Trash and Treasure

God often uses for great purposes what men reject.

Judges 11:1-3

Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior, but he was the son of a prostitute. Gilead was the father of Jephthah. And Gilead's wife also bore him sons. And when his wife's sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out and said to him, 'You shall not have an inheritance in our father's house, for you are the son of another woman.' Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob, and worthless fellows collected around Jephthah and wen you t with him. 

Jephthah is one of the most interesting characters in the Bible. When the writer of Judges describes Jephthah I think of a rugged, burly, tough guy like William Wallace's uncle in the movie Braveheart.

I imagine Jephthah carried horrible pain with him. The only family he knew rejected him and drove him out of their home. He was left alone and hated by his brothers. Tragic. Sad. I imagine countless nights crying out to God.

I see some real beauty in God's plan though. Jephthah found community among 'worthless fellows'. Does this mean they were also rejected? Does it mean they were sinful? Maybe both? Either way, it is wonderful how the Lord provided community for Jephthah in the midst of his rejection.

It is also amazing to see God's bigger plan for Jephthah. The Lord created Jephthah as a mighty warrior. Though his family rejected him because he was born of a prostitute, the people of Gilead needed him when they faced attack from the Ammonites. They sent for him to lead them.

It is unlikely but beautiful how God's plan works out. God often uses for great purposes what men reject.

This amazing story points to an even greater story of rejection. When God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, the world rejected him and killed him on a cross. It is in Jesus' rejection and resurrection that the Lord saves sinners. God used the most unjust rejection to display the most wonderful act of grace in history!

Many of us have also experienced painful rejection. Our hearts break. Our lives crumble. We wonder if we are 'worthless fellows'. Maybe the world tells us we are worthless...maybe not. Either way, there is only one opinion that matters...God's. The Lord knows us. He designed each of us. His plan is magnificent and we each play a role in it. 

Embrace the rejected resurrected Son of God. Experience Life Transformation through faith in him!

Likewise, embrace the Lord's design in you. Be who he has called you to be. Live the way he called you to live.

Taken from reading Judges 11-15

Weak and Strong

Sometimes God chooses the weak to overcome the strong in order to display His strength.

Judges 7:2

The Lord said to Gideon, 'The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, 'My own hand has saved me.'

Gideon is a strange character. He was weak. His family was weak. His people was weak. He was also afraid. The only reason I can see why the Lord chose him is to put the Lord's glory on display, rather than man's. There is no way Gideon would have succeeded in any of his ventures without the direct hand of God on what he was doing. All of the decisions, actions, and strategies recorded are from the Lord. God made an amazing display of power through a weak man.

This is how God works sometimes. When we look at the life of Jesus. He was a humble carpenter from Nazareth (so it appeared). He lived a perfect life, died on a cross, rose from the grave, and saved us from our sins. What an amazing work form such a humble person.

This story gives me hope. I am a simple man from a humble background. Many of us are. When we look at the huge problems in the world it is easy to be overwhelmed by the challenges that exist. Can I make a difference? Why would God use me to impact the world? These are the questions that haunt many of us. 

The answer to these questions is an astounding, 'YES!' God can use you! God uses the seemingly insignificant to impact the world all the time! And when he does it he gets the glory!

Taken from reading Judges 6-10

Then and Now

We are always a generation away from total abandonment of God's ways. The twenty first century is no different than the time of the judges in this regard. 

Judges 2:10

And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the world that he had done for Israel.

Joshua and his generation saw all the Lord did. To free the Israelites from Egypt, sustain them in the wilderness, and defeat their enemies. They knew the Lord although they did allow a root of rebellion to creep in. The next generation compromised the Lord's commands therefore did not receive his promises.

I look out at the landscape of our country now and sigh. All I see is division. Not much peace. I see little cooperation among our leaders. How are our children to learn how to work together if all they see are angry mobs clashing against each other? They wont. They will follow the patterns they see. The only way they will change is if they see a different example and are taught a different way. Divisiveness only breeds more of itself.

The people of Israel began the descent away from the Lord during Joshua's generation. By the time their children were grown rebellion had fully taken root. 

The beautiful part of this story is the fact that the Lord did not forget his promise to his servants Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and Joshua. Though God's people would suffer oppression God would not release them to oblivion. He would fulfill his promises to his people. He would send his son, Jesus Christ, to save his people from their sin and rebellion.

This is the hope of every culture. This is the answer to every wrong.

Taken from reading Judges 1-5

How to use time

How do I want to spend my life? Life is time. Every moment passes, never to return. Moments never stop. There is no pause. There is no break from this moment to the next and the next. Always forward. Never stop. Never backward. You cannot relive a moment.

We do have an option though. We can use every moment for its best use. We can choose how we use the time. Every choice leads to another and another and another. Better choices lead to better and even better ones.

The Lord has provided us with time. He has given us eternal purposes and ways in which to live. Those of us who know Him can walk in his ways knowing we are using this life for its grandest purpose. May we do this. May we be ever prepared for the time that comes to us all, whether He returns or we pass on.

This is my heart for the moment, the hour, the day, and the year.  

Luke 21:34-36

But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon your suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.

Taken from reading Luke 21-24

Faithful with Little

Faithful with little.

Luke 16:10-11 One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?

If we saw reality as it truly is, nothing really belongs to us. God is the sovereign king of all things. He owns all of it. Each of us is allowed to manage a small sliver of creation. Everything I see around my house, my town, my state, my nation, my world actually belongs to God. He watches us deal with each other and handle his creation.

He calls us to handle resources in a way that honors him. He calls us to give and live. He calls us to put others first, to help others in need.

I know there are ways I can handle God's resources better than I do now. There are things I can improve on. That is my desire, to walk in total faithfulness to the Lord. I desire to glorify the Lord in how I steward his provision.

I am so thankful for what the Lord has allowed me to have and to do. I am truly blessed beyond measure. I must take inventory of what I manage and not allow any to be squandered. All of it belongs to God and I will give account one day for how I manage it.

All of us will.

Life is about change

Life is about change. Not just any change though. Life is about changing the whole person. You can tell when a person is acting a part and you can tell when a person truly has been transformed from the inside out.

Luke 15:21-24 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring thee fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to celebrate.

There is something about struggle that elicits real and lasting change. It is like digging out the roots of a weed as opposed to just clipping it off. If you just clip it off it will grow back quickly. If you dig it out from the root it will be gone forever.

The lost son began as an arrogant and entitled brat. He squandered all his inheritance from his father and was left with nothing. He ended up working with pigs, an animal Jews despised as unclean. It was here, in the lowest of points, the young man's heart was changed. He saw in his mind's eye the results of his sin, poverty and suffering. He saw the love of his father to provide for him.

In this moment the root of pride and arrogance were dug up completely. His father did not have to yell at him and shame him. On the contrary, his father allowed him the freedom to take his inheritance and do with it what he wanted.

Upon his return the father showed the son how much he cherished him. The love of a father is as deep as the ocean.

There are moments in life when you will be at the bottom, like working with pigs. Maybe you squandered opportunity or maybe you didn't but the fact remains: this is the time to see your life for what it truly is. This is the time to allow your heart to be transformed by your Heavenly Father. He will rejoice at your return. And you will find home in his loving arms.

What foundation?

On what are you building your foundation?

Luke 6:46-49

Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you? 'Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broker against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well build. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.

Our lives are a little crazy right now. We are going through a major transition out of a church and trying to find another church. Our friend circles have drastically changed. My time is spent on much different activities now compared to three months ago.  This is the first time since 2003 I am not on staff at a church. 

So many emotions. So many thoughts.

At this point we do not have an anchor in this world, other than our business, tying us down. This situation brings some excitement and some insecurity. It tests us in ways we have not been tested in many years.

But there is one thing I do not doubt: my life is built on the foundation of Christ Jesus. Knowing this brings stability, security, and hope.

The Lord knows what is going on in my life. He has me. He loves me. He cherishes me as his beloved child. For this I am amazed and thankful. I know not matter where we end up and no matter what we do we will serve the Lord. He is our foundation and our rock. May we glorify him with our lives.

Taken from reading Luke 6-10