stigma

Okay, so I've been following Christ for at least 12 years and have known a lot about God since childhood, but there is still so much to wrap my brain around when it comes to who He is and how we relate to Him. For a long time I've grappled with the phrase "fear of the Lord" and my understanding of it continues to grow the more I grow in my walk with Him.

There's obviously a stigma attached to fearing the Lord, as if to do so would be to acknowledge Him as this scary vindictive being who wants to dominate us with His power. So in effort to steer clear of this image, I think we've lost the true meaning of the Word. It's almost as if some believers want to jump over the verses that talk about fearing the Lord and move on to more pleasant, comprehensible passages of His Word. I had an epiphany this morning in my devotions and I just have to share it.

"LORD, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord could ever survive?
But you offer forgiveness, that we may learn to fear You." -Psalm 130: 3-4

God's motive behind offering forgiveness is not so that we will take advantage of His grace and use it as a license to sin. His intentions are to teach us to respect and honor Him more, to learn how NOT to contradict Him and His will. His mercy is intended to draw us nearer to His unending love and lovingkindess so that we will reciprocate that love in obedience. His grace is meant to woo us to Himself. The understanding of this grace, and subsequent life of surrender to His will is the essence of fearing Him.

And the cycle continues with:

" . . . the LORD's delight is in those who fear Him, those who put their hope in His unfailing love." - Psalm 147:11

The more we walk in hopeful, trusting, loving fear of Him, the more He delights in us; delights in offering the forgiving grace that spans the distance between us that is sin.

And thus the spiral of drawing nearer to God tightens and quickens like a park slide. The more God loves us and shows us His loving mercy, the more we want to honor and obey Him in love, and then the more He delights in us and in offering us his lovingkindness, and we are won over by His efforts to capture our hearts in devotion.

Sometimes I run out of words to describe how much I adore Him. I'm so thankful that He initiated love first by offering forgiveness through the bloody sacrifice of His Son Jesus on the cross. I still stand amazed that He would go to such great lengths for me. Fearing Him is equated to loving Him; to honoring Him for the power He holds; to desiring to follow His plan and His ways; to doing everything in my power to worship Him alone.

When God says, "I promise"

If the Bible is my feasting table, then my favorite dishes are most likely the verses and chapters that are seasoned with His promises for me. Psalm 91 is one of these very tasty little entrees:

"He will cover you with His feathers.
He will shelter you with His wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection . . .
The LORD says, 'I will rescue those who love me.
I wil protect those who trust in my name.
When they call on me I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.
I will reward them with a long life
and give them my salvation.'"
-Psalm 91:4, 14-16

Trusting God means taking Him at His word and believing that He will do what He says. Do we love Him? Do we trust in His Name? If so, then we can be assured of these promises listed in the Psalm. We will be sheltered and protected in dangerous situations; we will be rescued, even when we're in the deepest trouble of our lives. If the LORD is our God, and no other, we are guaranteed eternal salvation along with every day and minute that He has destined for us to be alive.

If that does not bring hope to the hopeless, I don't know what will. I am encouraged this week and my body and soul are strengthened from feasting on His promises.

My prayer for you - taste and see that the Lord is good, that His promises are true, if you love Him and trust in His name.

flint-jawed

The kind of people I admire most are those who can choose to walk closer to God when the world is trying to drag them away. When the malicious are throwing punches, these are the people who stand flint-jawed, their eyes focused on Jesus alone. I know some people like this, and they continue to be among those I respect most.

The Bible says, "O God, don't stay away. My God, please hurry to help me. Bring disgrace and destruction on my accusers. Humiliate and shame them those who want to harm me. But I will keep on hoping for your help; I will praise you more and more. I will tell everyone about your righteousness. All day long I will proclaim your saving power, though I am not skilled with words. I will praise your mighty deeds, O Sovereign LORD. I will tell everyone that you alone are just." -Psalm 71:12-16 (NLT)

With God's help, we can make this choice to seek and glorify Him, regardless of what the world attempts to throw in our faces. When I read these verses and when I observe people, or read about those who persevere in the midst of slander and gossip, who shout His praises above the persecution, I'm encouraged. I'm emboldened to do the same - because God deserves our loyalty and our lives of praise and servitude no matter what anyone else may think or say.

Lord Jesus, help us all to follow you in the middle of the storm, when the wind of the enemy's lies threaten to blow us to the ground, when the rain and hail of the world's mockery pelt our heads, when those who do not know you try to sabotage Your plans for us - help us to stand for You. Strengthen us to keep fighting, keep walking, keep praising You, and keep loving You.

A second helping

"Please let me inherit a double portion of your Spirit and become your successor" (Elisha to Elijah) -2 Kings 2:9b (NLT)

Elijah had performed his incredible miracles and had been extremely bold and courageous to speak the word of the LORD and the whole truth to the kings and nations of Judah and Isreal. Elisha had seen this, and yet believed that God could have even more in store for his own life's purpose.

Sometimes I look at the success of others and think, "If only that could be me . . . if only I could have what they have and do what they do . . . oh, for that person's success to be mine . . . "

But, perhaps, God would want me, like Elisha, to dream even bigger . . . Maybe he has more in store for my life's purpose than I give Him credit for . . . Maybe I'm longing to emulate someone that God would not have me emulate . . . Am I coveting another person's success, or am I seeking after more of His Spirit?

O Lord, give me a double share of your Spirit. Do more through me than I ever thought possible. Dream your biggest dreams and plan your biggest plans through me. I am Yours; have Your way in me.