TerryLema

I came across this devotion from a few years ago and decided to repost it … I love this baby turtle story!

 “A baby turtle was standing at the bottom of a large tree and with a deep sigh, started to climb. About an hour later, he reached a very high branch and walked along to the end. He turned and spread all four flippers and launched himself off the branch. On landing at the bottom in a pile of soft, dead leaves, he shook himself off, walked back to the bottom of the tree and with a sigh started to climb.

 “About an hour later, he again reached the very high branch, walked along, turned, spread his flippers and flung himself off the branch. Again, he landed in the leaves, shook himself off, went to the bottom of the tree, sighed and started climbing.

 “Watching these proceedings from the end of the branch were two little birds. Mommy bird turned to Daddy bird and said, ‘Don’t you think it’s time we told him he was adopted?’”  *

There are those days when I feel a bit like that baby turtle-bird! I know I am supposed to fly – and not just fly but soar on wings like eagles. Instead, all I seem to have are a bunch of flippers that won’t function like wings. I’ve been adopted into the family of God, I am being conformed to the image of His Dear Son, but I’m just not there yet!

So, I keep climbing up, and I keep crawling out, and I keep launching myself off in faith … and one of these days, these old earth-bound flippers will be wings and I will soar!

Isa 40:31: “those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint.” [HCSB]

*Taken from “Encouragement-Wired,” by Tom Reid.

Toward the very end of the Sermon on the Mount recorded in the Gospel of Matthew are some of the most terrifying words ever uttered or heard.  “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?’  Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!’” [7:21-23]

I have heard many sermons based on the Sermon on the Mount, given a few of them myself. I’ve studied and read commentators thoughts on what Jesus said. I’ve heard people worry about whether they might be included in the dire warning given here. (I have reminded people that if they are worried about their inclusion, they are probably not included.)

The foundation principle of Jesus’ warning is “…but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven.” If you do the will of the Father, you do not need to be warned. If you, however, do not do the will of the Father, you should stop and heed the warning.

And what is the will of the Father about which Jesus is talking?  “[The LORD is] not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” [2 Peter 3:9 NKJV]

It is not our ability to prophesy or drive out demons or perform miracles that matter, it is the condition of our hearts. It is the knowledge of our Lord and Savior and coming to Him in repentance, that will keep us from ever hearing the most terrifying words ever to be uttered … ‘I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!’

The third chapter of Paul’s second letter to Timothy is so relevant for these end times. It is divided into two sections. The first half provides a description of the difficult atmosphere of the last days. The second half give us a picture of the struggles particular to the Christian life.

The chapter ends with the remedy to staying strong amid such things – knowing the Scriptures “which are able to give [us] wisdom for salvation.”

The final few verses tell us just how the Scriptures work at providing that wisdom. “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” [vs 16-17 HCSB]

As we study the inspired Word of God, we are taught, rebuked, corrected, and trained for righteousness. As such, we become complete in God and equipped for those good works He has already ordained for us to do. [Ephesians 2:10]

We must get into the Word of God, and we must let the Word of God get into us! It is vitally important that we don’t just pick and choose what we want out of the Word but instead allow the fullness of Scripture to complete us for all God has chosen for us in our walk with Him.

Without a doubt, I am not a night person. Never have been. I get up early and spend most of my energy in the first part of the day. By 5 PM I am searching for my PJ’s and slippers. Growing older has not lessened that tendency. It has increased it and added the fact that I don’t see as well driving at night anymore.

So, knowing that, I am joining a Bible Study that begins at 6 PM. I attended twice when invited to bring the study, but last Thursday was the first time I attended as a member. As I drove home, I realized just how much I have missed studying Scripture with others.

We have topical series on Sunday mornings at church, and they are excellent. But I miss just opening a book of the Bible and going through it verse by verse.

2 Timothy Chapter 3 is an interesting chapter. It is divided in half, beginning with a description of the difficulties that will be present in the “last days.” Midway, in verse 10, Paul writes about the struggles particular to the Christian life. He ends with the remedy:

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you, and you know that from childhood you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  [vs 14-15 HCSB]

We need to spend time studying the Scriptures “which are able to give [us] wisdom for salvation.”

Last Tuesday I went for a walk. Since my surgery I’ve only been able to do a third of a mile, so I have a set route. When I got to the place where I normally turn back, I decided instead to keep going around the next block. That would stretch my walk to about a half mile, and I wasn’t sure I was ready for that yet. Still, I really thought I should keep going.

When I got partway down the block after turning the corner, I started to pass a ratty older car. A man inside the car said, “Hi. God bless you.” I returned the greeting and the blessing.

His name was Jim. We began a conversation. He showed me pictures of his daughters. Then I asked if I could pray for him. As I prayed, the LORD brought a word of encouragement for him. He held my hand and started to cry, then told me some of the difficulties he was facing.

I held his hand while he cried. After about 20 minutes, I blessed him one more time and said goodbye and continued my walk – thinking about just how I was going to explain this delay to Bob when I got home!

When I left, I had no intention of going in that direction or walking that far. God apparently had other intentions. I guess it pays to stay attentive to His gentle leading.

“The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.” [Psalm 37:24 NLT]

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 8:1 that “knowledge puffs up,” and Peter wrote in 2 Peter 1:5 that we are to “add to our faith goodness, and to goodness, knowledge.”

It sounds contradictory, but it isn’t. Peter wants us to add the knowledge of God who called us by His glory and goodness. He urges us to add the knowledge of our Savior and LORD Christ Jesus. When we add that kind of knowledge to faith, we find ourselves well grounded.

Paul understood that also. Look at the admonition that follows his declaration that knowledge puffs up. “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. But the man who loves God is known by God.” [1 Cor 8:1-3]

For Paul, knowledge and love are combined. The goal of knowing God is loving God and the one who loves God is known by God. God knows us. God knows us! God doesn’t just know about us, He knows us – to the very depths of our being. His knowledge of us is wonderful. Remember what He said to Jeremiah? “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.” [1:5]

I need never put on a mask when I approach my LORD. He knows me, knows all about me, knows what is behind that mask that I often wear around people to hide my true self. To Him, my true self can be displayed, in all its vulnerability, because I know His knowledge of me is greater than even my knowledge of myself. And it is always, in every way, cloaked in the love that is so deep He sent His very own Son to ransom me from sin and slavery.

Col 4:2: Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. [NIV]

Devote, or as the KJV says, continue. It means to be earnest towards, persevere in, be constantly diligent, or adhere closely. We are to be all those things in prayer. Scripture is abundantly clear that God’s people are to pray – to come to Him confidently.

I love to hear the voices of the people I love. Family can call and I recognize their voices immediately.  Friends call, and I know with the first hello just who is on the line. When I hear their voices, I am instantly attentive to them. My thoughts don’t wander, and my focus doesn’t shift. I love the voices of those I love.

God is that way with us. We need not identify ourselves as if he has forgotten who we are. We don’t have to re-introduce ourselves, cite our spiritual history, or remind Him about the time we were saved.  He isn’t going to confuse us with someone else. He knows us. I love the verse found in 2 Timothy 2:19: “Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: ‘The Lord knows those who are his.’”  [NIV]

It is vitally important that we pray earnestly. We must persevere in prayer and be diligent in it. God certainly will not forget our voice; in that we can be assured, but we can so easily forget His. In fact, the goal of the world, flesh, and devil is to drown out God’s voice. The enemies of our soul want us to fail to pray so that across time we fail to recognize the voice of our Father when He speaks to us. Being devoted to prayer enables us to zero in on His voice amidst the many who speak to us.

Beloved, let us be diligent in our prayer life. Let not a day go by without our coming to our Father in prayer. Let us stay so attuned to Him that even the softest whisper from Him is recognized and trusted.

As I wrote yesterday, we cannot let the current climate of hate, violence and fear overrule the commands of God to speak the truth of the LORD. As I also wrote, however, we must not respond in like manner.

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” [1 Peter 3:15-16]

I have always found Peter’s words in these verses challenging.  First, we are exhorted to always be ready, prepared to respond to people who ask us why we can be hopeful when so many are not. That is especially challenging because you actually have to have the hope before people will ask you about it!  If you are as hopeless as they are, you won’t have to be ready for anything.

The second thing of note is that our response must be gentle and kind. It must be respectful. We live in a Democratic Republic. Our constitution grants people certain rights to live and worship in ways with which we may not always agree. Our job is to love people and through that love point them to Christ, who also loves them. Our job is not to condemn nor justify – when we do that, we usurp God’s prerogative as Creator and Savior.

The last thing to note? It may be the most difficult of all. We must keep a clear conscience. We must have “good behavior in Christ.” Our behavior needs to be above reproach and when it’s not, there needs to be repentance.

Hate. Violence. Fear. There is one thing those three have in common. They have a way of spreading. The media are all over the violence spawned by hatred. In the last couple months, I’ve seen people assaulted and killed because of their beliefs, whether they are religious or political. Our society believes they have the right to silence anyone they think is as an enemy just because they have a different point of view.

The climate of hatred and violence is spreading and being touted by various leaders as a way of getting what is wanted. When hate and violence spread, fear also spreads. We lose the freedom of being able to express our views on life, politics, or God without the fear of reprisals. When we fear reprisals, we will often simply not speak.

The LORD, however, does not want us cowering in a corner somewhere, voluntarily mute because of our fear.  In fact, the LORD commands us to speak, to tell others about His wonderful works. “Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.  Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.” [Ps 105:1-4]

One of the favorite sayings of Jesus was, “I tell you ….”  The Gospels are full of the things Jesus told about His Father, His own work, His Kingdom.

Beloved, we cannot let the current social climate command our response. We must obey the LORD rather than men.  But let’s remember that our response to hatred and violence cannot be in like manner. (More on that tomorrow.)

As you read through your Bible (and you should do that), you will notice that God reminds His people, especially when they begin to stray from Him or allow things in their lives that may cause them to fall or fail. In the Old Testament, He continually sent prophets to remind them that 1) He had delivered them from slavery in Egypt; and 2) He had brought them into the Promised Land. They, apparently, often forgot those things.

In the New Testament, the Apostles used the same approach. They reminded Christians that 1) God had sent His Son, Jesus the Christ, to save them; and 2) that salvation had a purpose, that they might live obediently and serve the Lord faithfully.

“This is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them.” [1 John 3:23-24]

What is our purpose as Christians? Is it simply to escape judgment? Is it to avoid hell? If that is all it is, we will go through this life unfulfilled. We might gain heaven, but we will not live up to all we are in Christ Jesus.  We will fail to realize how abundant this life can be.

I want to be all I can be now … I want to be faithful and obedient to the One who saved me.

God calls me His child. I pray I can live worthy of that title. I pray that my life will honor Christ Jesus my Lord in every way, not just in eternity, but in the here and now.