Don's Devotionals: Learning to love God

John 1:45-46  ⁴⁵ Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”  ⁴⁶ “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.

Have you noticed how powerfully we can be affected by our perception of things?  If we perceive something to be good or positive we respond differently that if we view it negatively – particularly if it involves us.   Our perception becomes our reality which is fine and good provided that it is accurate.  All too often we can find ourselves responding inappropriately because we are missing pieces of vital information that could radically change how we view something .

I am reminded of a story from the great tsunami in 2004.  In many places, people on beaches in that region were fascinated by what they were seeing.  The shoreline was receding accompanied by frothing bubbles.  If I had been there, I can see myself standing with others discussing this curiosity that was unfolding before us – unaware that it was the precursor of something incredibly deadly.

Tilly Smith is a British girl who, at age 10, was credited with saving nearly a hundred foreign tourists at Maikhao Beach (Thailand) by raising the alarm minutes before the arrival of the tsunami caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.

She learned about tsunamis in a geography lesson two weeks before the tsunami.  She recognized the receding shoreline and frothing bubbles on the surface of the sea and alerted her parents, who warned others on the beach and the staff at the hotel on Phuket where they were staying. The beach was evacuated before the tsunami reached shore, and was one of the few beaches on the island with no reported casualties.

Fortunately, Tilly was believed and lives were saved.  Credible information received changed something from a curiosity to a serious reality that required an immediate response.  It wasn’t dismissed because it came from a 10 year old girl. In today’s verses, we have the well known retort of Nathanael to Philip telling him about Jesus of Nazareth: “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?”  When Philip ignored the retort and replied, “Come and see,” Nathanael followed Philip to Jesus.

Fortunately, Philip was able to let go of his perception of ‘things fromNazareth’ and recognized the reality of who Jesus was (and is) and became one of the twelve disciples.  We too get to deal with our perceptions of who Jesus is or isn’t.  Either way our lives will be changed.  We must question the sources and validity of our perceptions because they might be keeping us from the truth.  They might keep us on the beach convinced tsunamis aren’t real.

Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

I want to continue with The Hiding Place as a source of inspiration, instruction and blessing.  Today I want to focus on Corrie and her responses to the provocative situations that are recorded in her book.  All too often I think we relate more to her responses rather than to the responses Betsy had.  Betsy always seems to have an inside track on viewing things in such a redemptive way.  Corrie writes at one point after being stunned by Betsy’s response to an impossible situation, “Once again I had the feeling that this sister with whom I had spent all my life belonged somehow to another order of beings.”

Time and time again Corrie and Betsy were exposed to cruelty, violence and unspeakable horror.  Corrie struggled with all the human responses of fear, anger, hatred, resentment and wanting to strike back.  Then she would encounter Betsy’s responses and find herself provoked redemptively.  She struggled through the process of repentance and learning to embrace a response more consistent with her faith and the Lord she loved.

I am so blessed by Corrie. I cannot imagine facing the horrors she faced. But the thing that speaks so powerfully to me is how she continually embraced repentance after recognizing that her response was wrong.  The struggles she endured weren’t simple things.  They were gut wrenching, but her faith and the grace of God enabled her to overcome.  Her commitment to the Lord and her resolve to respond rightly shone brightly.

She rejected her sin and embraced Godliness.  She went through this process time and again.  Betsy continually showed her the way and Corrie followed it.  What examples they are for us.  Fortunately, Corrie was released from Ravensbruck due to a clerical error.  All the women her age were taken to the gas chambers one week after she was released.  It is not difficult at all to see God’s hand in that!

We must have our eyes opened to see the shortcomings inherent in our own responses to difficult trials.  Thank God for the people in our lives that He uses to help us in this regard! In my life, this person is most frequently my wife Donna and I cannot begin to express the gratitude that I have for her.  In the spirit of today’s verse, she is the most provocative person I know.

So often, Donna’s response to the Lord is richer and so convicting in comparison to my own.  My response might not be wrong; it’s just not as rich in passion for Jesus as hers. Her heart and love for Jesus provoke me!  I find myself repenting and seeking the Lord to have more of what she has.  How fortunate we are that Jesus enables us to recognize our need, repent quickly and embrace righteousness as our way of life.

1 Thessalonians 5:15-18  Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.  ¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

I am so grateful for the powerful example of Corrie Ten Boom’s sister Betsy and her amazing faith as revealed in Corrie’s book, The Hiding Place.  For their efforts to save Jews, they were sent to concentration camps during World War II eventually winding up at Ravensbruck where 96,000 women died.  I remembered how Corrie was so frequently amazed at her sister’s remarkable faith.

In the book, I found the scene that had been stirring so within me.  It is when they move into the horrific dormitory in Ravensbruck.  This wretched dorm that was made for 400 had 1400 crammed in with more being added weekly.  Eight acrid and overflowing toilets served the entire room.

Betsy perpetually saw things so very differently than Corrie or anyone else.  Her heart was moved with compassion instead of hate.  She wanted to bless instead of curse.  She saw positives in situations where no one else could even imagine them.  Today’s verses were the ones that particularly moved her on this occasion.

Their circumstances included fleas, nauseating smells, incredible overcrowding and the brutality of the guards for whom Betsy continually prayed.  This combined with being prisoners in such a place of death!  But Betsy continually gave thanks to God for everything about their circumstances – even the fleas!

Apparently the fleas, lice and stench kept the guards away.  They had a Bible and so many women were crowded around them, it meant that so many more would get to hear about Jesus.  No matter what happened, Betsy was consumed with a passionate love of her Lord.

What an example Betsy was for Corrie and for us!  We face nothing compared to what they faced.  But Betsy was so aware of God’s love and focused on sharing it with everyone – prisoners and guards.  She was grateful for so many things.  She didn’t get caught up in the negative.  She saw evidence of God’s presence, kindness and grace everywhere.

May our eyes be opened to see the wonder of our Lord in all the problems we have.  May our lives be dominated by Him – rather than by the problems or difficulties we face.  Betsy is such an example for us all of how rich and powerful our faith in Jesus can become.

Psalm 34:1-3  ¹ I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. ² I will glory in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. ³ Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.

These verses today present a wonderful ‘picture’ of David’s heart; his reality.  He had pretended to be insane in order to escape the King of Gath – after fleeing there to get away from King Saul who was trying to kill him.  Sounds like a nice normal life doesn’t it?

Even though David had to live with the ever present threat of being killed for years, his reality was his heart for God.  It was so rich and vibrant and full.  Does this picture of his heart match a corresponding picture of our hearts – if one could be taken?  When we read these verses do they describe us?  Are we ‘captured’ by the Lord like David was?  Phrase by phrase they are absolutely extraordinary!

Another picture came to mind when I was considering these verses and how they relate to us.  It was a picture of a meal with the question, “What kind of meal is it?”  If these verses don’t describe our hearts, then we’re fasting or the meal is just breadcrumbs and water.  If they describe us a little, then the meal might be a piece of bologna on a piece of bread.  The more they describe us, the richer the meal.  Think of a dinner with our very favorite foods – where not only is the food phenomenal, but so is the setting and the loved ones we are able to enjoy it with.  That is the richness the ‘picture’ of these verses alludes to.

I think of the rehearsal dinner for our oldest son John and Fabi that occurred in Brazil at a restaurant next to the church, one block from the ocean.  The food was wonderful.  It was a balmy evening with the ocean breeze blowing in the open air restaurant.  I remember so clearly sitting back with tears in my eyes as I gazed at the sight of family and dear friends laughing together and enjoying a wonderful meal and one another.  What a rich time!

The Lord has such richness for us in our relationship with Him if we but pursue it with Him.  If these verses don’t describe us, let us pray, “Lord Jesus, make these verses describe me!  I want the picture of my reality with you; my heart for you to be accurately described by them.”  Pray it daily – for weeks, months, years – whatever it takes.  But pray it with the conviction that He will make it happen – because He will!

Proverbs 1:10  My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them.

When I read this verse last night, I immediately thought of the character Fagan in the movie “Oliver!”, based on the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens.  You’ll recall him as someone you’d suspect of being up to no good the moment you laid eyes on him.  If he suggested anything to you, you’d smell a rat.

Unfortunately, the enemy of our souls is much more subtle in many of his ‘offerings’.  They can have the appearance of acceptability but to the discerning eye the truth is apparent.  Have you ever given thought to how you know what is evil and what is good?  How do we know that we are being enticed?  How do we appropriately recognize sinful men?

Think of commercials on TV and much of the programming.  How do we recognize what is appropriate and what entices us to evil.  Often the problem is not the product, but the content and nature of its ‘packaging’. What is the advertiser (enticer) using to get us to watch the commercial and hopefully buy the product?

Fortunately, God provides the answers and the plan for us to become discerning and wise in this everyday issue.  Yesterday I wrote about the importance of the growth process in our faith.  We must recognize that this is another area we must grow in.  It is significantly wrapped up in God’s word.  In Hebrews 5:12-14 the writer powerfully addresses this problem:

¹²In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! ¹³ Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. ¹⁴ But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

We must become thoroughly acquainted with God’s word and its teachings on righteousness.  This not only leads us to maturity in our faith, but it prepares us to intentionally and constantly train ourselves to distinguish good from evil.  It doesn’t happen by accident.  Nor does it happen with a cursory (the opposite of thorough) knowledge and application of His word.  We will miss too many things that will cause harm both to us and those we are responsible for.  Even worse is how poorly our lives will present our faith and reflect upon our God if we do not embrace and live out this process.

Hebrews 11:1  Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Tasting fruit and a packet of seeds! 

Over the years we have heard many marvelous testimonies.  What a blessing it is to hear how God is working in other Christians’ lives.  Many times God will use these testimonies to inspire and motivate us to pursue things He has for us – to draw closer to Him.  Years ago we heard a valuable illustration that helped us understand the important role that growth plays in our own faith.

When we hear testimonies of Christians who are walking in faith in a powerful and challenging way, think of it as though they are allowing us to sample their ‘fruit’ – the ‘fruit’ of their lives.  Think of being in a group listening, and instead of words, the speaker is walking among us handing out tomatoes or plums or peaches – (whichever one sounds good to you).  As s/he speaks, we are biting into the fruit – savoring the sweetness and richness.

The same lesson applies to reading about the saints who have gone before us.  At times we are moved to tears when reading of the marvelous things they did or the difficulties they faithfully endured.  ‘Tasting’ those precious experiences are intended to draw us closer to God.  The more we taste, the more we want.  But we must remember, we are ‘tasting’ the ‘fruit’ of their faith walk with Jesus.  When we leave the meeting, or lay down the book we are reading, we do not walk away with a basket of our own fruit.  We walk away with a priceless packet of seeds – to grow our own; to make it ours!

The testimonies we heard or read are intended to produce faith within us but that process takes time and obedience.  We need to recognize that trying to walk in someone else’s faith can be like trying to do a downhill slalom on skis when we’ve only been on the beginner slopes.  Typically such attempts lead to needless crashes.  Allow these times to push us into the Lord; expressing our desire to grow and walk in such faith.   He will lead us on His path through the ‘School of the Spirit’ to get us there.

Psalm 34:19  The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all;

What if…?  Have you ever noticed how these two words have a tendency to lead us down a trail that leads to a place we really don’t want to go to?  We get there by ignoring God’s big “Do Not Enter” warnings!  What if I lose my job?  What if finances don’t come through?  What if something bad happens?  What if I make a mistake?  What if I fail?  What if things don’t work out?

Such thoughts when unchecked, will lead to behavior that is inconsistent with our faith.  Troubles or difficulties in our lives are all opportunities to respond in faith.  When we become preoccupied with ’what if’, small issues that might be real can become ‘giants in the land’ that cause us to want to back away in fear rather than walk in faith.  To use The Wizard of Oz as an example, even legitimate concerns responded to wrongly can begin as a little old man behind the curtain that become like the ogre on the screen that intimidates us.

Troubles and difficulties are a fact of life.  The key becomes who or what dominates our view of such things.  Do we focus on the troubles?  Or do we view them as reminders to look to our Lord who delivers us from them?  Typically, He doesn’t simply take them away, but he enables us to be delivered from them by overcoming them.  Even in those times when the troubles seem to overcome us (think about Joseph in Egypt) we have the opportunity to respond in faith and find our joy and security in Him.

God wants us to experience the joy of experiencing His presence with us, sustaining us as we contend with the troubles of life.  We’re never alone.  This is reality not just theology.  All of the difficulties or troubles we have are opportunities to walk faithfully with Him and glorify Him in how we respond.

It might be stormy around us but He provides peaceful hearts to those who look to Him.  Think of having a friend or co-worker come up and ask, “How can you be so calm with everything going on?”  What an opportunity to talk about the reality of Jesus, evident in your life!

Psalm 33:4  For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.

Have you ever been forgotten?  Or have you forgotten someone else?  How about forgetting an important event?  It happens to all of us.  Hopefully, if and when it does occur, it is something you can later laugh about.  One of those “Remember when….” stories.

One of the most memorable times when something significant was forgotten involving me happened when I was a boy.  It was Christmas morning and there were lots of presents around the tree.  Everyone was opening gift after gift – except me.  It seemed that they all had someone else’s name on them.  Finally my mother looked over at me and asked, “Donnie – where are all your gifts?”  To which I wailed. “I don’t have any!”

Mom and Dad were stunned.  Then they remembered that all my gifts were in a separate closet.  Great was my relief when they went and got arm loads of gifts – all with my name.  They had simply forgotten them the night before after we had gone to bed.

We deal with expectations all the time – particularly those involving the Lord.  We pray for people and situations.  We hope to see God respond in an affirmative way.  We repeatedly find ourselves in situations where we have the opportunity to trust Him.  We want to see God move in our lives.  We might have callings on our lives that we want to see Him fulfill.  Fulfilled longings are wonderful; unfulfilled hopes can be most trying.

Think of the waiting that individuals in the Bible had to do, i.e., Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and Moses – all in the plan of God.  Think of the unexpected turns their life experiences took but God was with them through it all.  The great news for us is that God doesn’t forget – EVER!  He is always faithful.  In fact, it is impossible for Him to be unfaithful.

He gives us lives filled with opportunities to turn to Him.  We commit our ways to Him – allowing Him to mold our expectations.  But being who we are, it is likely that we will meet disappointments.  It might seem that we have been forgotten or set aside.  In those times – and some of us are struggling with this very thing – we must seek Him.  Choose to embrace and declare the truth that the Lord is faithful in all He does and trust the journey and the outcome to Him.

Psalm 20:7  Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

Have you ever noticed how easy tests are where you know all the answers to the questions?  It’s the stuff we don’t know or forget that gives us problems.  If you are being prepared for an important test of some sort or an inspection by a mentor/coach, do you want them to focus on what you know?  Or, would you prefer that they look for weaknesses that need to be strengthened?

One of the important lessons that I’ve learned through reading the Bible is that God has a real penchant for putting His people into situations that will test them.  What are they going to do?  How will they respond?  Sometimes they murmur and complain.  Sometimes they seek Him.  There are times when they cry out to Him because of the threats they are facing, but other times when they don’t.

Today’s verse speaks to our God calling us to trust in Him rather than the things of strength surrounding us.  He wants to create within us an inclination to trust Him that is like a compass needle always pointing north.  No matter what circumstances we face – however trivial or momentous – we will always turn ourselves to the Lord.  We must not become careless about this.  The Bible contains many warnings about not trusting the Lord, but a powerful one is found in Isaiah 31:1.

“Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD.”

The issue is looking to the Lord first and often.  We inquire of Him as David did.  He might direct us to seek help from a source, but it’s important that such direction comes through prayer and commitment to Him.  He uses all kinds of resources in our behalf, but He wants our trust to be first and foremost in Him.  Our daily prayer life will go a long way towards keeping this from becoming perfunctory.  He intends that our trust be rooted in a genuine, rich relationship with Him.

James 1:2, 3  Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

One of my favorite characters in C. S. Lewis’ Narnia Tales is Reepicheep, the talking mouse.  He is gallant, fearless and a warrior.  If a mouse could be a knight, then Reepicheep would be one.  Nothing was too challenging.  No obstacle too great.  When daunting circumstances were before him, he always considered it a great adventure.  He loved Aslan, the great lion and would fight anyone in Aslan’s behalf.

The thing that I have appreciated most about Reepicheep is the fact that no challenge was too great.  Nothing intimidated him.  No matter how difficult or frightening a situation was, he considered it an adventure.  The greater the risk – the greater the adventure.  I have followed his example and consider life’s challenges to be adventures.

The point is not to make light of serious challenges, but to view them from a perspective of overcoming faith.  When the Lord allows challenging things to come into our lives, it is redemptive to step forward into the adventure rather than step back in fear.  This doesn’t apply just to big things, but to little things in our everyday lives.

Suppose you have an opportunity to share your faith with someone.  One response is to hold back out of fear and uncertainty.  The other is to view it as an adventure and to move forward; committing the results to the Lord.  This dynamic occurs repeatedly in our jobs, ministry opportunities, relationships, so very many areas of our lives.  Do we move forward and seize the opportunity or hold back?

Several years ago, I read one of the most moving quotes I have ever seen.  It is by Teddy Roosevelt and never fails to stir me:

“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena…  who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.“

“Citizenship in a Republic,”
Speech at the Sorbonne,Paris,April 23, 1910

May our focus be upon the joy we have in Jesus Christ as we begin our new year – no matter what manner of trials we face, remembering the opportunity they give us.  Our lives are about Him!