An added joy to being saved

DAILY BIBLE READING:

1 Samuel 10:1–11:15 
John 6:43-71 
Psalm 107:1-43 
Proverbs 15:1-3

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

John 6:44 (ESV) "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Our Verse for Today tells us that no one goes to God in salvation unless God has initiated the relationship. God begins the process, then we respond.

This is a beautiful truth and those who deny it not only deny Scripture but also rob themselves of a blessing. 

Let me illustrate...

Imagine you are a young child again. You have gathered with a group of other kids on a field and are prepared to play a fun game of kickball. Team captains are selected. Those two team captains begin to pick individual team members. Back and forth they go as the number of kids behind them grows and the pool of potential team players gets smaller.

Now imagine that there is an odd number of potential players. When both team captains have made their selections and an equal number of players stand behind them, they realize that there is one player left over. He stands awkwardly in front of everyone as the team captains decide who gets him. Then, as if to simply finish the job so that they can play ball, the lone child is told that he can choose which team he wants to play on. He sheepishly makes his pick and, with head aimed at the ground, slowly takes his place with one of the teams but silently wanders if they even want him. Honestly, he wanted to play kickball but now he just wants to go home.

Now, let me ask you a question: Would you rather be one of the children that was selected or would you rather be the one who got to make his own choice?

To tell you the truth, I would much rather be selected. That makes me feel like I'm wanted. It makes me feel valuable. 

Friend, there is a paradox in Scripture regarding this matter. Certain passages tell us that the responsibility is ours to believe (John 3:36) and that absolutely anyone who chooses may come (Revelation 22:17).

But, if the choice was solely ours, we might wander if God even wants us. We may feel as if while we chose Him, would He have chosen us.

Praise the Lord that God does choose us! Our Verse for Today tells us that when we come to God, it is because He first reached out to us and drew us to Himself. That means that God did want us! We are in His family because He chose us!

... and there is incredible joy in knowing that God has chosen us!

Someone has said that there is a doorway to salvation. As we approach the door to be saved, we see that above the door it is written: "Whosoever will may come" (Revelation 22:17). And when we walk through the door and are saved, then we look back to the door and see that above this side of the door it says: "Chosen before the creation of the world" (Ephesians 1:4). 

To be saved, you must choose God, my friend. There's no getting around that. If you end up spending eternity in Hell, it's not God's fault. It's yours for not choosing Him.

But, if you choose Him, you can rest assured that it's because He reached out to you first. You chose Him but He also chose you. Find comfort and joy in that thought today.

John 6:44 (ESV) "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day."

How Jesus made big decisions

TODAY'S BIBLE READING:

Leviticus 6:1-7:27
Mark 3:7-30
Psalm 37:1-11
Proverbs 10:3-4


BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 37:4-5 "Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desires. Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you."


REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

In this morning's reading, we came across a verse that seemed to have little to reflect on. Here it is:

Mark 3:13-14 "Afterward Jesus went up on a mountain and called out the ones he wanted to go with him. And they came to him. Then he appointed twelve of them and called them his apostles..."

This was the occasion on which Jesus selected the 12 guys that He would disciple for 3 full years. Some of them would write books that would end up in Scripture. Some of them would take leadership roles in the early church. Others are never heard from again in the book of Acts but we assume they were used greatly by God.

Jesus dare not get this wrong. When He chose the 12, He needed to choose wisely.

So, what did Jesus do to enable Him to choose wisely? This is helpful information because we, too, need to make big decisions from time-to-time.

While there are many biblical principles that enable us to make good decisions, here are two:

1. He went to a place to think and reflect.

Mark 3:13 tells us that He "went upon on a mountain." Jesus often went to secluded places (desert, mountain, Garden of Gethsemane, etc.) so that He could be alone and reflect. 

There is much to be said about the spiritual disciplines of silence and solitude. There is a reason for the 4th Commandment where we are encouraged to have one day a week where we do as little work as possible and quiet things down around us. I wonder if the stress levels that so many people struggle with couldn't be greatly diminished by taking time to get away each week. Our brains would certainly be clearer so that we could make better decisions.

2. He spent time in prayer.

While Mark's account doesn't mention prayer, Luke's does:

Luke 6:12-13 "One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles..."

Even Jesus, God with skin on, felt the need to spend all night in prayer before a major decision. If He did this, how much more should we spend time in prayer before making a decision?

For further reading:
A book that is very helpful in revealing how Christians should make decisions is "Decision Making by the Book" by Haddon Robinson. It's an easy, short read and is definitely worth your time.

Who is responsible when I sin?

I came across an interesting verse in my Bible reading this morning. 1 Chronicles 21:1 says: "Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel." This verse simply states that the sin that David committed of numbering his army and thus depending upon his military might (that results in the death of many Israelites) was caused by Satan. I suppose he could have literally said, "The devil made me do it."

Or could he?

In 1 Chronicles 21:17, David doesn't blame Satan. He takes full responsibility when it says: "And David said to God, 'Was it not I who gave command to number the people? It is I who have sinned and done great evil...'"

So, was it Satan or was it David that caused this sin? Well, before we answer that question, let's look at one more verse...

This same story is retold in 2 Samuel 24:1 where it says: "Again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, 'Go, number Israel and Judah.'"

So, David claims he was the one who committed the sin. Yet, we also read that Satan moved David to sin. Further, we read that God's anger was directed at David and thus He moved David to number the people and receive the consequences.

Honestly, when I try to figure out who was to 'blame' for David's sin, I'm left dumbfounded. I feel like a kindergarten student looking at a college level calculus equation. I can't understand it ... but that doesn't mean that the equation is not true.

It is in this same way that we are to understand how God works in our world and our lives. Some affirm mankind's freedom to make his own choices (which I do) while others hang out on the other side and affirm God's freedom to make His choices (which I also do). These truths do not cancel out each other. Simply because we do not understand the equation doesn't mean it isn't true.

So, what are we to make of James 1:13-15 where we are told that God doesn't tempt us?

If we look carefully at James 1:13-15, we may read between the lines and understand what issues James may have been addressing. Apparently, there were folks who were excusing their sin by saying, “I was tempted by God!” James quickly tosses that argument out by saying that God isn’t tempted nor does He tempt anyone.

Yet, James is not saying that God doesn’t send difficulties into our lives (see James 1:2-4). God even sends things into our lives that will lead to sin (e.g. Jesus sent the Apostles into the Garden of Gethsemane where they slept instead of prayed and then ran like cowards when Jesus was forcibly taken). God sends good things and bad things our way. His desire is that we always take the escape hatch referenced in 1 Corinthians 10:13 but some folks will not take the escape hatch and will sin.

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:13 - English Standard Version)

One essential ingredient of temptation is a sinful heart (James 1:14-15). Without it, nothing at all would be tempting. (Imagine someone who has just stuffed themselves with a Thanksgiving dinner. Further, imagine that someone puts a sinfully delicious pie in front of them. It’s NOT going to be a temptation because that person has no desire whatsoever for the pie. Something is a temptation ONLY when it is met with sinful desires.)

It is in that way that we are to understand that God does not tempt us. Does He allow difficulties to come our way? Of course. Otherwise, how could He make the promise of Romans 8:28? Does He allow sinful opportunities to come our way? Of course. He could keep them from us but sometimes, He doesn’t. Yet, His desire in those times of trial is that we grow from the experience (James 1:2-4 again) and take the 1 Corinthians 10:13 escape hatch. Yet, sending things our way does not constitute temptation. Temptation only occurs when we meet the things God sends our way with a sinful heart.

But there is another principle that is activated in the stories of Pharaoh and David (and many more in Scripture) that I referenced above. I addressed it in a recent sermon. It's the principle that is illustrated in Romans 1:18-32. When God's patience has been exhausted and His wrath becomes evident, it is sometimes manifested in the removal of His protective hand to allow a person or a nation to continue down a sinful path that they are intent on traversing. Pharaoh was insistent that he would reject any notion of an Israelite exodus so God gave him over to that option. David was insistent on numbering the people so God's wrath gave him the ability to exercise that option and experience the negative consequences.

How can I know what God wants me to do?

Decisions, decisions, decisions!!! Life's full of them, big and small. You have to make choices on everything from the items you purchase at the retail store to which combo meal you will select at the fast food restaurant to what career change you may feel led to make. Every day is chock-full of moments of decision that await your choice.

So how do you know how to make the right decision? Specifically, how can you know that the choices you make (especially the big ones) are glorifying to our Lord and will put you in a place where you can continue to experience His blessings?

Here are a few action points that I've discovered enable me to discover what choice God would have me make:

1. Get Rid of Sin

If you want to hear from the Lord, you've got to do the necessary work of confessing every known sin. God won't honor you with a Word from Him if you aren't honoring Him with a clean life.

“Indeed, the LORD’s hand is not too short to save, and His ear is not too deaf to hear. But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have made Him hide His face from you so that He does not listen.” (Isaiah 59:1-2)

2. Dig Into God’s Word

The way that God primarily speaks to us is through His Word. If you want to hear from Him, pick up your Bible. It contains a wealth of divine instruction. Use some of the study helps to see if there is a text that addresses your specific issue or a timeless principle that sheds light on your decision.

“Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

3. Spend Much Time in Prayer

You need to bring your request before your Heavenly Father. In prayer, acknowledge your dependence upon Him. Acknowledge Him as the One who knows all things and will work all things out for your ultimate good. Realize that He has a perfect will and desires to make it clear to you. Believe that He will honor your prayerful request for wisdom concerning His will in His time.

“During those days He went out to the mountain to pray and spent all night in prayer to God. When daylight came, He summoned His disciples, and He chose 12 of them--He also named them apostles:” (Luke 6:12-13)

4. Rely on the Holy Spirit

If you have received the gift of eternal life, the Holy Spirit resides inside of you (Romans 8:9). Of the many duties the Holy Spirit will carry out in you, one is to reveal and guide you into truth (correct thinking). This is essentially what we're looking for when we need to make a major decision.

“I still have many things to tell you, but you can't bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak whatever He hears. He will also declare to you what is to come.” (John 16:12-13)

5. Obtain Wise Counsel

Don’t allow spiritual pride to undermine a valuable resource God has provided to you. Almost certainly, you are surrounded by at least a few Christians who have some wisdom they could impart to you. Share your thoughts and questions with a few other select peers … and then listen.

“A fool's way is right in his own eyes, but whoever listens to counsel is wise.” (Proverbs 12:15)

6. Observe Your Circumstances

Often, discovering God's will is as simple as looking around you. What's He doing in your life? What’s God doing around you? The answer may not be so difficult to ascertain after all.

“A man's heart plans his way, but the LORD determines his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)

7. Question: Do You Have Inner Peace?

It seems as if the moment we realize what God's will is, we will have a sense of peace about the decision. The fretting that may have characterized our searching heart is gone. We are at peace with the decision and have a sense within our spirit that God has made His will clear to us.

“Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)