"Righteous" Deceit

I love when I start to see a theme in conversations surrounding my life. The theme these past few weeks has been the immensity of God’s grace, and our inability to earn it.

My darling friend, Julie and I had so many great conversations while vacationing in Maine about the uncleanliness of our own acts of righteousness, and our constant striving to do something worthy of God’s favor... More recently, while having dinner with my sweet friend, Hannah, we discussed our own tendency to deceive ourselves. Julie and I read through the first few chapters of 1 Peter on our trip and this conversation with Hannah reminded me of a particular verse we repeated a few times…

“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit…” 1 Pet 2:1a

We are likely to read this verse and think of deceit as an act done to another. However, Hannah brought up a great point. I think we are more often deceiving ourselves than anyone else. Paul writes it perfectly in Ephesians, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” We are God’s handiwork… created by Him and for Him, which in itself means that we are nothing and can do nothing without God. Beth Moore’s study on Paul reflects his time in prison and the letters he wrote to the churches there. Several times he talks about this gift of grace and she highlights this truth in her study:

"We received Christ as a gift of grace... We must not believe any teaching or philosophy that replaces God's grace with our performance."

Our first thought is probably in defense – “I don’t boast about the things I do for Christ.” But this is where the heart deceit comes in… we may never speak about the good works we have done, or boast that we have accomplished so much that God MUST be proud of us… but are we deceiving our hearts by thinking these things? Maybe you aren’t… but I know I have been guilty of this.

Any righteousness in us comes from the Father alone. He wrapped us in His robe of righteousness and a garment of salvation (Is 61:10) in place of our filthy rags (Is 64:6). He opens our mind so we can understand scripture (Luke 24:45). He gives us every gift we possess (Eph 4:11) and gifted us with salvation through Jesus Christ.

There is NOTHING to boast about but Christ alone. In our hearts, our heads, and with our voices we can sing songs of praise to the only One who deserves it.

We don’t have to ask ourselves if we have done enough for Him. There is no such thing as “doing” enough. We don’t have to strive. As Max Lucado once said, "Of all the things you must earn in life, God's unending affection is not one of them. You have it." And as Christy Nockels so beautifully sings, “I was made me for rest, in a world that’s striving.” 

We can rest in the peace of not having to earn Christ’s love, favor, or forgiveness. Instead we can ask ourselves if we have lived a life that honors what He did for us on the cross. Every second, every thought, every word, and every action – am I giving glory to the One who really deserves it?

The Plan

Jeremiah 29:11 is a verse you may be pretty familiar with – “’For I know the plans I have for you’, declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

We take comfort in knowing that God has a plan for our lives. This morning I read something that really spoke to my heart, and brought me an extraordinary amount of peace to face the day. I think we often times read verses like Jer. 29:11 and think that God has a plan for us – but maybe we think that plan consists of one big thing. You may think that God has a plan for you to preach the gospel, or to be a missionary, or to work with women coming out of human trafficking…. But His plan for you doesn’t start OR end there. We cannot live our lives just for this one plan; we must realize that along the way God has many other things He may call you to do.

God placed a specific call on Paul’s life to bring the gospel to the gentiles. While Paul went about this mission he also led many Jewish people to the Truth of the Way as well. While in jail the Lord spoke to Paul and told him not to fear, because he must testify in Rome (Acts 23:11). The current “plan” was for Paul to go to Rome and testify about the truth of JESUS. Here is where things get exciting… While on the way to Rome Paul’s ship encountered an incredible storm which took all of their gear. An angel spoke to Paul and told him that everyone on board would be safe and not to worry. While Paul is explaining this to his ship-mates he says to them, “So keep up your courage men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as He told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.” (Acts 27:25-26) Some island… even Paul had no idea the things that God would do through him on some island. What HE did was heal an entire people of illness and leave Paul there for three months to testify of the glory of God. If Paul had gotten too wrapped up in God’s PLAN to send him to Rome, he could have missed this plan to bring peace and hope to an entire people group.

Let’s not get so caught up in what big thing God might do with our lives that we miss all of the things He wants to do with it. We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Eph 2:10). Those good works may never get any recognition, and that is what makes them so important.

When we live a life in step with the Spirit we hear when God is calling us to big things and to little things. Just do the next obedient thing – that is living your life worthy of the calling you have received (Eph 4:1), and that is where God’s glory is revealed.

What kind of love is this?

“What kind of love is this?” There is never a day that I don’t think that. I am loved in the most unfathomable way. Until recently the thought was, “we are loved in the most unfathomable way”. For some reason it was really easy for me to understand, on some level, God’s great love for US, but I had a much more difficult time understanding His great love just for ME.

I once read a book with a conversation in it that forever has changed me. In the scenario Jesus tells a person that even if all of the torture, pain and death had been for just him, it would have been worth it. When I first read that several years ago, I could not stop crying. It struck a chord with me that I didn’t realize was so sensitive, and I think about it often.

I love telling people about how much God loves them. I believe it, and I know the impact that knowledge will have on a person’s heart. Now I am starting to see that this love is just the same for me, as an individual, as it is for us, as a group of people.

I wake up to His Word, and ask myself if I really believe it is true for ME.

Do I KNOW that His love for ME is deep, and wide, long and tall?

Do I KNOW that His love is not based on my performance?

Do I KNOW that He loved me long before I was even breathing in air?

Do I KNOW that He loved me prior to any thought of love I had towards Him?

Do I KNOW that I AM HIS?

Do I KNOW that God’s love for me was just as deep when I was separated from Him?

Do I KNOW that I was created in His image, to be a replica of His very nature?

Do I KNOW that God knows every inclination of my heart?

Do I KNOW that I was created with purpose, and that before the day has begun there are things planned out for me to do to bring Him glory?

Do I KNOW that I am loved with a love that will never know an end?

Do you?

Knowing these truths and living in them are two different things.

Walk in this knowledge: His love is FOR YOU.

YOKE

A yoke is a wooden beam used to unite two animals in carrying a load. We usually hear this term with oxen. A yoke of oxen is a pair working together to pull a load.

As Christians we have also heard this word in another context. It is important that we are not "unequally yoked", as Paul instructs in his letter to the Corinthians. I am afriad that we may have lost the true definition of this word.

I am sure there is a significant Hebrew meaning and parallel which would bring great wisdom. Mine is not very deep, but I do think that it is good.

When we are taught to be equally yoked, that does not just mean that we should only be in relationship with other believers. Yes, you should be in relationship with a believer, for what does light and darkness have in common? But not JUST that. Having a yoke between you is sharing the same burden. The two oxen pull together the load they are united with.

I don't think we are to just be in relationship with any believer, but with a believer who is pulling the same amount as you are. You may be called to different areas of ministry, or maybe the same area. The beauty in the yoke is that you are equally as passionate about the weight of what you are carrying. You work together to make the biggest impact in ministry. The load might also be considered a burden. Not in a negative sense, but instead in a most beautiful one. That you and your partner would have an equal burden for the things of the Kingdom to be known, and a burden for the sins of the people and the brokenness in our world.

If two oxen were united under one yoke, but only one was doing the work, it would be an uneven load. To work effectively for the Kingdom in our relationships I think that we must have an equal passion and desire to work together for the One who brought us together. How much more incredible when your burden for the lost is equally strong, and your passion for moving hearts is one in the same? There is a remarkable work to be done by couples in ministry.

Proverbs 3:6

 “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:6

way

¹    [wey]  Show IPA

noun

1.

manner, mode, or fashion: a new way of looking at a matter;to reply in a polite way.

2.

characteristic or habitual manner: Her way is to work quietlyand never complain.

3.

a method, plan, or means for attaining a goal: to find a wayto reduce costs.

4.

a respect or particular: The plan is defective in several ways.

5.

a direction or vicinity: Look this way. We're having a droughtout our way.

ac·knowl·edge

   [ak-nol-ij]  Show IPA

verb (used with object), ac·knowl·edged, ac·knowl·edg·ing.

1.

to admit to be real or true; recognize the existence, truth,or fact of: to acknowledge one's mistakes.

2.

to show or express recognition or realization of: toacknowledge an acquaintance by nodding.

3.

to recognize the authority, validity, or claims of: The studentsacknowledged the authority of the student council.

4.

to show or express appreciation or gratitude for: toacknowledge a favor.

5.

to indicate or make known the receipt of: to acknowledge aletter.

di·rect

   [dih-rekt, dahy-]  Show IPA

verb (used with object)

1.

to manage or guide by advice, helpful information,instruction, etc.: He directed the company through a difficulttime.

2.

to regulate the course of; control: History is directed by asmall number of great men and women.

3.

to administer; manage; supervise: She directs the affairs of theestate.

4.

to give authoritative instructions to; command; order orordain: I directed him to leave the room.

In all your ways (manner, characteristics, methods, plans, respects, directions) acknowledge (recognize, appreciate, make known) HIM and He shall direct (manager, administer, instruct, control) your paths.

Where YOU Go

His love is excessive.  It goes beyond all I can imagine or understand…

The Lord is kind enough to teach us through His WORD, and I LOVE how that Word is living and active. Each time I read it, I learn something new or see new application. Sometimes it’s a mind lesson, other times it’s a heart lesson. Either way, I am captured by His LOVE and His voice.

John 12:26 – Where Jesus is, so His servants must be.

Not just His disciples when He was here on earth, but even still today. Where His presence is, we must be. How do we do that? Gal 5:25, keep in step with the Spirit. We must listen to His guidance. He will lead us beside still waters, or He may lead us out into the wilderness. He will bring us where we see Him and depend on Him most. Isaiah 63:9 – HIS presence SAVES us. No matter where we are. He carries us.

Like Moses, if God’s presence doesn’t go before us – I don’t want to go. [Ex 33:15]

Deuteronomy 1:31 “in the desert. There you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.” Every part of this verse is ministering to me. He lead me to the desert – Hosea 2:14, and He spoke tenderly to me there. Sometimes we cannot hear God’s voice because of all the other voices in our lives. There are times when it seems He just wants time with you, and that might mean taking other people away so we can hear Him more clearly and just be with Him. He carries us then, until we reach THIS PLACE… of peace, and of His presence, surrounded by His love and listening to His tender voice.

Isaiah 43:1 – Fear not [No matter where you are] Fear not, for HE HAS REDEEMED YOU. He summoned YOU by name; YOU ARE HIS. Precious and honored in His sight. (vs 4). 

Records

Oh – lessons learned the hard way.

The other day I was meeting my dear friend Hannah for tea at Teavana. When we were checking out I told the assistant that the orders were together. Hannah tried to argue with me, but I reminded her that the last time we were at the mall together she insisted on buying me a coffee mug from Anthropologie (which I love – see picture).  

She laughed and said I was a grudge holder… keeping records of rights.

I love this.

I don’t always remember all of the wonderful things that people do for me, and I wish I did. I wish I kept better records of all the rights than I do of all the wrongs. Situations in life often pull us in unfriendly directions, or position us between two friends on opposing sides of a situation. These are not fun places to be, but they are inevitable in this broken world full of broken people (me included). When I sit long enough to think about my position, and to seek wisdom from the Word about how to handle situations like these, I usually end up at this verse: Luke 23:34 – When Jesus had been tortured – spit on – beaten – shamed (which is what we deserved) He says, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” This verse is staggering to me. How can we comprehend so much love and mercy? There is so much truth in Jesus’ words from the cross, and it speaks into the daily lives of His children. Those crucifying our Lord did not know that He was the King of kings. Truthfully they did not know what they were doing. You may be thinking that the person who has wronged you DID know EXACTLY what they were doing, and you may be absolutely correct. Sometimes our hurts come from someone’s malicious intent to cause pain. Sometimes they come from an innocent remark that was taken the wrong way, or miscommunication of some sort. We hurt in all different ways, but the people who are hurting us are usually only acting this way because they too are hurting. We live in a broken world, full of broken people. We hurt others and are hurt by others. It’s not the way we want to live, but it is reality. 

So how do we live as Christ in the midst of this pain? He commands us to LOVE ONE ANOTHER just as HE has loved us[Jn 13:34], and to LOVE ONE ANOTHER more than we love ourselves [Mt 22:39]. Then He tells us through Paul’s letter that LOVE keeps no records of wrongs [1 Cor 13:5]. 

I don’t know if there is truly a way to forgive and forget. But a record of something is more than just a memory:

re·cord

verb (used with object)

1. To set down in writing or the like, as for the purpose of preserving evidence.

A record of wrongs, therefore, seems to be something we keep in order to remind someone (or ourselves) of what they have done to us. It’s not healthy for us to keep this inside, and it serves no good to bring it up again to the one(s) who hurt you. We don’t need evidence of sin – we have it everywhere we look… What we need evidence of is LOVE. What if we kept a record of rights and continually thought about, talked about, dwelled on all of the GOOD things that have been done to/for us? It may seem like an impossible notion, but it certainly would make for a more peaceful heart.

When we pray for this broken world, we have to remember (me included) that WE ALL are broken and in need of healing. To pray for God to give us clean hearts, pure hands, innocent minds, and the ability to remember love and not pain. It starts with me. and you.