The struggling, faltering believer hardly dares to hope for a similar approval from God, and yet Romans 8:38-39 is direct: I am sure that… [nothing] will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. In other words, when we stand in Christ, we stand beneath the glowing approval of God when he utters the words “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

The very next words in Mark’s gospel are calculated to detonate at the heart of our legalistic, self-righteous, if-things-are-going-well-I-must-have-God’s-approval mentality. “The Spirit immediately drove [Jesus] out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan.”

God showers loving approval on his son, then immediately drives him into the wilderness for a time of hunger, loneliness, and temptation.

If you are in the wilderness of testing, do not automatically assume that you got there by your works as if God was getting back at you for some sin or weakness or failure. If you are in Christ, it is his works in which you stand and they are all righteous works. You stand approved by God in Christ! And you have the privilege to share with Christ in his sufferings. And it is in this very assurance of God’s approval that we are best prepared to overcome the temptation in the wilderness.

Grace to you.

For some that might mean perpetual darkness. Or perpetual cold and snow. Or perpetual heat. In the Far North, it means perpetual rain.

Of course up here we don’t flood. Or where we do, it’s little surprise and about as much drama. Not all of Australia is so blessed.

“That time of year” is often associated with discouragement. Incidence of depression increases during the long night at the poles, during the snow season in many parts of the world, and in the rainy season in the tropics. Many of our emotional metaphors reflect this reality: A dark mood, feeling blue, cold hearted, night of the soul, a clouded face, etc.

But you know what they say—and nowhere is it more true than in the land of droughts and floods: When it rains, it pours. And I don’t think that’s an accident.

In micro, today it took nothing more than an uncooperative piece of electronic equipment to bring me from self-sufficient calm to rather helpless frustration. For a few moments, I had to face the reality that my solemn command was entirely ineffectual in bringing about the desired electronic phenomenon. My take-on-the-world machismo lay in undignified ruins as I sprawled on the ground next to it surrounded by screwdrivers and other such implements in perfect defeat.

I feel a little like that tonight as I listen to the relentless rain outside my window. It never feels good to be there. I’d much rather feel that I can take on the world, that I am in charge of my world, that I’ve got it covered. But I can’t. And I’m not. And I don’t.

Why does it pour when it rains? Perhaps it’s because we can handle a little rain. And perhaps God never intended to give us something we could handle.

Apart from me you can do nothing.  —John 15:5

Grace to you.

Psalm 42:1-2 (ESV) As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

What is the ultimate difference between duty and delight within the realm of Christianity? How is it that there are times in our Christian experiences where maintaining a prayer life is burdensome, reading the Bible is onerous and exemplifying Christ in all we do seems like an obligation rather than our supreme pleasure? It is my contention that duty supercedes delight in our spiritual life when we cease ‘panting for God.’ When I reflect upon the years of my Christianity, I find instances where my relationship with God is formal, mechanical and religious and it as at those times that I am not passionately pursuing God.

In the opening words of this wonderful psalm, the author portrays three metaphors in the Hebrew which cannot be extrapolated from the English text, but which have profound impact upon every believer.

1. The Need for Refreshment

The first illustration is of a fainting deer in the midst of a severe drought running from place to place in pursuit of the streams which will quench its thirst. Like the deer, the Believer must run to God for refreshment. It is not simply enough to run to Him for salvation, we must daily run to God for sustenance and strength. A Christian cannot survive in this land which is void of spiritual food and in darkness; he must daily, moment by moment return to the well-spring of Salvation.

In our day, Christians are encouraged to turn to psychologists, counsellors, self-help tapes, step-by-step programs, pastors and church leaders when the only place they can find nourishment for their spiritually fatigued soul, is GOD! How many times we forsake the fountain of living waters for the self-made cisterns which cannot satisfy.

‘Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the Lord. For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.’ Jeremiah 2:12-13

Another consideration in this illustration is that the deer is not meandering along the path in search of this life-sustaining water; it runs with every ounce of vitality knowing that it must drink or die. It searches high and low, beyond the forest, upon the mountain tops, in the woodlands and the desert places. Finally it finds not a stagnant pond or declining brook, but a full-flowing watercourse, a gushing stream where its thirst is fully quenched. What a tremendous picture of the thirsty Christian and his God, who is not akin to some trickling creek, but the fountain of living waters that will always satisfy our souls.

2. The Need for Refuge

The second illustration is of a hunted deer which instinctively seeks after the river where it may find refuge and immerse itself in the cool waters, thereby removing the trail of its scent.

Tuberville summarises: ‘The deer that is spent and sore run will commonly descend down the stream and swim in the very middle, steering clear of all boughs and shrubbery lest the hounds should catch the scent. Sometimes the deer will lie under the water with all but its nose submersed and remain in this position until all danger is passed.’

Like the deer, the believer must run to God for refuge. There are times when the battle is too fierce and the enemies encamp against us and we must run to the water for refuge. It is at these moments that we learn what it is to abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Why when we are pursued by the enemy, when the dogs are almost upon us do we turn to friends or family when we MUST hie to God for refuge?

‘Trust in Him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before Him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.’     Psalm 62:8

‘The Eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms…’ Deuteronomy 33:27

3. The Need for Rest

The third illustration in this text is of a deer experiencing the sore heat of summer, longing for the cool water where it may bathe its smoking flanks and rest a while. Like the deer, the believer MUST run to God for rest. The Christian race is long and hard at times and our weary bodies need to bathe in the water of life. Our wounds, sores and blisters can be soothed by immersing ourselves in God. The believer cannot find his rest in the pleasures of this life. He cannot bury his sorrows in alcohol or entertainment as do the heathen; he must dive into his Heavenly Father and find rest in the everlasting arms. The pleasantness, peace, fulfilment and rest that the believer found in Christ at the moment of his conversion is the same that he will find upon his return. The weather-beaten garments, the stains of the day, the stench of the world are totally removed when the Christian plunges into the fountain afresh. Dear brother or sister in Christ, come to the well and rest a while. Bathe in His virtues, drink of His kindness and immerse yourself in His infinite character!

‘Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him….’ Psalm 37:7

‘Be still and know that I am God….’Psalm 46:10

Summary

The author of this Psalm was thirsty for God. He did not seek ease, plaudits of men, but the enjoyment of communion with God was the urgent need of his soul! One might ask ‘How do I escape the ritualism of my Christianity?’ The answer is simple; develop an insatiable, unquenchable desire for God. Not for His Word only, nor for fellowship with His people, but for Him, only Him! ‘How can I develop this insatiable desire for God?’ Run to Him, Approach Him, Learn of Him, commune with Him, not using all the spiritual jargon, but in sincerity and truth. Perhaps the great need of the hour is for God’s people to lay aside all their ministries and church commitments which can distract, and devote time to developing a genuine walk with God.

‘Give him his God and he is as content as the poor deer which at length satisfies its thirst and is perfectly happy; but deny him his Lord, and his heart heaves, his bosom palpitates, his whole frame is convulsed, like one who gasps for breath, or pants with long running. When it is as natural for us to long for God as for an animal to thirst, it is well with our souls, however painful our feelings.’ ~Spurgeon

A Passion For Thee

Written by Joe Zicherman © 1994 by the Wilds.

Set my heart, O dear Father, on Thee, and Thee only, give me a thirst for Thy presence divine. Lord, keep my focus on loving Thee wholly, purge me from earth; turn my heart after Thine. A passion for Thee; O Lord, set a fire in my soul, and a thirst for my God. Hear Thou my prayer, Lord Thy power impart. Not just to serve, but to love Thee with all of my heart.

Because of Calvary

1. We were saved before time began

God is sovereign and all powerful.  Even before he created time and man, he knew we would fall and need redemption.  God decided even then to save us.  The fact that God decided to save us means that our salvation was as good as done.

2. We were saved around 30AD on a cross outside of Jerusalem

The price for our salvation was not paid until an innocent Jesus shed his blood for our sins.   Death and the grave was conquered when Jesus died and rose again.   This moment is the focal point of History as it was in this moment that all souls past, present and future received eligibility to come into the presence of God.

3. Were were saved when we repented on our sin and placed our faith in Christ.

Typically, this is the answer that we want when we ask the question ‘ When were You Saved’?   The better question is when did we receive our regenerated life – our new life in Christ.   Sometimes we can point to a moment in time when this occurs (e.g. an alter call or distinct moment in our adult life)   Sometimes we cannot recall a specific moment (e.g. we may have grown up in a Christian family and believed in Christ as long as we can remember).  Sometimes placing our faith in Christ can be a journey and we can’t remember a specific moment when we ‘crossed the line’, but we know that we are now trusting Christ.   These can all be valid methods of how we arrive at ‘being saved’.

4.  We are constantly being saved

Our salvation is more than just a status change in the book of life.   It affects our whole life.  Because we are saved from the penalty of sin, we can now be saved from the power of sin.  We now have the knowledge and ability – through the Holy Spirit  - to no longer be slaves to the sin.  This means salvation has an ongoing application in our lives.

5. We will be saved one day once Christ returns to redeem us from this fallen world and to His side.

Despite our the price of our salvation being paid, it is not yet consumated.   We are still waiting to be saved from the flesh and the world.   We are waiting for that day when the uncorruptable is known and we can dwell in fulness with our Lord and Saviour.   In that day, we will be able to truly say that we are saved.

- Blessings

JC

Here are some thoughts for people who are feeling rejected:

You can forgive because you are forgiven.  The parable of the forgiven servant resonates during times of rejection.  When you are forgiven in Christ – how much more can you forgive someone who is rejecting you?

You can fortify the soul.  I often think of personal attacks in the context of a castle.  Personal attacks that come through word of mouth by other people run straight through the main gates into the castle keep.   These attacks can be belittling, petulant, and downright mean.  Start by fortifying the soul with your sufficiency in Christ.

Choose your counsel wisely.  You should read Macbeth by William Shakespeare – it’s a good character study in how family advice can turn a bad situation into a tragedy.  Stirring up the problem without looking for a solution feels good at the time but ultimately it won’t resolve anything (kind of like picking a scab!).  Walk through the historical books in the Old Testament or Proverbs to see how true friends help you with rejection.

It may not be resolved – God knows.  The crowd rejected Jesus Christ and chose Barrabus.  Yet this was a part of God’s plan that even the disciples could not comprehend until Pentecost.  God’s work is mysterious – but he will fulfill his purpose.

What should we do when we come to that place? Here are some meditations.

1) Move to the centre.

When we can’t explain it and we can’t make sense of it, that’s the time to move to the core of our faith. It’s easy to be distracted by the peripherals when things are going well, but when we’re struggling, we hardly notice that stuff. The stuff we need to remember is the basic stuff: The nature of God, the nature of man, the man Christ Jesus, the cross, the resurrection, our coming glorification, etc. It is here at the centre that our faith is tested and found hollow or demonstrated to be genuine.

2) Rejoice in God.

In times of sadness and uncertainty, all our other sources of strength and joy fall away and we’re left with our faithful God. It is a powerful testimony to his beauty that at that point, we often find our greatest joy—and we find it in God himself.

3) Ask for faith.

This beauty of God is not visible to everyone. Only God can open our eyes to this beauty and give us joy in seeing it. At times of brokenness, sometimes we can only beg God for eyes to see and faith to believe.

4) Connect to others.

We’re not meant to go it alone. Ask God for others to share the burden and if he provides the opportunity, connect with them. There is more benefit in ten minutes of real connection over spiritual matters than in hours of surface chatter.

That point when we’re lost for words is the very time that we’re ready to listen to God speaking.

For a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Grace to you.

Couldn’t have said it better myself, Linus.

Grace to you.

Be a Learner

Taking interest in a new topic deepens appreciation for people different from yourself.  I have never been interested in what happens inside a fitness centre, but my husband encouraged me to give it a go.  Stepping through the doors and becoming involved inside the gym has increased my willingness to listen and learn more.  How God has made the human body to thrive and how He gives people knowledge to understand it!  If we want to increase in wisdom, let’s be willing to learn things outside of our natural interests.  We will likely discover that God’s handiwork is evident in that subject area too.

A wise man will listen and increase his learning,?and a discerning man will obtain guidance.  Prov.1:5 

Alone We Groan; Together is Better

Going to the gym with a friend sweetens the whole experience for a reluctant exerciser.  In my case, I frequented the gym with my exercise-loving husband Steve.  Those killer workouts with our personal trainer Mary became dates to anticipate with excitement.  Working out with Steve to share the sweat and Mary to encourage us through her torturous routines provided not only motivation but also appreciation of the fellowship of fitness fanatics.  Without the two of them to urge me along, quitting would have been the inevitable outcome.  Not only was it fun to share the workouts, but we also shared the pain of recovering muscles.  It’s not just inside the gym that we need encouragement and fellowship.  Outside the gym too we need others to help us through the tough times of life, sharing our sorrows and joys and keeping us from quitting.

“Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labor.”  Ecc. 4:9

“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.” Heb. 10:24 

Falling is not the End

Falling off the treadmill doesn’t have to end your fitness commitment.  You may fly ungracefully off the end of the treadmill and seriously bruise your dignity (or something more solid).  I did.  But it would have been a far worse consequence for me to give up training after that moment of terror and humiliation.  Ironically, falling off was the very thing I have always feared about that relentless machine.  But I found out that I could face my crushed dignity and my fear and get back on the treadmill the next day and the next, applying what I had learned in my moment of inattention for more successful treadmill experiences.  Failure in life is no different.  It gives us a chance to evaluate our mistakes and our weaknesses and try again by the grace of God.

“For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again.” Prov. 24:16

 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Heb. 12:12-13 

Sore for More

Soreness is not always bad.  I’ve always been a wimp about sore muscles, but working out with Steve and Mary has taught me to appreciate those mornings when I could hardly lift my arms or pick up the dirty clothes from the floor.  That pain meant I had burned fat and strengthened muscles.  It meant the workouts were changing me.  In a similar way, God uses the aches of our hearts to change us for His glorious purposes.

“For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.”  2 Cor. 4:17

Harder Work Now; Sweeter Rest Later

5. The pleasures of life are better enjoyed when you have worked hard for them.  After the self-torture of a serious workout, I really feel like I’ve earned that smooth protein shake and hot shower.  Sleep is sweeter after decent exercise.  Similarly, the joys of heaven will be brighter for those who have patiently worked hard at the rigours of faith.  They are the ones who will hear their Lord say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

“There remains a sabbath rest for the people of God. . . . Let us therefore strive to enter that rest.” Heb. 4: 9, 11

Simply Does It

Getting fit and strong does not have to involve fancy equipment.  Most of our workouts involved little more than a few weights and a little floor space.  Exercise routines were surprising simple.  Simple but not easy.  Walking on all fours up and down the length of the gym, pausing only for sit-ups or push-ups or jumping jacks, requires only my own body and plenty of determination. It felt like going back to school for PE again, but those workouts turned my arms and legs to jelly and tested the limits of my cardio endurance.  Sometimes we can think that becoming Christlike involves comprehending complex theology and multiple layers of frantic activity.  The truth is that it’s the simple things like having a prayerful heart, hanging out with others who love to talk about Jesus, and soaking myself in God’s Word that are moving me towards a deeper walk with God.  It’s  really that simple.

“As newborn babies want milk, you should want the pure and simple teaching.  By it you can mature in your salvation.”  1 Pet. 2:2

Open your eyes to God’s pointers in the thumbnail images of your life.  What arena of life is God giving you in 2012 in which to grow in your understanding of Him?

Have you ever felt like you cannot go on? Have you ever experienced the weights of despair, discouragement and disappointment? Do you ever wonder if there is anybody left who actually cares for your plight? If any of these questions ring true in your heart than you understand to some degree the experiences of the powerful prophet Elijah. There he sits under the desert Juniper shrub having personally experienced one of the greatest evidences of God’s power in history, and he is discouraged to the point of desiring death. How does a great man of God who is known for his life of prayer, miracles and his appearance at Christ’s transfiguration get to this low point in his journey of faith?

The answer to this question above is found in numerous Bible passages; 1 Timothy 3:12 ‘Yea and all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.’ Hebrews 12:3 ‘For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.’

Men and women who dedicate themselves to the cause of Christ will never live far from the neighbourhood of suffering. Adoniram Judson was such a man; he lived from 1788-1850 and was a pioneer missionary to Burma. An extremely intelligent boy who had learned to read at the age of three, and was fluent in Latin and Greek at the age of 10. Adoniram graduated from Andover Theological Seminary as the valedictorian of his class. One day during a morning chapel at Andover, Adoniram, was challenged by the words of Mark 16:15 ‘Go ye into all the world.’ In 1810 he helped to form the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and, two years later, he and his new wife, Ann, sailed for India. Upon his arrival to India, the government refused him entrance and so they went and worked in Burma for 6 years before winning a single convert. During those years they were plagued with ill health, loneliness, and the death of their baby son. Judson was imprisoned for nearly two years, during which time Ann faithfully visited him, smuggling to him his books, papers and notes, which he used in translating the Bible into the Burmese language. Soon after his release from prison, Ann and their baby daughter, Maria, died of spotted fever. Judson withdrew into seclusion into the interior, where he completed the translation of the entire Bible into Burmese. In 1845 he returned to visit America, but the burning desire to win the Burmese people sent him back to the Orient, where he soon died.

The Bible tells us in 2 Timothy 2:3 ‘Thou therefore endure hardness , as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.’ ‘Endurance’ in this verse is an imperative not a suggestion or idea to consider. As good soldiers of Jesus Christ we must endure because He endured. There are times where we are tempted to simply throw our hands up in despair and give up. There are times when the mountain ahead seems too steep and the valley below appears too deep. It is at this point that I must re-affix my eyes on Christ because the mountain is only too steep and the valley too deep when I have redirected my gaze from Christ to the raging waters below.

Dear friend reading this simple blog; I know this to be true in my own life (even though I am most guilty of taking my eyes off Christ). This past month has been the most difficult that I have faced in the 21 years of my walking with God. I have lost my Father to a heart attack without certainty of his eternal destination. I have lost great ministry opportunities because the church which I now attend does not meet the approval of some men. I have lost many ‘friends’ who now will not associate with me because of my stand on certain ‘issues’ and I have furiously battled with the desire to simply quit based upon the ‘Christianity’ (or lack thereof) that I have seen in others.

However, I find myself in these dark moments peering beyond the Juniper tree and beyond the desert and beyond the slough of despair, and I see ever so slightly the glimmer of the celestial city. At this point, I find myself with Pilgrim (of the Pilgrim’s Progress) arising and pressing on toward the heavenly city. Will you join me as we come out from under the desert shrub and continue on the journey in spite of the hardships?

A Weary Soldier (but still fighting!)

Have you ever read through the whole Bible in a year?   For me, this strategy for Bible reading has blossomed and borne fruit as year builds onto year.   Although this Bible reading plan can sometimes be burdensome, reading the whole Bible every year provides a solid foundation for understanding other Bible teaching and for personal growth.  Every Christian who is literate enough should attempt this several times throughout his lifetime.  After all, if God’s Word is the basis for the Christian life, shouldn’t we at least read it from cover to cover?

Through-the-Bible reading plans are easily accessible online, and readers can choose to read straight through (three chapters a day), to read through chronologically, or to read selected portions designed to get them through the whole book in twelve months.  Reading through the Bible chronologically is my personal favourite.  I love reading the history alongside the poetry and prophecy that grew out of that history as well as reading the epistles in light of the books of Acts.

If the whole Bible in one year is too daunting, how about settling for a shorter segment of the inspired Word?  Try focusing on just the New Testament or the poetry.  Another approach is to read key Bible passages to give yourself a Bible overview.  This is especially good for people who are unfamiliar with the Bible as a whole and might get bogged down with all the details of reading the whole Bible in a year.  Alternatively,  try a one-book-in-a-year intensive.  One year I selected the book of John and read it several times through – sometimes fast, sometimes slowly, sometimes intensely taking notes, sometimes just engaging with the narrative in my imagination.  That experience enriched my life for years afterwards.  Someone has suggested that the book of Proverbs (with 31 chapters) is perfect for taking one chapter a day to finish the book in a month.  Imagine how well you’d know Proverbs if you did that for twelve months!

Another consideration is which version to read.  What might deviating from your preferred version do for your appreciation and understanding of God’s Word?  I had spent years reading the KJV and NKJV so when I switched to the NIV I really appreciated the more natural English flow and modern syntax.  When reading the ESV, dynamic vocabulary translation choices unfolded fresh perspective on passages I’d read for decades without catching a particular shade of meaning.  With teaching ESL children’s Bible classes, I have dabbled in the NLT, but next year I think I’ll tackle the whole translation.  Who knows?  Maybe it’ll be so exciting that I’ll be speed reading through the whole book several times next year.

You don’t  have to buy a special Bible to start a special reading plan, but you can.  John Macarthur has published a daily reading Bible with notes, and there are many other varieties of the same idea on the market.  You can search at Koorong or Amazon for more options.  My 10 year old son has been using the NLT One Year Bible for Kids, which is based on the key passages idea of Bible reading.  Highly motivated by concrete goals, he likes the idea that he can tick off each day’s reading right in the Bible as he goes along.  If you don’t want to buy a purpose-driven Bible, you can read it online  or get it by RSS feed, or have it sent to your iPhone.  Of course, if you’d rather have a paper reading plan (I do), you can print one from an internet site or buy one at the Christian bookshop or find one on the back table at your church in the Daily Bread.  (Make sure you look up and read the Bible texts and don’t just settle for the interesting story in the little booklet!)

Here’s a fresh idea.  Do you have an heirloom Bible that you have marked with special moments you’ve shared with God?  How about laying that aside for a year, buying a cheapie paperback, and crazily marking it with notes, underlining and colouring with abandon?  You won’t be distracted by all the sermon notes you’ve already put in that heirloom edition.  You’ll have clean, fresh pages that no one but you and God ever need to see.  Psalm 27 may not appear in the right column half way down the left page like it does in your other Bible so you’ll have a chance to think about the Psalm differently when you read it in another position on the page.  At the end of the year you will have a record of your personal journey through the Scriptures and better still a less deliberate, more intuitive grasp of what God is saying in those pages.  Then you can go back to your heirloom Bible next year.

Whatever you choose to do with your Bible reading, choose something.  Don’t leave personal Bible reading to chance.  What ideas do you have for Bible reading in 2012?