Choose to Believe

“¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16 (ESV)

This morning I was taken to what is likely the most well known verse in God’s Word, John 3:16. It is so well known that it has been seen at all types of public events, sports games, concerts, and countless others. People will have it with them for all to see, but how many are clued into fully the weight of this verse.

In my study this morning, James MacDonald writes, “The key word that unlocks the door to John 3:16 is believe. And believe always includes choice.”

Isn’t that true. We have to choose in order to believe. I was reminded in my study that even being undecided is a choice. Choices are not binary but have additional options that are not really considered. For example, believe or not believe or just walk away from the idea altogether. There are three options, not just the two initially thought. So therefore, being undecided is a choice just as the other two.

Too often, we find something to carry as a badge. Whether a verse, a quote, a poem, a way of doing things, or any number of others. We have chosen to carry the badge and in a lot of cases, we believe in our heads that it is quite the good thing. And where that badge may be powerful in your head and impacts other when seen, is it in your heart as well as your head.

I choose God’s Love. I have seen in my study the value and impact of God’s Love. I have taken it to the point where it is firmly implanted in my head. I have believed in my head. Where that is a great place to start, I have to be honest with myself in applying my belief to my heart as well. I have to connect the two. I have to take the intellectual belief and infuse emotional belief to gain the full value and impact of God’s Love.

I am not saying that I have not done so. What I am saying is that I have to be conscious of my belief. I have to choose to connect my head and my heart through belief in God’s Love. I have to know that whether situations are good or hard, leaning on God’s Love is that which will get me through.

Let’s go back to John 3:16. Look closely at this verse. See that God’s Love is demonstrated in what He did for you and me. He gave His Son to die so we would not have to. Jesus, His only Son. And why did He send Jesus, because He loves us. He chooses to love us. He chose to save us from our sin. The sin that we brought upon ourselves and have no escape on our own. He chose to afford us eternal life with Him. God’s Love is for us and I choose to believe.

Where is your belief? Do you choose belief, unbelief, or are you walking away? What if you made the choice to believe with both your head and your heart to know that you can lean on God’s Love regardless of the situations you find yourself in?

Spiritual Leadership Takes Time

It is interesting to see people as they are just getting started in a role and how they change over time. Those that learn from experiences, whether those are successes or failures, are those who the greatest movement is witnessed.

As for spiritual leadership, the same is true. Growing in spiritual maturity and into the spiritual leader does not generally come once one is found in the new role. Sure, there is excitement and action taken by the new Christian, but excitement and action should not be confused with maturity and leadership.

Paul’s conversion was a turning point in his life and in the life of the spread of the gospel. It was a dramatic event and had a profound impact on the man, Paul. Yet, as strong a leader he was before his conversion, it would be 10-15 years before he would make his first missionary journey. Again demonstrating that it takes time to grow into spiritual maturity and leadership.

Abraham started his life as a worshiper of the moon, yet was chosen by God to be the father of all nations. It certainly did not happen overnight, for it was 25 years after God told him his wife would give him a son that it actually happened. As Richard and Henry Blackaby write, “Abraham did not being his life as a paragon of faith, but gradually over many years, he developed a mature and deep relationship with God.”

We have to wait and learn from the LORD and devote ourselves fully to Him and He will create in us the spiritual leader we are to become. It is our heart devotion and not just our outward appearances. It is important that we are devoted to the LORD and give all of ourselves to Him and trust that He will provide that which is needed when it is needed.

“⁹For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars.” – 2 Chronicles 16:9 (ESV)

Asa reigned in Judah and was by biblical account was good;

“2 And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God.” – 2 Chronicles 14:2 (ESV)

Yet, as Asa did not give himself fully to God, with His heart, he found himself out of the safe favor of the LORD. He was a leader, yes, but he was not the leader that led with the help and guidance of the LORD, and there He found himself missing out.

Spiritual Leadership takes time and is something to be developed over that time with our heart set on God. We may have been given leadership roles, it is likely that we are not the leaders we are meant to be, yet. We have to now ensure that we have given all of ourselves to the LORD and over time He will make us the spiritual leader He intends for us.

What is your view on becoming a leader? Once you have the role have you somehow arrived? What if you look at it as just the beginning of the journey, devote your whole self to the LORD and allow Him to develop you into the spiritual leader He has in store for you?

His Law in Your Heart

It seems as though there are new “laws” and rules popping up all the time. Whether it is related to online use or what is unacceptable in the driving through an area. But notice the way we look at laws, we tend to see them as restrictive and speaking as to what not to do. We may even dread the idea of having another law to keep up with and adhere. But let’s look here at what David says about the Law of the LORD.

“⁸I delight to do your will, O my God;

your law is within my heart.”

— Psalm 40:8 (ESV)

“²but his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on his law he meditates day and night.”

— Psalm 1:2 (ESV)

I see that David is loving the Law of the LORD. He does not see any restriction and actually welcomes and cherishes the Law of the LORD by keeping it “within my heart” and meditating “day and night” on it. There is no what not to do, David sees the Law of the LORD as the what to do in giving and getting the most to and from the LORD. In fact, look at the volume of what comes from the LORD according to David.

“⁵You have multiplied, O Lord my God,

your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;

none can compare with you!

I will proclaim and tell of them,

yet they are more than can be told.”

— Psalm 40:5 (ESV)

They are too many to be declared to the world.

Here is what I am seeing and learned this morning. The LORD provides all, and I mean all according to His Law. He is gracious to the point of so much abundance that we cannot let it known the full extent. I am to keep His law in my heart, not to be sure of what not to do as it is not restrictive as one might think, but to delight in the wonder and greatness of the Law that allows me to give and get the most to and from the LORD.

What is your approach to the Law of the LORD? Are you working to be sure that you are doing what is “acceptable” and seeing it as restricting? What if you meditated on the Law of the LORD and kept it in your heart to delight in it, giving and getting the most to and from Him?

The LORD Will Deliver

This morning and over the past few months, I am thinking of the deliverance that comes from the LORD. I am in Psalm 6 and the title in my ESV Bible is “O LORD, Deliver My Life”. As I read David’s plea for deliverance, I see that he is not taking any physical action. He is asking for deliverance with his words that come from his heart. David is asking the LORD to deliver him for he needs it.

“¹O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger,

nor discipline me in your wrath.

²Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing;

heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled.

³My soul also is greatly troubled.

But you, O Lord—how long?

⁴Turn, O Lord, deliver my life;

save me for the sake of your steadfast love.”

— Psalm 6:1-4 (ESV)

In my discipleship group for the past few months we also dive into the grace and mercy of God. Mercy being God not giving us what we deserve and grace is Him giving us what we don’t deserve. David above is asking for mercy and we should be as well. The payment for mercy has already been paid through the shed blood of Christ Jesus and yet, for us to receive, all we have to do is ask. I don’t have to take any additional action, I need only to ask for the mercy of the LORD.

This is the deliverance that we should be seeking. It is from His wrath that we need deliverance. I have to accept that my sinfulness is that which separates me from the LORD and that I am in need of mercy to fill the chasm between us. I cannot do anything, physical action wise, to close the gap between the LORD and me. I can only seek His deliverance and give myself to Him knowing that He will save me through His mercy and grace.

“⁸For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)

I am in need of saving and only the LORD can deliver. I need only ask with my words from my heart and He will deliver me.

What are you thoughts on deliverance? Are you looking to take action to be delivered? What if you understood that you need only ask from your heart to be delivered and accept the mercy through grace that only the LORD can provide to be saved?

Speak and Ask From the Heart

Ask of the LORD and He will provide. The thing is, that ask should be from the heart and not from the head. This morning I am reminded of this again as I read in the book of 1 Samuel.

“¹³Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard.” and “²⁰And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, ‘I have asked for him from the Lord.’” – 1 Samuel 1:13 & 20 (ESV)

Hannah asked of the LORD from her heart and the He granted her ask. What a great God we have that He grants even the greatest of asks, for a child.

But, that ask was not for Hannah directly and was from the heart, and therefore the LORD was listening and granted the ask. When you review the rest of the passage we find that Hannah was asking for a child, yes, but she in her ask, she was also giving the child to the LORD, not just a gesture, but fully and completely to the LORD.

“¹¹And she vowed a vow and said, ‘O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.’” and “²⁷For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. ²⁸Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.” – 1 Samuel 1:11 & 27-28 (ESV)

Hannah asked for the child from the LORD with her heart and promised that when granted she would give the child to the LORD. This devotion to the LORD and not selfish ask is an example to me to do the same when asking of the LORD. I have to ask with my heart and with the intent to honor the LORD with the results of the LORD’s granting of my ask.

Where are your asks of the LORD coming from? Are they for your own selfish gain? What if you were to ask from the heart and devote to the LORD?

The LORD Will Do Exactly as You Ask

It is something for the LORD to provide just what and when we need. It is something also when He does so just as we ask.

“¹⁴Let the young woman to whom I shall say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who shall say, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels’—let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master.” “¹⁷Then the servant ran to meet her and said, ‘Please give me a little water to drink from your jar.’ ¹⁸She said, ‘Drink, my lord.’ And she quickly let down her jar upon her hand and gave him a drink. ¹⁹When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, ‘I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.’” – Genesis 24:14 & 17-19 (ESV)

Here we see the account of Abraham’s servant finding Rebekah, the wife of Isaac. The servant was tasked with selecting a wife for Isaac from the land Abraham had left as He followed the LORD’s direction. The servant asked the LORD to make it clear to him the woman by having her complete some specific tasks. And the LORD did so.

I often ask the LORD to speak to me plainly. I am terrible at getting subtleties. I need to be bopped on the head for me to get things. I am reminded that LORD wants to provide for me. He wants to ensure that I have all that I need. It is up to me to ask for things from the heart and I should be specific. The servant of Abraham, wanting to do right by his master, asks the LORD to bop him on the head to make it clear to him that the woman to be wife of Isaac would be found.

I am not sure that we as followers of Christ ask specific enough. Yes, the LORD provides what and when we need, but we also have to let Him know what we need. When the LORD finds that what we request is in alignment with His will, He will provide and do so just as we ask.

What is your view of asking specifically? Are you reluctant so as not to put too much restraint on the LORD or yourself? What if you asked for exactly what you NEED and allowed the LORD to provide, and do so specifically, knowing that when the request aligns with His will, He will grant it as you ask?

God Desires Your Heart

Until now, I have been reading and studying the word “desire” and it is been on our side, man. This morning I was brought to the book of Hosea where I found the desire of the LORD.

“⁶For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,

the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”

— Hosea 6:6 (ESV)

I forget sometimes that man was created in the image of God and to have a relationship with Him. Relationships are more than just acquaintances. Relationships of real worth are from the heart. I know that in my relationship with Lori, I have given her all of me, most of all my heart. There is nothing I won’t do for her as a result of the love I have for her and our relationship.

Our relationship with God is no different. He gives us all that He is for our sake and to care for us. He gives His heart to us and desires that we give ours to Him. There is nothing we should not do for Him as a result of the love we have for Him and our relationship.

Yes, the last two paragraphs end the same way. I meant that to make the point. Those we have relationships with desire us fully, including and mainly our heart. If we are willing to give to those of this world, would it not fully make sense to give to the LORD the same, or more importantly, first.

God does not require much from us. He wants us to do His will in this world to spread the gospel. And, first of all, He desires that we give our hearts to Him. He saved me from death and I owe Him, the least I can give is all of me, beginning with what He desires and that is my heart.

What are you giving to the LORD? Are you trying to satisfy His desire through monetary and other gifts? What if instead you simply gave Him the one thing He desires, your heart?

Seeking the Lost

“¹⁰For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” – Luke 19:10 (ESV)

And there you have it. I will just leave this here.

You see, Jesus did not come seeking to save “a” single lost one, He came seeking “the” lost ones. That means all who would accept him is who He is looking for. It does not matter where you are, where you come from, or what you have done, when your heart is open and you accept Him, He gives you love and salvation.

Who are you? Are you one of the lost ones? What if accept that you are, open your heart and accept Christ as He has been seeking you?

Who Can Be Righteous

Anyone.

“¹⁶For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. ¹⁷For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” – Romans 1:16-17 (ESV)

Paul lays it out simply for all. Salvation is for everyone. Faith is the difference. Those who accept the gift of salvation and live by faith shall be righteous. I know that seems to good to be true. But it is. There is no hidden meaning. There is no cryptic approach. Accept salvation and live by faith to be righteous.

There is a thing that we must consider though. All is by the acceptance and living in our heart and not on the surface or to ensure that others have heard and know. The only one who needs to know is the LORD and that will be exclaimed through our relationship and communication with Him. In our relationship, we have the opportunity to speak with the LORD and know Him. It is in these communications (prayer) that we find our tasks to spread the gospel and do the work of Christ. It is in this relationship that we reveal our hearts to God and He sees and knows our faith in Him.

Righteousness is not for the Jews or the Baptists or the Catholics. It is for all who accept the salvation gift from God and live by faith in Him and in actions He tasks. It is offered and for everyone that will accept and live in their heart and demonstrate that through the relationship and communication with the LORD.

Who do you believe can or is righteous? Are you of the opinion that one somehow has to be special or of a certain group? What if you were to see that it is anyone who accepts the gift of salvation and lives by faith through their heart?

Get What You Pay For

Ever wonder why people get what they do. It never fails, that which you pay for is what you receive.

“²⁴What the wicked dreads will come upon him,

but the desire of the righteous will be granted.”

— Proverbs 10:24 (ESV)

This morning I am continuing my study on the word “righteous” and remain in the book of Proverbs. In this chapter there are a number of references to the word righteous although I was led to verse 24 this morning. It struck me that what is in your heart is that which your are going to receive. Think about this for a moment. What is in the heart of the wicked, wickedness. What is in the heart of the righteous, the LORD.

The wicked are just that, wicked throughout. They are filled with evil even deep into their heart. So much so that they don’t even know that they are wicked. They go about things believing the opposite of the golden rule, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. And when it happens to them, they are somehow taken aback and cannot believe that someone would treat them as such. Their thoughts go to the golden rule and how the other person is not living by it, completely ignoring the fact that they were on the other side of things just a moment ago.

Now, think of the righteous. They are filled with the LORD deep into their heart. So much so that they put others before themselves. They go about things believing that it is better to give than receive. And when they do receive, they are blessed beyond belief at the goodness in others. Their thoughts go to how someone in such a position of need would be so generous to others.

This is the essence of getting what you paid for. The wicked pay daily for wickedness and the righteous pay for righteousness. The wicked go about things bringing to others the wickedness that they themselves want no part in. They dread being treated poorly to the point that they are active in punishing others to be the dominate one and others will avoid treating them poorly. As for the righteous, they go about things to bring joy to others. They are interested in spreading the glory of God and only desire that others receive the joy and spread it further.

What are you paying for? Are you dreading being treated poorly and yet somehow it is happening daily? What if you were to pay with the joy of the LORD and only desire that those you pay pass it on?