Quietness

Ecc. 4:6

"Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind."

Do I really understand the concept of a handful of quietness as opposed to the busyness of life, or have I really thought about quietness as a blessing? When I think about this, the first thing that comes to my mind is what can be accomplished in quietness. First, quietness allows for thought. Many times as life is racing around me, there is no time for reflection. I am merely running from one thing to the next as if I am on autopilot, going through life by rote. Secondly, quietness allows me to hear the voice of God. I can become like Mary who chose the better part, who sat in adoration and quietude with Jesus. Thirdly, quietness allows me time to study and to grow in Jesus. As I read and study, I can think and reflect on what God is saying to me through His word. Fourthly, when I am quiet, I can pray. I can pour out my heart before God. I can relate to Him as I should giving Him all the glory and honor. Fifthly, I can hear the needs of others instead of rushing around meeting my own needs. If I listen closely enough, I can hear the words that are not spoken and the feelings that so want to be heard. I would imagine that I could list so many more blessings that come from quietness, but I will end with the blessing of an added awareness. In quietness, I can see God's hand in my life, and I can see how my life is intricately woven with the lives of other believers. Busyness captures my moments and controls my life, but quietness expands my moments by revealing to me God's hand and sovereign plan.
Father,
Thank You for blessing me with quietness. Help me to seek it above the busy race of life. In that quietness, help me always to seek you.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Where Is My Heart?

Mt. 15:8-9

"This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men."

Jesus was speaking of the Pharisees and the scribes when He quoted Isiah's prophecy. Since these people were not outwardly evil, but outwardly religious, they appeared to be the epitome of religion. Yet, Jesus looked beyond their exterior into their hearts. Sadly, they had perverted true worship by teaching their commandments as godly doctrine. Not only that, but their hearts were far from God. They were merely professional religionists who Jesus denounced as hypocrites.

As I read this, I have to wonder if I ever make my worship more of a form than a heartfelt reality? Do I ever adhere to certain traditions more than God's words? Do I act in a way as to say my life is alright, but allow wrong attitudes underneath? Even though I know God knows my heart, why do I persist in the charade? As I think about this, it breaks my heart to think that I might have done this. God calls for truth in my heart and in my actions. Hypocrisy is sin!

Father,

My heart is convicted. Even though I would never want to be like the Pharisees, have I allowed hypocrisy to sneak into my life? Spirit, reveal to me whenever I am not honest with You and with others. Keep hypocrisy far from my heart and my actions.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Sells All

Mt. 13:44-45

"The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it."

When I think of this merchant, I think of someone who is single-mindedly on his search. He is not distracted by anything inferior or second rate, but only wants fine pearls. Quality is of the utmost importance to him. When he finds this pearl, this culmination of his dedicated search, he is more than willing to pay the price. In fact, he sells all to buy it. In the parable preceding this one the kingdom of heaven is compared to a treasure hidden in a field. When the merchant finds it, he goes with joy and sells all so that he might buy it.

What lessons is this teaching about the kingdom of heaven? First it comes with single-minded searching. A key element of searching is realizing the need and possessing a great desire. Secondly, the search for life in Christ is not deterred or satisfied with an imitation faith. There are no other ways. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Thirdly, the cost for this kingdom is great. Jesus said earlier in the book that to be counted worthy, His disciples must carry their cross and follow Him. Carrying the cross and following His example demands all that a person has. It means changing one's entire life focus and priorities. Finally, when one has the desire, searches, is willing to pay the cost, he must take the final step, that is buy the pearl or the treasure. Being in the kingdom of God is the most important decision that there is. Sadly, not many are willing to pay such a high price nor to search for the one True Pearl.

Father,

Thank You for helping me find this great treasure. Continue changing me so that I might truly possess all that You are and all that You mean to be in my life.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Eternity in My Heart

Ecc. 11:11

"He has everything beautiful in His time. Also He has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end."

I thank God that His plan is beautiful. He has blessed my life with His glorious grace that is perfected in my weakness. He has put eternity in my heart, eternity with God in His glorious presence because in God's time He drew me to Himself. In fact, God's plan put eternity in the heart of all mankind. But with this eternity comes a choice, the choice to choose salvation or self-will. Even though man has eternity in his heart, he still cannot understand God's timing. It is only by grace through faith. This verse brings up so many things in my mind that are paradoxical. God's plan is beautiful yet it contains suffering and hardship. God gives us eternity in our hearts yet we can't understand all of what God has done. It reinforces the fact that God's thoughts are not mine, and His ways are not mine. I just need to trust Him that what He brings into my life is beautiful because He knows the end from the beginning.

Father,

Build this trust in me. Make me aware of Your beautiful plan for my life. Thank you for giving me the gift of eternity with You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

For Out of the Abundance of the Heart

Mt. 12:34b-35

"From out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil."

Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees about the condition of their hearts. He asked them a very probing question, "How can you speak good when you are evil?" There is the crux of the matter! If they were evil in their hearts, then good would not result. Jesus used their heart condition to teach a vital principle, that is out of the heart the mouth speaks. This principle applies to all humanity. What is in my heart will come out of my mouth. Maybe I can hide it for awhile, but eventually, when push comes to shove, it will pop out! So I think that these unkind, evil words are a signal that something is wrong in my heart. It is then that I need to spend some time with the Lord, searching, confessing, and reading His Word. I must constantly be aware of my heart's treasure. I can't be like the Pharisees who tried with all their human might to appear righteous even though their hearts were evil, but instead I need to be like Jesus who was God's good treasure to me in the flesh. He came to share God's love at the sacrifice of His life. This great cost proved His heart's treasure. Does my heart's treasure result in self-sacrifice, in giving freely and liberally to others, and in meeting the needs of others especially when it calls for sacrifice? I know that Jesus has put a new nature within me, but at the same time, I struggle with the flesh. Like Paul, I must say, "I have the desire to do right, but not the ability to carry it out...So I find it a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand." What a struggle to do right out of a good heart! But I can praise God that according to His power at work within me, I can have good treasure in my heart. I can grow in His grace and love. However, all of this comes at the cost of self-denial, of taking up my cross and following Him. What I need to do is guard my heart through the power of the Spirit who indwells me and helps my words reflect the goodness of God. I must never accept or justify my human flaws as the norm! Evil heart treasure should not be at home in my heart. It is my enemy not some horrible relative that I tolerate.

Father,

Thank You for saving me, for giving me new life, and or changing my heart. Spirit, convict me when I grow careless and allow evil to sprout and grow deep within my heart. Help me root it out so that my heart produces a crop of goodness. Let me speak words from Your fruit grown in me to full maturity.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Take My Yoke

Mt. 11:28-20

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you , and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Since Jesus invited the hard working and the heavy laden to come to Him, how do these people differ from the wise and understanding people mentioned in this passage? To clarify Jesus revealed the heart condition of the people in the cities where He had done great miracles. In v. 25 it says that God had hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to children. Why, because these people believed themselves to be wise in the ways of the world and understanding in the ways of established religion. They felt that their works were enough to give them spiritual significance as in the case of the Pharisee and scribes. So when they saw Jesus performing miracles, they began an outright attack against Him instead of coming to Him for rest for their souls. Their self-sufficiency was their self-righteousness! Yet, Jesus didn't stop caring or offering. He wanted to give rest to those who felt the burden of a works religion, a religion that was devoid of soul-rest. Instead, what Jesus offered was exactly what they needed! He came to bring rest!

In my Bible it says that the 'yoke' was a common metaphor for the law. The people were compared to oxen who were yoked to carry a heavy load, that load was the burden of the law. By contrast, Jesus offered a yoke that was easy with a light burden. His yoke reflected his gentle and lowly heart. His life's mission was to pay the debt, to assume the guilt, and to shed His blood. Once and for all He fulfilled the 'yoke' of the law and replaced it with His yoke of salvation through grace. Sadly, it was a salvation that was seemingly impossible for the people in these great cities to understand or to receive.

I see this invitation still being offered. Maybe people today are not struggling with the weight of a complex works-based religion, but they are struggling with the weights of a God-rejecting culture. Whatever the weights and burdens in this life, Jesus is still gentle and lowly in heart. He is still offering a salvation by grace and faith alone. But, like then, people must still see and believe His claims. Belief is the rub because it comes through faith! Today, those who are wise in themselves often do not see and accept Jesus' claims of grace. Sadly, they reject this greatest gift of all. Yet, that easy yoke and light burden is offered to all. I wonder why Jesus' yoke is considered easy? I think it is because once I am His, I don't have to carry the load alone anymore. His Holy Spirit dwells within me helping me in any way that I need. The Spirit is the Helper that Jesus gave to believers when He went back to heaven. I have the load-lifter dwelling within! No wonder the yoke is easy and the burden is light.

Father,

Thank You for opening my eyes to these great claims of grace. Thank you for replacing my heavy yoke of sin with the easy yoke of Jesus and making my burden light. Put within me a fire to share this with others so that they too might have the gift of grace.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Take Up His Cross and Follow

Mt. 10:38-39

"And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it."

What a shocking concept to view discipleship in the metaphor of crucifixion! When I read the phrase "take his cross," I think of Christ taking up His cross. That scene of Jesus struggling and beaten comes vividly into my mind. But what exactly was the cross for Jesus? Obviously, it was an instrument of cruel torture, but more than that, I think it was the instrument of God's sovereign will for Jesus. For me the cross means mercy and grace, but for Jesus it meant obedience "even to death on a cross." In the same way, discipleship means that whatever God's sovereign will for my life is, I must pick it up and follow. If I do not do this, and instead, chose my own path, then I am not worthy of Jesus. Why? In Jn. 15:20 Jesus says, "A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. " Since Jesus is my master, I cannot disobey. "For to this I have been called, because Christ also suffered for me, leaving me an example, so that I might follow in His footsteps." (I Pet. 2:21) I must follow in His footsteps especially the steps of cross-carrying and suffering. It is in these steps that I learn obedience. The hard questions come into my mind and my heart. Am I carrying the cross that God has given me? Am I even seeing this cross, or are the eyes of my spirit clouded by a preoccupation with what the world has to offer?

Then the verse goes on to develop a paradox of losing and finding. If I find my life spiritually which includes cross-carrying, then I must lose the life of worldly priorities. The spirit-life found is the world-life lost. They can't coexist for "no man can have two masters." But the cool thing is that though I lose the life that the world prizes and cherishes, I have found a life of infinitely greater good. However, finding this life hinges on cross-carrying. The way to blessing is through suffering, and the way to gain is through loss. These are the paradoxes of obedience. God's way is definitely not the world's way. Have I found my life in God, or am I trying to hold on to both worlds? If finding true life comes from the loss of this life, then it must be through faith. I mean who is going to chose loss? No, this comes through the power at work within me strengthening me in my inner man so that Christ may dwell in my heart causing me to comprehend the love of Christ. It is His controlling love and life that gives me the strength to carry, to follow, and to choose to lose. "He is no fool who loses what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."

Father,

Strengthen me in obeying Your will for my life, in carrying my cross, and in following You. I want to gain life in You. Sharpen my eyes so that I may see Your will and chose You way.

In Jesus name,

Amen