lingering Lot

But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city.

Genesis 19:16

Abram’s nephew Lot is an interesting contrast to his uncle. Lot’s rescue from Sodom is a tale in miniature similar to Abram’s story. It shows us how God can call us away from something that is bad for us and yet we may not get it. There are more than a few parallels between Lot and uncle Abram.

1. Abram was told to leave Ur and he obeyed. / Lot was commanded to leave Sodom in haste, and he lingered.

2. Abram was visited by angels. / The same angels led Lot literally outside the city as God prepared to rain judgment upon it.

3. Abram took family (Lot) with him in obedience to God’s command. / Lot tried to bring his sons-in-law and they scoffed at him.

4. God was gracious in covenant with Abram with the angels’ message. / God was merciful as the angels rescued Lot.

5. Abram’s wife Sarai struggled to believe God’s promise. / Lot’s wife looked back to Sodom and died.

Ultimately Lot is a sad picture of how love for this world can blind us to sin and capture our hearts from God’s promises. Even an angelic rescue is a lukewarm experience as Lot lingers amid the serious judgment of God. How like faithful Abram we need to be… looking by faith to God’s city (Hebrews 11:14-16). How we need to guard against hearts that might linger in an enticing but corrupt culture that is doomed for its own destruction as it spirals ever downward. Jesus stretches out His hands to take us in mercy outside the corruption, away from what is doomed for destruction, pointing us toward His heavenly country! 

Love is not at war.

And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.

Luke 6:31-32

It is tempting in a world that clearly hates Christ and what Christ’s church believes and does to want to hate back. Yet Jesus taught us to love our enemies, even the most abusive ones, and He left us an example of such love by dying for those who hated Him (Luke 6:27-36; 23:34). We must be people who model the love of Christ as our driving, highly visible, social example to a hate-filled world. We stand for loving enemies with gospel conviction. 

Yet you can point out, and rightly so, that warfare metaphors are also clearly a part of scripture. And indeed, Jesus acknowledged there are wars among nations of people, reiterating that wars are a sign of His soon return (Mark 13:7; Matthew 24:6; Luke 21:9). And the apostle Paul repeatedly calls Christians to stand for righteousness employing soldier metaphor to encourage us to do so. But even Paul’s DOMINANT message was peace, reconciliation, and the foolishness of preaching the cross and resurrection, fully expecting persecution as a result. We don’t fight what the gospel shines against at the exclusion of loving people with the gospel.

Christians cannot simultaneously hate people and adhere to the love of Christ. We can’t and we shouldn’t! I’m afraid Satan has deceived us into being so enraged at a perceived culture war (the culture has ALWAYS been at war with righteousness and the gospel), and has thus blinded us to the great need of our enemies for gospel healing! When we no longer love them, the gospel loses. We need to stop loving only those who are like us (either religiously, culturally, or politically) and give gospel truth and LOVE to those who hate us. Jesus did this for us! He commands us to do the same.

the way God sees it

And he said to him, “I am the LORD who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.”

Genesis 15:7

God takes full responsibility for Abram’s circumstances. There are two ways of seeing this situation: 1) Abram left all that was familiar and “did the work” of faith as God called him. 2) God brought Abram out of all that was familiar to give him so much more. As God reveals His perspective, we can see that this was the viewpoint that Abram needed just as God was going to affirm His promises through a physical covenant with the old man whose faith believed the call of God to leave all that was familiar in order to follow God in an unspecified direction for a specific promise on an epic journey of faith. Yes, Abram left Ur. But it was God that brought him out.

And that perspective is vital to faith. We may obey what God calls us to do, and we should, but above all, it is God Who does it all for us. Without Him there is nothing! And that viewpoint is what we need to make sure we keep getting right as we journey on by faith in Christ. Jesus is One Who is faithful in our faith. The Lord is constant in all our chaos. God is the “Changer for our good” in all life’s changes.

Lord,

You know the seasons of change You have brought in me. You lead where it is all going. You chose my way and You show the way, but I often see just dimly a step at a time. Still, it feels so wonderful knowing what You are doing. It had been a foggy season for a while. I am so very thankful to no longer be walking on a bridge You are building in that mist over the chasm of the unknown. It is clearer. Yet You still call me to faith as it still all depends on You. I must take steps of faith and must trust in a process outside my control. You will take me out of my Ur and You will take me to the next place that is best. I will trust.

Amen

real faith and real needs

And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

Luke 5:20

There are two remarkable truths about Jesus in this short verse that capture my thinking as I read this story of healing, grace, and courageous faith. The first observed truth is this: Jesus knows the entire story and acts accordingly. The text says that Jesus saw the faith of the paralytic’s friends. These people carried a man to Jesus. They climbed a rooftop, open up the tiles, and lowered their friend down through the crowd so that he might meet Jesus and be healed. They not only believed with their friend, but also that faith acted FOR their friend. And Jesus was moved by the actions their faith took in order to see their friend meet Jesus.

Secondly, Jesus dealt with the real problem. It wasn’t just physical paralysis that was this man’s great need. It was his unforgiven sin that Jesus addressed first. Of course, none of the friends thought of spiritual paralysis first, but Jesus met both the physical and the spiritual need, showing that faith in Him was necessary to heal both.

And so I must remember as I seek Jesus to recognize that it is spiritual need that He must address foremost. Will I have the faith to faithfully carry those who have no way to get to Jesus to Him? Will I hold up the lost in prayer and carry them in love to the One Who heals? How petty I am in my own prayers! I too often petition my Lord for my material wants and needs forgetting the state of my soul. I too am powerless and bound by sin’s paralysis. I must be lowered to Him. And only Jesus both forgives and heals. Only He sees real faith and real need. O Lord, open my eyes to see people and myself as You do!

faith moves

So Abram went, as the Lord had told him…

Genesis 12:4

So Abram went up from Egypt…

Genesis 13:1

So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre…

Genesis 13:18

Faith was seen

by the man called

the father of all who believe

Faith was shown

not just spoken

but geographically known

Abram left his home

Abram journeyed on

Abram let it be known

God was in control

Abram’s faith demanded

he followed where God commanded

God calls us to do

God leads us to go

Faith is always on the move

God shows in His Word

where to go, what to be

and we obey our Lord

He calls us to His home

and so we journey on

leaving behind what we know

believing God is in control

Faith in Jesus demands

changed by grace, we obey His commands

quoting Deuteronomy to the devil

And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Luke 4:12

Jesus handled temptation by centering in the firm authority of the Word of God. Specifically, for each temptation the devil brought to Jesus, the Son of God answered with quotations from the book of Deuteronomy. He simply stood on the firm truth of God’s Word. In that way the Word of God rebuked the devil’s attempts as God asserted His authority just by speaking!

Jesus is God. He could have simply told the devil to shut up! But instead, Jesus left us an example in His humanity so that we too can successfully battle Satan and turn away from temptation. We too must lean into the firm truth of scripture. We too should let God rebuke the tempter. We too should learn scripture by heart so that we have power that we turn to in order to thwart temptation with truth.

And in the example of Jesus we find power. We anchor in God’s revealed truth. We are strengthened with scriptural support. We will win by the Word of God. We can fight temptation by trusting truth! In this we have power, hope, and victory over sin.

Oh, and as a bonus, listen to Quoting Deuteronomy to the Devil by Rich Mullins.

lies and questions

He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”

Genesis 3:1b

Satan is the great liar. And in this deceptive question posed to Eve, that are the first words from the devil recorded in scripture, the serpent begins baiting his first big lie with suspicion. He tries to create an alternate version of God’s Word and God’s world. He puts words in Eve’s head that God never said. And the lies Satan puts there question the very goodness of a perfect, holy God.

Up to this point in Genesis every action and creation God has done has been very good. The text goes out of the way to show us a good God Who does not stop until all of creation is good. Satan questions God’s motives implying with his first question to Eve that God is denying them (a theme he will build up as he goes): “Did God say you couldn’t eat from any tree?” There is a subtle inference that any negative command restricting from one tree is an exclusion from them all and a defect in the goodness of God.

And so it is when we question the words or the actions of a perfect, holy God. We are put on a slippery slope of temptation slanted in the devil’s favor. Eve started sliding when she gave credence to even answer this absurd question. How can we not sin if such doubts start to enter into our minds in a way that we engage with them? We must see how there is insidious intent even in the kinds of questions that the devil uses to set-up his lies! We need to look through them to analyze the false disinformation and misleading untruth. Any thought that doubts the goodness of God comes from the serpent’s deceptive inspiration and began right here in Genesis 3:1. 

regeneration and renewal

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit…

Titus 3:4-5

Jesus brought a salvation that we desperately needed. He came to save sinners like me! In His work He both regenerates and renews. And both of those spiritual works are what every human being needs.

This passage is very clear that though I may WANT to do good things… I may even aspire to live as much like Jesus as I possibly can… and indeed I can  think I am doing very good at it… but those efforts will fail to save me. God, however, in grace, goodness, and loving kindness provided salvation in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the only Son of God. My works will never be good enough. I fail to be holy. I need the holiness of Christ. Only Jesus can save. Only He provides what I need.

I needed  regeneration… a rebirth… and in Jesus I am remade no longer foolish, disobedient, a slave to sinful passion, and hateful (Titus 3:3). And solely by Christ and in the work of God’s indwelling Holy Spirit I am renewed. My time in the Word of God, being led, filled, and taught by the Spirit of God continue daily to renew my heart and mind. I need it! I love it! I want it! Thank God that He does the work that I cannot do. He regenerates and renews!

why thoughts need renewal

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12:2

Here is why I need the Word of God and the Spirit of God to renew my mind:

1) I will tend to do what I think about. This is a fact of life. How I think about my circumstances, my relationships, my opportunities, my feelings, and my desires will direct my actions sooner or later. Those choices cannot be visceral or else I will struggle with consistently pleasing the Lord. I need faith working with the truth (facts) revealed in scripture to renew my thinking constantly.

2) I always am thinking. There is an internal monologue in my head 24/7. Yes, my brain still processes in my sleep! And that conversation with myself needs to be directed toward God in unceasing prayer and must be scripturally saturated to keep my thoughts on track. 

3) There is relentless pressure to think wrongly in this world! The world system constantly tries to squeeze my thoughts into a sinful cultural conformity. I must resist that through releasing God’s Word to renew my thinking.

4) God asks me to steward my thoughts and feelings. In scripture and through the indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit, I can take control of thoughts rather than be controlled arbitrarily by whatever flits into this head! In this way, God will lead me to do His will. I can know I am pleasing Him. Renewal brings God’s direction! That’s a great thing.

in the midst of my years

O LORD, I have heard the report of you,

and your work, O LORD, do I fear.

In the midst of the years revive it;

in the midst of the years make it known;

in wrath remember mercy.

Habakkuk 3:2

In the midst of my years

when I felt my worst fears

You, O Lord, revived Your work

You renewed me and You turned

sorrow into joy

loss into gain

little into plenty

pain into joy

all at a time of great need.

In the midst of my days

You broke through the haze

sharing redeeming insight

into my sorrow’s night:

sunshine from clouds

bright from my dark

gain from deficit

love from loneliness

mercy came into this broken life.

In the midst of this life

Jesus redeemed me from my strife.

The renewing Savior’s touch, graceful

transformed my thirsty, weary soul:

life beyond death

love beyond measure

grace beyond my sin

mercy beyond righteous wrath.

I praise the One Who renews me!

the difference between restoration and renewal

Restore us to yourself, O LORD, that we may be restored!

Renew our days as of old—

Lamentations 5:21

Restoration and renewal are two similar yet distinct experiences. The word “restore” in this prayer has a root meaning “to turn back”. It is similar to repentance, except in repentance the party that has done wrong “turns back”. In restoration, the party who has been wronged acts in such a way as to “turn back” to the broken relationship. So it is interesting that when we repent (turn back to God) He also chooses to restore (turn back to us).

It isn’t that God moved away so much as it is that our sin has created the vast distance between a perfect, holy God and a broken sinner. Yet God graciously is ready to restore… like the Father that He is, He longs to restore… He waits for us… He runs to His returning prodigals!

Renewal is a different part of the experience. It has a root meaning of “repair”. What is broken is fixed. What is defective is made whole. And in renewal God does the work exclusively. We have to be acted upon by Him. I cannot renew my days. I cannot rebuild what my sin has broken. Only God can do that work. And that is why new life in Christ is God’s doing and not my own. I have no righteousness outside of Jesus!

Yes, I can return and repent, but it is God’s Spirit that renews, rebuilds, and restores! And the God Who restores AND renews also meets all of our needs in the grace of Jesus Christ! Oh Lord my Savior, renew my days, I pray!

the God Who revives

For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,

who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:

“I dwell in the high and holy place,

and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,

to revive the spirit of the lowly,

and to revive the heart of the contrite.”

Isaiah 57:15

This verse has three important movements. It starts with WHO GOD IS. 1) He is high and lifted up.  This is a call back to Isaiah 6:1 and the vision of Him on His throne. God is the ruler in control. 2) God inhabits eternity. Time means nothing to Him in His plane of existence. He moves our moments as He sees fit. 3) God’s very name is holy! He is always right and completely perfect, unlike anything I know in my own heart or in any of my experiences outside of God.

The verse then moves to WHERE GOD IS. He is simultaneously dwelling and ruling from His heavenly throne room AND also with His people. That is our hope and assurance in this life. God is with us! Yet we must take note, He is with those humble and contrite people who truly worship Him in the benefit of His presence.

And finally, the passage importantly shows us WHAT GOD DOES. He revives lowly spirits and contrite hearts. With those who will humbly submit to the Lordship of Christ and the Salvation of God He will bring life and renewal! In Jesus, God is with us and renews us! What could be better?

Renew My Strength

but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings like eagles;

they shall run and not be weary;

they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31

On eagle’s wings I long to fly.

Lord, renew my strength!

My strength I find is getting dry.

Lord, renew my strength!

I feel as though I just get by.

Lord, renew my strength!

My life near gone, I just may die.

Lord, renew my strength!

I long to run and not be weary.

Lord, renew my strength!

Bring light to what is so dreary.

Lord, renew my strength!

The trail ahead in mist is blurry.

Lord, renew my strength!

Calm this soul that’s in such a hurry.

Lord, renew my strength!

Upon You, my Savior, now I wait.

Lord, renew my strength!

You’ll clear the path, open the gate.

Lord, renew my strength!

Peace will replace this anxious state.

Lord, renew my strength!

Your wisdom always directs my fate.

Lord, renew my strength!

Amen

always renewing

When you send forth your Spirit, they are created,

and you renew the face of the ground.

Psalm 104:30

Sometimes, when we need God to bring renewal and refreshment, we may be tempted to feel we are asking for the impossible. We may try to plead for what feels to us like a needed miracle. But Psalm 104:27-30 reminds us with encouragement that God is always providing renewal in the world. Kind of like the “circle of life” in The Lion King, God is replenishing, despite the hardships of the curse. From death springs new life. Winter gives up to spring every year. God loves to always be renewing.

And I believe this is also a spiritual reality. Of course it is most known by spiritually dead sinners being brought to life in the Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead when they believe the gospel. And for Christians, that power is ALWAYS at work in us by the Spirit of God indwelling us. He makes all things new. Even in our trials. Even in major hardships. Even in sickness. Even in loss. Even in massive change. God renews the face of our ground even if fires have scorched it!

Thank You, God, that You renew. We are always seeing You at work until one day we will stand complete in Christ. Amen!