This devotion is on God’s grace given in motion. What that means is as I am doing what God “told” or led me to do, He provides the grace as needed.

But in all of this what stuck out to me was a seemingly obscure sentence near the end:

What he (God) does not do is tell them (the Israelites)…or me…what is going to happen beforehand.

God is not obligated to tell me or anyone else what is going to happen as events unfold. If he did, it would be like playing one of those “write your own stories/ending” games. But I don’t get to choose and God doesn’t have to tell me (and he doesn’t). What I do know and have to trust is God does know what He is doing. Exactly what He is doing. My personal Scripture reading right now is the beginning of the story of Joseph. Favored son. Hated brother. Receiver of his brothers’ jealousy. Sold to Ishmaelites in a caravan. Then sold/auctioned off to Potiphar. He did not know his future. God did. I do but only because it is written down. There is more to come in Joseph’s life. But he doesn’t know it. God does. Joseph finally does when he says, “You meant it for evil but God meant it for good.” Hindsight showed him God’s goodness.

“Father, I don’t know what is going to happen next. You do. All you have asked me to do is trust and go. You will supply the grace needed. So help me to go and not worry about the future. Just trust and go.”

Even though I’m a pastor, and have been one for 45+ years, I have always been bothered by the disconnect between the pew and everyday life. Between the same old people doing things and those who are disconnected with service. It is a tragedy so many don’t realize the importance of everyone being involved in ministry. One of Martin Luther’s cries for reformation was “the priesthood of all believers.” No one is exempt from ministry. No one has the corner on knowing and sharing truth. Ministry is for all.

Tripp hits on it in a different way:

God is not satisfied with informing me about the work of his kingdom. He transforms me to participate in the work of his kingdom.

Put another way: I’ve been saved to serve, not saved to sit. God’s desire-if I understand it correctly-is for all His followers to be involved in ministry. Going to a concert; or a lecture; or a clambake; or a meet-n-greet; or a way to expand a business was never his idea. If what I “experience” on Sunday does not translate into my daily walk, then I have missed the point of being a follower of Christ. His desire is to use all of me for His kingdom purposes. It is to use all of us to further his work.

“Father, forgive me if I have played a part in the culture of one-sided Christianity. ‘Feed me and I’ll be fine.’ Help me to be an encourager of people into ministry. Help me not to be a viewer, a consumer, of Your Word and grace. Help me to take what I learn, what I experience, and share it with others.”

Tripp rocks the cocoon again:

While sin is still a sad and ever-present reality in my life, it is simply no match for the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

He then moves on to something I believe is a favorite thing of many Christ-followers to do: beat ourselves up over our sin. I am aware of my sin. I know when my thoughts, desires, motives, speech, and actions do not reflect Christ. I also feel extremely guilty. While there are times I run to God’s grace, there are also a greater amount of times I wallow in guilt and feelings of inadequacy. Times I beat myself up. Times I can’t help but wallow in “Oh, I’m such a sinner.”

What Tripp is encouraging me to do is to meditate on God’s perfection and the gift of Jesus. To think about how He wiped out the punishment for that sin at the cross. To think more about the grace of God than my sin. I need to acknowledge and confess my sin (I’m going to be in bad shape if I forget), but also to take that sin to the ONE who wiped it away at the cross. I need to meditate more on God’s goodness and grace rather than my sin and “worriness.” (I know it’s not a word so I made it up). 🙂

“Father, thank you for your grace. Thank you for your forgiveness. Thank you for telling me to look at You not at myself and my sin. Help me today to focus on Your grace and not my sin.”

What if?

• God was not in control?
• God fell asleep on the job?
• God decided to take a nap in the middle of the day?
• God slept at night while I did?
• God chose to give up control?
• God didn’t choose but had control wrestled from Him?

The “what-ifs” could go on. Frankly, the “what-ifs” are scary. I don’t even like to think of the result of any of the above “what-ifs” and the countless others it could be.

But I like and do agree with what Tripp says: “If I’m God’s child, my life is never, ever out of control.” I need that reassurance. I need the reassurance that when everything is collapsing around me; when all seems hopeless and helpless; when the waves seem overwhelming, my life is His. Because I am His, and because He is in control, I have no reason to fear, doubt, or give up. My life has meaning, purpose, and direction. He told the Israelites in Isaiah 43 that they “would pass through the water and he would be with them; through the rivers, and not be overwhelmed; walk through the fire and not be burned; the flame and not be consumed.” That is good enough for me. He promises me the same.

“Father, what a great reassurance today! I have no clue what today will bring except Your promise of control. Help me let you have control and help me to trust you. Help me to not even allow the “what-ifs” to be considered. And most definitely, not gain a foothold.”

There is no question life is a daily struggle. The Bible calls it the flesh vs the spirit. Society would call it good vs evil, or white hat vs black hat, or good guy vs bad guy.  Others might call it the old man vs the new man.  No matter what one calls it, it is a battle. Let’s just call it flesh vs spirit in conflict.

Because of the struggle I am always one word, one act, one thought away from giving in to my flesh. My old man rears his ugly head. Tripp states it accurately:

“God has called me to say No. Not to Him or to others, but to myself.” Jesus said I was to deny myself, take up my cross and follow Him. I am to empty myself of myself. “I must say No to my selfish desires, wrong thoughts, and dangerous emotions. I must say no to the world’s values, sin’s temptations, and my desire to control what only God can.”

The solution? God has given me His Spirit.  Christ in me. My strength.

“Father, I’m a loser. Not the kind with the big “L” on my forehead. I’m a loser in the battle of the flesh vs the spirit. But because of Your Spirit that doesn’t have to be true. You have given me Your Spirit. I do not have to lose this battle and I definitely won’t lose the war. Help me to say “NO” to the things of the flesh-my selfish desires, wrong thoughts, and dangerous emotions. And say “YES” to you. Help me today to rely on Your Spirit to give me strength in the battle.”

God loves too much to be willing to forsake His glorious kingdom of grace for my self-absorbed little kingdom of one.

And so it begins. Or is that continues? It begins this devotion; it continues the conviction. There have been several over-arching themes in NMM. One is the horizontal vs vertical. Another is this one: the little kingdom of me vs God’s kingdom. He pulls no punches in this one:

“Sin causes me to anoint myself as king and to live my life with kingdom purposes. I set myself up as sovereign over my kingdom of one. I want my will to be done. I know what I want, when I want it, how I want it, where I want it, and who I want to deliver it.”

WOW! As I write that and substitute “I” for “we” I am struck by the number of times I use “I.” That is in direct opposition to God’s rule in my life. In God’s kingdom I will never be the center of attention; never will it be about me; never will I rule; never will I do what I want to do. I sometimes wonder if God is standing there shaking His head saying, “Bill, when will you learn this is not your deal?”

“Father, my petty kingdom collides with your magnificent kingdom and doesn’t stand a chance! But you aren’t interested in forcefully submitting me. You want me to willingly lay down my sword, my kingdom, my throne and humbly give myself to you. May I be willing to do that without kicking and screaming and dragging my heels and offering all kinds of resistance. Let me serve your kingdom not mine.”

“Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness.” Ps.115:1

Tripp:

I will never turn any created thing into my personal messiah. There is one true Messiah, and life can be found only in Him.

Like most people (maybe all people?), I struggle with creation vs Creator. I elevate the creation over the Creator. As Tripp has said numerous times throughout the year, I like to look horizontally instead of vertically for satisfaction. I have a “me” complex. It’s all about me. “I want.” “I want.” “I want.” As Tripp says elsewhere: “Sacrifices, I don’t want to have to make sacrifices.” (A Shelter in the Time of Storm-p.82). Like Esau who despised his birthright for a pot of stew, so I turn my head or a blind eye to that which really matters. And I settle for cheap substitutes.

Creation never was and never will satisfy the longing deep in my soul. As the psalmist says (multiple times): “Trust in the Lord! He is my help and my shield.” (115:9-11)

“Father, sometimes I think I sound like a broken record when i says, ‘I know I’m guilty but please keep me from second rate messiahs. You are the way, the truth and the life so there is no need to look elsewhere. You are the way (the path of life); the truth (the standard by which I am to live); the life (purpose and meaning and fulfillment). Why should I seek to go anywhere else? Be my all in all. Be my help and my shield.”

I’ve done a number of funerals in my 45+ years as a pastor and no scene can be more morose, more forlorn, or more hopeless than walking away from a casket or cemetery and knowing the people have no hope. A Christian husband/wife, child, or relative who has buried someone who mocked their faith or simply refused to make a profession of faith. Hopeless. Alone. Devastated.

• A Christian young person ridiculed for their faith. Alone.
• A Christian office worker who, because of conviction, refuses to participate in office gossip, shenanigans, or sinful activity. Alone.
• A pastor who refuses to bow down to wealth or a culture of debauchery but stands for Truth. Alone.
• A person living in sin, slave to an addiction, is left by himself. Alone.

But not really alone. Or hopeless. The Father has promised we are never alone. Or hopeless. Or at our wit’s end. he has promised He is always there. He is there to comfort.  He is their to strengthen. He is there to reassure. He is there with open arms and unconditional love. As God’s child, I am/no one is ever alone. God reassured Isaac of that fact in Genesis 26:1-5.

“Father, thank you for being there. Thank you for not leaving me alone. Thank you for courage, reassurance and unconditional love. When I struggle, help me to remember You are my Rock and Shield.”

I used to have a bunch of trophies. They were trophies of college accomplishments in basketball.  Rookie of the Year. Rebounding Award (2). MVP (1).  Outstanding Player (2) Field Goal % (1).  There were others which I can’t remember. Sounds like I’m bragging but I’m not. I pitched them all. They were relics of the past, a past no longer relevant. They measured my capabilities from 1970-1973. They were an example of what I used to be able to do. I pitched them in 2000 when we moved, but they had not seen the light of day in over 20 years. To compare myself in 2000 to 1973 was no contest. To do so now would be downright ugly. 🙂  Time, age, and injuries have a way of bringing reality slamming home.

I sometimes try to do the same spiritually. I want to rely on what I learned in the past rather than seeing it is “now” that matters. I want to rest on my laurels instead of forging ahead with new resolve. But God’s grace and God’s way of doing things is not resting on the past, but moving forward with new life, new purpose and a new resolve. He gives me His power to do that. “I have been crucified with Christ…nevertheless, I live, yet not I but Christ lives in me.” All the power I need is not in my past; it does not rest on my laurels; it is now!  Christ lives in me. I need not rely on my own strength.

“Father, You gave me You in the person of the Holy Spirit. It is Your strength I need. It is Your wisdom I crave. It is Your grace and power which is so essential for my identity. May I find all I need, all I am, in YOU, the One who has taken up residence in me.”

Symbols of defeat. No World Series or Super Bowl trophy.  Only “What happened?” No parade. Only a lonely trek home. No press lauding your achievement. If there is press it questions ability, heart, talent, and results. No “There beats the heart of a lion.” Just “There beats the heart of a lamb.”

The cross. A symbol of defeat to many. A lonely hill. No parade just a walk through the streets of Jerusalem carrying a cross. No press. Just a paper above a man hanging on a cross. No praise. Mockery. Insults. Ridicule. “If He is who He said is, come down.” No victor’s crown. A loser’s stance.

But ultimately…the winner. Losing the World Series or Super Bowl or whatever sporting event does not make an athlete a loser. He/she got further than 100’s of others. The cross may be seen as the symbol of defeat but I know different. God’s plan, as seen in Abraham and Isaac at Mt. Moriah (my personal Scripture reading for today), was God would provide a lamb (a sacrifice). He did then. He did 2000+ years ago. He’s still providing salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

The cross was not and is not a symbol of defeat. It was, is, and always will be s symbol of victory.

“Father, thank you for the cross. It is not something to be ashamed of but grateful for. ‘Oh, the wonderful cross’ the song says. A symbol of ugliness and defeat becomes my victory. Praise You for the cross!”