Faithful on Fridays Blog

Integrity

Have you ever said this, “Why can’t people DO what they said they’d do?” It’s very frustrating to be chasing after people who offered their service and you can’t see any indication that they followed through. Nothing much is accomplished. It can be in your home, at work, at church, or in an organization you’re involved with; people often don’t do what they promised.

Why is that? What’s lacking in our personalities? There are various answers but they will all probably describe some form of a lack of integrity. Ahhhhh…integrity. How would you describe that word? Honesty? Faithfulness? Diligence? Yes, all of these but more. The Bible speaks of integrity and gives us a character who continued in integrity all of his life; his name was Job. He was a husband, father, friend, and businessman. Listen to what God said:

Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil. And he has maintained his integrity, even though you urged me to harm him without cause.” Job 2:3

Did you catch who the Lord was addressing in that passage? Our enemy, Satan, would like to put circumstances in our lives that cause us to lose our integrity, and yes, God allows it. When we are accused, even in our innocence, we must strive to stand with complete integrity. The Hebrew word translated ‘integrity’ means that Job did what was right, he was blameless from God’s viewpoint. He showed integrity in that he was well-rounded and balanced in his dealings with family and work. He had a sense of completeness about him.

Notice from the scripture passage the two character traits listed to describe integrity: fears God and stays away from evil. Would you like that type of simple and complete life? A life lived to the full measure of God’s plan for you? If things don’t go your way this week think about integrity and think about Job.

You probably remember the story of Job. After God met with Satan, he was given power to afflict Job in order to turn him from his Creator. Pain and suffering, loss of family, mockery from friends, accusation, abandonment, isolation: you name it, Satan tried it. How did Job react? He maintained his integrity. He continued on in his complete life.

If you’re having a hard week, maintain your integrity. Walk in the knowledge that God is on your side even if your circumstances don’t reflect it. Honor God in your reactions and stay away from evil. And yes, make people happy by doing what you said you’d do!

By this I know that you delight in me: my enemy will not shout in triumph over me. But you have upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in your presence forever. (Psalm 41:11-12 ESV)

If you lived through the sixties you may remember the folk group Peter, Paul, and Mary. This influential trio sang of the socio/political issues in American culture. Their music helped awaken our nation to unity, freedom, and social justice through peaceful protests and music that has influenced several generations. Paul Stookey, a born again believer in Jesus Christ, must have experienced many ups and downs in his life as reflected in one particular song, All My Trials. The bulk of the verses in Psalm 119:81-88 reflect that theme.

The Hebrew word that begins this octave gives the sense of intense longing, desiring, even to the point of pain, for the salvation of the LORD. Interestingly, this word salvation is yeshua, the Hebrew word for Jesus. The Psalmist is faint from his trials in life and has only one hope: God’s Word. Those promises remind him to not allow the trials of life to bring hopelessness.

“When will you comfort me?” That’s his question in verse 82, however, the word comfort is not the ‘gentle arm around your shoulder’ comfort; it’s the cry of the heart that screams, “God, when are you going to stop this?!” He feels dry and lifeless, like a wineskin that’s shriveled from the heat and smoke of a fire, and he’s attempting to only make it through the day. The one thing that keeps him going in the midst of his anguish is the constant hope of God’s promises and His daily direction of what he should do (statutes). He depends on God.

What kind of suffering and trials are you enduring today? A painful past, children who are in pain, a bad marriage, physical illness? Your present circumstances are allowed into a believer’s life for good reason: they draw us closer, as this eleventh octave shows us, to Jesus.

In the midst of his suffering, losing everything, Paul longed for something:

… that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, (Philippians 3:10 ESV)

What was his final goal in life? I think it was to experience suffering in this life with the attitude that when we die to ourselves we are in the position of resurrection. Trials are temporary; they have a beginning and an end. God isn’t going to spare us from all suffering in life; He’s going to bring us through in victory. We’ll grow in faith and learn to totally rely on Him. That’s a good position.

Paul only quotes Jesus one time in scripture. Here it is:
Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. (2 Corinthians 12:8-9 NLT)

Let this song encourage you today in the midst of your trial.

Final Destination

I seem to be on a lot of airplanes lately. Whether it’s off to our condo in AZ or to the nations on prayer journeys; I spend a considerable amount of time flying. At the end of each trip I usually hear the flight attendant giving instructions for our final destination. “Stay seated for a final count, keep your seat belt fastened, etc.” Since we are studying the verses from Eph. 1:3-14, our rightful privileges in Christ, let’s talk about being chosen. Not simply chosen but chosen to be in Him before the foundation of the world. That’s a significant promise to believers.

Being chosen means that God picked you out or elected you to be in Him. Our destination was decided by God the Father before time began; He ‘predestined’ us. We’ll deal with that later in this series but for now let’s remember that since God is the ultimate authority He can do whatever He pleases, whenever He pleases, to whomever He pleases.

It’s also vital to remember that we are born in sin and unable to to do anything good or right. As a Christian, we know that. It’s the reason for Jesus coming to earth. We don’t deserve it, we don’t do anything to earn it, yet He shows us His love and mercy in choosing to rescue us from our deserved punishment. “You did not choose me, but I chose you … ” (John 15:16a ESV)

Luther followed this early Christian teaching, dating back to Augustine, and here’s what he wrote in the Third Article of his catechism:

“I believe that I cannot, by my own reason or strength, believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to Him. But the Holy Spirit has called me by the gospel …”

God is in the business of choosing people and calling them. If you are in Christ Jesus, you were chosen before time began by God’s divine choice. Jesus taught this in a parable describing His sovereignty: Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to Me? Or do you begrudge My generosity? For many are called, but few are chosen. (Matthew 20:14b, 22:14 ESV)

Paul wrote these words in regards to divine election: So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen. (2 Timothy 2:10 NLT)

I have been sent to proclaim faith to those God has chosen and to teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives. (Titus 1:1b NLT)

Peter also chimed in on the subject: God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and His Spirit has made you holy. You are a chosen people. (1 Peter 1:2a, 9a NLT)

Celebrate your chosenness as assurance of your final destination in Christ Jesus. Stay seated and keep your seatbelt fastened for a great flight through Eph. 1:3-14.

You may have heard the phrase ‘chink in one’s armor’ used to describe a weak or vulnerable area of our life. That’s true for Christians and non-Christians alike. The armor of God is a metaphor to help us understand that we need God in all areas of our life. When we are not listening and obeying Him there will eventually be a chink in our armor that opens us up to our mutual enemy, Satan. Open your Bible to Psalm 119:73-80.

The writer of this tenth octave acknowledged God as the One who knows him and formed him with His own hand. Our personalities and body types are not random, they are chosen, gifts from God. He knows our strengths and weaknesses and understands us better than we do ourselves. The Hebrew word that focuses us today is yad: hand.

The writer of Psalm 139 understood the metaphor of God’s hand:

… even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. (Psalm 139:10 ESV)

The Psalmist desired to know what God’s commission or assignment is (vs. 73-74), His revealed will, then consequently, others will observe him and rejoice. Revealed will? That’s when God clearly directs you in life. His will is His assignment and timing. Christians can easily find ministry opportunities and step into them because they detect a need. Paul had that experience (Acts 16:6), however, the Holy Spirt literally blocked his way because his is timing was off. When we misread the signs God gives us for ministry or get ahead of Him there are often consequences.

Verses 75-78 show us that God will discipline or correct us in various ways to get our attention. Satan uses many methods to come against us when he senses a chink in our armor. Lies, mockery, or shame are listed in these verses but always remember that God has His own ways of slowing us down and causing us to focus on Him and His revealed will. Not every need in the Church is to be met by you, that’s why we’re described as a body with many parts.

In the midst of God’s faithful correction the writer tells us that His love, comfort, and mercy will sustain us. Meditating and praying on God’s commission, from among the opportunities available, is our first assignment. We want our hearts to be blameless (vs. 80) as we go about His business in ministry.

When we are in the center of God’s will there’s peace, joy, and happiness. If you’re not experiencing that kind of fruit then you may need a course correction. If people aren’t observing fruit in your ministry then maybe you’ve taken on too much, gotten ahead of God, or mistaken about your choices. As we mature in hearing from God, as Paul did, we know when we’ve heard His voice and direction and are not lured by the voice of a stranger (John 10:5). Step back, reevaluate, and pray.

Chosen and Forgiven

The word chosen, also translated elected, is a common reference in Scripture. It’s that wonderful, Judeo-Christian doctrine that reassures us that we were hand-picked to be children of God. However, we can never forget that alongside the privilege of being chosen are all the responsibilities that go with it. We don’t seem to have trouble remembering the benefits but sometimes forget that God has purpose behind His decision of election.

Some people have trouble understanding this ancient teaching which goes all the way back to Adam and they focus on those who are not chosen. We don’t have the answers to those questions simply because scripture doesn’t comment on them. Let’s focus on your standing with God, your gratefulness that He chose you, and how you should respond to Him in appreciation? Why not spend your time studying what you do know from scripture rather than on what you can’t explain?

How should you respond to a Sovereign God Who created the universe in His supreme authority yet while He was working was thinking about you? Did you know that He thinks about you?

When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
the moon and the stars you set in place—
what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that you should care for them?
Yet you made them only a little lower than God
and crowned them with glory and honor.
You gave them charge of everything you made,
putting all things under their authority— (Psalm 8:3-6 NLT)

As I mentioned earlier, there are responsibilities alongside the benefits of being chosen. We are called to live the higher life in Christ.

Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. (Colossians 3:12, 13 NLT)

Living for God is one way to respond to God in your ‘chosenness’, emulating those qualities that look like Jesus. He lived a life that was worthy of imitating: He was the ultimate Forgiver.

Jesus was chosen by God for a purpose:

For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. (John 6:38 ESV)

We were also chosen by God for a purpose or a destiny. As we walk through Eph. 1:3-14 let’s keep in the forefront of our thinking those wonderful, rich words of promise. Chosen and forgiven. Let’s rejoice together that He was thinking about us when He created the world and there is purpose to our lives in Christ.

“How was your day? Good. Everything went well? Yep, things turned out great, nothing unexpected.” Sound familiar? We often view our life according to our present circumstances, however, what if your day didn’t turn out so good? What if there were unexpected turns, even disasters, that you encountered? Would you continue to call it good? Interestingly, creation, including mankind who would rebel, was called very good by God. He didn’t look at the present circumstances to determine goodness; He knew the big picture. He knew that eventually creation would return to good. That’s the idea of the ninth octave (vs. 65-72): good.

The Psalmist uses this word good, tov in Hebrew, six times and in various ways. Tov can mean beneficial, well, favorable, or right. He began by declaring that God showed him grace in his life as His Word promised and as he walked with Him. He desired to continue that walk yet remembered when things weren’t so good. This writer, like many of us, walked away from God for a time but returned only to recognize an important attribute of God:

You are good and do only good; teach me your decrees. (Psalms 119:68 NLT)

Don’t we all have times in our lives when we made wrong choices and suffered the consequences? Out of fatherly love God allowed suffering and sometimes correction to enter into our good lives. Jacob’s son Joseph understood suffering (Gen. 37-50) but as he reflected on his brother’s betrayal he said this:

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. (Genesis 50:20 ESV)

Job also reflected on his suffering as he responded to his not-so-good wife:

But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips. (Job 2:10 ESV)

Our perspective on suffering often determines the depth of our walk with God. This Psalmist believes that the suffering he endured was beneficial to him. Can we agree with that and declare these promises in the midst of our suffering or discipline?

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! (Psalm 34:8a ESV)

… no good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. (Psalm 84:11b ESV)

Let’s remember this week, as this section of Psalm 119 reminds us, that it is good when God teaches us, whether it’s through pain and suffering or simply His hand of correction. His thoughts about us are always good and His instruction more valuable and precious (vs. 72 the highest form of good) than silver or gold.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (Romans 8:28 NLT)

Chosen by God

Do you remember any early experiences in school when teams were being chosen? The teacher picked a captain and his responsibility was to choose the ones he wanted on his team. Then, at the end of this dreadful experience, someone always seemed to be left. Oh, the pain of not being chosen.

The good news is that if you are a believer, you are chosen. You were chosen by God before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4). As a result of His great love for you and because of that choosing, He called you to come to Himself. You are not a follower of Christ because you decided one day to believe in Him; He had you in His divine plan from the beginning and has been waiting for you for respond. The apostle Paul responded to that truth:

What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? (Romans 8:31 NLT)

We were chosen, we were called and we are justified or given right standing with God. Those are truths from God’s Word, even mysteries that make me want to want to live for Him. Paul went on to say that since that’s true, God is on our side, like the captain of our team, who could ever come against us? Who would dare come against God’s elect or chosen ones? Paul says emphatically: NO ONE! In case you didn’t get it the first time he says it again, NO ONE!

Are you feeling accused in any way today: not good enough, not smart enough, not thin enough, not nice enough, not anything enough? God is speaking to you today and He is saying, “I chose you, dear one, you are mine.” No one should be able to make you feel inadequate in any way because you were chosen by God Himself before the world was ever created. Can I explain that? No, but if the Bible says it, I believe it and I will write about it to encourage you.

Maybe you’re not being accused and condemned by the enemy today, thank God for that, but don’t be deceived; he’ll eventually try to get to you. Be prepared and stay grounded in who you are in Christ: you were chosen by God before you were even born. Jesus said this, “You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.” (John 15:16 NLT)

What a great team you’ve been chosen to be on! Live this week in honor of your Captain, Jesus Christ and in unity with your teammates. When we all work together on the same team life just seems to work better. Isn’t that true?

My mother was a wise business woman and leaving an inheritance for her children was important to her. That legal concept of inheritance begins our eighth octave in Psalm 119:57-64. It’s often translated ‘portion’ as in a divided amount but after meditating on this ‘portion’ of the Psalm I’d like us to think about inheritance.

Verses 57-58, hope you have them in front of you, are declarations made from a believer who loves God and His Word and desires to obey Him. He seeks His face, His presence, and knows that grace will get him through anything. Grace is part of our inheritance. It’s that undeserved favor from God that allows us to be in relationship with Him and share in His promises. What are those promises? Whatever you need. One of God’s names is El Shaddai, which describes the all-powerful and all-sufficient God who loves you; He’s your inheritance or portion.

Scripture guarantees inheritance: the earth (Matt. 5:5), everlasting life (Heb. 9:15), the kingdom of God (Matt. 25:34), His promises and blessings (Heb. 6:12; 1 Peter 3:9), and eventually all things (Rev. 21:7). That’s our portion, our heritage, and it’s acquired by faith.

‘… to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ (Acts 26:18 NKJV)

In the remaining verses the Psalmist uses those six vital words to reinforce his commitment to God. I counted thirteen times he used the pronouns I or my; this is personal. These declarations can be personal for us as well if we choose the higher life in Christ. If we choose to hang out with those who pay attention to Him (testimonies and precepts, vs. 59, 63), follow His leading (commandments, vs. 60), obey His teachings (law, vs. 61), honor His decisions (rules, vs.62), and walk in His ways (statutes, vs. 64), then we will receive our inheritance.

Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. (Colossians 3:24 NLT)

Lastly, as New Covenant believers, we can never forget that our heritage includes victory. The prophet Isaiah assures us:

no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.” (Isaiah 54:17 ESV)

As we read these eight verses let’s remember again that God has kingdom living available to His followers. As we learn to walk with Him every day, in His love, mercy, and obedience His inheritance is revealed and He becomes our portion. Make it personal this week, spend time with God in prayer and stay in fellowship with other believers (vs. 63). Enjoy the higher life.

Heaven on Earth

Last weekend I was asked to give the blessing at a wedding. I was honored because speaking a blessing is simply declaring good things over people you care about. When Paul was writing to the believers in the city of Ephesus he began by declaring a blessing to God and his readers (Eph. 1:3). It seems to me that this powerful paragraph (vss. 3-14) is a result of Paul’s overwhelming revelation of God’s promises, blessings, or heritage given to His followers. He was undoubtedly writing or dictating so fast that the words came pouring out of him.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, (Ephesians 1:3 ESV)

Every day we experience life in various ways here on earth: positive and negative. We need to remember, as Paul was reminding himself, that there are benefits to being a believer (Ps. 103:3) given to help us live out those experiences in victory. Those blessings are delivered from heaven by the Spirit of God at just the right time with everything you require to live a triumphant life. As citizens of heaven we have legal standing to draw from that inheritance, but what does that really mean? It means that when we need justice or mercy in an earthly matter we can declare that blessing from the heavenly realm and bring it to the earth: Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done… you finish it. This isn’t the prosperity gospel, this is the truth of God’s Word. The eternal blessings that reside in the sphere of heaven can be realized in the sphere of our temporary, earthly lives when we remain in Christ.

As a believer in Christ Jesus we have a position of authority on this earth. Paul talks about it in Eph. 6:12 when he tells us to be strong and stand in the Lord’s might against the spiritual forces of evil ‘in the heavenly places’. He uses that same phrase five times in Ephesians. It’s as if we travel back and forth experiencing that overlapping of heaven and earth. Again, remember that phrase that Jesus spoke as He taught His disciples to pray: thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven? This may seem deep to you but when you get it, you’ll stand a little taller and walk a little stronger knowing what rightfully belongs to you who are in Christ.

This week I encourage you to walk in a manner worthy of who you are and begin to take full advantage of what is available to you. If you are bitter against someone, pull down forgiveness. If you are frustrated, pull down encouragement. If you need God’s mercy, it’s there for you, simply ask. Christ has provided all that you need to live in righteousness and holiness; take advantage of your inheritance, it’s a foretaste of heaven on earth.