Looking a Gift Horse in the Mouth 9/22/2018

“But Naaman was furious and went away and said, ‘Behold, I thought, ‘He will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.  Are not Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?’  So he turned and went away in a rage.”  2 Kings 5:11-12

Naaman was the captain of the army for a king by the name of Aram.  By all accounts he was highly respected and a valiant warrior, but he had a problem.  Naaman was a leper.  Through a series of events, he found himself at the door of Elisha, a prophet of the living God to whom he was referred.  Elisha sent a servant to the door with a message to go and dip himself in the Jordan river 7 times and he would be clean.  As the Scripture records, he was incensed about the way he was treated as well as the prescription.  Is this not reminiscent of the popular “gift horse” colloquialism?

It is easy to be critical of Naaman until we take honest stock of our own behaviors.  How often do we put ourselves in jeopardy of not receiving our blessing because we are not satisfied with the method of delivery or the content?  We so often pray for deliverance from health, financial, relationship or other circumstantial situations but reject God’s means because they do not agree with what we expect or desire.  We are far more rigid than we think we are, even when we find ourselves in the greatest need. The rich young ruler famously asked Jesus for eternal life, but rejected the method by which he might acquire it, thus infamously losing it.

Beloved, we must be people of faith at all times.  This means trusting God with all of our hearts and not leaning on our own understanding (Prov 3:5).  When we only trust God “so far,” and resort to our own means when He does not deliver on our timetable or by our preferred method, we demonstrate faithlessness.  In so doing, we put ourselves in danger of not receiving the blessing that God so graciously offers.

Naaman’s servants rhetorically asked if Elisha had required some herculean task of him, would he not have done it to be rid of his leprosy.  Fortunately, he got the point, complied with the instructions and was cured as he was told he would be.  When we go to God, let us do so in humility and be willing to accept His will in whatever form it may come.  There may even be a blessing in a “no”; however, let us not cost ourselves a “yes”, knowing that in God, all things work together for our good.

In pursuit of transformed life,

Lee

Shine On 9/3/2013

"And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2 Corinthians 3:18

When you think about bondage in the spiritual realm, there are several different aspects to consider. First, before making a decision for Christ, we were all bound in and by sin. We were in utter darkness with no access to the benefits of light. For the Jews specifically, there was bondage under the Law. Though the Law was a great and holy thing, it meant death insofar as none could successfully keep all of it (Romans 7:9-10). Lastly, Gentiles were not a party to the covenant between God and Israel and were therefore without God, without hope(Ephesians 2:12)and clothed in darkness.

The good news today beloved, is that Jesus has made a way out of darkness and provides freedom. We have the ability to look upon his words and his life and see the light that exists there for all mankind. Not only are we able to observe it but we are transformed by it. Moses face famously shone as a result of his being in the presence of God, causing him to have to wear a veil (Exodus 34:32-35). Eventually the glory began to fade from him and the veil was kept to keep the people from seeing the glory leaving. But the veil of darkness has now been removed from our lives and the glory from the Lord is increasing every day. The glory manifests itself in our spirits, our hearts and our words, thoughts and deeds. It will continue to increase until such time as we reflect the light of the Lord in everything we are.

Let us do all we can to avail ourselves of what is available to us in and through the Lord. In so doing, let us let our light shine.

Committed,

Lee

Beautiful Reconciliation 8/28/2013

"And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—" Colossians 1:21-22

Have you ever gotten into a fight with someone dear and realized you were the one in the wrong? Do you remember how awful it felt to be in that state and to have hurt the feelings of the other person? And do you remember how bad you wanted to make up?

Beloved, this is the state we all were in before Christ. We were in utter darkness and far removed from the glorious light of the Father. As Paul put it, "remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world," Ephesians 2:12. We were lost and we did not understand how lost we were. We were in need of a savior and did not know that there was one available. But somehow we did know that we were out of position, unfulfilled and missing something. This is true because when we came into contact with him, we recognized the truth of our condition, his ability to relieve it and his overwhelming love for us. We responded by accepting him and have now been made whole. Paul describes it this way: "But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ," Ephesians 2:13.

Through Jesus, we have been reconciled to the Father. We are no longer fighting in the darkness while longing for the light. The originally intended relationship has been restored between those who have accepted the free gift of God's grace and the great Lover of our souls. He is to be praised.

Committed,

Lee

In Praise of Marriage 12/12/2012

"Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE,  and said, 'FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH'?   "So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate."  Matt 19:4-7

It was the Pharisees, in one of their many attempts to test Jesus, that put forth the question, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all (v. 3)?"  That same question is still being asked today.  Even more tragically, the question is rarely asked any more.  The papers are just drafted and that at about a 50% rate.

Beloved, this is not to criticize anyone who has ever gotten a divorce.  This is to remind us of why God instituted marriage in the first place.  The family, beginning with a man and a woman, is the foundation of every relationship.  He established this as one of His first acts of creation.  In Gen 9:7, God told Noah and his family, "As for you, be fruitful and multiply; populate the earth abundantly and multiply in it." Even Christ compared the relationship between a husband and wife with that of his relationship with the church.  There is great value in family and great strength to be derived from it.

I must admit to you, faithful reader, that there is a reason this subject is on my mind today.  If you will forgive the indulgence, on this date 20 years ago, it was God that spoke when Michelle Elaine Lindo said, "I do" to becoming Michelle Elaine Lewis. Since that day she has been everything a man could want in a woman, everything a husband could want in a wife and everything a friend could want in a best friend. For that, I will be eternally grateful to the God that spoke all things into existence and to to Michelle for saying yes, for building a family with me and for her unflinching and constant support, compassion and love. Happy Anniversary honey! 

Rejoicing in the Lord,

Lee 

On Aging 12/4/1962

“Listen to Me, O house of Jacob,
And all the remnant of the house of Israel,
You who have been borne by Me from birth
And have been carried from the womb;
Even to your old age I will be the same,
And even to your graying years I will bear you!
I have done it, and I will carry you;
And I will bear you and I will deliver you.
Isaiah 46:3-4

As the Lord continues to cause us to rise each and every day, we, by the very passage of time, age.  Thoughts of our mortality are typically brought on by the graying of hair, diminished physical and mental capability, the need for medicines and visits to our physicians and a younger generation that seems unaware of the values of our youth.  For these and many other reasons, we view aging as a negative and as we see the days approaching, we attempt to hold them off as long as we can through our clothing choices, activities, plastic surgeries, sports car purchases and the like.  We have even labeled the advent of mid-life a crisis.

Beloved we must realize that aging is a privilege and a gift.  By God's graciousness we are able to see the growth and development of our children.  We usher them into their own adulthood and committed relationships.  We see the birth and the growth of our grand children and great grand children, often delighting in how they vex their parents as they once vexed us.  Life slows down and after decades of toiling to provide we are finally able to rest a bit and take time to enjoy God's great creation.  Yes the hair grays but it is a sign of life lived and a symbol wisdom gained through experience.  So many of the youth's current cares are no longer ours and the ones we have are put into their proper perspective.  Only after we have lived a long time do we truly realize how short life is and how important it is to enjoy it.  Through it all, God bears us, carries us and delivers us.

If all else fails, keep in mind this humorous but profound saying: "The only way to avoid getting old is to die young."  I don't know about you but I'll take the gray hair, doctor visits and my grandson on my knee.

Rejoicing in the Lord,

Lee

What Was Lost is Found 8/14/2012

"In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:10

This passage is embedded in a trilogy of parables about things that were lost, then found. They each relate the unsurpassed joy that accompanies the find. These stories were told to address criticism from Jesus' adversaries concerning his interacting with sinners. The religious authorities of the day, particularly the Pharisees, preferred to remain separate and apart from such people rather than sharing the love of God with them and seeking their salvation. By relating these stories, Jesus demonstrates that seeking and saving the lost is the point of God's love and his own coming. Further, that when the effort is successful, there is great cause for joy.

Beloved, I try to resist making these devotionals about me, but instead point them to our Heavenly Father, the object of our adoration. However, our family has experienced the joy that is felt and expressed in heaven at the "finding" of Michelle's and my daughter, Paris. This past Lord's day, she obeyed the gospel and gave Jesus the headship of her life. It was my honor, privilege and great joy to be able to baptize her into Christ (Gal 3:27).  Ultimately, this is truly about the Father and His grace and mercy.

I pray that you celebrate with our family, our congregation, the body of Christ and the angels in heaven even as we must with everyone that is "found."

Rejoicing in the Lord,

Lee

Smelling the Flowers-8/7/2012

http://www.visualpoetryphotography.com/p8777305/h12650962#h12650962

"When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?" Psalm 8:3-4

Beloved, the Lord has seen fit to bring all who embarked on the cruise to Alaska back home safely. A good time of fellowship, family and blessed rest was had by all as well as no small amount of food (you know what I'm talking about if you have ever been on a cruise)!

One of many things that struck me was the beauty of God's creation. The majesty of the mountains, the depths of the fjords, the beauty of the thousands of waterfalls and the complexity of His many creatures. It put me in mind of the fact that we all need to stop and take time to smell the flowers. So often we take God's goodness for granted as we rush to and fro pursuing work, education, relationships, entertainment and the like without ever stopping to take a look around and notice what God has done and is doing. Certainly we had plenty of opportunities to do this last week, but it can and should be done at any time wherever we are because God's masterful work is never hidden. It is apparent to any who would even look at a blade of grass in more than a passing way.

In the midst of this Eden, he placed man. And while it is easy to feel small when compared to such immensity, we should never feel insignificant. From the smallest atom to the greatest galaxy, it was all spoken into existence by our Creator and Father for His greatest creation, mankind. This should fill us with awe of Him rather than ourselves and should cause us to pause, appreciate and say "Thank you Lord."

Rejoicing in the Lord,

Lee

P.S. I did not know if the picture I wanted to include as part of today's post would make the transition through the group distribution so I included the link to my photography website where the image is housed.  It is called "God's Morning" and is a sunrise captured early Sunday Morning just south of Juneau, Alaska.  While you are on the site, feel free to look around for more examples of God's handiwork captured digitally.

Think and Thank-4/5/2012

"In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety." Ps 4:8

A couple of weeks ago I spoke on faith and used air travel as an example. The gist of it was that our belief is shown in our actions. As counterintuitive as it is to believe that something the size of an airplane can take off safely, fly safely and land safely, it can and we believe it, so we purchase tickets and go to airports.

Beloved, my faith is not in man or machines today, but God. I believe it was He who made sure that we landed safely after a 3000 mile flight, mostly across nothing but water. There was virtually no anxiety in that I slept most of the way, fully relying upon Him to take care of me. Even if it was not in his will to cause this to be so, my faith in Him gives me confidence that He will deliver me to a much better destination; one with an eternal address.

This same God does so much more than deliver every day miracles regarding air travel. He is involved in every breath, every bodily movement, every bite of food and every distance traveled whether across the room or across the globe. Today I have reason to both think and thank. How about you?

Rejoicing in the Lord,

Lee

Avoiding Complacency-3/8/2012

"Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude." Col 2:6-7

Every now and then, it is important that we are reminded of what our Christianity is all about. It easy to "let the seat back" and relax in our relationship with God. It becomes almost like some souvenir from an event gone by or picture on the wall of our living room. We relegate our faith to something that is just there. Yes, it is important, but not active.

Let us remember the fire we had when we were convicted in our hearts to be obedient to the gospel of Christ. Many came with hearts full of love, minds full of both resignation and resolution and eyes filled with tears. It was at this time we became converted, rooted and established. As we got to know our brothers and sisters in Christ, we began to mature in the faith, understanding what it means to be a member of the body of Christ and a child of God. To supplement our experience, we were taught in bible study, in worship, in personal studies and in prayer. We learned what it means to be a Christian, what it took to create that possibility (Jesus' great sacrifice) and the benefits associated with such a gracious blessing as becoming elect. In all this, we were thankful to God for saving us from the destruction for which we were destined. We never knew how dark was our existence until we were shown the light.

Beloved, let us always remember the beginnings of our relationship with the Lord and let us never lose our first love. God is easy to take for granted because He provides so much. Let us never fall into the trap of complacency but remain ever thankful in our hearts, diligent in our prays and faithful in our walk.

Rejoicing in the Lord,

Lee

Count Your Blessings-12/29/2011

"Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. " Matt 6:31-33

Anyone who even casually examines his or her life must acknowledge that they are blessed. Our Father is so benevolent, so kind, so long suffering, so gracious and so merciful, how could any deny it? How could anyone miss it?

In reality, we miss it all the time. We miss it because of God's over abundance, Eph 3:20-21. This gives us the very interesting trait of focusing on the things that are wrong, challenging, inconvenient, painful or wanting in our lives. It is as if we expect to lead lives where every whim is satisfied, and every desire is delivered. That is just not reality for anyone. The more we get the more we want and are thus never satisfied.

What is in fact reality is that all of us could lead lives that are far worse, regardless of our current circumstance. Fortunately we serve a God who not only knows our needs, but supplies them (and ever so many of our wants). Whom do you know that is without food, drink, clothing and shelter, even if it is supplied by others?

If we would take the time to count our blessings, we would see how vastly they outweigh the things we think are wanting. We serve a glorious Creator. How could we do anything less than seek His righteousness and His kingdom?

Loving Like Jesus,

Lee

Appreciating the Gift-9/21/2011

"But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another." 1 Thess 5:12-13

God has given us great earthly gifts to help us and guide us on our journey toward heaven. "And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints..." Eph 4:11-12. He has placed these men among us and before us to lead us in our spiritual walk. They are worthy of our respect and appreciation, if not for their own sake then for the fact that they are chosen of the Lord.

Beloved, in every aspect of our lives, there are authority figures. We have them on our jobs, in our schools, in our government, in our neighborhood associations and even in our families. In every case, we respond to leadership through abiding by laws, statues, ordinances or directions for the greater good of society and ourselves. Much more should we then respond to those whom God has sent to guide us in areas that supercede the temporal. Whether you refer to them as elders, bishops, presbyters, shepherds, overseers or pastors, their responsibility is to first be men of God. In so doing, they are to be examples of Christian virtues. They are to teach us in order that we may better know God and His will for our lives. They are to minister to those who are in need through whatever means God has gifted them individually. They are to protect the flock from all threats, particularly those that are spiritual. They are to serve God through serving the church.

It is a tragedy that some find it as easy to disrespect and disregard these men as they do the far more distant and much less personally impactful President of the United States(whoever that may be at any given point in our lives). Because it is perceived by some that our elders are not tied directly to our ability to sustain ourselves and our families, some find it easy to discount and, by extension, disrespect them.

Consider these two situations. In Numbers 12:1-16, we are shown the consequences of Aaron and Miriam in particular, speaking against God's annointed, Moses. It did not go well for Miriam, but it was Moses who prayed for her restoration. Secondly, it is well known that Saul constantly sought the life of innocent David. In 1 Sam 24:1-10, David has the opportunity to take Saul's life but said, "I will not put forth my hand against my lord for he is the Lord's anoninted."

Let us be sure to thank God for his amazing gift of earthly leadership. Let us thank Him for equipping us through those whom He has placed among us. Let us honor God by honoring our elders. They are indeed worthy.

Loving Like Jesus,

Lee