Author: Bob

Even though it doesn’t always appear this way, every person has insecurity in some area of their life. It is a universal characteristic. It first appeared after Adam and Eve sinned in the garden. They first looked at themselves, became self-conscious, and thereby intuitively discovered they were naked. Unhealthy fear, the driver of insecurity, motivated them to hide their problem behind fig leaves. (Genesis 3:6-13) Although it isn’t a gene, this insecurity has been passed on to the soul of each human from that point forward. Today we still try to hide that debilitating feeling within by all forms of “leaves” that come to mind—judgmentalism, anger, superiority, controlling, jealousy bullying, name calling—every form of evil.

What had Adam and Eve done that so dramatically changed how they felt in their mind and emotions? They intuitively knew their disobedience had separated them from the source of their security—God’s presence. Consider this, could it be that the feeling of insecurity is our intuition telling us something’s not right in our relationship with God? David, who struggled with the very same insecurity each of us have, wrote The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold (Psalm 18:2, ESV). Each descriptive word relates to security that minimizes insecurity. What was it the Jewish leaders identified in Peter and John when they so confidently spoke of salvation through Jesus after the Jews had crucified Him? (Keep in mind before this they locked themselves in a room because of their fear of the Jewish leaders!) The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13, (NLT2). Being with the God-head results in a profound sense of security that over-powers insecurity. This is also clear in the prophets who spoke so boldly what God had told them to say to kings, religious leaders, and the rebellious people.

Jesus struck at the very heart of insecurity when He told the religious leaders You like to receive praise from one another, but you do not try to win praise from the one who alone is God; how, then, can you believe me (John 5:44, GNB)? How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God (John 5:44, ESV)? This is a profound spiritual truth. By linking one’s belief in Him with this level of insecurity is very sobering.

Self-confidence is what Satan and our culture commonly promote to cope or sedate insecurity. However, self-confidence is the arch-adversary of God-confidence, or confidence in Him to protect or provide for you. Self-confidence looks attractive until tragedy or incurable disease strike. Please understand, self-confidence will eventually separate you from God, as it did Adam and Eve. The early Hebrews provide a clear picture of this by their repeatedly trying to substitute their trust in God with trust in other nations or gods of their world.  Self-confidence is another face of independence from God. Jesus’ word picture of building a house on shifting sand instead of a rock describes it well.

As Jesus said, doing whatever you can do to SEEK an intimate relationship with Him is the only sustainable source of identity, approval and affirmation to neutralize sin’s nature of insecurity. Investing serious time reflecting on what He teaches in His word, which necessarily includes conversing with Him, are the building blocks for an eternal bond with Him. That bond creates a great testimony to others, whether at our workplace, in our pleasure, service or family relationships.

A man who struggled with a bad habit asked, “can God still love me when I can’t stop sinning?” We all see our repeated secret failures and silently ask the same question. In the meantime, we become more cynical and judge others more harshly who continue their bad habit. This is most likely because we silently judge ourselves harshly for what we do, even though we try to keep our failures secret.

Malachi 1:2 shares God’s word to  the Jews. It is a very insightful and equally perplexing word from God. Its context is about 100 years after the Jews had returned from being exiled in Babylon. Daniel and the three Hebrew children had come and gone. Malachi, the last of God’s prophets to speak for 400 years. His words were the returned exiles who, not only were confused; they questioned God, His love, and promises to them. Like all their ancestors, they too had failed to be faithful to God’s covenant with them. So, when Malachi said, “I have loved you,” says the LORD. “But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?’ “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” the LORD says. “Yet I have loved Jacob (Malachi 1:2, NIV). By questioning God’s claim, these Jews were betraying a deep distrust of God, a lack of faith in His Word.

The first thought that popped up in my mind when reflecting on this verse was, how can loving Jacob be proof that God loves those to whom Malachi was speaking? It quickly became clear He used the name Jacob as a code word for all his offspring—the Jews. However, what God is saying here gives hope to all of us today! Here is how this is true.

There are those distracted because God loved the historical Jacob and ‘hated’ his twin brother, Esau. While that is a valid question for discussion, we must not allow ourselves to be distracted from what God is saying in this verse. A quick look at the history of each brother’s offspring reveals Esau’s lineage had a zero regard for God, while Jacob’s lineage at least claimed to embrace God. However, they had failed miserably in walking that love out. The book of Judges is a picture of their insane repetition of an on-again, off-again relationship with God. It is a vivid illustration of Proverbs 26:11 (GW) that reads, as a dog goes back to its vomit, {so} a fool repeats his stupidity. This then begs the question, why in the world would a perfect and holy God continue to love such fickle Jews (Jacob’s lineage)? Yet the Bible shows His faithful love for Jacob’s offspring, despite their intermittent faith and independent, rebellious life towards God.

We love our children even when they repeatedly do intolerable things. And we discipline them to help them stop those intolerable things. God’s love for Jacob and his stubborn offspring did NOT mean He approved of their choices. Rather, He disciplined their unrighteous attitudes or choices to help them come back to Him. Like us today, they did not see that God’s discipline (their pain) only expressed the depth of His love for them. The discipline God allows is only to position us to change our heart so we will stop making our bad choices. His discipline is not punishment for our sins.

The repentance the Bible talks about is not simply saying “I’m sorry”. It means I surrender the control of my life and determine to allow the Holy Spirit to manage my daily decisions. When we do this, He will so transform how we think, our repeated sinful habits, and cause us to love God as Jesus loved His Father. Yes, it takes time to unlearn our sick thinking and learn His values and ways, but in the end, we will arrive at our desired destination.  That is the depth of love God had for Jacob AND for you and me. If you have been fighting for control of your life, STOP IT!! … and allow Him to live His life through you. It is for certain you will not regret this decision.

What first comes to your mind when you hear or read the word ‘worth’? Often, it triggers thoughts of financial worth. In the past, my grandson frequently compared several billionaires’ worth with their contemporaries.

One line in the lyrics of O Holy Night, my favorite Christmas carol, goes, Long lay the world in sin and error pining, ’Til He appear’d and the soul felt its worth. I’m certain the definition of that word in that context has zero correlation with financial worth. It begs the question, when or how is it that Jesus’ appearance on earth could enable one’s soul to feel their worth if it doesn’t involve finances, a skill set or achievement? I highly suspect the answer lies somewhere in the realm of feeling unworthy. When a person discovers God values them enough to ask His Son to leave the glories of Heaven, become a helpless baby with a destiny to die on a cross so they could have His eternal life, that person has discovered new a sense of healthy worth.

However, this discovery cannot be assumed. An elevated level of self-worth based on something inherited or accomplished will thwart it. A very fine, upright man was honest and concerned enough to confess that while he understood God’s grace, he didn’t feel a need for it. I was proud of him for his honest acknowledgement. There are many whose choices, behavior and attitude reveal they feel like this man, but would never acknowledge it. Unfortunately, too many church attenders accept the concept of God’s grace, yet only talk and act out a humility of their own creativity. They cannot enjoy the blessings that flow out of authentic humility. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. James 4:6 (NIV) The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. Psalm 34:18 (NLT2) Their self-worth blocks them from experiencing the felt worth referenced in the lyric of the Christmas carol.

How we think about God’s worth and self-worth will make the difference between living in false humility and authentic humility. False humility can come in two basic forms. It can be our self-generated acts of humility based upon the false premise that we can earn God’s grace. Another form of false humility is reverse pride. This is thinking we are beyond God’s capacity to give us grace.

Authentic humility is not to think less of yourself, it is to think less often of yourself and see things as they are. It also limits man’s unworthiness to his/her inability to earn God’s favor or love. It feels totally helpless and dependent upon God for His grace, as a mortally wounded man feels a desperate need for help. Grace is, by definition, a gift which cannot be earned.

Genuine humility also fixes one’s heart on God’s worth and knows man’s worth is directly connected to His worth. True worship is to gaze in awe at who He is. Jesus could be humble of heart because he knew who and whose he was. He had nothing to prove, therefore he could come as a helpless baby and grow into a man who loved freely. This difference between genuine and false humility deeply affects how we love God and others.

This begs the question. To what or who do you attribute your worth? Worth, based on your close relationship with God and His Word, will produce the abundant life Jesus has promised. I pray your soul feels it’s worth in Jesus, so His humble mind may be in your mind as well (Phil 2).

Suppose a donor laid $1,000 on the table. The donor then said this goes to the first one to pick it up. If no one steps forward to pick it up, is it the donor’s fault that happens or is the money no longer legitimate? Of course not. By the same token, if God makes a promise and no one has faith in their spirit to believe God will fulfill it for them, is His promise of no value or powerless? Do you suppose many of God’s promises have been powerless to you simply because you did not add God’s gift of faith to the promise so it would materialize?

The writer of the book of Hebrews describes a promise of a rest in chapter 3 as the long-sought God supplied promised home specifically for the Jews. In the next chapter, he again promises a rest of a different type not restricted to the Jews. This rest is often called the Sabbath rest because it is like the rest God took after finishing His work of creation (Gen. 2:2). While we cannot relate to the work of creation, we can relate to the striving of our souls that we experience trying to be approved by God or to become like Him. We strain hard to control our environment to be righteous or do righteous works.

It states this rest in the future tense because the Jews never entered that rest. God’s promise was ineffectual for them. He then challenges you and me today by writing, let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience (Hebrews 4:11, NIV). Please understand, this rest is not referring to salvation or Heaven. It is a rest from our labors to be a Christian instead of trusting in and obeying God’s Spirit’s leading to becoming like Jesus. Every effort to enter that rest consists of laying down our anxiety and fully trusting in Him to change us. The faith we receive from Him to do this gives us great confidence in all God will do in and through us—even the painful things. Please know, trusting God this way does not exempt us from pain any more than it exempted Jesus from pain. The rest is within our hearts, not our circumstances. Connie and I are facing the possibility of her dying—that is pain! According to the doctors, she is on the next to last treatment strategy. Yet it the midst of it all, we both have an uncanny gratitude, peace, and confidence that God has it—we do not have to anxiously fight for her to live. The Spirit is promising you and me to zealously step into that kind of divine rest. Incredible!

Paul explains… the promise [of this rest] was based on faith, in order that the promise should be guaranteed as God’s free gift to all of Abraham’s descendants—not just to those who obey the Law, but also to those who believe as Abraham did (Rom. 4:16a, GNB). This means the way to enter this rest is to entirely trust, have strong confidence in and reliance upon the Spirit of God to control and guide your daily life. You grow into that level of trust the more you expose yourself to God through His Word. Paul explains as all of us reflect the Lord’s glory with faces that are not covered with veils [prejudice, selective reading of the Bible, wishful thinking, disobedience, unteachable attitude, etc.], we are being changed into his image with ever-increasing glory. This comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18 GW). Our role is to respond to the desire within to know more of God, then gaze upon His awe-inspiring glory as you continue to reflect on what His Words says.

To what extent have you been able to discern transformation happen in how you think and behave over the last 6 months? Can you tell if you are thinking more like Jesus did and sensing a deepening love for God, the type of love Jesus had for His Father and humanity? This is nothing boring about being a growing believer. As a person is discovering new insight into the awesomeness of God, he/she is energized and passionate to act upon what they have learned as well as want to share it with others so they too can experience the joy, peace, and love you feel.

The Bible teaches that we believers live simultaneously in two worlds. We are seated in Christ next to God the Father, while physically living among other earthly mortals. The contrast of the two world cultures is far greater than that of the USA culture and the one found in Somalia or any third world. Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1, NIV). Therefore, we must make a simple decision, which world is home to us. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:2, NIV). This has become very real to Connie and me today. When writing this, her white blood cells have plummeted to (1–normal health is 11-15 = exceptionally low immunity) and her platelets have dropped to (21, normal health is 150-450 = danger of bleeding). The question we must face is which world are we going to allow to influence our thoughts, emotions and the decisions we make.

It’s natural to interpret life issues (financial, relational, political, health issues, etc.) through the lens of this world’s culture after having grown up here. For example, instead of considering how God had appointed earth’s weather to endure many earlier radical changes, the natural mind attributes today’s global warming to something man has/is doing to create our current troublesome irregularities. In contrast, the prophet Isaiah interpreted drought and other painful things in his day, to being organized by God (Isaiah 24.1-12). The Apostle Paul interpreted the bleak situations of his day to creation’s groaning (Romans 8:22, ESV).

2 Kings 3 records an incident when the kings of Israel and Judah (separate nations at that time) went to battle against the Moabites. After marching 7 days to meet in the battle, they discovered there was no water at that location for the men or animals to drink. The prophet Elisha, with eyes focused on the invisible world, told them to fill the surrounding valley with ditches. He then said, for thus says the LORD, ‘You shall not see wind or rain, but that streambed shall be filled with water, so that you shall drink, you, your livestock, and your animals’ (2 Kings 3:17, ESV). That strategy would be considered totally insane by someone in today’s cancel culture mob! That is how fundamentally different the thinking is between the invisible Spirit world and that of the earthly world.

Whenever I have served a role when God worked His incredible miracles, the most impressive thing to me was I was never quite able to see how or when He did it. I only saw the results of what He did. Our unbelief insists on seeing some outward sign before they believe when the sign normally comes only in the afterglow of His presence. But the greatest triumph of a person’s faith is to “be still, and know that [He is] God” (Ps.46:10).

The role of Bible faith is not to question, but to simply trust and obey. In the 2 Kings 3:16 report, the kings were asked to simply “make this valley full of ditches” When they obeyed, water came pouring in from some supernatural source to fill them. What does this teach us about faith?

Are you desiring some spiritual blessing? A. B. Simpson said, then dig the ditches when God asks you, and expect God to fill them. But He will do this in the most unexpected places and in the most unexpected ways. May the Lord grant us the kind of faith that acts “by faith, not by sight” (2Co 5:7), and may we expect Him to work although we see no wind or rain.

Isaiah 37 reports a very intense, heart-throbbing situation. The king of the strongest empire of that day (Assyria), Sennacherib, first sent threats to Hezekiah, the king of Judah. He then surrounded Jerusalem, preparing to conquer all who were within it. This contrast was like Goliath, facing off with the boy David.

Previously, Hezekiah had presumptuously rebelled against Assyria. However, when Sennacherib’s first threat came in real time, Hezekiah then presumptuously took off all the gold on the temple doors, hoping to soothe Sennacherib’s anger. But that was too little, too late. Now, he was in a desperately hopeless condition. With no more appeasement resources to offer or any hope of physical help available, he humbly came in prayer to God. God sent His prophet Isaiah to encourage make promises to Hezekiah. As soon as Isaiah had finished sharing his latest prophetic words, the Bible says in Isaiah 37:36, Then the angel of the LORD went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning—there were all the dead bodies! Isaiah 37:36 (NIV). Only God knew why He needed to wait this long to bring judgment on the Assyrians.

It is fascinating to consider how often in scripture when God used a specific time in His scheme of things, to take an action to fulfill His promise. It was in the fullness of time God sent His Son (Jesus) to earth. (Gal. 4:4) Revelation 14:15 tells us God waited until a specific time after evil had ripened to use a sickle to harvest the sins of the world. What might this suggest to us about God Himself, His ways, plans, purpose, strategizing, orchestrating the context and action? What kind of God could or would be that kind of specific and strategic to plan for not just one incident or intervention but for billions of humans, hundreds of nations in the world, millions of family units or individuals—all at the same time!!! It would require a very personal God to know when to and when not to act on our behalf. And then to have that action trigger a domino effect or send a person or nation into a new trajectory of life itself. How might this relate to the fact He holds the world together by His presence? (Col. 1:17, 2:19, Heb 1:3) I’m in awe just trying to get my mind around such a God. In the natural it would require an indescribable energy force to do such a thing.

The people suffered (in Egypt for 400 years), were shown incredible miracles, taken captive, etc., etc. and prophets continue to tell the people the Messiah would come and save them from their sin. God obviously had a reason for waiting for the fullness of time to come before sending His redemption. The same type of thing is going to happen in Revelation (14:15) when God finally tells the angel to take the sickle and reap the harvest of sin on earth. There must be some incredible dynamics involved in God’s timetable for all the necessary components to align themselves for just the right time for God’s next acts to take place. That is one of God’s many ways. I can’t help but think that is also one of His ways He uses when working miracles in our life. This leaves me in AWE of God, His ways, His wisdom, His character, His self-control, His perfection and more.

You very well may be in a situation as desperate as Hezekiah when there is zero hope from the natural perspective. As for Connie and me, with her very poor health, given our options, we feel hopeless. There is nothing we can make happen that will restore her health. Without God’s intervention, her death is only a matter of time. It is in this context the word then gives us hope. I’m not sure why, but there is an uncanny confidence our omniscient and omnipotent God will intervene at just the right time. Until that time comes, we will be content to wait upon His time. How have you been responding to your dark situation?

Is faith a belief in a creed? Is it a deeply held traditional, religious or superstitious myth? Is faith all about church doctrine or whatever we believe in our head? Is faith some form of emotional or mental assent? Or could it be some kind of blind trust, faithfulness, or good behavior? What is a confession of faith if we don’t know what faith is?

When we use an electrical switch, we usually express a type of faith. If we flip the switch, we expect a light or electrical device to work. We lend or borrow money based upon a faith that the loan will be repaid. When we enter an airplane, we believe it will safely fly us to our destination. Some attend church believing that doing so will provide them a ticket to heaven. Some Christians put their faith in their faith—they trust their faith (whatever that may mean) will eventually give them what they hope for or expect.

I have found while the Bible uses the word faith hundreds of times, yet it is often misinterpreted.  The most common definition in Hebrews 11:1 is so abstract it requires interpretation. Yet, we are required to have faith if we hope to please God. (Hebrews 11:6) I have observed that the faith most people claim to possess is evidence of indoctrination rather than spiritual revelation.

Biblical faith is exceedingly difficult to describe because its core is of the spirit world and is not physical, emotional, or earthly. Paul explains the natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14, ESV). We can use all kinds of words or metaphors, as the Bible does, but without God’s Spirit making it real to us, it is like trying to explain an atom or even love to an ant or a dog.

Experiencing a spiritual regeneration changes everything. Jesus called this internal regeneration being born again.  Ezekiel 36:25-27 explained that it even changes a person’s deep desires. The change it brings will be as different as the shift that occurs when a couple has their first baby or a person becomes president of a large corporation. Life soon looks unspeakably different with a newborn in one’s arms or first sitting in the president’s chair.

Biblical faith is that indescribable enlightenment, motivator, conviction, sense of expectancy, and energy force that comes within a person when the Holy Spirit drops His faith into their spirit. This very dramatic change happens when we humbly submit our self-willed attitude to God and allow Him to control our future decisions. The prophet Ezekiel describes this inner transformation in chapter 36:27. I [God’s Spirit] will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules (Ezekiel 36:27, ESV). Paul describes it this way, For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him (Philippians 2:13, NLT2). Paul candidly reported this very thing by writing,… I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me (Colossians 1:29 NLT2).

Is that kind of faith in God guiding, comforting, or energizing your daily life? If not, just know living with this type of faith is where abundant life becomes a reality.

I retired a couple of years ago, after which I spent a large part of time on my computer studying the Bible in my personal devotions. (Most of my library had migrated to my computer to expedite my study time.) I also did a great deal of reflection on scripture when writing lessons that would position people to most likely hear the Holy Spirit’s whispers as they reflectively read the Bible. While on my computer, I would also take breaks and do some research on such things as how to install kitchen tile and the stock market. It became clear I was spending an inordinate time on my computer. Since I was no longer working, I needed to engage in physical tasks around the house. I then ventured into tasks I had never tried, like installing kitchen tile. Of course, doing these things minimized my Bible study time.

Over the last couple of years, I felt the subtle, yet powerful role the routines of life played in my spiritual life. Some of those cares of life would consume me to the point I felt like I was being slowly swept into a river’s mainstream. I sensed if I didn’t deliberately balance my time usage, I would veer off the path of what I valued most, that being seeking to know God more intimately.

Jesus said, Then the cares and anxieties of the world and distractions of the age, and the pleasure and delight and false glamor and deceitfulness of riches, and the craving and passionate desire for other things creep in and choke and suffocate the Word, and it becomes fruitless (Mark 4:19, AMP and Matthew 13:3-23). He is not saying we should ignore what needs to be done around us. But it does tell us how the simple, innocent looking, cares of life can disrupt one’s life to the point they neutralize inner passion, then confuse priorities.

From a bird’s-eye perspective, it was the cares of life that so preoccupied the early Hebrews it kept them from getting a grip on the power of God and left them to die in the wilderness. Satan used the cares of life to tempt Jesus in the wilderness. It was the cares of life that defeated Judas Iscariot. On the other hand, it is the cares of life that God uses to teach us, equip us, show us His love and grace. God designed for there to be a healthy tension within our lives between focusing on things above and things of this world. It is quite clear that unless we maintain time-management, our life will show very little, if any, good fruit.

Someone has said the two greatest days of your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why. God created you with a purpose in mind. God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do (Ephesians 2:10, GNB).

By creating us in His triune likeness with having a spirit, soul, and body (Gen. 2:7), He designed us to be able to simultaneously live in two worlds as Jesus did, the physical and invisible worlds. In what way do you see the cares of life affecting your invisible spiritual journey today? Have they subtly come to dominate your focus and time? Or have you been able to set time parameters in place to make certain you can fulfill the cry of your inner spirit to know and serve God more intimately? If so, His Spirit will continually reshape you into being more and more in the image of Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 4:13) As this occurs, you will experience more and more of His joy, peace, and power.

Respectability refers to being admired and considered important by others. Usually, it relates to one’s character or reputation. The Bible character, King Herod Antipas, knew and respected John the Baptist, even though his wife manipulated him into having John beheaded. When he heard of Jesus’ respectable reputation for preaching and working miracles, He asked who is this about whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him (Luke 9:9, ESV).

Interestingly, Jesus knew He was going to a cross in Jerusalem to die. He wanted to know before He went if there was anyone who had discovered who He was. One day, Jesus left the crowds to pray alone. Only his disciples were with him, and he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” (Luke 9:18, NLT2). The disciples reported some people thought He was John the Baptist reincarnated. Others speculated He was Elijah, who the Bible said would come in the last days (Malachi 4:5). Jesus then asked, “But who do you say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Messiah sent from God!” (Luke 9:20, NLT2). Jesus came back, “God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn’t get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am (Matthew 16:17, MSG)

They had discovered who He was; now Jesus had to teach them what that discovery meant. He had to take their ideas of God, and His ways and purposes, and turn them upside down. We find that is what He set Himself to do from this point on.

It is intriguing to observe spiritual growth. As with Peter, no man can properly explain the reality of who Christ is. We can learn about Him, but until we encounter Him through the Holy Spirit, our natural man cannot connect the dots. But that is only the birthing point to knowing Him, His ways, and His sovereignty. The Holy Spirit reveals more truth of who He is, but if what He reveals differs from our imagined concept of Him, our blinded mind simply will not allow us to receive the truth. Shortly after Peter had spoken the revelation given him, Jesus explained to the disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and what would happen to Him there. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” (Matthew 16:22, NIV). How could he do such a thing to Jesus? We find after the resurrection and right before He ascended into Heaven, the disciples STILL had not received all of what Jesus had been teaching. (Acts 1:6)

I dare say, after the Holy Spirit has regenerated us, we continue to create and carry distorted ideas of God, His sovereignty and plan. If He doesn’t perform according to our preconceived ideas, we too rebuke God! Some even withdraw from Him if He doesn’t heal or deliver them, or a loved one, as they expected. I know because I’ve gone down that path and seen others doing the same. The only way to minimize this from occurring is to listen to understand what you read as you study the Bible and pray to hear with your inner voice the Spirit’s continuing revelation as you reflect on it. Making this a practice in your daily life will grow the fruit of His Spirit in you resulting in respectability. As that happens, you will be quicker to respond, as Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane. You will then be a positive influence and gain the respect of those who cross your path.

This morning I was playing with my daughter’s dog for whom we often dog sit. As I was looking at her, I thought of how well she has fulfilled her purpose in life. She has brought much pleasure to Amber and her boys, as well as to my wife and me. That led me to reflect on how well I have fulfilled my life’s purpose. Only God knows the answer to that, but from my perspective, I sense I have at least come close to having done so. In this last season of my life, my natural man aspires to do more for the God whom I love. I rest in the fact He knows my waning capabilities and totally understands the desire of my heart.

What is your perspective of your life to this point? Do you have a sense you have been in stride with God’s purpose for you? Or do you sense you have been slacking in that area of your life? If you sense more of the latter, what is it deep within that you have been sensing you need to do to pick up the pace so you can hear God say to you, Well done? I have above my desk a picture that reads, “Well done is better than well said.” It has motivated me many times.

In Nicky Gumbel’s Bible in One Year devotional, he told the story of Jonathan Gabay, a thirty-one-year-old professional writer, who was facing employment challenges and stress when he hit rock bottom. He began to ask questions about the meaning of life. He wrote to people in all walks of life: world leaders, the homeless, Oscar-winning actors, philosophers, comedians, taxi-drivers, teachers, explorers and prisoners on death row. He even wrote to Nicky! To each one he asked, ‘What is the meaning of life?’ Gabay compiled a book of the responses, together with others who had attempted, over time, to answer this question. They include the following: Richard Nixon: ‘Life is one crisis after another.’ John Lennon: ‘Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.’ Dennis the Menace: ‘Life is what you make it – and I can make it UNBEARABLE!’ Albert Einstein: ‘The man who regards his life and that of his fellow creatures as meaningless is not merely unhappy but hardly fit for life.’ Numerous people replied that the meaning and purpose of life was to be found in Jesus Christ. Not only Mother Teresa and Billy Graham, but actors, scientists and the then Lord Chancellor. The Chief Cashier of the Bank of England, Graham Kentfield (whose signature was on every banknote at the time) said, ‘I am clear that the meaning of life can only be properly understood in the context of our relationship with God.’

I so identify with this translation of Paul’s purpose for the struggle in prayer that he had for the Colossae believers. I want you woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God. Then you will have minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ, God’s great mystery (Colossians 2:2, MSG). I pray this for each of those I have been privileged to serve through the years. There is so, so much to more to experientially know about God. The more I discover about Him, the greater joy and fulfillment I feel. I want the same for you.

What might be your next step in your journey to know Him more fully? It is a never-ending trek that brings increased satisfaction and fulfillment in each step you take.