Sweat The Small Stuff

"They placed the Ark of God on a new cart..." 1 Chronicles 13:7a

How often are we given a task to complete with very clear instructions, but we think we can do it more efficiently our own way? The "suggestions" before us are good, but our plan would be so much better. We then embark on accomplishing the assignment implementing our method. We may succeed in fulfilling the job, doing it even quicker than expected, but there's still a problem. We didn't do it as directed.

Time has come to bring back the Ark of God which had been neglected during the reign of Saul. David sends messages to all the Israelites, including the priests and Levites, and invites them to join the assembly of those who will gather to celebrate the Ark's return. However, David does not consult his instruction manual on how to transport this sacred chest that represented the Lord's presence. Placing the Ark of God on a new cart they begin their journey.

This is so often how we live too. We think our way is superior and that new is best. We believe a few modifications or alterations will not make a difference because not only is the job being doing, it's being completed better, or so we convince ourselves. We make allowances and excuses to decisions we make, justifying our actions as innovative improvements. After all, did God really say....?

What should draw our attention as David digresses from God's design for transporting the Art is that the Levites were included in the process. If David had just forgotten some key knowledge in the "how to's" the Levites should have known some important information that was crucial to their duties and jumped in to share so that loss of life wouldn't occur. God had clearly specified in Exodus 25:12-14 in great detail how the Ark was to be carried: "Cast four gold rings and attach them to its four feet, two rings on each side. Make poles from acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. Insert the poles into the rings at the sides of the Ark to carry it." Not only were these particulars pretty obvious, but in Numbers 4:15 the Levites were identified as the only ones who could bear the Ark and absolutely no one could ever touch it or they would die.

In cocky pride, we sometimes feel we can improve on God's instructions. We make a lot of allowances saying things like, that was then, this is now; the world has changed. Yes and no, but our hearts are still desperately wicked and we continue to resist authority, wanting to do things our own way. In our very me-driven society, the old adage of "measure twice, cut once" is abandoned. The value of preparing thoroughly and accurately in order to prevent error, waste and the necessity of repeating the task, is often neglected. The theme song of too many of our lives is, "I did it my way!" 

Because of their failure to care for the Word of the Lord, the Levites, David and all the people saw the result of disobedience. When the oxen stumbled, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the Ark and prevent it from falling, resulting in his immediate death. What appears to be a good motive measure ends in life loss. Although this may seem to be an overly harsh response, God's instructions stand and there are consequences for disobedience. 

Have we become careless about clear directives in God's Word? Time does not nullify His truth. From age-to-age God's sacred text and ancient words have been preserved for our good and are meant to be obeyed. God cares deeply about every detail of our lives. If He desires "carrying poles" then a "new cart" won't suffice, regardless of how sincere our intentions. We need to sweat the small stuff, because in God's eyes there is no such thing as a small sin.

The Three and The Three-In-One

"David was staying in the stronghold at the time, and a Philistine detachment had occupied the town of Bethlehem. David remarked longingly to his men, 'Oh, how I would love some of that good water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem.' So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But David refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the LORD. 'God forbid that I should drink this!' he exclaimed. 'This water is so precious as the blood of these men who risked their lives to bring it to me.' So David did not drink it." 1 Chronicles 11:16-19

Risking their lives. There are those who work in vocations who daily put their lives on the line for others. When a police officer or fireman receives an emergency call, they often don't fully know the situation they are walking into, yet they willingly rush toward possible danger for the sake of those in need. These people have been defined as altruistic, putting others before themselves, and in the process face personal sacrifice.

While in the stronghold, David voiced a desire for some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem. He didn't ask for the water or give an order to his men to go and retrieve some, he just spoke words of an inner desire that were overheard by three really great friends.

When I was a young teenager my mom's aunt and uncle from Sussex, England came to stay with us for a holiday. They were the dearest of folk. Auntie May and Uncle George. They knew this would no doubt be their only trip to Canada in our lifetime and they were so eager to shower us with gifts. I remember when we would go to the grocery store with them, if my sister and I even looked sideways at an item, it was placed in our shopping cart. One day we went to the mall and these sweet relatives heard us commenting over some beautiful dresses. The next thing we knew, these outfits were wrapped in tissue and headed home with us. We learned very quickly not to show or express interest over anything or it instantly became ours. Some longings are best left unsaid.

Three of David's warriors heard his spoken wish and they set out on a dangerous mission. What prompted such immediate action? David must have been a highly respected and loved man to have three such loyal friends risk their lives for a drink of water. Their courage to break through the Philistine lines spoke of their commitment to their leader.

I've always wondered how the Three felt when David, upon receiving the water, poured it out without even taking one sip. Did they see the king's conduct as an act of ungratefulness, or did they understand his response as an incredible, spontaneous gesture of worship in recognition of their selfless demonstration? The water was so precious to David, he could not drink it. The Three put their lives in jeopardy to fulfill the king's thirst.

In a devotional and journal by Henry Blackaby, he writes, "It seems that David was so humbled by the sacrificial gift of his loyal friends that he could not accept it for himself but instead he offered it to God." David was not seeing a cup of water, but a blood offering as these men put their lives on the line. 

There is another, who loving us, faced the enemy head on, shedding His blood for our sakes and He invites us to enjoy refreshing living water. He is the Three-In-One who gave His all to quench our thirst. Drink deeply from Him today.

Whatever He Pleases

"The king's heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; He guides it wherever He pleases." Proverbs 21:1

When my son and his wife moved into their first home, all appeared well. There were some upgrades they wanted to tackle, but the house seemed structurally sound, until the first heavy rainfall. The finished basement was flooded. A call for help was issued as dad came to the rescue with shop-vac, fans and other useful tools to help remove the water. All the carpet had to be lifted and my husband set out to find the source of the leaks. It doesn't really take too large of a crack in the foundation for water to find an avenue to flow. Any incline will draw the fluid forward, and once going in one direction, it's difficult to stop it without a lot of effort. Water runs with ease. 

The encouraging truth in the Proverb of the king's heart being like a stream of water in God's hand, is that it too can be directed easily. The Lord at any moment can stop, direct, channel and bind, changing and controlling the course of action by those in positions of leadership. 

I think we too often forget who is ultimately sovereign. We see those who rule as having all authority, but scripture confirms that every decree they make falls under God's governing. The Lord can stay, settle and steady the stream of decisions being made, and although often contrary to our desires and even to biblical standards, that doesn't dismiss that God could step in at any moment. He is ultimately in complete control. We cannot fail to remember His dominion over all the earth and everything living on it. 

The other truth that is implied in this proverb is that if God can direct the hearts of those in high impact positions, He also provides divine providence over all of us as we move in and out of each minute of every hour of our days. It has been noted that question two of the New City Catechism provides further understanding to this doctrine. The answer states, "Nothing happens except through Him and by His will." It is God alone who sustains things through His appointed will. God takes and uses every headline, every natural disaster and every circumstance for His glorious purpose. Even as we watch rebellious rulers oppose Biblical commands, in some mysterious way their actions are being orchestrated under the hand of God. We see this demonstrated repeatedly throughout Scripture in the lives of Nebuchadnezzar, Pharaoh, Herod, Pilate and others. God used the evil actions of each one, guiding wherever it pleased Him.

When it appears that the wicked are flourishing, God's Word affirms that He has not lost control. God is not shocked by their affairs and their actions have not triumphed. The Lord is not defeated! We may not discern His purposes immediately, but security can be ours as we trust the Lord is supreme and has not abandoned His throne on high.

Knowing this should put our hearts at rest, even while observing the chaos in our world. And if the Lord can so easily guide a heart to obey His desires, He can also, at any time, bring a non-believing ruler to kneel before Him in repentance, receive His forgiveness and be lavished with His grace. Let's commit to praying to that end.

Concluding today with the lyrics to my son's favourite hymn. May the truth strengthen your heart today.

"This is my Father's world; O let me ne'er forget, That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet. This is my Father's world: Why should my heart be sad? The Lord is King; let the heavens ring! God reigns; let earth be glad!" A resounding AMEN! 

"This is My Father's World", by Maltbie D. Babcock, 1901

It Was Never About Jabez!

"'Oh, that You would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do and keep me from all trouble and pain!' And God granted him his request." 1 Chronicles 4:10b

If you have been in Christian circles for close to 25 years, you no doubt will recall a little book that was written by Bruce Wilkinson, co-founder of Walk Thru The Bible ministries. "The Prayer of Jabez" rose to fame quickly and was embraced by many. Although the publication held some questionable content, this short prayer still has much to teach us. 

The only time the name Jabez is mentioned throughout scripture is in 1 Chronicles. He is described as being an honourable man whose name reflects his mother's painful experience giving him birth. Apparently, in Hebrew, the name Jabez sounds like the word for "distress". The only other detail we really know about him is that he was a man of prayer. In the list of genealogies, we pause for a moment as the prayer of Jabez is recorded. 

Scripture is filled with prayers of faith, trust, longing, heartache, need, thankfulness and praise. They are all included as examples for us of what, where, when, how and why to kneel before the Lord. There really is power in lifting God's word back to Him. The prayers throughout scripture have been inspired by the Holy Spirit and teach us the necessity of coming before the Lord at all times with everything.

Although this particular prayer has been the center of controversary, to dismiss it completely is to dismiss words that God chose to include in His Holy Word. Since the only descriptive we have of Jabez is that he was a righteous man, regardless of how the world has interpreted his prayer, when Jabez voiced his plea, it came from a heart full of integrity. We know that his prayer was acceptable to God, because the Lord granted him his request.

This prayer is a beautiful example of recognizing God's grace and blessing. The foundation of this request was not so much for personal gain, but for the purpose of glorifying God. This had to be the intention from which it was lifted since the Lord took pleasure in answering favourably.

We don't know how God answered this prayer specifically, but we know His response must have included His presence, provision and physical protection. There are no details to how Jabez was blessed or how his territory increased. He could have received a larger land or property allotment, but he also could have experienced greater influence or impact. Jabez sought the Lord and trusted Him to do what was best.

Jabez prayer was effective because it was prompted by the Holy Spirit. The problem with the Jabez phenomenon years ago was that many regarded it as a new formula to get what they wanted from God. Emphasis was placed on the prayer, not on God. However, there are truths that give hope in this brief cry to the Lord that can't be dismissed. God can and does heal from pain. God doesn't prevent pain from touching our lives, but in His time and according to His will, He does release us from the heartaches we endure. The Lord also can broaden our influence when He sees a greater harvest for His glory. When advancement serves His purposes, His will prevails in expanding our territory. God also promises His presence with us, His strength to be sufficient and His grace to be enough.

In faith Jabez lifted this humble prayer and trusted in God's sovereignty. Surrendering complete dependence on the Lord, "God granted him his request". In the answering of his prayer, we see God as Provider, Protector and Comforter. We see the Lord blessing and being merciful. You see, the prayer was never about Jabez. It was always about God. A prayer that points to the attributes of Christ is always the right prayer to pray.

Only Jesus

"So this is the family line descended from..." 1 Chronicles 1:24a

I have to be honest. It is hard to read through the long lists of genealogies in Scripture. Chapter after chapter. My tendency is to want to jump ahead. Skim over the names. Not take the time to read each one, half of which I can't pronounce. Although, I do see a rise in young couples choosing to use Biblical names for their children. I personally know a Benaiah, Azariah, Micaiah, and of course my own sister is Japhia. God's Word is a great resource as a baby name book.

Today there are many ways to uncover our heritage and trace our ancestry. Multiple websites offer information on how to discover the generations who have come before us, tracing history of families. I have a cousin who did his best to track down distant relatives. He would periodically send updates of any noteworthy names and their accomplishments. It is exciting to discover if we are a descendant of royalty, a great explorer or inventor, or maybe an acclaimed author, speaker or evangelist.

Years ago, my heart was convicted regarding the half-hearted attention I would give to verse after verse of lineage. God has purpose in every single word in scripture, so if He felt it was vital to include each name for remembrance, then I had better not dismiss even one as unimportant. These names are part of my heritage too and compose the roots of my family tree. Each name is precious. Each name represents a life lived. Was it lived well?

One day all our names will be just that...a name. A name in a list of many traced through our family history. When our ancestry is researched, we may be nothing more than a name buried in a list of names. Would anything more be written about us? Every now and again in the "begats" a name is highlighted with a short phrase of remembrance. "Hadad...was the one who destroyed the Midianite army in the land of Moab" (1 Chronicles 1:46). "Achan, who brought disaster on Israel by taking plunder that had been set apart for the LORD" (1 Chronicles 2:7). A one sentence biography sums up their lives, whether good or evil. Temporary failures or accomplishments that mark the span of years the Lord allowed.

Every day we make decisions. Every day is a new opportunity. Every day we can grasp hold of life. Are we living each moment to the fullest? Christ came to give us abundant life. What are we doing with the gift of time He has given us? Maybe we won't be remembered for any one great thing. Maybe there will be nothing that is worthy of extra words in a history of our heritage, but that shouldn't stop our desire to want to live great for God's glory. As believers, our names are written in the most important list of names that will ever be recorded. My Father is not only Great, He is God!

And, for me, the Lord is the name I pray others will remember. Casting Crowns has put my longing in lyrics in their recording "Only Jesus". My desire is that every moment of my life points to Christ. The song presents these questions: "Did I live the truth to the ones I love? Was my life the proof that there is only One whose name will last forever?" Each chorus echoes, "Jesus is the only name to remember."

Maybe there will be nothing on paper that records our lives as being of value. Maybe when our lives are over, they will be quickly forgotten. But maybe, just maybe our greatest legacy will be written on the hearts of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Hearts that were touched by God through Christ in us. Hearts that move on for future generations and draw others to His throne of grace. Jesus is the only name to remember. Now, that's a legacy!

At Our Door

"Then we will be able to go and preach the Good News in other places far beyond you, where no one else is working." 2 Corinthians 10:16a

Many years ago, a sweet friend was sharing her testimony at the Women's Mission Circle Outreach gathering at our church. I knew the group was small, and thought I would go, hopefully to be an encouragement and support to my friend as she spoke. That was ten years ago and I've been participating with this precious group of ladies as they meet twice a month. In fact, just two years after joining as a visitor, I was elected to begin chairing and leading the bi-monthly meetings. My heart thrills hearing all the ways God is working around the world.

Not all churches are as global mission minded as my home church. I am blessed to be part of a body of believers who support close to forty missionary families, as well as financially providing aid to a similar additional number of mission minded ministries. Sharing the gospel with all tribes, nations and tongues is one of the core values of our fellowship.

Some of our missionary partners have embraced the words of Paul in 2 Corinthians and have researched "where no one else is working", taking the Good News to unreached people groups. They have been pioneers in lands where God's Word has not previously been preached. It has been estimated that only about 3% of those who leave home for foreign lands go to places where people have never heard the Gospel. Often these trailblazers of truth seek out positions in vocational roles that will allow them to interact with the people, establishing relationships and providing services that make their presence welcome to the country they will call home for as long as God ordains.

Paul expressed the same longing to go where no one else has gone. These are places where the message of Christ and salvation is largely unknown, and it is currently estimated at slightly over 40% of the world's population. That indicates a lot of opportunity!

We know that "faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17). There are many who have never heard the name of Jesus. Despite Christ's command to "go into all the world and preach the gospel" (Mark 16:15), this commission has largely been unfulfilled and relinquished to those who are "called" to become formal missionaries.

I want to challenge us today that we don't need to go far from home to take up this mantle. Our neighbourhoods are surrounded with many cultures. The world is coming to our doorstep. People from every culture, colour, custom and civilization are living among us. You just need to take a walk and I can almost guarantee you that you will encounter someone from a different ethnical background. We do not need to move to the other side of the world. Our mission field is the house beside us, our grocery store, office lunchroom, school and gym. We can have influence today where God has already placed us. If He wants to move us elsewhere, He will.

As my husband and I have a time of Family Worship after supper of an evening, we lift up the names of all our neighbours. There are seven families in our close proximity whom we know by name, and to our knowledge do not know Jesus personally. As we faithfully pray, I often wonder if we are the only ones presenting their names consistently to our Heavenly Father.

Lord, would You invade every sphere where we have influence. Use us Lord "where no one else is working". Open up further opportunities. Give us courage. May the hearts and minds of those yet to believe be receptive, and may our lives give glory to You alone.

Haste Makes Waste

"Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes." Proverbs 19:2

Turning on my cell phone while I waited for my coffee to brew this morning, one of the first posts I saw on social media was from my friend Diana who is the founder of Stay Fit Wellness Coaching and also the administrator of an online faith-based, weight loss group. This is what I read: "You need strategy and not just knowledge to lose weight and keep it off. Strategy is application of knowledge with systems that lead to lasting results."

It's so true! Many look for a "get rich quick" scheme or the miracle diet that will remove pounds instantly. We can jump into an initiative with excitement, not really knowing what we are doing, but being caught up in a new adventure we don't take the time to really consider all involved. We can't act too swiftly. We need to do the research. Get ready. Calculate the risks. Wait for the results.

Jumping in to anything too quickly can be foolish. Emotions can be an enemy, especially to those whose personality is driven towards accomplishment, meeting needs, or who is a visionary at heart. We all love the person who lives life as an exclamation mark!!! Their enthusiasm fuels many. They are the spiritual cheerleaders in the body of Christ, encouraging new endeavours to move forward to see potential dreams fulfilled. Their zeal motivates the planners to persevere when a project takes longer to complete. 

One of the biggest concerns for the person who lives life in a hurry, is they neglect to take time to seek the Lord in commitments being made. Disaster can happen when we sense pressure to move or respond rapidly. I know I can be impulsive when I see an item for sale on Marketplace or Varage, both online platforms that connect sellers and buyers to resale deals. Feeling like I will miss securing the purchase if I don't act fast, I can jump before researching the details. Later, something similar appears at lesser cost if I'd only waited. We need discernment coupled with eagerness. Both are so valuable. One will help us see ahead and the other will spur us on to keep moving ahead.

Recently friends came to build us a deck. Prior to their arrival my husband spent hours measuring, drawing up plans, calculating cost and researching material. Literally, measuring twice and cutting once holds true here. In many situations, ignorance is not bliss, haste is waste and speed is not a virtue. We all remember the childhood story of the tortoise and the hare. It was slow and steady that won the race. It truly is better to be safe than sorry so we all need to think before we act.

Being impulsive has its place but without forethought little consideration is given to possible consequences. Adding discernment to desire saves a lot of wasted time and helps us avoid mistakes that could eventually lead to dead ends and disappointment. Risk is often idolized and pushes us into the unknown before understanding all that is involved. Passion must be anchored in wisdom for God's purposes to prevail. Personal motivation will wane, but if a project is inspired by the Holy Spirit and empowered by the Lord, it will come to completion.

It is arrogance that makes us think we can accomplish anything without first sitting with the Lord. Whatever is done in the flesh will not flourish and it may take failure to let this lesson come to fruition. Even if the task before us seems exciting, we will grow weary and without the Lord supplying our strength, guiding us through times of prayer, providing insight and direction from His Word, most likely our wonder will wane and the initiative will not be completed. We no doubt all have evidence of this in basements, closets and garages. Unfinished projects due to lack of understanding and interest.

As Solomon taught in Ecclesiastes, the race is not always to the swift. Seek direction from the Lord, allowing Him to establish your plans and empower your zeal, yielding favour instead of failure.