God's Darling

Song of Solomon 1:15 “How beautiful you are, my darling, how beautiful you are! Your eyes are like doves.”

When we have the faith to look God square in the face, He then responds to how beautiful we are in His eyes. Those who wallow in the guilt of their sin cannot understand God's captivating gaze at us if we are continually looking at ourselves. He is our glory and the lifter of our heads (Psalm 3:3). We must allow Him to do so.

Have we turned away from God in disgust of our sins? We will never know what He really thinks of us until we allow Him to lift our chin and stare into His beautiful face. Then, we will see an expression of love and joy for His beloved that cannot be expressed in words. There is no more holy place than that of the bride looking into the eyes of the Bridegroom. Beloved, God desires us to practice His presence here and look to Him, recognizing His pleasure for us. This is the place of true abiding.

Remembering Youth

Ecclesiastes 12:1 - "Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, 'I have no delight in them.'”

Survey groups suggest a youth is two and a half times more likely to accept Christ than an adult. The older a person gets, the more their "life script" becomes a part of them. As is commonly said, "Old habits are hard to break." There is a certain familiarity in doing the same thing, day in and day out, even if there is a lack of peace, grief, and/or sadness.

God can save a person at any age without a doubt. While nothing is impossible with God, it is imperative that we reach out to the youth of our nations while they are still young. The relativity of our Post-modern world has lulled young people into a place of non-absolutism. Our greatest gift to these is to live like believers in a world that continues to dismiss Jesus Christ as irrelevant. They will know we are Christians by our love, beloved. That will mean stepping out of our comfort zones and possibly befriending a teenager or young person that has no hope outside of Christ.

Fearing God and Not Man

Matthew 14:5 - "Although Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded John as a prophet."

Our flesh, that old man that often refuses to die within us, is like Herod of old. The sin nature's character is one of self-serving and fear of everything else besides God. However, like the old saying "when push comes to shove," the flesh will always struggle to survive when faced with submitting to God or dying to its selfish will. In similar manner, Herod sought to save face when he murdered John the Baptist. His fear of the crowd eventually won out over his minimal fear of God.

The Holy Spirit, or the prophetic voice of God within, will never bow to the will of our flesh. That is why the old self must die within the life of every believer. Shall we be as Herod this day and behead the Son of God within, disallowing Him to reign? Or, shall we humble ourselves and fear God rather than the crowd of this world? Our choice will determine our destiny this day, the day after, and for all eternity.

The Rock

Deuteronomy 32:4 - “The Rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and upright is He."

If we do not establish in the good times that God is our Rock and His work is perfect, we will be hugely disappointed with our perception of Him when things turn sour. "Why did I not get that promotion? Why did God take my sister at such a young age from cancer? Why are my children out of control?

We can easily reduce God the Rock to “the pebble of insignificance” if we allow our circumstances to dominate the conversation in our minds and hearts. However, when we look to Him and trust that everything He does is perfect, it takes the whine out of our "whys" and puts Him back on the throne. He no longer becomes just a scapegoat for the way we imagine things should go, but He once again becomes the Just One who works everything -- perfectly -- according to His will.

Sensual or Spiritual?

Ezekiel 33:32 - "Behold, you are to them like a sensual song by one who has a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument; for they hear your words but they do not practice them."

Has our faith in God become more sensual than spiritual? Have we reveled in how we can quote scripture, yet not live by the words we have memorized? Ezekiel prophesied to a people much like many today in America who believe they are followers of Christ. The outside looks good but inside there is still selfish ambition, greed, covetousness, anger, lust, adultery, and any number of other works of the flesh ready to ooze out of our fractured lives.

Jesus spoke to those of His day in a similar manner. The religious folk of His time became indignant when others would not recognize how "spiritual" they were (Matthew 11:16-17). Religion can be as much of a sensual, self-centered, narcissistic experience as looking at pornography, beloved. We must all surrender all forms of pride at the foot of the cross and allow Christ to woo us back to Him and true spirituality which is born in humility.

Choose Life

Deuteronomy 30:19 - "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,"

How often do we consider how the choices we make today will not only affect us, but our descendants years after we are gone? Whether we care to admit it or not, our collective experience will help shape our prodigy's heritage. Some might say, "If I use an occasional drug or look at a little pornography, it's not hurting anyone!" The tragic truth is that it hurts more than we might know. Whatever we do in our daily lives is either reinforcing the blessings or the curses in our lives and those who follow.

Beloved, the choice is ours how we live. However, we may want to rethink some of our behavior in respect to these choices. We all have the opportunity to shape the destiny of our descendants, either with curses or with blessings.

Vaporous Living

James 4:14 - "Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away."

The word James uses to convey "vapor" in this verse is from the Greek word "aēr," which means "the lower and denser air as distinguished from the higher and rarer air." James knew better than to use the Greek word "pneuma" because this would imply the eternality of the soul and spirit rather than the temporality of our earthly body. The word vapor here speaks of "the atmospheric region." Our eternal being suggests we possess a spirit and a soul that will one day inhabit "the heavenly region" with our Creator, or the lowest depths of hell with the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41).

The author's comparison to our life as a vapor should put expediency in our hearts regarding our short stay upon this earth. How are we spending our time? Are we making selfish plans or are they continually filtered through a humble prayer of "if it be Your will, O God?" How we regard our vaporous life on earth will determine our eternal life in the age to come, beloved.

"So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:12).

Juxtaposing Time With Eternity

 Ecclesiastes 3:11 - "He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end."

Solomon reveals a great conundrum in this verse. He first tells us everything has an ordered sequence that is revealed according to God's will. This is the Lord's wisdom in making the visible world bound by the laws of time and space. However, then he states how God has put the idea of eternity in the heart of man so that he would understand that time is limited only to this present world. In addition, He has not allowed man to understand eternity in its fullness, only the concept of it which baffles all due to its incomprehensibility.

The reason for God's juxtaposition is simple yet not easy to understand. He desires his greatest creation, mankind, to know that we are only in a temporal state and that He is eternal. Yet, at the same time, He gives us hope of eternity as time will one day be swallowed up by the everlasting. When we as temporal beings think about eternity, it causes us to fear the Lord and His awesomeness, preparing us for our eternal state. Paul tells us to set our minds on things above, for in so doing, we align our affections with the fact that we are truly eternal (Colossians 3:2).

May we all dwell on the Eternal One, preparing ourselves for a timeless eternity with our Maker.

A Heart Like God

 I Chronicles 17:2 - "Then Nathan said to David, 'Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.'”

Like King David, when we have come to a place in our Christian walk where we are living in victory and the devil and the flesh are subdued, we come to a special place in God. When we are walking in peace and fellowship, then our hearts are totally given to the Lord and His desires become our desires. Nathan was speaking under the power and unction of the Holy Spirit, knowing David's heart was intent on doing God's will. Likewise, when we come to that place of communion, He gives us all the desires of our heart (Psalm 37:4).

We must be careful to guard our hearts for the enemy will always seek to dissuade us from the things of the Lord. David found this out in the Bathsheba affair. However, we do not need to fall. May we seek the Lord, asking Him to lead us not into temptation, but to deliver us from evil (Matthew 6:13). He is faithful and just to do so if we will but ask.

Wise Surrender

Ecclesiastes 1:18 - "Because in much wisdom there is much grief, and increasing knowledge results in increasing pain."

Unfortunately, when Solomon turned from God into a reprobate his wisdom did not depart also. The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable (Romans 11:29). Therefore, Solomon suffered great despair because of his knowledge and the hopelessness of it all without God.

Many years ago, as a backslidden Christian who could not get free from his alcoholism, I understood Solomon's dilemma. As we used to say in Alcoholics Anonymous, "A head full of the Big Book and a belly full of booze is a bad mix." In other words, when we know the right way to go, and don't do it, this causes a deep, dark hopelessness. Often, this is characteristic of possessing knowledge of the right way and not having the wherewithal to do anything about it.

Solomon found the gift of repentance once again, as I once again found the gift of sobriety and new life in Jesus Christ. However, there are many who will continue to struggle as their "increasing knowledge results in increasing pain.” Take heart, beloved, and continue to cry out to God. He is the only One who can make peace between our knowledge and His wisdom to surrender.

The Unchangeability of God

 Hebrews 13:8 - "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

“You get worried about funding. If I say this [or that], will people stop funding [the church]…it’s jobs and it’s security and it’s families and their children. You get into a situation where you’re scared of saying what you believe.”

If we juxtapose the writer of Hebrews against this quote from a well-known evangelical preacher who has come out in support of homosexual marriage, we see two different mindsets. The writer of Hebrews in this same chapter tells them to remember those in prison who are suffering for their faith (Hebrews 13:3). Yet, there are many today who are denying their faith by compromising with what the word of God states.

There is fast approaching a time when to speak out against certain sins will be a crime. Before that happens, however, churches in America will lose their tax-exempt status if they speak out. Will we be worried about "funding" and whether or not our giving will be tax deductible? Or will we continue to sow into the kingdom, knowing that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever? How we respond to the fear of man versus the fear of God will inevitably determine our eternal state. May we know that our God is a holy God and desires us to be like Him in all things.

The Narrow Door

Luke 13:24 - “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able."

Jesus' parable regarding the narrow door is just as relevant to us today. In order to obtain eternal life, one has to strip themselves of the things of this world. There is no other way to get through as sons and daughters of God. While we will look naked and foolish to some, others will not be able to pass through to salvation until they let go of the baggage of this life. Beware of the deceitfulness of riches, for it comes in all forms, including the pride of self-sufficiency.

Has someone called you narrow-minded as a Christian? This may be the greatest compliment one can receive. If we have narrowed our minds and hearts and focused on the things of God, then we ensure ourselves entrance through that narrow door to joy everlasting.

He is the I AM!

Hebrews 11:6 - "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him."

Many profess to be seekers after truth. Many come to God with a willingness to know Him, yet there are sometimes those certain doubts. Some might say, "Yes, I believe in God, but ... He didn't answer me in the way I thought He would regarding that promotion, or He didn't heal Aunt Helen like I was sure He would." Statements such as these are the difference of someone coming to God in supposed faith and someone coming to God in faith, believing that "He is."

When we finally quit trying to create a god in our image, and believe in a God who created us in His image, then we can begin believing "He is." God is the Great I AM, not the magical benefactor many believe He should be. These are silly notions best left to those who believe in Santa or the Tooth Fairy. Sentimentality and carnal, wishful thinking of who we believe God should be will be replaced once and for all when we really understand who "He is" and who we are in that relation.

"You have made us for thyself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee." - Augustine of Hippo.

Stimulating Love

Hebrews 10:24 - "And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds."

Merriam-Webster defines the word stimulate as "to excite to activity or growth or to greater activity." In context with the Book of Hebrews, the only way this is possible is if we are excited and passionate about Jesus Christ. It is one thing to desire to be more like Jesus. It is quite another to desire others to be like him. The former smacks of desiring holiness and sanctification for ourselves -- to be in God's display window. The latter implies we see beyond ourselves and want to see Christ formed in others.

Paul said that he travailed with birth pangs until Christ was formed in the Galatian church (Galatians 4:19). While it is of utmost importance we love the Lord and are formed into His image, it is equally if not more important we provoke one another to holiness.

Beloved, we are only as strong as our weakest link. May we encourage one another to show forth God's great love to those all around us.

Desirable Wounds

Proverbs 27:6 - "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy."

Solomon uses paradoxical reasoning to make a profound point. What we might believe is sound advice can often be our own justification for our wants or desires. Jesus Christ is the greatest friend we will ever have, yet He does not hold back in telling us the truth. If His words wound and offend, it's because we are still fleshly and carnal and do not yet possess the mind of Christ. He only desires to give us life abundantly (John 10:10).

Insecurity will always seek a common denominator to reinforce its position. A fleshly mind not surrendered to Christ will seek the approval of men rather than the heart of God. When we are seeking to do the right thing and have ventured off the path of truth, we should not despise the wounding of a true friend that would come alongside to correct us. May we all possess the humility to yield to faithful wounding rather than the deceitfulness of what our flesh wants to hear.

Soul Food

Proverbs 26:22 - "The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the body."

As with most human traits, whispering is not a bad thing in and of itself. Whispering can serve a very important function as it protects secrets and creates a decorum of civility rather than open brashness toward others. Solomon tells us how whisperings "are like dainty morsels." What does this mean? The implication of the wise king suggests these are words with sheltered meaning that should not be taken lightly. They are rich with flavor and sustenance to the soul and should be protected by all means. However, there are many "whisperers" out there that would seek to whisper to our souls and captivate "the innermost parts of the body." In a very real sense, what we eat is what we become. Similarly, what we listen to and take into the deep parts of our soul is what will eventually control our lives.

God will always be the Great Whisperer to our souls. So, it only makes sense to learn from Him. The Holy Spirit continually whispers to our inner man the things of the Son and the Father. If we are intently listening, we will begin to think as He does. In so doing, we will begin to speak as He does, allowing our words to become "caviar to our soul" and the souls of others. We will find that we no longer have to shout out our opinions. Instead we will be lead and guided by the Holy Spirit who will make our speech, as it were, quiet and respectful and seasoned with salt (Colossians 4:6). Our conversations will be characteristic of whispering the things of God, because this is the nature of how God speaks to us.

God's Counselors

Proverbs 25:5 - "Take away the wicked before the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness."

Paul tells us in I Timothy 2:2 that we should pray "for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity." Many would say that this verse applies to our president and I would heartily agree. However, how often do we pray for his cabinet? Not only should we be praying for wisdom and knowledge for our commander-in-chief, but we should also pray for those who influence him the most.

In II Samuel 15 we read just how God can frustrate the wisdom of a ruler's counselor, determining the outcome of an entire nation. In the story of Hushai and Ahithophel we read how the former's wisdom was accepted and the latter's was thwarted (II Samuel 15:34). Ahithophel's rebellion toward David cost him dearly, while Hushai became the king's catalyst to restore David's kingdom.

Beloved, know that your prayers matter. Pray that the wicked would be removed from the presence of our rulers and their counsel would be thwarted. Beseech the Lord to give sound wisdom to those who counsel our president, governors, and legislators.

Unlimited Strength

Proverbs 24:10 - "If you are slack in the day of distress, your strength is limited."

Jesus was the greatest example of manhood that ever walked this planet. His strength was never limited because he never trusted in Himself. Philippians 2:7 tells us that He emptied Himself of His God-nature and took on human flesh, entrusting Himself to the Father. There was never a day, an hour, or a minute of His life on earth that He was slack in any regard. His strength never failed because He trusted in the One who gave Him unlimited strength to overcome.

Where do we draw our strength from today? If we are relying on ourselves and our brainpower to solve life's problems, we will come up slack. However, if we trust in God Almighty, emptying ourselves of self, then we will find unlimited power for things that used to baffle and defeat us.

Motivated Through Love

 Luke 6:19-20 - "And all the people were trying to touch Him, for power was coming from Him and healing them all. And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say, 'Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.'"

Many people try to touch Jesus through wrong motives. The masses will always see Jesus as a "good man" and a teacher of high principle. These will desire to touch Jesus' power in their attempt to ascend to godlikeness. They will seek to draw upon all of His virtue without receiving Him for who He really is, the Son of God.

There is redemption in no one else except Jesus. Until we have become "poor in spirit," then we will never understand God's intent through redemption. Jesus' true power is only reserved for His disciples. While some may experience glimpses of His virtue, they will never understand His intent to free us from ourselves until we come to Him with right motives. He is to be loved and desired, not because of what He can do for us, but instead for who He is -- the Lover and Creator of our souls.

Respecting Boundaries

Proverbs 22:28 - "Do not move the ancient boundary which your fathers have set."

If our descendants from a hundred years were around today, would they be proud or dismayed of the heritage they have entrusted to us? Would their ethics regarding respect for life and selflessness be part of the fabric of our lives? Solomon saw the danger in disrespecting absolutes and adopting an attitude of relativity toward life. That is why he warns us not to remove boundaries that are meant to give us life, instead of robbing the heritage meant to prosper.

God’s word confirms the arbitrary attitude toward sin and lawlessness in our society would cause those who have gone before us to be appalled. If they could, they would testify to our dark world rather than the enlightenment so many believe we have attained.

Sin is still sin. God does not change and neither do His boundaries. Lord, help us return to You and the life-giving parameters You have established to give us a future and a hope if we will but turn toward You.

Encourage One Another

Hebrews 3:13 - "But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called 'Today,' so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin."

When we go and encourage our friends and relatives at marathons, 10Ks, 5Ks, etc., it would be superfluous to show up a day early or a day late to do so. If we are to encourage these, we must show up on race day and position ourselves accordingly along the course to give them our support and encouragement.

This is likewise true for the race set before all who know Christ. Oftentimes, the reason we do not feel encouraged by others is because we haven't shown up at the appropriate time to encourage them. If we are not sensitive to those around us who need a word of support, then often these will not be there when we need the same. As with most things, the law of reciprocity is in effect regarding what we give and receive.

May we all sow encouragement in other's lives. Conversely, when we need support, then others will be there for us.