Survival Mode: Discernment

  Anyone who believes we are not born sinful has never lived with a toddler.  Lying, stealing and deception come easily to them.  The truth is not in them.  As I scroll through social media, watch news and read news magazines,  I often think, the truth is not in them.  The covid numbers, the behavior of protesters and police, the prophecies surrounding the current state of our world are overwhelming. Even doctors and nurses disagree daily on how to manage this pandemic. The conflicting views are mind boggling.   

   In Max Lucado’s  You’ll Get through This,  he repeats a mantra that includes,   “ Don’t be foolish or naïve, but don’t despair either.”  The only cure for foolish and naïve is discernment. 

   In  Philippians 1:9 & 10  Paul tells the church his prayer “ that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.”  Discern.  ie:

 Understand what really matters         Approve what it excellent         Able to test and prove

·       How to make the right choices          Be able to choose what is best       Decide what is best

·       Distinguish things that are suitable     Proving things that differ       Use your head and test your feelings

  The world we are living in demands  we test and  prove every word that comes our way. Even among our spiritual leaders for the Bible warns, that even God’s chosen ones may be deceived in the last days. ( Matt 2:24,  Mark 13:22). We must examine every word for righteousness.  Apply spiritual judgement to every message received in sermons, in emails and in social media posts.   The only way to apply spiritual judgement is to know God’s Word.  I had a pastor tell the congregation, Bring your Bible to every service and open it to every devotion.  Make sure it says what the preacher/teacher says it does.  (I’m happy to say I’ve never caught a preacher misquoting) but I have heard others and read things that were not true.  Just this week I heard a black Pastor relate that as young man he was told the Bible said different color people should not be in the same room because “Birds of a feather should flock together”.  That’s not in the Bible.  (I’ve got more but that’s a post for another day).

    Never before has it been more important to know the word of God so that we can discern what is right and pure.   To know Truth.  The Word of God has to be our standard and prayer has to be our light.   Oh God, help us discern truth in these days.  

Thinkin’ about that. 

  

Mercy!

 

I grew up with doom and gloom prophecies. I heard all the sermons, saw all the videos and lived in absolute fear of the “end of the world”.   Fear was palpable as news about nuclear bombs, communism and corrupt politicians dominated.  Then there were the so-called “men of God” famous televangelists,  who blatantly sinned and built kingdoms to themselves. I repeatedly heard the saying, “If God lets America prosper, He must apologize to Sodom & Gomorrah.”  2020 feels like the year God said, I apologize to no one, ENOUGH America. 

In the midst of Covid 19’s judgement and with protests raging in our streets and burning cities, America continues in sin.  High courts continue to legalize sin.  In the midst of global shut down, the murder of innocent children was considered “essential”.  While it was deemed unnecessary for the people of God to gather, it was applauded that protesters march on our houses of government and ridicule our men and women of law enforcement.   God help us.  But I couldn’t blame Him if he doesn’t. 

Videos and articles are forwarded to me on a daily basis.  Some are doom and gloom, others call to action,  others just make me sad.  We live in sobering and frightening times. These days I try to file things in one of three places:

·       Totally untrue, forget it.

·       Totally truth, my litmus test is it has to come straight out of God’s Word. 

·       Pray about this and seek discernment                                                                                                        (See next week’s post on discernment,  subscribe to me as not to miss it.)

Whatever  the topic, as I wrestle with truth, there is only one possible response:  Mercy.  “The discretionary power of the judge to pardon”.   Grace is getting what we don’t deserve, Mercy is escaping what we do.  America is in need of mercy.   

 Because I’m still stumbling through the chronological Bible, I’ve read many stories of God’s anger against the Israelites. And I’ve noticed how many times He extended mercy.    So, I went digging.   There are at least, 34 instances in the Bible where God chose to “relent”.  Repeatedly the Israelites drove God to anger but Moses would plead for them, they would repent and God would relent.  The people of Nineveh repented and God chose to show compassion and forgive them. In the book of Amos, God relented at his desperate prayer.  Our God is NOT a God who wavers, He IS a God of compassion.  Every time God “changed his mind”, it was in regard to punishment. 

I do not know if all of this is God’s punishment.   I do not know if God will reign mercy again on us.  I am so frustrated with the direction we seem to be intent on going, it’s hard to pray for deliverance.    Regardless, I am convinced there is only one prayer for us.  Mercy, Mercy, Please forgive us or we will not survive. 

 Prayin’ for mercy today, I can’t just think about it. 

 

Go Away Baldy!

   As I continue trudging through Kings and Chronicles in my chronological daily Bible reading,  it is sometimes hard to focus.  This weekend I was in 2 Kings 2 when I came across this verse: "From there Elisha went up to Bethel.  As he was walking along the road, some boys came out of the town and jeered at him. "Get out of here, baldy,' they said, "Get out of here, Baldy.' (v23)  I laughed out loud.  And then, of course, I had to check it out in other translations.  The Hebrew means "bald".  That's the only word the translations use.  I wondered how different our culture would be if that were the worst insult hurled.  

    It bears saying that Elisha did not "turn the other cheek".  He called down a curse on them and two bears appeared out of nowhere and "mauled"  42 children.  Yikes!  It  seems a bit extreme for someone calling you "bald"  especially if you are.  

   So,  I dug a little deeper. The commentaries agree that these were children of Baal worshipers. Children who had been taught disdain for God. Further, they didn't run into Elisha by accident, nor in a little group.  At least 42 kids got together and followed Elisha through town calling him names.  They  knew who he was and saw him as an enemy to their lifestyle. It wasn't their insult to his lack of hair,  it was the underlying sin that caused Elisha to curse them and God to follow the curse with judgement.  Their hearts were wicked.  
   Always, always,  the behavior is secondary to the condition of the heart.  Looking around me at the behavior of police officers,  mobs in the street,  church congregations, politicians and the news media;  I wonder at the state of the heart.  What do my words and my actions reveal about the condition of my heart?   

   Thinkin' about my behavior today and wonderin' what it said about my heart.  

The Spirit of Pharaoh

  Studying Exodus online with Pastor Jim Cymbala for my daily devotionals.  He’s been talking about the spirit of Pharaoh.  We know the story of Pharaoh and Moses. (See Exodus 7-11) but I’m seeing a new perspective on Pharaoh.    

   In the midst of ten plagues, Pharaoh tells Moses the people can leave, seven times.  Seven times, he says “go” and seven times, he changes his mind. Analysis of this makes me squirm. 

   Every drop of water in Egypt turns to blood and Pharaoh doesn’t even flinch.  Frogs cover the land and he agrees to let the people go if the frogs do.  The frogs go, but the people don’t.  Scripture says, “when Pharaoh saw that relief had come, he became stubborn.”  Here come the gnats.  No response from Pharaoh.  Here come the flies. Again, Pharaoh says “Go” with conditions.  Moses refuses the conditions and Pharaoh gives in, for a minute. 

   The Egyptians and their economy are in trouble.  Egypt is an agricultural state so these plagues are taking a toll.  Now, the livestock are dying and still, Pharaoh remains “stubborn”.  Every Egyptian is covered in boils, including Pharaoh, even so, stubborn.  Next, God sends a hailstorm. This is an affliction I can relate to.  Living in Oklahoma and Colorado, I know firsthand what hail can do to your plants, house and cars. Pharaoh doesn’t even speak to Moses. 

   At this point, Pharaoh’s officials come and say the country is ruined, get these people away from us.  They are killing us!  Pharaoh calls Moses in and says okay, only the men can go.  Such audacity, after bloody water, frogs, gnats, flies, dead cows, painful skin, and hail; this guy still has the guts to argue. Moses says no, and so does Pharaoh.  Enter locusts. Now, Pharaoh “quickly” calls for Moses.  He pleads for forgiveness and the locusts to be eradicated.  Moses prays, locusts gone and Pharaoh refuses again.  The whole land is covered in darkness for three days, pitch black, no one could even move.  Pharaoh tells Moses they can go but can’t take their livestock.  BTW, the only living livestock was Israel’s, Egypt lost all theirs 4 disasters back.  Of course, Moses cannot negotiate with this guy.  He’s got a mandate from God.

  Finally, “. . . the Lord struck down all the firstborn sons in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne to the firstborn son of the prisoner in the dungeon. . ..  loud wailing was heard through the land of Egypt.  There was not a single house where someone had not died.”  (Exodus 12:29-30 NLT) Pharaoh can’t get the Israelites out of Egypt fast enough. 

   I’ve always focused on the unreasonably obstinate Pharaoh, the guy who just wouldn’t give in.  Today I’m thinkin’ about the Pharaoh who SEVEN times did give in.  Seven times he told Moses to go, but when relief from his trouble came, he changed his mind. 

   I live in a world where the spirit of Pharaoh is alive and well.  People make all manner of promises in the midst of trouble. When trouble abates, those are forgotten or modified.  Remember when your community clapped, hollered or howled for healthcare workers every night?  Remember when the only news was Rona numbers.  Remember when governors did daily news conferences?  Then, when the “models” were wrong, those events died down.  Even we, who proclaim to be God’s people fall back into complacency when things get better.  Like Pharaoh, we make all kinds of promises during a plague and back off our fervency in the relief.  During a crisis, it’s easy to spend time in the Word and in prayer, in desperation for God to act.    

   As we move forward and Rona numbers decrease, our cities reopen and life becomes a little more normal; we dare not embrace the spirit of Pharaoh.  There has never been a crisis in our lifetimes like this one.  Never before have we been so dependent on the God of the Bible.   When we can hug again, have dinner together again, take trips again, join in our houses of worship; let’s remember to keep the promises made in desperate times.  Let’s remember to  acknowledge the God of the plague.

Thinkin’ on that today.  

Give me your Eyes, Lord

    Pastor Herb Cooper of Peoples Church OKC is doing a series on Last Days                               https://peoples.church/series/last-days ) .  I respect and know him to be a man of God and preacher of truth.  This week he started a list of 7 ways the church needs to get ready for the Rapture.  The first one was “Return to your first love.”   Not just love the Lord your God, but also love your neighbor.  In this teaching, he pointed out that we tend to build relationships with people who are like us.  Not just in color, but in interests, in profession, in beliefs.   It’s natural and nothing is wrong with it.  Unless, we neglect to love the neighbor we don’t understand.  He pointed out that when his wife was crying out in childbirth, he didn’t feel any pain; but he appreciated that she was and sympathized.

   I have never had a son die on foreign soil fighting for our country.   However,  I arrived one morning at work to find that Barb’s only son was missing in action in Afghanistan,. My tears mingled with the rest of the faculty.  It never occurred to me to dismiss her pain. 

   I’ve never lost a job and wondered how I could make ends meet.  But, when Susan text me that her husband was out of work and they couldn’t make their mortgage, I responded immediately with prayer and empathy.  It never entered my mind to shrug and roll my eyes. 

   I did not become a widow with young children to raise alone.  But right after I moved here, a young police officer was killed in the line.  I didn’t know that family.  Still, I watched in tears as the young wife, carrying her small child, marched behind the flag-draped coffin of her husband.  I never once thought she was faking pain. 

     However, this week as I watched protesters around the US march through city streets, God forgive me.  I shook my head and rolled my eyes in disgust.  Wah, Wah, Wah.   I write this after repentance.  

   Many, not all, of those peacefully protesting in our streets today are in pain.  I don’t understand it because I have no experience to draw from in that arena.  Just like bad teachers, immoral preachers, racist policemen and corrupt politicians, there are bad people protesting.  But I don’t label all teachers, all preachers, all law enforcement because of those failures. How can I label all protesters?

     I’m watching the protesters today with new vision.  I’m looking for those who are truly hurting from something I do not understand and cannot comprehend.

   With Brandon Heath, I pray today, Oh Lord;  Give me your eyes. Give me your heart. Let me see the way You see.  Help me love my neighbor, especially the one I don’t have anything in common with.  I need, want and must return to my first love.  The love for God and the love for my neighbor. 

Thinkin' today about how Jesus sees.

Welcome to Patmos

   

    So, I’m thinkin’ today about John, the beloved disciple.  The one to whom Jesus entrusted His own mother’s life. John wrote his gospel between 80-95 AD, well after the ascension of Jesus.  He’s very clear that his purpose in this book is that others believe that Jesus is the Christ.  (Bonus Tip:  when an unbeliever asks where to start in the Bible, tell them to read the book of John.  It’s the nutshell book).   A few years later John is living in Ephesus and he pens his three letters to no one in particular.  Scholars believe it was a “circular” letter that circulated among the churches in Asia. Only the third letter was addressed personally to Gaius.   Finally, with all the other disciples dead, John’s testimony and letters get him in trouble with the government.  He is exiled to the Isle of Patmos.  John is a very old man at this point.   He is isolated, cut off from his family, friends and ministry.  Not the way he planned to live out his golden years. 

   Most of us, elderly and the not-so-elderly, are living a 2020 that is not what we planned.  We’ve been exiled to our homes, cut off from the things we enjoy and the people we love to spend time with. Welcome to Patmos.   

   John is alone on an island.  All he can see is water.  He can’t even zoom or text a friend.  There are no drive by celebrations or Netflix.   Our situation is sounding better all the time. 

  Even as John lays back in a hammock, he is not relaxed.  Like us, he’s wondering how he got here.  What he did to deserve this.  In his loneliest moment of isolation, an angel appears.  The angel brings a revelation from God.   THE revelation.  An angel showed up on Patmos, bringing along some parchment and a pen, to give John the end of all our stories. 

   Looking back over the last twelve plus weeks, I’d like to point out I was not exiled on a beautiful island, (yes, I’m still smarting over that Hawaii trip).   I have not had any angelic visitations, (unless you count my grandkids).   However, I have felt the presence of God in my home.  I’ve been able to attend church all over the country via internet.  I’ve read several books by favorite Christian authors.  I’ve taken extra time with God’s Word.  I started really writing this blog.  I have the same amount of time I had before covid 19.  I always invite Jesus into my day.  However, I realized, I invite him to be a part of my already penned to-do list. With no to-do list and a planner full of cancellations, each day really does start fresh.  Jesus doesn’t want to be part of my agenda; He wants to be my agenda.   

Just thinkin’ about that.      

Ears & Mouths

    Mark Twain said,   "If you were supposed to talk more than you listen, you'd have 2 mouths and 1 ear."  I quoted this all the time to my students as a teacher.   Part of my beginning of the year procedure training was teaching the difference in listening and hearing.   We would sit silently for 60 seconds, then list the sounds we heard.  Next, I would read poetry, usually  Shel Silverstein for 60 seconds.  Always, the noises of the classroom and hallway would fade away as they focused on my voice reading a humorous poem.  The noises were still there but we were now Listening, not only hearing.
   God knows the difference between our hearing and listening.  The word "listen" is found 231 times in the NIV version of the Bible and "hear"  is found 347 times. (Bible.org)   Not only did God know the difference in the two but He placed great importance on both also.

  Psalm 81:8 is only one of many times God begs His children to listen. "Listen to me, oh my People, while I give you stern warnings.  O Israel, if you would only listen to me." Most translations say "listen" .  The CEV says "pay attention"  some translate "obey" and the Hebrew word means "hear intelligently."   Oh, that we would hear with a little intelligence.   

   It is not enough that we listen,  but we must also follow the "stern warnings".  Verse 9 isn't a new commandment,  it's the first one God gave Moses in the wilderness, " you must not bow down before a false god".  He laments again and again that the people will not listen.   And then, " How quickly I would then subdue their enemies.  How soon my hands would be upon their foes!" v14 .
   I can't help but think God is speaking this to America today.  His desires for us are good,  He wants to help us, but we won't listen.  Worse,  we won't give up our false gods. "But no, my people wouldn't listen.  Israel did not want me around." v11.
   I can't make you listen or do.  But, as for me,  I do want God around and I'm going to practice listening and following his "stern warnings".   

Thinkin'  Psalm 81 is the answer to Rona.