Isaiah 55:10-11
“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heave,
And do not return there,
But water the earth
And make it bring forth and bud,
That it may give seed to the sower
And bread to the eater,
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” NKJV
I’ve often heard this verse quoted but not known the context. “His word shall not return void,” I’m told, often to justify random teachings or street evangelisms. It seemed strange to me because that would also seem to justify TOB (turn or burn) sermons. After all, they use His word (hopefully).
Out of context, it would also seem to imply that going around and posting random bible verses would be guaranteed to have an impact. But the sentence before doesn’t say that.
“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth.”
“…From My mouth.”
That, to me, implies a need for these things to be from God, and due to the work of His Spirit.
Application:
When I preach/teach/talk about His word, I need to make sure it is something from Him and not form me.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
God knows
Isaiah 55:9
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And my thoughts than your thoughts.” NKJV
In the context of this passage, God gives us a choice. Forsake your ways and thoughts and seek mine, or be content with your own evil thoughts and plans. God is perfect. In this verse He reminds us that the Creator is greater than the created. That His plan and will for us is a hundred-fold better than our own plans should be a given.
Application:
All the plans I’ve been trying to make for next year need to be put aside. I need to trust that the Lord will give me another direction when I need to know.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And my thoughts than your thoughts.” NKJV
In the context of this passage, God gives us a choice. Forsake your ways and thoughts and seek mine, or be content with your own evil thoughts and plans. God is perfect. In this verse He reminds us that the Creator is greater than the created. That His plan and will for us is a hundred-fold better than our own plans should be a given.
Application:
All the plans I’ve been trying to make for next year need to be put aside. I need to trust that the Lord will give me another direction when I need to know.
God and us
Isaiah 55:8
“’For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord.” NKJV
How often do I try to fit my God into some pre-conceived mold? I’ve heard the argument of “Why would God give me a logic and understanding that cannot comprehend all things?” and I regret that sometimes I take that to heart.
That is a good question though. God made us in His image, why don’t we think like Him?
I think for a person who doesn’t believe in spiritual warfare, this question would be very difficult to answer.
Satan’s strongest device is to work behind the scenes. He loves it when we don’t believe he exists because the traps we don’t see are the ones that break our legs.
The biggest gap of our plans and thoughts and God’s is due to minds corrupted by sin.
It also has to do with the fact that we are separate entities than God. God is in us, but we are not God--or even part God. This may seem obvious but here is what that clarifies:
*God made my unique spirit/soul
*I may be made in God’s image, but I am no more God than a drawing of me is actually me
*I am independent from God in thought, actions, and beliefs unless I choose to be dependent
*I can grow to reflect Him more, but I grow by giving up my thoughts and desires for the ones He reveals to me.
I should be careful to never impose my ideas on who I think God is.
This verse also brings to mind another truth. Thoughts given to me from God should stick out. They should be recognizable as something I wouldn’t normally consider.
Application:
I will seek God’s will for me today in everything I can.
“’For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord.” NKJV
How often do I try to fit my God into some pre-conceived mold? I’ve heard the argument of “Why would God give me a logic and understanding that cannot comprehend all things?” and I regret that sometimes I take that to heart.
That is a good question though. God made us in His image, why don’t we think like Him?
I think for a person who doesn’t believe in spiritual warfare, this question would be very difficult to answer.
Satan’s strongest device is to work behind the scenes. He loves it when we don’t believe he exists because the traps we don’t see are the ones that break our legs.
The biggest gap of our plans and thoughts and God’s is due to minds corrupted by sin.
It also has to do with the fact that we are separate entities than God. God is in us, but we are not God--or even part God. This may seem obvious but here is what that clarifies:
*God made my unique spirit/soul
*I may be made in God’s image, but I am no more God than a drawing of me is actually me
*I am independent from God in thought, actions, and beliefs unless I choose to be dependent
*I can grow to reflect Him more, but I grow by giving up my thoughts and desires for the ones He reveals to me.
I should be careful to never impose my ideas on who I think God is.
This verse also brings to mind another truth. Thoughts given to me from God should stick out. They should be recognizable as something I wouldn’t normally consider.
Application:
I will seek God’s will for me today in everything I can.
Original State
“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”
“Let him return to the Lord.”
This verse to me, sounds like a call to the unsaved, why then does it say to “return”? Wouldn’t the proper wording be to “turn to the Lord? After all, they’ve never been a Christian/true Jewish believer before.
One definition of return is to bring back to a normal or original state. Our (humanity’s) normal and original state was a strong relationship with God, no sin, and no death.
To live apart from God is not how we were designed to function. It is unnatural for us to have to deal with death and disease. It is unnatural for us to try to bring glory for ourselves. Just look at our condition.
People can spend their whole lives getting known, but those who are in the spotlight most spiral down the quickest, felling more empty than when they began. Why is it that the things we think will make us happy don’t, and often make it worse?
Serving Christ will fulfill you.
It seems absurd that someone or even this book could tell me how to rid myself of the gnawing emptiness.
But looking back, has it? I gave up my single greatest pursuit in faith that God could heal me. I gave up writing, the one thing I thought could make me truly happy, but now I feel the furthest from empty I’ve ever been.
Trying to fill up on the things of this world is like trying to fill a car up with water instead of gas. It gets full of something, and maybe even the gas gauge reads full, but when it comes to running off it, it just doesn’t go. Because water doesn’t have the explosive energy potential of gas. In the same way, filling up with worldly passions just doesn’t have the energy potential of godly ones. Illogical as it may sound.
I need to rely upon God’s judgment to know what is best for me and accept it.
“Let him return to the Lord.”
This verse to me, sounds like a call to the unsaved, why then does it say to “return”? Wouldn’t the proper wording be to “turn to the Lord? After all, they’ve never been a Christian/true Jewish believer before.
One definition of return is to bring back to a normal or original state. Our (humanity’s) normal and original state was a strong relationship with God, no sin, and no death.
To live apart from God is not how we were designed to function. It is unnatural for us to have to deal with death and disease. It is unnatural for us to try to bring glory for ourselves. Just look at our condition.
People can spend their whole lives getting known, but those who are in the spotlight most spiral down the quickest, felling more empty than when they began. Why is it that the things we think will make us happy don’t, and often make it worse?
Serving Christ will fulfill you.
It seems absurd that someone or even this book could tell me how to rid myself of the gnawing emptiness.
But looking back, has it? I gave up my single greatest pursuit in faith that God could heal me. I gave up writing, the one thing I thought could make me truly happy, but now I feel the furthest from empty I’ve ever been.
Trying to fill up on the things of this world is like trying to fill a car up with water instead of gas. It gets full of something, and maybe even the gas gauge reads full, but when it comes to running off it, it just doesn’t go. Because water doesn’t have the explosive energy potential of gas. In the same way, filling up with worldly passions just doesn’t have the energy potential of godly ones. Illogical as it may sound.
I need to rely upon God’s judgment to know what is best for me and accept it.
Delayed Obedience
Isaiah 55:6
“Seek the Lord while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near.”
Verses 1-5 of this chapter are a call to all who are lost. God speaks of the futility of working for bread that “does not satisfy” when we could instead “eat what is good.”
He also assures us that He will fulfill His promises to us, as he did for king David.
Verse six reaffirms this and tells us to chase after God while we can still find Him, and while He still makes the effort to be heard.
My fist thoughts go to Joshua 11:20 and what Pastor Levi taught last Sunday (click here to watch--click on message 14, No stone Unturned). God is longsuffering and not willing that any should perish, but eventually time runs out for us and we will be judged accordingly.
It is comforting that God waited 450 years for the sinful cities that inhabited the promise land before passing judgment and even forced evangelism on cities liked Nineveh (see the book of Jonah) so that they might be save. He truly is longsuffering and merciful, but eventually everyone will be judged.
The message Pastor Levi gave still aches my heart: That people can say no to God so much for so long that their hearts can be hardened against Him beyond repair.
I need to be more diligent in my prayers for my non-believing relatives and friends.
However, I feel I’d be shortchanging this verse if I said it was only for non-believers. It strikes a cord with me to be obedient more quickly. There is a saying here at the ranch, “Delayed obedience is disobedience.” If I say “Maybe--I’ll get back to you on that,” when I feel He wants me to do something, eventually He’ll just stop asking. I need to say yes to His commands before I let the worries of this life flood out His call.
~~~~~
See also:
Numbers 14--In that chapter Moses and the Israelites made it to the doorstep of the promised land and they sent twelve spies in, they all came back, ten of them had great fear of the people in the land, but two of them knew that God was greater than any enemy before them. The Israelites were so terrified they wanted to run back to Egypt, where they were enslaved, rather than trust God. The two warned them and pleaded them but the Israelites were ready to kill them when God intervened. God told them that what they had feared in their disobedience would become their punishment, they would die in the desert. After they heard this, against the warnings of Moses, the people tried to take the land. God was not with them and they lost that battle.
They set against God's will, and decided to disobey. However when they saw the alternative they tried to obey after. However the time of obedience had already passed.
“Seek the Lord while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near.”
Verses 1-5 of this chapter are a call to all who are lost. God speaks of the futility of working for bread that “does not satisfy” when we could instead “eat what is good.”
He also assures us that He will fulfill His promises to us, as he did for king David.
Verse six reaffirms this and tells us to chase after God while we can still find Him, and while He still makes the effort to be heard.
My fist thoughts go to Joshua 11:20 and what Pastor Levi taught last Sunday (click here to watch--click on message 14, No stone Unturned). God is longsuffering and not willing that any should perish, but eventually time runs out for us and we will be judged accordingly.
It is comforting that God waited 450 years for the sinful cities that inhabited the promise land before passing judgment and even forced evangelism on cities liked Nineveh (see the book of Jonah) so that they might be save. He truly is longsuffering and merciful, but eventually everyone will be judged.
The message Pastor Levi gave still aches my heart: That people can say no to God so much for so long that their hearts can be hardened against Him beyond repair.
I need to be more diligent in my prayers for my non-believing relatives and friends.
However, I feel I’d be shortchanging this verse if I said it was only for non-believers. It strikes a cord with me to be obedient more quickly. There is a saying here at the ranch, “Delayed obedience is disobedience.” If I say “Maybe--I’ll get back to you on that,” when I feel He wants me to do something, eventually He’ll just stop asking. I need to say yes to His commands before I let the worries of this life flood out His call.
~~~~~
See also:
Numbers 14--In that chapter Moses and the Israelites made it to the doorstep of the promised land and they sent twelve spies in, they all came back, ten of them had great fear of the people in the land, but two of them knew that God was greater than any enemy before them. The Israelites were so terrified they wanted to run back to Egypt, where they were enslaved, rather than trust God. The two warned them and pleaded them but the Israelites were ready to kill them when God intervened. God told them that what they had feared in their disobedience would become their punishment, they would die in the desert. After they heard this, against the warnings of Moses, the people tried to take the land. God was not with them and they lost that battle.
They set against God's will, and decided to disobey. However when they saw the alternative they tried to obey after. However the time of obedience had already passed.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Obedience with no thought of Reward.
Luke 17:10
“So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.” NKJV
Unprofitable: producing no gain, good, or result.
What is an unprofitable servant?
A servant who, despite efforts, produces nothing good out of his labor. By stating that we are unprofitable slaves, we reaffirm that anything good we do in obedience to Christ is a good produced by Christ and not by us. Just as a company gets credit for the labors and innovations of its workers, so should we give all credit to God.
But what prompted Jesus to start speaking on servant hood and humility when He was speaking about forgiveness then the power of faith? Did He randomly pull this lesson out of the air?
Look back to verse six. Jesus tell them with a minuscule amount of faith they can command a tree to get up and jump off a cliff. One of the people in class pointed out that He was making a point: That it is not the size of their faith that matters, but the size of their God. God performs the miracles, our faith does not.
The wonderful thing about our God is that he desires to answer our prayers. But what happens to a man when he realizes he can do anything (with the help of God)?
Right after Jesus explains that God is a loving and gracious Master, He reminds us that we should be loving and gracious servants, aware and respectful of the role we are supposed to perform.
The illustration of the servant here brings to mind another truth. The servant works all day, comes inside, and works some more. “When will he get to rest and eat?” we ask. This is a question often answered by the Pastors here. “When you’re dead.”
When does a minister stop ministering (serving)?
Not until we meet Jesus in heaven. It is then Jesus will make us clean and allow us to eat and rest at His table. Until that time we are to present ourselves humbly doing all that is commanded without expectation of rest or reward in this life.
I know Jesus desires to give me good gifts because I am His child, but I should desire to serve Him not for thought of reward but for the sole purpose of a desire to please my God to the best of my ability.
Application:
When I have done all the things which I am commanded, I will say “I am an unprofitable servant. I have done what is my duty to do.”
Sound familiar? Good because that’s the verse.
In other words I will give all glory to God for any good works He does through me and understand that it is my duty to do so.
“So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.” NKJV
Unprofitable: producing no gain, good, or result.
What is an unprofitable servant?
A servant who, despite efforts, produces nothing good out of his labor. By stating that we are unprofitable slaves, we reaffirm that anything good we do in obedience to Christ is a good produced by Christ and not by us. Just as a company gets credit for the labors and innovations of its workers, so should we give all credit to God.
But what prompted Jesus to start speaking on servant hood and humility when He was speaking about forgiveness then the power of faith? Did He randomly pull this lesson out of the air?
Look back to verse six. Jesus tell them with a minuscule amount of faith they can command a tree to get up and jump off a cliff. One of the people in class pointed out that He was making a point: That it is not the size of their faith that matters, but the size of their God. God performs the miracles, our faith does not.
The wonderful thing about our God is that he desires to answer our prayers. But what happens to a man when he realizes he can do anything (with the help of God)?
Right after Jesus explains that God is a loving and gracious Master, He reminds us that we should be loving and gracious servants, aware and respectful of the role we are supposed to perform.
The illustration of the servant here brings to mind another truth. The servant works all day, comes inside, and works some more. “When will he get to rest and eat?” we ask. This is a question often answered by the Pastors here. “When you’re dead.”
When does a minister stop ministering (serving)?
Not until we meet Jesus in heaven. It is then Jesus will make us clean and allow us to eat and rest at His table. Until that time we are to present ourselves humbly doing all that is commanded without expectation of rest or reward in this life.
I know Jesus desires to give me good gifts because I am His child, but I should desire to serve Him not for thought of reward but for the sole purpose of a desire to please my God to the best of my ability.
Application:
When I have done all the things which I am commanded, I will say “I am an unprofitable servant. I have done what is my duty to do.”
Sound familiar? Good because that’s the verse.
In other words I will give all glory to God for any good works He does through me and understand that it is my duty to do so.
Lord, Lord
Luke 17:9
“Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not.”
We might think, why wouldn’t the servant at least be thanked for his hard work?
A servant works with no expectation of reward. He knows what his master wants and does his best to obey in a way that is pleasing. He does this with no thought of rewards aside from a master who is pleased with his work.
I want to be a servant like that to my Lord and Master.
Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
How many times do I call my Savior “Lord” and yet disobey His will, or worse yet, demand things from him. I don’t even comprehend the implications of the name “Lord” because we have no understanding of it in our culture other than another name of God or Jesus.
I truth, I probably would not comprehend His authority even if I called Him by a different and more respectful name such as Master.
Growing up in martial arts, I’ve even called several instructors master. Furthermore, in the traditional schools, we go so far as to use the honorific “Sir” in every sentence.
At first it’s weird. Then slowly it becomes respectful, but if you do it long enough it eventually is worn down to habit. The initial respect and realization that every time you address this person in the dojang you are submitting to his authority is forgotten, or at the very least pushed to the back of your mind.
In the same way, when I address God, even as God the creator of all, the titles become nothing more than that. I call Him Lord and Master, but do I submit to His authority? Do I respect him and the one who holds my life in His hands? Do I come to Him in the reverence as one who saved me not only in this life but in the next as well?
I need to come to the realization of who God is and His greatness. It truly is unfathomable, the mercy He has towards us.
Today I am going to count and write down the things which He has created and the “coincidences” He has divinely inspired in my life.
“Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not.”
We might think, why wouldn’t the servant at least be thanked for his hard work?
A servant works with no expectation of reward. He knows what his master wants and does his best to obey in a way that is pleasing. He does this with no thought of rewards aside from a master who is pleased with his work.
I want to be a servant like that to my Lord and Master.
Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
How many times do I call my Savior “Lord” and yet disobey His will, or worse yet, demand things from him. I don’t even comprehend the implications of the name “Lord” because we have no understanding of it in our culture other than another name of God or Jesus.
I truth, I probably would not comprehend His authority even if I called Him by a different and more respectful name such as Master.
Growing up in martial arts, I’ve even called several instructors master. Furthermore, in the traditional schools, we go so far as to use the honorific “Sir” in every sentence.
At first it’s weird. Then slowly it becomes respectful, but if you do it long enough it eventually is worn down to habit. The initial respect and realization that every time you address this person in the dojang you are submitting to his authority is forgotten, or at the very least pushed to the back of your mind.
In the same way, when I address God, even as God the creator of all, the titles become nothing more than that. I call Him Lord and Master, but do I submit to His authority? Do I respect him and the one who holds my life in His hands? Do I come to Him in the reverence as one who saved me not only in this life but in the next as well?
I need to come to the realization of who God is and His greatness. It truly is unfathomable, the mercy He has towards us.
Today I am going to count and write down the things which He has created and the “coincidences” He has divinely inspired in my life.
Mercy
Luke 17:8
“But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’?”
In my stories I often wrote about slavery and corrupt social classes. A slave master in those stories would only be considered cruel for punishing a slave unjustly and even that was almost a social norm. Slaves were treated as slaves.
The scenario described here could have easily been the response of a good Christian master. The master would know his place and would expect obedience. A good slave who respects his master would just assume as he finished in the field that he would then need to serve his master dinner. It’s our equality culture that makes this sound horrible, not the scene itself. The master wouldn’t even have to command this because it would be normal for that culture.
Now, I’m not saying our view of equality is wrong, because all men were created equal. But if you take your mind to a place where slaves really are lesser beings than their masters, then this makes sense.
The slave understands that he is a lesser being and thanks his master simply for being just and not punishing him unfairly and for giving him food to eat at all.
This relationship is unfair for human to human situations but we are lesser beings compared to God.
How merciful that God is to love us as children and to desire to bless us despite repeated disobedience. If, in one of my stories, the slave was as disobedient to his master as I am to my God, the slave would not survive the beatings he would be given.
I am amazed at His goodness when I see things in perspective. I am amazed simply by the fact that the was able to redeem the time I spent writing on this subject, so that now I can clearly understand this scenario.
God can truly redeem all mistakes in my life. He is the perfect craftsmen. He works the air pockets out of the clay without ruining the piece. He sees the broken polygons and knows already how to lay the rest out in perfect alignment yet with beauty so all will blend and not be broken. He can take an abstract thought and arrange then words the words with perfect connotation in a way that not only flows but conjures an image in the mind as well (something I seem to be struggling with just now).
A more talented artist, the world will never know.
I like to call myself an artist, but by the grace of God, I’ve never been good enough at any art form to call myself that realistically.
Now when I watch the clay in my hands stumble and fall to utter ruin, I need to remember the hands which mold me. When I start to fall, He will support me even as I failed to support that clay.
“But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’?”
In my stories I often wrote about slavery and corrupt social classes. A slave master in those stories would only be considered cruel for punishing a slave unjustly and even that was almost a social norm. Slaves were treated as slaves.
The scenario described here could have easily been the response of a good Christian master. The master would know his place and would expect obedience. A good slave who respects his master would just assume as he finished in the field that he would then need to serve his master dinner. It’s our equality culture that makes this sound horrible, not the scene itself. The master wouldn’t even have to command this because it would be normal for that culture.
Now, I’m not saying our view of equality is wrong, because all men were created equal. But if you take your mind to a place where slaves really are lesser beings than their masters, then this makes sense.
The slave understands that he is a lesser being and thanks his master simply for being just and not punishing him unfairly and for giving him food to eat at all.
This relationship is unfair for human to human situations but we are lesser beings compared to God.
How merciful that God is to love us as children and to desire to bless us despite repeated disobedience. If, in one of my stories, the slave was as disobedient to his master as I am to my God, the slave would not survive the beatings he would be given.
I am amazed at His goodness when I see things in perspective. I am amazed simply by the fact that the was able to redeem the time I spent writing on this subject, so that now I can clearly understand this scenario.
God can truly redeem all mistakes in my life. He is the perfect craftsmen. He works the air pockets out of the clay without ruining the piece. He sees the broken polygons and knows already how to lay the rest out in perfect alignment yet with beauty so all will blend and not be broken. He can take an abstract thought and arrange then words the words with perfect connotation in a way that not only flows but conjures an image in the mind as well (something I seem to be struggling with just now).
A more talented artist, the world will never know.
I like to call myself an artist, but by the grace of God, I’ve never been good enough at any art form to call myself that realistically.
Now when I watch the clay in my hands stumble and fall to utter ruin, I need to remember the hands which mold me. When I start to fall, He will support me even as I failed to support that clay.
Equality
Luke 17:7
“And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he comes in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat?’”
For a master to say this would be truly absurd. We may react indignantly to this as Americans because we have no slaves and an ambiguous social class structure. We would come in from the field and expect the verse “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” to apply. We believe in equality and we expect it. If we came in from a long hard day of work, we would expect to be treated with gratitude and respect.
Ironically, “Come at once and sit down and eat,” sounds a lot like what my mom tells my dad sometimes when she times things just right and traffic doesn’t throw the whole thing off. It has become a sort of tradition of my dad’s to walk in the front door and say in a gruff voice, “I’m hungry!”
Though we pride ourselves here on equality, there is no equality with God. Trying to be equal with God is not only an impossible task, but it doesn’t end well. King Herod, for instance, was smitten for allowing people to praise him as a god. The tower of Babel builders tried to reach heaven in their own way, trying in their own strength to become on equal terms with God. The consequences of which we still suffer to this day.
If I am to pride myself on being His servant then I need to remember who and what He is. He is not just my Master, He is my God.
“And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he comes in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat?’”
For a master to say this would be truly absurd. We may react indignantly to this as Americans because we have no slaves and an ambiguous social class structure. We would come in from the field and expect the verse “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” to apply. We believe in equality and we expect it. If we came in from a long hard day of work, we would expect to be treated with gratitude and respect.
Ironically, “Come at once and sit down and eat,” sounds a lot like what my mom tells my dad sometimes when she times things just right and traffic doesn’t throw the whole thing off. It has become a sort of tradition of my dad’s to walk in the front door and say in a gruff voice, “I’m hungry!”
Though we pride ourselves here on equality, there is no equality with God. Trying to be equal with God is not only an impossible task, but it doesn’t end well. King Herod, for instance, was smitten for allowing people to praise him as a god. The tower of Babel builders tried to reach heaven in their own way, trying in their own strength to become on equal terms with God. The consequences of which we still suffer to this day.
If I am to pride myself on being His servant then I need to remember who and what He is. He is not just my Master, He is my God.
Faith
Luke 17:6
“So the Lord said, ‘If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, “be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,” and it will obey you.’”
How many times does Jesus tell us that what we ask for in His name will be given to us? But how many times do I claim to know this as fact--to know that God is powerful and can do all things and desires to bless us--but then never believe enough to ask practically. It’s not that I secretly think God can’t do it, it’s that I think He won’t do it for me. I’m afraid of being disappointed so I don’t ask.
I need to remember that God loves me and wishes to bless me. I need to pray with confidence that God will answer.
“So the Lord said, ‘If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, “be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,” and it will obey you.’”
How many times does Jesus tell us that what we ask for in His name will be given to us? But how many times do I claim to know this as fact--to know that God is powerful and can do all things and desires to bless us--but then never believe enough to ask practically. It’s not that I secretly think God can’t do it, it’s that I think He won’t do it for me. I’m afraid of being disappointed so I don’t ask.
I need to remember that God loves me and wishes to bless me. I need to pray with confidence that God will answer.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Justified Anger
Ephesians 4:31
“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away form you, with all malice.” NKJV
This verse is very similar to verse 22 which speaks of putting off the ungodly man we were before. Only this verse defines that ungodly life. It drills down on all forms of anger, from an angry heart, to angry words or angry actions. Verses 26 and 29 also speak on anger.
Why does Paul talk of anger so often in this text? Is anger really that important of a subject?
Verse 27, right after speaking of wrath, implies that sustained anger gives the devil a foothold in your heart.
Verse 30 implies that using words to hurt our brothers causes the Spirit to suffer.
So not only does anger give the devil power over people, but it hurts a relationship with God.
What are the things that make me angry?
Gossip, misuse of scripture, and injustice. No doubt these things also make God angry. But there is a difference.
First, God is perfect. When we cause injustice, lead people astray, or gossip, we are sinning first and foremost to God. God is completely justified in His anger.
What about when people sin against us? Aren’t we justified in our anger? Consider first the sins we have committed against God. Has he forgiven us? Does the sin committed against us even compare to what we have done against Him? It doesn’t.
Application: Never try to justify my anger. Never hold on to anger.
“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away form you, with all malice.” NKJV
This verse is very similar to verse 22 which speaks of putting off the ungodly man we were before. Only this verse defines that ungodly life. It drills down on all forms of anger, from an angry heart, to angry words or angry actions. Verses 26 and 29 also speak on anger.
Why does Paul talk of anger so often in this text? Is anger really that important of a subject?
Verse 27, right after speaking of wrath, implies that sustained anger gives the devil a foothold in your heart.
Verse 30 implies that using words to hurt our brothers causes the Spirit to suffer.
So not only does anger give the devil power over people, but it hurts a relationship with God.
What are the things that make me angry?
Gossip, misuse of scripture, and injustice. No doubt these things also make God angry. But there is a difference.
First, God is perfect. When we cause injustice, lead people astray, or gossip, we are sinning first and foremost to God. God is completely justified in His anger.
What about when people sin against us? Aren’t we justified in our anger? Consider first the sins we have committed against God. Has he forgiven us? Does the sin committed against us even compare to what we have done against Him? It doesn’t.
Application: Never try to justify my anger. Never hold on to anger.
God's Love Everlasting
Ephesians 4:30
“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” NKJV
Grieve: to cause to suffer
How great is God’s love for us that our disobedience causes His eternal heart to ache. Truly He is a loving Master to care so much about the actions of His selfish and lowly servant.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son and whomsoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” I’ve heard this verse so many times it is stale to my heart. Christ died to save a broken world. But do I realize that every time I am disobedient and stubborn I am still causing Him to suffer?
How dare I pity myself when the people of this world grieve me, when God has felt that hurt and anger since the dawn of time!
The Spirit has written our names in the book of life. How can we feel anything but an overwhelming gratitude and a will to spend a life working to repay in whatever small ways we can?
Application:
When I want to complain, even in my mind, I need to remember all the Lord, my King, has done for me. These things that plague me are nothing in comparison. Nothing.
“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” NKJV
Grieve: to cause to suffer
How great is God’s love for us that our disobedience causes His eternal heart to ache. Truly He is a loving Master to care so much about the actions of His selfish and lowly servant.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son and whomsoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” I’ve heard this verse so many times it is stale to my heart. Christ died to save a broken world. But do I realize that every time I am disobedient and stubborn I am still causing Him to suffer?
How dare I pity myself when the people of this world grieve me, when God has felt that hurt and anger since the dawn of time!
The Spirit has written our names in the book of life. How can we feel anything but an overwhelming gratitude and a will to spend a life working to repay in whatever small ways we can?
Application:
When I want to complain, even in my mind, I need to remember all the Lord, my King, has done for me. These things that plague me are nothing in comparison. Nothing.
Words and His Word.
Ephesians 4:29
“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” NKJV
Edify: to instruct and improve especially in moral and religious knowledge.
Corrupt words:
Curse words have never really been a huge problem for me. Though I did have to erase two words from my vocabulary upon my arrival here (damn and hell) I haven’t really struggled with it since the initial rebuke.
However, since I still feel the call to go into the military in my heart, this verse will become very relevant. Everyone knows it is almost impossible to go through boot camp and not come out with a foul mouth. Because of this, I’ve already started compiling a list of verses I will read every day, God willing, in boot camp. This verse and its parallels will definitely be on that list.
Necessary edification:
The verse not only states that our words should edify (that is, to instruct) but that it is necessary to do so. Building each other up in knowledge and morality is essential. “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17
That it may impart Grace:
Our Lord is a God of mercy and love. Nothing we say should imply otherwise. The worse things I ever hear--more painful to listen to than any over abundance of foul language--is the Word of God quoted in a context that tears a person down and condemns.
“Zechariah 8 says God hates lying. Therefore God hates you because you are a liar,” or “because you are homosexual,” or “fat.”
How my heart burns when I hear words such as these. These are the devices of the evil one: to use scripture to wound and isolate and to lead astray.
We saw him use Scripture to try to mislead Jesus, and this is not a new trick. He used God’s word in the garden of Eden to lead Eve astray, “Did God really say…?”
This has been his device since the beginning and we should be sure never to let is pass though our own lips.
Remember also Ephesians 4:27. By speaking what is corrupt, what is hurtful, and what is misleading we are allowing the devil to stick his foot in the door and claim his territory on the battlefield of our hearts. Do all you can to defend your heart for once the land is lost, the battle to regain it will last though the night.
Application:
*Keep all words spoken clean and pleasing to God.
*Edify.
*Show love and grace alone, as He has shown me.
*Do not condemn others with the Word of my Savior.
*Avoid the devices of the Evil One.
“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” NKJV
Edify: to instruct and improve especially in moral and religious knowledge.
Corrupt words:
Curse words have never really been a huge problem for me. Though I did have to erase two words from my vocabulary upon my arrival here (damn and hell) I haven’t really struggled with it since the initial rebuke.
However, since I still feel the call to go into the military in my heart, this verse will become very relevant. Everyone knows it is almost impossible to go through boot camp and not come out with a foul mouth. Because of this, I’ve already started compiling a list of verses I will read every day, God willing, in boot camp. This verse and its parallels will definitely be on that list.
Necessary edification:
The verse not only states that our words should edify (that is, to instruct) but that it is necessary to do so. Building each other up in knowledge and morality is essential. “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17
That it may impart Grace:
Our Lord is a God of mercy and love. Nothing we say should imply otherwise. The worse things I ever hear--more painful to listen to than any over abundance of foul language--is the Word of God quoted in a context that tears a person down and condemns.
“Zechariah 8 says God hates lying. Therefore God hates you because you are a liar,” or “because you are homosexual,” or “fat.”
How my heart burns when I hear words such as these. These are the devices of the evil one: to use scripture to wound and isolate and to lead astray.
We saw him use Scripture to try to mislead Jesus, and this is not a new trick. He used God’s word in the garden of Eden to lead Eve astray, “Did God really say…?”
This has been his device since the beginning and we should be sure never to let is pass though our own lips.
Remember also Ephesians 4:27. By speaking what is corrupt, what is hurtful, and what is misleading we are allowing the devil to stick his foot in the door and claim his territory on the battlefield of our hearts. Do all you can to defend your heart for once the land is lost, the battle to regain it will last though the night.
Application:
*Keep all words spoken clean and pleasing to God.
*Edify.
*Show love and grace alone, as He has shown me.
*Do not condemn others with the Word of my Savior.
*Avoid the devices of the Evil One.
Selfishness to Selflessness
Ephesians 4:28
“Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.” NKJV
Blessed Redeemer. No one apart from God could take a thief and make a saint. But as we saw in the earlier passages we must take hold of the new life.
God will not force a thief to give up his trade to learn a new for the benefit of the poor. The thief, having met God, must choose to put away his past to follow the will of his Savior.
I must remember that although I have been redeemed by God, I must take hold of that gift of redemption and the life that comes with it.
“Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.” NKJV
Blessed Redeemer. No one apart from God could take a thief and make a saint. But as we saw in the earlier passages we must take hold of the new life.
God will not force a thief to give up his trade to learn a new for the benefit of the poor. The thief, having met God, must choose to put away his past to follow the will of his Savior.
I must remember that although I have been redeemed by God, I must take hold of that gift of redemption and the life that comes with it.
Redeeming the Irredeemable
Ephesians 4:27
“nor give place to the devil.” NKJV
“and do not give the devil a foothold.” NIV
In the last verse we are told to not let the sun go down on our wrath. Why? Because it gives a foothold to the devil in our hearts.
Anger, bitterness, and malice opens a door for Satan, and once he gets his foot in, it becomes a lot harder to close.
This applies to more areas than simple anger. For me the devil finds other footholds. For as long as I can remember I’ve had the words “No redeeming value,” stuck in my head.
Every time someone turns their back on me or says something that hurts me, even little insignificant things, those words echo in my head. Always those three little words.
It basically means that I’m not worthwhile, and can never be made so. It justifies their actions toward me by proving my own insignificance.
I don’t remember when I opened that door to him, but ever since then I’ve never been able to truly regain that ground which I lost. His foot is in the door and pushing on it however hard I might try won’t get it closed again.
“… He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4b
The Lord has not been gracious enough to take those thoughts from me, but since the events described in a previous blog post, every time I hear those words I look back and remember that momentous day in which God proved that statement wrong. Truly the Lord does work for my best, even when I do not understand why, because when I hear those words though they still hurt me on some level, I am again reminded of the spiritual war which we are in. And through acknowledging the devil’s devices, the Lord gains ground on the battlefield of my heart.
It is good to know God can make bad mistakes into good reminders. However the devil should never have been able to take that ground to begin with.
Brothers, guard your hearts from the evil that smells like happiness but tastes like death. Don’t buy into the lie. Don’t give him the pleasure.
Pray to God for the strength to win the moment, for the future and past are out of our reach. But this moment God has delivered into our hands and all we have to do is live it in obedience.
“nor give place to the devil.” NKJV
“and do not give the devil a foothold.” NIV
In the last verse we are told to not let the sun go down on our wrath. Why? Because it gives a foothold to the devil in our hearts.
Anger, bitterness, and malice opens a door for Satan, and once he gets his foot in, it becomes a lot harder to close.
This applies to more areas than simple anger. For me the devil finds other footholds. For as long as I can remember I’ve had the words “No redeeming value,” stuck in my head.
Every time someone turns their back on me or says something that hurts me, even little insignificant things, those words echo in my head. Always those three little words.
It basically means that I’m not worthwhile, and can never be made so. It justifies their actions toward me by proving my own insignificance.
I don’t remember when I opened that door to him, but ever since then I’ve never been able to truly regain that ground which I lost. His foot is in the door and pushing on it however hard I might try won’t get it closed again.
“… He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4b
The Lord has not been gracious enough to take those thoughts from me, but since the events described in a previous blog post, every time I hear those words I look back and remember that momentous day in which God proved that statement wrong. Truly the Lord does work for my best, even when I do not understand why, because when I hear those words though they still hurt me on some level, I am again reminded of the spiritual war which we are in. And through acknowledging the devil’s devices, the Lord gains ground on the battlefield of my heart.
It is good to know God can make bad mistakes into good reminders. However the devil should never have been able to take that ground to begin with.
Brothers, guard your hearts from the evil that smells like happiness but tastes like death. Don’t buy into the lie. Don’t give him the pleasure.
Pray to God for the strength to win the moment, for the future and past are out of our reach. But this moment God has delivered into our hands and all we have to do is live it in obedience.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Wrath
Ephesians 4:26
“’Be angry, and do not sin’: do not let the sun go down on your wrath.” NKJV
“’In your anger, do not sin’: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.” NIV
I like how the Psalmist assumes anger will come. The command here is doable. Though anger is inevitable, we should never let it travel from emotions to thoughts or plans, and from thoughts we should never let it reach actions for it says “do not sin.”
Sometimes I go straight from emotion to action. This is the hardest to overcome, and the best example of this is sinning with words. Either in the form of cursing or gossip or just saying something I regret greatly, the tongue causes all kinds of mischief and should be given particular attention when safeguarding my sinful nature.
Not only does it tell what will happen and what to avoid it also mentions a step to avoid that sin. To avoid plotting evil, never end a day angry but always check these emotions at the door before falling asleep. If you find that in you own strength it can’t be done, ask the Lord to change your heart on the matter. Every time I’ve prayed for such He has been faithful to answer quickly and effectively.
Application:
To recognize that my anger is not justified, though I often like to think it is. To never go to bed angry. To not sin when times of anger come.
~~~~
More to Ponder:
Matthew 18:21-35 http://kaylaharrington.blogspot.com/2011/08/forgiveness.html
Luke 6:37-38
“’Be angry, and do not sin’: do not let the sun go down on your wrath.” NKJV
“’In your anger, do not sin’: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.” NIV
I like how the Psalmist assumes anger will come. The command here is doable. Though anger is inevitable, we should never let it travel from emotions to thoughts or plans, and from thoughts we should never let it reach actions for it says “do not sin.”
Sometimes I go straight from emotion to action. This is the hardest to overcome, and the best example of this is sinning with words. Either in the form of cursing or gossip or just saying something I regret greatly, the tongue causes all kinds of mischief and should be given particular attention when safeguarding my sinful nature.
Not only does it tell what will happen and what to avoid it also mentions a step to avoid that sin. To avoid plotting evil, never end a day angry but always check these emotions at the door before falling asleep. If you find that in you own strength it can’t be done, ask the Lord to change your heart on the matter. Every time I’ve prayed for such He has been faithful to answer quickly and effectively.
Application:
To recognize that my anger is not justified, though I often like to think it is. To never go to bed angry. To not sin when times of anger come.
~~~~
More to Ponder:
Matthew 18:21-35 http://kaylaharrington.blogspot.com/2011/08/forgiveness.html
Luke 6:37-38
Lying
Ephesians 4:25
“Therefore, putting away lying, ‘Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,’ for we are members of one another.” NKJV
What is lying?
Above and beyond bearing false witness with the sole purpose of deception, lying is also creating false or misleading impressions. It is possible to lie by omission. It is possible to lie by redirection. And I can say for myself at least that this form of lying is a lot more common than bearing false witness.
Why can’t we lie? Some things are better left undisclosed until an appropriate time, right?
The verse tells us, also, the reason that we can’t. Because we (the church) are all part of one another. It is hard to create strong relationships in the midst of deception and secrets.
Being a guarded person, this is especially important for me to remember. But are little white lies and quiet omission really that important?
Look back at the verses Paul seems to be quoting from in Zechariah 8:14-17. Twice the prophet says these are words direct from the Lord Almighty. God tells us to speak truth to one another, judge fairly in courts, never plot evil, and never swear falsely. Then he says “I hate all of this.”
In God’s eyes lying is just as bad as swearing falsely and plotting evil.
My application is as simple as the verse--to not lie. And if I do end up lying, I need to make amends not only with God but the one whom I have deceived.
“Therefore, putting away lying, ‘Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,’ for we are members of one another.” NKJV
What is lying?
Above and beyond bearing false witness with the sole purpose of deception, lying is also creating false or misleading impressions. It is possible to lie by omission. It is possible to lie by redirection. And I can say for myself at least that this form of lying is a lot more common than bearing false witness.
Why can’t we lie? Some things are better left undisclosed until an appropriate time, right?
The verse tells us, also, the reason that we can’t. Because we (the church) are all part of one another. It is hard to create strong relationships in the midst of deception and secrets.
Being a guarded person, this is especially important for me to remember. But are little white lies and quiet omission really that important?
Look back at the verses Paul seems to be quoting from in Zechariah 8:14-17. Twice the prophet says these are words direct from the Lord Almighty. God tells us to speak truth to one another, judge fairly in courts, never plot evil, and never swear falsely. Then he says “I hate all of this.”
In God’s eyes lying is just as bad as swearing falsely and plotting evil.
My application is as simple as the verse--to not lie. And if I do end up lying, I need to make amends not only with God but the one whom I have deceived.
New Life
Ephesians 4:24
“and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” NKJV
If we are to embrace our new Christian life, we must be filled to the brim with the new life lest the old one return to the throne of our hearts.
This verse also mentions that God created our new spiritual bodies. Just as He has hand-crafted each one of our carnal bodies, He has also--with his infinite wisdom and grace--crafted the new lives and new spirits which He has allowed us to take hold of through the cross.
This gift of new life and spirit is the only way to attain true righteousness and holiness.
But what is righteousness? Certainly there have been good people without Jesus!
“There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.” Ecclesiastes 7:20
To be righteous is to be in accordance with moral law. Certainly non-believers have moral laws which they follow. Just look at pre-conversion Saul (popularly know as Paul). In his mind he was disposing of heretics and keeping the synagogues clean. He was righteous according to his own moral law. However, Ephesians 4:24 says true righteousness. Godly righteousness is the one we cannot attain without Christ, for it is the only true moral law without the corruption of sin.
I should never try to justify myself in the things of this world because there is only one moral law which is right and only one way to attain it--not by chasing after doing right, but chasing after Christ, and through my focus on Him I will do right.
“and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” NKJV
If we are to embrace our new Christian life, we must be filled to the brim with the new life lest the old one return to the throne of our hearts.
This verse also mentions that God created our new spiritual bodies. Just as He has hand-crafted each one of our carnal bodies, He has also--with his infinite wisdom and grace--crafted the new lives and new spirits which He has allowed us to take hold of through the cross.
This gift of new life and spirit is the only way to attain true righteousness and holiness.
But what is righteousness? Certainly there have been good people without Jesus!
“There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.” Ecclesiastes 7:20
To be righteous is to be in accordance with moral law. Certainly non-believers have moral laws which they follow. Just look at pre-conversion Saul (popularly know as Paul). In his mind he was disposing of heretics and keeping the synagogues clean. He was righteous according to his own moral law. However, Ephesians 4:24 says true righteousness. Godly righteousness is the one we cannot attain without Christ, for it is the only true moral law without the corruption of sin.
I should never try to justify myself in the things of this world because there is only one moral law which is right and only one way to attain it--not by chasing after doing right, but chasing after Christ, and through my focus on Him I will do right.
Renew
Ephesians 4:23
“and be renewed in the spirit of your mind.” NKJV
What is “the spirit of your mind?”
It ranges from your mood or attitude to the outlook you have on situations. So why is that important? Because your new Christian spirit is a lot different than a non-Christian old man one.
My old spirit or mindset was one that looked not at the world as something that was lost and in need of redemption, but as the corruptor of my soul and the enemy of my heart.
But a Christian spirit is one that sees the human race as God does. It sees a man for what he could be and not for what he was or is today. That spirit sees a world in need of redemption and guidance--a world in need of mercy and grace.
A Christian spirit is one that sees the world through God glasses and does not rely upon the eyes of the flesh for interpretation. For example, carnal eyes would see work as menial and frustrating, while the heart of God would be to rejoice in serving others.
Paul tells us to “be renewed” in this Christian worldview and attitude. “Be” implies a continuous action while “renewed” means that not only are we to have a new spirit, wee are to re-new that spirit continually. “To Renew” means to restore to freshness, vigor, or perfection.
Refresh our worldview, return to zeal, and delete impurities, that is what needs to happen in this continual renewal of our spirits. But how? How can I, a lowly and fleshly being take reign over my own soul?
Clicking my heels and chanting “There’s no place like home” every day certainly won’t cut it. No physical act, no matter how well-meaning could accomplish such a task when I’m so prone bouts of apathy and despair.
Galatians 5:16 “… walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”
So the key to keeping a godly spirit, I think is to keep God’s Spirit alive and active within me. Departing into sin for me is inevitable one way or another, but as soon as I do I need to repent and seek forgiveness so I may always be in that blessed fellowship with our Lord.
Old Men
Ephesians 4:22
“that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,” NKJV
“You were told, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires.” NIV
We all have had old past identities before we devoted ourselves to Christ. Like a fat unhealthy looking old man, following us about and dictating our thoughts, our desires, and our fears. The old man convinced us to do things that we now know probably weren’t that good for our health--spiritual or otherwise. He told us that in lying, bad situations would be made right. In stealing, our needs would be fulfilled. And, in entertainment, we would be made happy. He told us this, and on some level, all of us listened and believed.
Then came Christ who came with cleansing, and in Him the power of the old man over us was diminished and we could choose a new life. But in order to have that new life we had to sacrifice our old identity. Our old habits, activities, and lifestyle need to be brought to the alter and left there, though it is all too easy to steal them back.
I’ve mentioned often what my old man looked like in this blog. He was an isolated, selfish, distracted little man that had big dreams about publishing novels and making animations. He liked to divide his time between entertainment and selfish dreams.
Right now that man sleeps at the Lord’s alter, and I need to never wake him.
More and more often I feel the Lord telling me that he might never allow me to pick up my pen again--that I need to lay that identity down as a sacrifice and not as a fast. At the end of this year, when my fast is over, I will seek earnestly for the Lord’s heart in this matter. Until then, I will live as though I’ve already committed to giving it up for life.
“that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,” NKJV
“You were told, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires.” NIV
We all have had old past identities before we devoted ourselves to Christ. Like a fat unhealthy looking old man, following us about and dictating our thoughts, our desires, and our fears. The old man convinced us to do things that we now know probably weren’t that good for our health--spiritual or otherwise. He told us that in lying, bad situations would be made right. In stealing, our needs would be fulfilled. And, in entertainment, we would be made happy. He told us this, and on some level, all of us listened and believed.
Then came Christ who came with cleansing, and in Him the power of the old man over us was diminished and we could choose a new life. But in order to have that new life we had to sacrifice our old identity. Our old habits, activities, and lifestyle need to be brought to the alter and left there, though it is all too easy to steal them back.
I’ve mentioned often what my old man looked like in this blog. He was an isolated, selfish, distracted little man that had big dreams about publishing novels and making animations. He liked to divide his time between entertainment and selfish dreams.
Right now that man sleeps at the Lord’s alter, and I need to never wake him.
More and more often I feel the Lord telling me that he might never allow me to pick up my pen again--that I need to lay that identity down as a sacrifice and not as a fast. At the end of this year, when my fast is over, I will seek earnestly for the Lord’s heart in this matter. Until then, I will live as though I’ve already committed to giving it up for life.
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