Tag Archives: exodus 14:14

The only thing that matters

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We have really been enjoying reading through the New Testament in our daily devotion reading plan. I’m doing an inductive study, journaling my responses to three questions of each passage:

What does it say?
What does it mean?
How do I apply it to my life?

 

I am always pleased to rediscover those verses that highlight basic truths for living. We read one of those in Galatians 5. Paul was warning the church (and us!) about being enslaved by the law and the sinful nature (actually our own desires). Pursuing his ‘run the race’ theme he encourages us to stand firm and seek the freedom Christ offers. The part that spoke to me was this summary of the gospel of Jesus in V 6:

 

“The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”

 

This echoes the consistent message I’ve received through this entire cancer journey. I keep yearning for less of this or more of that. I want to fight but sometimes all I can do and stand firm and let God do the fighting:

 

“The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:14)

 

But in my quiet times with God (and some not so quiet ones) I keep hearing this same message, that through it all, the thing that matters most is staying faithful.

 

I shared this with one of my former students, who has been suffering from a different form of Leukemia for several years. I’ve lost count of the number of chemo cycles she has endured. She writes:

“Four treatments down and ten to go this cycle. Question of the day…..when do you say enough is enough? When do you say I am too tired to keep up this fight, especially when it feels like it really doesn’t matter whether you do or you don’t?”

 

Looking at her posted photo, I could see the frustration and hopelessness in her eyes. I’ve been there, though I suspect her battle is much more extensive than mine. You’ve been there too. Maybe you are there today. The phrase that catches my attention is “IT FEELS LIKE”. We can’t seem to escape our feelings. After all, the body and soul are constantly interpreting the world to us and clamoring for our attention. Our spirit, united with The Spirit interprets GOD’s reality to us, but so often is out shouted by the cries of our body and soul. The body and soul say, “It feels like it doesn’t matter.” The Spirit says, “The ONLY thing that matters is faith – expressing itself in love.”

 

Have you ever kept a journal of your daily walk with God? Part of that story is the accounting of your daily experiences as told in a dialog between your body, soul, spirit – and the Spirit of God who reveals guiding truth and sustaining grace and power for living a life defined by love. It is this ongoing dialog that grows and nourishes the only thing that counts:

 

Faith expressing itself in love. 

 

 

Where is your confidence?

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Confidence is not based on having everything you need to take care of yourself. Confidence is based on the truth that our great God is faithful!

 

Would you best be described as confident or shy? Perhaps we all carry some of both characteristics depending on the setting. Sometimes we might take confidence in our natural abilities. In other times we might rely on what we have learned from teachers, books, or experiences. We might try to take confidence in our finances, our families, or our friends. But which of these give us confidence to approach Almighty God? By what means do we have the right to enter His presence?

 

Jesus said, “I am the way” (John 14:6). He is the living way God opened for us to come directly to Him. He is the way for hearts to be cleansed and to be filled with the confidence and assurance that faith brings.

 

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:19-22)

 

How do we respond to such a profound and gracious gift? With a half-hearted, luke-warm heart that occasionally offers perfunctory sacrifices when it is convenient? No. Recognizing the supreme value of such a gift would reduce the most ardent of believers to fall face down in worship and to devote their lives humbly and completely to their God, holding ever so firmly to the faith that draws them closer to Him.

 

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:23-25)

 

What hope do you profess? Is it a hope that you can hold to unswervingly? Hope in our own efforts and smarts and hope in everything of this world disappoints. But there is a hope that we can hold unswervingly to. It is hope offered by the one who promised and is faithful, the one who never ever abandons you. It is the hope that brings a ‘new and living way’ to live beyond yourself, to encourage others and spur them also on toward love and good deeds.

 

In the depths of your despair, in the darkness of your pain and sorrow, in the confusion of your anxiety, cling unswervingly to the hope that God your Father offers to His children. Accept the way Jesus offers into the presence of God right now.  And hold on to the confidence that is based on the truth that God is faithful.

 

 

Be still. Find thanks.

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I can tell I need a blood transfusion. The last two days have been increasingly tiring. I found out I can’t shovel even a little snow. A 90 minute midday nap didn’t restore my strength but it did do something. Let me see if I can show you. It would help to find a quiet place.

Stop and be still.

Do you notice that in your quietness you can hear your heart beating? You don’t have to think about it or make it pump; it just keeps on beating exactly as it was designed to do, giving you life even when you are too busy to notice it.

Be still. Do you notice that your body wills itself to breathe? Again, without any intervention or planning on your part, every breath brings you life. Breathe deeply and relax in the gift you are freely given.

It’s harder to imagine this, but as you go about your normal routine, your bone marrow is making specific types of blood cells that function by created design. Some stand guard to fight infection. As you work, play, or sleep, red blood cells are being made by the millions to bring oxygen to your whole body. You wouldn’t be able to read this without them. Likewise, platelets also stand guard to repair any injury to your body. All this happens, seemingly without any effort on your part.

In my quietness, I am thankful for the way God designed our bodies to function. All the years I donated blood, I never thought about being on the receiving end. I’m thankful for those who gave up twenty minutes of their day so I could receive blood and platelet transfusions, and live.

In your stillness, what thanks come to your heart?
People who care. The power of prayer.
The promise of spring flowers.
Safe drinkable water; a land free from war.
A roof over your head, protection from the cold.
Being loved; people TO love.
A great and merciful God who loves you.

Be still; find thanks.

“The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10