Category: Christian Living

Aligning with God

Things just fit together and function optimally when they are in correct alignment—whether it is our spinal columns, the wheels on our cars, or the foundations and frames of our houses. It turns out that having proper alignment in our spiritual lives is also important if we want to have a healthy relationship with God.

As an impatient twelve-year-old, I couldn’t wait to get braces. Blissfully ignorant about the pain involved with bringing my teeth into alignment, I longed to have a mouth full of metal. When the orthodontist finally put them on, it didn’t take long to realize that braces weren’t any fun. He predicted my teeth would be straight within two years, but with each passing month, the end date never seemed to get any closer. Despite the orthodontist’s best efforts, my teeth weren’t moving. Perplexed, he finally brought in a specialist to examine me. Together, they concluded that I had poor “tongue rest posture.” Unlike most people, I rested my tongue on the bottom of my mouth instead of the top. Each time I swallowed, that small but powerful muscle pushed outward with such force that it prevented the braces from moving my teeth into perfect alignment. 

The prediction of having them off within two years was put on hold until the problem could be solved. After months of therapy with a specialist, my tongue finally began behaving and the braces started moving my teeth according to plan. They ended up being on from the start of sixth grade until mid-way through my sophomore year in high school, which was four and a half years altogether. I still remember how slippery and smooth my teeth felt when they were finally free of metal– I couldn’t contain my smile for days.

Shortly after getting my braces off, the orthodontist gave me a set of retainers to keep my teeth from shifting. I noticed that if I went too many nights without wearing them, I’d have trouble fitting them onto my teeth. I learned that even after having braces, teeth never stay fixed in place permanently. The only way to maintain alignment is to wear retainers consistently, which I still do to this day. (I certainly don’t want braces again.)

Having teeth that are aligned isn’t just about cosmetic appeal, but structural soundness and dental health. This principle stands true for many aspects of the physical world—things just fit together and function optimally when they’re in correct alignment—whether it is our spinal columns, the wheels on our cars, or the foundations and frames of our houses.

It turns out that having proper alignment in our spiritual lives is also important if we want to have a healthy relationship with God. Bible teacher Priscilla Shirer explains that “it is the surrendered heart that rolls out the red carpet for God to speak.” So, if we want to discern the voice of God, we must continually align ourselves with His will. Like a spiritual retainer, studying God’s Word brings our hearts and minds back into alignment with His plans and purposes. 

I think Jesus sheds light on the process of aligning ourselves with God in this passage: “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.” (John 15:7-10, NIV)

The word “remain” can also be translated “abide” or “stay.” This implies a long-term commitment to walking consistently with Jesus. When we remain in Jesus, we obey Him through our words, actions and attitudes, revealing that we are following Him earnestly. Keeping His commands surrounds us with the protection of His love and grace. Much like my retainers corral my teeth and keep them from moving out of alignment, staying closely connected to Jesus enables us to obey Him. This is not only for our good, but for His glory.

Conversely, when we stray from God, we fall out of alignment with His purposes. We begin to make plans and decisions using worldly wisdom and selfish motives. I didn’t realize my teeth were moving until my retainers stopped fitting easily in my mouth. Similarly, the changes resulting from poor choices may be subtle at first, but the shift out of alignment with the Lord is inevitable. And if something is skewing that alignment, He’ll wait patiently until we realize it and are ready for Him to help us change. We can’t move forward spiritually while ignoring issues that need to be addressed.

To discern God’s voice, we must walk with Him consistently, putting into practice the things we discover in His Word. This means we need to be studying the Bible, talking about it with others, and involving ourselves in a community of believers. If you’re just beginning this journey, don’t let this overwhelm you. Keep pursuing God and asking Him to align your heart with His. Trust Him to lead you one step at a time.

The song “Hosanna” by Hillsong United has some striking lyrics that exemplify the difference between aligning with God’s will and asking Him to align with yours:

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me
Break my heart for what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdom’s cause
As I walk from earth into eternity

Listen to the song and make it your prayer today.

Songwriters: Brooke Ligertwood, Hosanna lyrics © Capitol Christian Music Group

Priscilla Shirer, Discerning the Voice of God, Lifeway Press, 2017.


Listening for God’s Voice

Regardless of our age or station in life, all of us make choices about what we listen to and what we ignore. For those who love God and follow Jesus, it’s important to consider what input we choose to receive daily. How do we make ourselves available to hear from God? How do we learn to discern when He is speaking to us? Why do some people seem to hear from Him often and others not at all?

Pulling into a parking space, I stopped the car and turned to look at my two little boys in the back seat. They’d been listening to a story on a CD and I was surprised to find one of them hunched down with his ear next to the speaker in the car door.  Over the following weeks, my concern grew as I noticed many times when my son didn’t respond to me when I was talking to him. Finally, I made an appointment to have his hearing tested.

At the end of the visit, the doctor came in to report his findings. I braced myself for the news until I saw him smirk. “Your son doesn’t have a hearing problem, he has a listening problem.” My fear was quickly replaced by frustration. It turns out his hearing was perfect, he just listened selectively. Apparently, the stories playing in the car were worthy of his full attention, so he leaned close to the speaker to filter out all other noises. Conversely, there were times that I talked to him that didn’t seem as interesting or important, so he just didn’t listen. A mix of relief and exasperation filled my mind as we left the doctor’s office.

As I think about that story years later, I realize that all people have a “listening problem,” whether their hearing is perfect or not. Regardless of our age or station in life, all of us make choices about what we listen to and what we ignore. For those who love God and follow Jesus, it’s important to consider what input we choose to receive daily. How do we make ourselves available to hear from God? How do we learn to discern when He is speaking to us? Why do some people seem to hear from Him often and others not at all?

First and foremost, the Bible is our primary source for understanding how the Lord speaks. It is the guidebook for learning how to tune our hearts to hear His voice. God’s Word speaks to us directly and is also meant to be the filter through which we examine everything else in our lives. Scanning my Bible’s concordance for passages on hearing, listening, and obeying, I found ample information in both the Old and New Testaments. Here are a few of the many things I learned from Jesus’ teaching on these topics:

Jesus’ Followers Know Him and Recognize His Voice:“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” (John 10:14-16)

Jesus’ Followers Obey His Teaching: “Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.  Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.’” (John 14:23-24)

Jesus’ Followers Rely on the Holy Spirit for Guidance: “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26)

Jesus’ Followers Experience Peace by Listening to Him:“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

In the next few weeks, I look forward to unpacking Priscilla Shirer’s updated version of Discerning the Voice of God to learn more about these concepts. I loved the original rendition of this study when I did it in 2009. Little did I know what trials and challenges I’d face shortly after completing it. Knowing how to discern God’s voice and to follow His leading have reassured me more times than I can count over the years since then. I hope you’ll join me as I continue to explore and deepen my understanding on this weighty topic.

For some musical inspiration, listen to Crowder’s song “Red Letters” and be struck by the power God’s words have to change our lives when we lean in and truly listen. (For those who are unfamiliar with the term “red letters,” some Bibles use red print to signify direct quotes from Jesus in the New Testament.)

Priscilla Shirer, Discerning the Voice of God: How to Recognize When God Speaks, Lifeway Press, 2018.

God is With Us in Our Fears

Simple sayings like “Joy to the World” and “Peace on Earth” pop up everywhere during the holiday season. There is another phrase recorded multiple times in the Christmas story, but we rarely see it printed on cards or included in song lyrics: “Do not be afraid.” We often overlook the fear that is woven throughout the Christmas story, but on at least three separate occasions, angels addressed it with different characters—Joseph, Mary and the Shepherds. All of them received the same reassurance:

“But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.’”  (Matthew 1:20)

“But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.’” (Luke 1:30-31)

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’” (Luke 2:8-12)

Many of us don’t like talking about our fears, let alone admitting we have them at all. Yet, there is great freedom when we acknowledge them to God and remember that He is with us, just as He was with Joseph, Mary and the shepherds.  He’s always ready to trade our fears for His unparalleled hope, courage and peace. The command “do not be afraid,” is intended for us today as much as it was meant for those familiar characters in the nativity story.

Looking back, I see how God has revealed Himself to me during many fearful moments in my life. I’ve found comfort, courage and hope when I’ve given my fear to Him and have remembered that He is “Immanuel… God with us.” (Matthew 1:23) My most vivid memory of this happened during an especially difficult season in my life a little over a decade ago.

My Dad’s health had been deteriorating rapidly as he neared the final stages of a neurological disease that had slowly frozen the muscles in his body.  A fall at home had landed him in the hospital and shortly after, he’d been transferred to a skilled nursing facility. Although he was slated to “rehabilitate” from a bruised hip bone, we all knew he was in his final days.

Because my dad’s disease was so advanced, he needed one-on-one care beyond what the facility could provide. While we figured out what to do, family members had to take shifts watching over him. One of my brothers had stayed with him the first night while we scrambled to make longer term plans. Standing at the foot of my dad’s bed the second night, my stomach lurched when I realized it made the most sense for me to take the next shift. Fear gripped me even as the words tumbled out of my mouth, “I’ll stay with Dad tonight.”

After saying goodbye to my family and sharing a quick prayer in the parking lot with my husband, I steeled myself for the night ahead. I had to confront my fear head on, there was no way around it. Although the facility’s staff was just down the hall, I fretted that I wouldn’t know what to do if something went wrong with my dad in such a fragile state. Instead of letting fear paralyze me, I opened my Bible and began reading different sections aloud. Favorite passages took on deeper meaning under the circumstances. I’ll never forget reading this prayer to him:

“On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.” (Psalm 63:6-8)

After reading several more passages and praying with my dad, I turned out the lights and tried to settle into the chair next to his bed. Listening to the rattle of his irregular breathing kept me from drifting off, so I continued to pray silently. As the evening unfolded, I had a first-hand experience with the words of the psalm, clinging to God and letting His Word encourage me. I trusted that His right hand was upholding us and drew courage from that. I took comfort knowing my dad and I were sheltered in the shadow of His wings. The Lord’s presence in the room was palpable.

What could have been a horrific night for me turned out to be one of the most sacred I’ve experienced. Knowing God was present, I leaned into Him and entrusted Him with my fear, which allowed me to experience His nearness in a way I never had before.

I wonder if it was similar for the Shepherds on the night of Jesus’ birth. What could have been a terrifying experience became a holy moment because they trusted God’s words delivered by the angels, “Do not be afraid.” Instead of backing away and avoiding their fear, they listened and acted on what they’d been told:

 “When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.” (Luke 2:15-18)

Think of what they would have missed if they’d shrunk back in fear when the angels proclaimed the Messiah’s birth. I know what I would’ve missed if I’d refused to stay with my dad or hadn’t invited God into the room that night.

Any time we face our fears and trust the Lord to walk with us through them, we open ourselves to seeing Him work in mighty ways. Will you let your fears paralyze you, or will you face them knowing He is with you? Let the chorus of Josh Baldwin’s song “Stand in Your Love” give you courage today.

All Scriptures quoted from the New International Version.

God is With Us in Our Anxiety

Ever noticed those tickers that scroll across the bottom of a TV screen on certain news channels? They provide a constant stream of information so that if we’re not worrying about the main news story, we can find another thing that will unsettle us instead. Unfortunately, I think my brain works in a similar way. Like a news channel, my mind seems to have several screens in view simultaneously, with thoughts in the forefront and a whole lot more that constantly scroll through the background. And the screens multiply as the holidays approach.

I don’t like to admit it, but fighting against feelings of anxiety is a regular struggle for me. And I know I’m not alone. Anxiety is rampant in our culture for people of all ages and stations in life. Even those who faithfully walk with the Lord often forget that Jesus is Immanuel, which means “God with Us.” (Matthew 1:23)  Jesus assured His disciples, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

When I stop to remember this promise, it soothes my frayed nerves and reminds me to lay my worries at the feet of Jesus. Just knowing He is with me eases my racing mind and helps me to realign my focus on Him. If you struggle with anxiety like I do, then you might find reassurance from some of the passages below. Use them to realign your thoughts and to help you trade your anxiety for the true peace found only in Jesus.

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

A synonym for the word “cast” here is “transfer.” So, casting our anxiety before Jesus means we transfer the tangle of our worries from our minds to His hands. Regardless of how the circumstances unfold, we can trust Him because He cares for us.

Philippians 4:6-8
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Instead of expending mental energy worrying, we can direct it toward praying about the things that make us anxious. As we thank God for His faithfulness and trustworthiness, He fills us with an inexplicable peace that isn’t tied to our circumstances. That peace allows us to replace anxious thoughts with God’s truth. If you struggle with giving your anxious thoughts to the Lord, try writing them down on a piece of paper or in a prayer journal to stop spinning on them needlessly.

Romans 12:1-2
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

The world goads us toward worry and anxiety all day long. The best way to fight against this is to pray and ask God to renew your mind. Invite Him to cleanse your mind of worries, fears and fretting and to renew it with thankfulness, hope and peace. Make this a daily practice when those anxious feelings begin to tighten their grip on you.

2 Corinthians 10:5
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

Many things in this world distract us from the knowledge of God and the truth of His Word. The antidote is to pray and read God’s Word. Whenever I’m feeling anxious, critical or insecure, I stop and ask God to take my thoughts captive and to make them obedient to Him. If I can, I pray aloud using this verse and the previous one together, simply saying, “God, take my thoughts captive and renew my mind.” It’s amazing how quickly claiming the truth of Scripture in prayer shifts my focus away from anxious thoughts and towards the reassurance that God is with me.

Isaiah 26:3
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”

To be steadfast is to be resolute, firm or unwavering. When we keep our minds steadfastly focused on God and His trustworthiness, we can find peace in any and every circumstance.

For many of us, the holiday season includes a liberal dose of anxiety. But if we reflect on the Christmas story, we can find examples of people who trusted the Lord instead of fretting.  Take Jesus’ mother, Mary, for example. She praised God for choosing her to be the mother of the long-promised Messiah. Her status as an unwed, pregnant teen opened her to ridicule, judgement and shame. Yet because of her trust in God, she could say with confidence, “I am the Lord’s servant…May your word to me be fulfilled…My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” (Luke 1:38, 46b, 47) If anyone had cause to be anxious, it was Mary. Yet she trusted God, rejoiced at His goodness and welcomed the new direction her life would be taking. She knew God would be with her no matter what stressful circumstances she would encounter.

Thinking about Mary’s situation and her reaction to it humbles me. She not only accepted God’s plan, she welcomed it, celebrating her pregnancy instead of being anxious over it. Her example inspires me to trust God and give Him control of that ticker scrolling through my brain.  Let the significance of her trust in God sink in as you listen to “Be Born in Me” by Francesca Battistelli.

All Scriptures quoted from the New International Version.

The Gateway to God

Turning the pages in old photo albums recently, I discovered a picture I’d taken on a trip to Europe many years ago.  There’s no doubt, the Eiffel Tower is one of the most widely recognized structures in the world. Of course, Paris isn’t alone in having a noteworthy landmark– many cities are identified by their famous towers. It’s just part of human nature to want to create a structure that gives a place a distinct identity. For citizens who live there, it’s often a symbol that evokes a sense of pride.

After reading the story of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11, it’s clear people have been doing this since ancient times: “Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. They said to each other, ‘Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.’ They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.’” (Genesis 11:1-4)

By the time construction on this tower was underway, these descendants of Noah were showing signs of drifting from the path of righteousness. The most obvious example of this was their reason for building the tower—they wanted to make a name for themselves. The tower wasn’t meant to bring honor to God, but to bring them glory. Instead of following the Lord’s mandate to expand His kingdom on earth, they used their God-given skills and intellect to further their own agenda.

The underlying issue here is the sin of pride. While some positive forms of pride help us to have self-respect or to put forth our best effort, the sin of pride takes this to an unhealthy level. It’s more about elevating ourselves. It lacks the humility to see how God makes our success possible. One definition describes pride as “a feeling or deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired.” Saint Augustine describes it as “the love of one’s own excellence.”

Those constructing the Tower of Babel set out to build something that would be widely admired. Author Florence Littauer explains, “Although the word Babel means ‘gate of God,’ our God knew this tower was not a doorway to his holiness but instead a step toward the reverence of humanity.” A quick look at Scripture reveals that pride and self-glorification are not the gateway to God:

  • Proverbs 16:18 
    “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
  • Isaiah 57:15
    “For this is what the high and exalted One says—he who lives forever, whose name is holy: ‘I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.’”
  • 1 Peter 5:5-6
    “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”
  • 1 John 2:16-17
    “For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”

While it’s clear that the true gateway to God is through humility, even those who follow Him are susceptible to the sin of pride. Anytime we want “credit” for something good we’ve said or done, we’re elevating ourselves and slipping into a prideful mindset. (That’s really convicting for me). We can also unintentionally tempt others to become prideful. For example, when we put gifted pastors or leaders on a pedestal and overemphasize their personal qualities, we’re inviting them to view themselves as special or superior. If we’re not giving God the glory for the good in ourselves and others we admire, the sin of pride is not far away.

Rather than making a name for ourselves, we would be wise to heed to words of Proverbs 18:10: “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.” (NKJV)

Casting Crowns’ song “Only Jesus” has one of the best messages I’ve heard for combating the sin of pride. It’s a bold proclamation to reject self-glorification and to point people toward Jesus instead.

Florence Littauer, Journey to Jesus, p. 58, Hensley Publishing, 2004.

Jen Wilkin, God of Creation, Week 10, Lifeway Press, 2018.

All Scriptures quoted from the New International Version except where noted.

Defiant Thankfulness

Smoke hangs thickly in the air, making my throat dry and my eyes burn. Looking out my kitchen window, I can’t even see the outline of the hills across town that are usually in plain view.  An enormous wildfire rages about 150 miles from my home, but its effects can be detected all around us. People seem heavy hearted, both from the stifling air and the sadness of knowing so many lives and homes have been lost.

And yet, the holiday season is fast approaching. A few days ago I pushed my cart through a store as an employee loaded plump turkeys into a refrigerated display. It feels paradoxical to be preparing for Thanksgiving when there is so much grief and sadness in our world. And yet, expressing thankfulness in times of distress is exactly what the Bible calls us to do.

Throughout the Psalms, we see laments followed by thanksgiving and praise. One of my favorites says, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” (Psalm 42:5 NIV)

I love the resolve of the downcast Psalmist who says, “I will yet praise him.” It takes effort and intentionality to look beyond our difficult circumstances and to praise God anyway. But the act of giving Him thanks causes us to remember His faithfulness and to rest assured that He’s still in control. The Psalmist didn’t wait until his situation was resolved, but thanked God in the midst of his troubles. He didn’t know how the circumstances would turn out, but he knew he served a good God who deserved praise and thanksgiving, no matter what.

I think there’s a lesson for us in our own trials. Smoky air may obscure my view of the mountains, but it doesn’t mean the mountains have ceased to exist. Similarly, there are seasons in life when God feels far away, when His plans and purposes seem veiled. When we’re not careful, we can let those feelings alter our perception. Fear, uncertainty, or bitterness may cloud our vision and cause us to think He’s not there for us, even though His Word promises He will never leave us or forsake us.

If you’re in a season of personal discouragement or fretting over the latest string of tragedies in our world, it’s time to draw near to God with a thankful heart. Author and teacher Lysa TerKeurst suggests using the following prayer strategy when you’re struggling through a dark time and need God to shed His light on it:

  1. Thank God for the prayers that have already been answered about the situation. Pay attention to small changes and things you might have taken for granted.
  2. Thank God for the strength you (and others) are gaining in the process. Thank Him for each time you’ve gone to Him to shed light on your situation. Thank Him for trading your struggle for His strength.
  3. Thank God for the reality that a black hole isn’t a black whole. The whole isn’t all bad—there are still some good things happening despite the hard ones. Thank Him for specific things going on in your life or in the world around you that are still good.*

Turning our laments into prayers of Thanksgiving reminds us of God’s goodness and enables us to reaffirm our trust in Him. When we trade our struggles and fears for His strength and hope, our minds are renewed and our spirits are rejuvenated. I’ve found this to be true personally as I’ve journaled prayers using Lysa’s strategy. Over the past few months it has given me clear direction for praying through specific challenges in my life.

This Thanksgiving, stand firm in the face of hopelessness and discouragement. Instead of focusing on what’s wrong in your life or in the world, boldly proclaim, “I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”

Listen to Ellie Holcomb’s song “Find You Here” and make it your prayer of defiant thankfulness in spite of difficult times.

*The three points above are adapted from Lysa TerKeurst’s Finding I Am: How Jesus Fully Satisfies the Cry of Your Heart, Lifeway Press 2017, page 59.

A Quick Look at Covenant and Atonement

Whenever I see a rainbow in the sky, I’m reminded of the ending of the story of Noah. After the flood waters receded and the ark came to rest on dry ground, Noah built an altar and made an offering to the Lord to atone for his personal sins. Then the Lord said to Noah: “I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”(Genesis 9:13-16, NIV, bold print added)

The concept of a covenant appears throughout the Bible starting with Adam and Eve and continuing until all of God’s promises are fulfilled by Jesus. Covenant is defined simply is “a binding relationship based on a promise.”  In his book The Marriage Ref, pastor and author Tyler Scott explains: “The old covenant first began to take shape in Genesis 2.  There, God makes a covenant with Adam in language that is strong, clear and definitive: The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the Lord God commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.’” (Genesis 2:15-16, NIV)

God continued to make covenants with people in stories recorded throughout Scripture, in spite of their sinfulness. In the Old Testament, the two parties of a covenant would cut animals in half and walk between the divided carcasses. This was the symbol of stepping into a covenant relationship with one another. “When the parties of a covenant walked between the pieces of bloodied animal flesh, they were saying, in effect, ‘I will fulfill this covenant—and if I break it, may I be cut into bloody pieces like these dismembered animals.’” God made a covenant like this with Abraham in Genesis 15 when He promised to give him descendants and to bless the world through them. He did this “knowing full well that Abraham and all human beings were incapable of keeping the covenant.” (Tyler Scott, The Marriage Ref p. 34-35)

Many years later, Abraham’s ancestors were instructed by Moses to make animal sacrifices to God to atone for their sins. Author Florence Littauer explains, “There was no access to God without first making a sacrifice. Sin could only be forgiven by the substitution of an animal for the sinner himself—an innocent animal had to die in the place of the guilty man.” (Journey to Jesus, p. 210) These animal sacrifices would be made in the tabernacle (and later in the temple) by a high priest.

When Jesus came as the Messiah, He served not only as the ultimate high priest, but also as the perfect lamb to be sacrificed. Through His death, He made atonement for the sins of humans for all time. The book of Hebrews explains:

“Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son [Jesus] also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying…he came to help the descendants of Abraham. Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people.” (Hebrews 2:14-17, NLT)

The writer of Hebrews goes on to say: “[Jesus] is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin. He has been set apart from sinners and has been given the highest place of honor in heaven. Unlike those other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices every day. They did this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people. But Jesus did this once for all when he offered himself as the sacrifice for the people’s sins.” (Hebrews 7:26-27 ,NLT)

The final blood sacrifice for the atonement of sins was made in the New Testament with Jesus’ death on the cross: “God, through His Son, allowed himself to be torn to pieces—not because He broke the covenant, but because we did. He knew we couldn’t keep our end of the bargain, so he said, ‘I’ll do it for you.  I’ll pay the debt you can never repay.’ God fulfilled both the old covenant and the new covenant.”  (Tyler Scott, The Marriage Ref p. 34-35)

It’s amazing to recognize the seamlessness of Scripture and to see that it all points to Jesus. As graphic and awful as the description of blood covenants and sacrifices for atonement sound, our sin is even more horrific to God. Yet, in His mercy, Jesus made it possible for us to be washed clean and made new.

So, as His followers, what should our response be to this amazing news? I couldn’t say it any better than the writer of Hebrews: “Let us hold firmly to what we believe… [and] let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” (excerpts from Hebrews 4:14-16 NLT)

Phil Wickham’s song “Living Hope” celebrates Jesus as the One who fulfilled God’s covenant and made atonement for our sins. Why not have a worship moment right now? Praise God for fulfilling His covenant promise and making the atonement we weren’t capable of making for ourselves.

Jen Wilkin, God of Creation week 9, Lifeway Press, 2017.

Photo courtesy of pixabay.com

Between Flood and Fire

Disconcerting news headlines featuring stories about hatred, divisions, and acts of violence constantly demand our attention. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that the world was even worse in ancient times. And yet, Scripture tells us:

“The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the Lord said, ‘I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.’” (Genesis 6:5-7, NIV)

Thankfully, in the midst of pure evil, one man stood apart: “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord…Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.”  (Genesis 6:8-9b)

Many of us know the story because of its fantastic imagery and outrageous events. We marvel at the thought of an enormous ark roughly the size of a football field, the pairs of animals that came to Noah to be herded onto it, and the deluge of rain that lasted forty days and forty nights.

What we don’t think about is that the earth will be destroyed again. In the New Testament, we find a parallel between the first destruction by flood and the future one by fire: “Long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.” (2 Peter 3:5b-7, NIV)

Before you start to panic, be encouraged by what Peter says next: “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:8-9, NIV)

Rest assured, God isn’t gleefully rubbing His hands together counting the days until fire rains down on the earth. He’s waiting patiently, hoping as many people as possible will choose to seek forgiveness for their sins, accept Jesus as their savior, and begin a relationship with Him. He’s merciful and longs for all people to choose the gift of grace He offers. And while the eventual destruction of the earth sounds upsetting, the good news is that God will create a new heaven and a new earth.

So, what are we called to do during this season between the flood and the fire? Here’s what Peter says:

“Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him…Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:11-14. 17-18, NIV)

Although we live in a depraved world, we can be thankful that there are many who still seek God and that the inclinations of all people aren’t “only evil all the time.” Together, we can follow Noah’s example of obedience and heed Peter’s warnings. Here are three things to keep in mind:

-We should be people whose priorities reflect our beliefs. If we believe what the Bible says, we know the world is temporary and we should live for the One who is eternal. We need to ask ourselves regularly if we’re living for things that will fall away or things that will last forever. If we are consumed with what we have and don’t have in this life, our hearts and minds are blocked from focusing on things that are of eternal significance.

-We shouldn’t delay in receiving the Lord’s forgiveness and beginning a personal relationship with Him. If we know Him, we should be intentional and prayerful about sharing Him with others. God is patiently waiting for as many people as possible to come to Him, but there will come a day when the waiting will end.

-We should keep growing in grace and knowledge. If we’re not moving forward in our faith journey, we’re slipping backward. We must guard what Christ has given us and continually nurture our new nature.

Click on the link and enjoy the final words of 2 Peter 3 in “The Benediction” by Timothy James Meaney.

Jen Wilkin, God of Creation Week 8, Lifeway Press 2017

The three bullet points at the end of the post are a compilation of a sermon by John Durham, Lead Pastor of Highland Church in Waco, TX (Nov. 4, 2018).

Keep Walking

The Old Testament book of Genesis mentions a man named Enoch whose greatest claims to fame were that he “walked with God” and that he didn’t experience death (Genesis 5:21 & Hebrews 11:5). While Scripture doesn’t clarify how the rest of us can circumvent physical death and be taken straight to heaven, it does have quite a bit to say about walking with God. The physical act of walking doesn’t involve tremendous skill or fitness, but it does require forward motion. Turns out this is also true of our spiritual walk with the Lord. The pages of Scripture include many words of wisdom–here are a few things I’ve learned about walking with God:

    • Talking about God’s Word is meant to be a regular part of daily life. The Bible isn’t intended to be a reference book on the shelf, but a daily guide for our actions, choices, and relationships with others. It’s meant to be shared and discussed, not kept to ourselves: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”(Deuteronomy 6:5-7, NIV, italics added)
    • God wants to walk with us through our hardships and challenges. His constant presence guides us through our fears and difficulties. He comforts and protects us in painful seasons: “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right path for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:2-4, NIV, italics added)
    • Constant acknowledgement of God and awareness of His presence leads to blessing. Staying closely connect to Him keeps us grounded in truth and walking in the right direction: “Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.” (Psalm 89:15, NIV, italics added)
    • Walking with God enables us to draw strength from Him continually: “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:30-31, NIV, italics added)
    • Walking with God consistently helps us keep our priorities in the right order. It enables us to align with God’s agenda instead of expecting Him to align with ours, reminding us that He is sovereign and we are His humble servants. His constant companionship helps us determine where to invest our time and attention: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8, NIV, italics added)
    • Walking with God keeps us out of the darkness of evil, confusion, ignorance and sin. Life is truly fulfilling when we walk in the light of God’s love and grace: “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” (John 8:12, NIV, italics added)
    • Walking with Jesus purifies us from sin and connects us to fellow travelers on the road of faith: “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7, NIV, italics added)
    • Walking with Jesus enables us to be obedient to Him and frees us to love others as He’s called us to do: “And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.” (2 John 6, NIV, italics added)

The idea of “walking by faith” means that we are striving to see the world through the lens of our belief in God and what we learn by studying the Bible. Instead of taking things at face value, we look for the spiritual implications and opportunities for growth that exist within them. We continually ask God to show us what He wants us to learn through the situations we face.  We expect to see Him at work in our lives and are open to letting Him change us into better versions of ourselves: “So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.”  (2 Corinthians 5:6-7, ESV, italics added)

Ultimately, we don’t just want to be people who talk about faith philosophically once or twice a week at church and Bible study.  We want to display faith through our actions, decisions, and lifestyle.  This happens as we grow in our understanding of God and learn to trust Him more

If any of these things are new concepts for you, don’t fret!  Learning and growing is an ongoing process, not a one-time transaction. Whether you’re taking the first step in your faith walk or continuing the next leg of a long journey, you’re headed in the right direction if Jesus is your constant companion.

“Walk by Faith” by Jeremy Camp provides a great reminder for us to walk consistently with God, no matter what.

God of Creation by Jen Wilkin (week 7), Lifeway Press 2017.

Artwork by Jen Murphy

Outward Show, Inward Resistance

Teaching our boys how to give a sincere apology was a big priority for my husband and me. We never wanted them to say a flippant “sorry” just for show or to appease us. So, we stressed the importance of sincerity, of having the words that came from their mouths be consistent with what they were really feeling in their hearts.

After one especially heated argument, we separated the boys to cool down before encouraging them to reconcile. A few minutes later, our older son pulled himself together and tried to smooth things over: “I’m sorry, will you forgive me?” Still simmering with anger, his brother spat back, “Those are just words from your mouth, not feelings from your heart.” Even at that young age he understood the importance of authenticity and integrity.  (Honestly, I can’t recall whether my older son’s apology was sincere or my younger son was just lashing out because he was still mad).

I think this idea of consistency between our interiors and exteriors applies to our interactions with God also. It matters to Him that our words and actions align with our hearts. He values pure motives and selfless intentions, not hollow acts done to fulfill obligations. The first time we see this idea is in the story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4. The brothers each present an offering before the Lord, but only one is found acceptable. Reading the story, we can make some educated guesses about why Cain’s offering didn’t find favor with God:

“In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.” (Genesis 4:3-5, NIV)

While Abel offered the firstborn of his flock, Cain brought “some of the fruits of the soil.” Based on other passages in Scripture, it seems the fact that Cain didn’t offer the first fruits was significant (See Deuteronomy 26:10, Exodus 13:2,12). Offerings were meant to honor God; giving the first and best demonstrated this. It also showed gratitude for the Lord’s provision and trust that He would continue to provide beyond the first yield of a crop or first birth of an animal.

Secondly, Cain’s reaction to the Lord’s explanation reveals there was no heart behind His offering: “Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.’” (Genesis 4:6-7, NIV)

Instead of having a contrite heart and being grieved that his offering didn’t please the Lord, Cain grew angry. He had gone through the outward show of honoring God, but his negative response betrayed an inner resistance. He was attempting to fulfill an obligation instead of truly worshiping the Lord.

So, what can we learn from Cain about bringing offerings before the Lord, whether it is our time, our gifts, our skills or our material resources? How can we avoid being like him and giving offerings that are unacceptable in the Lord’s sight?

The most important thing we can do is to engage our hearts when we give. Responding to the love of God and desiring to show Him honor and gratitude should always be the motivators for our giving. Maybe this story can prompt us to take inventory on what’s motivating us to give our time, talent and treasure to God.

Obligation: If we give because we “should,” we often do the bare minimum required. Maybe it’s using a food drive to offload some expired canned goods or buying the most inexpensive gifts you can find for the underprivileged family you adopted for Christmas. If you’re looking for the easiest and cheapest ways to give, you might be meeting an obligation rather than offering God your first and best.

Guilt: If you’re giving your time or resources because you feel bad or someone coerced you into it, the focus is on making yourself feel better or satisfying another person’s demands. There isn’t much room for honoring God with either of these attitudes.

Personal Agenda: If you’re motivated to give because it makes you look good or elevates your status with a group of people, then your giving is purely about you. If you want to be sure others know you’ve given (and how much) that should be a red flag that you’ve lost the right focus.

Getting Something in Return: If the only motivation for giving is getting a tax write off or the chance to win a prize or to receive a gift, then something is out of balance. If you give your time to make a business connection or to feel like you’re part of the “in” group or to receive special treatment from others, you’ve lost sight of the point of giving. Sometimes there are perks to offering our time and resources to God, but if they are our main motivation, then it’s honoring us, not Him.

Pleasing Others: Occasionally our giving is purely motivated by wanting to please others. Our offerings can sometimes be a result of peer pressure. We’re worried we’ll look bad if we don’t give/serve/participate. Ministries and good causes are typically started by people with passion and heart. When we forget the main purpose for our involvement and do it for ulterior reasons, honoring God is lost in the shuffle.

When we go through the motions of giving to God without engaging our hearts, our offerings become obligations to fulfill rather than acts of gratitude born out of love. It’s easy to look good on the outside by offering our time, talent and treasure to God. It’s more difficult to maintain authenticity with each gift we offer Him.

How important it is to remember “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7b, NIV)

Feeling convicted by something on the list above? Why not take it to God in prayer? Use Matthew West’s song “The Motions” to inspire you.

Jen Wilkin, God of Creation: A Study of Genesis 1-11 Week 6, Lifeway Press, 2017