Faithfulness

Trust, it’s something many of us struggle with.  Whether we like it or not we have to trust people all day, all the time.  If you were to ask people, many would say that trust is something to be earned.  In reality, we choose to trust others before they actually earn it. 

Now we know some may not agree with our statements above, but let us explain.

From the time we are born we trust our caretakers implicitly.  We are completely reliant on others; we are forced to trust because we are completely helpless.  As we grow we are taught by our caregivers who and what to trust in life.  And in this, lies the beginning of our choice to trust.  Going back to our previous statement, we trust people before they actually earn it.  That trust may be motivated by necessity; however it is a choice we have to make.  When we get into a cab, we trust that the driver is not going to kidnap us, murder us, etc.  Other times we choose to trust others in our personal relationships because we all have the need to be loved and accepted.  When you meet someone new and you think you could be friends, you choose to spend time with them trusting that they will be kind to you.  When you are dating someone past the third date mark, you choose to continue seeing them trusting that they will treat you well and there is potential in that relationship.  It is only when we choose to trust, that growth is possible in a relationship.  To maintain a relationship, the trust that is given must be reciprocated and that is how trust is earned.  We are sure you are well aware that trust can be broken.  That is why extramarital affairs are so painful.  They reveal a terrifying vulnerability; because trust has already been earned in that relationship and then it is broken.  In a situation where restoration is an option, the wronged individual must choose to trust again without any reassurance.  It is a leap of faith.

Trust requires faith.  Who better to use as an example of faithfulness than Daniel?  Daniel resolved to trust God wholeheartedly, confident that God would prove His faithfulness.  He had a keen understanding of God’s sovereignty and was committed mentally, spiritually and physically to preserving God’s presence in his life.  He did this by refraining from anything that would defile his mind or his body and upheld the law of God without fail.  As a result, the individuals of the satraps, could find no corruption in him or charge any offence in him without manipulation.  Daniel was so distinguished and exhibited such exceptional qualities among his peers, his colleagues had to devise a plan to defame his character.  Knowing that they would not be able to catch Daniel doing wrong, they created a law that put Daniel’s faithfulness to the test.  Because faithfulness leads to predictability, Daniel was convicted.

Faithfulness is not a guarantee against hardship.  Faithfulness enables God’s character and glory to be manifested within us.  Just like Daniel, if we choose to trust God, His faithfulness will, in turn, inspire our consistency and commitment to Him.  This is where the devil preys on us as Christians.  He knows that the more we lack faithfulness, the less we will mirror Christ.  It is only through our faithfulness that we receive and maintain God’s excellent spirit within us.

To being wise,

Meredith, Jennifer and Marisa

Kindness

Being truly kind is usually not convenient.  We are often tested with an opportunity to be kind at the busiest or most inopportune times in our lives.  If you heard about a classmate who was filing for bankruptcy, what would you do?  Would you go out of your way to do all that you could?  Would you do anything at all or would you gossip about it?  What about a church member?  If you heard that a church member was desperately in need of help with their children, would you offer your time or your resources?  What if you were driving through a dodgy part of town and saw someone being beat up and left for dead in the gutter?  Would you stop?  Would you get out of your car, put yourself in danger and help that person?  WHAT WOULD YOU DO?!

A certain lawyer asked Jesus “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”, in response, Jesus asked “What is written in the law and what is your reading of it?”, the lawyer replied “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself.”  Jesus said “You answered rightly”, but the lawyer said “Who is my neighbor?”   It is here that Jesus begins to tell the parable of the Good Samaritan (please refer to Luke 10:30 – 36).

There are three things that stand out to us in this parable.  1) The kindness of the Samaritan, 2) the kindness of the innkeeper and 3) the charge that was left to us by Christ.

1)      The Samaritan.  The half-dead man was seen by three different men.  It is important to note that the man was a Jew and appeared to be dead, which according to the law deemed him unclean to touch.  A priest sees the man and assumes, without looking, that he is dead.  He crosses the road to pass the man by.  A Levite sees the man, looks him over and without close investigation, assumes he is dead and passes him by.  However, when a Samaritan sees the man, in spite of the danger, the difference of their ethnicities and his own limited resources, he stops.  The Samaritan stops, looks and investigates, he does what the victim’s own people would not do.  He had rationed out oil and wine for his journey and yet he used his provisions and camel to tend to the half-dead man’s wounds and transport him to safety. 

 

2)      The Innkeeper.  The Innkeeper shows another form of kindness.  The Samaritan leaves the half-dead man after one day and leaves two Denarii (roughly 28 days’ worth of money, think of it as 28 days of hotel fees or around $2800).  The Samaritan trusted the Innkeeper to care for the man until he returned and expected him to pay for any additional expenses.  This Innkeeper used all his resources, time and effort to heal this man.

 

3)      Our Charge.  Likewise, we are called to be Innkeepers.  Like the Innkeeper, Jesus has given us Denarii in the form of time, homes, money, talents, spiritual gifts, etc. to be used in service to others.  As the Samaritan brought the half-dead man to the Innkeeper, Jesus will present individuals in need at our doorstep.  Can we be trusted?  Will we use all of our resources to help?  Or will we be too inconvenienced or too preoccupied to stop, look and investigate.

 

When we live our lives filled with kindness, these acts draw the attention of others to the abnormality of the situation.  Kindness is not a normal human attribute, we are conditioned to pay only what we owe and give only what is required.  God does not operate that way, He gives us far more than we deserve.  His loving kindness bestowed upon us through endless grace is the source of our ability to be kind.  Kindness reveals the full countenance of God within us and imparts His favor.

To being wise,

Meredith, Jennifer and Marisa

Patience

We live in such a fast-paced world and our lives demand that we get things done quickly.  We have 1 minute rice, On Demand TV, Gogurt, drive through Starbucks, instant oatmeal, 24 hour customer service and vending machine shoes.  With all of these time-savers you think we would all have more time, but we have less.  But what we have even less of is patience.

Patience is a long lost virtue; just consider the last time it took you longer than 25 seconds to download something.  This impatience has created an attitude of instant gratification that has influence all other expectations.  In our spiritual walk we apply these same expectations to God and when He doesn’t answer in our time frame we get frustrated.  When we are not instantly gratified we are so quick to question if God cares or if He even exists.  As a result we take matters into our own hands and we deny God’s leadership.  Impatience is a weakness that suffocates faith.  Faith is likened to a mustard seed that needs to grow and impatience stunts that essential growth.

Let’s look at the story of Lazarus.  After being told that Lazarus was severely ill and being asked to come immediately to help him, Jesus says “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God” and stays where He was two days longer.  After the third day passes Lazarus dies.  It is at this time that Jesus decides to finally go to Mary and Martha.  When Jesus comes to Bethany, Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days.  It is important to note that Bethany (where Lazarus was buried) was a mere two miles away from Jerusalem where Jesus was staying.  When Martha greets Him, she says accusingly “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died”, let’s pause.  How many times have we asked Jesus similar questions?  “Lord if you had only done ________ at this time in this way it would have all been ok”.  BUT, Jesus does not operate on our schedule, He lives outside of time.

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11: 25 – 26 (NASB)

Every time our patience is tried it is often a test where Jesus asks us in moments of doubt “Do you believe?”  If we answer that question by taking things into our own hands we are replying “NO”.  But if we wait on the Lord, our strength is renewed, our faith reinforced and just as Lazarus was resurrected, blessing is assured.  This does not mean we will never be impatient, but in those moments we must remember:

1)      Jesus loved Martha, Mary and Lazarus and He loves us, but like them we are not exempt from hardships.

2)      If God can conquer death, than nothing is impossible for Him.

3)      The trials we face are not about us, but all about God.

The resurrection of Lazarus was necessary in order for Jesus to bring glory to God.  Jesus did not delay His arrival out of neglect; it was to eliminate all arguments that could undermine this miracle.  God is very meticulous in how He responds to our needs.  We don’t understand how He works.  God is never dormant; He is always actively working on our behalf.  We just have to be patient and know that His is always the right time.

To being wise,

Meredith, Jennifer and Marisa

Peace

In our last post we spoke about joy being the evidence of trust in God. If joy was a pill, than peace would be the effect. You cannot have one without the other.

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”. Philippians 4:6 – 7 (KJV)


What we see here is a three-fold process. Joy brings forth peace, but both are bound through constant communication with Christ. In the case of Stephen, he was wrongly accused of speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God. When questioned, Stephen gave a speech which revealed a strong conviction in Christ. His response caused the people to be furious and stone him to death. Before Stephen was stoned, he looked up to God and asked for the forgiveness of his accusers. He did not fight back, or declare vengeance upon them. He was totally at peace with his fate. Such resolve did not come from regular church attendance, praying over meals or periodic scripture reading. Rather, this was a result of his consistent, intimate friendship with the Lord.


You cannot have peace if you are constantly robbing God of His supreme position. The control belongs to Him. Peace comes with the understanding that only God reigns over your life.


“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord”. Isaiah 55:8 (NASB)


Once you relinquish control, then everything that enters your life you give to God to handle. You do not have to be concerned for your well-being because you know there is One greater who has your best interest at heart. In other words, peace is not fighting your own battles, but being still and allowing God to work. Peace is the devil’s kryptonite (follow us on another tangent). We all know that Superman has the best powers, but even he has a weakness. Kryptonite paralyzes Superman. It may seem sometimes that the devil has so much power, but he has a weakness too. The devil’s weakness is our peace, which is our total trust in God.


Faith is the source of joy and joy is the source of peace. Faith comes from hearing and hearing comes from the word of God.


“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well”. Matthew 6:25 – 27 & 33 (NIV)



To being wise,


Meredith, Jennifer and Marisa

Joy

When you think about joy, you think about moments in life that are pleasurable and satisfying. Things that come to mind are parties, gifts, weddings, promotions, friendships, family and love. Joy is a foreign concept in times of suffering and pain. In times of strife we subconsciously go into survival mode, our minds drown with thoughts of worry, confusion, frustration, doubt, anger and fear. These thoughts are innately self-centered and these feelings come from bearing burdens alone. This self-reliance in times of trouble exposes the absence of joy in our lives. Joy is a choice. It is a choice to trust in God in times of happiness and in times of sorrow. Joy is not dictated by circumstance, it is the proof of total dependence on God.


“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance”. James 1:2 – 3 (NIV)


Having trust in God brings you complete joy, but could you be joyful if you lost your job? Could you be joyful if your home was destroyed by a hurricane? Could you be joyful if you were imprisoned for doing the right thing? Paul and Silas did. During their travels, Paul and Silas met a demon-possessed slave girl who was a fortune teller. Being agitated Paul commanded the demon to leave her and she was healed. She lost her powers of fortune telling and because of the greed of her masters no longer able to make a profit from her, they had Paul and Silas beaten and thrown in jail. Rather than blaming God for their misfortune, despite the fact they were doing His work, they chose joy. They were not worried about how they would be released or that their work was being halted, they totally surrendered to God’s all-knowing power. And because of such assurance they sang hymns of praise to Him.


The thing about joy, it is not only for the sufferer, it is for the on-lookers. While Paul and Silas were singing other prisoners were listening and were touched. When you have joy the blessings will follow. God delights in our optimistic attitudes that display complete submission to His sovereignty. Joy is complete loyalty to God. It says “Come what may, I choose not to succumb to my emotions, but to submit to God’s will”.


To being wise,



Meredith, Jennifer and Marisa

Love

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.” 1 Corinthians 13:4 – 8 (ESV)


God is love. Let’s liken our hearts to a bank and God to the currency. To have anything in the bank you have to make a deposit. But if you have no income, you cannot make a withdrawal. In this case our income is the word of God and our daily experiences with Him. When that income is constant we have an abundance of resources.


How do we get that consistent flow of income?


A great example of someone exhibiting love in the Bible is David. David loved the Lord and he is described as a man after God’s own heart. David’s love for God was evident in his private talks with God, in his allegiance to God, in his desire to please God and in his testimonies. David had a lot of time on his hands as a shepherd and he chose to spend that time talking privately to God. You don’t have a private talk with just anyone; you talk privately with your closest friends and family. That is who God was to David, a close friend and a family member. As a shepherd David understood the role of leader and follower. He watched his sheep every day and saw their utter dependence on him. In the same manner David understood that God was his leader and creator and he followed as His creation. He understood that his intelligence was that of the sheep in comparison to the omniscience of God. He knew his place and surrendered to it. David’s testimony was concrete evidence that God was a living presence in his life. The book of Psalms is like David’s diary cataloguing one-on-one experiences that revealed God’s character and love towards him. These records built his faith and allowed him to be fearless. He was never bolder than when he told King Saul that he would fight Goliath when thousands of men before him feared to do so. When asked how he could do this, David spoke of how God used him to overcome difficulties in the past and knew that God would not forsake him in this. Because David had spent time with God, witnessed God in His fullness and knew his place with God his desire for God was nurtured. Through this passion and desire to please God, David was able to testify of God’s faithfulness, power and love. David was motivated by his desire to please God, God was his target. When you desire something it becomes your target to which all aspects of your life become focused to. That is why during the lowest point of David’s life, when he was sought a counterfeit love from Bathsheba, Nathan brought him back into focus and reminded him of his first love, God.


Regardless of the condition your life is in right now, God wants to abide with you. David is such a great illustration for us because we don’t have to be perfect to have an intimate relationship with God. Here are some things that we can take from David’s story:

1) Your time is coveted. The devil tries to make you so busy that God gets the leftovers. We must make God our target.

2) Know your place. You did not create heaven and earth in seven days, God did. Be the follower, let God lead.

3) Let Him in. In this day and age God is not popular. We know that God is knocking at our hearts, but we treat him like a door-to-door salesman. Open the door and make it your mission to know Him and watch your desire grow.

4) Be about it. Once you know Him you will be on fire to want to talk about Him. His light will shine so bright within you that people won’t help but see it.



To being wise,


Meredith, Jennifer and Marisa

Are You A Team Player?

In our last post we talked about winning the spiritual match that is being played between God and Satan. The only way to win is with God, the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ, we like to think of them as our Dream Team.


When you are part of a team much more is happening off of the court than on the court. The preparation that occurs before is more significant than any one game that is played. Fitness, nutrition, strategy, training, image control and team camaraderie are all important aspects that must be honed off of the court. A high performance record illustrates the mastery of such components. All of this work is required to make a great team, but we aren’t talking about being on a great team, we are talking about being on the Dream Team. The Dream Team is being more than conquerors and doing the impossible. There is only one team that we know of that is unbeatable and matchless and that is the Dream Team; God, the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ.


As perfect as the Dream Team is, claiming them as a fan will not bring success. You must be on the team to win the game. That requires dedication, commitment and a willingness to learn and serve. We know that practice makes perfect and if you fail to plan you plan to fail. When you say you are a Christian yet you make choices and live a lifestyle that is contrary to what the Dream Team stands for you distort their spotless record. You would not do or say anything that would bring shame to your favorite sports team, nor should you do or say anything that would bring shame to the Dream Team.


The Bible has already informed us of what identifies us as members of the Dream Team: the fruits of the Spirit which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These attributes are gained when an individual receives a daily outpouring of the Holy Spirit as well as actively pursuing an intimate relationship with God.



“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” John 15:7 (ESV)



In our next 9 posts we will explore practical ways to seek God and sustain a healthy relationship with Him.


To being wise,


Meredith, Jennifer and Marisa

Changing Sides

The game has been set, it is already in play and you find yourself on the sidelines ready to join. Both sides call to you. Who will you join, what will you fight for? Life may not seem this dramatic, but it is. There has been a spiritual match going on since the moment that the seeds of sin grew in the mind of Satan. One side seems to offer the pleasures of life and an easy path. The other warns that you will be tested and that life may not always be easy, but you will have support. Your advantage is that you know the outcome of this game. One side will lose and will be punished with death and the other side will win and be rewarded with life eternal.


Whether you think you have decided or not, the terrible truth is that we were born onto one side. Our very nature is in constant conflict with the winning side.


“We know that the Law is spiritual. But I am merely a human, and I have been sold as a slave to sin. In fact, I don’t understand why I act the way I do. I don’t do what I know is right. I do the things I hate.” Romans 7:14 – 15 (CEV)


We are weak and incapable of winning. Despite our loser status we are still sought after by both teams. One side pursues us out of hate and promises death and the other pursues us out of love and promises life. This seems like a daunting task to rebel and fight against our nature. It seems that it is impossible for us to win and it is impossible for us to do this alone.


“What a miserable person I am. Who will rescue me from this body that is doomed to die? Thank God! Jesus Christ will rescue me. So with my mind I serve the Law of God, although my selfish desires make me serve the law of sin.” Romans 7:24 – 25 (CEV)


The choice is yours. There is only one way to win, it is with the help of God, the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ.


“The Holy Spirit will give you life that comes from Christ Jesus and will set you free from sin and death.” Romans 8:2 (CEV)



To being wise,


Meredith, Jennifer and Marisa

Why the Virgins?

Why did we choose the story of the virgins and their lamps? We felt a strong connection to the juxtaposition between the foolish virgins and the wise virgins. We feel like the foolish virgins and we are endeavoring to be wise.


In Matthew 25 the story goes that 10 virgins were woken up by a midnight cry and they were to prepare for the Bridegroom’s arrival. They all arose and trimmed their lamps. The five foolish virgins found they were running out of oil, so they asked the wise virgins for more. The wise told them to get their own, because they had enough only for themselves. The wise went to meet the Bridegroom and the foolish went off in search of more oil. When the foolish returned they saw that all had entered the wedding and the door was shut.


When they knocked on the door, the Bridegroom replied that he did not know them.


So we get the metaphor here, we need to be ready for the second coming of Christ. But what is the oil? And why couldn’t the wise virgins help the foolish? We perceive the oil to be our personal relationship with Christ and it is why it can never be given. A personal experience can be shared but not transferred to another.


Three words stood out to us in this story – oil, vessel and lamp. The wise virgins had extra oil in their vessels, the foolish did not have extra. In the Bible the Holy Spirit is likened to the flame of fire or the anointing oil. We are the vessels in which the Holy Spirit is contained. The story is telling us that the wise, through having a relationship with Christ, are filled with the Holy Spirit and the foolish are not. Having a relationship with Christ and allowing the Holy Spirit to fill us gives us full lamps that can be lit.


Why couldn’t the Bridegroom recognize the foolish virgins? What is the significance of having enough oil to light your lamps? And why weren’t they let in?! At the second coming there will be those that Christ knows and those he does not know. Christ will recognize those that reflect His light and are mirrors of Himself. Those with full lamps; those who are prepared.


The whole point is that while He tarries, we must prepare. Now is the time to be filling our lamps, now is the time to have extra oil in our vessels. So when we hear the midnight cry, we can light our lamps and be reflections of Christ. Got oil?



To being wise,


Meredith, Jennifer and Marisa