What Not Why?

     I, personally, and many others so often ask, "Why?"  I am talking about Christians.  Misfortune is set upon them and they ask: why me, why this, why that, why, why, why.  It is a serious affliction in any person, but in a Christian...so wrong.

     As a Christian, we should be asking, "What?"  In other words, what is it that you need me to do for you Father?  Scripture assures us that we will face trials and tribulations in this imperfect world, especially as a Christian.  Yet we pray so often like we deserve a new car, a big fancy home, money, money, money.  Stop!

     What we need to pray for are stronger backs.  I do not know about you, but my Lord has spoiled me.  He gives all that I really need and much more.  Yet my service to him pales in comparison to what he has given me and how he served me on that cross.  We moan and complain about our plight.  By whom and by what manner were we invested with this right to complain and ask for more?  Who are we to complain to a God that gave his only son to die a miserable, tortured death on that cold cross while being ridiculed.  What material riches did Jesus acquire while on this earth?   What wealth and fine living did he surround himself with?  We should be ashamed for asking, "Why?"

     ”Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."  Matthew 5:10 NIV

The Lord's Timing or Ours?

     We feel a great need for something in our lives.  A Christian should turn to prayer in that instance.  Often, they pray for the thing they think is needed.  A few hours or days pass, depending on the urgency of the situation, the solution does not appear.  They pray again for what they think is needed.  Blindly and selfishly many times the person waits for what they think is needed.  If it does not show up on their schedule and the solution is not what they believe is needed, then the belief is that God has said no or does not care or maybe he doesn't hear.

     When one asks God for help, remember who you are speaking with.  You are talking to God Almighty, himself.  Have faith.  He has informed us through Jesus Christ in Matthew 6:8 NIV, "...for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."  The key here is God knows what you need...you do not.  We are as newborn children by comparison to our Holy Father.   Do not look for your solution.  Be open to God's solution, and, while you wait, keep Isaiah 40:31 NIV in your heart:  "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint."

           

    Also, keep in mind Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV in your wait, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

     Is this thing you await to increase your material wealth or is it something truly needed?  If this thing is needed to save yours or someone else's life, does He not know that before you prayed it?  Will he not act in time?  Have patience.  Look to Lamentations 3:25-26 NIV in scripture, "The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.  It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."

     As Christians, we are to serve the will of our Father.  If we are a glory to him, he shall bless us the more.  It is not about us or our needs.  We will be rewarded with eternal life for our sacrifices upon this earth in his name.  You may not always like the answer.  If we receive all that we desire upon earth, then we have already received our reward.  What need shall we have for eternal life with our Father?

      What is Timing?  According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, timing is the time when something happens or is done especially when it is thought of as having a good or bad effect on the result.  As humans, we have little control over timing of events though we imagine we do at times.  God, the creator of time, surely controls time and therefore timing.  Possibly, He times things in such a way as to be dramatic.  We are asking him a favor.  His timing, as is everything He does, is perfect.  It is we the imperfect human that cannot see that perfection.  That is where trust comes in.  Psalm 31:15 NIV, "My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hands of my enemies and from those who pursue me."

     Another good scripture to keep in mind Acts 1:7 NIV where Jesus, after his resurrection, is being questioned about God's timing of the restoration of his kingdom upon earth by the disciples, "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority."  Be Patient.  He hears and feels your every need. 

     If you have faith, you know He will answer your prayers with that which is needed.  Always give thanks.  I Corinthians 15:57 NIV, "But thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."  

     Many years ago in the United States, a bus company known as Greyhound Bus Lines had a commercial that said, "Take Greyhound and leave the driving to us."  As Christians, we should leave the driving to God.  In other words, trust him and relax...take it easy.  God is driving and we are in divine hands.

Gossip = Damage

     In Proverbs 26, one finds the biblical opinion of gossip and its end results.  We read that the intention of gossip is generally to hurt others while making the person telling it seem above it all.  Proverbs 26:20 NIV:  "Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down."  When we gossip, we are deepening the quarrel, making it worse.

 

     Gossip has started wars and brought down powerful people.  You can imagine what it can do to you.  What one of us has not been gossiped about?  Keep this in mind when you spread gossip about others:  you rarely pass on the gossip without adding wood to the fire with fresh tidbits of slander or debauchery. 

     Gossip hurts...that's its intention.  Proverbs 26:22 NIV states, "The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts."  They go deep inside the person aimed at causing great mental anguish.  Also, there is hate behind the gossip and Proverbs 26:28 NIV tells us "A lying tongue hates those it hurts..."

 

     Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe one of the foremost tenets of our Lord is to love, not hate.  Love without exception.  Lying?  Throw that one out of your house immediately.  Being a Christian is love, without condition, compassion without condition, forgiveness without condition, being a servant to your fellow man without condition...among all other good things.

    

     So, my fellow saint, when you gossip, how many teachings of our Lord Jesus are you going against?  I have only named a few, but one is too many.  Replace the negative hurt and hate of gossip with the positive of love that heals.  Luke 6:31 NIV:  "Do to others as you would have them do to you."  I end with Luke 6:41 NIV:  "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"  We all have the opportunity to practice the last passage every day.  Remember, being a good example glorifies our Father.

It Cannot Be That Simple

All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Acts 10:43

     Many people are put off or feel inadequate when they consider becoming a Christian.  Over the years, I have listened to numerous versions of the requirements to become a Christian.   Some fell into the category of self-righteousness bordering on arrogance.  Others were long winded and rambling which would only confuse and, eventually, frustrate the person showing interest in conversion.  A few were short and to the point as did our Lord Jesus desire it to be.  Following are the requirements as set forth by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

     If you desire to become a Christian; give your heart and soul to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ: You must have faith...that Jesus is the true son of the one and only living God, lived on this earth in human form, then died on that cross so that all our sins may be forgiven, and three days later rose from the dead.  Have faith in that and you are a Christian.  It is so simple, but so life changing.

     The moment you have faith in our Lord, all your sins are forgiven...all of them...every last one of them.  You must understand this simple life-changing fact.  Once understood and believed, it will free you from guilt, from trepidation, from depression.  Here is another secret few outside and some inside of Christianity do not realize or, possibly, jealously do not share that God loves every one of us unconditionally.  Of course, he does not like some of the things we do, but, concerning love,  he loves all of us, not just a select few, unconditionally and forever.  God is spirit and pure divine and most holy love...a love such as we cannot fathom in this worldly environment.  His love would melt away our bodies and all material wealth or desire for it if we were to look upon him in his spirit through our worldly eyes.  If you follow this in a logical manner, He loves even people like Hitler, serial killers, the most wicked of the wicked...yes, he loves them, too.  He just does not love some of their actions.  Our living God creates nothing that is not good for he is total good and love.  He loves us so much that he sent his only begotten son to die on that cross that we may be forgiven of our sins...just ask with a sincere, faithful, and loving heart and it shall be done. 

     Something that will help with faith building is to know the greatest of God's commandments:

"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear O Israel:  The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’  The second is this:  'Love your neighbor as yourself.'  There is no commandment greater than these."

Mark 12:29-31 NIV

     Isn't this all so simple and loving?  Some attempt to make it difficult by adding stipulations that, as you learn through proper teaching and study, are just not there.  Absolutely, God does not place complex, rigid, or class-leaning hoops before us to jump through.  You will find that our Father uses the most unlikely people as his tools to accomplish the most  challenging tasks to carry out his will and show his love and glory all with astounding results.

     You must spend time alone in a very comfortable place of quietness in prayer with God to get to know him personally...and you will.  Prayer...just talk from your heart and have faith that your needs will be given.  He knows what is in our hearts and what our needs are before we ever ask, but he wishes talk with you.  He created you.  So he knows everything about you.  He wants you to pray to get to know him in return for, remember, he loves you.  Once you adjust and make daily personal conversation with God a habit.  You will feel something is missing if you miss a day.  You will know how loving and good he is.  Then you will know for yourself.  Ignore those who may chastise or rebuke you for your faith.  You will know it is good.  We Christians are different.  What other religion commands you to love all.   Love, love, love...such a wonderful habit.  Forgiveness...aww...let me tell you, with practice you will begin to feel less stressed and confident in your daily life once you accept the fact you are forgiven for all past sins and you start forgiving others that sin against you.  Through prayer you accomplish forgiving and loving others that non-Christians would have great difficulty doing.  When you forgive, you lighten the load of those around you producing much good feeling and love reflects back upon you.

     These are the difficult and grueling requirements to become a Christian.  If you want to be loved and to love, let Jesus Christ our Lord into your heart and life, and remove that heavy load of sin from your back that you may be set free to love and serve others as our Lord did for us.  He came upon this earth to serve...not to be served.  The son of God came to serve...not to be served.  The one true living God is so exciting.  Come and have faith and find love and forgiveness.  It is not difficult and so satisfying to serve our loving God and others.

     As I sat waiting for my car to be serviced at Mr. Phipps business recently, a young man in his early twenties sat next to me and filled my ears with bragging about his father's wealth and possessions.  I was quiet, only nodding occasionally.  I was relieved when Mr. Phipps walked behind the counter informing me that my car was ready.  As I stood to pay for the servicing, I looked at the young man saying with no malice intended, "That's nice that your father owns all those things.  Let me tell you one thing about my Father before I go.  My Father built the earth that your father's mansion rests upon."  The young man was speechless with confusion and Mr. Phipps, a very good Christian, had the biggest smile on his face I had ever seen.  To my surprise, on my next visit to Mr Phipps, he informed me the young man told him, "I guess the man was telling me I brag too much.  I liked that man and his comment.  It really makes you think about all this stuff people have and worship.  Doesn't it?"  That young man was the mirror image of myself forty years ago.

     Several years ago, a friend told me the previous night he had a dream.  In that dream he came face to face with God.  God had hair of flames and glowing red eyes that scared him so bad that he woke up screaming and sweating.  I said, "That wasn't God.  That was your sins working on you mentally.  When you encounter God, you will be confronted with overpowering love and forgiveness that man has only two earthly words to describe it...Jesus Christ.  I tell you this from experience."

     This friend was a Christian, but with only a shallow faith.  Had he developed a deep, strong faith, he would know that a loving, forgiving God can be nothing but divine and most holy beauty.  Make no mistake, I have not always had this faith or known my God on a loving personal level that I do today.  It takes time and desire to develop a deep faith.  A faith that is obtained at the moment of conversion and lost when the novelty wears off or the first obstacle is encountered, is a faith that shallow or non-existent.  God loves us all and forgives us all if we but have faith.  I was a lost and shallow Christian a good portion of my life, but the Lord was always with me.  When I finally surrendered and turned everything over to him, things began to change rapidly.  If you are ready to accept the fact you cannot do it alone, turn it over to him.  I tell you truthfully, that is what he wants.  Why struggle day after day saying I'm a Christian then relying on manmade technology to relieve your burdens and save you.  As humans in this earthly environment, we tend to rely on that seen with our eyes when we should be using our spiritual guide, the holy spirit within us.  Nah...that's too easy, too simple, just like the requirements for becoming  a Christian.  We love to take the hard route then complain constantly about how tough it is.