Laced With Grace

“You have said terrible things about me,” says the Lord. “But you say, ‘What do you mean? What have we said against you?’  “You have said, ‘What’s the use of serving God? What have we gained by obeying his commands or by trying to show the Lord of Heaven’s Armies that we are sorry for our sins?  From now on we will call the arrogant blessed. For those who do evil get rich, and those who dare God to punish them suffer no harm.’”

Then those who feared the Lord spoke with each other, and the Lord listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and always thought about the honor of his name. “They will be my people,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “On the day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child. Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”  Malachi 3:13-18 NLT

I cannot tell you how many times I have heard the expression, “What’s in it for me?”  I have heard parents ask their children to do something and the child will barter with them before they do what they have been asked to do.

Sometimes I feel that our nation has become a selfish society.  Many have the attitude that unless it benefits them in some particular way they will not do ‘it’.

Unfortunately, this attitude has been brought into the church as well.  Serving and Worshipping God has become more about the worshipper and not the One whom we are to Worship.  Church attendance is not a priority in many Christian lives.  Parents wonder why their grown children no longer attend church.  Maybe those same parents need to think back to when their children were in their home.  Did they, as parents, show their children that God is the number one priority in their home as well in their life?  When a child’s ball game was scheduled at the same time as church did these parents choose worshipping God instead of going to the game?  I believe that if enough Christian parents stand up for what is right there will not be ball games on Sunday mornings.

As Christians we should not go to church or serve the Lord only when it is convenient or we don’t have anything better to do.  When we do we are saying, “What’s in it for me?”  We should worship and serve our Lord because He is worthy of all praise, glory and service.  For He is God!

God will remember those who have been faithful to Him; for those who are faithful will be called His very own special treasure.

So my questions for you today, “Why do you Worship God?”  Do you have the attitude as some, “What’s in it for me?” or “I Worship and serve my risen Savior because He is God and worthy of all honor and praise.”?

We’ve all been there and wondered how and why we ended up in this seemingly God forsaken place. And yet, that very place is where He Himself has sent us.  The desert.

It’s hard to understand the purpose of a desert sometimes; it’s hard to see it’s beauty. It appears dry, lifeless and forsaken. And yet, just like everything else He brings our way, it does have meaning and purpose; it’s not just a random act of meanness on His part or an ‘Oops! I forgot you!’ What He’s really saying is, “I’ve sent you into the desert because I want to test you. I’m trying to teach you something and I want to see if you’ve learned it.”

Not long ago I was in a desert place. I found myself meditating on Deuteronomy 8:1-3 & 16 (NASB).

1″All the commandments that I am commanding you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD swore to give to your forefathers.
2″You shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.
3″He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD.
16″In the wilderness He fed you manna which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do good for you in the end.

As I’ve searched this passage for a refreshing stream in the desert, He’s shared 6 truths about the desert with me.

1. Sometime we’re in the desert because He wants us to know what’s in our hearts. Who or what we are really comes out in the desert; what we really love, what really matters for us, what our real character is, (who) what we’re really trusting in.
2. He tests us to find out if we’re obedient. Will we be obedient when we can’t see the outcome, what lays ahead. When His ways don’t make sense, will we still be obedient?
3. Sometimes He wants to know, “Will you trust Me?” When you can’t see Him or the path you are on, when the circumstances are painful, when the night turns into months, maybe even years, will you trust Him?
4. Maybe He wants to humble us. Sometimes He creates circumstances that we think are someone else’s fault. God is the ultimate person behind our circumstances. He humbled us. In the desert, where we don’t have any crutches, no excuses, nothing to lean on, God strips us. He strips us of pride, self-sufficiency, co-dependence. We see ourselves for what we really are, and sometimes what comes out is pretty ugly. We’re humbled and realize, “Oh God! Apart from you I’m a total mess. I can’t keep my life together. I can’t respond right to this person or these people. I can’t handle this situation.” Our pride wants to keep us in a circumstance where we can manage everything, but God sends us into the desert, where we can’t manage or do it on our own. The worst comes out and we’re humbled by God.
5. Sometimes He wants to teach us that we need more than physical bread to sustain our life, we need spiritual bread that will sustain our soul and spirits. We all have an inner need that is even greater than the physical need. There are times we need to get taken to the desert to find that sustaining stream for our soul and spirit.
6. Lastly, He desires to strengthen our faith and make us dependent upon Him. (2 Corinthians 1:8,9)    Song of Solomon 8:3 says “Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved?”

What’s your posture while you’re in the desert and/or coming out of it?  Are you leaning on your Beloved Jesus?

“The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” Lamentations 3:19-24 (NLT)

For over 27 years I have been “challenged” with Chronic Illness.  As the years continue to pass with no end to my physical suffering in sight, at times I cry out to God as the Prophet Jeremiah did in Lamentations.

God knows all about our sufferings and trials in our lives.  There is nothing that happens to us without His knowledge.  Sometimes that in itself makes no sense to me.  Let’s face it, when something horrible happens we find ourselves questioning God –“Lord, why is this happening? What have I done to deserve……?”

I cannot tell you how many times I have questioned God; but just as Jeremiah lamented, I too will see a ray hope in all my trials when I am reminded that the faithful love and mercy of my precious Lord never ceases!

Dear Lord, how glorious to know that Your faithfulness and mercy begin afresh each day!  For You are my priceless inheritance because I have put my faith and trust in You, my Lord and my Savior.  Even though at times my pain seems to be too great to bear, I will lay all my cares upon You because I have set my hope is in You.  In Jesus, precious name, amen.   

YOU WANNA DANCE?