Venting is Okay

“¹¹Therefore I will not restrain my mouth;

I will speak in the anguish of my spirit;

I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.” – Job 7:11 (ESV)

Job is complaining, or more, he is venting.

I know that there are things that are tough to take on. I have things in my life, as we all do, that seemingly work against me daily. I may not have control over those things, but they are impacting me none the less. I have to address them or they will consume me and I will lose my focus on doing the Work of the LORD. Venting will allow me to address those things.

Venting is allowing the challenge to get out there. It is addressing the thing as opposed to dwelling on it. By venting, I am able to let it known that I am bothered and at minimum be able to then move on from it. At maximum, by getting the thing in the open, someone may be willing and/or able to help in addressing the thing to turn it around. Either way, it is healthy to vent as Job is doing above.

Venting is not dwelling on the thing continuously. Once the things has been outed, we are to move on from it. Whether someone is willing and/or able to help in addressing the thing or not, we have said our peace and it is time to move on from it.

It is important to note that venting is allowed with God. He wants us to bring that which troubles us to Him. The LORD listens to our pain and guides us through it. No, He may not always relieve the pain in the moment, but He allows for my voice to be heard and then guides me through the thing by addressing it in His way and time. Venting is okay.

What is your view of “complaining”? Are you allowing the thing to overtake you and be a continued hindrance to you? What if you vented instead by getting it our and allowing the LORD to guide you through it in His way and time?

It is All God’s Will

Everything in this world is from God, and I mean everything.

“¹⁰But he said to her, ‘You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?’” – Job 2:10a (ESV)

See above from the book of Job. Job understood that everything comes from God. He did not expect that only good would come from God, but that all things would come from Him. And Job was not alone, take Abraham. He understood to follow God through it all, even if that meant sacrificing his son Isaac. And take Noah, he understood the destruction of the world through flood was of God just as the safety of his family on the ark. Everything is from God and is His Will.

It is hard to accept that bad things happen as a part of God’s Will. We attribute all things good to God and cannot understand when things are not good that they are indeed part of His will. When things are against us, we do not accept that it is all part of His plan for this world and our lives. Yet it is the ebb and flow of our life that we have to trust from the LORD. He allows things to happen for the benefit of His overall plan, which we are not aware of, no matter how much we want or believe we should.

Our conversations with the LORD daily, prayer, are the place where we find out what is in store for the short run. God let’s us in on the immediate actions that are needed and that these will lead to the accomplishments of His plans.

In the now, I have some knee pain which leads me to not get my morning/daily exercise. This led me to add my health to my prayer list. I have daily conversations with the LORD asking Him for relief. The interesting thing is that as I look at things, I am getting a little bit more sleep, as I am delaying getting out of bed for about 45 minutes in the mornings and that in and of itself results in a little better health. The LORD is working on my health in the now by taking away something, yes, but adding another area that I was not thinking.

I have to remember that the LORD has my interests in mind as He takes me through this world to work for His glory and the completion of tasks as needed for His will to manifest. I have to remember the last part of verse 10 from above that I did not add until here:

“¹⁰In all this Job did not sin with his lips.” – Job 2:10b (ESV)

What is your view of all that comes or happens in your life? Are you looking to the LORD for only the good? What if you realized it is all for the Will of God?

Our Obligation to the LORD

Yes, I have obligation to the LORD. He has given more than I deserve and I am obligated to Him for that gift.

I know what you might be thinking, “it was a gift, how do I owe for it”. Well, it is not that I owe anything, it is thanks that I am obligated to give in return. That thanks is partly conveyed in our receiving of the gift, and the balance is conveyed in word and action. I am obligated to say “Thank you” for the gift of salvation and reciprocate with my actions to demonstrate my acceptance of the gift and dedication of my life and self to Him.

But, our reciprocation is not just receipt, thanks, and dedication, it is to be the FIRST things we do. In verses 35 through 37 of Nehemiah 10, there is the outline of those things that are obligated to the LORD. Those things are noted as not just the things, but the first of those things.

“³⁵We obligate ourselves to bring the firstfruits of our ground and the firstfruits of all fruit of every tree, year by year, to the house of the Lord; ³⁶also to bring to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God, the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, as it is written in the Law, and the firstborn of our herds and of our flocks; ³⁷and to bring the first of our dough, and our contributions, the fruit of every tree, the wine and the oil, to the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and to bring to the Levites the tithes from our ground, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all our towns where we labor.” – Nehemiah 10:35-37 (ESV)

So, the obligation I have to the LORD is to reciprocate with the FIRST of everything to Him. I arise in the mornings and pray thanks and petition to the LORD. I give the first of my day to Him. I study His Word first and then on with the rest of my day. I give first to Him and then live on the rest. I am dedicating my life and self to Him and His worship. I am prioritizing the LORD over all else.

What a thing to say it out loud for me and all to hear, as I have done in the above paragraph. It is one thing to internalize things, it is another to say it aloud. I will obligate, and not just obligate, but the first of me to the LORD. He GAVE me the GIFT of salvation and I am obligated to thanks and dedication to Him in return.

What is your thoughts on your obligation to the LORD? Did you just get the gift of salvation and it is time to move on? What if you realized the gift and reciprocated with receipt, thanks, and dedication to Him and did so through obligation and with the first of you?

Do the Work and Prepare for the Fight

A fight for and around our faith is coming, that we can be certain, yet we have work to do in the name of the LORD. I have to be prepared for that fight and ensure that I continue the work. The work is the important part as relates to my existence here in this world. I was added here to do the work of the LORD, and when we even look back at creation, the man was created to have dominion and do the work of the LORD.

The fight is coming and yet I have to focus on the work of the LORD. I have to know that the LORD will protect us and fight for us, yet I am to be prepared for the fight for when I am called into action. I have to know that I have help in this world through my fellowship with my brothers and sisters in Christ, yet they will not be right beside me all the time. I and they are to prepare for the fight and know that the LORD is there with us to fight on our behalf so that we are able to continue the work to bring glory to him.

“¹⁹And I said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, ‘The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another. ²⁰In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.’” – Nehemiah 4:19-20 (ESV)

I see here that the work of the LORD must continue, yet we are widespread in our work. We are not always working right next to others. We are not going to have in the immediate proximity, brothers and sisters in Christ who are at the ready to defend us. We are protected by the LORD. We are doing His work and He is right there with us as we work. Protecting us so that the work can and will be completed. And the alarm will sound to alert our brothers and sisters to come and defend us. They will come to our fight for our fight is their fight for the glory of the LORD.

I am blessed to have, at the ready, brothers and sisters in Christ to alert and call for when needed. Yet even with them at the ready, I still have the work of the LORD to do. I have faith that the LORD will protect me and give me that which is needed to complete His work. I must know that the fight is coming and prepare for it, yet focus on the work of the LORD with the comfort of knowing that He is fighting for me and that I have brothers and sisters in Christ ready to step in when called.

What is your thoughts on doing the work of Christ? Are you focused on the work or worried about the fight that is coming? What if you know it is coming realize that the LORD is fighting for you and that your brothers and sisters in Christ are at the ready to come when called so that you are able to complete the work of the LORD?

You will be Allowed to Do the Work of God

This morning I am in the book of Ezra. I am reminded here that the work of God will be allowed and encouraged.

“²⁵And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges who may judge all the people in the province Beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God. And those who do not know them, you shall teach. ²⁶Whoever will not obey the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be strictly executed on him, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of his goods or for imprisonment.” – Ezra 7:25-26 (ESV)

Here we have the words from Artaxerxes of Persia to Ezra that he is to do the work of the LORD and those who do not obey are to be held to account for their actions, or lack thereof.

You see, the House of the LORD was decreed to be rebuilt and even as it was, there was some work and convincing that the decree was still in effect. Once it was finished, it was dedicated and then Ezra went out to teach the people of the Law of the LORD and the law of man. Ezra was not just sent allowed to teach, but was encouraged to do so by the king and it was ordered that he should have provision from the cities and towns to do so.

Here we have the work of the LORD commissioned to take place. The commissioning came from the LORD and He made it possible to happen even encouraged by man.

We find ourselves daily in conflict with the law of man within the law of the LORD. But is there really a conflict or is that conflict just imagined. You see, the LORD makes possible for that which is in His Will. Our role is simply to do His Will with faith that He will do all that He says He will. When we are in the Will of God, we are allowed to do the work and as we can see in the passage above, are encouraged to do the work as well.

What actions are you doing in the Will of God? Are you finding conflict or are you avoiding the work due to imagined conflict? What if you approached the work in the Will of God from the place of faith and know that you are allowed and even encouraged to do so?

The LORD Will Take Away

As a follower of Christ I am comforted that I will have rewards in heaven. I know that the LORD will provide for my needs. My salvation has been granted thanks to my acceptance of it from the LORD as His gift. But, all that I have in this world is not guaranteed. That which I have been blessed with can and will be taken away if I am not faithful to the LORD and do all that He has commanded of me.

“¹¹Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, ‘Since this has been your practice and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant.’” – 1 Kings 11:11 (ESV)

As Solomon had not kept up with his work for the LORD, the LORD removed the blessings from him.

This lesson is for me even today. I have been blessed with where Lori and I live. We are in a community that is friendly, generous, and desired by those outside looking in. The LORD made it possible for us to have raised our boys in this community where they were somewhat shielded from a lot of the world and the hardship that is found in other areas of it. But, as was with Solomon, the LORD could take it away at any moment if/when we fall away from Him.

There is however something that I am able to count on with regard to the LORD, His provision. Yes, I have been blessed with where we live and the LORD can take that blessing away at any moment based on my lack of continued dedication to Him. But, I can find solace in the fact that even if those blessings are removed from me, He will still provide for my needs and honor His promises to me.

“¹²Yet for the sake of David your father I will not do it in your days, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son. ¹³However, I will not tear away all the kingdom, but I will give one tribe to your son, for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem that I have chosen.” – 1 Kings 11:12-13 (ESV)

Solomon, who turned away from the LORD, was not cut off from God. His provision was not taken away. The LORD will do the same with me. God loves me, and my inheritance in His kingdom has been guaranteed, but blessings in this world are not, only provision. He will take away the excess that is not part of that guarantee. I am not entitled to the excess, and frankly, I am not entitled to anything, yet the LORD, through His grace, ensures that my needs will be met in this world.

It is up to me to remain faithful to the LORD. It is my choice to do so. That is the beauty of the LORD, He has given me way to free will. And with that free will there are consequences when the choices I make do not align with Him and His will. But even when I do not choose Him and His will, He remains faithful to provide for my needs and His promise of salvation.

What are your thoughts as to the things we receive from the LORD? Are you even aware that the LORD provides the blessings you have? What if you were to recognize that those blessings are just that and can be taken away by the LORD, but, He will still provide for your needs?

Mighty Men of God Will be Saved

This morning as I study, I was reminded that even mighty men of God will be saved. Yes, they will not always be the one saving, but will be saved themselves. David was saved by Hushai when Absalom was pursuing to kill him. David, as we know, was a mighty man of God and was certainly capable of saving himself. Yet in this moment, he was saved by his friend Hushai who learned of the plot against him and sent to warn and advise him, thereby saving him from this instance.

“¹⁰Then even the valiant man, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will utterly melt with fear, for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and that those who are with him are valiant men.” and “¹⁵Then Hushai said to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, ‘Thus and so did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and so have I counseled. ¹⁶Now therefore send quickly and tell David, “Do not stay tonight at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means pass over, lest the king and all the people who are with him be swallowed up.”’” – 2 Samuel 17:10 & 15-16 (ESV)

The mighty man of God was saved.

If indeed mighty men of God will be saved in this world, why not us? I have to remember that the LORD cares for the birds and the mighty men the same.

“²⁶Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” – Matthew 6:26 (ESV)

Now, I know that the above was said by Jesus in the context of not being anxious and to know that the LORD provides for all. But here I see also that the LORD’s rescue of for all, even the birds as well as for the mighty men. I have to remember that the LORD cares for us all and that while I may not be the mighty man of God that David was, I am worth the redemption that comes from the LORD and He freely gives it to me.

We may not believe it, but all are worth the redemption that comes from the LORD. Even the mighty men of God who seemingly can save themselves will receive the freely given redemption. All men of God will be saved.

What is your view of the saving of mighty men? Should they fully save themselves? What if we looked at all men and worth the redemption and salvation given freely from God?

Your Good Deeds Will not be Seen as Such

Ever wonder why it is that when good deeds are done, they are not seen as just that, good deeds? I know that I do and struggle with it on the regular. There seems to always this thought of other intent. Things are not just accepted as they are.

“¹After this the king of the Ammonites died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place. ²And David said, ‘I will deal loyally with Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father dealt loyally with me.’ So David sent by his servants to console him concerning his father. And David’s servants came into the land of the Ammonites.” – 2 Samuel 10:1-2 (ESV)

Here we have an instance of the death of a king and David sent his servants to serve up his sympathy to the son. As we see things here, David was just being a good neighbor and showing support during a time of sorrow. We do not see any motives to the contrary, and isn’t that how things should be. Regardless of the dealings had with someone, in their time of sorrow, we should be gracious to them.

“³But the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, ‘Do you think, because David has sent comforters to you, that he is honoring your father? Has not David sent his servants to you to search the city and to spy it out and to overthrow it?’ 4So Hanun took David’s servants and shaved off half the beard of each and cut off their garments in the middle, at their hips, and sent them away” – 2 Samuel 10:3-4 (ESV)

And there it is. Even as David sent his servants in good faith, they were accused of ill intent and dealt with as if it were true.

The evil one is constantly looking to undermine the work of the LORD. Where we do know that the LORD will prevail, the individual battles daily are going to go the way of the evil one from time to time. We have to know and be ready for the undermining activity of the evil one and work with and for the LORD to overcome. Even when our motives are as they appear, there will be doubt sewn in by the evil one and we will be dealt with as though we are to the contrary.

It is not easy in this world and the LORD never promised or even said that it would be. I have to remember that as I work to do the will of Him. I have work to do and I should be doing that work according to the instructions that He provides for me. I have to remember that no matter the thoughts of others, it is the work in the name of the LORD and I have to just do the work and move on to the next that God has for me. I have to know and understand that the evil one will always be there to distort the truth, but as the LORD is truth, He will prevail.

What is your view of doing the right thing? Are you seeing that your motives are undermined? What if you approached things to do the will of the LORD and know that He will prevail regardless of the way others see them?

Redeemed by Faith

This week a question came up in my discipleship group as we dove into redemption. As we are redeemed through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, what about those who cam before Christ, how were they redeemed? Well, the short answer is, through faith.

“²¹Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. ²²Therefore you are great, O Lord God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.” – 2 Samuel 7:21-22 (ESV)

I was reminded that faith is a who word and not a what word. It is the LORD that redeems us. It is through Him alone. Faith is Him. Things are only guaranteed through Him. We may not know the full outcome, nor the route for that matter, but we are assured that He will provide.

“¹Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. ²For by it the people of old received their commendation.” – Hebrews 11:1-2 (ESV)

It is through faith, the LORD, that we received redemption. So, those before Christ were redeemed through faith.

To us here in this world, it is more complicated yet simple at the same time. We have come after Christ and are redeemed through His shed blood and resurrection. He took on all of our sin as His own, so that I would not have to deal with the consequence of that sin, death. So, that is the simple part, I only have to believe that He died for me and that without Him, I am not redeemed.

The complicated part is that it is not just a one time thing. Yes. I am saved and redeemed once, but I do not get a free pass after that. Redemption is not a box to be checked and I can get along with things. As I have been redeemed, I am to follow His commands and lead a life bringing glory and honor to Him. He has taken on my sin and shame and it is now up to me to follow Him wherever He leads me and to do whatever He has for me. I must have faith that His will be done always and forever, regardless of me.

Before Christ, the people were redeemed through faith that He was who He said He was and would do that which He said He would. After Christ, we are redeemed thanks to the shed blood and resurrection of Him and that He is who he says he is and does what he says He will.

What is your view of redemption? Are you looking for it from somewhere and see it as a task to be completed? What if you had faith that the LORD is who He says He is?

Follow the Direction of Elders

This morning I find myself in 1 Samuel looking through the passage of the anointment and proclamation of Saul as king. We have a situation where Saul is chosen and then anointed and then proclaimed to be king at the direction of Samuel from the LORD.

Saul was told how things would go down and he, Saul, only needed to heed the directions and it would all come about.

“⁶Then the Spirit of the Lord will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. ⁷Now when these signs meet you, do what your hand finds to do, for God is with you.” – 1 Samuel 10:6-7 (ESV)

Here we see that Samuel gave instruction and Saul would follow through with it. But these instructions did not just come from anyone. Samuel was the priest and revered in his work with the LORD. And therefore the instruction was coming from a trusted source and should be followed.

I find myself in a position of needing instruction. As a part of a discipleship group. I seek the advice and instruction from those in the group. The presumed leader of the group is one of our pastors with the church and therefore considered to be more in concert with the LORD as he is well studied and a teacher of God’s Word. I see him as an elder and look for instruction from him.

We should all find someone that we can listen to as a teacher and elder to follow. But, we have to be careful and identify the person of the LORD and not a person of great personality. It is easy to be swept up by the dynamics of the individual. It is not about the person, but about their understanding of the Word of God and how that applies to our lives individually. The instruction that comes from them should be for the glory of God and not for the glory of the person.

Once we have found the person to provide the instruction, it is up to us to follow that instruction and know that the LORD will provide, but in His due time and not our own.

Who are you listening to for instruction? Are you listening to your peers or those in similar situations as you? What if you found an elder and followed their instruction as led by the LORD?