Author: kezha1

Today we’re going to look at three words – distraction, traction, and action – and how removing a few letters can teach us obedience. Every day we are distracted & deluded by worldly standards & secular views as they worm their way into our life. We know that the wisdom of the world is far from the wisdom of the Cross, but it’s so easy to succumb as we absentmindedly scroll on our phones. So how can we change this vicious cycle? Take the first three letters away from distraction and you get traction… which is what we need to push ourselves away from the world and closer to God. Next, take the first two letters away from traction and you get action…which is what we need to be doing to bring every thought, idea, motive, desire, and decision under the obedience of Christ. So how do we draw closer to God? We develop a consistent discipline of getting into His Word on a regular basis…removing things that don’t align with His Word to remain within His Will.

A great example of this quote from Spurgeon is found in Luke 15: 11-32 about the Prodigal son… where the youngest son asks for his inheritance early only to waste it all on a life of extravagance. This story is one of redemption filled with mercy and grace as his father waits for the son to return home. As the dad prayed daily, he held firm in his unconditional love for his boy and trust in God that his son would eventually come to his senses and return. We really don’t know how long the father prayed…it could have been months; it could have been years…but one thing was evident… he never lost heart. (Luke 18:1 & I Thessalonians 5:16-18)

In this passage, Hosea uses plowing as a metaphor for repentance and spiritual renewal. In the same vein, the Puritan Pastor, Charles Spurgeon, once penned, “Trials teach us what we are; they dig up the soil and let us see what we’re made of.” We can be moving along life’s path happy, blessed, and subconsciously thinking nothing bad will ever touch us…to the point we’re smug and almost prideful in our virtues and importance to God…when WHAM, we’re hit with a life-threatening diagnosis, sudden loss of a loved one, or crippling illness. Our life has been so easy, so wonderful, that our faith & trust in God has become fallow & dormant…but these trials break up the unplowed soil of complacency in our soul…leading us to repentance and a renewed spirit, as we acknowledge to ourselves that we’re only dust. (Genesis 3:19)

In this verse, David reflects on his deep, unwavering faith and trust in God’s promises, and expresses his confidence despite facing adversities daily. Psalm 119:68 reminds us that, ‘You are good, and what You do is good.”…regardless of our situation & circumstances throughout our lifetime here on earth. For God’s goodness transcends this broken world…so that we may rejoice and have hope, rather than live in despair.

King David and the entire house of Israel are bringing the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem. There was much joy and gladness as the procession moved along. Verse 14 tells us that David removed his royal robes and danced before the Lord with all his might… which infuriated his wife, Michal, who chastised him for his undignified behavior. But David rejected her sarcastic remarks, instead telling her that he was willing to become completely abased that the Lord may receive the honor due Him. We can celebrate loudly & exuberantly for touchdowns and homeruns, but when it comes to celebrating before the Lord, we feel we must be subdued, muted, and restrained in our joy. But like David, we should be able to celebrate, not holding anything back in our expression of heartfelt worship.

Throughout this passage in Amos, God decries just how far His people have wandered from Him and His Law. The first sin was the oppression of the poor with social injustice, and crooked judges. The second sin was the sexual immorality of sex trafficking/sex trade that had become common place. The next sin was religious abuse…of forcing people to compromise their oaths. Specifically, it was coercing Nazarites to surrender their basis vows made to God. Finally, the last sin was commanding the prophets not to prophesy…effectively silencing the Voice of God by silencing His Messengers. Thus, God’s judgment was at the door for His wayward people, and nothing was going to remove His wrath.

This proverb is the contrast between wisdom and folly that is in our hands every day. D0 we reject wise counsel and instead listen to the siren song of fools, (Ecclesiastes 7:5) or do we accept correction from someone much wiser than us and consequently grow wiser for it? (Proverbs 12:1) God-given wisdom accepts instruction, is self-disciplined, and loves knowledge…and because of it will be honored before men.

This conversation takes place in the Upper Room during the Last Supper. Jesus has just informed the disciples that the one who was about to betray Him was seated at the table with all of them. The murmurings among the Twelve started as a smug denial that it couldn’t possibly be them who would do such a heinous deed…but it quickly digressed into a pompous and arrogant dispute of who was the greatest. This shameful revelry between Jesus’ closest Followers was a painful reminder of just how far even they were from fully understanding the Servant’s Mission that Jesus preached and lived perfectly here on earth. It was then that Jesus redirected their attention and ultimate purpose back to being a servant rather than being served.

When other’s disappointments spill over onto you…. when their discouragement is tangible…when they vent & express frustration over things they have no control over… don’t allow it to influence your emotional state. For when you become as dismayed as they are, you can’t begin to encourage, comfort, or give hope. And you’ll find you both winding up despondent, sad, and depressed. Instead seek the Lord first…looking to Him for the hope of the impossible, peace in the presence of misery, and comfort regardless of the outcome.

Just a few verses later Paul repeats his lament of this inner conflict, “For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do – this I keep on doing.” (Romans 7:19) Here, Paul is bemoaning the real and bewildering inner conflict between the two natures within him…the old nature of sin and fleshly desires, and the new nature of grace and a renewed mind. This is where our Salvation and the “already and not yet” needs to come into play. As a Christain, we have been already liberated from the power of sin, but we are not yet free from the presence of sin. And so as long as we live here on earth, this conflict will continue to raise its slimy little head.