Imperfection ∙

Imperfection ∙

Therefore, you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. – Matthew 5:48

James 1:2-4

 2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,

 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

 4 And let endurance have its perfect result so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Webster defines perfection as the state of being perfect, being entirely without fault or defect, corresponding to an ideal standard or abstract concept, lacking in no essential detail.

The term imperfection is the state of being faulty or incomplete. It is the opposite of perfection, not perfect, faulty, or incomplete. It is flawed, defective, inferior, or substandard.

Imperfection is found almost everywhere we look. What in our world is without fault, flawless, or blameless? Even the noblest among us have a tiny bit of tarnish somewhere. But what about perfection? Where can it be found? Many things that we think or hope might be perfect are proven not to be in the end. Even the magnificent statue of David by Michelangelo was sculpted from flawed marble.

Search as we might, there is only One who claims to be perfect and is affirmed to be just that, the Father God!

Matthew 5:48 Therefore, you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

The Greek term translated as perfect is teleios. It comes from the Greek word telos, goal, purpose, and end. The Greek term teleios can be used in an absolute sense. The Heavenly Father’s perfection is absolute. He has no faults, weaknesses, or shortcomings. He is not flawed or defective in any way.

The Father’s perfection never changes. He has always been and will always be perfect, absolutely perfect. People can only be relatively perfect, hence mature.

In Matthew 5, the Lord Jesus Christ sets the bar for each of us. We are to strive to be perfect in our righteousness and moral integrity. We know, of course, we can never be perfect as the Father is. But that is our goal: to strive after perfection, which presents a bit of a conundrum. But it is easily resolved. Of course, the Father knows that we are fallen creatures and will never be perfect in our righteousness. He accepts us the way we are. But He still sets high standards. Paul explains.

Philippians 3:12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.

Paul was all in and totally devoted to the pursuit of the perfection to be found in Christ. He truly wanted to be perfect. Like Paul, many of us are determined to be the best and do our best. Rather than becoming discouraged with our inability to achieve perfection, we can accept it as a process of growing to maturity. Over time we will become more and more like the Lord Jesus Christ, knowing that we, as fallen creatures, will never make it in this life.

James 1:4 When your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

The Greek term teleios has a relative sense and can be translated as mature, finished, or complete. It does not mean without flaw or error but indicates maturity and completeness. It implies a process.

Being perfect, in this sense, is not the opposite of being imperfect. Instead, being perfect is the opposite of being incomplete.

James offers a sneak peek for each child of the King regarding how we become everything the Father desires for us. He gives us a glimpse of how we become equipped for His tasks for us.

The Greek word translated as complete is holokleros, needing nothing, entire, complete in every part. It underscores the incremental character of the process. When the process is complete, we are fully formed and lacking in nothing. The Greek term translated as lacking is leipo. It means to fail, lack, be wanting, be deficient. When we are mature and complete, we have everything we need.

Picture a caterpillar being transformed into a butterfly in its cocoon. It only emerges when all the parts are fully formed.

REFLECT & PRAY

When the Father sees human imperfection, He offers love, forgiveness, and redemption.

Father I long to be mature, complete, and lacking in nothing. Please make it so.

INSIGHT

Perfectionism is a dangerous thing. A tried and true way of breaking the cycle of perfectionism is to take on a task that can never be done perfectly. One such task is parenting. Perhaps moms more than dads are very much aware that not only are their children imperfect, but their children’s friends are even more imperfect. They both tend to leave a trail of sorts wherever they go within a home. Many moms take on the responsibility of cleaning up their mess. And time and time again, just as everything is back in order, the children return.

There are perils associated with perfectionism. Striving for an unattainable goal is difficult for anyone, but it is particularly frustrating for people inclined to be perfectionistic.

It is one thing to strive to be perfect and righteous. It is quite different from being obsessed with perfection itself. The perfectionist continually strives to perfect and clean up their environment and the people in their lives. Even minor variances, minor mistakes, and “imperfections” can be very unsettling.

The Father is not constantly “on the backs” of people who are less than perfect. If He were, we would have little time left for anything else. He gives us a great deal of “space” and is patient with us, allowing us to correct our own mistakes before He steps in (Constable).

Is there a proper kind of obsession involving perfection for the children of the King? Yes. We should be focused on the perfection of the Lord Jesus Christ and fix our eyes on Him.

Hebrews 12:1-4

 1 Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. He endured the cross because of the joy awaiting him, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then, you won’t become weary and give up.

 4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

Peace and contentment are not realized when everything is perfect because perfection will never happen on this side of heaven. Instead, peace and contentment flow when we decide to look beyond imperfections.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 11-10-2

© Dr. H 2022

Does God change His mind?

Does God change His mind?

The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. – Lamentations 3:22

1 Samuel 15:29 “Also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind.”

1 Samuel 15:29 And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret.” (ESV)

1 Samuel 15:29 And he who is the Glory of Israel will not lie, nor will he change his mind, for he is not human that he should change his mind!” (NLT)

“I may be wrong regarding any or all of them; but holding it a sound maxim, that it is better to be only sometimes right, than at all times wrong, so soon as I discover my opinions to be erroneous, I shall be ready to renounce them” (Abraham Lincoln).

It is difficult to admit that we all make mistakes. Even the best of us, including the likes of Abraham Lincoln. But what of God the Father? Does He make mistakes? Does He find it necessary to change? And what about immutability? If God is immutable, what actually changes?

Immutability is an attribute of God. God is unchanging in His character, will, and covenant promises.” God does not change His being, perfections, purposes, or promises (Berkhof). The Westminster Shorter Catechism says that “[God] is a spirit, whose being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth are infinite, eternal, and unchangeable.” Those things do not change.

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

What can change? We are often puzzled, if not perplexed, regarding this question.

The confusion has to do with the difference between the Father’s divine attributes and His characteristics as a person. The Father’s attributes never change. But in personal interactions with people, He reacts. He feels joy and sadness. He feels satisfaction but also regret.

Stop to think about it. The Father, the Lord God omnipotent, indeed interacts with mere humans in space and time. He is watching and paying attention. He is sensitive and aware of the smallest details. He cares. He becomes personally involved. The Father responds to us when we respond to Him. He chooses to be in a personal relationship with us. He reacts.

How can we possibly describe this interaction? The human intellect is limited and unable to comprehend it fully. Also, there is a paucity of the human language to describe it. We can only make feeble attempts to explain our limited understanding of the personality and characteristics of the Father and His interactions with us. But a place to start might be to think of Him as responding and reacting rather than repenting and changing His mind.

“God is no robot. We know him as a personal, living God, not a static principle, who while having transcendent purposes to be sure also engages intimately with his creation. Our God is incomparably affected by, even pained by, the sinner’s rebellion . . ..  Rather, his feelings and actions toward men, such as judgment or forgiveness, are always inherently consistent with his essential person and just and gracious resolve (James 1:17)” (Constable).

REFLECT & PRAY

When we change, He responds.

Father thank You that You are always willing to receive me just as I am.

INSIGHT

Several Scriptures refer to the Father changing His mind. He relents and often reveals a sense of regret (Genesis 6:5-6, Exodus 32:14, Jonah 3:10, 2 Samuel 24:16).

The English word rendered regret, repent, relent, and change one’s mind comes fromthe Hebrew nacham. Nacham is an onomatopoeia; it sounds like the action that connotes: drawing breath forcibly, panting, or groaning. Visualize a disappointing loud sigh. The term reflects and extends the idea of “breathing deeply,” hence the physical display of one’s feelings, usually sorrow, compassion, or comfort (TWOT).

The Hebrew term nacham signifies a state of sorrow or regret regarding a perceived wrong. Embedded within is the desire to change or cease a particular course of action.

It is a response, a change of heart, in reaction to the actions of others. It has the sense of changing one’s mind, being sorry, repenting, relenting, regretting, grieving, being moved to pity, or having compassion.

While nacham is typically translated as repent, relent, or change mind, and appropriate, but is somewhat wordy paraphrase might be:

The Father being sensitive and in a relationship with a man, interacts and responds.

Immutability has nothing to do with it.

It is like trying to compare apples and oranges. On the one hand, immutability has to do with the attributes of God and the promises He makes. His character and nature are immutable. While interacting and responding to people has to do with the personality of God.

In 1 Samuel 15, the Hebrew word nacḥamexpresses two contrasting, seemingly polar opposite sentiments.

1 Samuel 15:11 “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not carried out My commands.”

1 Samuel 15:29 The Glory of Israel does not go back on his word or change his mind, for he is not a human being who changes his mind.”

When the Scriptures speak of the Father not changing His mind, the focus is on His integrity. He does not lie, nor does He go back on His word. He is consistent and can be trusted. Our faith in His promises rests upon this foundation.

Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?

Titus 1:2 This truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God – who does not lie – promised them before the world began.

People are fickle and capricious. They flip-flop. The Father does not. He does not capriciously change His intentions or ways of acting. However, when people or circumstances change, the Father responds to the changes. As a result of Saul’s change in behavior, the Father expresses regret. Often the Father graciously responds to changes in people’s circumstances and conditions.

In the book of Jeremiah, when the people repent and change their ways, the Father repents and changes His mind in response (Jeremiah 8:6, Jeremiah 31:19). The same is true of human prayer. The Father responds to the pleas of Amos on behalf of Israel (Amos 7:3, 6).

Father has chosen to interact with people in the space-time continuum. He reacts to our decisions and prayers. How marvelous that the Father, the Almighty God, the creator of the heavens and the earth, the one who holds all creation together by the power of his will, desires close communion with His human creatures.

When the Scriptures refer to God repenting or changing His mind, it’s not because something unexpected happened and He was taken off guard. The Father knows all things all the time including every eventuality. The Father has infinite and complete knowledge. From eternity past, He knew exactly how everything was going to happen.

As people change their attitudes and actions, a different aspect of His character is more fitting. So it was with Nineveh. When they were in sin, the Father reacted out of justice and warned of coming destruction. He responded with loyal love, compassion, and mercy when they repented. He forgave them.

The Father delights in responding to our change of heart, our repentance. He interacts and responds.

Does prayer change the Father’s mind? No, emphatically no. It is just the opposite. The Father’s infinite, eternal mind works to change our prayers to conform with His will. Pause and consider that.

He richly pours out His love and forgiveness on the undeserving. It matters not what we have done or how many times we did it. He takes great pleasure in restoring the children of the King to close fellowship with Him. The Father is always willing to begin again. Do-overs are an ever-present reality from His loving heart.

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father, without the burden

There is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changes not, Thy compassions, they fail not

As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 2-11–1

We may give up on God, but He never gives up on us

We may give up on God, but He never gives up on us

If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is. – 2 Timothy 2:13

Jeremiah 1:4-10

 4 The LORD gave me this message:

 5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”

 6 “O Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!”

 7 The LORD replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you.

 8 And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the LORD, have spoken!”

 9 Then the LORD reached out and touched my mouth and said, “Look, I have put my words in your mouth!”

 10 “Today, I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. Some you must uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow. Others you must build up and plant.”

It is well-known that Dr. Billy Graham became a Christian in Charlotte, N.C., in 1934 during a meeting led by Dr. Mordecai Ham. However, it is not well-known that a group of laymen, including W.F. Graham, Billy’s father, and T.W. Wilson, Sr., father of Graham’s associate evangelist, Grady, were responsible for the campaign.

Mordecai Fowler Ham (1877-1961) was one of the most well-known preachers of the American south of his day. More than 300,000 people were converted in his crusade-type meetings. Dr. Ham’s version adds some interesting details.

Dr. Ham relates: Two young high school boys attended our meeting. They thought everything I said was directed their way, so they decided to take seats in the choir, where I couldn’t point my finger at them. They didn’t pretend to be singers, but they wanted to be behind me. One night a man spoke to them during the invitation and said, “‘Come on; let’s go up front.” Billy and Grady both went to the altar. Billy accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior and became a child of the King. Grady dedicated his life to Christian service.

Billy didn’t like being told that he was lost and going to hell. He got out as soon as possible and said, “I am through,” but he was miserable all night and the next day and admitted, “I couldn’t get there soon enough the next night!”

I recall telling Billy and Grady to sit in the preachers’ section after coming forward. Billy sat there for two months. In Billy Graham’s thinking, at that time, his hero was Babe Ruth. Our meeting changed his hero from Babe Ruth to Jesus Christ. The Father was directing everything that took place during the meeting. There was no earthly explanation for what occurred (billygraham.org).

Mordecai Ham was converted when a young man. He felt the stirrings of a call to preach, but he resisted surrendering. Having watched his father and grandfather barely scrape by fueled his personal ambition. He was determined to make a personal fortune first. He attended a local college, studied law, and soon found early business success.

In 1899 his life was radically changed when he watched his grandfather die. At that moment, a mantle of sorts was passed from grandfather to grandson. Ham later referred to the experience: “Seeing him die did more than anything else to convince me of the reality of Christian experience” (billygraham.org).

There is something about fallen DNA. We often say no before we say yes. So it was with Billy Graham, Mordecai Ham, Jeremiah the prophet, and many children of the King.

REFLECT & PRAY

“When God calls, He equips us with what is needed to carry out the assigned task. For Jeremiah, it was the promise of God’s presence and deliverance from any threatening situation that the reluctant prophet needed to hear” (Huey).

Father thank You that You have called me to serve You. Like Jeremiah and so many others, I have resisted You. Thank You for not giving up on me!

INSIGHT

When the Father selects someone to serve Him as a prophet, He calls them into His service. Many of the prophets’ calls are recorded in Scripture. Among them are the calls of Moses, Samuel, Isaiah, Amos, etc. Jeremiah would have been well aware of those called to be among the Father’s servants. When the Father approached Jeremiah as a young man, he felt that he could never measure up to the likes of Isaiah or Moses. They were giants in Jeremiah’s eyes, the rock stars of his day. Jeremiah’s response boils down to, “Who me, I can’t do it!”

“Jeremiah hesitated as he looked at the work before him and the wickedness around him, and when he looked at the weakness within himself, Jeremiah was certain that he wasn’t the man for the job” (Wiersbe).

The Father was undeterred. He had chosen wisely. He could see the end from the beginning and was well aware of the struggles that Jeremiah would face and his ultimate success. He could see through Jeremiah’s lame excuse of being too young. He knew Jeremiah’s real problem. It was unspoken fear.

The Father assures Jeremiah that his mission was already mapped out. The Father would provide all the content of His spokesman’s messages. But more importantly, the Father promises Jeremiah His immediate presence in his life; He will be with him no matter what. “God’s reply demolishes both the given reason, inability, and the real reason, fear. The call is anchored in who God is” (Martens).

Jeremiah faced tremendous opposition and persecution. More than once, he broke down. He wanted to throw in the towel. He wished he could give up his call.

Jeremiah 15:15-18

 15 Then I said, “LORD, you know what’s happening to me. Please step in and help me. Punish my persecutors! Please give me time; don’t let me die young. It’s for your sake that I am suffering.

 16 When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God of Heaven’s Armies.

 17 I never joined the people in their merry feasts. I sat alone because your hand was on me. I was filled with indignation at their sins.

 18 Why then does my suffering continue? Why is my wound so incurable? Your help seems as uncertain as a seasonal brook, like a spring that has gone dry.”

Jeremiah was a conflicted man. He is almost schizophrenic. He’s a man of faith but also of fear. He is a man of courage but also great sadness and deep inner conflict. Of course, he blames God.

Jeremiah 20:7-9

 7 O LORD, you misled me, and I allowed myself to be misled. You are stronger than I am, and you overpowered me. Now I am mocked every day; everyone laughs at me.

 8 When I speak, the words burst out. “Violence and destruction!” I shout. So these messages from the LORD have made me a household joke.

 9 But if I say I’ll never mention the LORD or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold it in! I can’t do it!

But ultimately, Jeremiah regained his composure and stood resolved, confident, and even joyful. Why? He knows the Father. Jeremiah also knows that the Father tests his children to approve them and give them confidence. The Father searched Jeremiah’s deepest thoughts and secrets. He wanted Jeremiah to recognize that He knew everything about him, and it didn’t matter. He was the Father’s chosen servant, and Jeremiah was under the Father’s protection.

Regardless, Jeremiah was so downcast that he literally wished he had never been born.

Jeremiah 20:18 Why was I ever born? My entire life has been filled with trouble, sorrow, and shame.

The Father’s response is classic. And stands His words of encouragement for all children of the King for all time.

Jeremiah 15:19-21

 19 This is how the LORD responds: “If you return to me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve me. If you speak good words rather than worthless ones, you will be my spokesman. You must influence them; do not let them influence you!”

 20 “They will fight against you like an attacking army, but I will make you as secure as a fortified wall of bronze. They will not conquer you, for I am with you to protect and rescue you. I, the LORD, have spoken!”

 21 “Yes, I will certainly keep you safe from these wicked men. I will rescue you from their cruel hands.”

The Father assures Jeremiah once again of Who is standing with him. But the Father is also beside him.

Jeremiah 20:11-13

 11 But the LORD stands beside me like a great warrior. Before him, my persecutors will stumble. They cannot defeat me. They will fail and be thoroughly humiliated. Their dishonor will never be forgotten.

 12 O LORD of Heaven’s Armies, you test those who are righteous, and you examine the deepest thoughts and secrets. Let me see your vengeance against them, for I have committed my cause to you.

 13 Sing to the LORD! Praise the LORD! For though I was poor and needy, he rescued me from my oppressors.

The word of God is like an unquenchable fire within the hearts and souls, the deepest recesses of His servants, the prophets. They cannot, not speak His message!

What burns within you?

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© Dr. H 2022

Hearing from God

Hearing from God

I didn’t tell anyone what my God had laid on my heart to do for Jerusalem. – Nehemiah 2:12

John 10:27-29

 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me,

 29 for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.

21st-century research suggests that good communication is often the foundation of a good relationship. Good communication enhances relationships. But it is not a panacea. Dr. John Gottman, a clinical psychologist and the founder of the Gottman Institute, has observed that a couple’s communication pattern can predict a successful relationship and marriage. (Gottman, The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work).

The epicenter of our Christian experience is intended to be our personal relationship with the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. All children of the King are invited to know and experience the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Any barriers or chasms between them and us have been eliminated through the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ begins we hear His voice and respond in faith by coming to Him.

John 10:27-28

 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me.

However, “hearing the word from God” is often inherently cause for concern. Why is this so? There are many competing voices in the spiritual world. How can we be sure that the voice we hear is indeed from the Father?

1 John 4:1  Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because there are many false prophets in the world.

Regrettably, we have more than our share of “enlightened masters,” gurus, and the new super spirituality of the church of Oprah. When we seek to hear from the Father, we must make sure that it’s His voice we are hearing and not our own thoughts or someone else’s ideas.

So how can we know when God is speaking? We have clear and concise guidelines. “God’s voice is always consistent with His Word. Any message must agree with what the Lord has already said in the Scriptures. His voice is quiet. God speaks to our hearts through His Holy Spirit in an inaudible but compelling way. The Lord speaks clearly. If we’ll tune our hearts to Him by setting aside time to read His Word and listen for His Spirit to speak, He will give us clear guidance” (Stanley).

REFLECT & PRAY

Psalms 37:5 Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you.

Father I long to hear your voice and follow. Keep my heart open and responsive. Remind me not to draw attention to myself but rather to you.

INSIGHT

Some definitions are helpful.

Inspiration – In modern English, we use the term “inspiration” in two entirely different ways. First, “inspired” has the sense Of being “fired up,” motivated. People are inspired, and this type of inspiration moves or animates our minds, emotions, or wills. Biblical inspiration is quite different.

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,

Paul teaches that the Scriptures are the inspired work or product of God. Paul focuses on the Bible, which is inspired, not the Father’s people used to write it.

The Greek word translated as inspired is theopneustos. Theopneustos literally means inspired by God or God-breathed. Theopneustos is made up of theos – God + pneo – to breathe.

Illumination – There are times when we read the Scriptures that “God speaks to us.” It is as though what we read was written just for us at that moment in our lives. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. He came to help us to understand the Scriptures.

John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak whatever He hears. He will also declare to you what is to come.

Revelation – Revelation is “God’s disclosure of Himself.” In a technical sense, revelation is disclosing information not previously known or known only to God. The Bible is the revelation of God to man, par excellence.

2 Peter 1:20-21

 20 Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding,

 21 or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.

There is a common thread for each revelation found in the Scriptures, regardless of the means or method by which it came. It was a personal communication from the Father to the individual that received it. The nature of this personal interaction between the Father and people is explained and defined in a rather unlikely place, the book of Nehemiah. Nehemiah was a man with a mission, a calling from God to restore the defenses of Jerusalem and boost the morale of the returning exiles. Nehemiah writes,

Nehemiah 2:12 I didn’t tell anyone what my God had laid on my heart to do for Jerusalem.

Nehemiah states that the Father laid/put on his heart what He wanted him to do. The Father was directing or guiding his path in a very specific fashion. This is the essential core, the baseline, of what it means to listen to God. The Father wishes to communicate with us. When He does, He places thoughts, ideas, feelings, and even plans into our minds and hearts.

“Nehemiah felt that God had put into his heart what he had planned . . . He felt that he was led by God to what he was to do. God ‘had inspired’ (GNT) him, ‘was prompting’ (NEB) him, or ‘had put the thoughts into his heart about what he should do” (UBS).

This verse provides the what and the Who, but not the how. “What my God had put in my heart is a translation that veils the process by which an inspired plan was developing in Nehemiah’s mind” (Schoville).

“The immediacy of the action expressed by a present participle, ‘what my God was prompting me to do.’ He was forming the plan in his mind as he went, convinced that his thoughts were being framed by God” (Williamson).

The Hebrew word translated as laid or put is nathan. Nathan primarily means to give, put, set, or set up. Nathan marks the act, which sets something in motion.

To complete the task of rebuilding would take extraordinary leadership, confidence, and determination. “Nehemiah was to face many problems and much opposition, but his sense of divine direction would give him confidence. He was humbly aware that it was God who had entrusted the project to him and would give him the wisdom by which it would be accomplished (Breneman).”  

What does this imply? “This suggests that God leads people step-by-step as they respond in obedience to earlier directions. He guides them as they understand the circumstances and face the dilemmas of each new challenge” (Smith).

When we “hear from God,” we run the not-so-subtle enticement to draw attention to ourselves and not to the Father who was behind the message. Nehemiah, however, stipulates quite clearly that “the project was not his. It was from God and ‘for Jerusalem’ – not from Nehemiah nor for his prestige” (Kidner).

To hear from the Father and follow Him requires a soft and open heart.

Hebrews 4:7 Today, when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts.

Proverbs 3:5-6

 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.

 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯  

© Dr. H 2022

Caring enough to confront

Caring enough to confront

Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. – Proverbs 27:6

Proverbs 27:4-9

 4 Anger is cruel, and wrath is like a flood, but jealousy is even more dangerous.

 5 An open rebuke is better than hidden love!

 6 Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.

 9 The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.

Dr. David Augsburger’s Caring Enough to Confront unfolds the art of peacemaking. It covers significant issues such as dealing with blame and prejudice, building trust, and handling anger and frustration. He recognizes that conflict is simply a part of human interaction.

Trying to avoid or gloss over contentious issues provides no healing and allows things to fester and grow out of proportion. Bringing matters into the open is essential. No one can control how people respond to us, but we can control how we respond to them.

Dr. Augsburger “challenges readers to keep in mind that the important issue is not what the conflict is about, but instead how the conflict is handled.” He lays out how children of the King can confront with compassion and resolve issues in a healthy and healing way. The goal is a Win-Win outcome. Deeper, loving care and relationships are often the result.

Paul wrote the Corinthians a stern letter and had mixed feelings. He did what was right and necessary. But it was undoubtedly a bit painful for him because he sincerely loved them. But he cared enough to confront and demonstrate his love. The result was beautiful. The Corinthians repented and made things right.

2 Corinthians 7:8-9

 8 I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorry at first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while.

 9 Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so we did not harm you in any way.

Paul was very concerned about the immoral behavior that was occurring in Corinth. The time had come for a harsh word of rebuke. “The last thing Paul wished was to rebuke. He did it only because he felt compelled to do so and took no pleasure whatever in inflicting pain. . .. Paul’s sole object in giving rebuke was to enable people to be what they ought to be. By his rebuke, he wished the Corinthians to see just how serious he was in his concern for them, in spite of their disobedience and their troublemaking.”

“Such a course might, for the moment, cause pain, but its ultimate purpose was not the pain; it was not to knock them down, but to lift them up; it was not to discourage them, but to encourage them; it was not simply to eradicate the evil, but to make the good grow” (Barclay).

REFLECT & PRAY

Jonah had severely misplaced priorities. He cared more about plants than people. The Father cares more about people regardless of their sins or failures. The Lord Jesus Christ died for people, not plants or animals.

Father encourage me to care enough to confront others with love and encourage them to do what is right.

INSIGHT

Proverbs 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Henry Blackaby remarks, “It is possible to be too gentle with your friends. When a friend is under deep conviction by the Holy Spirit, do you try to give comfort? Don’t ever try to ease the discomfort of someone whom the Holy Spirit is making uncomfortable . . .! You are not acting in true friendship if you condone disobedience or even if you look the other way. Kisses are far more pleasant than wounds, yet they can be even more devastating if they lull your friend into being comfortable with sin.

In our attempt to appease our friends and our reluctance to share a word from God, we can actually cause great harm. If we see our friends in danger and do not warn them . . .. Are you a friend of such integrity that you would risk wounding your friends in order to deter them from their sin?” (Experiencing God Day-by-Day, May 12).

The Greek word translated as downcast, depressed, discouraged, or downhearted is tapeinos. This word could be translatedas lowly or low in spirit and typically refers to the humble demeanor of people (Luke 14:11; James 4:10).

Paul had been hammered by various external troubles as well as internal distress. “The term has been rendered ‘low in spirit’ (NAB); ‘distressed’ (NJB); ‘depressed’ (Phillips); ‘dejected’ (Moffatt)” (UBS).

Here Paul describes his emotional state of sadness, even depression, due to his concerns for the Corinthians.

“At any time, the Father may bring dissonance into our lives. When it happens, it is not pleasant. But the Father is following an eternal blueprint worked out before He established the foundations of the Earth. We do not know all the factors as to why He does this; however, there is one thing that we do know, ‘the Father is too good to do wrong and He is too wise to make a mistake’” (Richison).

On the other hand, due to our fallen DNA, we are all too capable of making one mistake after another. But thank God. He has given us the ability to make choices. The goal is to make better and better choices as we grow wiser and closer to the Father.

Deuteronomy 30:19 Today, I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life so that you and your descendants might live!

When our lives are out of harmony with the Father, we are out of tune. Our lives are in discord. We do not have music but noise in our souls. When we return to the Father and walk with Him, psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs flood our hearts (Ephesians 5:19) (Richison).

In His dealings with us, He desires that the emotional struggles we experience be but temporary. We should purpose to glean the lessons He is teaching us, and experience His gentle and delightful comfort and encouragement.

2 Corinthians 1:3-5

 3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.

 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

 5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.

Jonah provides an Old Testament example for children of the King to consider and learn from. He was called to be a prophet and submit to the Father. But he utterly refused. He made a poor choice, an abysmal choice, and tried to run away as far as possible. We all know the story. The Father located him and used a biological submarine transportation system, a.k.a. the great fish or whale. Jonah repented and became compliant and obedient. But he was still given to anger and depression. He was so downcast he wanted to die.

Jonah 4:1-3

 1 This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry.

 2 So he complained to the LORD about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, LORD? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people.

 3 Just kill me now, LORD! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”

The Father’s confrontation with swift and direct. He had only one question.

Jonah 4:4 The LORD replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?”

The Father asks the same question of every child of the King. Is it right to be angry?

“A Jonah lurks in every Christian heart, whispering his insidious message of smug prejudice, empty traditionalism, and exclusive solidarity. And we grasp the message of the book only when we eliminate the Jonah within us” (Leslie Allen).

Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of your lives.

Haggai 2:19 Yet from this day on, I will bless you.

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© Dr. H 2022