Grudges and Hope

Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you. (Proverbs 20:22 ESV)

Grudges and Hope

Bill Cosby had a stand-up routine in which he described a grudge he carried against Junior Barnes. One winter, Junior had hit Bill with a particularly nasty snowball. Bill did not have the opportunity to get even, so he squirrelled away an icy conglomeration of slush and ice in the back of his freezer. One summer day he surprised Junior by jumping out and hitting ole Junior with the ice-ball. Bill carried his grudge until that moment.

“Grudge” is another way of saying, “I want revenge.”

God promises that He will deliver us. That means that He will provide the assistance we need. It means that our grudge-bearing is unnecessary. Further, He exclaims that vengeance is HIS, not ours. (Deuteronomy 32:35, Romans 12:19, Hebrews 10:30) God’s vengeance is “better” than ours. He has power, knowledge, timelessness, and understanding on His side. Also, the vengeance He offers is usually powdered with grace and mercy, which in a strange way allows us to not only have vengeance, but to LOVE our enemies. (Matthew 5:44)

Grudge-bearing is only fun in the way that dental work is fun. Or in the way that finding cockroaches in your coffee cup is fun. Or in the way that driving without a spare tire is fun.

It is not fun.

But God promises that He will take care of whatever has caused our grudge. Let Him do it. He is better at it than we are.

Take the hope God grants us.

Grudges and Faith

…bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. (Colossians 3:13 ESV)

Grudges and Faith

My dad used to say, usually when the Detroit Tigers were being utterly defeated, and referring to their chances of still winning, “If it’s happened before, It can happen again.”

Upsets have happened before. That is enough of a reason, perhaps, to believe it can happen today.

It is hard to forgive. Particularly when the offender is not repentant. Particularly when the offender does not acknowledge the wrong, but actually justifies it. Particularly when the offender caused substantial harm, either emotionally or physically.

So often we choose to hold grudges.

We might be saying, in fact, that forgiveness in certain cases is impossible. The knife still cuts too deeply. The tears still flow in the middle of the night. We remember too much to forget or forgive.

But Paul reminds us that some AMAZING forgiveness has taken place in the past. While he might have reminded us of past forgivings like the forgiveness given to Adam, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Peter, and Paul himself, instead Paul writes of the forgiveness that WE have received.

God forgave us. Not lightly, but with cost. Not ignorantly, but with more knowledge than we would think possible. Not naively, but purposefully.

God forgave us with love.

And that is the background of how we can possibly step beyond the chasm of our grudges.

Forgiveness is hard. Forgiveness is unnatural. Forgiveness hurts, it seems, even more than the original offense.

But it has happened before. Believe it can happen again.

Take the faith God grants us.

Monsters and Love

…but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 ESV)

Monsters and Love

We usually notice the monsterliness of other people. THAT person was cruel. THAT person was selfish. THAT person was dastardly.

But our monster-hunting does not need to look at THAT person to find a monster. We are monsters. If monsters are those who are such terrible sinners that we deserve eternal death, then such are we. If monsters are those whose hearts are cold, self-centered, and greedy, then such are we. If monsters are those that rebel against the good God of the universe, then such are we. If monsters are such that we place ourselves in the center of our worlds, attempting to dethrone God, then such are we.

Yes, we who are God’s people are monsters.

And yet, God loves His people.

He did not wait until we slough off our monster skin to love us. He loves us, and then shows us how to have new skins.

He did not wait for us to become lovely to love us. He loves us, and then teaches us to love.

He did not wait for us to reject our monsterlike attributes. He loves us, and then shows us how to be like Him.

While we were yet monsters, even today, He died for us.

Take the love God grants us.

Monsters and Hope

And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, (Revelation 20:2 ESV)

Monsters and Hope

Even the scariest movies are not so bad the second time we watch them. Even though the suspenseful music is still spine-chilling, re-watching the movie is not as scary. Even though the anticipation of terror is still agonizing, re-watching the movie is not as scary. Even though the monsters are still monstrous, re-watching the movie is not as scary. Because when we know the end, hope is subtly in every scene.

God’s enemies, fierce and cruel, were defeated on the cross.

God’s enemies, and the enemies of His people, were defeated on the cross.

God’s enemies, though they squirm and fight, were defeated on the cross.

And that sure knowledge gives hope.

We know the end of the story. God wins. We know the end of the story. Jesus wins. We know the end of the story. We win.

Hope is not a vague unsure cheerfulness. Hope is knowing the end of the story.

No, we do not know all of the steps needed to get to the end. But no enemies will outsmart God. No circumstances will upset God’s plans. No monsters will roar in triumph.

God wins. Jesus wins. We win.

If your personal monster is financial ruin, have hope because Jesus wins. If your personal monster is guilt, have hope because Jesus wins. If your personal monster is illness, have hope because Jesus wins. If your personal monster is loneliness, have hope because Jesus wins.

Take the hope God grants us.

Monsters and Faith

And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” (I Samuel 17:37 ESV)

Monsters and Faith

Lately no one cares about monsters. While maps used to warn, “here be dragons,” today we fool ourselves into thinking the monsters are all gone. We have learned, thanks to Shreck, to sympathize with monsters. We have learned, thanks to dinosaur toys, to play with monsters. We have learned, thanks to the concept of tolerance, to get along with most monsters.

But ignoring, redefining, or understanding monsters does not make them go away. It just makes them more dangerous. This is why we worry about wolves in sheep’s clothing. This is why we are scared of the dark. This is why we laugh at ostriches burying their heads.

But God gives us a powerful weapon when we choose to face monsters. He gives us faith. Faith is the weapon, even more than a sling and stones, that David wielded when confronting Israel’s monster, Goliath. David found faith remembering God’s practical, powerful, protective help in his past. Those lions and bears were monsters. But the Lord had delivered David.

And the Lord would deliver David this time, too!

We probably are not fighting dragons, giants, or vampires this week. But we are fighting monsters. Faith is the best weapon.

Our monsters might be our own sinful habits. Our monsters might be the effects of our past and present sin. Our monsters might be our opposition to God’s Word. Fight those monsters with faith, faith in our Lord Christ who defeated every sin while dying on the cross and exiting the tomb.

Our monsters might be the world outside the Kingdom of God. Our monsters might be a government beginning to obsess with restraining the church. Our monsters might be a court system interpreting laws in a hostile way against Christians. Our monsters might be an election. Not only fearing the potential results, but maybe too much focus on what in God’s economy is a very small thing. Fight those monsters with faith, faith in our King, Jesus, who is the true ruler, even when monsters appear to be winning.

Our monsters might be spiritual. While Satan’s forces are limited by time, space, and power, he does oppose strategically the work of the church. We know little about this type of monster, so we might tend to fear them the most. But faith is an effective weapon. Faith might be the only effective weapon, faith in the creator, protector, and victor, Jesus Christ.

Here be monsters.

Take the faith God grants us.

Travel and Love

And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:12 ESV)

Travel and Love

Explorer James Cook never traveled alone. He claimed that the value of a companion beside him outweighed the complex difficulties that other humans bring in their luggage. He believed that travel-mates bring perspective, protection, and pleasure.

Other explorers preferred to be alone. Daniel Boone, for example, seemed to explore because he preferred to be on his own. But even Boone, in a sense, was exploring looking for the ideal community.

Whether we are considering a travel-companion for a vacation to Iceland, a trip to the grocery store, or on life’s journey, it is worth contemplating what sort of companion is best.

The ideal companion is someone that you love.

Not necessarily romantically, or platonically, or familial-ly, but rather in the sense that you are willing and able to be unselfish with them. Traveling improves when you are aiming your thoughts, words, and deeds towards the good of someone else. Life, in fact, improves when you are aiming your thoughts, words, and deeds towards the good of someone else.

Cook would probably agree. A companion only concerned with their own safety, is not able to protect. A companion only concerned with their own point of view does not add perspective. A companion only concerned with their own selves does not bring pleasure.

The best travel companions are those able to love, and to be loved.

And therefore, the best travel companion of all is Christ Jesus.

He is always with us… but sometimes it is easy to forget about Him when we travel. We might skip church while traveling because we are on vacation. But He does not take a vacation from us, and loving Him through worship even when vacationing makes a cord not easily broken.

We might diminish our devotional habits while traveling because we are on vacation. Usually we are so very busy, and SOMETHING has to give way. But the increased activity while we travel is exactly the reason that we need that conversation with Christ Jesus… reading His Word and praying. And this provides perspective, protection, and pleasure.

But our traveling is not merely vacationing. We travel through our entire lives… on our way back home. And Christ Jesus provides the love that makes traveling grand. (John 10:10)

Love is a necessary part of our travels.

Take the love God grants us.

Travel and Hope

For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. (Hebrews 13:14 ESV)

Travel and Hope

We used to spend many, many, many, many, many, many hours on the road in the summer. And roads are not my favorite place. It seems our air conditioning was never strong enough, my sunglasses were never reflective enough, our snack food was never tasty enough, and my conversation-skills never riveting enough.

But the destinations made the miserable roads bearable.

Anticipated panoramic ocean views, lazy time with family or friends, heart-stopping (and re-starting) amusement parks, locations of profound historical significance, and occasional extravagant cabins all are waiting at the end of unpleasant pathways.

And the best destination is usually home.

When I am away, I am eager to get back home.

No matter how many road construction bumps and delays inhabit the highways, it is always worst just before getting home. No matter how fatiguing the caffeine-free hours, it is always worst just before getting home. No matter how repetitive the music, road signs, and scenery appear, It is always worst just before getting home.

So I look ahead, hoping for home.

True for vacation, work trips, and long distance visitings… but more-so for Christians.

Our entire life is traveling. We are on our way home. A few hymns speak of where our home is, and going home, and crossing the river on the way home… but those hymns get the idea from Scripture.

The most important adjective that attaches to ‘home’ is ‘heavenly.’

We are on our way home. The road is rough. But we know where we are going. And that can give birth to hope.

Take the hope God grants us.

Travel and Faith

Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away? (Jeremiah 23:23 ESV)

Travel and Faith

No, cell phone coverage is not everywhere. I have lived in places where there is no GPS, cell service, or wi-fi. Often when I am on the road, I find extensive regions where my phone displays no bars. The cell phone companies say they are everywhere… but everywhere does not always mean everywhere.

Because, really, rural South Dakota does not matter financially. Really, western Kansas apparently does not need phone coverage. Half of Oklahoma is off the cell phone grid. Most of Nevada does not have a cell phone presence. And even nearby Whitewater, Kansas, only has one cell phone company that is workable.

When we travel, we often find places where the phone companies are not.

Which reminds me that God is better than 5G. He really is everywhere.

He is near at hand, He tells Jeremiah, but also far away.

And that helps make travel a comfortable thing.

If we find ourselves worrying about our own travel, or the travel of a loved one, remember that God has actively helped travelers in precisely the same ways he helps His people at home.

Remember Noah, on the first cruise ship. Remember Abraham, the first immigrant. Remember Jacob, fearfully unrooting to Egypt and finding a NEW home where God also was present. Remember young David, journeying to the Valley of Elah to see a scary fight, but finding God with David in the same way God was with him when fighting bears at home. Remember the exiled Judeans weeping in Babylon but finding that God had not left them nor forsaken them. Remember Mary and Joseph travelling to Bethlehem Ephrathah, to Egypt, to Nazareth, to Jerusalem… all over the place! But never alone.

When travel seems frightening… remember the examples scattered throughout God’s Word. God is near… and God is far.

Take the faith God grants us.

Money and Love

He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. (Ecclesiastes 5:10 ESV)

Money and Love

Brian, a friend in elementary school, loved Chocolite Bars. One year he demanded that his parents give him nothing but Chocolite Bars for his birthday. Until you have seen an actual case of candy bars, it might not sound like a lot. But it is.

You would think that such a gift would satisfy Brian’s desires. And in a way, it did. His taste for Chocolite Bars was sort of satisfied. He ate them, and he ate them, and he ate them. He ate so many Chocolite Bars that he never wanted one again. He even gave away the remainder of his Chocolite Bars.

When we strongly desire something to the point that we call that desire love, we will never be satisfied with those things. We may have, ‘enough.’ But our desire becomes disgust. Our love of that thing, whether it is Chocolite Bars, bacon, or money, will become hate.

When The Preacher in Ecclesiastes writes that money never satisfies, he means that money does not provide what we need, really. We might think that it does satisfy. We might expect it to satisfy. We might intend it to satisfy. But such satisfaction is shallow and will turn to sorrow.

Love and money simply do not mix.

In Jesus’ most famous sermon, He describes a better satisfaction. And while He does not use the word, “love,” perhaps He has that in mind. He is saying that money will not provide satisfaction, but a relationship with the One true living God, does. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, in other words, those who love God, will find satisfaction. He says it this way: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” (Matthew 5:6 ESV)

Maybe love and money are opposites because usually our society uses money to evaluate ourselves, but love is aimed at others. Maybe love and money are opposites because our money usually nurtures greed, but love nurtures selflessness. Maybe love and money are opposites because money measures self-worth, but love is measureless. Maybe love and money are opposites because in Tolkien’s terms, money breeds Dragon-sickness, but love makes Thorin a King.

We have a daily choice. We are surrounded by money’s tide… but God offers of love.

Take the love God grants us.

Money and Hope

The Lord will command the blessingon you in your barns and in all that you undertake. And he will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. (Deuteronomy 28:8 ESV)

Money and Hope

We want to trust promises. So we listen to election promises and we hope. We listen to parental promises and we hope. We listen to employee promises and we hope. We listen to ‘product guarantee’ promises and we hope.

But we do not seem to trust God’s promises.

At the end of the worship services of the Hebrews, the priests would pronounce God’s blessing on the congregation. Many of our churches continue to end our worship services in that same way.

The Aaronic Blessing is God’s promise. The Lord bless you and keep you; (Numbers 6:24 ESV)

What does God’s blessing look like? Of course, God alone defines how He blesses us. He blesses us with relationship with Him, He blesses us with forgiveness, He blesses us with Sanctification. And wowza THOSE are great blessings!

But God’s promises of blessing are not referring only spiritual blessings. God’s promises of blessing are whole, complete, and thorough. He will bless us spiritually, emotionally, intellectually, and yes… physically.

We often shy away from thinking in those terms, lest we appear greedy, materialistic, or shallow. But fear not. God blesses us physically, too.

Not by giving us whatever we want. Not by giving us what we decide we need. Not by examining our wish-list and providing our top five items.

God blesses us by blessing us on HIS terms. Spiritually, emotionally, intellectually and physically. The olde songe that tells us to count our blessings gives good advice. Boldly submit to Him and count His gifts as blessings. Humbly submit to Him and count His gifts as blessings. Enthusiastically submit to Him and count His gifts as blessings.

And because God is so very good, and loves us so very much, and is so very powerful, we can anticipate more blessings tomorrow. Aaron’s promise starts now. God will bless us. We can count on it.

Take the hope God grants us

Money and Faith

For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. (Psalm 50:10 ESV)

Money and Faith

Money is an important part of our modern society. We use it to compare our status to other people, and other times. We use it to measure our success, whether personally, corporately, ecclesiastically, or nationally. We use it to transform our work into necessary provision, possessions, and property.

Historians write of a stone age, a bronze age, an iron age, an atomic age, and an information age. But these days, perhaps the best description of our mindset, framework, and worldview would be to label our times the money age.

Unlike pecan pie, sleep, and socks, all of which we enjoy but usually acknowledge that there is certain point of sufficiency, there is never enough money.

Economists tell us it takes money to make money. Taxation officials tell us that it takes money to protect our money. And even philosophers and artists admit that money makes their world go around.

Older folk dream of leaving money as an inheritance. Younger folk dream of having enough money to accomplish their vision. In between, folk scheme to find money, skimp to save money, plan to find money, and dream of no longer having to dream about money.

In Psalm 50, God surprisingly declares that He does not really care about the offerings that the Israelites were presenting to Him. God’s point is not to discourage the tithe. Rather, God is making two astounding claims.

First, God knows the hearts and minds of those giving offerings. And He has found that the Israelites were giving physical offerings instead of giving their lives, their devotion, their submission, and their love to God. Which is what God deserves, relishes, and asks. If the Israelites had been giving their love first, and following up with physical gifts, they would have shown they understood relationship with God. But instead they faked it. Being showy. Being obvious instead of real.

Second, God does not need their offerings, because everything in every field is already God’s. Our fields are His. Our counties are His. Our States are His. Our nations are His. This planet is His. The solar system is His. The Milky Way is His. The universe is His. When we read the number 1000 in the Bible it is usually symbolic of a vast, uncountable, gigantic amount of something. In Psalm 50, the Psalmist is telling us that God… owns… everything.

Unlike many of us, God is not a hoarder. He owns everything, and He lets us have it. Not like Ebenezer Scrooge, giving grudgingly. Not like the First Mercantile Bank and Loan, requiring repayment and interest. Not like a selfish little brother, giving only to ensure a return gift at the reciprocal birthday.

But He loves us. And so He has given us to from His vast storehouses what He knows we need.

Sometimes it does not seem like enough. Sometimes it does not seem like the right stuff. Sometimes we do not see in our coffers what our understanding indicates we should have. But HE is God. His ways are not our ways. (Isaiah 55:9)His ways are better.

From Eden given to Adam, the less beautiful land given to Abraham, the sheep given to David to tend, the kingdom of Israel given to Josiah, a carpenter’s shop given to Joseph, a tentmaker’s shears given to Paul, a home on an island given to John… God has always given His people exactly what they needed.

Not the things that make them immediately happy, but the things HE knows they need to bring them necessarily and joyfully to Jesus.

When we do not have enough… rejoice in what He has given us and find the path in those things that drives us to Jesus. Believe that just as He has always distributed His stuff in the best ways, He continues to do just that.

Take the faith God grants us.

Second Chances and Love

Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. (Micah 7:18 ESV)

Second Chances and Love

Micah claims that God has steadfast love.  If God only loved when His people are worthy, God’s love would be responsive, not steadfast.  If God only loved when He wanted to love, God’s love would be fickly, not steadfast.  If God only loved up to a certain point, God’s love would be reasonable, not steadfast.  If God only loved after God’s people proved themselves, God’s love would be like our love, not steadfast.

God’s Love and Second Chances are tightly woven together.  God gives second chances because He loves.  He loves so much that He gave up His only begotten Son. (John 3:16) Second chances are the main way that God displays love to His people.  He forgives, making us his people.  He forgives, causing second chances.  He forgives, because He loves.

It is not difficult to give second chances to the people (or situations) that we love.  Notice how many of Paul’s love descriptors in I Corinthians 13 are connected to second chances.

Patience causes second chances.  Second chances happen because of a lack of arrogance.  Second chances are a prime example of not being rude.  Second chances are the result of not insisting on one’s own way.  When we bear all things, we offer second chances.  When we hope all things, we hope for second chances.  When we endure all things, second chances result.

And as love never ends… both the love we receive from God, and the love we extend towards Him and other people… then second chances are what we see, experience, enjoy, and spread around. 

Love and second chances to together.

Take the love God grants us.

Second Chances and Hope

And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:42,43 ESV)

Second Chances and Hope

He was not merely a thief. He was a thief whose crime had been heinous enough to deserve crucifixion. The Romans, while not necessarily a cheerful, cuddly lot, were at least generally fair, at least in reference to Roman law.

No crowd was gathered to protest the justice going on to the right of Jesus’ cross. This thief was a man who likely deserved what he was getting. Folk were not crucified just for burglary. In Roman times, though, a thief who murdered while he stole, or destroyed more than he stole, or was cruel and vicious while thieving was not lightly punished. So this thief was dying, gruesomely.

But he was about to get a second chance. His future was about to be lifted from darkness to light. From pain and agony to paradise. All it took was a relationship with Jesus Christ. All it took was the thief’s belief. All it took was the transfer that results from belief. Jesus, next door to this man… was now dying on that thief’s behalf.

The thief’s second chance would not be realized on this earth… but rather in that land of second chances, that paradise because it IS a land of second chances, heaven.

This thief was living his second chance even as his body was dying. He had utterly and completely failed in his first try… but Jesus loves to give second chances. And so Jesus is already welcoming Him into paradise. The thief will not need a third chance.

And neither will we. Because of Jesus Christ’s part in life’s equation, our second chances are ALL offered and guaranteed. Our sins, no matter how bad our thievery, are traded on the scale of the cross for Christ’s sinless perfection.

The thief did not have the opportunity to fail again… to slip back into unrighteous behavior. He slipped gracefully into heaven almost immediately after his conversion. But that does not matter. Because the forgiveness of the thief, the second chance of the thief, was absolutely sure… NOT because of the new life of the thief… but because of the life, death, and life of Jesus, the thief’s savior.

Jesus Christ’s life, death, and life ARE our second chance, just like the thief dying next to Jesus Christ.

We look ahead to paradise, too. Surely.

Take the hope God grants us.

Second Chances and Faith

David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. (II Samuel 12:13 ESV)

Second Chances and Faith

In an unused field outside of Florence, Michelangelo dumped half-formed but ruined statues of David. The chisel and hammer are unforgiving. Perhaps sculpting really is simply chipping away everything that does not look like your subject. But ‘oops’ is not a word we like to hear a sculping artist say.

There are rarely second chances in the middle of heart surgery. Rarely does a quarterback have the opportunity to replay those last two seconds of the big game. Investors do not get their money back when the public does not prefer an Edsel over a Chevy.

However, second chances are common with God. David’s sin surrounding Bathsheba is only one example. The Bible is full of such stories. God loves to give second chances. He calls it grace. He calls it mercy.

And while the Bible gives us absolute examples to believe, our own lives are also filled with God letting us start over. To try again. To return to a fresh beginning.

Salvation itself is the second chance for God’s people. Christ’s life, death, and life are God’s plan to return us to an improved eternal Eden. Improved because this time around, after we are glorified, we will not sin.

When we feel the anguish of our sin, like David admit it, and receive God’s second chance. When the effects of your sin, as well as others’ sins, bring you to your knees, bleeding by the side of life’s road, remember God’s forgiveness in the past and lift your eyes to the Gracious One. Find a second chance.

Take the Faith God grants us.

Children and Love

But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” (Luke 18:16,17 ESV)

Children and Love

Children are better than adults at some things. Kids are better present openers. Kids are better laughers. Kids are better imaginers. Kids are better vacationers. Kids are better dog-huggers. Kids are better best friends. Kids are better ice-cream-gorgers.

And most of all, kids understand love better than adults do.

Without trying to create heroic figures of our sweet little rug-rats, Jesus saw something about children in general that He draws to our attention. When Jesus advised His listeners to become like children to enter God’s Kingdom, He was not referring to their grubby hands. Jesus was not advising us to constantly try to push back bedtime. Jesus did not want His disciples to be selectively deaf when it comes to chores, plate-cleaning, or avoiding wearing nice clothes.

He certainly did not want us to whine more than we already do.

Jesus was referring to children’s grasp of love.

Children accept love better than adults. As we grow older, we become cynical, selfish, and stupid when it comes to being loved. Maybe we have been hurt too often. Maybe we have ridden that love-coaster to the point of sickness. Maybe the lies in our ears have outnumbered the dulcet tones of trustworthiness.

Children also love better than adults. The younger they are, the less conditions they attached to a decision to love. The younger they are, the more readily they seem willing to give, to listen, to trust, to serve, to help, to share, to forgive, to forget, and even to believe.

In these ways, we should strive to grow down instead of up.

In the ways of love, we should become childish instead of “mature.”

Take the love God grants us.

Children and Hope

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. (Psalm 127:3 ESV)

Children and Hope

I have received a rich patrimony. That Scottish guy who threw rocks with William Wallace in Braveheart is my ancestor. My great-great-great-great-great-grandfather was knighted in London. I am the oldest living male heir of a Lord’s castle north of Northumbria. My father’s father taught him plumbing, and he tried to teach me. I have inherited a lot.

But in addition, I am their heritage.

An inheritance looks backwards, a heritage looks forward.

And God intends for us to see our heritage in the face of our children. That is what He gives us children for. To look forward and hope, aware of God’s future blessings. Hoping that they will have learned from our mistakes. Hoping that our time invested in them will bear fruit.

And not rotting, rusty, fading, financial, physical fruit, either. Eternal fruit. Kingdom fruit. Living fruit.

Our children’s children… and generations ahead. (Proverbs 13:22, Proverbs 17:6, Psalm 128:6 et. al.) God gives us hope for, about, and because of our children.

Not merely physical children, either. Spiritual children, too. Those we have had the chance to teach, even subtly, of the Lord. The heritage of all Christians, even those without physical children, is offered by God to give us hope for the future.

The gates of hell will not stand against God’s people, the church. (Matthew 16:18) That is the heritage of our future.

God will not forsake the children, and children’s children of His people. (Psalm 103:17) that is the heritage of our future.

And Exodus 20:6promises mercy, undoing the curse for disobedience found in Exodus 20:5. Our children find grace and mercy, as we do. That is the heritage of our future.

Take the hope God grants us.

Children and Faith

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (II Timothy 3:14,15 ESV)

Children and Faith

If there is one thing that God is absolutely the most expert in, it is raising children. We call Him our heavenly Father because He is. He has raised every one of His children. Ever since Adam. Sometimes with the help of earthly parents, and sometimes in spite of earthly parents.

Christian parents, despite Christ’s command to not worry (Matthew 6:35, Luke 12:25, John 14:1 et al), worry about our children. We seem to think it is part of the job description.

Acts 2:39, Psalm 115:14, and Isaiah 59:21are just a few of the verses in which God promises that He loves our children, as He loves us. If our children (just like us) are in HIS hands… why worry? God is a God of relationships, promises, and generations. Worrying about our children does not demonstrate our love of them… but rather displays our doubt of God.

Paul writes to Timothy, reminding him of the faith that the young Timothy learned from his mother and grandmother. And Timothy is an example of God keeping His promises regarding children. Timothy was raised in faith by his mother (and grandmother.) We are not sure whether his father was completely absent, or not a believer. But Timothy might be considered a young man that God could have let slip through the cracks. But God kept Timothy in the palm of His hand.

And there are more examples. Even examples of children who seemed on the wrong path, but God brought them to Him. People like Adam, Manasseh, and Paul.

This proverb justly criticizes our worries: Train up a child in the way he should go;

even when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6 ESV)

Really, it is a question of whether we trust our fears concerning the choices and actions of our children or God’s promises. It is a question of whether we trust our knowledge of human nature or God’s promises. It is a question of whether we trust our observations or God’s promises.

Take the faith God grants us.

Disappointment and Love

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1 ESV)

Disappointment and Love

Disappointment happens when we are unable to have something we want. That thing we want might be a possession, a relationship, knowledge, or a situation. That things we want might be noble or shallow. That thing we want might be selfish or selfless. But when we do not have it, we become disappointed.

Usually we expect that the answer to our disappointment is found in fulfilling those unmet expectations. If disappointed because of the lack of a possession, we seek the possession. If disappointed because of the lack of a relationship, enter a better relationship, or fix our broken one. If disappointed because of something we do not know, learn it. If disappointed because of a situation, alter our circumstances.

But those answers are not permanent. They satisfy for a time, but disappointment soon appears again. The possession will rust or fade. The relationship will alter or end. The knowledge will become obsolete. The situation changes. And there we are in Disappointment Town again.

But there is One way to not want. To lack nothing. To find contentment and leave disappointment.

Jesus.

We need Jesus as our shepherd, then we will not be disappointed. We need Jesus as our shepherd, then we will not focus so much on our possessions, other relationships, knowledge, or situations. It is not that those other needs disappear… but rather those other needs are placed in perspective.

Jesus is eternal… Jesus is complete… Jesus is almighty… Jesus is power… Jesus is wise… Jesus is the answer to every problem caused by sin, which is every problem in the universe.

The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lordlack no good thing. (Psalm 34:10 ESV)

And relationship with Jesus is summed up with one word: Love.

His love for us makes our disappointment ultimately irrelevant. His love for us makes our disappointment a fleeting thing. His love for us turns our disappointment into satisfaction, contentment, joy, and peace.

The answer to disappointment is love. And the best place to find love is with Jesus.

Take the love God grants us.

Disappointment and Hope

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (II Corinthians 12:9 ESV)

Disappointment and Hope

“There is an app for that,” people joked. A few years ago, the growing applications that could be installed on telephones was astonishing. No matter what situation, difficulty, concern, task, or time-management was needed… someone somewhere was programming an almost magical tool in our phone to do THIS and THAT and THOSE things.

And now phones are almost indispensable. We no longer need watches, radios, CD players, televisions, word processors, file folders, photocopiers, compasses, or calculators. We have smart phones.

One machine does it all.

I suspect our almighty God smiles at us. Because HE is the original all sufficient one. In fact, Paul writes here that the more we realize we can NOT do, the more He is able to step in. In our weakness, His strength is shown.

When things (as often happens) do not go our way, we might be disappointed. But the good news is that God has declared that He will be sufficient for us.

He will give us all that we need, (Philippians 4:19) because He IS all that we need.

Our disappointments will fade away. We will understand His actions and rejoice. We will appreciate His decisions on our behalf and be more than content. We will know His goodness, His provision, His lovingkindness, and His love.

Every disappointment that strikes us today, is hope for tomorrow.

Take the hope God grants us

Disappointment and Faith

And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” (Exodus 16:2,3 ESV)

Disappointment and Faith

My favorite part of the US Declaration of Independence is not the part I memorized in Middle School. Students used to memorize lines like, “when in the course of human events,” and “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” But I liked best the grievances. After Thomas Jefferson and the gathered delegates described what the thirteen colonies were doing, the document lists the reasons the British government was tyrannical. Many Americans remember the complaint about “taxation without representation,” but the Declaration of Independence lists twenty-seven acts of Tyranny.

They complained. And while this event is celebrated as our declaration of independence, it might still be considered an act of faith. Not much faith, perhaps. Merely a dusty remnant of faith. But still faith. Because complaints have at their core an awareness that the complaint might work.

The Declarers remembered many years of good British government and believed that it was still possible that British goodness could return. And believing today because of the actions and events of the past is the essence of faith.

The Israelites are justly criticized for complaining in the wilderness. God had amazingly given them freedom from slavery and Egyptian oppression. But very soon they started complaining. Fourteen times God heard them complain. And we shake our heads and wonder at their lack of gratitude, understanding, and devotion.

But in their complaint, perhaps those pesky Israelites were displaying faith.

They heard what Moses and Aaron said about the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And they believed, following God into the unknown. When things out there did not match their expectations, they were disappointed.

And in their disappointment, they expressed faith by turning to the One who could actually help. Even the way they asked, while whiny and childish, demonstrates faith. They remembered the past and believed that God could help. And so they asked.

Our disappointments mirror the disappointments of the Israelites and the founding fathers. Our grievances and difficulties are much like theirs. Our method of complaint probably falls somewhere between the grumbling of the Israelites and the well-articulated legal action of the declarers-of-independence, but our disappointment still is an opportunity for faith.

Unfulfilled expectations that lead to disappointment can lead to faith. Knowing that God has helped previously, we ask Him now for help. Remembering that God has been kind, merciful, and loving in the past, we trust that He will be kind, merciful, and loving today. Believing that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the Jesus who hears our prayers is exactly what faith is.

So consider your expectations that have led to disappointments. And tell them to God. Trust Him enough to tell Him what hurts. Believe that the God of yesterday is still the God of today.

Take the faith God grants us.