Ephesians 5:21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Oh, the good old younger days- when life was so much simpler and nothing was all that big of a deal- except for when someone: violated your side of the bed, took your toy, changed the channel, said something personally offensive, refused to give you what you had wanted for so long or do something your way, failed to notice and comment on your new stuff, etc. Then, boy howdy, it was time for the storm and battle of the day, with wailing, flailing, accusing, refusing, and general all out severing of relationship in the name of personal right and gratification.

It was time for this — unless— the participants in this interchange had experienced the uncompromising consequences for this kind of response from that aging ‘loved one’ wielding a reason for not acting in that way, you know, something that would actually leave a mark. Then, amazing as it may seem, those actions, reactions and attitudes that just couldn’t be controlled before were replaced with lowered volumes and even embraces (although possibly forced). This would all come by the mere realization that the ‘feared’ ones were able to hear and respond with something that demanded attention much more than merely gratifying the demands of a damaged ego.

While physical and material consequences were initially necessary for these attitude adjustments, as time passed in relationship with parents, love, honor, and respect for them personally became the adjusting element. To violate their trust and do something opposed to their principles would damage this relationship and this was feared much more than failing to get your own way.

(Ok, I know this might just be the way it should have been, not necessarily the way it was all the timeJ )

I love this passage from Ephesians making it clear that fearing and reverencing God isn’t something that takes place alone in the prayer closet. Where true honor, respect, value, and fear of our Redeemer is best represented is in giving up those childish demands of the flesh (that often persist way into adulthood) and actually submitting one to another. Reverence of Him is directly reflected in our human interaction. Where He is acknowledged as being in the room, there is a heightened awareness of his thoughts regarding our actions and where He is truly feared, adjustments will be made with love actions and words replacing those ‘natural’ responses.

It may be that certain things will not go well and there may be consequences that leave a mark on our life when self is elevated above others, but there is a much a greater influence on our attitudes and actions in a heart that is passionate about continual worship of the Holy One. Pleasing Him and demonstrating knowledge of His nature and His love is much more important than raising a ruckus about something done to us. The way those ‘old younger days’ were supposed to be, you know, where nothing was all that big of a deal, can be the here and now in the awareness of His presence that disallows any consideration of a suffered wrong. His love is most amazing when discovered and displayed in those who have claimed their life to be in Him. In sweet submission to that one we can see there is the greatest proclamation of a faith in the One we cannot see.

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

It was totally unnerving. His error had not gone unnoticed. He would now have to face the accusers and deal with their substantiated claims. According to all that would be declared regarding his failure, there was only one rightful outcome- he would be condemned.

So it was strange that during the reading of his charges, just when his heart should be failing over his imminent demise, that a smile rested on his lips. In fact, during the reading of each claim against him, it could clearly be seen that the smile widened. This smile was not that of arrogance and disdain for the court, but rather the countenance of one who knew that, though there appeared to be insurmountable evidence stacked against him, another much more favorable outcome was actually getting ready to take place. He appeared to be completely free from any consternation regarding his fate. Rather than being the least bit anxious and stressed, he was extremely relaxed. It was almost as if he was patiently looking forward with peaceful anticipation to how each attempt at condemnation would be turned into another reason to rejoice.

In the face of circumstances and accusations that would otherwise cause us to give up and give in to worrying, fretting and letting go of God, it is possible for us to account for each charge by including it with the reasons to rejoice rather than the reasons to tremble and fear. Though the evidence stacked against us may otherwise appear to be overwhelming and defenseless, there is a simple understanding that will undermine and dislodge every condemning claim on our soul. With every temptation into which we may fall, with every opportunity for faith in our Father to fail, a further revelation by our star witness is forthcoming. He has gone before us in this position of the accused. He has taken every claim against us, paid the price for our redemption, and provided us with a clear and lawful right to His righteousness, With every rising voice of opposition and with every enticement of this world over the kingdom there is a declaration of loving grace that replaces the sentence of death with the unwavering assurance of life eternal.

There is a clear and definite opportunity for joy to reign in every circumstance of life, but as faith is put on trial there will need to be an assurance that every accusation has been dealt with by the blood of the Lamb. It will apply in a new and fresh way to every attack that arises, and it will most certainly cover every attempt at identity assassination and its oppressing and depressing impact. We are eternally identified with Christ by receiving of His established grace and mercy, and there is no encountered temptation that is not covered by the evidence of the blood. By gaining access through the blood to the presence of our Redeemer and by holding fast to our testimony of faith without wavering, we can turn every potentially overwhelming trial into a celebration of God-inspired joy. In this realm of gladness, confidence and assurance will usher in an ever-increasingly established patience that anticipates the next victorious application of blood evidence over any and every temptation. As nothing in this world can any longer lay claim upon our passions, we will be free to triumphantly live in His love to the very end.

Revelation 12:10-11 KJV  (10)  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.  (11)  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Judges 8:27 Gideon made the gold into an ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his town. All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family.

The Father delivers, provides, empowers and, for some reason, the stuff associated with His triumph takes the place of Him in worship.

After three girls I think my Dad was a bit anxious to start doing a few ‘man’ things with the boy that finally came along. When I was just a little fella, he decided to take me on my first hunting expedition, a little drive into the country with shooting something as the plan.  It was winter time, though, and the longer we remained on the Colorado country roads, the more snow began to come down, to the point that we became stuck without means of getting unstuck and back to warmth. Dad had to load me up on his back and set out on foot for help. After walking for some time in the dangerous and threatening conditions, we finally arrived at a house, where warmth and much needed help was found.

Ok, that was what happened, but from the perspective of a first-timer it was just a bit different. First of all, this was a coyote hunt that I was going on with my Dad and I fully expected to get one of those creatures, even as Dad was struggling to somehow get us to safety. I kept asking him if he saw a coyote yet, as he trudged through the snow- really only looking for the lights of a farmhouse. Then, there were these special socks with two stripes around the top of the tubes. I was wearing them for the first time on this hunt, and so they became my ‘coyote socks’. Whether or not we bagged anything, I took something from that adventure that was quite special from my little view. Dad and I had been out doing some manly coyote hunting, and I, for some time, would continue to proudly wear those special coyote hunting socks. Though I had no realization of our perilous circumstances, I had been there and I had something to show for it.

So often there is something quite different going on. God takes us on an adventure where He has to load us up on His back and carry us to safety from dangers that we never fully understand or appreciate. From an experience in which He has brought incredible provision and deliverance, we take from it that we never got the coyote we were after, but we sure do like the socks. He has been holding, protecting, preserving, and caring for us as only He can, and we take what He has provided and give it the attention He was after in giving it to us. Precious time is spent in cleaning, shining, maintaining and being entertained by the items of His provision, while the treasure of His presence and fellowship is set to the side and displaced. Though the blessing was never meant to get the glory He deserves as its provider, it is much easier to just focus on the stuff of the blessing over the way that stuff got to us and the One who made it possible.

We may not get into worshiping an ephod, but there is a similar threat to our relationship with the Father that comes when the pressing of material desires and gratification overtakes the passion that was once so strong for the blessing of His presence. Wearing the socks is most certainly His desire for us in providing them, but for the socks to gratify and identify over the consideration and honor of Him ultimately turns the blessing into a curse. He is so much better than anything He provides. It is to Him alone that all glory, adoration, honor, and attention should be given. So grateful for each blessed touch, there is yet only worship for and commitment to the One who gave it and will be faithful in His loving care and protection to the very end.

Psalm 121:1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

He had been through this so many times before, the help he needed coming at the last second. Now, having just drank his last drop and shot his last shot, there was only one remaining reason to garner hope. Though his enemies were pressing in unhindered, an expectation rose inside as he lifted his eyes from desperate circumstances to somewhere above and beyond them where he knew without a doubt his deliverance was on the way. The request had gone out, the message had been sent, and without a doubt his help was on the way. The force of his opposition would otherwise have been completely overwhelming, but when his help arrived he knew Him to be far greater than anything these mere mortals could muster. After all, He was their originator, the One who had designed them and equipped them with the ability to mount any threat at all. To be on His side was to only have enemies with unproductive weaponry. So, from the hills?, from the sky?, from the right?, from the left?, he did not know from where, but he did know who was coming and that He would surely come to keep his foot from falling and his enemies from prevailing over His own.

There is a need for a lifted gaze on a day-by-day basis, where the heart has its expectation on the Deliverer above and in greater measure than anything else. To trust in the Lord is not to be without otherwise overwhelming circumstance. In fact, the greater the circumstances and size of the opposition, the greater will be the potential exercise of trust.  There is no real sweetness to this trust that inspires great songs without dire straits that may only allow the lifted gaze. However, in that small glance will be the motion of faith that signals the armies of heavenly intervention. From their concealed locations they will advance with a deliverance and provision unmatched by any resistance, inevitably producing triumph and the sweet taste of trust for the children of righteousness.

It really doesn’t have to wait for the last drop or the last shot, either. Fixation upon the Deliverer and the sureness of His arrival is ultimately the hope that drives and enables all other hope that we have in Christ. Whether we’re living in manifested promise or experiencing the opportunity for trust at its sweetest, the lifted gaze will enable and empower the enablement and preservation of all that has been prepared for those who love Him. Rather than being depressed by the misguiding messages on the deceivers’ placards, the condition of our spirit can be defined by the joy and peace produced by the message of grace. Always on the way and in great measure is a sufficiency that is greater than all our sin and its judgment of destruction. It will be one for the record books as the Creator demonstrates a favor without merit by producing a victory through us where there had once only been the possibility of defeat.

Just the thought is enough to sense that quickened pulse as the gaze is lifted to a higher expectancy. Ever looking up- for surely redemption draweth nigh… Luke 21:28

Psalm 107:13 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses.

,15 Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!

There is obviously no lack on the part of God to come through in the time of difficulty. The examples are endless of how a distraught heart let go of life’s gloominess long enough to cry out to the source of its help and find supernatural provision there in Him. Though each circumstance would seem to be uniquely overwhelming in itself, for each specific difficulty there was a common solution – “then”. Rather than letting the telling of the dire turmoil be the last sounds heard, there is a natural progression to another utterance for the one who has become aware of the amazing abilities of a Father who is willing and able to do far above what we could even ask or think. The greater the obstacle, the greater will be the magnitude of His glory revealed, with the question never rising as to who will win the day. In fact, it becomes ever more exciting to anticipate the inevitable victory with the expanded versions of trials.

So why, then, does the psalmist keep pining away about men being thankful? Couldn’t men just go right to the crying, rather than wasting precious time with all that gratitude. It would seem that, while there is no lack in God’s ability to meet a need, there is a dangerous lack of turning to Him for His faithful provision. Where, though, the heart has become developed in this recognition of the answer’s source, there will be a most natural, comfortable, and consequential response to any rising opposition – a simple expectant cry to the One who has already done great things and will surely be faithful once again. The turning to Him is the most critical action and it is from the heart of the grateful that this turning will more readily be made.

A great opportunity is waiting the sun’s rising and it is the prepared that enjoy the potential that lies there. To be an answer to the prayer for the thankful is to be ready with a prayer of faith in that time of need, and a documenter, once again, of the Father’s faithful deliverance. Now- thanks be unto God who always………..

Luke 7: 2 Now a centurion had a bond servant who was held in honor and highly valued by him, who was sick and at the point of death.

9 Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and He turned and said to the crowd that followed Him, I tell you, not even in [all] Israel have I found such great faith [as this].10 And when the messengers who had been sent returned to the house, they found the bond servant who had been ill quite well again. (Amp)

In this story the appreciation and understanding of authority is apparently part of what made the centurion’s faith so great. There is something else, though, that is pointed out, not just in his communication to Jesus, but also in the description of him regarding his relationship with his bond servant. An attitude in this man’s heart was displayed there that I believe was even more critical than his understanding of authority. He didn’t just tell others what to do, but he honored and highly valued them. In the openness of his heart to care for this treasured servant he displayed humility and great appreciation for the worth of even an otherwise lowly servant.

When he initially sent to have Jesus brought to heal his servant, there must have been anticipation of Jesus arrival into his home. There could have been consideration of how the novelty of this might bring attention to him and his own importance. He might have directed preparation for the handling of the details so that he himself might be well thought of. As Jesus drew close, however, there was a change of plans. Surely it wouldn’t have been all that big a difference for Jesus to come into his home, but there was something in the heart of the centurion that I believe was motivated first by honor that prompted him to propose that Jesus, in His elevated position, power and authority, just speak. Maybe He had originally been moved by an intense focus on the condition of his honored servant, but when Jesus was getting close, his focus was affected by an honor of that servant’s Healer. The more he considered Jesus, the more his heart was impacted by an appreciation and reverence for Him that would avoid any imposition when a spoken word alone would do.

In the heart of the one who would believe and receive according to the promises of God, there is a need for much more than just an appreciation of authority. That appreciation itself is in need of the greater element of honor that will provide the true power of any demonstrated authority. This is not something that can be conjured up at the time of need, either. This is something that will be displayed towards every other being that is honored as they should be, and from this heart motivated by love will come the working of a faith that will know no impossibility. The greater challenge to the resolution of dire circumstances is not just a mental acquisition of a legal principle, but rather a heart transformation to an exposure of love that sees the value, ability, and capability above any other characteristic. The servant could have been seen as just a lowly expendable servant, below what it would take to get Jesus there. Jesus could have been seen as just a carpenter from Nazareth. But, as both were valued the heart expanded with humility and honor, providing the atmosphere where faith was great and the sick was raised.

Where honor reigns all it takes is a word.

Psalms 118:22-25 KJV  The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.  (23)  This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.  (24)  This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.  (25)  Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.

I recently visited a relative of ours in the Dallas area and the home where they were staying was in the process of renovation. The owner, who was actually performing the renovation spent more than an hour taking me through the house pointing out all the details of the remodel. Everything was being crafted, not just built, with every room containing custom cabinetry, flooring, and trim. The home was thoroughly sealed to be efficient and there was no detail that wasn’t taken care of with incredible creativity and detail. Especially compared to many of the homes I’ve seen in this area, this was another construction altogether. This was a work of art.

There is an opportunity today to experience the workings of the Master Builder. He is able to take elements that may have been rejected by the world and use them to form a construction that is far superior to anything ever before seen. Much better than anything formed by the designs and performances of man, we are privileged to have the One who makes days and has specifically made this day for our enjoyment and rejoicing. Where there may have been brokenness and lack, where there may have been less than enough provision, the King is here to bring prosperity to every area of life. Beyond the range of vision that would only reveal the workings of man, there is a lifted heart and a raised focus to the sight of His doing which is marvelous to behold.

Proverbs 14:4 KJV  Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

I heard a discussion on the radio yesterday about how professional athletes make it look so easy, as if they just came by these skills, while, in actuality there was an incredible amount of work that brought them to that level of excellence. They may have been born with a natural talent, but it was the maintenance of that talent that refined their performance. For every one of them there was a personal dream of what it would mean to be the best in their sport, and to obtain that goal, they were motivated to do whatever it took. Rising early in the morning for hours of practice and working out, studying the techniques of the champions, and humbling themselves to listen and do what their coaches and instructors directed them to do, they knew that, while all of this might be a challenge to their flesh, the reward was significant enough to endure it all. In fact, they came to feed off of and enjoy the maintenance as it began to produce evidence that they were moving towards their goals. Once there was significant value associated with the process, the flesh could no longer dominate when it was decided whether or not they would take care of their gift. The promise of reward was so great that there could be no consideration of anything other than diligently and on purpose giving themselves to enduring any challenge of the flesh.

For the athlete there is a specific set of challenging maintenance chores that will make success possible. For the farmer those chores are of a different nature, but there is a similar understanding that in order to gain the strength of the oxen in producing a valuable crop, some maintenance is required for its health and strength. For anything in life that is achieved on a level that brings value and reward there is a certain amount of maintenance required, some chores that will have to be done. Otherwise the body, mind, and spirit will never gain their necessary strength and that thing that could have been done so easily will remain not only very difficult, but impossible.

Mark 9:29 KJV  And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

Jesus made it look easy, almost as if no effort was necessary at all. There was a reason for the ease of His performance, though, and it had everything to do with how highly He valued the strength and power produced only by the care given to prayer and fasting. You would think all His other qualifications would have been sufficient and His answer to the question of His disciples could have been, “You couldn’t cast out the demon, because you’re not me. After all, I’m the Messiah and I get all this power because of who I am.” The reply He did give, though, produced within His disciples a vision of making a difference in the kingdom and bringing deliverance and freedom to those in need. This was something they could very well do. This was something within their ability to pursue diligently and with purpose.

Each of us is specifically gifted to excel and be strong in various ways. For each of these ways there will be a certain path of maintenance that will make it possible to perform them. In pursuing the kingdom and the will of God, there are also challenges in the flesh that will have to be addressed. There will be no strength available for producing the crop (of salvation) or championship performance (of healing) apart from consistent care given to prayer and fasting. There will be a need for healing, direction, and deliverance both personally and in the life of someone we may touch. With focus on the valued vision of deliverance, the chores will be done diligently and God’s desire to embrace and impart in and through us will be accomplished.

Acts 3:6 Peter said, “I don’t have a nickel to my name, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!”

Something pretty incredible happened that day, and it had nothing to do with Peter’s apparent financial situation.

How often does the state of affairs regarding things on this earth impact perspectives, attitudes, and faith? As long as all the bills are paid, everybody’s teeth are straight and filled, and nobody’s felt bad in a while, there is a certain sense of, “Hey, I feel pretty confident and sure about what I have to give!”. However, as soon as it looks like maybe the ‘silver and gold’ is down to zero and other values would indicate deficiency, there is a natural tendency to devalue the greatest treasure that yet exists in great measure. It’s interesting that Peter’s mood wasn’t altered in the least by the vacancy in his money belt. Rather, he seemed to have an accelerated sense of anticipation based upon a magnified awareness of what he did possess and how little it depended upon what might otherwise be seen as a lack of success or wealth. He didn’t attempt to avoid the reality of how much money that was actually in his possession and preserve some kind of religious correctness, but instead admitted what could not be denied, both what he didn’t have for the moment, but also how much greater in significance was the wealth he did possess. It was obvious where his thoughts were, and how greatly his values had been transformed by the investment of his time and energies. If he had been consumed by his financial circumstance, allowing it to loom with oppressive clouds of despair, not only would he have been unable to provide monetary aid, but the much greater treasure of healing would have also been withheld. Also, if he had been given to ensuring that his pockets were full, this might have been all he was able to give.

There will be times when lack in one area or another would attempt to become the focus and divert from an abundance that is completely independent of earthly accounting. It is precisely in those moments when the investment of time and energy into the treasure of life in Christ will give rise to the superiority of His wealth and provision. Rather than being deprived of both the material and spiritual abundance available without measure by focusing on the material or physical alone, the simple embrace of the greatest treasure of His presence will usher in the salvation that goes beyond what we could even imagine or hope for. Touched by the incredible hand of the Master we will lack for nothing if we’ll only remain unaffected by any seeming lack as we’re incredibly affected and overwhelmed by the unlimited treasure that is ours continually in Him.

John 12:36 As you have the light, believe in the light. Then the light will be within you, and shining through your lives. You’ll be children of light.” Jesus said all this, and then went into hiding.
37 All these God-signs he had given them and they still didn’t get it, still wouldn’t trust him.
38 This proved that the prophet Isaiah was right:
God, who believed what we preached?
Who recognized God’s arm, outstretched and ready to act?
39 First they wouldn’t believe, then they couldn’t—again, just as Isaiah said:
40 Their eyes are blinded,
their hearts are hardened,
So that they wouldn’t see with their eyes
and perceive with their hearts,
And turn to me, God,
so I could heal them.

I had just dropped Hunter off at school yesterday and was driving down the lane towards the street. A young child caught my eye as he was running towards the lane across a grassy area to the left. I moved my foot to the brake anticipating him possibly running into my path, but he stopped suddenly, grabbed a tall stalk of seeding grass, pulled it up and promptly stuck it in his mouth. It was such a display of innocence and the lack of awareness that something unsavory might happen to be on that piece of grass. I immediately wondered what else he might just as quickly pop in his mouth.

This apparent lack of concern about what might be connected to stuff that makes it into the mouth is something that I’ve noticed with regard to close relationships in the home. Definitely with my wife, but also with my children, there is no apparent repulsion with drinking after them or cleaning up their plate. Ok, I know maybe I’m just revealing something uniquely creepy about myself, but for me this directly relates to the bonding of hearts and how connected I am to these loved ones. It’s not that I don’t like someone outside of this little family circle of mine, but as soon as a morsel is identified as having been touched by an outsider, for some reason there is this strong repulsion to ingesting anything that might have touched their mouth. The germs might not be any worse on the glass from which they have drunk, but I am very unwilling to receive even the tastiest looking treat into my mouth if they have touched it with theirs. With my family, though, for some reason I am open to accepting the good, the bad and the unknown from the one that has my heart wrapped around their little finger without questioning or rejecting it. Where there has been a bonding of hearts there is openness to not only embracing them, but taking in all that they have touched no matter how it might otherwise be objectionable.

I’ve wondered about this passage from John where the prophet is quoted, how people would be unable to be healed because of blinded eyes and hardened hearts. Why would anyone be turned away from receiving of His goodness? This came after Jesus was challenged for his claim to be the Son of Man and the need to be “lifted up”. Instead of directly replying, Jesus began talking about becoming children of the light and allowing the light to be ‘within you’. This was similar to when He was talking about having to eat His flesh and drink His blood. (John 6) Although many had seen the miracles and wonders He performed, it was a few that actually believed in Him. The blinding of eyes and hardening of the hearts might have something to do with the reception of the light and the presence of Jesus as more than just a concept, but rather an inner-circle family member. Until there is a total family bond with Him to where He is ingested along with everything He has spoken without consideration of what might not make sense or what might otherwise be questionable, there can be no faith or reception of the healing that comes in that ‘family only’ understanding. Until He is ingested, the good, the bad (to old ways of seeing), and the unknown the heart bond has not yet been made and nothing about Him will be savory.

Before attempting to wrap a thought around the wonder of who He is and somehow reconcile what He’s said with circumstances and challenges of the world around us, it is most necessary to just get up in His lap, hear His heartbeat and in worship know Him as Father and inseparable family member. Then, with our heart wrapped around this relationship, all that He has spoken and all that He has touched will not only be seen and accepted, but ingested and part of who we are.