1Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you; 2And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; 3And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” 4So Abram went forth as the Lord had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
Genesis 12:1–4 (NASB95)
Have you ever found yourself to be “unsettled?” Maybe it was in a position of indecision. Maybe you were in a move or launching into a new season of marriage. We all find ourselves from time to time in between where we were and where we are going. We struggle to understand the uncertainty and instability of the land between those two points.
One of the questions I seem to answer a lot these days is, “How are you settling in?” I’m kind of a “word nerd,” so against all good “Southern conventions” of just responding, “We are doing great,” I find myself responding that we are blessed and experiencing something new nearly every day. In other words, we are not yet settled. Meditating on this reality recently, I was drawn to Abraham’s experience in Genesis 12. The passage may be familiar to you but consider it once again. God told Abraham to leave his home. Home (particularly in that day) represented security, stability, and power. In Haran, he and his family were known. They had possessions. They had property. They had family. It was outlandish for anyone to leave the security of home.
These promises were not based on a place but on a Person. It was not in the ground but in the God who rules sovereignly. Furthermore, the cost Abraham was to bear would be paid upfront and amounted to a wholesale surrender by faith. Faith to leave. Faith to listen. Faith to follow. We see in just a few pages that Abraham did not do this perfectly. The human side of man struggles to release control to anyone, including God. I, for one, am encouraged that perfect faith is not the price of entry but the byproduct of entering into God’s promise.
By the way, God’s fulfillment of the promise was not fully realized by Abraham. God fulfills promises across the generations, not just in the present moment. One of our shortcomings as people is expecting God to just microwave a fulfilled promise according to our timetable. He does not. And the fact that He doesn’t do so in no way diminishes the validity or reliability of His promise. He is still God, and He is still true to His Word.
So, where are you? Are you in between? Maybe you have heard from the Lord, but the outcome has not yet come clearly into focus. Perhaps you have shifted in your career, and the new place has not yet felt like you have arrived. Perhaps you have started a journey with Jesus, and you realize that you have a long way to go to look like Him. You are in between. I want you to know that God does some of His best work in between. It is there that you learn about yourself. It is there that you are confronted with your shortcomings and start to get a glimpse of your strengths. It is in the land in between that you learn to lean in and lean on Jesus for things that you thought you could do alone when you were back home. It is in between where you develop the patient longing for the other side.
Remember that the land in between is often the longest part of the journey. It is the most difficult. It can seem insurmountable. It can feel lonely. It can provoke anxiousness. It can wear on your soul. You cannot speed it up. All you can do is continue to move forward as you progressively traverse the land in between on your way to the promise of the other side. You are not alone.
The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.
Proverbs 16:33, NASB95
It’s a coincidence!
What are the chances?
It just worked out!
Each of these phrases describe our human response to circumstances. From our perspective, it is like the matters of life will at times randomly just align and everything is better. But is that true?
Solomon, the wisest man to live, had a way of looking at the world. He believed that what appeared as random to us was actually the work of a knowing, loving, and powerful God. The theological term for this view is Providence. It is the belief that God is working in and through every circumstance in a world He sovereignly rules to accomplish a prescribed purpose. From our perspective, things just happen, but from God’s perspective, these same occurrences are shaped and moved into alignment to bring about a result He designed all along. Providence.
Solomon illustrates his view of Providence in this proverb. An event as seemingly random as the rolling of a dice or the casting of a lot is actually controlled to the minutest of details by a good and reigning God.
Some view this perspective in a negative light. They think, “If God is controlling everything and it only comes out as He is planning, why should I even bother?” That’s a fatalistic view of the world. It sees us with no control over anything. However, God providentially gave us a manner of control. We call that Free Will. It is our ability to make choices based on our understanding of the matters before us. In other words, we do not simply jump in a car, rev the engine, and tear down the street with our eyes closed and claim, “Whatever happens is God’s providence!” While the outcome is fully known to God, He has providentially given us the ability to process information and given us a compass within (conscience for all…and for believers, the Holy Spirit) that helps us to choose how to act in light of the circumstance. This ability to choose freely, according to our own will, is part of God’s providential design.
Instead of declaring some fatalistic ramblings as the cause of everything good or bad in the world, we would be better served to ask the questions as we weigh out circumstances before us: “What is God doing or showing me at this moment? What would God desire for me to do in this instance.” When we begin to see ourselves as active agents of the Lord and as stewards of moments He provides, we are able to exercise the freedom of choice He gives us to act in a manner that glorifies Him. Furthermore, we can rest in the confidence, that God is not surprised or limited by our actions. They too are part of His good and providential design.
Lord, help me today to see every event, every circumstance, every interaction as a moment to act as your agent of reconciliation in a world that you love, while resting in the fact that while I may cast my lot into the lap, the answer comes from you. Amen.
Have you ever heard a sad tale of a Christian who blew it? Maybe as you heard the story, you asked yourself, “How could anyone fall for that?” I have certainly asked that question. On both sides: As it relates to others and with myself, “How could I fall for such a simplistic temptation?” I have often said that spiritual warfare would be fairly easy if the devil knocked on your door in the morning with a pitchfork, a red suit, and a long pointy tale. The problem is he, in many cases, wears a dress.
The Bible says that the devil disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Cor 11:14). Sometimes, the schemes of the enemy are simply to baptize sin in spiritual waters and present it to us as if we were the Judge of the facts.
Proverbs 7, one of the ten introductory chapters of Proverbs, expresses wisdom from Solomon (for the most part) as addressed to his son in order to equip and provoke his son toward godly living. Here he addresses the weak-kneed response toward sexual temptation. You could really insert any temptation into the story because the tactics are similar across the spectrum.
10The woman approached him, seductively dressed and sly of heart…
13She threw her arms around him and kissed him, and with a brazen look she said,
14“I’ve just made my peace offerings and fulfilled my vows.
15You’re the one I was looking for! I came out to find you, and here you are!
Proverbs 7:10, 13-15 (NLT)
The writer positions the teacher as a wise onlooker observing an unfolding scene involving a naïve young man and a cunning woman. This woman is stunning in appearance and seductive in her demeanor. She is outgoing as she sought out the man (vv.11-12). When she spots him, she seizes and kisses him, appealing to his senses and feelings, not reason, logic, or worship. She exudes confidence (v.13), taking full charge of the situation, and then makes the case that this is not only not bad…but is a gift from God. The man is precisely what she prayed for earlier in the day! She answers his mental objections…not objecting to the immorality of the situation but to the potential consequences of the sin. Her home offers privacy and comfort. Her arms offer fulfillment, enjoyment, and sensual adventure (vv.16-18). The deed will be a secret as the husband is away (vv.19-20). The liability of her coming back to tell tales is minimal as she is married, after all. And she continues to persuade and entice (v.21).
22Suddenly he follows her as an ox goes to the slaughter, Or as one in fetters to the discipline of a fool,
Proverbs 7:22 (NASB95)
I am always arrested by the “suddenly” of this verse. For us, we see the situation unfolding over several minutes or maybe hours. But at some point, the decision is made, and the consequences are attached. Certainly, the husband may never learn of the unholy liaison. The man, however, is immediately aware. And God is righteous in judgment.
How can one combat such overwhelming attacks? Solomon says to be attentive to the Word of God, guard your heart, and avoid dark alleys on the wrong side of town (vv.24-25). Choose to pursue the Person and Presence of God through His Word. The Scriptures not only explain the expectations of discipleship but offer wisdom on navigating the distracting schemes intended to take us off the path we were made for. We must choose not to let the consideration of sin enter our hearts, and we must recognize our weaknesses, avoiding situations that could exploit them.
Effectively battling for holiness involves both pursuit and avoidance. Otherwise, we will find ourselves suddenly facing the consequences of yielding to the enticement of the devil in a red dress.
What comes to mind when you think about the blessing of God? For many, the mind races to those things of material significance. A new car, a promotion, a fat retirement account, or perhaps increased influence among men. These are all potential evidence of God’s blessings. After all, James tells us that every good thing comes from God (James 1:17).
But what if the evidence of God’s affirmation, the outpouring of His benevolence, the portrait of His effusive grace was something more subtle?
Notice the words of the Psalmist:
1How blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, Who walks in His ways.
2When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands, You will be happy and it will be well with you.
3Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine Within your house, Your children like olive plants Around your table.
4Behold, for thus shall the man be blessed Who fears the Lord.
One condition and the exhibits of God’s blessing:
The Condition– Fear God and walk in His ways. These are one and the same thing. I know we like to separate them in modern culture and create some spiritual category for those who might claim to love God but walk in willful rebellion. This is a foreign idea to the Scriptures. While all people do, in fact, sin against God…the disciple of Jesus looks to Christ’s atoning work for that sin, repents of sinning, and pursues holy living. This is an ongoing and ever-progressive work for the disciple. As Martin Luther wrote and nailed to the door of Wittenberg Chapel, “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said ‘Repent,’ he intended that the entire life of believers should be repentance.”
The Exhibits:
You shall eat of the fruit of your hands (v.2). This speaks of God’s provision for all our needs and our enjoyment of them. These provisions, contextually speaking, were not only personal but familial. It speaks of the ability to provide for one’s family through his labor. Now, before you @me and start quoting Miley Cyrus lyrics about buying your own flowers, the idea in biblical times was clear. Part of God’s blessing was evident in man’s ability to care for those in his household.
Your wife shall be a fruitful vine within your house. This image would connect with the agrarian mindset of the audience. God’s blessing will be evident through many children from your wife. Large families were considered a blessing from the Lord. Furthermore, the imagery of the vine is used elsewhere to speak of refreshment and lavish enjoyment.
Your table will be surrounded by children like olive plants. Both olive plants and vines are rich in biblical imagery and communicate rich blessings. The children around the table are not commodities to be used or consumed but plants that take quite some time to grow to maturity. They must be tended, nurtured, and cultivated. When this is done, they produce blessings in abundance. This picture communicates to us both responsibility and reward. Children are not inconveniences. They are not interruptions to our otherwise fruitful lives. They are not a means to a particular end. They are blessings that have been entrusted to our stewardship of developing and shaping to know and love God.
I know that the image of success and the evidence of God’s blessing may look different in the mind of the novice or the unbeliever. But for God’s people, satisfying provisions, a fruitful marriage, and the opportunity to develop our children into followers of Jesus, as we walk in the fear of God, are evidence of a life well-lived and God’s gracious blessing.
Have you ever given consideration to the stewardship of “the day?” By that, I mean, “What if today was not what you made it (as if you were master of the day) but an assignment to be discerned, carried out, and celebrated?”
I have been “the guy” who thought of the calendar as an obstacle rather than an opportunity; a challenge rather than a commission. If I could control the appointments, arrange the flow of activities, choose the level of energy needed for each encounter, delegate away some of the less significant tasks…THEN I could look back on the day and talk about all that I had done. What if though, I had an assignment in the day that was completely overlooked in the hustle and hurry of my effective administration?
Someone asked me recently about a weakness or struggle that I knew about myself. I responded that, at times, I moved too quickly through a room. Even when pastoring, my default was to maximize my time and get to the front and in position at just the right time. In fact, after watching one of my mentors engage the same crowds, I realized that I needed to intentionally slow down. I would often pray for the Lord to show me His divine appointments in the conversations that I might have along the way. Sure, I needed to be at the front when the clock struck 00:00, but I also needed to maximize the appointments that God might have along the way.
The writer of Ecclesiastes reminds us that God is in the appointment business. He appoints everything under heaven.
1There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—
Ecclesiastes 3:1, NASB95
Often, the moments that we pass through are appointments affecting eternity for others. That disabled vehicle on the side of the road. The conversation after prayers with your son as you tuck him in. The Car rider line. The chit-chat with a co-worker over lunch. Any one of these may be an appointment that affects eternity.
2for He says, “At the acceptable time I listened to you, And on the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”—
2 Corinthians 6:2, NASB95
Finally, since God assigns the moments and controls all of the circumstances, we can rejoice in every element of the day. We can be grateful for the traffic stall on the highway, or the appliance repair that we have to arrange on the hone. We can thank the Lord that our coffee order is delayed for a fresh pot that is being brewed. Each one of these moments is divinely appointed.
24This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24, NASB95
Today, the Lord will entrust you with 86,400 seconds. He has appointed some of them for eternal purposes. Make the most of every opportunity and rejoice…for the Lord made the day!
1Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.
2For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge.
3For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.
4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Romans 10:1-4, NASB95
I once worked for a guy who was the consummate motivator. He was a football player and an aspiring football coach. Circumstances to him were less important than attitude. I never saw him without a smile on his face. He was always motivating. I imagine that if he were my son’s little league coach, the score could be 100 to 0 with two minutes to play and he would passionately tell the team that there was still a chance for victory. He had zeal!
Paul said the same thing of the Jews, His kinsmen according to the flesh…his fellow countrymen. They were passionate about the Law but saw the Law as the means by which we achieve righteousness. This is in direct conflict with the gospel. If my beliefs or your beliefs require us to do anything to earn our salvation, then our faith is no longer in the good news (Gospel) because there is nothing we can do that earns our righteousness. In fact, as verse four states, Christ is the end of the law for righteousness…to all who believe.
That means that earnestness will not make us right with God. Transparency will not make us right with God. Authenticity will not make us right with God. Good deeds that we do will not make us right with God. Only Christ can make us right with God because only Christ is the end of the law for righteousness.
This is good news…and bad. It is good news because it levels the ground around the cross. You are not behind. You are not ahead. You are precisely equal with every other human being from Adam to the Apostle Peter, John to Jude, and from Malachi to Matthew. No one is excluded at all. The bad news is…we struggle to believe that we are bad enough to need a Savior. We think that in the pecking order of sin, surely, we are more righteous than Hitler, or Osama Bin Laden, or Chris Aiken. Surely! But we are not. In fact, the more we understand God and His gracious plan of redemption, the more humbled we become. We are slow to try to compare ourselves with others, and we certainly don’t elevate ourselves to a place of judging others in a manner that conflicts with the Word of God. If God says “forgive” …we don’t reply, “Yea, but…”.
In many ways, it seemed that Paul was so grieved because his countrymen felt they had an inside line, an advantage, a Fast Pass to get through the Pearly Gates and he argues that what should have been an advantage (the Covenant and the Law), because they had misused it, actually became to be an obstacle to overcome.
The same could be said for religious people today. Your neighbors perhaps. Maybe even you. Stop giving your resume to the Lord. Stop relying on “standing” from your good works. Instead, fall down before Jesus, surrender to His reign in your life, and find that which truly satisfies…the righteousness that only Christ can provide.
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