journey onWord with us

Envy, lying, deception, greed, murder … sounds like a soap opera (so I’ve heard!).  I am not referring to the plot of a novel or a movie; I am referring to my daily Bible reading.  These vices, these sins, are as old as time.  I guess the old saying is true, “some things never change!”

As I have pondered the fact that man has that sinful nature, two things struck me.  First, our need of a Savior.  That fact presented itself early in our illustrious history when Adam and Eve first tasted of the forbidden fruit.  Sin entered our world that day in the Garden, and someone had to pay the price.  Even Job gave a powerful foreshadowing of our need for a Savior as he longed for an arbitrator to decide his case with God.

Job 9: 33
If only there were someone to
arbitrate between us, to lay his
hand upon us both.  Someone to
remove God’s rod from me, so
that his terror would frighten
me no more.  Then I would speak
up without fear of him, but as it
now stands with me, I cannot.

I praise the Lord every day for the gift of His Son on that cross because now I am frightened no more.  The price has been paid!

The second thought that has struck me in these passages is that Satan is busy in our world; yes, the whole world, but allow me to personalize it a bit more, and think your little world.  I am saved by the blood of the Savior, but I am certainly NOT immune to the cunning of the devil.

How sly he was in the garden!  How divisive he was in the hearts and lives of the first brothers, turning envy into murder.  How he used Lot’s greed, in undoubtedly influencing his decision for the best looking land when presented with the choice.  How quickly Job’s friends began their judgments.  And in the midst of miracles, how could the Pharisees deny and seek to trick Jesus every chance they got?  Satan is good – expertly good at what he does!

I Peter 5:8-9a
Be self-controlled and alert.  Your
enemy the devil prowls around
like a roaring lion looking for
someone to devour.  Resist him,
standing firm in the faith …

I got devoured this week!  It was a subtle attack. I didn’t see it coming until it was too late.  But now that I see it in the light of truth, I am reminded…Satan is good at what he does!  He’s been at it since the beginning of time.  And he knows me so well … he knows us all so well.

Self-control.  Alertness.  Resistance.  Stand firm.  Yes, my Savior paid my price on the Cross.  But the Bible repeatedly warns about the power of the devil.  But even though we are assured he can roar, we can resist him.  And so in this “soap opera” world in which we must live, the Word offers hope as it always does…stay alert, resist, stand firm!

“With friends like that who needs enemies!”, is a reality that everyone has experienced. We have felt the pain of a friend betraying our confidence, and sadly we have harmed the trust that others needed from us. Often relationships are often damaged because of our judgmental attitudes. The book of Job can certainly offer a vivid picture of friendships, and the cancer of judgment.

In revisiting a friend from Scripture in the last couple of days, I have been challenged and convicted about the ease with which I can judge others. Job went through pain that was beyond imagination. In Satan’s attack, he lost his children, his possessions and his reputation. When three old friends heard the news, they came to his side.  But too soon, care turned to judgment.

One of his friends was Eliphaz. You’ve probably never compared your life to his. But Eliphaz is an example to all of us, of what not to do in the godly friend department. His “being there” for Job eventually became judgment. This is admittedly a strong illustration of judging someone, but my burden is that the principle of judging has become a normal part of living. Maybe as normal as breathing.  God’s heart is that we love one another, and not judge. He commanded us to do both (John 13:34, Luke 6:37).  Eliphaz, and Job’s other friends took an amazing opportunity to care, and turned it into short-sighted explanations.

Let me share how easy I can become Eliphaz, instead of a giver of grace. In church this morning I saw a young woman looking at her cell phone. My first thought was, “I can’t believe she is doing that”, but then I saw her actively engaged in worship. I wonder how many times I have been distracted by my Blackberry? Because of background and culture, I can easily make wrong judgments. I have seen someone with several tattoos, and made quick character assessments. But God looks on the heart. I may never like tattoos, but viewing others should be from a platform of love and care.  Let the words of Matthew 7:1-5 give us perspective.

Matthew 7:1-5 (MSG)
Don’t pick on people, jump on their
failures, criticize their fault- unless,
of course, you want the same treatment.
That critical spirit has a way of
boomeranging. It’s easy to see a
smudge on your neighbor’s face and
be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your
own. Do you have the nerve to say,
‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when
your own face is distorted by contempt?
It’s this whole traveling road- show
mentality all over again, playing a
holier- than- thou part instead of just
living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer
off your own face, and you might be
fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.

This week you will have plenty of opportunities to make a judgment about someone else. You can easily think about their faults, weaknesses, misplaced views etc…but just maybe with a consciousness to care first and love regardless, you will ask God to intervene in their needs. To not be judgmental does not mean you have to stop having opinions.  But it should cause us to reflect on what Christ would do. Christ met others at their point of need and so can we.

Sit on the ash heap with a friend in need when God presents the opportunity.  Sit, listen, grieve, encourage and pray.  Sit in support, don’t sit in judgment.  When we are like Eliphaz, we may feel right, but when we are like Christ, we are right.

Looking up to heroes is a normal part of life. We all wish we could have the athletic skill of our favorite stars, sing like those with incredible talent or lead like those we tend to follow. Where life really makes a difference … in the spiritual realm … we also look up to certain people. It may be that you look to a spiritual mentor, or someone with great public gifts.  And wish for just a moment that you could have their talent or insight.

Most followers of Christ also have heroes from Scripture. You look at their life and faith, and just wish you could honor the Father in the same ways they did. But just like contemporary athletes, singers and leaders, our heroes from Scripture had their share of failures. Even a casual reading of the book of Genesis gives clear insight into the great failures of one of the original heroes of faith … Abraham.  This is man whose descendants number greater than the grains of sand at the seashore, or stars in the night sky, but who lived with a frailty that we can so easily relate too. Take a brief look at his life with me.

When God initially called Abram to leave his home, he obeyed by faith. But as we view his journey, God gives us multiple evidences through Scripture that plainly contrast that great faith.  I think it is fair to say that many 21^st century Christians tend to lean on our weaknesses as an excuse for not accomplishing all that the Father has planned for us.  Not much has changed over the course of human history.  Abram’s life is a testimony that great results can come from a life of strong faith.  But one that was also, and so often plagued by great frailty. In Genesis 13-22, we find both great faith and failure on full display.

After leaving his country and following God, Abram went to Egypt and made a great blunder (he sinned … big time!). Out of fear, he had Sarai portray herself as his sister. His terrible plan seemed to be paying off, but then God brought disease on the Pharaoh and his household. Immediately juxtaposed against that miserable failure, was a perfect picture of Abram’s spiritual character and selflessness. We are told that he called on the name of the Lord, and when there was conflict with his men and the men of his nephew Lot, Abram showed great confidence in God. He let Lot have his choice of land. Can you relate your journey struggles with Abram’s, as you battle between faith and fear?

Imperfection bleeds over the pages of Genesis 16, in the tragic story of Abram having a child with Hagar. Abram failed, and history has recorded the results. But in the very next chapter (thirteen years later) we see God say, “walk before me and be blameless”. We see God in a final sealing of His covenant with Abram, and also giving he and Sarai new names … Abraham and Sarah.  In the midst of yet another failure , God knew the heart of Abraham and Sarah.  And knew that he could trust them with His plan. Not much has changed throughout the centuries.  And He regards us no less than Abraham.  He knows that we are not faultless, and still He chooses to use us when we turn from our sin and seek Him.  He pursues us, when we deserve no less than His divine wrath.  He desires a relationship with us, and his Spirit works in us to produce a tested and perfected faith.

The same kind of perfected faith that characterized perhaps the pinnacle of Abraham’s journey with God.  A faith that finds him in Genesis 22, preparing to sacrifice his son Isaac per God’s direct and specific instruction.  As Scripture recounts the story, Abraham never flinched in taking his beloved son, all the way to the point of a knife.  He passed the ultimate test of faith, and has given us an undeniable lesson that God can be trusted. I see all of us in Abraham’s failures.  And in 2010, I am trusting that you will see your faith rewarded, as Abraham’s was.  God can be trusted.

Viewing the world from the lens of Genesis has been interesting.  The book starts with the story of how it all started … “ in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”  And before too many chapters are complete, we see a world that seems far different, yet shares very similar struggles to those we find in 2010 A.D.  Today, we lament the corruption on Wall Street, the evils of terrorism, and a society who seems to have lost its moral compass.  Flash back to Genesis and you will find the same kind of core issues. Take a quick journey with me.

Adam and Eve had it made.  Their home was the Garden of Eden, and they were completely free to enjoy, and partake of any part of it … with one single colossal exception.  Satan tempted Eve.  And she ate of the fruit of the forbidden tree, and gave some to Adam.  The rest, as they say, is history!  On my current journey (and yours), there are temptations that have resulted in defeat.  And while Adam and Eve’s ushered sin into the world, the effects of our sin are no less devastating in our own lives.  God’s design was to give them a free will, just like He has given us.  But we are also blessed to know that God has given us His Word as a defense when the evil one attacks.  It worked for Christ, our Redeemer, and it will work for us.

Cain and Abel were the world’s first brothers, and unfortunately the enduring legacy of their relationship is one of anger and jealousy.  They both brought offerings to the Lord. God looked with favor on Abel’s offering, but not on Cain’s.  It is easy to surmise that Cain’s heart was not pure.  His anger led to murder.  21st century Christians struggle with those same emotions of anger and jealousy.  Things haven’t changed much.  Our human nature compares our offerings to those of others, even to those we love most.  And we often find gaps.  Never forget, that in Christ you are free from the penalty and power of sin.  Take those gaps, and the resulting wrong emotions, to the Father.  We may think we are Abel, but He is truly able.

By Genesis chapter 6, the world was a wicked place. But in the midst of it, was a man named Noah, who found favor in the eyes of the Lord. We are told that he walked with God.  And by faith, he built the ark.  As a child everyone learned the story of this man’s faith, and it’s great results.  God hasn’t called us to build an ark, but he has called us to live by that same faith. And when we do, he promised us that our results can move mountains (Matt 21:21).

So as we look at Genesis and the beginnings of mankind, and overlay that world onto that in which we live now, we find that history certainly does repeat itself. The issues of sin, temptation, anger and jealously that were ushered in because of the fall, are ours today.  But  the story, and our story, do not begin and end with that.  Along the way, we find a gracious and loving God, who gave us a free will, but more importantly, also gave His Son as our redeemer. By faith we accept His redemption, and by faith we can live like Noah.  Let that history repeat itself in your life, and the lives of generations to come.

For the first few weeks of January, salads and treadmills become very popular. There is something in all of us that wants to weigh less and look better. Truth be told, it seems like every January we lose the same ten pounds, and give our treadmills a once a year reprieve as a clothes hanger and dust catcher. But alas, this year will be different!

For Christ followers, each January brings the same energy to re-invigorate our spiritual disciplines. We consider plans to increase our giving and service, and our commitment to reading Scripture and praying comes front and center.  Alas, this year will be different!

As January’s desire becomes February’s discipline, your physical and spiritual journey will find new traction. To encourage you to start strong spiritually, let’s take a few minutes to focus on your journey direction.

My assumption is that you are ready to tackle this year with spiritual vigor. As you focus on starting well, remember that the goal is not growing for your, but rather, for His glory. Also, take the challenge to focus on spiritual direction and not perfection. There will be “two steps forward, and three steps backward” days, but discipline will help you through each bend in the journey. You may have dry seasons this year that cause you to wonder, “Is all this spiritual work worth it?”  But from one journey struggler to another, I can tell you it is! When you embrace your weakness, and depend solely on His undeniable strength, you will find spring chutes of growth, even on the most wintery of days.

His Word tells us in Philippians 1:6 …

being confident of this, that he
who began a good work in you
will carry it on to completion
until the day of Christ Jesus.

If you know Christ, this verse is for you!

As you look at your spiritual direction for this year, decide to become more like the “you” that the Father created you to be. In Christ, you are gifted to serve and He wants to use your life to bring maximum glory to himself.  Tell me that this isn’t the most amazing thing you have ever considered!  That the God of the universe would want to use you!

As you begin to consider the “you” of His design, realize His Word, prayer and others all need their proper emphasis.  Each new year starts out with no idea of where the journey will lead in the subsequent 365 days.  But when you go with God, you can lay down worry about the destination.  He will build the “you” of His purpose as you travel along.

Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV)
Jesus replied: “Love the Lord
your God with all your heart and
with all your soul and with all your
mind.” This is the first and greatest
commandment. And the second is
like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

With the love of God as your all-consuming focus, you can be assured your “neighbor” will be showered in love. But the spigot will be dry if it’s well source is anything other than God’s Word, and a relationship nurtured through prayer.

Your journey begins anew today!  Make your purpose, His glory and becoming the “you” of His design. Start well today! Finish strong in 2010!

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In just a few days everyone will be thinking about those infamous New Year’s resolutions. Maybe you have already begun.  There is something in all of us that likes to start new, and put the old year behind us. If you are anything like me there have been some years when 12:00 a.m. on New Year’s Day could not arrive fast enough. When it did arrive, there were new joys to experience and some old battles to still work through. Our posts here at Journey on Word with us are intentional in the desire to help you know His joy, and effectively confront your battles. We feel this can be accomplished through a growing relationship with the Father and His Word. With that in mind, I wanted to let you know how we will seek to encourage your journey next year (which starts Friday).

Ephesians 4:1-3
(Message-The Bible in Contemporary Language)
In light of all this, here’s what I want you to do.
While I’m locked up here, a prisoner for the Master,
I want you to get out there and walk-better yet, run!
– on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want
any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t
want anyone strolling off, down some path that
goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with
humility  and discipline-not in fits and starts, but
steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in
acts of love, alert at noticing differences and
quick at mending fences.

Simply desiring the above verses is a great New Year’s resolution. But believe that living them out can be reality. Paul’s challenge to the church at Ephesus gives the emphasis of living with purpose. Our goal is to encourage your journey by continually pointing you to the Word, and challenging you to study it with us. Starting with the first post of the New Year, we are going to do the following:

We will attach a “read through the Bible in one year” reading plan on our site, and also email it weekly for those who are subscribed and receive the posts via email. After the first listing of verses this Thursday, we will post them each Saturday. If you haven’t read through the Bible in a while, or have always wanted to, journey with us.

Our posts will be related to the section of Scripture that we have posted for reading that week. We are trusting that our journey through the Word will have great impact on your journey.  And we will continue to post a meditation/memory verse as well.

We are thrilled that you have taken the time to journey onWord with us. And we offer a special invite this year, if you are not currently using a Scripture plan, to come along with us. Let your walk in 2010, match the desire that you have to journey with His purpose in mind.

Children around the world are filled with wonder because of this day. Families give presents, presence, and love on this day. Music about this day resonates from churches to malls, and even office buildings. Retailers build their yearly budgets to hinge on this day. Laughter, joy and even tears seem to be magnified on this day. Every year’s journey starts with this day in mind. But have you ever imagined in a larger context, that the journey of all mankind was directed to intersect on this day?

Isaiah prophesied, that “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call his name Immanuel”(Isaiah 7:14b). We celebrate that on this day. Prophecy tells us in the book of Micah that He would be born in a place called Bethlehem. Some simple shepherds had their journey diverted by an angel that told them, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger”(Luke 2:11-12). What must have changed in the shepherd’s journey, because of this day? Some wise men came from the east, when they saw His Star. They came to worship the one who had been born on this day.

Mary and Joseph were chosen by God to parent the Child born on this day. Stop and consider, how a simple journey towards marriage took a divine turn that would affect all mankind. Young Mary would give birth to the Son of God, and Joseph would be obedient to the call of God. And to top it off, they had to journey eighty miles to Bethlehem because of a decree from Caesar Augustus. It fulfilled Scripture that Christ would be born in Bethlehem, and it happened on this day. Imagine how the child born on this day profoundly changed the journey path for Mary and Joseph. Parenting the Son of God, WOW!

Jesus, who was born on this day, lived by His Father’s design and died for all of our sins. History hinged on the events of this day. He had to be born of a virgin. He had to be born in Bethlehem. God’s Word had to be fulfilled, and it was on this day. All who have placed simple faith in Jesus as their Savior have great reason to smile about this day.

December 25^th is the day we celebrate Christmas. But reflect today on why we celebrate. Gifts, and toys, and family are special.  But the reason to celebrate is the birth we honor on this day. Centuries ago, Isaiah 9:6 gives us a great picture of who the Baby born on this day really is: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Stop for even a brief moment in the middle of this day, and meditate on the weight of it.  And then bask in the wonder and eternal glow of this day.  The day, that celebrates the day, that changed everything.

Merry Christmas!

Special “moments in time” are a part of everyone’s journey. You look back and wonder how, or why it happened. Those moments tend to shape our future. As we near the moment in time that changed history, I thought appropriate to share a true story I was told two years ago. Your role for this post is to read, smile, remember a moment of God’s grace to you, and then share His love with others.

“The brand new pastor and his wife, newly assigned to their first ministry, to reopen a church in suburban Brooklyn, arrived in October excited about their opportunities. When they saw their church, it was very run down and needed much work. They set a goal to have everything done in time to have their first service on Christmas Eve. They worked hard, repairing pews, plastering walls, painting, etc… and on December 18, were ahead of schedule and just about finished. On December 19, a terrible tempest – a driving rainstorm hit the area and lasted for two days.

On the 21^st, the pastor went over to the church. His heart sank when he saw that the roof had leaked, causing a large area of plaster about 20 feet by 8 feet to fall off the front wall of the sanctuary just behind the pulpit, beginning about head high. The pastor cleaned up the mess on the floor, and not knowing what else to do but postpone the Christmas Eve service, headed home. On the way, he noticed that a local business was having a flea market type sale for charity so he stopped in. One of the items was a beautiful handmade, ivory colored crocheted tablecloth with exquisite work, fine colors and a Cross embroidered right in the center. It was just the right size to cover up the hole in the front wall.  The pastor purchased the tablecloth, and decided to head back to the church.

By this time it had started to snow. An older woman running from the opposite direction was trying to catch the bus. She missed it. The pastor invited her to wait in the warm church for the next bus 45 minutes later. She sat in the pew and paid no attention to the pastor while he got the ladder, hangers, etc., to put up the tablecloth as a wall tapestry. The pastor could hardly believe how beautiful it looked, and it covered up the entire problem area.

Then he noticed the woman walking down the center aisle. Her face was like a sheet. ‘Pastor,’ she asked, ‘where did you get that tablecloth?’ The pastor explained. The woman asked him to check the lower right corner to see if the initials, EGB were crocheted into it there. They were. These were the initials of the woman, and she had made this tablecloth 35 years before, in Austria. The woman could hardly believe it as the pastor told how he had just gotten the tablecloth. The woman explained that before the war she and her husband were well to do people in Austria. When the Nazis came, she was forced to leave. Her husband was going to follow her the next week. He was captured, sent to prison and she never saw her husband or her home again. The pastor wanted to give her the tablecloth; but she made the pastor keep it for the church. The pastor insisted on driving her home; that was the least he could do.  She lived on the other side of Staten Island and was only in Brooklyn for the day for a housecleaning job.

What a wonderful service they had on Christmas Eve. The church was almost full. The music and spirit were great. At the end of the service, the pastor and his wife greeted everyone at the door and many said that they would return. One older man, whom the pastor recognized from the neighborhood, continued to sit in one of the pews and stare, and the pastor wondered why he wasn’t leaving. The man asked him where he got the tablecloth on the front wall because it was identical to one that his wife had made years ago when they lived in Austria before the war and how could there be two tablecloths so much alike. He told the pastor how the Nazis came, how he forced his wife to flee for her safety and he was supposed to follow her, but he was arrested and put in prison. He never saw his wife or his home again all the 35 years in between.

The pastor asked him if he would allow him to take him for a little ride. They drove to Staten Island and to the same house where the pastor had taken the woman three days earlier. He helped the man climb the three flights of stairs to the woman’s apartment, knocked on the door and he saw the greatest Christmas reunion he could ever imagine.”

Can you imagine the tears and heartache that spanned thirty-five years of lost love?! Can you imagine the unbridled joy that followed that amazing reunion?!  Having a treasured spouse of my own, I would expect a couple of things to be true.  First, that those 30+ years of separation would likely have killed the hope of ever seeing each other again.  But at the same time, the separation could not touch the deep love that they held for each other.  This story reminds me of another deep and abiding love.  One with such incalculable depth, that it brought Christ to the ultimate special moment in time.  The moment where he stepped out of heaven, humbled himself in taking on human form, lived among us, and then walked the Cross road and died for our sins?  What a gift!  And what an amazing moment in time we will have, when after our numbered years on earth, the door of heaven is opened to us, and our true self is reunited with our true love!  I am overwhelmed with even the thought of it!

Warm and sincere petitions from my lips to God’s ears, for a blessed celebration of our Savior’s birth, surrounded by those you love.

It was a special day when my daughter learned to ride a bike by herself. Dad was great at holding her up and running alongside, but letting go was not so easy. Releasing her to ride by herself was a big step for me, because falling was an option. Learning to ride a bike seems like such a small issue now, because there have been far bigger release points along our journey. If you have children, your mind can easily go to a myriad of release points that have been difficult, maybe even gut wrenching, yet needed.  Our struggle is control, or the lack thereof. With my hands on the bike, she was not falling, but she needed the freedom to ride (or crash) on her own. Today’s thoughts are not about riding or our children, but about our willingness to release our grip on issues that we want to control.  My memories, and the one’s that may be rushing through your mind right now, give us a reflection point about our anywhere from discomfort, to outright unwillingness to release control of life to God. The freedom He has designed for is often wrestled away by our tight grip.

People in your life that you can’t control, a job problem that you can’t fix, bitterness and hurt that constantly hound you, fears that grip you, possessions that are hard to release, habits that you are dying to stop… I am sure you could complete this post with specific “bikes” you are controlling. Our faith teaches that we can give our burdens to the Father, and walk boldly in freedom. But if your faith is anything like mine, human frailties and my sin often leap ahead of my heartfelt intentions. Releasing our struggles back to the Father will need to be part of our journey experience on a daily basis. Without conscious releasing, there will be constant unneeded burdens. Look at what His Word tells us …

Psalm 119:45
I will walk about in freedom,
for I have sought out your precepts.

I Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on him
because he cares for you.

John 8:44
Then you will know the truth
and truth will set you free.

My assumption is that everyone has a “bike” that they need to release. Your issue is not to free your child, but to free yourself. The counsel of God’s Word points directly to the source of truth and freedom. And He would not tell us to cast our burdens on Him if he wasn’t willing and able to take them.

Are you still holding onto something?  Do you need to stop running alongside?  Can you embrace the release, and see in your mind’s eye, the joy of the resulting ride?

In a matter of days, gifts will be given and received … some of them may even be bikes. I believe the Giver of all good gifts wants you to enjoy the amazing gift of freedom. He wants you to stop holding onto the bikes of fear, and possessions and hurts. He wants you to release them into His loving care. When the Father provides a burden lifted, you’ll have an incredible gift….better than even the most expensive bike!

Who doesn’t want to have great achievements? Picture for a moment the heroes of our day. They are individuals that have reached the pinnacle in some area of life. When the economic earthquake erupted last year, everyone listened to what Warren Buffet had to say. Until two weeks ago, Tiger Woods was revered as a man of great achievement and incredible discipline. In a few weeks, television sets around the country will be tuned in to find the next “American Idol”. Even in the Christian world, we tend to make rock stars out of those who have achieved “greatness” of some sort. Simply stated, our culture honors achievement.  And to use a worn out phrase, who doesn’t want to reach the next level?

On your spiritual journey, how can you balance your natural desire to achieve, with the command to “become lesser”? Is your journey path better served by doing more, giving more, being in church more and lots of other “mores”, or by knowing the Father better? From one journey traveler to another, I must confess that too much of my life has been about what I am doing (achieving) for the Lord and His cause, rather than slowing down and knowing His heart for my life. Churches are filled today with individuals who have walked with God, served, given and worn themselves out in the process. The natural DNA to achieve, even in our spiritual walk, can cause us to miss the real joy of our faith and hinder the experience of truly knowing God. So what is the key to being used by the Father and having a faith-filled life, without trying so hard to achieve things for Him?

In a book that I read (and re-read), The PAPA Prayer by Larry Crabb, part of a sentence helped my clarity on the issue of achieving for God. The words read, “… that any true experience of God is given, not achieved”.  In reading and meditating on those simple words, I began to see the power they have for our relationship to the Father. Whether it is salvation, or doing the “good works” of the Christian walk, they should both spring from the well of relationship with our Creator.  And not from the desire of “doing” good work for His cause. When we are truly immersed in knowing Him, and allowing Him to showcase His glory through our lives, the deeds will naturally follow.

You can test this principle in your own life.  Do you find it easier to serve or help in a particular cause, or spend time getting to know the Father? For many who have gotten very weary on the spiritual journey, there is agreement that achieving for the Lord has taken precedence over knowing Him.  Let the words of the New Testament letter to the believers in Ephesus set the proper context …

Ephesians 2:8-10
For it is by grace you have been saved,
through faith-and this not from yourselves,
it is the gift of God – not by works , so that
no one can boast. For we are God’s
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
to do good works, which God prepared
in advance for us to do.

Let your heart be refreshed with the thought, that it was through faith, and not achievement that you came into the family of God. And as you walk in faith, and spend time getting to know Him, that experience will lead to good works (achievement). Our God-given DNA, after salvation, is to do good works.  But let’s not use our cultural achievement mentality to accomplish what “… God prepared in advance for us to do”. It may not be logical for a 21st century Christian to slow down and know God first, but it certainly makes great Biblical sense.

And for the weary Christian, God’s achievement through your life is not finished!