Different Attitudes For Each Year

I was thinking this morning about the four names given to the years in a four year program.

Freshman - Someone new who is learning the ropes
Sophomore - Someone who knows where the buildings are but is not mature
Junior - Someone who is not a senior but they soon will be
Senior - A person who has survived and made it to the ruling or graduating class

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." - 2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV

"See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise," - Ephesians 5:15 KJV

"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:14 KJV

"And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:" - Colossians 2:10 KJV

Until we graduate from this life we are all of these things. We are new and old. We are carefree and sober. We are at the beginning and close to the end.

It is good to have a sophomoric mind in regards to the scriptures. To know where things are and have a hunger to experience and learn from instruction.

We look at those who have gone to Heaven before us and think like Juniors. We aren't there yet. We aren't finished yet. One day we will be but we must persevere until that day comes.

As far as grace goes we are graduating Seniors. All our work is turned in and our finals are behind us. We are right where we need to be. By grace we are placed in Christ and seated in Heavenly places. Nothing more needs to be done. We have arrived.

Maybe the Holy Spirit will convicts us that we are sitting in the wrong class in certain areas of our life. Perhaps we think we are Seniors in regards to the Bible or we function as freshman in terms of our faithfulness because we are Sophomores in grace. Yes. Let that conviction come. It is good for us to be put back in line. That correction is so vital.

"...much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)" - Romans 5:17b KJV

We are training to reign and today is a school day. Thank you God. Teach us. We want to live as professionals as far as grace goes. Show us God. You are our example. We look to You. Thank You God.

--

Specific Wisdom

I was thinking this morning about specific reliance upon God... having real proactive reliance where we are seeking Him for specific answers and provisions in circumstances.

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world." - 1 Peter 5:6-9 ESV

"This God - his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God? -  the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great. You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip." - Psalm 18:30-36 ESV

Maybe we have been conditioned to mentally beat ourselves up or lament our inability but we can revenge that kind of thinking with faith obedience. We can live saying to God, 'God. Teach me how to do this. I am looking for your wisdom and I believe You will show me something today.'

Faith is the blameless way because faith has integrity and accountability.

"And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." - Isaiah 35:8-10 ESV

The highway of holiness is the path of worship and faith reliance. It is walking in a life of expectation. Fools can be redirected there on that highway.

Hard tasks become easier when a professional shows you how to do something. If that coach stays with you until you get a handle on the technique and checks in on you from time to time you begin to look like an expert also.

"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you... These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." - John 14:16-17, 25-26 ESV

The Greek word translated helper (or comforter) is parakletos (Strong's G3875). He is here indwelling us to be our coach and defense attorney. He never leaves us or forsakes us. If we lean on the Father in the name of the Son the Spirit will be our support. If we ask the Father in specifics the Spirit will reveal details and methods.

This kind of a mindset coupled with a willingness to open and explore the Bible is a powerful combination.

"You do not have, because you do not ask." - James 4:2b ESV

Thank You God. It is amazing what You have taught me over the years. Today I want to learn. I want to learn how to love. I want to learn how to communicate. Show me how to be a good steward. There are new challenges and I need specific wisdom. Help God. I ask and I know you will answer. Thank You God.

Please help all those who are reading this and asking for Your wisdom. Bless them richly with specifics today and in the weeks to come. Thank You God.

--

The Pace of Learning and Healing

I was thinking yesterday about the time it takes for things to happen in a person's life... healing... growth. Like making tea or soup all the ingredients can be there but time allows for steeping and stirring.

While exhortation to faith is good and necessary... at times we only have a capacity for exposure to faith. Things need to be slowly extracted like sun tea on the back porch.

Healing can be slow. Is that alright with us? It has to be or we will re-aggravate the wound. When things are healing everything is not all neat and tidy as we would like it. Things have been pushed out of place and they need to fall back into place. Not all on their own... there are bandages, and braces and medicine to prevent infection. Things or people can be there so support and help but some things can't be rushed.

Learning can be slow. On piece at a time. We struggle through concepts and misconceptions. Bad habits need to be unlearned along the way. We put things down for time out of necessity and then must begin again and relearn the basics. They return to us faster when we learn it the second time... or the third time.

One of the Biblical examples that came to me was Moses. He had three 40 year blocks of time in his life. 40 years! That is a long time for a tea bag to steep in the water. But, That is what it took to take an angry man and make him into the meekest man on the face of the Earth.

"Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth." Numbers 12:3 NKJV

It was direct exposure and time that made him this way.

"And he said, 'Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the LORD make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream. Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house. With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?' And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them, and he departed. When the cloud removed from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, like snow. And Aaron turned toward Miriam, and behold, she was leprous. And Aaron said to Moses, 'Oh, my lord, do not punish us because we have done foolishly and have sinned. Let her not be as one dead, whose flesh is half eaten away when he comes out of his mother's womb.' And Moses cried to the LORD, 'O God, please heal her - please.' But the LORD said to Moses, 'If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be shamed seven days? Let her be shut outside the camp seven days, and after that she may be brought in again.' So Miriam was shut outside the camp seven days, and the people did not set out on the march till Miriam was brought in again." Numbers 12:6-15 ESV

This whole passage is very interesting. Miriam is not made leprous until after God departs. Aaron the priest instinctively acts as the priest. That is what he is and has been made to be. But, God speaks to Moses and makes Miriam wait a time. She is healed but it is process and takes awhile. All of Israel waits and will not march until she is restored.

Can we live in faith and give people grace? Can we be patient with ourselves and give ourselves grace?

I have heard men preach about this and believed it when I heard it but maybe it's because I have been doing this for a while that it is beginning to sink in. I've been quick to judge a person or situation thinking I was wise but really I was not.

"For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:10-11 ESV

Amen to that! God will mature His 'Moses's and heal His 'Miriam's. Will there be anyone to intercede?