After I finished my last blog, I began working on my third assignment for my current writing class. What I learned opened my eyes and reminded me what it meant to be born again. The assignment was about how writers can draw from their memories for information and inspiration; hence, it being called a "memory" source, Da. In order to stir up memories, one must fine-tune and narrow it down by asking questions. The first question that came to mind for me was, "When did I first realize that there needed to be a change in my life if I was going to follow Jesus?.. When did I realize I need to be crucified?"
For almost 2 years I have believed that this came from the heart ache and pain that I felt from the betrayal of friends and MISSING a young woman that I love. However, I realized that I should've realized this when I first gave my life to Christ. But it wasn't until I died in 1997; yes I now understand Martin Johnson died in 1997. For years I've called this a near-death experience. It was so much more than that, it was a death and rebirthing . I even told most of my friends that the old Martin was DEAD AND GONE. Didn't I, Red? Yet, now more than ever I realize that is when everything really changed for me; no more drinking, drugs, premarital sex nor staying out dancing all night long. Now I get to dance at the skating rink, the gym, on the front porch or just in my bedroom. I'm just thankful to be able to walk and move... to breathe… to really live.
I don't have to go to a club to, " get my dance on." In HINDSIGHT, I vividly remember thinking, "The Christian lifestyle is going to be boring and the music sucks." But at the same time I knew that I needed to make a change in my life. C.S. Lewis once said, "It is when I turn to Christ, when I give myself up to His Personality, that I first begin to have a personality of my own." The apostle Paul told the church that to live is Christ and that means I am crucified with Him (Philippians 1:21-22, Galatians 2:20-21). You see I didn't understand it then, but now I get it. I don't have to wait until I get to the Heaven, the Paradise city to be a babe in Christ; I was REBORN the moment I accepted Jesus and received the Holy Spirit. I became a transformer, I'm changed. And here's why I didn't get it, I was just a baby.
And I still am in more ways than one. Most of you who know me would agree that I am just a big kid: riding bikes, skating, and jumping rope. Don't forget I'd rather dance or die. And if you've ever seen me in the snow, you've seen the child in me really come out: making snow angels, snowmen, snowball fights. Brother Garvin, you, Jon and Nico better watch out when I come back to the big CO (Colorado). I just want to make the most out of this second chance at life that God has given me. Remember that’s what grace is, a second chance to get things right. I don't want to take for granted anything, especially the simple things in life, Spiritual or physical.
In 1997 God reminded me what it meant to be a child of God; it's so much more than just a BRAND NEW DAY (Lamentations 3:22-23), it's a BRAND NEW life. For Baptists, when you've BEEN THROUGH THE WATER it's symbolic of this new life. Remember when God flooded the earth because of the wickedness of man and God told Noah who walked with God to multiply? The Hebrew word used here for multiply is Rabah, which is most commonly translated as "be or become great". God wanted to start all over with man and do something new (Genesis 6:5-7:25).
In a recent message by James Merritt he explained, "Christianity isn't a new start in life. It's a new life to start with." That means we really do have a clean slate, it's not just that God removes or forgets our sin, He removes our old lives and gives us new ones in Him, we're SET FREE from our old lives. C. S. Lewis once noted, "God became man to turn creatures into sons: not simply to produce better men of the old kind." As a child of God the sky is the limit if you know who YOU ARE.
In his book Sons And Daughters Brady Boyd writes, "I have spent the past decade dissecting what God says about whom we are--- and about what we are, once we surrender our lives to Him. We are new and alive and blessed and free, righteous and holy and redeemed. We are joyful, prayerful, thankful and eternally positioned with Christ. We are called overcomers, Victors, ministers and saints, heirs and believers and friends. But the most compelling role I have been able to find is that of God's daughters and sons. If you were to unravel the fabric of my heart, the thematic thread you would be holding your hands would be this: getting clear on our identity-- and that alone--- is what determines how well we will live."
, Merritt continued, "If we're really born again, there will be evidence of it: fruit, fellowship and a following of Jesus. Once you become a child of God, it will be obvious. You don't have to be religious to go to heaven; you can get all the head knowledge and still go to hell." Spiritual maturity isn't memorizing and learning Scripture, its living Scripture. Jesus Himself explained this to one of the chief Pharisees (religious leader). Listen to how He explained it to Nicodemus (John 3:1-21). Nicodemus is a picture of a lot of Christians today. We talk the talk, go to church, and try to memorize as much Scripture as possible to SHOW OFF to our friends so we can look Christian and mature. But, what we prove is our immaturity, learning and memorizing Scripture is the easy part of Christianity, it's walking and living it out that's hard. Like little children we are called to trust and obey.
Jesus said Himself, "If you love Me, you will obey Me (John 14:15, 21, 23, 15:10, 1 John 2:3, 5:3, 2 John 1:6). That has been God's command since He gave His first commission to His first children in THE GARDEN to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:26-28). That's what God told the first Adam who walked with God. He dropped the ball, didn't he? I don't believe God was talking about having sex and having children for more than one reason. God told the creations that were created in His image (a community) to go and make more people who will walk with Him. Bearing fruits is a very Jewish way of saying grow or increase spiritually, later the prophet Isaiah used this term in his Messianic prediction about Jesse's roots ( Isaiah 11:1). Jesus would be the first of many sons.
The same word for multiply to Noah is used here. Later in Genesis God gave a promise about greatness (Genesis 12:1-3) to Abram who would offer to sacrifice his only son. We all know Eve gave birth to two sons, one who sacrificed his best (sheep) and the other who really didn't sacrifice. Able understood the cost of walking with God.
I don't know about any of you reading this, but I don't need anyone to tell me to go and have sex. If anything I need someone to tell me not to. Scripture even supports this (1 Samuel 21:5, 1 Samuel 21:5, Romans 1:24, 1 Corinthians 7:2, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4). After all, TRUE LOVE WAITS. For those of you who know me, know that all it takes is a BROWN EYED GIRL with brown hair and I become like a car with an old timing belt, I'll run. But I'm not hitting on all cylinders; it's just a matter of time before I lock down. Most Christians would quote Paul and say," It is better to marry, than to burn. (1 Corinthians 7:9). But they neglect the fact that he states "if" you cannot control yourself.
However, as a "child of God", He makes the IMPOSSIBLE, POSSIBLE. Here comes a sacrifice.. I must die to myself and that means the desires of my flesh, all of them. It's really the basics of life in Christ, its Christianity 101. Truth be told we just don't want to control ourselves.. to obey and we rush into marriage for the wrong reason; marriage is a license to love, not lust. Remember a real lady knows THE DIFFERENCE; love is about giving and lust is about taking. I honestly believe that was the biggest lesson that I learned in college when I walked away from God for six years. Although I thought, I'm grown and I'm ready for the world. My heavenly Father knew those mistakes would CHISEL ME and make me MAN UP. Which is what this blog will be about, being a child of God and how He loves us.
CHILD?
During the INTRO to this blog, I want to remind you that in my last blog I explained that God sees believers as His Children. I'm going to continue with that perspective in this blog. I may not have any children of my own, yet. But one day I hope to have many children. Because the Psalmist says that blessed be the man whose quiver is full of children (Psalm 127:4-5). I have heard countless friends describe their children as being perfect when they are first born. But give it four years and it is another story.
It’s no wonder that the writer of Genesis tells us Abraham pleaded with God for children. Do you remember the song? And because of this we are CHILDREN OF THE LIVING GOD, perfect in His sight. The apostle Peter called Jesus the perfect Lamb of God, without blemish (1 Peter 1:19). My friend and brother in men's ministry, Hal Taylor often quotes the apostle Paul's letter to the church in Galatia (Galatians 4:4-6). A few years back, I heard Christian author and speaker Justin Lookado share his testimony about how he was adopted as a little boy. Lookado states that in being adopted, his parents didn't get stuck with him, they chose him.
John tells us that Jesus told his disciples that, He chose us (John 15:16). Remember, Jesus also told Nicodemus that he had to be born again to enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus said,"Whosoever doesn't receive the kingdom of Heaven LIKE A CHILD, will not enter it (Mark 10:15, Luke 18:17)." Listen to how Jesus taught His disciples to pray," Our Father which art in heaven, HALLOWED be thy name (Matthew 6:9, Luke 11:2) ." The apostle Paul told the church in Rome that those led by the spirit are the children of God and by that spirit we cry out ABBA, FATHER (Romans 8:12-17).
In his book, Jesus Wants to Save Christians (a Manifesto for the Church in Exile) Rob Bell says that our God is a god that hears the cry of the oppressed; He isn't just some god out there in the cosmos. Bell cites the writer of Exodus when God tells Moses," I have heard the cry of my children and I have seen how the Egyptians are oppressing them and I am going to come to their rescue (Exodus 3:7-8). Later the writer of Exodus tells us about the Ten Commandments. Remember those? Just in case you don't, there is one where God says honor thy father and mother. And who is thy father? Wow, is this the HERO of the day. This god hears and sees, then saves us, TIME AFTER TIME. The Hebrew word used for cry is Sa'aq. It is an expression of pain, the ouch, the sound a child utters when it is HURT.
Bell says Sa' aq is also a question that arises out of the pain, where is justice? It is a way of saying WHERE WERE YOU? Where were you when I hit rock bottom, where were you when the towers came crashing down. It is the sound I make when I get to the end of my rope. It is the sound we make when we are DESPERATE for help. So in my time of need God is the HERO, I know I can call on you. And God will be my father as He comes to my RESCUE and I will CRY NO MORE. How many times have we cried out to God, why? If you have children, that in itself is a sign that we are children, they ask, why this or why that. And you say Father knows best and He says YOU KNOW BETTER THAN THAT.
I hated hearing that when I was a kid. God knows BETTER THAN I. God knows that there will be days when we say yes, I BELIEVE IN YOU and days when we ask ARE YOU REAL? There are times when I feel like SOMEBODY'S WATCHING ME and times when I ask WHO'S WATCHING ME? And like a child, there are days when we say dad....God, I'm watching you. That is why Paul told the church in Ephesus, not to be tossed to and fro by every wind of teaching, instead Grow up ( Ephesians 4:15-16) into Him who is the head, that is Christ.
And also to the church in Corinth he said stop thinking like children (1 Corinthians 14:20). This explains why sometimes we try to RUNAWAY and HIDE from God like a true CHILD OF EDEN; remember what Adam and Eve did in the book of Genesis? I can act pretty childish sometimes. Which is why IT AMAZES ME how with all my sin and shame, I don't LOSE MY SOUL. I'm left SPEECHLESS as God still says YOU ARE A CHILD OF MINE and I love you this much. That feeling I get when daddy says I'm beautiful , lets me know I am His CHILD.
NAMES? 2.0
The one thing that I'm looking forward to more than hearing my pastor say MR. AND MRS. Martin Thomas Johnson is the birth of my first child, especially if it is a son. They are the ones who will carry on the family name. Remember having children is so much more than just a physical thing. It transcends the physical by them being a REFLECTION of their parents, their nature and character. Some parents have even looked at children as a way to begin again. Some religions believe that you can earn your way to heaven by having children. Over the years in working with men in men's ministry I've heard countless men use their children and families as an excuse not to be more active and involved in the church.
Brady Boyd continues, “I’d be willing to bet that easily more than half of our population has never had an earthly father place his hands on their shoulders and with the warmth and sincerity pray a prayer of blessing over their lives. They never once heard the words, ‘You are my son…. My daughter…. And I delight in you.’They have never known the feeling of truly being seen, of being loved. Of being cheered on in the same way that God affirmed His own Son. Just before Jesus began His public ministry here on planet Earth, He chose to be baptized by John, as a way of letting onlookers know that He was devoted to following His heavenly Father’s will rather than going the world’s way with His life.” Here God taught us how to love our children.
C. S. Lewis once wrote, “Once a man is united to God, how could he not live forever?” Maybe that's why God calls us His children. If you have one, you should be thankful; which is appropriate seeing how we will celebrate Thanksgiving in a few weeks. I spent last Thanksgiving with my mentor and his family. Again, they have accepted me as one of their own.. in a sense adopted me. I can really relate to the Apostle Paul's declaration to the church in Galatia (Galatians 4:4-5). My mentor treats me as one of his own. I know I can trust and depend on him. He walks with me through the ups and downs of life.
Which reminds me of when I lived in Italy and got my first bike, an orange Road Runner bike and my father would run along right beside me as he tried to teach me how to stop. That's what fathers do, they’re right next to you when you're young and learning; in a sense its discipleship 101.
Perhaps this goes back to that first commission in the garden; which brings me to the second Adam and the Great Commission He gave to His disciples. Jesus Christ restores the relationship we lost in the garden. So Christians are to live in a way that God will be exalted, not us. WHAT YOU HERE FOR? But, we treat Jesus’ command as if it's a game of LASER TAG when we think we can quote Scripture and shine a “light” on someone for a moment and they become disciples. Discipleship is walking with someone and showing them the ways of God.
In a recent message by Bill Purvis he explained, “When King Herod had heard that the messianic prophecy had been filled he issued an order ‘to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled (Matthew 2:16-18).” God’s Son Jesus was a blessing to the world.
God makes it clear that children are blessings, not a curse. However in 2008, approximately 1.21 million abortions took place in the U.S., down from an estimated 1.29 million in 2002, 1.31 million in 2000 and 1.36 million in 1996. From 1973 through 2008, nearly 50 million legal abortions have occurred in the U.S. (AGI). 37% of women obtaining abortions identify themselves as Protestant, and 28% identify themselves as Catholic (AGI). At current rates, nearly one-third of American women will have an abortion (AGI). A few years ago a coworker of mine shared with me that her new husband had an affair which resulted in a child. She told me this because that's how she learned she was unable to bear children. It broke my heart to hear her agony and the pain of some sick twist of fate. I’m happy to say, she toughed it out, honored God and is still married. She recently shared with me, “He turned out to be a pretty good husband.”
PAIN? 2.0
Pain, we've all experienced it both as adults and as children. Remember when you are a kid and all you had to worry about was how late you could stay out without getting in trouble. Life was simple; we really didn't have any responsibilities. But we wanted to grow up to have more freedom to do what we wanted. It's a lot like our church life, isn't it? We want to go to heaven and to follow Jesus. But we didn't realize how much responsibility there was. Jesus Himself explained this responsibility (Luke 12:48). A few chapters later Jesus teaches the multitudes about the cost ( Luke 14:25-35) of really following Him and not simply admiring Him like you do some SUPERSTAR or athlete; being a disciple.. a follower of Jesus requires all of me, not part of me. It sort of makes you want to go back to your old life.
In his book Not A Fan, Kyle Idleman writes, “Jesus defines the relationship by making it clear that if we follow Him, we follow Him and Him alone. He won't share us--- not with money, not with a career, not even with your family. Maybe you’ve read a passage like this and it seems that God is being a little possessive and jealous. But understand this-- when Jesus explains that He will not share your affection or devotion, He isn't just saying how He wants to be loved by you; He is making it clear how He loves you. Trying to follow Jesus part time or halfhearted is impossible. The relationship He wants with you requires your whole heart. And fans should note that His terms are not negotiable. So before you say, ‘I want to be a follower,’ be sure you understand what it's going to cost you.”
And all this time the church thought she was the it girl, because she talked the talk and looked good, when she's just a she wolf. She's hot-N-cold, when walking with God is easy she's on fire; but when it's time to grow up, not so much.What scares me the most is, she doesn't even blush about it. While I was in Colorado three years ago, I remember one morning after church at New Life seeing a couple of kids scooping the snow off the back of the cars and having snowball fights. Those were the good times for me as a child. But the older we get the more responsibility we get and everything sucks.
There are bills, deadlines and it takes longer to remember everything. It kind of makes you wish that you could start over, doesn't it? Some of you may be thinking don't judge me. Mature Christians recognize the need for correction and welcome it. Let's not forget the difference between judgment and correction. Judgment is final and God gets the final say so on it. While correction isn't and it's our choice what you do it, correction is for our good and can prepare us for God's final judgment. However, like a child we REBEL and God has to teach us over and over. Doesn't He? So if we refuse correction, we don't want to grow up. Welcome to free will.
Idleman continues, “When you experience the pains of life where do you turn? Maybe it's to a parent or a spouse. Maybe it's to the refrigerator. Do you bury yourself in work? All of these things have the potential to compete with Jesus for our devotion and affection. There is certainly nothing wrong with finding comfort from family and friends; that's part of God's design. But the question is, “If they take the place of Jesus? I have found that when someone goes through a difficult time or a painful circumstance, who or what they are truly following is often revealed. When our first response to suffering is to turn to anyone or anything other than Jesus it may reveal that are affection is divided and we are following someone or something other than Jesus.
Bill Purvis explains, “Scripture contains the law of reoccurrence.” The law of reoccurrence simply states, a thing occurs and then, if it is repeated, it recurs. It is by repetition that we learn things. The Lord understands human psychology and knows that a thing must be repeated time and time again in order to make the proper impression upon the human mind. It is therefore in accordance with this principle that the Lord has adopted the principle of the law of recurrence.
Purvis continues, “The word glory is used 400 times in Scripture and is almost always preceded by the word suffer (Romans 8: 18, 1 Peter 1: 11, 1 Peter 4:13, 1 Peter 5:1). On the other side of suffering is a glory. God never blessed person greatly that didn't suffer.” First we must keep our suffering in the proper perspective; it's not punishment for sin. Scripture is clear that the testing of our faith through trials is what helps us to grow (Romans 5:3-5, Hebrews 6:12, 1 Peter 1:7). The author of Hebrews says that if God doesn't discipline (correct) us; we aren't His children (Hebrews 12:6-8).
With that mindset we can look at the struggles in our lives with more hope. Listen to what the writer of Hebrews had to say about Moses (Hebrews 11:24-29). This is why trials in life are a beautiful place. Billy Graham once said, “Trials and difficulties may assail the life of the believer, but they also have the ability to remold his character and banish from his life those impurities which might impair growth and service. “As I look back over my “new“life I can see God's discipline and the building of my faith.
Five months after my accident in 1997, my grandmother passed away. Two months later I was in another car accident. The next year my mother filed for divorce from my father. Five years later my mother was diagnosed with lung cancer. A year later my father was diagnosed with lung cancer, he died three months later; followed by my mother just four months afterwards. Over this same time I met my mentor in 1998 and his father passed away. After my parents died, our relationship grew stronger and when I was fired from my job in 2008, it was my mentor who was there for me and told me to sign up for disability. Our relationship has grown from him being a brother in Christ to a Sunday school teacher to a mentor and finally father figure. For that Paul, I say thank you.
We don't always see eye to eye. My mentor is the first tell me he doesn't like my hardware (nose ring and ear rings). Still, I can think of no other man on earth that I would look to as a father figure other than him. Here is another way we are brothers, siblings don't always see eye to eye and sometimes have pretty physical arguments. I remember hen I was younger and my family lived in Virginia. My older sister and I had an argument while out roller-skating, one PUSH off the curb and she broke her arm. I'm not sure if Virginia just has a lot of high curbs, but I broke both of her arms and legs on separate occasions. I was a mischievous little boy and I guess I still am. The apostle Paul addresses arguing in the church in his letter to Titus (Titus 3: 3-11). Welcome to the family.
Last year I remember going to my mentor’s mother-in-law's house for Thanksgiving with her. While the women were inside doing whatever women do, my mentor and I along with his son-in-law and nephew walked through an old pecan orchard and picked up pecans. It's kind of a bonding thing between us. Here in the South, pecans begin falling around early October when the winds pick up and the temperature drops. That day God showed me a lot. Pecan trees like Christians will bear fruit. However, it's not until the harsh winds of life blow that the fruits are scattered.
God had to teach the early church this lesson when they disobeyed Him and stayed in Jerusalem after Jesus told them to go and SPREAD THE GOSPEL. It was the persecution of the church that finally got them to move out of their comfort zones. Simple obedience is the key to the success of the Great Commission. Then again most Christians don't like change, do we? Maybe that's why we don't like going through the GROWING PAINS. However, as Idleman explains, “When we learn to truly follow Jesus, “obedience to God comes from the inside out. Submission to what God wants for our lives flows naturally out of that relationship.”
If it was love that held Jesus to the cross while He was in pain. It's our love for and devotion to Him that will help us to follow Him through our pain. Idleman points out, “If you read through the four Gospels that tell of Christ's life, you find that Jesus says ‘Believe in me’ about five times. Then care to guess how many times Jesus said ‘Follow me’? About 20 times. Now I'm not saying that following is more important than believing. What I am saying is that the two are firmly connected. They are the heart and lungs of faith. One can live without the other. If you try and separate the message of follow from the message of believe, belief dies in the process… Following is part of believing. To actually believe is to follow.” Remember what Peter wrote (1 Peter 2:21)? When Christ, said, “Come to Me all who are weary (Matthew 11:28. It wasn't a call to an easy life or to laziness and surely not to apathy. The early church understood this (Acts 5:17 -42, 14:22). It was a call to die.. to change and to live again. Somehow deep down inside like when we disobeyed our parents and did wrong, we know we are wrong. Thomas Carlyle observed, “Conviction … is worthless till it converts itself into conduct.”
Another thing that starts around the same time is the autumn leaf color change. Like the pecans, it's the harsh temperature changes and lack of light that cause leaves to produce less chlorophyll which results in the color change. As the daylight hours decrease and the temperature as well, the leaves become weaker and fall with the blowing winds. If not new leaves won't be able to grow in the spring as the daylight hours increase. Do you see the sacrifice in nature? Charles Spurgeon once stated, “Trials are winds which root the tree of our faith.”
It's difficult times and suffering that causes us to grow. This is the spiritual meat that we should crave as we grow older. Grace is the spiritual milk that we receive his newborns, (1 Corinthians 3:2, 14:20, 1 Peter 2:2) any child can understand do bad and get good. Who wouldn't want that? It sounds sweet to me. And there's the problem, we've gotten so used to the sweet part of the gospel, but we can't stay there. It's almost like going into a sugar induced coma to
numb the pain, we like the Jesus high and we don’t want to come down off that mountain top. And we try to avoid the very thing God wants to use to help us to grow; before I work out I “carb” up to increase my insulin levels to fuel me for my work out. But afterwards I began taking in meat and protein because that's what helps me to grow.
The music and praise time should be the icing on the cake, not the cake itself. Besides emotionalism isn't spirituality, it is simply a stirring of feelings as opposed to a stirring of the Spirit. Which do you think helps us grow more? Listen to Paul( Galatians 6:8-9).
In a couple of weeks many of you will sit down at the dinner table for Thanksgiving dinner and the main course will be Turkey, not the sweets; unless of course you're still a little child with a sweet tooth. The trials and suffering are what’s hard to swallow, but that’s what makes us grow and grow stronger. Not the easy or sweet crap. Jesus is the focus of our salvation, not the blessings. When I was growing up, in the church there was a saying, “Let the main thing the main thing. Nothing else really matters.” Jesus told His disciples unless they eat Him, they have no life in Him (John 6:53-55). Please don't think I'm calling Jesus a turkey, we all know He is the sacrificial lamb. Besides if you know me, you know I don't like turkey. MY JOY comes from Jesus, not His blessings.
Idleman continues, “Jesus makes no apologies for His strong words He wants people to be clear about what they are signing on for. Many fans responded to the gospel message that was designed to sound as easy and as appealing as possible. It's like the new homeowner who signed on the dotted line to buy the house with no money down interest-only payments for a year, they find themselves a little shocked to discover the terms Jesus actually laid out. But this wasn't the fine print of His message. It was the main point.” They didn’t know there would be pain.
In Jewish culture the common term for this is sifting. Which is very Jewish way of saying, “I'm going to tear you apart and see what you're made of.. to see if you’re real or authentic.” This can be very painful both spiritually and physically. Rick Lawrence writes in his book Sifted, “"It is the kindest thing God can do for His children, sometimes, to let them fall in the mire. You would not hold by your Father's hand; you struggled to pull it away; He let it go, and there you lay. Now that you stretch forth the hand to him again, He will take you, and clean, not your garments only, but your heart, and soul, and consciousness. The principle of sifting is a beating that's followed by a separating that reveals something valuable. Beat. Separate, reveal.” Jesus told Peter that Satan wanted to sift him (Luke 22:31). Bill Purvis explains, “You don't know what's in somebody until they've been tested. A love that can't be tested is a love that can't be trusted. “ Look at what a Caterpillar goes through before becoming a butterfly.
God is always talking to His children, like a true father. Problem is true to the nature of a child, we don't always LISTEN. Do we? Go back and read the book of Psalms, David was constantly meditating on God's word and listening to Him after he cried out. David called every word beautiful and excellent. According to Jesus you CAN'T ERASE IT (Matthew 5:17-18). Not even the difficult parts, the parts he didn't want to hear or understand…what we call the Law. David knew the law proved how much he needed His Father and a father’s love, grace. His GRACE ABOUNDS.
Last month I went for a bike ride and found myself at my favorite place to listen to God. I remembered that just two years ago I had hoped to share that place with the young woman I love. I found myself asking God why He had changed my heart. I realized there's a difference between God working in our hearts and in our lives. We've become dream slaves and expect God to jump at our beck and call because we’re His children. But children are supposed to listen to and honor their parents, not the other way around. He has the right to lead and guide me on my journey through life.
King David pointed out that God gives us the desires of our heart, “if” we delight in and seek God first (Psalm 37:4). John points out our desires must be in accordance to God's will, not ours (1 John 5:14-15). It seems we want our dreams more than we want the dream giver, which is idolatry. John Piper notes, “Christ is glorified in me when people see He is more precious to me than all that life can give or death can take.” I honestly believe that I dodged a bullet by God not giving me what I wanted earlier this year. I knew she was trouble from the start; I should have listened to my mentor and friends all along.
Perhaps this is why both the prophet Jeremiah and Jesus warned us not to LISTEN to our hearts (Jeremiah 17:9, Matthew 13:15). The old saying is, “God gave us two ears and one mouth, and so we should listen as twice as much as we talk.” If we SLOW DOWN and pay attention, God will open our eyes. For my 4th assignment I had to interview someone for my book to hear their perspective and use their expertise. I opted to interview a local man who raises sheep to sell the meat commercially. The purpose was to listen and learn. And what I learned about sheep really helped me grow as a Christian. Sheep will follow whatever or whomever provides their needs no matter who gives it to them. However, Jesus declared that His sheep know His voice and listen to Him and they will never follow another (John 10:27).
Idleman explains, “Probably the best biblical word for intimacy is the word ‘know.’ But this knowing goes much deeper than knowledge. The Bible first uses this word to describe a relationship in Genesis 4:1, Adam knew Eve his wife (KJV). The Hebrew word for ‘knew’ here is the word ‘yada.’ Here's the best way to define the word ’yada’: to know completely and to be completely known. But the NIV translates the word a little differently, because it puts it in context what's happening. So your Bible probably says in Genesis 4:1 Adam lay with his wife Eve…. You get the picture?” It's not head knowledge and even more than heart knowledge, it's a complete knowledge that's intimate, which comes from listening and learning. Much like with your wife or child.
Are you always praying, which is talking and not listening? I wonder, if God isn't looking down and thinking just shut up? I know that's not politically correct, get over it. I'm sure He is thinking JUST HUSH up, sweet child of mine. Yet, we are taught to keep asking, keep praying and God will answer us. God always answers us, just not the way we want it. Is this really how the church looks at parenting? No wonder our kids and country are OUTTA CONTROL!
We've spoiled them. Just THROW YA HANDS UP and keep asking, whining and begging and God will give me everything I want, right? Jesus spoke directly against repetitious prayer (Matthew 6:6-7). Our heavenly Father knows and provides our needs, not wants, A wise parent knows this and practices this; they know how to say “no,” just like God. Sometimes it may even mean seeing their child hurt or be disappointed at the time. Let me be clear Scripture is clear to go to God for your needs (Ephesians 6:18, Philippians 4:6, 1 Timothy 2:2, 5:5,) that’s HIS KIND OF LOVE. But we are to give it to Him and leave it with Him, not keep worrying about it, where’s the faith and trust? Eugene Peterson states, “Prayer is political action …. Prayer is public good. Far more of our nation's life is shaped by prayer than is formed by legislation.” We must accept His answer, no matter what. Dietrich Bonhoeffer once noted, “Being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously & actively doing God's will.”
Remember, as a parent who loves their children, sometimes you have to wait and let them learn on their own. This is how they grow. Perhaps we've forgotten Jesus’ parable about the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). And that's what happened to me when I walked away from God and my faith for six years. When I hit rock bottom and came RUNNING back, love outran me. Brody Boyd explains, “The son belonged here, in his father's house. Truly he had nothing to prove.” Maybe this is why the prophet Moses said a man (or woman) must leave their parents before they marry (Genesis 2:24) and Paul called this a mystery. Paul goes on to say he is talking about the Bridegroom and the bride. Every man knows to make sure that a woman has let go of mom’s apron strings and dad’s wallet before you think about marriage, it's a guy 101.
This is a time when we learn to trust God. Parents can't always be a storm shelter for the children, that's God's job to come to the rescue. This is why I’m thankful, GOD IS MY DADDY. Pardon my vernacular, but there's something incredibly hot about a young woman who has learned to rely on and trust her heavenly Father, more than her earthly parents. I even see this as reflection of her parent’s faith by them letting her grow up; they know they are not in control.
Idleman explains, “Some fans are like the sudducees. Their faith was something they were born into. It was never really something they chose. Maybe when you were born your parents gave you a mask, and you grew up acting like Christians act, talking how Christians talked, listening to the music Christians listen to; but you never fell in love with Jesus. Your faith has always been more about honoring your heritage than surrendering your heart.” I know life can be scary; I've had my share of scary moments. I'm not too proud to admit there are days I stay on my knees crying out to God, there is no need to PUT ON a mask, when you put on Jesus.
I'm sure some of you reading this feel that if I were a “true” child of God I would be FEARLESS. Let's get this straight, children get frightened and doubt. The apostle Paul makes it clear that any confidence I have, it is in my heavenly Father because He won the victory through the sacrifice of His Son (2 Corinthians 1:14, 3:1, 10:7, 12:1-9). One of my neighbors has a six-month-old baby; my neighbor approached me to apologize for her crying at night and early morning. What he didn't realize was that each time I hear his daughter cry, I smile. Because it reminds me of how I cry out to God when I'm scared that the skyfalls and how to God it's a joyful noise and He will never leave me, it's Alright. Because of His perfect SACRIFICE we are joint heirs, brothers, sisters, daughters; all God sees is a child.
