation, and feelings of failure. But it’s in those very adversities that we can exhibit Christ’s life in our moral flesh… as we determine to display Jesus to others in the very midst of the hardship. Psalm 91:15 tells us that God is with us in the middle of troubles and will deliver and honor us…but only if we choose to obey and put aside all bitterness, rage, and anger. (Ephesians 4:31)