merittmusings

Fear

www.bible.com/1713/ecc.12.13.csb

Apparently there’s a lot to be afraid of nowadays. Here in Kentucky. We have been told to be afraid of church, bars, restaurants, large gatherings and non-essential travel? Why? Well, there’s a nasty virus out there that we can’t see that lurks in the potential breath of strangers. It’s here to make us sick, even to kill us if we are exposed to it. We’ve got to wear masks, seal ourselves off from social contact, and stay HOME.

Now we are flattening the curve and exercising social distancing out of an abundance of caution. There, I managed three social buzz-phrases in one sentence. It’s making me sick.

I have had two opportunities to leave town cancelled, one this weekend and one the next, because the virus has caused fear in others to cancel events and shut down venues. Instead of getting out of town, it looks like I will be staying in town for the duration. The lack of mobility is starting to wear on me. Even the idea that I can’t anywhere because nothing is going to be open is grating in my nerves. So what’s a guy to do?

Solomon suggests that we fear God and keep His commandments. This is the end of the law. This is the goal of all that has been written. Maybe I’ve needed to rant a bit, and I thank you for reading this far. And maybe all of this is to point out to us what’s really important in this life. Priorities are changing. We need to review those priorities in light of our walk with Christ. What is it to be a Christian in the middle of all of this? I think it means more than watching TV and moping around the house. Now is the chance to catch on your Bible reading, break out that study guide you’ve been meaning to get into. Catch up on a sermon series you’ve missed online or offer to help in your community in any way that you can. Call some elderly folks in your church and see how they are doing. You know they’ll appreciate the visit.

Lord help me today to see the opportunities that lie ahead for those who follow You. Help me to be the Christian I need to be today despite the circumstances. Show me the opportunities before me so that I can continue to serve You faithfully. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Seek and Find

www.bible.com/1713/jer.29.13.csb

One of the frequent activities I see visitors engaged with in the hospital are those simple seek and find word puzzles. You know, the ones with rows and columns of letters where you have to look through the list of words and then find the word somewhere in that matrix. They are ubiquitous in the hospital waiting rooms and gift shops. So when God calls us to seek Him find, of course my brain goes right to the puzzle.

Of course God is looking for more than puzzles here. But I think there is a truth in this. When you work such a puzzle, you know the answer is in there somewhere, even if you haven’t found it yet. We have this confidence that if we look hard enough, we will eventually find the word and mark it to show its location. I believe we can have that same confidence when looking for God in tough situations.

God calls us to seek Him. That means we can be confident that God can be found. Sometimes it is hard to see Him, but God not only calls us, but wants to be found. All it takes is time and patience.

So if you are looking for God today and it doesn’t seem easy to find, slow down, look more carefully. Be patient. He is there.

God help me to be patient today in my search. I know sometimes circumstances cloud my thinking and make it difficult to see You, but I know you are there. Help me find You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Merciful

www.bible.com/1713/mat.5.7.csb

Have you ever had the chance to show mercy? Being merciful usually implies you are in a position to offer mercy, a position most of us might feel doesn’t apply to us. When are we ever in a position to be merciful? Well, it might happen more often than you think.

Have you ever had your sense of right violated, like someone cuts in front of you at the restaurant, or the check-out line at the grocery store? Or maybe someone’s else’s kids got the playground equipment you’ve been telling your kids to wait their turn for? Basically any time your sense of righteousness has been violated, you are in a position to show mercy. And this is an odd feeling. You want to strike out in some way, like pointing out that your rightful turn was overlooked. You may want to yell or say loudly, “Hey!” Those are opportunities for mercy and graciousness.

Mercy is not demanding your rights when you have the opportunity. Mercy is giving way when you have the right to your own way. Mercy is something that as Christians we have every opportunity to practice, but it takes maturity to be able to do it well. What will you do when the opportunity presents itself? Get mad? Get even? Or give way in grace?

Lord, help still my temper when my rights are violated. Remind me that justice and vengeance are yours, not mine. And Lord help me remember this lesson before I make a mistake.

In Your Name, Amen.

Sharing

www.bible.com/1713/heb.13.16.csb

I learned a long time ago as a child that I am supposed to share. But then it was to share out of my abundance. If I had enough for two, I needed to share with another so that we both had enough. It doesn’t seem like a Christian thing, so much as a human good. That is so because it has been built within us, our moral code if you would, to share with one another. As a mother shares with her child, and a father with his family, so it is built within us to share with those we care for.

If we know to do this naturally, then why this admonition? Obviously, our sin affects us more deeply than we realize. For in our abundance we can forget our responsibility to others. And in our faith, we find that sharing is far deeper than we observe naturally, for Christian sharing means not giving not merely from our abundance, but from our own need. God is pleased with such sacrifices. It is no sacrifice to give what we can afford to lose. It is sacrifice to give when we need it ourselves.

But as Christians we can afford to give even this, because our Father has more than enough. That is why we can afford being generous. Our Father is the King. He already owns everything. It is no matter to Him to give. But it is a great matter to us, who only see with our eyes. We must exercise faith to give what we believe we can’t afford. That is faithful giving.

Father, help me to see with Your eyes. Help me to see that what I have isn’t mine, so much as Your property for which I am steward. Help me to see the needs of others, that I may minister what is Yours to those that need. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The Day of Christ Jesus

www.bible.com/1713/php.1.6.csb

God gave them over to their lusts, men for men and women after women. In this the wrath of the Lord is revealed. In this we know we are receiving judgment, and this virus is the warning from an Almighty to show us we are not nearly as powerful as we think we are. The evidence is all around us that we are ripe for judgment. We may not receive the fire and brimstone of Sodom and Gomorrah, but this one single, microscopic virus has managed to do more, both in its reality and in the perception of its danger than 9/11. Think about that. We have shut down more school, public events, conferences, and are afraid even to go outside our doors for fear of this, far more than we were of Islamic terrorism within our borders. And the death toll to this thing has only reach half of the loss of life of that day. Are we a nation under judgment?

We should be surprised if we are not. Romans 1 makes it very clear that God’s pours out His wrath on nations that exchange His truth for lies. That worship the earth instead of its Creator, and finally turn to same-sex relationships as normal and even preferred. It feels like we’ve already checked these boxes as a nation. Shouldn’t God upend our lives at this point? President has wisely called for a National Day of Prayer tomorrow. I don’t know who he is listening to, but wisdom is among them. Anyone with eyes to see knows that there is more going on here than just a virus. The whole world is under this judgment. I am not saying this is the end the world, but it is certainly a wake-up call.

What amazes me is that this came from something as innocuous as some wild animal in a jungle somewhere. Good Lord! What else has He got stashed out there? This came from nowhere, a minor town in a country on the other side of the world. And here I am huddled in my home for fear of it. If God could do this in a few short months, what else could He do?

Am I adding to the hysteria, I am self-aware enough to realize this can be interpreted as such. I am not as afraid as all that if this particular coronavirus. But I see the effect it has on my neighbors and my country. I don’t expect to be immune from this thing because of my faith. I live in this world too. My contrition and complicity with these going on around me make me just as much as subject to judgment. My silence when I should have spoken speaks volumes all by itself. I repent of that. And I pray I do better in the future.

For this verse gives me hope. I am still on this earth. I still have purpose. I am still a work that God is working on. He’s not finished with me and there is still more for me to do. How do I know this? Because I am still here. Every morning I wake up and an invitation to do the work He has called me to do, even if it’s just writing this blog. As long as He has some purpose for me, He will keep me here. Thank You Lord for giving that purpose today.

May I extend that same hope to you today? God raised you this morning for this purpose, that you may be His witness wherever you go. You have great responsibility today. Don’t waste it. We are still salt and light in this world. We still matter. We can still preserve and offer hope to this world. If the virus is a warning, let us then be warned and take that message to heart. God is still active in this world. Sometimes He has to get our attention in ways we actually pay attention. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Now go forth and let your light shine!

Essentials

www.bible.com/1713/jhn.6.35.csb

What do you need to live? What keeps you going? All of us need air, warmth, a place to rest, water, food and so on. Does Jesus fall in and among your needs? Just as we need food, Jesus says He is the bread of life. Just as we need water, Jesus says He is living water. We find that our physical needs find their counterparts in the realm of the spirit. We need the breath of life, the bread of life, the water of life, and the abode of the Spirit dwelling in us and with us.

None of these things can we provide for ourselves. Perhaps when we mature and come into His presence, we will no longer require God to feed us all of these things as infants. For the tree of life will be in that place where we need only reach out and take for ourselves and receive it. Until then, we depend absolutely on the presence of the Holy Spirit to work in us and through us.

May you eat and drink today, and taste and see that the Lord is good.

Thank you Lord for Your marvelous abundance. May I never go hungry or thirsty when filled with Your Presence.

Wash Your Hands

www.bible.com/1713/jas.4.8.csb

Corona virus is all people are talking these days. It has eclipsed the milquetoast tepidity of the democratic process. People have even stopped talking about impeaching Trump. Toilet paper is flying off the shelves faster than trees can be felled to produce more. Masks and gloves are at a premium. I wonder what people will do when a real disaster hits?

While corona virus is a real thing, is it that real? Is it so much worse than Ebola was? What was canceled for Ebola? What did we postpone for SARS? Did we close school for swine flu? Some may have. Most shrugged it off as “someone else’s problem.”

I heard just a few days ago that Bethel Church, the church in the news a few months ago for trying to pray back to life a small child who passed away in their church, has canceled faith healing trips to the hospital. Maybe their faith had been shaken by the aforementioned lack of resurrection power. They said that they didn’t want people to get infected by going into the hospital and praying over sick people. This sudden submission to western medicine seems suspect to me.

I know germs and viruses are real things. I also know this corona virus is spread like normal flu, through droplets which can be sneezed into the air but rarely survive for long on non-loving surfaces. My reason tells me that this virus is no worse than any other viruses. Christian who wash their hands regularly are in pretty good shape.

But I don’t think that’s what God is talking about this morning. He is calling us draw near to Him. Washing hands is a reference to our deeds. Just as purifying hearts refers to minds. Let our thoughts and behaviors reflect our relationship with the Lord. Let us draw near to Him. And the promise is that He will draw near to us, His people.

We will weather this storm as we have all the others. Some of us will not. But whether we live or die, let us praise the name of the Lord. When plagues ravages the earth, I dare say it is the Christians who helped, who nursed and who doctored, when others stayed in quarantine or fear. Some got sick, others received their heavenly reward. But I’m sure all received a crown of glory. Because their behavior reflected their faith in the God of the Universe, and the God of viruses. They acted as people of God, and we should do no less. Let us continue to minister to others the good news. Especially during times of crisis, our peace of the Lord should shine as a beacon. Let your light shine today.

Heavenly Father, You are the King of the Universe. By Your hand, even viruses are ordered to and fro. If by Your will this virus today become even an instrument of judgment, let us not falter or fail for fear. We have nothing to fear from You our Father. Instead, let us with confidence and boldness enter into service with Your Name in our hearts to help those in need. Let us not be ruled by fear, for perfect love casts out all fear. Let us be cautious, but not afraid. Let us reasonable understand our precautions, it not terrified of what could happen. You have called us to be Your people in this world. Let us answer that call and enter in other’s desperation with Your peace and grace. Thank You Lord that we have this blessed assurance. Let us draw near to You, so that You may draw near to us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Good Service

www.bible.com/1713/1pe.4.10.csb

As the old adage goes, it’s hard to find good help these days. I believe people have been saying that since the earth cooled. That makes me wonder how good the help was years ago.

Peter advocated to us this morning that we ought to serve as good stewards of God’s gifts to us. Had has indeed given to each of us everything we need to serve His purposes in this world. For every purpose He has planned for you, He has equipped you to carry it out. So as we go forth today to serve Him, remember that God has called you to a particular purpose.

How do I know what purpose that is? Like others, sometimes I wonder if what I’m doing is what God wants me to do. That’s a hard question to answer. Even if your job is not directly Christian, can you do Christian things while doing your job? Are there other people to interact with? Are there opportunities to share the gospel? Do others benefit from your presence? Can God be glorified in what you do? I believe the most basic of God’s purposes are fulfilled when you can at least be Christ to others, no matter what kind of job you do.

I welcome your comments below on this. How have you made Christ the center of your work and mission where you labor?

Heavenly Father, help me to see opportunities today where I might serve You and bless others in the capacity of my work. Hp me to be Jesus for others, that they might see You in me today. Amen.

This Confidence

www.bible.com/1713/1jn.5.14.csb

I have always been amazed at the audacity of the faith healers and the “name it and claim it” folks who just lay hands and pronounce the name of Jesus over people as if it’s some kind of magic formula. I can understand such confidence if In fact Jesus does want to heal a person. In fact, if Jesus wants to heal a person, does He really wait until some human being comes around to pray a prayer of healing?

This is bothers me about faith healers and those who claim to have the gift of healing. They always say they can hear from Jesus or the Spirit and know what God wants them to do or where to go. I have a hard time with it because that is an awful lot of inside information. Would God take us into His confidence, and only those equipped to hear Him? Why would God choose only certain people? Why not everyone And remove all doubt as to what He wants? Why speak to only a few? Is that how God works? God works in secret? No one can challenge the faith healer because he alone has heard the word. No one should doubt him because God spoke to him. I have trouble with this.

Maybe I am confessing my lack of faith. Or I just don’t get it. I thought God spoke to the prophets and the apostles and completed His revelation to them. I thought that completed revelation was compiled into one book, and that book was sufficient in itself to equip the man of God for every good work. Why is there a need for new revelations? Why does God need to continue to speak when He has already spoken? Am I missing something?

Is God’s word true or not? Is God’s will sufficiently revealed in the Bible, or does there need to be something more? Did the miraculous gifts end with the Apostles, or do they continue to this day? Can God choose to heal someone? Absolutely. Does He? Yes! But can I demand that God heal? Can I put myself in the place of God and say someone is healed? May it never be. I don’t know if the person is suffering because of unrepented sin, because of God’s punishment, because that person is being tested, or some other reason. How can I put myself in His place when it is His will they be tested for a time?

We see suffering as inherently bad. But it is suffering that produces endurance, and that is a gift of God. Should I go an pronounce healing and deny someone the blessing of endurance through suffering? Perhaps God has something better in mind that healing. We have such a skewed view of suffering. It isn’t evil. It just is. And it is a tool, especially for those of us in this privileged nation, for God to use to purify us and produce in us jewels worthy for His kingdom. When we see a slight headache as suffering, maybe we need to endure for a while, instead of asking for the healing.

Something you may notice in the Scriptures. Healing is almost never for the sole benefit of the ailing. It is most often a benefit and a sign to the community, who see the power of God at work and come to faith. Yet today, healings are rarely done outside the community of believers. Outsiders can only hear about the lame who walk again, and only rarely come to faith because of it. What changed? Do believers still need to be convinced? Hmmm.

If your faith depends on seeing signs and wonders performed in your midst, then you don’t really have faith. Faith is believing is something unseen, not something you see everyday. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Pray for healing, be confident that God wants the best for you, but leave it up to God to work out His will in you. As the Lord wills, so we will do. Stop demanding things from Him, and let Him work in you to the pleasure of His will. That is a mature faith. If God says it, we trust in it and believe in it. But always give room for God in your prayers.

Lord, I know many of us would like to be advisors rather than followers. In our limited vision, we think we know what’s best. Help us to see things as You do, help is to grow in our faith. For we walk by faith and not by sight. Help us follow You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Hunger and Thirst

www.bible.com/1713/mat.5.6.csb

If you’ve ever been hungry, you know you’re not you. It is like the Snickers commercial. You easily become frustrated, upset, and angry when you are hungry. When your thirsty, what happens? You become less observant, less wary, less aware of your surroundings. You become more easily tired, and you just don’t feel right. All you can think about is getting something to drink. You become focused on the one thing. So, what does this have to do with our verse today?

What is it like to hunger and thirst for righteousness? I think the two phenomena might be similar. When I stray too far away from the Lord, I easily get angry. I lose my patience more quickly. I tend to focus on fleshly things and lose God’s perspective when things don’t go my way. I get short with others. I focus on myself. In fact it’s not too different from when I’m hungry. Weird.

If you have once tasted heavenly righteousness, you develop a hunger for it. It becomes part of your soul, and your behavior reflects it. If you stray too far from it, your lack of it is revealed by your actions. So if you are feeling short and frustrated today, flat or unfocused, check your spiritual diet. You’re not you without Jesus.

Heavenly Father, help me today to be more like you. Help me to draw nearer to you and pull away from the desires in this world. I don’t have to be like that, selfish and mean. Thank You for reminding me that I have better food and drink waiting for me at Your table. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.