Knowing our limits

Is the shortest way always the best?

"When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, "If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt." (Exodus 13:17)

This verse helped me realize something today. God knew the limits of the Israelites those many years ago. He realized that war with the Philistines would send them running back to Egypt. (Even with his presence and protection, they threatened to a few times anyways!) But He knew that running back to Egypt would mean running right back into slavery, which was never his plan for them. So He took them by the longer route around the Philistine nation.

Why is this so reassuring?


Because God knows my limits, too. Sometimes it feels like God is taking me on the long route - maybe even through a desert time. But it is helpful to know that even in the desert, God has me on a path that allows for my temptations, my personality, my well being. He knows what dangers may lay on the "short cut". And He knows my limits.

"There isn't any temptation that you have experienced which is unusual for humans. God, who faithfully keeps his promises, will not allow you to be tempted beyond your power to resist. But when you are tempted, he will also give you the ability to endure the temptation as your way of escape." (1 Corinthians 10:13 GWT)

Even if it is the long way around.

True religion

I blogged a little while ago about some people that questioned God. I still appreciate their honesty in bringing their "puzzlements" to Him. And one of the biggest questions that has been asked for centuries is still "How could God allow ... ?"

I think that part of the answer lies in the fact that God has given each of us a choice. We choose to follow His guidelines for life, or we choose to ignore them. And almost always, those choices affect more than just us as individuals. The ripple effect leads one sin to cause a LOT of misery, suffering or strife for those around us. Those choices are man's, not God's.

But there's also another side. What about this?

"God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them" Hebrews 6:10

He is watching the work we do for others. Now I don't want to suggest that I'm advocating an entirely social gospel but there are definitely directions in God's Word about helping others - both friends and enemies (see Galatians 6:10, Ephesians 4:32, Luke 6: 27-36). Think of the Good Samaritan. Think of Dorcas and the early church elders. We don't earn our salvation but our salvation does bring an obligation.

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows who are suffering and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:29 (NIV and NAS combined)

In times like these, there are plenty of people that need help. Even in the good times, there are people that genuinely need a hand. And there is always injustice to be found. So much that we can't hope to solve it all by ourselves.

But perhaps it isn't that the world is full of injustice or need because God is unfair. Perhaps it's that they are waiting for us to do the work He gave each of us to do, and reach out to them.

"This is the kind of fast day I'm after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts. What I'm interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families.

Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once. Your righteousness will pave your way. The God of glory will secure your passage. Then when you pray, God will answer. You'll call out for help and I'll say, 'Here I am.'

If you get rid of unfair practices, quit blaming victims, quit gossiping about other people's sins, If you are generous with the hungry and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out, Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness, your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight. I will always show you where to go. I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places— firm muscles, strong bones. You'll be like a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry."

~ Isaiah 58:9-11 (MSG)

God is not unjust. He has put the people in place to do the work that needs to be done to correct injustice and to help the suffering. God is not always "allowing" the suffering. He's waiting for the people He's called to step in and make a change.

What has He asked you to do?

Pointed remarks

Here's something to think about today -

"Do not pay attention to every word people say or you may hear your servant cursing you -- for you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others." (Ecclesiastes 7:21-22, NIV)

The Message puts it like this -

"Don't eavesdrop on the conversation of others. What if the gossip's about you and you'd rather not hear it? You've done that a few times, haven't you - said things behind someone's back you wouldn't say to his face?"

Remember

I attended a banquet last night and the speaker made this point:

The Hebrew word often translated "remember" isn't just a matter of recall. It's active - more like "recall, and then act accordingly".

I also came across this thought on-line:

"The word translated “remember” (zah-khor) means more than merely recalling something past, but suggests actively focusing the mind upon something in the present.

In Hebrews 13:7, the verb for "remember" is set in parallel to "consider ... and imitate."

"Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith." (emphasis mine)

In Canada, last Monday was Thanksgiving Day. In America, it's still coming up. It's a time when we typically remember and are thankful for the good things in our lives. Things like family or a home or good friends often come to mind. But the speaker's comment last night got me thinking. Remembering the things we have to be thankful for should not only be an exercise in looking at the past, but should also be a way to plan ahead.

For instance, we remember God's provision.

If we're going to "act accordingly" maybe this will mean trusting God the next time we're feeling in a tight spot. Maybe it means being more generous to someone in need, knowing God will provide for us too.

We remember a time that we didn't follow God's prompting.

If we remember and "act accordingly", the next time we feel that prompting we will follow through (and most likely see God do something remarkable).

We remember a time we gave in to temptation and sinned.

If we remember and "act accordingly", we will be much more aware of the consequences and make a different choice the next time we face that temptation. Think of it as "live and learn".

Why is this important? Well, for starters, God continuously reminded his people to remember. He asked them to do this in order to build their faith, to strengthen their commitment to Him and to teach to those young enough to not have seen the constant pattern of God's work in their lives. And we are reminded, too, to remember (John 16:4, 2 Peter 1:15, Revelation 3:3, Matthew 16:9, Mark 8:18). Because as we see time and time again throughout the Bible, the truth of this saying is evident -

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

- George Santayana

So remember, and act accordingly.

A fun one

Ransomed and precious

A friend passed along this reminder the other day. I'm not sure what translation she used but it was such a timely reminder for me as we'd had several types of disconcerting news all in the same hour. I hope it will bless you too.

"Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you go through deep waters and great trouble,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire
you will not be burned, nor will the flames hurt you.
For I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour.
You are precious and honored in my sight,
and I love you." (Isaiah 43:1-4)

My schedule

I keep two calendars in my office - one is the "to-do" calendar with appointments, meetings and other events listed. The other is a "have-done" calendar. I use it to track in note form what I accomplished each day in my career. Having an office at home means sometimes those lines get blurred so this helps me stay clear about what happened each week.

Today as I started my day, this verse came up in two separate areas.

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:10).

Prepared in advance, huh? How interesting that God has a to-do calendar for us too. Planned ahead. Ready for us to show up and get the job done.

Let's make sure we leave space in the day for His appointments.

Grand stuff indeed

The Bible (of course) speaks marvelous truths to us about the character and nature of God. And I very much enjoy the variety of ways those truths are presented. There is story, history, parables, romance, mystery and more, including some very literary passages. Consider this:

"[God] spreads out the northern skies over empty space;
he suspends the earth over nothing.

He wraps up the waters in his clouds,
yet the clouds do not burst under their weight.

He covers the face of the full moon,
spreading his clouds over it.

He marks out the horizon on the face of the waters
for a boundary between light and darkness.

The pillars of the heavens quake,
aghast at his rebuke.

By his power he churned up the sea;
by his wisdom he cut Rahab to pieces.

By his breath the skies became fair;
his hand pierced the gliding serpent.

And these are but the outer fringe of his works;
how faint the whisper we hear of him!
Who then can understand the thunder of his power?"

Job 26:7-14 (emphasis mine)