Not Loving Out of Obligation
An excerpt from Christ Is All of The Valley of Vision:
Thou hast loved me everlastingly, unchangeably,
….may I love thee as I am loved;
Thou hast given thyself for me,
….may I give myself to thee;
Thou hast died for me,
….may I live to thee,
……..in every moment of my time,
……..in every movement of my mind,
……..in every pulse of my heart.
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I had a bus trip this past Saturday. I drove one of two buses that took our band to a competition. Also, I changed routes this year. Since I began driving at the end of 2018, I have driven bus #25. To compact and make our schools routes as efficient as possible they moved some things around. #25’s high school/middle school route didn’t change very much but the elementary route changed totally. I figured the older kids wouldn’t care a whole lot, but I felt the need to keep the connection with the younger ones, so this year I am driving #18.
Anyway, back to the band trip. Several of the students from #25 are in the band and (supposedly) I drove the “quiet” bus. All but a couple of #25’s students got on my bus! The fun thing was, they were all happy to see me! And, every single one of them spoke to me getting on the bus before we left! (High school students for the most part don’t say a whole lot, getting on or off the bus.) It definitely brought a smile to my face.
I remember in my first full year of driving, I had a high school student who never responded to my, “Good morning!” That is until one day, I got what I think was a grunt – I was thrilled! He hadn’t said “boo” in all the months he’d been on my bus!
Affirmation…communication…it is all important! Karen gets the same thing as a teacher. Her classroom is in the hallway where most of the kids pass to get to and from the buses, she has several students that will stop to hug her. It gives you a little “I did something right! I obviously had an impact on that kid!” kind of feeling.
As a child of God, I pray that the way I live my life reflects my Heavenly Father’s love and compassion for me! He’s known me since before the creation of the world (Ephesians 1:4), and though I’ve known him for a relatively short time (comparatively!), I wholeheartedly believe that when I communicate with Him, when I affirm His love and compassion for me, it brings Him abundant joy!
I don’t think any of those band kids said what they said out of obligation. No one told them that they had to say anything when they saw me. It was a natural response. It was an action based on “love” (if I can use that term loosely. 😊)
God doesn’t demand that we love him. And though we should proclaim our love for Him, it definitely should not be out of obligation. Instead, it should be because there is a genuine, heartfelt love for Him and all He does for us! Regarding our love for Him, as His love for us, “loosely” should not apply!
All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.
Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear… We love each other because he loved us first. 1 John 4:15-18a, 19 NLT
Sept 19th, 2022, Mon, 12:42 pm
Tear Down Those Walls!
In my distress I prayed to the Lord,
….and the Lord answered me and set me free.
The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear.
….What can mere people do to me? Psalm 118:5-6 NLT
Romans 1:8-17 (<<click here to read the passage)
Growing up I went to kindergarten through 5th grade, initially in West Virginia then finished in North Carolina. We then moved to Ohio where I attended middle school.
Younger readers won’t get this reference, but in Ohio, many of my classmates called me Gomer Pyle! (Remember these colloquialisms? “Shazam!”, “Gooolly”, “Sur-prise, sur-prise, sur-prise!” If you recall his character, I’m sure you heard his accent loud and clear in your head!) So unsurprisingly, I had a bit of a southern accent. I wasn’t labeled for very long, but obviously, it impacted me, because I still remember it after all these years.
Unfortunately, one of the worst traits of humanity is not accepting others who are different. It is an ancient habit that is just as prominent today as it has ever been. It is a very complex mentality that plagues us all.
It is most disheartening in that, though you’d think it wouldn’t be, the church is not exempt from these thoughts and attitudes. If anything, we tend to expand the criteria of separation. We don’t just hold at arm’s length those who differ from us along cultural, social, racial, and economic lines, but we also throw in all the religious issues.
Some may be pretty vocal, but I think, instead, many have this underlying mentality of distrust – even fear – of those who aren’t like them. And the list of “problematic” characteristics then goes on forever – they may not speak the language we know, the customs of their culture exclude some of our traditions and add things that are totally foreign to us, they may come from way more money than we’ve ever seen, or they may be dirt poor and lack the fastidiousness of our hygiene, and of course, having any other skin tone may automatically throw up red flags.
Then to make matters worse, they may adhere to different faith practices than we do. They may speak in tongues, or partake of communion from a chalice, they may follow a strict liturgy of worship, or be entirely led by the Spirit in their worship style…and on and on it goes.
It’s not necessarily intentional, but walls go up…dividers are set into place. But isn’t that what Jesus came to tear down? The Apostle Paul said it this way,
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. Ephesians 2:14-16 NIV
In verse 14 of today’s passage he stated,
For I have a great sense of obligation to people in both the civilized world and the rest of the world… NLT
My Life Application Study Bible says, regarding this verse,
Paul’s…obligation was to people of the entire world. He met his obligation by proclaiming Christ’s salvation to people – across all cultural, social, racial, and economic lines, both Jews and Gentiles. We also are obligated to Christ because he took the punishment we deserve for our sins. Although we cannot repay Christ for all he has done, we can demonstrate our gratitude by showing his love to others.
Lord Jesus, help us tear down those walls. May we too feel that obligation to people of the entire world…not just those near and dear. Amen.
Sept 15th, 2022, Thurs, 6:08 pm
Don’t Pray for Patience…
Father, I am grateful for the opportunity to get back in sync with You. You remain steadfast and sure, and I have been anything but! May I continue to be conscious of Your ever abiding presence, and may I live accordingly – much to my delight! Amen.
Romans 1:8-17 (<<click here to read the passage)
Years ago, someone introduced a concept into my brain that has stuck…and that is not necessarily a good thing. The statement made was “Don’t pray for patience, or God might just give it to you.” The problem is most of us struggle with patience, especially in the “instant” world in which we live. So, praying for patience would have a good chance of bringing multiple “opportunities” to develop patience.
Looking at today’s passage, for example, verse 10 read,
One of the things I always pray for is the opportunity, God willing, to come at last to see you. NLT
Acts tells us that Paul’s prayers were most assuredly answered, though it did take a while for it to all come together. Remember after writing his letter to Rome while in Corinth, he spent two years languishing in a prison in Caesarea Maritima (see Yes, No…or Wait). He prayed for the opportunity to minister to the faithful in Rome, but it was not an easy journey. My Life Application Study Bible says:
When he finally arrived in Rome, it was as a prisoner. Paul prayed for a safe trip, and he did arrive safely – after getting arrested, slapped in the face, shipwrecked, and bitten by a poisonous snake. When we sincerely pray, God will answer – although in his timing and sometimes in ways we do not expect.
My challenge for myself as I write, and for you as well, is that we would cast aside the statement from my early years. Instead of avoiding praying for patience, we should embrace it. Paul’s journey to Rome didn’t weaken him – it strengthened him (maybe not physically, but spiritually for sure!) And look at all the lives that were touched, guards and sailors, all those on the Island of Malta – not everyone took to what Paul was proclaiming but there were lives that were definitely changed because Paul embraced his patience-laden journey. He didn’t buck it, he didn’t complain, he just faithfully followed God all…the…way.
Lord Jesus, You know that trials are not easy, for You experienced many Yourself. But enable us to understand that though our journey may be fraught with tribulation that when all is said and done, when on that final day we cast our crowns at Your feet and hear you say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little, I will put you in charge of many things; share in the joy of your master.” (Matthew 25:21 AMP) that our prayers, too, will have been answered. Amen!
Sept 14th, 2022, Wed, 7:36 pm
Hit by a Bus!
A word of encouragement from The Valley of Vision – the opening lines of Christ the Word.
MY FATHER,
In a world of created changeable things
….Christ and his word alone remain unshaken.
********
OK, I’ve had a couple of things running through my brain recently, so here’s another post outside the book of Romans.
One afternoon last week, I had a small quickly moving bird zoom in front of my bus. I don’t like hitting animals, so initially, there was a bit of “Oh, no!” but it quickly passed in that the hummingbird, I would assume – due to size and speed, zoomed just as quickly away from the front of the bus.
There was no way that it just darted in front of my bus and flew away. There was enough of a pause that it had to have lighted on some portion of the grill or radiator. I was amazed! Usually, if a bird or a butterfly, hits my windshield, it ricochets off and most times I would assume that that was the end of them. But this time, though I don’t know if it was totally unphased by the encounter, it was well enough to fly away in its own strength away from my bus moving forward.
People, when asked how they are doing, will sometimes reply by saying, “I feel like I’ve been hit by a bus.” Usually, that means that they are not feeling well physically but can’t the world do that to us in multiple ways? An argument with our spouse. The loss of a loved one. Major health issues on our part or someone close to us. Sometimes it might be something as simple as not being appreciated or looked down upon or getting the feeling that you are useless. It’s one thing when we get that from people we don’t know, but it can, over time, become crippling if those closest to us – at home or at work – repeatedly do it to us.
The are some things that we can’t do anything about, we’re like that bird or butterfly that just ricochets off of my bus window. We are down for the count and hopefully, we can piece our lives back together. But other times, it may very well be a situation where we can allow it to take us down or we can power through it. It is feasible to do so in the world as we know it, but it is an even greater likelihood if we allow God to empower us to move above and beyond whatever has tried to take us out.
Take the not being appreciated or looked down upon or getting the feeling that you are useless situation, for example. It’s easy to crumble, wallow in self-pity, get angry, and act out in ways that don’t help us or the situation. Or, we could say a quick prayer and let God do what He has created us to do and move on! He loves us, he empowers us. We are highly valued in His eyes. We are the apple of His eye!
I love how the Amplified Bible quite often puts things. Here is what Jesus has to say in John 16:33,
I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]
God in His infinite creativity enabled that hummingbird to overcome being hit by a bus…and He can do the same for us! Trust Him! Believe in Him! Love Him! Amen!
Sept 13th, 2022, Tues, 12:33 pm
Writing…Not Easy, but I Love It!
Father, there is definitely a kindling! …an excitement that I have eluded for far too long. May I stay close by Your side, Loving Father. I know that You have never left me, but I have puttered around the fringes long enough. Draw me in to the warmth of Your love and compassion for me. Hold me tight O Lord, my God! Amen.
*********
Right out of the gate, let me say that writing is not easy. I have faithfully written now for over seven years. I’ve repeated a few posts in that time but by far, there have been original posts, five days a week – that’s over 1,800 posts! This is not to brag but more to say that some days it is just plain hard to pull off. The only days I don’t write, at this point, are Friday and Saturday nights.
It has crossed my mind to bring it to an end, but honestly don’t feel that I have been released from it. If there is anything that I touch from the wellspring of my heart that is impacting people across the board it is this. God has dipped His pen in the recesses of who and what I am and brings forth, I believe, what He wants those who read to feel and ingest.
I also want to say that many times what I write flows readily through my fingers onto the keyboard of my laptop. I love writing about things that inspire me in the world around me…and God is in everything I see! And those things are everywhere and of an infinite variety! (And, by the way, this writing is one of those things!)
Pray that our loving Heavenly Father will continue to bear me up. …that His words will continue to burn within me with a deep yearning to come out! …that His inspirations will continue to find themselves in my line of sight and that this finite brain of mine will continue to make the connections that come from His heart, not just mine!
****
On another note, I continue to find inspiration in the very thoughtful gift of The Valley of Vision: A collection of Puritan prayers and devotions given to me by a very dear friend. I have read through the following prayer several times over and finally decided that I needed to share a portion of it. I would ask once more that you would take the time to thoughtfully read through it. Let it sink deep into your heart and mind. Let Jesus speak to you through it, too. These are the opening lines of THE GIFT OF GIFTS.
O SOURCE OF ALL GOOD,
What shall I render to thee for the gift of gifts,
….thine own dear Son, begotten, not created,
….my redeemer, proxy, surety, substitute,
his self-emptying incomprehensible,
….his infinity of love beyond the heart’s grasp.
Herein is wonder of wonders:
he came below to raise me above,
….was born like me that I might become like him.
Herein is love;
….when I cannot rise to him he draws near on wings of grace,
……..to raise me to himself.
Herein is power;
….when Deity and humanity were infinitely apart
….he united them in indissoluble unity, the uncreated and the created
Herein is wisdom;
….when I was undone, with no will to return to him,
………and no intellect to devise recovery,
….he came, God-incarnate, to save me to the uttermost,
………as man to die my death,
………………….to shed satisfying blood on my behalf,
………………….to work out a perfect righteousness for me.
Amen and amen!
(Interested in ordering your own copy? The Valley of Vision is available on Amazon and several Christian bookstore websites.)
Sept 12th, 2022, Mon, 7:19 pm