Posts Tagged ‘Spiritual Growth’
A Meditation on Psalm 78
September 1, 2012 | 
Author A Meditation on Psalm 78
Earlier this week Laurie and I were reading Scripture together and one of our readings came from Psalm 78:1-39. There were several verses that kick-started some thoughts that follow.
“Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the word of my mouth.” (Psalm 78:1)
“Set your hope on God; do not forget his mighty works.” (Psalm 78:7)
As followers of Christ, we cannot afford to have “spirits that are not faithful to God” or “hearts that are not steadfast.” The psalmist writes about the spiritual attitudes of the Hebrew people…it seems we may not have learned or changed much during the past few thousand years.
“They sinned still more against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert. They tested God in their heart by demanding the food that they craved…” (Psalm 78:17-18)
“…They had no faith in God, and did not trust his saving power.” (Psalm 78:22)
“He gave them what they craved… While the food was still in their mouths, he killed the strongest of them.” (Psalm 78:29-31)
In the Bible, the desert often serves as the place of testing and trial. The account mentioned in the Psalms is both literal and metaphorical in its application; it is literal with the historical account of the Hebrew people and it is metaphorical in how it applies to us. It seems this chronicle could have been written about almost any generation of people, ours included. The saying goes; “The more things change, the more things stay the same.” I don’t think my experience is unique; the human nature has an unrelenting tendency to want what it wants and damned be anything that gets in the way of that…
and that includes God much of the time.
Arthur Boers writes the following:
“When we put our own particular priorities at the center of everything, it becomes harder and harder to acknowledge God or any factor that might be beyond our control and prediction… We think of idolatry as bizarre practices involving fire and sacrifices, gaudy statues, and frenzied dancing, but the concept is still relevant because it involves, among other things, attributing too much importance to the wrong priorities. Idolatry can mean thinking something is more valuable or powerful or fearful than it truly is.” -Arthur Boers, Living Into Focus; pp.88-89
“Their heart was not steadfast toward him… their spirit was not faithful to God.” (Psalm 78:8)
How can our hearts be steadfast for God when they are more steadfast for us and our personal interests? I get this; it was my problem for much of the first four decades of my life. I wanted to have the blessing and promises of God in and upon my life, but I wanted them according to my terms and my timing. All this, of course, dictated by a heart that was steadfast for itself. Yeah. How about that?
I don’t think I stand alone and I don’t think I stand in small company either. I have found that almost anyone can be steadfast in their love and obedience to God in a season of good and plenty, but bring on a season of “desert wilderness” and watch the lips and feet start to drag. It seems the wilderness seasons of our lives are our proving grounds…not to God, but to ourselves. The desert proves our weakness, by either breaking us from what we are or by building us to what we are supposed to become. In either event, we will hold on to our own hearts or we will learn to release our hearts entirely to God.
The wilderness reveals our idolatry and the things we truly value…and in whom we place our trust. Do we trust God or will we reveal that it is ourselves whom we really trust after all? This is what the desert wilderness proves. Can we wait until God brings water from a stone or will we dig our own well? Will we be content to eat the food of angels or will we demand the things that we crave? The lives we presently live are not much different from the examples shared with us from Scripture; there are precious few people who have learned to truly wait upon the Lord and place all their trust in Him. So many times, I have heard people expressing their frustrations and anger at God because “things didn’t turn out like they expected.” I wonder where these thoughts come from. I cannot speak to the thoughts or heart of others, but when I used to feel this way, it was because of my own self-idolatry. Then I learned about the path of Jesus, who said; “Whoever does not deny himself, carry the cross, and follow me cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:25-27). And, “Very truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me” (John 12:24-25).
These are hard words. These are desert wilderness words that will prove how steadfast our hearts are for Jesus. Our reality boils down to this; how much do we embrace the single greatest command of God given to us? When asked, Jesus said the most important thing for any human being was to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:28-30). We give the most minimal of lip service to this most important command, dancing around it most of the time, hoping that it isn’t something we really have to talk about. Many people whom I’ve spoken with about this commandment seem to think it is impossible to love God to the degree in which he commands us. I find this interesting, because failure to believe the veracity of this commandment of God is failure to believe and trust the God who issues the command. What does that tell us about our faith? I think what it says is this; “The command to love God with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind, and all my strength is impossible as long as I love me with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind, and all my strength.” This is our struggle. It is the original struggle from as early as the Genesis account of Adam and Eve. They doubted God’s goodness. They trusted their own devices and thinking over the instructions of God. They cut the trail we have continued to follow… as the psalmist writes; “They sinned still more against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert. They tested God in their heart by demanding the food that they craved…” (Psalm 78:17-18) “…They had no faith in God, and did not trust his saving power.” (Psalm 78:22) “He gave them what they craved… (Psalm 78:29). “Their heart was not steadfast toward him… their spirit was not faithful to God.” (Psalm 78:8).
Isn’t it time we broke the cycle? I want my heart to be ever steadfast for my God, a faithful and obedient lover of Jesus.
Growing through the Journey
[30APR2011] Growing through the Journey
I started out this week following the Easter celebration (aka Resurrection Sunday) in a bit of a funk. I wrote about my reflection on this time of desolation in this blog post. Although I kept my focus on the glory and completeness of my LORD, my week continued to be a fairly difficult week in terms “heaviness.”
The day following my Eastertide post, I got news that one of my longtime childhood friends had suddenly (and unexpectedly) died. I continue to grieve as I recall memories spanning more than four decades of friendship; even more so today as I think about old friends who will be gathering for visitation at the funeral home this afternoon and sharing good-byes tomorrow at Danny’s funeral.
Another point of heaviness was the annual gathering of pastors and leaders from my home church which I was unable to attend. Most years my denomination (specifically our region in the East) gathers for a time of reunion, refreshment, and inspiration. This has been a great time for me in the past as I always enjoy visiting with my pastor friends… sharing our burdens with one another, celebrating our successes, praying together, and worshiping our God together. It is always a time of great encouragement. Being on the West coast and having to be very careful about household budget, there was no way to attend the Minister’s Conference. This served to add to my feeling of loneliness.
I have been exploring ministry opportunities as well as sharing my vision for a different style of ministry (and “being the church”) with some of the leaders of my denomination. I have not received much interest or feedback regarding either my search or my vision sharing. It has been tough, but it is part of the season of growing in trust and maturity in God.
There is so much at work in this past year of our faith journey; it is not just mine alone, but it is part of the journey of my wife, my children, and my friends. At some level of connection and relationship, we all share in the work God is doing and its effect upon (and in) our lives. Will we trust God; will we wait and not grow faint; will we renew our strength?
I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—Jesus (John 12:23-26)
I think too often, we get tired and we “bail out” before the work is complete. We might think that the will of God is not for us to be discontent or suffer for any extended period of time, but I think Scripture teaches us differently. Suffering keeps us dependent upon God. Now, I’m not talking about self-imposed pressures of suffering… I’m speaking of natural trials and growth opportunities during our daily lives and spiritual journeys. …Like, for example, the week I have just experienced in conjunction with the past year of our family’s life. It would be a natural move to sidestep this season and opt for a little relief by choosing a smoother road, one with fewer potholes, speed traps, and more rest stops. I think; however, opting for the relief route will not only postpone the inevitable, but retard the lessons leading to growth that God desires to see in us. After all, it is He who brings, orchestrates, or allows every season and climate of our life. Think about it. If I am confident in my heart that I am following Jesus as earnestly and faithfully as I know how, and if I find myself in difficult seasons of life… what am I to think? Should I think that I should escape the place that the Spirit of God has led me; or should I endeavor to learn and mature in the ways of Christ through the season He has brought me to and desires to carry me through? I think the latter, but we will often choose the former and opt for escape from the very thing God wants us to learn from.
Be imitators of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1)
When I was talking about this with my wife this morning, I was using an illustration similar to the game of Monopoly. I know it is imperfect, but it seems like it works…sorta. Beginning at “Go” on the Monopoly board is fairly easy, for the most part. The property values are low, the rents are low, and there’s not too much danger or pressure to the player. This is moderately true even if the properties are owned with houses and hotels and even if you’re short of resources. In most cases you can ma
nage to survive if you land on someone’s Baltic or Oriental Ave. with houses or hotels. It gets a little tougher as you make your way around the board and you might be pressed to “sell the farm” in order to survive another round or you might just get exasperated and “bail out.”
I likened the Christian journey to this experience or one similar to it. I considered taking a “Chance” card halfway around the board with hopes of escaping the formidable road ahead. In the Jesus journey this sort of bailout most often will lead to your “restart” at the beginning of your test or trial. Sometimes, you might even go back several “spaces” even before the test had begun. In either event you “do not advance to ‘Go’ and you do not pick up the resources you need to go through another round. Resources or wisdom and endurance in this case, are gained only by completing the round and not through bailing out.
Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the LORD; shout for joy, all who are true of heart. Great things are they that you have done, O LORD my God, how great your wonders and your plans for us! There is none that can be compared with you. Oh, that I could make them known and tell them! But they are more than I can count (Psalm 32:12; Psalm 40:5-6).
I think what is necessary during these difficult seasons (sometimes very difficult) is perspective. We are often overshadowed by the moment we are going through and lose sight of what God has already done, is doing, and has promised to do. When we lose sight of that reality, the monster of the moment is given the upper hand and has the 
advantage to defeat us. Perspective is King in this situation and keeping our eyes on Jesus is what helps us maintain perspective. This is not to diminish the nature of our trial and the pressure or pain that it exerts on us. Grief is real. Loneliness and alienation are real. Poverty and financial stress is real. All of these examples and many more can be very painful and suffocating to the point of overwhelming even the strongest of persons. I’m not saying it is easy; I’m saying look at the circumstance in the light of what God has done, is doing, and has promised to do.
Let the peoples praise you, O GOD; let all the peoples praise you. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever (Psalm 37:3; Psalm 30:13).
I consider the mercy of God with His matchless grace revealing Himself and my irreparable need of Him to me. My awareness of my need led to repentance and reconciliation with Jesus. Reconciliation has led me to this very place of union and restoration… I have the very Spirit of God that raised my Savior from the dead LIVING IN ME… working within me to make me whole, and using me to effect reconciliation and restoration with other sin-damaged people in His creation. Ultimately, because of His mercy, grace, and salvation, I will enjoy eternal relationship Him along with all the host of Heaven and the New Earth. This is BIG and Glorious News! Everything I go through in this temporal body on this temporal earth from now until then should be examined in the light of this perspective. I am a new creation. I have a new heart that is driven and guided by God Himself. I am imbued with divine power and capable of overcoming and going through anything that might stand as a challenge before me. No matter what happens, sin no longer reigns and death has lost its sting. For this, I praise my God and shout Hallelujahs!
I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the LORD; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the LORD’s greatness; let us exalt his Name together (Psalm 34:1-3).
When I consider growing faint or bailing out… I remember the game of Monopoly and the perspective of the New Man Creation along with all that has wrought…
breath in deep of the LORD and exhale: H A L L E L U J A H !!! Praise my God and Glory to my King Jesus. Amen!
We thank thee, heavenly Father, for thou hast delivered us from the dominion of sin and death and has brought us into the kingdom of thy Son; and we pray thee that, as by his death he hath recalled us to life, so by his love he may raise us to joys eternal; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The LORD is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is the LORD’s doing, and it is wonderful to see. This is the day that the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:14, 23-24). Every day… every day, is the day the Lord has made. No matter what it looks like, no matter how it feels; every day is made by the LORD and we can (if we choose) rejoice in it. To Him be all honor, power, and glory. Amen.
Posted in Becoming the Word, Confession, Daily Meds, Meditations, Prayer, Psalms, Shaping Me, Spiritual Formation | 
Tags: Jesus, Monopoly, Spiritual Disciplines, Spiritual Formation, Spiritual Growth, testing, Trial | 
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The Golden Rule and Spiritual Freedom
40 Days Living the Jesus Creed [Days 21-22]
The Golden Rule: Principles to Live By [Day 21]
“Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within.” (Romans 12:1-2 J.B. Phillips Translation)
I really enjoyed the all so practical approach to this day’s reading. Our focus and meditation was taken from chapter seven of Matthew’s gospel; key points are highlighted below: Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in 40 Days Living the Jesus Creed, A Deeper Walk, iCrucified, Meditations, Shaping Me, Spiritual Disciplines | Tags: 40 Days Living the Jesus Creed, Apostle Paul, disciple, Galatians, Holy Spirit, Jeff Borden, Jesus Creed, Scot McKnight, Spiritual Disciplines, Spiritual Formation, Spiritual Growth | No Comments »
Morning Devotions
Bible study and morning devotions are part of my spiritual disciplines and I thought I’d share my devotional reading and morning regimen for the next few months.
As I have mentioned in previous posts, I am using the Tyndale Chronological Bible for my daily reading. Since 2003 when I first started to read through the Bible chronologically, I have been an outspoken proponent for this particular method of interacting with the Grand Narrative. My personal method for growing in God’s word consists of a three-pronged approach. The foundation for this method is reading the Bible as story; The Story, specifically. I don’t study or concentrate on words and references when I read this way. I will use a highlighter and take notes as I read, but my primary goal is to simply read and allow myself to be drawn into the story…becoming familiar with the characters and their roles. I put myself into the story and walk parallel with the narrative as it unfolds, continually asking questions as I progress though the events and the timeline of God’s unfolding chronicle of redemption, reconciliation, and restoration. Some of the questions that help The Story become my story follow: Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in A Deeper Walk, Becoming the Word, Bible Journey-Reading, Daily Meds, Meditations, Shaping Me, Spiritual Disciplines | Tags: Bible reading, Chronological Bible, Devotions, iCrucified, Jeff Borden, Joshua Choonmin Kang, New Living Translation, Spiritual Disciplines, Spiritual Growth, Thomas Oden | 2 Comments »
