"If you have run with the footmen and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with the horses? And if in the land of peace, in which you trusted, they wearied you, then how will you do in the floodplain of Jordan?" Jeremiah 12:5
The Lord knows best how to encourage and motivate us. There are times He might gently nudge or push us, other times He might put air in our tires with words of inspiration. And then there are times like in the above verse, where the Lord speaking to Jeremiah, sounds like a football coach. I suppose a coach may have abbreviated the verse by simply saying, "hey Jerry, just gut it up!"
Don't be surprised if the Lord motivates you the same way He did Jeremiah. I believe in light of the days we are living in, that the Lord desires to toughen us up a bit. We know that God loves us, and that He is if for us and not against us. His word promises that no matter what we are going through, it will turn out for good, and that He will never leave us on our own. In spite of knowing these truths we can still feel discouraged, defeated, or forgotten. In the midst of difficult seasons, I might expect that God should feel sorry for me, yet in His love and wisdom He doesn't. Instead of being coddled most often I hear my heavenly coach holler, "hey Walker, your better then that, just gut it up!" In His love for me He won't baby me, but instead speaks to me as He did His beloved prophet Jeremiah, motivating me to pursue His higher calling for my life. In the midst of the trials of life so often we just need to remember who we are in Christ, trust Him, and "gut it up!"
Monday, August 8, 2011
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Don't Be A Brute
"Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid"
Proverbs 12:1
When I was a youngster I would get in trouble if I called anyone stupid, it may have been an offense worthy of my mouth being washed out with soap. My mom considered it to be a harsh and demeaning word. We see in the above proverb that the Lord uses that harsh word to describe anyone who hates correction. The King James version uses the word "brutish", and the Hebrew word literally means, to be like cattle. I think the Lord feels very strongly about those who don't receive correction!
Frankly, most of us don't like to be corrected. Being corrected stings our egos, and humbles us. Correction should be reserved for those who are not as wise or spiritually mature as us.
The Lord used my first car as an object lesson, to help me understand my own need for continual correction and adjustments. The car was not a very trustworthy auto, and was out of alignment from the day I purchased it. When I drove it I had to always pay very close attention at all times, because it would keep veering to the left. If I did not pay attention and continue to straighten it out, that car would drift into all kinds of trouble. The Lord used my frustration with that old sports car, as a picture of my own walk. I was born out of alignment and in constant need of adjustments and corrections, to keep me from dangerous troubles. As much as my flesh resists it, I know I need the Lord's discipline to keep me in line with His ways and purposes.
We all need the Lord's correction. The foolish, prideful, stupid brute, will fight and resist His discipline. Wisdom would call us to look for and love His correction.
Proverbs 12:1
When I was a youngster I would get in trouble if I called anyone stupid, it may have been an offense worthy of my mouth being washed out with soap. My mom considered it to be a harsh and demeaning word. We see in the above proverb that the Lord uses that harsh word to describe anyone who hates correction. The King James version uses the word "brutish", and the Hebrew word literally means, to be like cattle. I think the Lord feels very strongly about those who don't receive correction!
Frankly, most of us don't like to be corrected. Being corrected stings our egos, and humbles us. Correction should be reserved for those who are not as wise or spiritually mature as us.
The Lord used my first car as an object lesson, to help me understand my own need for continual correction and adjustments. The car was not a very trustworthy auto, and was out of alignment from the day I purchased it. When I drove it I had to always pay very close attention at all times, because it would keep veering to the left. If I did not pay attention and continue to straighten it out, that car would drift into all kinds of trouble. The Lord used my frustration with that old sports car, as a picture of my own walk. I was born out of alignment and in constant need of adjustments and corrections, to keep me from dangerous troubles. As much as my flesh resists it, I know I need the Lord's discipline to keep me in line with His ways and purposes.
We all need the Lord's correction. The foolish, prideful, stupid brute, will fight and resist His discipline. Wisdom would call us to look for and love His correction.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Did You Do This For Me?
"...did you really fast for Me--for Me? Zechariah 7:4
The above verse is one of those verses that I can't just gloss over, its a stop and ponder verse. The Lord asks the Jewish priests a very penetrating question, that I need to continually ask myself. The priests were fulfilling the letter of the law, as far as offering the proper sacrifices, observing the feasts, and fasting. But the Lord was asking them, are you really doing these things from the heart, or are you doing these things because you are required to? The priests were very similar in Jerusalem during Jesus' time, for He spoke of them as drawing near to God with their lips, but being far away with their hearts. They were doing their jobs as the law required, but there was no heart in it.
Our walk with the Lord can easily slip into a walk of heartless habit, doing religious things, but lacking the life and love that God longs for from us. Why do we read the word, or go to church, or give, or serve in the ministry? If we do any of these out of forced obligation, or empty tradition, then that would seem to place our hearts far from Him. The motivation for all we do ought to be out of love for our God, and a desire to bring Him glory. We need to be guarded, because these hearts of ours can tend to do good things with selfish motives. By nature we might do things for the Lord, but sneak in a little bit of glory and recognition for self. I don't trust my heart, so I think it is a safe practice to invite the Lord to regularly ask that tough question that he posed to the priests of Zechariah's day.....are you really doing this for Me?
The above verse is one of those verses that I can't just gloss over, its a stop and ponder verse. The Lord asks the Jewish priests a very penetrating question, that I need to continually ask myself. The priests were fulfilling the letter of the law, as far as offering the proper sacrifices, observing the feasts, and fasting. But the Lord was asking them, are you really doing these things from the heart, or are you doing these things because you are required to? The priests were very similar in Jerusalem during Jesus' time, for He spoke of them as drawing near to God with their lips, but being far away with their hearts. They were doing their jobs as the law required, but there was no heart in it.
Our walk with the Lord can easily slip into a walk of heartless habit, doing religious things, but lacking the life and love that God longs for from us. Why do we read the word, or go to church, or give, or serve in the ministry? If we do any of these out of forced obligation, or empty tradition, then that would seem to place our hearts far from Him. The motivation for all we do ought to be out of love for our God, and a desire to bring Him glory. We need to be guarded, because these hearts of ours can tend to do good things with selfish motives. By nature we might do things for the Lord, but sneak in a little bit of glory and recognition for self. I don't trust my heart, so I think it is a safe practice to invite the Lord to regularly ask that tough question that he posed to the priests of Zechariah's day.....are you really doing this for Me?
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Loving To Wait
"Wait on the Lord; be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord" Psalm 27:4
As a new believer I was told something about answers to prayer, that I know many of you have heard. I was told that when you pray you can expect one of three answers, yes, no, or wait. I'm sure that we are all pretty much the same when it comes to those answers. We all love the yes answers, we aren't crazy about the no answers, but it's the wait answers that we have the hardest time with. At least if you get a no, you can move on to something else, but to wait is tough. There is something we don't like about it, most of us hate to wait.
The Lord gave me a gentle lesson on prayer, through what I would call a living parable, while I was on a run the other day. I had run up to an intersection where the light was red so I couldn't cross. The traffic light was equipped with a new pedestrian crossing button to assist blind pedestrians, that verbally communicates. When the light turns green a mechanical sounding voice tells you to proceed across the street. When the light is red and you push the button, it says in a pretty stern voice, "wait". When I ran up to the light, someone had already been there and pushed the button, and he got the "wait". The person waited all of about five seconds and pushed the button again, and he got another "wait". Sure enough within another few seconds, he pushed it again, and the machine said what it was supposed to say, "wait". It would seem after three "waits" that he would have been content to wait, but indeed he was not, and he began to push the button constantly, and the stern mechanical voice rang out, "wait", "wait", "wait", "wait"! I wanted to scream but kept quiet, I was amazed, frustrated and so very grateful when the light turned green so I could sprint away. Within a few steps the Lord spoke to me of my own prayers and my own impatience. He gently reminded me that when He says "wait", He will make me wait. There is no need to keep pushing the button, I can't speed Him up by pestering Him, or attempting to change His mind, or quicken His pace. When the Lord says "wait", then we should.
There are two important things to remember about waiting. First, is to know who we are waiting on. We are waiting upon the Lord, the One who knows all things, loves us, cares for us, has a plan for us, and desires the best for us. We are not waiting on an unfeeling machine, or an uncaring bureaucrat, we are waiting upon our loving God. Second, the waiting is not just killing time. There is purpose in all that goes on in our lives, even the waiting. God may have us wait until circumstances are right, or until our hearts are right. Waiting helps to purify our motives, and get our focus in line with God's plans. Our time of waiting may be the most profitable time for building and strengthening our faith. Remember when you are waiting upon the Lord it is not wasted time. In fact, when His answer to your prayer is wait, it is the best answer, as the waiting is sure to bring more maturity and depth to your walk. So, be of good courage and wait upon the Lord.
As a new believer I was told something about answers to prayer, that I know many of you have heard. I was told that when you pray you can expect one of three answers, yes, no, or wait. I'm sure that we are all pretty much the same when it comes to those answers. We all love the yes answers, we aren't crazy about the no answers, but it's the wait answers that we have the hardest time with. At least if you get a no, you can move on to something else, but to wait is tough. There is something we don't like about it, most of us hate to wait.
The Lord gave me a gentle lesson on prayer, through what I would call a living parable, while I was on a run the other day. I had run up to an intersection where the light was red so I couldn't cross. The traffic light was equipped with a new pedestrian crossing button to assist blind pedestrians, that verbally communicates. When the light turns green a mechanical sounding voice tells you to proceed across the street. When the light is red and you push the button, it says in a pretty stern voice, "wait". When I ran up to the light, someone had already been there and pushed the button, and he got the "wait". The person waited all of about five seconds and pushed the button again, and he got another "wait". Sure enough within another few seconds, he pushed it again, and the machine said what it was supposed to say, "wait". It would seem after three "waits" that he would have been content to wait, but indeed he was not, and he began to push the button constantly, and the stern mechanical voice rang out, "wait", "wait", "wait", "wait"! I wanted to scream but kept quiet, I was amazed, frustrated and so very grateful when the light turned green so I could sprint away. Within a few steps the Lord spoke to me of my own prayers and my own impatience. He gently reminded me that when He says "wait", He will make me wait. There is no need to keep pushing the button, I can't speed Him up by pestering Him, or attempting to change His mind, or quicken His pace. When the Lord says "wait", then we should.
There are two important things to remember about waiting. First, is to know who we are waiting on. We are waiting upon the Lord, the One who knows all things, loves us, cares for us, has a plan for us, and desires the best for us. We are not waiting on an unfeeling machine, or an uncaring bureaucrat, we are waiting upon our loving God. Second, the waiting is not just killing time. There is purpose in all that goes on in our lives, even the waiting. God may have us wait until circumstances are right, or until our hearts are right. Waiting helps to purify our motives, and get our focus in line with God's plans. Our time of waiting may be the most profitable time for building and strengthening our faith. Remember when you are waiting upon the Lord it is not wasted time. In fact, when His answer to your prayer is wait, it is the best answer, as the waiting is sure to bring more maturity and depth to your walk. So, be of good courage and wait upon the Lord.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Time Flies
"For the form of this world is passing away" 1 Corinthians 7:3
Today is the first day of the sixth month of the new year. I know we are six months in, so technically I shouldn't be saying new year, but it still feels like the beginning of the new year! Wasn't the Rose Parade just last week? Didn't I just get over Christmas? What happened to Valentines, and Easter? 2011 has raced full throttle into June, and I'm sure the next six months will pass just as quickly as the previous six months. I know that in what seems like a wink, I will be saying, wow, it's Christmas season already. This first day of the sixth month serves as a healthy reminder to me that time truly does pass very quickly, and we are called to redeem the time, and make the best of each day in the Lord.
I recently ran into a young man who was a student of mine when I taught high school. We had a wonderful time catching up on each others lives. In the midst of our conversation he asked me how old I was when I taught his class. I let him know, and his jaw dropped. He was shocked because he is now two years older then I was, when I was his teacher. We both laughed and spoke of how quickly life flies by. What most blessed me about my conversation with my ex-student, is that he is making the most out of his rapidly moving life. He loves Jesus, has a solid growing walk, is a great husband and dad, and is committed to serving the Lord. He was very excited as he considered the future, because he had entrusted each day to the Lord's glory. As time goes roaring by, it is important for us to realize that one day, our time here in earth will run out. How will that precious time have been spent? What a good reminder on this first day of the sixth month. By the way, I ran into my ex-student this past New Years Eve, wasn't that just last week?
Today is the first day of the sixth month of the new year. I know we are six months in, so technically I shouldn't be saying new year, but it still feels like the beginning of the new year! Wasn't the Rose Parade just last week? Didn't I just get over Christmas? What happened to Valentines, and Easter? 2011 has raced full throttle into June, and I'm sure the next six months will pass just as quickly as the previous six months. I know that in what seems like a wink, I will be saying, wow, it's Christmas season already. This first day of the sixth month serves as a healthy reminder to me that time truly does pass very quickly, and we are called to redeem the time, and make the best of each day in the Lord.
I recently ran into a young man who was a student of mine when I taught high school. We had a wonderful time catching up on each others lives. In the midst of our conversation he asked me how old I was when I taught his class. I let him know, and his jaw dropped. He was shocked because he is now two years older then I was, when I was his teacher. We both laughed and spoke of how quickly life flies by. What most blessed me about my conversation with my ex-student, is that he is making the most out of his rapidly moving life. He loves Jesus, has a solid growing walk, is a great husband and dad, and is committed to serving the Lord. He was very excited as he considered the future, because he had entrusted each day to the Lord's glory. As time goes roaring by, it is important for us to realize that one day, our time here in earth will run out. How will that precious time have been spent? What a good reminder on this first day of the sixth month. By the way, I ran into my ex-student this past New Years Eve, wasn't that just last week?
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Rapture May 21st?
"But the day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only"
Matthew 24:36
This Saturday, May 21st, has been set as the day of the rapture of the church, at least according to Harold Camping of Family Radio. Mr. Camping and his followers have purchased billboards across the country proclaiming: Save The Date!...Return of Christ May 21,2011. Camping who is a trained civil engineer started his radio ministry back in 1958 and sends out his messages over 150 radio stations. He teaches that he figured out the date of the rapture using a complicated mathematical formula tied to the date of the Genesis flood. Mr. Camping also predicted that the rapture would take place back in 1994 (oops). When the rapture did not take place in 1994, he said his mathematical formula was off. There are some other things about his teachings that, like his mathematical formula, are a little off. He teaches that believers can not have assurance of salvation, that Jesus died twice (what!?), and he forbids communion and baptism. There is actually more the he is off on, but you get the idea.
The media has picked up on this story, and of course when the rapture doesn't take place on Saturday at 3:00pm, he will be depicted as a nut case along with all others who believe in the rapture. I can't disagree with the nut case description, but I am saddened to be lumped in with Camping and others who have failed in picking the date of the Lord's coming for His church. The Lord has said so plainly that we won't know the day of His coming, so when people claim to know the day, it distracts from and minimizes, the reality of the rapture. By the way, you are not a nut case if you believe in the rapture, in fact scripture says belief in the rapture, brings comfort, edification, and is our blessed hope (1 Thessalonians 4:18; Titus 2:13). Today, even non Christians are wondering at world wide events, and trying to make some sense out of all the political, economic, and even natural upheavals. The Lord is coming back, and all the false predictions will not speed up, nor slow down His coming. Ours is not to predict, but to be faithful, watching, and waiting. Who knows, Jesus may come back before Saturday!
Matthew 24:36
This Saturday, May 21st, has been set as the day of the rapture of the church, at least according to Harold Camping of Family Radio. Mr. Camping and his followers have purchased billboards across the country proclaiming: Save The Date!...Return of Christ May 21,2011. Camping who is a trained civil engineer started his radio ministry back in 1958 and sends out his messages over 150 radio stations. He teaches that he figured out the date of the rapture using a complicated mathematical formula tied to the date of the Genesis flood. Mr. Camping also predicted that the rapture would take place back in 1994 (oops). When the rapture did not take place in 1994, he said his mathematical formula was off. There are some other things about his teachings that, like his mathematical formula, are a little off. He teaches that believers can not have assurance of salvation, that Jesus died twice (what!?), and he forbids communion and baptism. There is actually more the he is off on, but you get the idea.
The media has picked up on this story, and of course when the rapture doesn't take place on Saturday at 3:00pm, he will be depicted as a nut case along with all others who believe in the rapture. I can't disagree with the nut case description, but I am saddened to be lumped in with Camping and others who have failed in picking the date of the Lord's coming for His church. The Lord has said so plainly that we won't know the day of His coming, so when people claim to know the day, it distracts from and minimizes, the reality of the rapture. By the way, you are not a nut case if you believe in the rapture, in fact scripture says belief in the rapture, brings comfort, edification, and is our blessed hope (1 Thessalonians 4:18; Titus 2:13). Today, even non Christians are wondering at world wide events, and trying to make some sense out of all the political, economic, and even natural upheavals. The Lord is coming back, and all the false predictions will not speed up, nor slow down His coming. Ours is not to predict, but to be faithful, watching, and waiting. Who knows, Jesus may come back before Saturday!
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Terrorist Behind The Terrosist
"The devil who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever."
Revelation 20:10
Osama Bin Laden has been the main front page news story this past week, and I'm sure will be for the next little while. I have to admit, I hadn't given much thought to Osama for quite some time. I figured he was already dead, or living a miserable life on the run, hopping from cave to cave in some remote god forsaken part of the world. As we all know now, he was alive and well and not hopping from cave to cave. Now that the world's most wanted terrorist has been dealt with, it is important that we remember that the worst of all terrorists is still alive and well, and lurking about seeking whom he might devour. There is a terrorist behind all terrorists and he is still busy at his work. His day of judgment will come, and all of creation will truly rejoice, but that time has not yet come, so we must always be wary and alert concerning his workings. The Bible gives many names to this terrorist, all of which describe areas of his character, these names ought to be enough to stir us all to walk in vigilance. This we know, the Bible calls this terrorist our enemy, he hates our God, and therefore hates us. When you add to enemy, the other names describing him you realize he makes Bin Laden look like a girl scout. These names include.....murderer, destroyer, thief, adversary, wicked, corrupt, accuser, ruler of darkness, prince of demons, evil one, serpent, tempter.....I think you get the point! We ought always to be awake, for this terrorist enemy of ours is still doing his murderous work from the spiritual realm. The end of our enemy will joyously come at the coming of Jesus, but he is still out and about today, and we can't rely on Navy Seals for help. The battle is ours, and the victory is assured. We must be a people of prayer, an army on our knees, walking in the authority of the name of Jesus, and the certainty of triumph in His cross.
Revelation 20:10
Osama Bin Laden has been the main front page news story this past week, and I'm sure will be for the next little while. I have to admit, I hadn't given much thought to Osama for quite some time. I figured he was already dead, or living a miserable life on the run, hopping from cave to cave in some remote god forsaken part of the world. As we all know now, he was alive and well and not hopping from cave to cave. Now that the world's most wanted terrorist has been dealt with, it is important that we remember that the worst of all terrorists is still alive and well, and lurking about seeking whom he might devour. There is a terrorist behind all terrorists and he is still busy at his work. His day of judgment will come, and all of creation will truly rejoice, but that time has not yet come, so we must always be wary and alert concerning his workings. The Bible gives many names to this terrorist, all of which describe areas of his character, these names ought to be enough to stir us all to walk in vigilance. This we know, the Bible calls this terrorist our enemy, he hates our God, and therefore hates us. When you add to enemy, the other names describing him you realize he makes Bin Laden look like a girl scout. These names include.....murderer, destroyer, thief, adversary, wicked, corrupt, accuser, ruler of darkness, prince of demons, evil one, serpent, tempter.....I think you get the point! We ought always to be awake, for this terrorist enemy of ours is still doing his murderous work from the spiritual realm. The end of our enemy will joyously come at the coming of Jesus, but he is still out and about today, and we can't rely on Navy Seals for help. The battle is ours, and the victory is assured. We must be a people of prayer, an army on our knees, walking in the authority of the name of Jesus, and the certainty of triumph in His cross.
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