Distracted Service

"Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first." ~Jesus

The Christians in Ephesus were hard workers. They had ferretted out false teachers and kicked out wicked men. They had learned to test the Spirits to see if they were of God and had persevered through hardships for Jesus' name. Fervently serving the Lord without growing weary, these people suddenly reminded me of the story of Martha and Mary. Martha was so distracted that she forgot to take time to listen to the one she was serving. She had left her first love. She needed restoration.

It's so easy to get off on the Ephesian path. To be looking for the evil in each other instead of worshiping Jesus creates silly arguments that drive wedges between people. Tensions build at each "Aha!". It sure doesn't sound like a very joyful group of people to be around.  Restoration was needed and healing would only begin if they remembered, repented and returned.

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed." ~Luke  

Adding Forget to Forgiveness

"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you." ~Jesus

I struggled with forgiveness for a long time. I could forgive but I just couldn't forget. I felt defeated and questioned my salvation. My countenance fell and even walking felt like slogging through fog. The more I tried to forget the more I remembered and the cycle would gain speed. In the midst of this self perpetuated storm the Holy Spirit stepped in and asked, "Why are you adding to my word?"

My spirit quickened. It was like a smoldering wick had been blown into flame as I read what the Bible had to say about forgetting. Most of it had to do with NOT forgetting. I was confused though. Weren't we to "forgive and forget" because God forgives us and forgets our sins? Isn't that part of loving others? I reread the attributes of love paying close attention to the word or concept of "forgetting". It says, "Love keeps no record of wrong." It does not say, "Love always forgets". I had bought into the world's idea of forgiveness and it had nothing to do with forgetting.

Forgive me, Lord! Thank you for showing me that I had heaped onto myself chains that I didn't need to carry!

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." 

Solid Foundation

"For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ." ~Paul

When my husband and I marked out the foundation for our house, we carefully used the instruments to make sure it would be level and we dug down to hard pan for stability. The footings had to be just so and we were well aware that any mistakes would be magnified at the time of building. If the foundation was strong, the house could withstand earthquakes and storms. Even if fire swept away the rest, the foundation would remain and the house reconstructed on it.

I'm grateful for this illustration of Paul's. Jesus is a firm foundation that has passed the test of time. I can trust that if I build my life with him as the center, I can withstand the earthquakes and storms that life deals out. Even when the fiery trials come, my foundation is firm and any reconstructing can begin.

So this is what the Sovereign Lord says; "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trust will never be dismayed." ~Isaiah

Two are One

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy..." ~Paul

I asked the Lord to open my eyes to the love that he has for the church. I was considerably taken aback when the Spirit washed over my mind with this verse. Random memories of my husband's patience with me and the kindness he's always had came rushing through my spirit. Every morning when the alarm sounds and he drags himself out of bed to shower and go to work, he's giving his life for me. Love always perseveres, one day at a time. He thinks I'm worth it even though there are a lot of people that would disagree. He is captivated by my love and I have no idea why. He chose me, gave me his name, proclaimed me his, and has been protecting me for over thirty years. What a wonderful example of the love that Christ has for the church. Thank you Lord, for opening my eyes to it!

"...As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you." ~Isaiah

All Leaves

"May you never bear fruit again!" ~Jesus

Jesus was hungry and the fig tree was in leaf but there was no fruit. It was not the season for figs. He cursed it and it withered from the roots. I can't help but feel sorry for that fig tree. It's hard for me to get past the seemingly unfair curse. A shimmer of understanding has me mulling over the seasons and hints at a warning.

I've felt like a tree out of season lately. It's not the first time and I'm aware that just as the seasons change, my life changes in cycles also. The planting of Spring, the watering of Summer, the harvest of Fall and the quiet cold of Winter have woven themselves into the pattern of my life. Like that fig tree, I can be all leaves and no fruit though. Jesus said if I remain in him I will bear much fruit. I must preach the Word whether in season or out of season. How horrid to think of never bearing the fruit of the Spirit!

"But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither." ~David

Daddy's Home

He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. ~John

I was meditating on the return of Jesus and reminded of a prayer I said long ago. My daughter was around three years old and very much a Daddy's girl. She eagerly awaited his homecoming from work every day and would dance around, giggle and squeal when he opened the door. He would empty his arms and she would fly into them and they would twirl around together, completely captivated by each other. I remember praying, "Jesus when you return, please give me the same enthusiasm and love for you that my baby girl has for her Daddy! When you come back, I want to be so joyful that I dance, giggle and squeal until I am enveloped in your arms."

"Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day- and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." ~Paul 

Submitting For Good

"Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you." ~ The Lord God

There was a woman in a ladies Bible study that carried on and on about a grandiose good work that she wanted to start. Yes, it would be an all consuming project but she was certain she was going to reach thousands of people for Christ. Exciting right? If only her husband wasn't dead set against it, she fumed. She was plotting to push through with her ideas anyway and risk her marriage because she just knew that this was a good plan. She was convinced that he was being unreasonable by insisting that she was already spread too thin with her time and resources. In her eyes, by denying her the green light, he was disobeying the Lord. In my eyes, he was protecting her from burn out. She asked us what we thought.

I told her that if she went ahead with this that it would be HER disobeying the Lord not him. Her eyes grew wide at my obviously unexpected answer. The Bible says, "Wives, submit to your husband, as is fitting in the Lord". If you reject this word of the Lord, what kind of wisdom do you have? If your foundation for good works is rebellion how good are those works really? Be careful whose wisdom you embrace by disobeying God. Especially, if you are deceived into thinking that you're doing it for Him.   

"For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry." ~Samuel