Our Reward

Purple Flowers*

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying,

“Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

Genesis 15:1

No matter what we do for Him, how we serve Him, how we follow Him. We aren’t looking for a reward of this earth, we’re looking to Him. Sure, He may choose to bless us here, He so often does. He’s full of generosity. But our truest and greatest reward is Him, both now and eternally.

What does that mean? How do I experience Him now? 

How often have you felt an aching in your heart, an unnamed longing? Then, you see something beautiful, hear something glorious, taste something exquisite? Those moments of pure pleasure are moments when God is wooing us to Himself. So, do you connect with Him in those moments? If you do, what happens inside when you do? 

Sometimes life is so busy, we gloss over those moments. We barely allow ourselves to stop for even one second and breathe in the fragrance of lavender or carnations. What are we afraid of? Not getting something else done? Being late for a meeting? See, the issue is we’re looking for value in all our doing. Validation. A means to prove we matter, that we’re important. But our value isn’t in what we do. It’s in being. Just being. God created you, therefore, you’re valuable. Period. No matter what you do. 

We’re also trying to fill up a void in our hearts, like I mentioned above. And somehow all the busyness is supposed to help. But it doesn’t. 

Sometimes we just need to stop.

On a walk in the delightful spring weather one afternoon, my daughter just stopped, threw her arms out wide, and closed her eyes to take it all in. The breeze and sunshine, the time together. Priceless moments.

What about prayer encounters with God? Do we stop, breathe, close our eyes and just take Him in?

If we do, we’re receiving a reward here on earth. Refreshing for thirsty, busy souls. Raindrops in the desert. Sunlight in the forest.

Just stop. Breathe. Focus in on God. Let Him fill you up. 

He is your exceeding great reward. Now and forever. 

* Photo credit: freedigitalphotos.net Purple Flowers by Natara.

Finding Direction

Direction*

For several mornings now, geese have been flying over our yard, headed north to their favorite lake. Temperatures have been in the 50s up to high 60s. Hospitable for geese (and people). Then, after weeks without a frost, we had two nights in a row of freezing temperatures. On that second morning, as I stood in the yard with our dog, I watched a goose fly over, calling to another beyond the trees. Just two of them. No V-formation that morning. They weren’t flying north this time, these two loners had apparently decided they’d gotten their seasons mixed up and after waking to find a second frosty day, determined to head south. In mid-April. Uh, excuse me gentlemen, but you’re going the wrong way. Hang on a little longer and the temps will return to a hospitable range for dwellers of the out of doors. You just have to tough it out a bit longer.

Made me stop to think. How often do we do that? Go in what we believe is the correct direction, during the appropriate season, then hit signs that seem to indicate the opposite and suddenly do an about-face? Or when we hit hardships, do we do an about-face?

A Good Question

A Bible study question came up the other day: How do we know we’re following God? How do we know we’re walking with Him? Great question. Here’s another one: If we could be sure which way God is going, would we follow Him? Before we answer that question with an “of course,” we need to consider the cost. And not be surprised if hardships humble us along the way. Our faith will be tested (whether we follow God or go off on our own; there’s no avoiding the tests of faith), so will we trust?

From all appearances, the geese doubted themselves. Dawn came, bringing a second morning of frost and they woke up, left the crowd and headed back south to who knows where. Do hardships ever make you doubt where you’re supposed to be? I think the geese showed a human tendency. They added up the current facts and changed their course. That’s not all bad.

We determine if we’re on the right course by the signs. When you’re headed down an unfamiliar stretch of road, you follow a map, GPS. Directions. And, if you’re like me, you might double-check the roadside signs every so often. Yes. I-90 East. That’s the right direction. If suddenly you see a sign that reads I-90 West, you get off at the nearest exit and get back on going the correct direction. Problem solved. It’s natural, and dare I say “teachable,” to analyze the signs and use them as confirmation. Makes us feel, especially during the hard times, that we’re on the right track. We’re doing the right thing. We’re headed in the right direction. There’s peace in that knowing, isn’t there?

Helpful Directions

Here are some tips to help us know if we’re going the right direction:

1) Pray: Pray always. We don’t have to be anxious about where we are. And sometimes we’ll have surety. But for those moments when we’d like to check the sign, just ask Him. God will honor a sincere heart. He won’t leave us wondering. He never minds giving us confirmation.

2) Ask: Have I followed God’s latest instruction? Sometimes God sends us off on an exit, if you will, and we don’t take it. If that happens, we might end up diverting for a while. To get back on track, double-check that you’ve obeyed God’s directions. If you’re on the wrong side street, repent, and return to the right path.

3) Be in the Word: The Bible is our map, our guide. So, be a student of the Word. Watch God bring it to life for you. We could study it for one-hundred years and still not understand all God has to show us. There are too many facets.

Above all else, when you need confirmation as you humbly seek to do God’s will, here’s some reassurance:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

(Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV)

AND

You will show me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

(Psalm 16:11 NKJV)

Photo credit: www.freedigitalphotos.net by porbital

Expectations

Cross

Good Friday

On “Palm Sunday,” Jesus entered Jerusalem to the cheers of the crowd who shouted "Hosanna in the highest!" They saw Him as their deliverer. But on their terms. When He didn’t “live up to” their expectations, they turned on Him. By the next Friday (not even a week later) they were condemning Him. The crowds now shouted “Crucify Him!” over and over. Disturbing, isn’t it?

But put yourself in their shoes: they had an expectation, based on biblical prophecies and promises from God (legitimate sources). When Jesus didn’t do what they wanted, when they wanted, they gave up on Him. They turned on Him. Their anger turned to bloodlust and they “cheered” for His death.

I could never understand that. Couldn’t imagine it. I read the gospels and hope there’s an escape hatch for Jesus this time through. That He won’t end up on the cross. Well, part of me does. The other part gets that He had to die so I could truly live. Praise Him!

But as I await fulfilled promises, I sometimes find myself trusting less and questioning more. I resent and resist, at times. The same heart (mine) that praised Him and adored Him and welcomed Him resists, rejects, and questions Him.

Just like the Israelites did.

Just Because…

But here’s what He’s teaching me through this humbling reflection where I’ve found more in common with the crowds than I imagined existed:

Just because Jesus didn’t fulfill all the prophecies yet doesn’t mean He won’t. He will.

And just because Jesus didn’t keep Lazarus alive doesn’t mean He didn’t care. He did.

And just because I don’t understand what He’s doing or why the delay lasts so long doesn’t mean He’s not right in all He does. He is.

And just because there’s a delay doesn’t mean the answer’s “no.” It’s not. He said it; He’ll do it.


God’s Way
It all comes down to expectations and trust. Sure, have your expectations. Stand on the word God gave you. Absolutely. Just don’t allow your heart to harden while God gears up to do things His way.

The people wanted a deliverer, but without the cross, no one could be saved. The people’s expectations became a tool God used that made much more sense after the suffering than before. The people crying “crucify Him” led closer to the cross. And I shudder to think where we’d be without the cross.

See, the Messiah is a Redeemer. And without the cross, there would be no redemption. That’s hope.

He redeems us.

He will redeem the time while we wait.

He will redeem the situation and work it out for our good.

They cried “crucify Him” Friday morning, but they didn’t know Sunday morning was coming. The day of victory, life, hope, change, breakthrough for Him, for us. Those who had rejected Him could now welcome Him again.

I wish we weren’t fickle. I wish we always made the right choices, always welcomed Him, always provided that respite of a lily among thorns. But then we wouldn’t need a Savior. A redeemer.

Oh, how we need Him.

Praise God for Good Friday. Take heart. We won’t wait forever. Resurrection Sunday is on its way!

God said, “Look at Me!”

starry sky*

I don’t know about you, but God has me in a season of change, of growth. Like a farmer, he’s tilling the soil of my heart and digging up some rather unsightly rocks. Not a fun process. But I learned long ago the sooner I cooperate the sooner I get through the lessons. There’s only a battle if I fight His work. So, I try not to. Of course, that isn’t always true, but who’s perfect? 

Sometime in the last several weeks, I ran across the following passage. First a little setup: Moses was trying to get out of the calling God had for him. He didn’t want all the attention on him. He’d gone into hiding as a young murderer and didn’t want to come out. He was probably still ashamed of his overreaction way back when and wanted to stay out of sight, and out of judgment.  So, he’s trying to get out of God’s assignment: 

And Moses answered, “Look at me. I stutter. Why would Pharaoh listen to me?”

God told Moses, “Look at me. I’ll make you as a god to Pharaoh and your brother Aaron will be your prophet. You are to speak everything I command you, and your brother Aaron will tell it to Pharaoh. Then he will release the Israelites from his land.  (Exodus 6:30; 7:1-2 MSG)

When we’re tempted to get bogged down by the burden of our own weaknesses, we need to look at God instead, especially in the context of serving Him or following through on His assignment, but I think other times too.

Are you ever tempted to point out your weaknesses to God, rather than magnify Him? His strength is made perfect in our weakness (see 2 Cor. 12:9) . And if He calls you to something, He’ll make a way, though it may not be simple (remember all those Egyptian plagues?).  

Remember, too, God only points out our trouble stops in order to help us overcome, get free, or be healed. Never to condemn. God convicts; He doesn’t condemn His children.

Next time you’re overwhelmed by your own struggles or weaknesses, look at God instead. Let Him fill your vision. Let Him show you what He can do with you, in you, and through you. 

* Star picture courtesy www.freedigitalphotos.net by xedos4