Resignation with a wink

Luke 20:24-25 “Show me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar’s.” He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

Jesus had been asked a trick question, and one very loaded with national and cultural baggage. Should the people pay Roman taxes? It was a sore point because taxes were high and the collectors were notorious for adding their own fees on top, such that the people hated the Romans and the traitor collectors. So, acquiescence to paying taxes would be treasonous and politically treacherous.

But Jesus had an answer equally astute to the query meant to trap him. He asked about the national origin of the coins they were using. Of course, they were Roman. So, yeah, the Romans will levy taxes and you should pay them. But the people knew there were also Syrian and Jewish coinage in use. So his answer had a way of marginalizing Rome. It was resignation with a wink.

Roman taxes were unjust and cruel. Jesus knew that. But he also knew that rebellion against Rome was no way to be rid of the occupiers. We know he desired salvation for them. There is, then, a deeper and longer lasting desire in God’s heart even for those who profit from his people’s suffering. Jesus would go on to die on a Roman cross, with attending soldiers proclaiming his deity.

The divisive and conspiratorial accusations of tribal groups can and do inflame. Indeed, should we pay taxes? Should we support the group of people in power or fight them first with our words then our deeds, even unto armed rebellion? It’s hard to be dogmatic, for Thomas Jefferson’s suggestion for the motto for the United States Seal (not adopted) does hold scriptural weight – “Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God”.

But Jesus points to the things that people do have – their our own identity, currency and culture – in the din of tribal wranglings. What do I think it means to love our enemies? I might be quick to point out that I was never called to be a doormat, yet those words are lies, for I do serve a doormat Savior. This doesn’t negate oppression, injustice and suffering. It redeems it and spreads the Good News of Jesus as a counter-cultural undercurrent. There is no culture on earth like the kind that Jesus lives and spreads.

As enabled and prompted by the Holy Spirit, I will pointedly love my enemies and pray for those who persecute me. Grant me that strength O God.

One act of righteousness

Romans 3:18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.

It was only one piece of fruit.  One time.  “How bad could that be?” asks all of humanity.  Well, it was an act of rebellion that led to the condemnation of all men.  If I would deny God a central attribute of holiness, I would certainly insist on the primacy of my own ethics, rules and perspectives.  If God does not conform to my compromises and indulge my pleasurable tastes, however they progress and escalate, then I want nothing to do with that God.  For it is not only one piece of fruit.  It is an endless orgy of fruit, and one that I delight in discovering, uncovering and feasting on, my mouth dripping with juice.

Why does this condemn?  Isn’t fruit good?  If I entertain there is a Creator, wasn’t it then created for my enjoyment?  What kind of spoil-sport God would show me a tree and its fruit then deny its consumption?

The kind of God whose limits and boundaries are for my good, not my harm.  The kind of God who desires my trust through obedience.

It is a chief fault of mine if I fail to see the reason in this verse.  I made choices.  They were NOT good, no matter how I revel in them and point to other factors in making them.  And Holy God does not endorse rebellion or rebels like me.  I have separated myself deliberately, even exuberantly.  God finds me hiding behind a tree in the garden and I decide to miss out on the most pleasurable walk in the company of One so intimate and loving.  I leave behind the most precious time I have ever known and could ever know, in the cool of the day with God.  Oh, what I’ve traded for my indulgence!

It was only one man, perhaps erroneously killed by oppressive authorities who were jealous of his persuasion over the people.  That injustice was scarcely unique, and is not unique to this day.  Yet the dying man had said prior that his death was voluntary, that there is no greater love than someone who dies for his friends.  He called himself the Good Shepherd and his sheep were people.  He taught denial and lived it and died it.  His proposition was that in giving up his life he was purchasing mine.  And even in that, granting me the volition to say yes or no to him.

That “one act of righteousness” speaks through time.  Hallelujah!  God did not leave me this way.  Blood drips from the veins of the crucified One, not any man but the dying Messiah.  The pleasure fruit and its effects die with him, along with the shame that I bore and curse I swore.

My rebellion is justified, paid for and I am reconciled to take that walk through the garden in the cool of the day again.  My obedience doesn’t come at once, salvation is progressive and my depravity deep and pervasive.  Yet his cleansing deeper still.

My life is his; there is no one else.

The peace of belonging

Scripture:

Romans 14:7-8 For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

Observation:

In the set of beliefs held by some of those in the early Roman church, there was a shunning of certain foods. It wasn’t held by all, which was a problem. Those who did not hold the dietary conviction ignored it, to the offense of their brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul addressed the conflict in chapter 14, advancing the law of love over the law of food. Believers should never consciously do anything that hurts the faith of another. The community is what counts, and that is what the 2 verses above proclaim. Believers are not isolated – they are part of a body of people – the Body of Christ. Anyone who acts independently of the body of Christ breaches this bond. Furthermore, believers belong to Christ, for whom and in whom they both live and die. (The dying here is not necessarily physical but spiritual – dying to selfish ambitions, for instance). So, by belonging to Jesus by faith, the church belongs to each other. This directly opposes the staunchly independent individual, even if that person is in Christ by faith. There are no Lone Ranger Christians. This is not to say that believers do not have private lives – they do and must – but when they regularly gather together, there is a relational bond of love that comes from the Lord, who loved so much He died for each one. That .. is church.

Application:

So where do I stand? Am I one who positions myself off to the side, commenting on this one, judging that one and refusing to even talk to that other one? That cannot be. I need to allow God to break down the walls in my heart if that is my practice. And take direct steps to both know and love my fellow believers. In the Church, I will meet (indeed, have already met) a person I do not like. And I will meet the person who does not like me. But those sentiments are born of the flesh and learned over the course of life. The Lord can and will show me how to love – even enable me. And it won’t be the love of the hypocrite – with all smiles outside and knives within. Disagreements were what Paul wrote Romans 14 about; they happen. Persistently, repeatedly. He was in the vantage place of observation, not embroiled in controversy. From there he could help people see what they were doing. Whether or not I am one in conflict, I too can achieve the perspective of observer and break down what is going on. This is the work of a peacemaker, God’s referees in this world. The secular world is also a place where I can practice this peace as well, not expecting those without faith to think and act like those who do. Finally, I cannot produce love in another but I surely can allow the Lord to produce love in me. Whether I live or die, I belong to the Lord.

Prayer:

Father, I cannot love the way I need to. I need Your help, Your perspective, Your new life in my heart to awaken me to my cold heart and to warm it again. Grant that I could embrace even those with whom I disagree. To You be the glory forever. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Thinking highly of yourself

Scripture:

Romans 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

Observation:

The self-concept or self-assessment of individuals governs the very core of how we process life with other people and is a strong part of decision-making in interpersonal relationships. Paul followed the definitive verses on personal sacrifice – Romans 12:1-2 – with this admonition. The first word – “For” – links the two passages. Paul hits the most common extreme concerning what people think of themselves – conceit. Thinking of themselves “more highly” then they “ought” strikes at the pride of humankind. If someone puts him/herself higher than others, then only in superior condescension will there be contact, let alone ministry. Now the word “ought” brings propriety into the discussion. But what is “proper” is not measured by the things this world would use to establish its castes. “Sober judgment” throws down wealth, intelligence and all things bringing worldly prestige. Those things don’t matter before God. There is only grace expressed through one’s life that brings glory. So, the way up is down, through humility. But lest there be a depressing resignation to submission to the proud domination of another, the self-judgment of the believer is according to faith, which sees all in dynamic progression towards final judgment and glory. Pride has no place, only joyous hope. And warmest love.

Application:

There are all kinds of evaluations, measurements, achievements and possessions by which this world proffers up its crowns. These are not without merit; God loves excellence. But if I have forgiven my enemy, I am a greater person than the millionaire I could be (and I could). If I have loved the unlovable, I am a greater person than the greatest architect or composer or artist I could be. And to boot, comparison with others is completely beside the point. I cannot, CANNOT measure myself by the life of anyone but me. I know the depths of self-derision; it’s idolatry and pride because God says I am His child, not the junk my despair would posit, saying my opinion of myself is greater than that of the Almighty (although when I am in despair mine is a distinctly dark opinion). People kill themselves over that outlook; let me fight it in others as well. I also know the haughtiness of self-adulation, with lots of witnesses to worship me with me. There is nothing like an adoring, applauding audience. But if I am not serving others then I am only living to please myself. It’s not that there aren’t moments of ordained reward even in this life and the joy in that is to be felt to its height. But let me never so adore myself that I forget the Servant who died for me – seeing me wallow in my selfishness. Let me learn well – and teach well – what most exalts me. And that is the joy of seeing others restored, one blessing at a time, till the Kingdom of God shines permanently through darkness. There is no greater feeling, no possession or achievement that comes close.

Prayer:

Father, teach me once again the way Your Kingdom comes. And teach me how to be great for You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Stumbling on the stone

Scripture:

Romans 9:31-33 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the “stumbling stone.” As it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”

Observation:

The “Why not?” is asked to explain the reason for believing Gentiles were receiving salvation through faith in Christ while Paul’s countrymen, Israel, did not. And the answer – which reiterates a central tenet of the letter to the Roman – is that salvation is through faith and works have no power to save. Then Paul combines two portions of Isaiah (8:14 and 28:16) to show the problem that those who have lived to justify themselves have with the doctrine of salvation through faith. It’s a stumbling stone, a humbling interruption to a steady walk. Falling over that stone is not an option only for the particularly proud – ALL who trust in their works are thus proud and so need to fall. And pride is what keeps people clinging to their righteous life as a testimony of their superiority over others and as means by which their life will be judged by God. There is no such life good enough to earn eternal salvation. The “stone laid in Zion” is Jesus Christ. His question of the apostles “Who do YOU say I am?” is asked of all humanity. The Jewish religion made its answer and nailed Him to the cross, but Paul begins Romans 9 with a heart-felt appeal for their salvation even at the cost of his own. And he knew exactly the faith path he was describing – he had been a law-abiding and -promoting Jew of Jews prior to his experience with the risen Christ. And on the other side, he knew, as Isaiah said – “the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”

Application:

I do know that I am saved through faith; it is finished and I am in Christ. This does not negate my need to do good works – they flow from a life of faith, in thanksgiving, as God opens the door to their accomplishment. The more difficult question concerns the gospel I communicate. If they believe in God’s judgment at all, much of the non-Christ-believing world holds some version of the idea that at the end of life, works are balanced, good and bad. If good works are greater, there is heaven. If not, there is something else. They have erected their own Law and fashion their lives as good enough to “get them in”. This is very much of the same mindset as that of Israel at Paul’s time, though they had a written Law to consult. But there is no life lived perfectly enough, with motives pure enough and works good enough to earn eternity with God. This message, taken personally, can be sound critical of others so I must first cite my life as the first one that is unworthy. Then the inclusion of other lives follows. It also can be taken as shameful deprecation, expressing a depressed gloom that results in hopelessness and resignation to all manner of sin. It is quite the opposite – a statement of God’s profound love that redeems. For the life that is thoroughly accepted and loved is superior to the one that is vying for that acceptance and love. So I pay it forward, loving those who have yet to stumble on the rock as I rejoice that I stumble daily, get back up and love again. For this salvation is progressive, let me know that well. And let me sing its song and dance its dance.

Prayer:

Father, though I am bruised by stumbling upon the Rock of my salvation, I rejoice that You have restored me, redeemed me and set me free. Let me live free and love free in the abundant joy You have given. In Jesus’ name, amen.

What faith can buy

Scripture:

Romans 4:5 However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.

Observation:

In the economies of the world and in all human experience, there are systems of commerce with methods of payment – including those systems with processes by which people are judged (or “evaluated”). These systems can govern how we think and act. God’s economy is not like that. There is no work that can buy salvation or favor with God. But faith – which is a different kind of “work” – has that kind of purchasing power. And indeed it purchases nothing but only believes in what has already been purchased. Believing that God’s love is so great as to justify those who least deserve His favor, the person has him/herself won that favor and has bought what could not be purchased any other way. It’s a deposit of virtue like no other.

Application:

Do I believe like that? Do I operate in faith that alone counts as righteousness before God (John 3:16)? How is it active in my life? How does it affect how I think and act? It should help me overcome accusation, condemnation, as well as self-righteousness – for I have only believed. It should enable me to extend grace to the ungodly – even my “enemies” – who like me have an opportunity to just believe. It should provide unhindered access to God at all times and praise to Him who has overturned the tables of human commerce (as Jesus did when He cleared the temple). And it gives me a mandate to subvert the religions and all the judgments of this world based solely upon performance . Grace is not earned; it is believed.

It’s no wonder my faith is constantly attacked and shamed. The world can do no less than opposed a system that will undo its power and philosophical control.

Now, this does not negate justice systems nor penalty for wrongdoing. It just casts the human systems down in their paltry claim to finality; for the final word was proclaimed upon the cross.

Prayer:

Thank You, Father, for this reminder of all I have for simply believing. But help strengthen that faith that is under attack so that it might touch all the things and people You want it to and in the ways You want it to. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Two paths of worship – Romans 1:21-23, 28 (May 20, 2013)

Scripture:

Romans 1:21-23,28 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

… Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.

Observation:

Identifying the people Paul is writing about is not difficult. It is all humankind, for this passage immediately follows one that states that the evidence of a Creator is everywhere – to slightly elaborate, the fingerprints of God are all over the creation. What people do with that evidence is the substance of this section, and it’s not a pretty picture. All people at least entertain the idea of a God who is worthy of worship and thanksgiving for the good things in life. But it is a common choice to think differently. The pursuit of such thought, though it be considered lofty and enlightened, is futile. The mind-craft of humankind creates Biblical foolishness- moral compromise and decay, darkened in vanity. The claim of wisdom belies this foolishness and to fill the worship-void, idols of all kinds are constructed. The assignment of divine power to man-made images (figurines sculpted with varying skills) would make modern secularists laugh, all the while constructing other ways of worship to replace God. Common creatures that live on earth are held up as divine, dethroning God with cheap substitutes. God’s reaction is not swift judgment, He simply lets things progress to their logical end. The actions of these people reflect their overall desires, corrupted as they are by their need to define gods for themselves, or themselves god, depending upon the perspective.

Application:

What and who do I glorify? If there is a yearning to invent a different God than the One Who found me, I must learn to turn that to a yearning for the Living God. I can create nothing apart from Him, and everything good I do create comes from Him. Inasmuch as people who do not believe see my worship life, it will unconditionally conflict with theirs. To be sure, they do have a worship life. And their worship life will make an attempt to eclipse mine. That is, the beliefs of the world are projected constantly; accepted by the adherents of the faith as undeniable. After all, they make so much sense! But that is where the great divorce must happen, in the area of reason and worldly wisdom. It’s not that I am contrary to logic and productive, creative thought. It’s that faith directs my mind, theology instructs my creativity. This is no slavery, it’s complete freedom to shine with a greater light than I could ever produce. Finally, the end result of actions that spring from faith is the fruit that the two trees bear. I may well be out-good-worked by the humanitarian pursuits of those who imagine themselves saved by those works. But the redemptive fruit of the Kingdom that takes the glory away from what I do and who I am and gives it unflinchingly to Almighty God establishes a humility that purifies and destroys all caste systems and selfishness. May God turn me over to THAT.

Prayer:

Father, correct my worship where it is off-base. Purify my heart and tear down my idols. I give them all to You now, in Jesus’ name, amen.  

The faithful ancestry of Abraham – Romans 4:16-17 (November 30, 2012)

Scripture:

Romans 4:16-17:  Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.  As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.

Observation:

In his grand argument that salvation was a matter of faith and not works in Romans 4, Paul brought up the person of Abraham – the patriarch of the Jewish faith.  Circumcision – an act performed upon Jewish infants and grown converts – was, as it turns out, something Abraham had NOT done before he was given promises by God to be the father of nations.  So, Paul said, it was faith that enabled Abraham to be the father he was.  Therefore his offspring would not only be those of physical ancestry but those of faith as well – those who trust God though they see no evidence of the delivery of His promise.  The quote from the Almighty – “I have made you father of many nations.” Is one not only of the number of physical offspring – like the stars in the sky – but of inclusion of the nations in the promise.  God’s promise towards him was never exclusively small but expansively large.  In the sight of God, then, all who believe are his children, with full claim to the promises and blessings Abraham possessed.  And this is not a passive faith in a theoretical, detached deity but an active one in the Creator who gives life to the dead.  THAT faith has as its object a God and King of unfathomable power and goodness.  THAT faith is a trait of the family of Abraham.

Application:

We must remember the nature of Abraham’s faith.  He was promised a child at about 110 years of age.  And he did not waver, says Paul, concerning his belief of that promise.  What promise have I received, either in general or specifically, that I have cast off as something that will never happen or will never happen as I thought it would or to which I would apply any other blunting equivocations?  Have I become critical of God, where He has me and what He has me doing?  If so I am not listening to the promise and am straying from my ancestry as Abraham’s offspring.  I’d best write down those promises, recalling them even as they are covered with dust in my mind and spirit.  Some are from the Word, some are personal but all are from God if He has quickened and confirmed them, which He has.  At the core of this dilemma of faith is my root belief that God is good.  If He is, then He is worth waiting for and all that has happened and will happen to me is formative and redemptive – that is I NEEDED to wait and trust.  This is not Waiting for Godot – Samuel Beckett’s play of futility.  That’s the voice of the devil’s child, saying it’s all a ruse and a waste.  No .. I do not labor in vain if I serve God but walk in the light.  And the light still shines if I choose to see it.  God has not forsaken me, have I forsaken Him?  If so there is one action before me – repent.

Prayer:

Father, it is humbling to be called Abraham’s child but it is also hard, indeed impossible to sustain faith across all circumstance by human strength.  So speak to my inner person today, raise me up where I have dropped the promise and show me Your glory once again.  I ask as Your child, in the name of Jesus, amen.

Sovereign love for an undeserving life – Romans 5:6-8 (May 24, 2012)

Scripture:

Romans 5:6-8 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.   For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—  but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Observation:

The times in this passage are curious – what “while” is Paul speaking of?  Christ’s death was at a specific point in human history – some historians have computed April 7, 30.  Whenever that happened, it wasn’t “while” I was even alive.  No, the projection of the sacrifice onto the timeline of my days is to be seen from my perspective – from our perspective.  This is the story of our reawakening and rebirth – Christ died for us when we were at our most worthless ethical state.  Paul put it “while we were still weak” – meaning that there was nothing in us warranting God’s attention and nothing in our lives that would have given rise to hope that we could save ourselves – favorably measured ethically in comparison to others.  We were ungodly and it was and is the ungodly for whom Christ died.  He entered our lives at the most needy point.  Then Paul pointed out what it would be like to give one’s life for another.  There could be a point where a life was so worth saving that giving one’s life for that person made good sense.  Or else, due to some karmic, sowing and reaping belief, expending one’s life for another could be seen as impressive in the spiritual realm.  No matter, for that was not our state when Christ died for us.  No, we were completely unworthy; destitute moral creatures when He entered our lives through faith.  It is at our uncelebrated, most shameful lowest point that Jesus points across time and says “that is where I loved you enough to die for you”.  Salvation can thus never be earned but only believed and acted upon.  Any righteousness in our lives follows this; it can never precede it because our righteousness as believers comes from our faith.

Application:

Do I give my ethics any merit?  Do I call them worthy of reward or worse, salvation?  Let me bite my tongue if that’s true; nothing I have or do came from anywhere other than Christ’s death on the cross.  Whatever else in all human experience is considered “good” it can only be seen in the light of the ultimate good and so it is as dirty as menstrual cloths before God if it is apart from that sacrifice.  So let me take Jesus’ lead, extending love as He has towards me – not waiting for people to clean up their acts but loving them in the middle of their muck (for if I examine my shoes there are still traces there).  If they spit and curse I should call that nothing but normal, for so was I before Christ projected faith into my heart.  Also, let me know that it is not a one-time sacrifice as it applies to my life.  It was once on the cross, but many, many times applied.  In what ways am I still “weak” or “still” a sinner?   Woe to me if I say I do not struggle; God knows I do.  Only let me know that the blood of Jesus still washes me though I need forgiveness seventy times seven every day.  His investment in my life is for eternity and does not fluctuate like stock prices or property values.  Indeed, as His property, I was worth His very life.  He must have seen something in me that I could not (and cannot) see.  For though He died for the ungodly, He died in order to make the ungodly into the godly, the wicked into the righteous.  Let me know that as surely as I know I am a sinner.  Amen.

Prayer:

Lord it is for according to Your sacrifice that I need to sacrifice myself, according to Your great love that I need to see my in-progress walk and according to Your eternal perspective that I need to view the lost around me.  Grant me eyes to see all this, in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Being fully persuaded – Romans 4:20-22 (November 30, 2011)

Scripture:

Romans 4:20-22 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.  This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.

Observation:

The hundred year old man who was promised offspring obviously had many physical reasons to doubt.  His wife, Sarah, had to conceive and gestate a new life in her 90-something body as well.   To say the least, the odds were stacked against them.  Yet Abraham believed that God had spoken and thus, what was said would come to pass regardless.  All he had was the promise of the angelic visitor who had borne the news to him and his laughing wife.  Doubt would have been normal – thinking this hadn’t been an angel at all but just some hopeful visitor who wanted to make the old couple feel good.   But it says that his faith instead became strong and he “gave glory to God.”  The alternative would be to glorify the natural forces decaying his body.  His faith rested in a steadfast insistence that God could do and would do what had been spoken.  For the promise had not only been for the birth of a son, but for the birth of a nation whose population would outnumber the grains of sand.  This was a life-defining vision then, and it would begin with a single child born to a couple who were very advanced in years.  It is of interest that they tried to help God along by giving Hagar, Sarah’s servant, to Abraham to bear a son, but that son – Ishmael – was not the child of promise.  Yet when it became clear that there was another to be born, Abraham’s faith remained.  The term “credited to him as righteousness” shows an accrual of the merit of faith, registered in heaven in Abraham’s “account.”  Paul’s point is that before there had been a Law to observe, righteousness in believing God was already established as a way into God’s favor.  This divorces mere observance of the Law from righteousness, rebasing its precepts on faith as the primary foundation for a righteous life.

Application:

I’m getting older, and older still.  Do I believe that God’s life vision for me, yet unfulfilled, is in jeopardy?  I can believe that and make moves away from faith in what He has promised and the negative prophecy will be self-fulfilling.  Or I can believe that the signs of aging in this body have nothing to do with what God has said.  I can forge the conception of my Ishmael, but that’s not God’s path of fulfillment but my own counterfeit.  Or I can wait, the hardest of all actions in this caffeinated world, in faith for God to establish what He has promised.  It is that simple, and that complex.  And age is only one trend that works inexorably against the Word of God.  There are tens of ways that I would be declared disqualified from blessing.  But God has spoken – do I believe that?  God has promised – is that in my heart?  Wavering is the path of everyman, testing the waters at every juncture and seeing if they are agreeable.  If it is comfort that keeps me from belief let me become as uncomfortable as Job.  If it’s idolatry, let me burn every exalted thing in the hottest furnace of hell.   For only God can fulfill as I need to be fulfilled.  Only the Almighty can grant favor as I need to be granted.  Only His path, His timing, His way, His power.  Let me kill piety and religiosity if and when it puts on airs that keep me from understanding that the righteous live by faith.  It’s a raw life of trusting God against the wind of trial and disappointment with an enemy that takes many guises and presents many ploys.

Prayer:

Father, remind me of what You have said, let it dwell in me richly.  Let me inspire others with the vision and be found loving You above all I desire.  In Jesus’ name, amen.