May 31 – Humble Reminders (Daniel 4:28-37)

“Those who walk in pride he is able to humble.” (Daniel 4:37)

IN WORD:
Somewhere deep inside, we know the truth about ourselves: Everything we have was given to us. None of us asked to be born or specified the conditions under which we came into this world. We did not choose our talents or our physical features. We did not select our place of birth or our native language. We may have been industrious and careful in choosing our paths, but our drive and our wisdom was given to us by our Creator. We did not make our own circumstances, build our own brains, or control our own relationships. Everything we have is a gift.
Even so, we take an awful lot of credit for the good things God has given. We take pride in our work, display our accomplishments, advertise our abilities, and use our relationships for our own esteem. For people who were created, we act an awful lot like creators.
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon during the time of Daniel, made that mistake. Having seen ample evidence of God in Daniel’s dream interpretations and in the survival of three guys in a furnace, Nebuchadnezzar nonetheless gave himself glory frequently. He had built a golden representation of himself to be worshiped, and he credited himself with the power and glory of Babylon.
God gave the king a clear reminder that all gifts, all power, all wisdom, and all authority come from above. He humbled the king with insanity. He demonstrated the lowliness of human achievement. He undid the king’s pride.

IN DEED:
God will undo our pride too. Perhaps we aren’t as arrogant and bold as Nebuchadnezzar was, but we often need reminders of our neediness. We can’t relate to God properly unless we understand that all we have and all we are is by grace. When we take credit, we deny God’s generosity. That is not a minor offense. His love will correct us.
Wake up each morning with a self-reminder that your life is all about grace. It will keep you humble and it will open God’s arms to you. It will ground you in the truth.

“He that is down need fear no fall, he that is low no pride.”
-John Bunyan-

May 30 – Fertile Lives (2 Corinthians 5:1-7)

“We live by faith, not by sight.”(2 Corinthians 5:7)

IN WORD:
Most of us try to get through life on human wisdom. Some of us succeed. Others of us make so many mistakes that we die with innumerable regrets. If only we could get guidance from above, we would get this “life” stuff right. If only we could hear the voice of the One who knows. If only.
The truth is that we can. The Voice has spoken. His words are available to us. But there’s a catch. We have to be willing to obey it. Otherwise, we won’t have what Jesus calls “ears to hear.” Those who obey what they already know of God have their ears opened to more; and those who have their ears open are readily obedient. It’s a precious cycle, conceived in the mind of God: Obedience begets hearing, which begets obedience, which begets hearing, which . . . You get the picture.
The life of faith is a life of obedience, and a life of obedience is a life of faith. The root of the problem is that most of us have trouble, however minor it may be, with obedience. We lose our “ears to hear,” and as a result, we fall back on human wisdom. Our lives never match those of the biblical heroes. Why? Human wisdom would not have pushed Abraham up a hill to sacrifice his son; it would not have led God’s people to the edge of the Red Sea with an army in pursuit; it would not have marched around Jericho 7 times and blasted a trumpet for the wall to fall; it would not have matched David with Goliath in the valley; and most strikingly, human wisdom would not have vilified the Son of God on a cross in order to save a wretched race.

IN DEED:
Really, when it comes down to it, would you prefer to live by human logic that results from losing your ears to hear? Or would you prefer the cutting-edge, risky-but-real life of a true, radical believer? The answer isn’t clear for everyone. But we’ve seen who lasts. Your Bible is full of their stories. They lived by faith, not by sight.

“You honor Jesus when you act in faith on His Word.”
-Ed Cole-

May 29 – Fearful First Steps (2 Corinthians 5:1-7)

“We live by faith, not by sight.”(2 Corinthians 5:7)

IN WORD:
The problem most of us encounter in this life of faith is that we must base our decisions, our futures, our families, our jobs — our everything, in fact — on realities we cannot see. Not only can we not see them clearly — though God will open our eyes to them more clearly if we ask — those around us cannot see them, either. That’s where the misunderstandings, the rejection, and even the ridicule come in. When we live by faith, we are at first uncertain of where we’re going. We can’t see very far in front of us. And our family members and friends are watching. While we’re barely understanding our next steps, they can’t understand them at all.
The principles of this world are all based on sight. Our human culture like tangible evidence. It has learned to thrive on the limitations we’ve been given. But start bucking those limitations and see how quickly your peers back off. When you refuse to live by sight, you refuse to play the games of this world. You reject its most foundational beliefs. Religion is only speculative, we’ve been told. Our world doesn’t mind us believing whatever we want, as long as we don’t base our lives on the unseen. But when the eyes of faith are opened to the greater reality of God’s Kingdom, the label of “unstable” or even “crazy” comes quickly.
Just ask Abraham, whose mission it was to move to a place he would be told of later, and who was promised a most improbable son. Or Moses, who was called to demand from a hostile ruler the release of a million profitable slaves. Or Elisha, who was surrounded by a vicious army, but more greatly encompassed by heavenly hosts. Or Mary, who bore the Son of God by quite unconventional — and socially unacceptable — means.

IN DEED:
Are you afraid to live by faith? Welcome to the club. But the faith Hall of Fame in Hebrews 11 was made of such a club. Be bold and forsake nearsightedness. Faith sees more than sight ever can.

“The ultimate ground of faith and knowledge is confidence in God.” -Charles Hodge-

May 28 – Fallen Faith (2 Corinthians 5:1-7)

“We live by faith, not by sight.”(2 Corinthians 5:7)

IN WORD:
Of the three approaches to decision making we usually take, the third — supernatural guidance — can be the most rewarding. It can also be the most disastrous. It all depends on where we place our faith. Just as it is possible to walk by faulty sight, it is possible to walk by faith and still be wrong. Living by faith rather than sight is no guarantee; faith can be misplaced.
Consider all of the supernatural offerings our world lays before us: seances, mediums, horoscopes, channeled, spirit guides, psychics, and more. The more overt of these are laughable to the ordinary believer. But they can also take highly subtle forms. Don’t believe it? Go to a bookstore and read excerpts from the self-help section. Some of it is human or even biblical wisdom dressed up as something new. But much of it has cultic connotations. Our age is not lacking in mystics proclaiming the way to happiness, the way to fulfillment, the way to self-actualization. The problem is that unless it comes from God’s revelation of what’s really real, it’s always the wrong way.
All supernatural sources of guidance apart from God are forbidden in Scripture — even when dressed up as “advice” and marketed to a general audience. The Christian who seeks them is an idolater. It is a slap in God’s face to seek advice from horoscopes, un-biblical gurus, and anyone else falsely claiming wisdom from above. It suggests that there might be a higher — or at least more accessible — source than God. But He is the ultimate authority and He is available. Why go anywhere else?

IN DEED:
Seeking supernatural guidance is a biblical mandate. But we must take this mandate with care and discernment. It cannot be just any supernatural guidance; it must be God’s revelation. Do not trust your emotions, your common sense, or the spiritual seductions of this age. Depend on God alone. Dare to live by genuine, exclusive faith.

“The essence of faith is being satisfied with all God is for us in Jesus.” -John Piper-

May 27 – Fallible Logic (2 Corinthians 5:1-7)

“We live by faith, not by sight.”(2 Corinthians 5:7)

IN WORD:
Consider the second approach of human wisdom — common sense. It is higher and more noble than the selfish life of those who are subject to their emotions and desires. It is based on the best logic we can muster. We make lists of pros and cons; we evaluate the risks involved in each course of action; and we determine the clearest, safest, most profitable direction. It is the best, most reliable path that human reasoning can offer. But it is profoundly human. And it is still sight, not faith.
In essence, the common sense approach is an intellectual way of “playing the odds” in life. It is not much different than a gambler at the track who has thoroughly studied the horses and calculated the best candidates to win, place, and show. We can approach life with the same mind. We aim for the best education, locate in the safest, most comfortable area, plan for the most satisfying career, and save for the future. Nothing is wrong with any of those activities if they are built on a foundation of eternal wisdom and under the guidance of God. But we often skip the foundation and miss the guidance. We trust in our own devices and place our bets on the best life we can. In short, we exalt our limited logic over the voice of the Eternal. Even if we succeed in the eyes of men, we fail in the eyes of heaven.

IN DEED:
As we have learned, God’s prescription for our wisdom is to find His. His is thoroughly sensible, but it only appears so with the eyes of faith. Eyes that see beyond the ambitions of this world to the true values of the eternal Kingdom will have different criteria for making decisions. Faith often forsakes the things of this world for the lasting treasures of the Kingdom. Faith looks not for the longest physical life possible but for the most fruitful life possible. Faith understands that God’s wisdom often appears absolutely senseless to those with worldly sense. His Word is full. Of examples: Conservative sight does no miracles; “risky” faith does nothing else.

“Everything Jesus Christ taught was contrary to common sense.” -Oswald Chambers-

May 26 – Fleeting Emotions (2 Corinthians 5:1-7)

“We live by faith, not by sight.”(2 Corinthians 5:7)

IN WORD:
We fallen humans generally make decisions by sight, and sight usually takes one of three forms: (1) We let our emotions be the guide. In other words, we do what we want to do, and pride & feelings rule; (2) We take a common sense approach, evaluating the pros and cons and the risks involved in each course of action; (3) We seek supernatural guidance, often in pagan ways — by stars and horoscopes, mediums and spiritists, and even best-selling self-help gurus.
There are profound problems with each approach. Consider the first one today. It traps many believers. God created our emotions and He intends for them to be fulfilled, but He does not intend for them to rule us. If they did, our lives would be roller-coaster rides, up & down with every whim & trend. There can be no consistency in such an approach to life, and there can be no worship of God. God transcends our feelings, and when we elevate them above His wisdom, we are placing ourselves on the throne of our own heart — where only He belongs. Emotional guidance is a disastrous way to live. It sets the course of our lives based on the mood of the moment. We end up living with immeasurable regrets. Sooner or later, we find out: He who does whatever he wants at any given moment is like an animal — and a fool.

IN DEED:
God’s prescription for our wisdom is to find His. His is constant; His is eternal; His is deeply rooted in reality — the way things really are. It is not trendy, and it is not superficial. In short, His wisdom is everything our emotions are not.
A believer who forsakes his or her own feelings for the much more reliable guidance of the eternal God has become wise. That believer must realize that feelings are not forever shunned; God created us for emotional fulfillment. But we are much more fulfilled when He fills us, not when we try to fill ourselves with our own shortsighted cravings. Sight is limited; faith is not. We must walk by faith, not sight.

“Faith is the bird that sings while it is yet dark.” -Max Lucado-

May 25 – Holy Satisfaction (Ecclesiastes 6:7)

“Death and destruction are never satisfied, and neither are the eyes of man.”(Proverbs 27:20)

IN WORD:
Nearly every child has sworn an oath to his parents: “Just buy me this one thing, and I’ll never ask for anything else ever again.” It’s a hollow promise from the beginning; every parent knows it isn’t true. Nearly every Christian has offered a similar prayer to God: “Just answer this one thing, and I promise I’ll be satisfied.” It’s a hollow promise. God knows better. Deep down, so do we.
What is it about human nature that is always craving but is never content? We’ve all approached milestones in our lives with the thought that once the milestone is accomplished, we’ll be happy with our lives. But we never are. As soon as the next job is realized, the next house is bought, the next car is driven, the next relationship results in marriage, or whatever we’re looking forward to is accomplished, we set our sights on something new.
Whatever the reason, we can know at least one thing about our cravings: They indicate that we’re missing something deep within us. We have a gnawing hunger for more meaning, more purpose, more results. We can thank God that He made us that way; it’s His design for our fruit-bearing and our growing relationship with Him. But we also have to be aware of how sin has distorted that design. We turn it toward possessions, people, places, and personal agendas. Instead of letting a holy discontentment drive us toward god and His Kingdom, we let a twisted discontentment drive us toward fulfilling our needs in unholy ways. We’re looking for life in all the wrong places.

IN DEED:
The proverb is true; the eyes of man are never satisfied. But a maturing relationship with God will shine light on our dissatisfaction. It will also turn it toward the things that really fulfill us. We will find that it is, in fact, possible to be content with the things of the world and still be driven by a desire for God. He is the only One who satisfies.

“It is so important not to waste what is precious by spending all one’s time . . . Complaining over what one does not have.”
-Edith Schaeffer-

May 24 – An Illusion Undone (Isaiah 26:7-11)

“When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.”(Isaiah 26:9)

IN WORD:
The strange tendency of human nature is to thrive under distress and to stray under prosperity. We usually don’t see it that way, because we define thriving in terms of our circumstances. But God defines it in terms of our attitude and growth in Him. And we grow best when we’re in trouble.
Why is that? Pain has been the catalyst for spiritual growth ever since the early pages of Scripture. We see it most dramatically in the book of Judges: Every time the people prospered, they strayed from God. Every time they cried out, He delivered them. Then the cycle would be repeated all over again. It’s a cycle we know well in our individual lives, and the principle is almost mathematical in its precision. Ease equals apostasy and pain equals a heart hungry for God. Why?
Because we are motivated by need. When all seems well in our circumstances, we don’t think we have needs. It’s a dangerous illusion because it masks the spiritual poverty we all share. Somehow, a set of circumstances that highlights our need — one that corresponds directly with our spiritual poverty — gets us to see the lack of self-sufficiency we should have known all along. It turns our eyes toward God in the physical, which in turn can turn our eyes toward Him in the spiritual. It’s His mercy that puts us in a crisis. Crises drive our once-passive hearts to Him.

IN DEED:
Do you consider this principle when you’re in the midst of a trial? It may not be the only reason for your trouble, but it is certainly one possibility. Your crisis may be the perfect occasion for you to “learn righteousness” — to direct your attention to God and to wait for His Word. He draws us close through such occasions. We are always given a chance to grow deeper into Him when our outward situation matches our inner condition. We learn to seek the One who matters. If you’re in trouble, seek Him zealously.

“The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.” -Anonymous-

May 23 – Shedding the Past (Philippians 3:12-14)

“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal.”(Philippians 3:13-14)

IN WORD:
It’s easy to live with regrets. Some people are able never to look back, but most of us can point to a few decisions that keep us wondering what life would have been like if we’d done things differently. Those kinds of thoughts can cripple us. They haunt us and keep us preoccupied with the past.
Two truths will keep the past from stealing our joy in the present: our identification with Jesus and our faith in God’s sovereignty. The enemy will seize the opportunity to remind us of our failures and accuse us of disobedience. He may be right, of course, but we aren’t living on the basis of what we have or haven’t done. We live fully identified with Jesus. We stand before God on the basis of what He has done.

A firm conviction that God is sovereign will also protect us from our regrets. Even when we’ve made missteps, we can trust that God knew about them before the foundation of the world and planned to compensate accordingly. Nothing we’ve done has surprised Him. He has known all along how to bring us in line with His will — even when we’ve walked far away from it.

IN DEED:
God never asked us to check the rear view mirror in order to lament about our shortcomings. We confessed when we came to Jesus that we were sinful failures, and He saved us. It’s time to move forward.
Do memories of the past hound you? Take an active stance against them. Point the enemy to Jesus as the basis of your righteousness — his accusations are irrelevant once you’ve found your identity in the perfect Son of God. And remember the sovereignty of God. Find heroes of the faith in Scripture who failed — it’s a pretty easy task — and see how God sovereignly worked out His purposes in spite of their failures. Rest in the present and look forward with hope. Nothing in your past can thwart God’s plan.

“God is not defeated by human failure.” -William C. White-

May 22 – Responding to Pain

“No harm befalls the righteous, but the wicked have their fill of trouble.” (Proverbs 12:21)

IN WORD:
Several years ago, a rabbi wrote a popular book asking why bad things happen to good people. It’s a legitimate question; we see godly folks go through some very difficult things. So doesn’t our experience contradict this proverb? Must we generalize this verse and water it down to get anything out of it? Not necessarily. We need to approach this proverb with some clear definitions. We need to define “harm,” and we need to define “righteous.”
Who is righteous? Surely not those who have it all together. None of us do. The proverb would be unrealistic if it meant that, and the Bible isn’t unrealistic. Those who are righteous know who God is and hang onto that knowledge regardless of the situation. They desire God enough to trust Him. Their past may not be righteous, but their direction is.
What is “harm”? Surely not difficult circumstances or pain. Otherwise, the proverb would be a shallow assumption based on fantasy, and the Bible’s not a shallow fantasy. No, trials and pain are not ultimately harmful unless they diminish our relationship with God. But the righteous will not let them do that. They let their trials draw them closer to God. They see His grace more clearly in the aftermath of pain; they trust Him more truly when obstacles hinder trust; they serve Him more sacrificially when it costs something. Through pain, we see Him better, and He becomes more real to us. There is no harm in that.

IN DEED:
This proverb is less about the trials that befall us than our reaction to them. Nothing that the righteous go through is truly harmful if faith is maintained. But troubles are troublesome indeed to those whose faith is conditional. Their love of God depends only on what He does to make them feel good.
Trials come to all, and our reaction defines us. Are we righteous or wicked? The test of pain will make it clear.

“Trials enable people to rise above religion to God.”
-Brother Andrew-