I am often amused when I hear young parents say to their little ones, "You need to act your age!" Being pretty good at estimating the ages of small children, I would guess that they are acting their age...exactly.
Children, after all, are not miniature adults...they are children. And childhood should be fun, exciting, full of wonder. Of course, it is a time for growing, as well. And they will, in due time. In the meantime, let them be children.
As the beloved children of God, we are afforded a reasonable time for growth and maturation in the faith. And then, at some point, we are expected to start growing up in that faith. Peter put it this way, "Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good." (I Peter 2:1-2) It's okay to start out as a baby...we all do, but we should be growing along the way. If we have not put aside those things that are harmful to us, that Peter mentioned, we are not growing quickly enough. We are not acting our spiritual age.
Sometimes, we simply slip and fall back into an old way of doing things...B.R. Before Redemption. But, with the Holy Spirit to quicken us, we cannot stay in that state or condition for very long. It's just too miserable. Like a baby who is ready for solid food, nothing else, not all the milk in the world, will satisfy that hunger. We have to get back to the table, where the good food is spread before us. Peter listed the things that stint our growth. And I might add that his is a short list, but still it encompasses major categories.
So how will we know when we are ready to grow-up spiritually? Well, I think I might know the answer to that inquiry. Mama had a phrase that she used when she was attempting to make that very point. No longer did she say that I needed to act my age. Instead, she said (calmly, but firmly) six little words that stung like a wasp on sun-burned skin. "You're old enough to know better."
I think that is exactly what Jesus whispers to me, "Don't do that. You're old enough to know better. Don't say that...it's unkind, and you're old enough to know better." What He is telling me is this: I don't need to be concerned with what others are doing and saying. I am at a place in His mercy and grace that I know better. I have experienced the depth of His unfailing love time and time again, and I'm too big now, to act like a fool. We will always be growing in grace. And that maturity must be evident in our daily choices, if Christ is to be glorified through us.
We can start out slowly...one thing at a time. For example, let's begin to really think about what we say. The 2/3 Rule is a good measuring tool. Just before blurting something out, take a moment to examine it by these standards...
1) Is it true?
2) Is it kind?
3) Is it necessary?
If it doesn't meet the 2/3 rule (two of the three should easily apply), then DON'T SAY IT!! Why? Because, you're old enough (in Christ) to know better!
Achieving spiritual maturity in a godless world will never be easy. These days we are concerned with everybody's rights except God's. (paraphrased from a quote by Dr. Billy Graham) He has the right to expect the redeemed to behave accordingly. We are not under the curse of the law any longer; we have chosen to live by a higher standard...the standard of Love, and it's time to grow up.
After all, we're old enough to know better, so let's start acting our age!
Friday, April 25, 2014
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
looking for a garden
It's springtime. The time of the singing of the birds has begun. I enjoy being outdoors during this time of the year. It makes me wonder what it was like to walk in the Garden of Eden with the Creator of the universe.
As He walked there, communing daily with His most prized creation, man, the Father must have been overjoyed at all He had done. You would think that it would have been "enough" for mankind. But, we all know the story...man wanted more. And he still does.
We chase after fulfillment everywhere except where it truly is. Man has fallen. And, how great was his fall!
Just imagine, walking in the cool of the day...not a hasty on-a-mission walk, but a short, sweet meandering, taking time to marvel at every creature, or flower, or sound, or color...that kind of walk. And if that weren't enough, God walking with us. Laughing and talking about the day. How could we ever bear to leave such a place?!
Well friend, let me tell you something. God missed us; He missed us more than we missed Him, and one day, it was just too much. He had to do something to bring us back. He loved us that much. And while the Garden of Eden, itself, is forever gone, He created something even better. He's made it possible for each of us to walk with Him every day...He's making our hearts a beautiful garden. He made a way to come back home to Him. Jesus, His precious Son, is the gateway to our own garden with God.
Never again will we be cast out. Jesus walks with us; He never leaves.
He loves us more than anything.
I wonder if we will ever be able to comprehend such love and affection...so great that even the angels wanted to know more about it. (I Peter 1: 12)
The world that God imagined for us, was physically ruined as a result of the fall. Nothing will ever get it back. But, we can...every one of us...have a supernatural relationship with the Lord of the Universe. It's so easy. All we need to do, is look to Jesus as the author and finisher of our faith...the great exchange: my all for His all! From that moment, there is nothing that can separate us from the hand of the Lord. We remain in His love, as He builds a beautiful garden from the ashes in our old stony hearts. And that is where we will find Him...every moment of every day. For, "where your heart is, there is your treasure!"
Today, as we celebrate what is left of our beautiful earth, let us not neglect the garden of gardens. Stop flirting with the ways-of-the-world and spend more time with the One who sings over you. Thanks be to God for the peace that passes all earthly understanding. It's always sunny in this garden...the only rain is gentle and sweet upon the face. The storms are all far, far away...they aren't allowed here. Come aside and sit in the Garden of His mercy, grace and unfailing love. Listen, don't you hear the sound of the singing...run, run into His open arms...and rest awhile.
As He walked there, communing daily with His most prized creation, man, the Father must have been overjoyed at all He had done. You would think that it would have been "enough" for mankind. But, we all know the story...man wanted more. And he still does.
We chase after fulfillment everywhere except where it truly is. Man has fallen. And, how great was his fall!
Just imagine, walking in the cool of the day...not a hasty on-a-mission walk, but a short, sweet meandering, taking time to marvel at every creature, or flower, or sound, or color...that kind of walk. And if that weren't enough, God walking with us. Laughing and talking about the day. How could we ever bear to leave such a place?!
Well friend, let me tell you something. God missed us; He missed us more than we missed Him, and one day, it was just too much. He had to do something to bring us back. He loved us that much. And while the Garden of Eden, itself, is forever gone, He created something even better. He's made it possible for each of us to walk with Him every day...He's making our hearts a beautiful garden. He made a way to come back home to Him. Jesus, His precious Son, is the gateway to our own garden with God.
Never again will we be cast out. Jesus walks with us; He never leaves.
He loves us more than anything.
I wonder if we will ever be able to comprehend such love and affection...so great that even the angels wanted to know more about it. (I Peter 1: 12)
The world that God imagined for us, was physically ruined as a result of the fall. Nothing will ever get it back. But, we can...every one of us...have a supernatural relationship with the Lord of the Universe. It's so easy. All we need to do, is look to Jesus as the author and finisher of our faith...the great exchange: my all for His all! From that moment, there is nothing that can separate us from the hand of the Lord. We remain in His love, as He builds a beautiful garden from the ashes in our old stony hearts. And that is where we will find Him...every moment of every day. For, "where your heart is, there is your treasure!"
Today, as we celebrate what is left of our beautiful earth, let us not neglect the garden of gardens. Stop flirting with the ways-of-the-world and spend more time with the One who sings over you. Thanks be to God for the peace that passes all earthly understanding. It's always sunny in this garden...the only rain is gentle and sweet upon the face. The storms are all far, far away...they aren't allowed here. Come aside and sit in the Garden of His mercy, grace and unfailing love. Listen, don't you hear the sound of the singing...run, run into His open arms...and rest awhile.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
I hear chirping
"Let heaven and nature sing!" It's not just a phrase from the wonderful old Christmas carol, "Joy To The World." "All nature sings, and 'round me rings the music of the spheres..." another reminder in the words of a great old hymn, "This Is My Father's World." It's true, nature is at its best in the springtime. Everything seems vibrant and alive again, and that's the plan. Yes, nature sings.
And so begin the days of late evenings, sitting on the porch, listening to crickets chirp. Their unique song is peaceful and has a musically calming effect, particularly after a long and stressful day.
However, I have also noticed that if you take that lovely chirping out of its natural environment, it becomes a nuisance. For example, a cricket in the bedroom at night is annoying...it disturbs my rest. And even if I was sleeping soundly, it still wakes me up. What then? Well, there are two options:
1) Ignore it, or
2) Get up (out of my comfortable and warm bed), find the source of the noise and do something about it!
In my lifetime, there have only been a few occasions when a cricket took up lodging in my bedroom. But, its persistence always paid off! I got up, found it, caught it, and put it outside...where it belongs. Now, mind you, I didn't kill it, ever, just put it outside. It was disturbing me, so I did something about it.
And that got me to thinking:
Often, when God wants to get our attention, He creates a "disturbance in the force," as it were, and we are faced with the same options: ignore it or do something.
For example, when He brings someone to my mind, I try to stop, immediately, and pray for them. There is something they need that He can give. I want them to have it, so I ask...for them. You may never know the extent of the problem they are facing, you just know that our Heavenly Father cared enough to disturb your well-being and whisper, "Your brother/sister needs you." He doesn't "need" us to accomplish His will, but this is how He chooses to bless US, by our obedience to His soft, tender call.
If we want more of His blessing in our lives, perhaps it would be good to pay attention to the soft chirping that disturbs our normal routine. Just like the little cricket, it's not that loud...just loud enough to notice, but then, what? The choice is always there...ignore or do something.
It's not just a passing thought...God really means it when He whispers, "Call this one, send a note to that one, pray for this family, take her to lunch; don't shut Him out...Get up! Do something...anything!
There's a reason we hear "chirping." It's the sound of the good life!
And so begin the days of late evenings, sitting on the porch, listening to crickets chirp. Their unique song is peaceful and has a musically calming effect, particularly after a long and stressful day.
However, I have also noticed that if you take that lovely chirping out of its natural environment, it becomes a nuisance. For example, a cricket in the bedroom at night is annoying...it disturbs my rest. And even if I was sleeping soundly, it still wakes me up. What then? Well, there are two options:
1) Ignore it, or
2) Get up (out of my comfortable and warm bed), find the source of the noise and do something about it!
In my lifetime, there have only been a few occasions when a cricket took up lodging in my bedroom. But, its persistence always paid off! I got up, found it, caught it, and put it outside...where it belongs. Now, mind you, I didn't kill it, ever, just put it outside. It was disturbing me, so I did something about it.
And that got me to thinking:
Often, when God wants to get our attention, He creates a "disturbance in the force," as it were, and we are faced with the same options: ignore it or do something.
For example, when He brings someone to my mind, I try to stop, immediately, and pray for them. There is something they need that He can give. I want them to have it, so I ask...for them. You may never know the extent of the problem they are facing, you just know that our Heavenly Father cared enough to disturb your well-being and whisper, "Your brother/sister needs you." He doesn't "need" us to accomplish His will, but this is how He chooses to bless US, by our obedience to His soft, tender call.
If we want more of His blessing in our lives, perhaps it would be good to pay attention to the soft chirping that disturbs our normal routine. Just like the little cricket, it's not that loud...just loud enough to notice, but then, what? The choice is always there...ignore or do something.
It's not just a passing thought...God really means it when He whispers, "Call this one, send a note to that one, pray for this family, take her to lunch; don't shut Him out...Get up! Do something...anything!
There's a reason we hear "chirping." It's the sound of the good life!
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