Spiritual Makeover...Refinement!

The Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines the word “refine” as follows:

to free from impurities or unwanted material;

to free from moral imperfection;

to improve or perfect by pruning or polishing

How does our Lord God “refine” His people?  He tells us in Isaiah 48:10, “Behold, I have refined you…; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.”  Why does the Lord refine His people?  “…For My (the Lord’s) own sake, for My own sake, I will do it…” (Isaiah 48:11a)  And what is the blessing of His refinement?  “…We went through fire and water; but You brought us out to rich fulfillment.” (Psalm 66:12b)

Our reactions to the fires of life – “the furnace of affliction” – often expose impurities that exist within us.  God does not expose “moral imperfection” to condemn us, but rather to reveal our need for His forgiveness; to reveal our need for His transforming power through the Holy Spirit; to reveal our need for His grace to remedy our reactions – to respond to our afflictions in a way that brings Him honor and glory for the sake of those around us.

Through fire, we are made holy – separated from sin to a life of holiness.  Through pruning, we are set free from the restrictions of sin and enabled to flourish and bear spiritual fruit.  Through polishing, we become a reflection of the beauty and nature of Jesus Christ.

                                                                                              

 1 Peter 1:6-7

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

 

Suggested Prayer

My Lord, I praise You, for You are like a refiner’s fire (Malachi 3:2)!  I thank You for loving me enough to cleanse, break, prune, polish and set me ablaze to purify me of moral imperfection.  I thank You that every affliction or trial you call me to walk through is meant for my good and for Your glory!  I thank You for Your forgiveness that heals me; for Your power that strengthens me; and for Your grace that anchors me in the midst of any storm.  Thank You for sculpting and perfecting me through the living, corrective work of Your Word!  My Lord, I pray when affliction comes that Your Spirit would drive Me to Your Word for resilience and drive me to prayer for assurance and confidence in Your never-failing love for me.  When I am walking through the fire and cannot see You through the smoke, let the fire of faith burn even hotter within my spirit.  May my faith be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

And it is in His name, I pray…Amen.

Where is God's signature?

I, like probably most of you, really enjoy art – drawing, painting, sculpting, etc. – you name it, I like it.  And when I happen upon a particular piece I find especially striking or moving in some way, without even thinking about it, I begin scanning to find the signature…the name of the one who created this work of art.

Of all the masterpieces I have ever had the pleasure of viewing in this life, none compares to The Creation – the Heavens, the Earth and its living Inhabitants.  It’s a masterpiece that engages all five senses: taste, touch, sight, sound, smell.  It is a kaleidoscopic work – a turn on its axis; a shift of seasons; a weather surge; the passage of time; a mere blink of an eye – it is changed – it is altered!  You never view the exact same picture twice!  It is the only masterpiece brimming and spilling over with life!

Who is the Artist?  Genesis 1-2 explains it was God who within “six” days created the heavens, earth and all created things.  And where is His signature?  Gen. 1:27 and 2:7 reveals how God formed man from dust and created man (male/female) “in His own image” and then “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life”.

 

You are God’s signature upon Creation!

 

And we demonstrate all the facets of His signature best – every curve of His grace, every lavish stroke of His love – when you and I receive Jesus Christ, through Whom all things were created, and become filled and recreated anew by His Holy Spirit.  When we speak and act according to the reality of His glorious nature and personality, we let the whole world know Who the Great Artist truly is!!!

 

 

Suggested Verse for Prayer and Praise

 

Psalm 95:1-6

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord!  Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.   Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.   For the Lord is the great God, and the great King above all gods.   In His hand are the deep places of the earth; the heights of the hills are His also.   The sea is His, for He made it; and His hands formed the dry land.   Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.

In the name of Jesus, we pray and praise You, Oh Lord!  Amen.

Religious vs. Righteous

           For those of us who have attended church long enough to pick-up “religious lingo” - spouting off religious-sounding monologues, advice and prayers is a piece of cake!  Sounding religious comes quite easy!  Some time ago, the Holy Spirit taught me a difficult but valuable lesson:  Just because something feels religious, sounds religious or even looks religious does not make it righteous!

            Jesus offered several examples of this distinction in the NT, but for the sake of time and topic, I’ll share only one:  In Luke 18:9-14, Jesus told a story of two men who prayed – the first, a minister – the second, a sinner.  The minister rattled off a self-exalting prayer; while the sinner’s prayer exposed his own spiritual failures and need for God.  The minister’s prayer was religious; but the sinner’s prayer was righteous.

            In ALL you and I endeavor to do for the Lord’s namesake, we must be sensitive to His leading in every manner we communicate or interact with others, whether it is teaching The Word, ministry activity, offering counsel or prayer.  You and I may say and do all manner of things that are “right" or “religious”, but if it is not authentically guided by the Holy Spirit, it will not be truly righteous.

 

Proverbs 14:12

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

 

Suggested Prayer

My Father, I praise You, for You declared Your Son, Jesus, would be called, “The Lord Our Righteousness,” (Jer. 23:6) and He is Your Righteous Servant (Is. 53:11).  I thank You that for all who come to You by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, we are given the gift of righteousness – we are declared innocent – we are made pure.  However, Lord, I recognize there are times I struggle with my sin nature – even in my service to You!  There are times I have said and done things that looked and sounded religious, but were not righteous – I accomplished these things without Your directive or approval – without purity in motive – without regard for Your glory, but for my own.  I’ve said and done religious things that seemed right to me, but they resulted in death – death to experiencing authentic intimacy with You; death to meaningful relationships with others; death to opportunities to bear Your light and Your love to hurting people.  My Lord, have mercy on me; forgive my error!  Make me sensitive to Your Spirit’s guidance in all matters pertaining to spiritual service and fellowship!  You are the Righteous Servant – let me follow Your example of humility before the Father!  May my life represent the beauty and power of Your Righteousness in me, and may the end of all I say and do for Your namesake end in the way of life for myself and those who behold it!

In Jesus name, I pray…Amen!

People Matter...Pleasing God Matters Most!

I hope I will never be able to honestly say to another person, “I don’t care what you think or how you feel!”  I care very much what people think and feel because people matter.  However, you and I cannot allow what others think or feel prevent us from obeying the Lord and standing for what is right, because…well, because people matter.

 

Galatians 1:10

For do I now persuade men or God?  Or do I seek to please men? 

For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

Suggested Prayer

Father, I praise You, for in all You do or allow in the lives of mankind, You are intentional; You are never careless.  When I think of the great care You took in designing the complexities of our ability to think and feel, I am overwhelmed with awe.  I am especially overwhelmed by Your discerning compassion: For though You care enough to number the hair of our heads – and note every tear that falls – You do not allow Your love for us deter You from making decisions that may be painful but beneficial for us.  Father, I pray Your Holy Spirit would work in me Your discerning compassion.  May I never be careless of how others think or feel.  Yet, Lord, make me wise, and embolden me to obey Your voice – rather than the voice of human opinions and emotional whims.  I pray I would not “stand my ground” out of self-righteous spite, but that I would stand for Your Holy Word and Ways to please You and bless those You have placed in my life.  Lord Jesus, if You had been swayed by people’s thoughts and feelings – their love for You – You would never have placed Yourself on the cross to save them - to save me.  May I also, even if it brings me death, choose to love people enough to speak the truth and live the truth for Your glory and namesake.  And may the pursuit of seeking Your pleasure alone be the joy of my life’s journey and destination!

In the name of Jesus, I pray…Amen.

The Blessings of a Spiritual Butt-Whuppin' (pt.2)

          One memory that stands-out from my childhood is a warning my mother issued about discipline, "If I ever have to chase you down to give you a spanking, the whippin' you get will be worse than the one you would've gotten when I catch you!" Now, I did a lot of really stupid things while growing up, but the one dumb thing I never did was run from a whippin' - I knew Momma meant business!

          I have seen this same principle apply in both secular and spiritual arenas. People who "run" from or rebel against constructive criticism and discipline continue to make poor choices. The consequences they could avoid altogether hits them with increased intensity when their mistakes "catch-up" with them!

          The Lord has placed three wonderful resources in every Believer's life to bring about the blessing of discipline: The Holy Bible, The Holy Spirit and Spiritual Authority (pastors, teachers, mentors, etc.). He has used these resources throughout my own life to help confront sins I've committed - bring mistakes to my attention - and guide me in the process of correction and restoration.

          Several years ago, I was pondering all the above when a poem began to form in my mind. It's a story about a foolish backwoods fella who resists a "spiritual butt-whuppin'" from a kindly, old pastor. I've included it below and pray it will be a blessing to you!

 

Runnin' from the Whippin' Always Hurts Ya in the End!

One fine misty mornin’, our shepherd was astormin’ ovah our dandy collection of misguided affections.

And Whew! You ain’t nevah seen sweat arollin’ off sheep all fat and swollen from adigestin’ all them worldly yums!

 

Well, afta that sermon, here came High-n-Mighty Herman to set the Man o’God straight!

"Lookahere, Pastor Sir, your words done gone and caused a stir ‘mongst this here congregation.

You just too religious – soundin’ terbly suspicious! What’s up with all this interrogation???”

 

Good Ole Pastor cracked a smile, “Herman, let’s you and me go chat awhile.

You see, that stirrin’ is a smackin’ on your hand to let you know you're aheadin’ for some woe

iffn you don’t stop eaten that worldly pie.

Cain’tcha undastand that a spankin’ on the hand grows ya from a baby to a better man?

Now, it might sting a little, but your soul’ll be fitter than a fiddle when the playin’ comes to end.

And, Son, it’s on my head to prevent you from bein’ mislead; I’m here to help you make amends!”

Well, Ole Herman, that sorry sheep, sat and thought (but not too deep)

'bout what this here Man o’God just said.

And with impatient sigh, Mr. High-n-Mighty replied,

"Well, thank ya muchly kindly, but keep The Word offa my behindly!

I smell smoke, so fire must be burnin’!

I like my worldly pie, and I cain’t undastand why I gots to listen to all this chastisement!

Pain ain’t my way…and that’s alls I gotta say!”

 

Hmmmph…Ole Pastor kept on grinnin’, tho his eyes started thinnin’

and splained to Brother Herman (what in itself could be yet anotha sermon) –

“Herman! You go on ahead and eat your pie, but you best remember this:

You can try like fire to outrun the wind,

but runnin’ from the whippin’ always hurts ya in the END!"

 

Proverbs 19:20

Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days.

 

 

The Blessings of a Spiritual Butt-Whuppin'! (pt. 1)

           Since becoming a Christian, one of the most compassionate, tenderhearted things the Lord has allowed me to experience in this walk of faith is…His correction.  He has disciplined me by speaking directly to my heart in moments of weakness and through the hearing and study of His Word.  Even more painful, He has also disciplined me by allowing me to suffer the consequences of my choices – allowing me to reap what I have sown.  But most excruciating, at times He has disciplined me through individuals He has placed in my life.

            When those times of discipline have come, I have felt a variety of uncomfortable emotions: frustration, discouragement, fear, embarrassment and deep remorse.  But in those moments, when I have chosen to receive rather than resist His correction, I have also experienced: hope, freedom, restoration, forgiveness, acceptance, and best of all…His love – and not just any kind of love, but the love of an adoring father.

            Discipline, though painful, is an act of compassion.  It protects us from continuing to make destructive choices – choices that can destroy dreams, careers, reputations, relationships and even our very lives.  The Father longs for His children to flourish and to bear “the peaceable fruit of righteousness” – to live a life that bears the quality of eternity.

His correction is proof-positive that you are His and you are loved!

Hebrews 12:5b-7, 11

…My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.  Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

 

Suggested Prayer

Father, I praise You, for Your lovingkindness is better than life!  Thank You for proving my legitimacy as Your child by correcting me when I go astray in my attitudes, thoughts, words, and actions.  Thank You for loving me enough to do what it takes to redirect my steps – even if that means allowing me to feel and experience the pain that comes with Your discipline.  Father, I pray You would create in me a heart that is humble and teachable so I would not yield to any temptation to avoid or resist Your instruction.  Fashion in me a heart so humble that I become willing to receive Your discipline even through someone I do not respect and who may even take pleasure in causing me grief.  Oh Lord, train me until it can be said that I have yielded the peaceable fruit of righteousness in my life.  May it be a blessing to family, friend and foe; and may it bring glory to Your name!

In Jesus name, I pray…Amen.

God's Predestined Perfect Good!

          Many moons ago, I attended a church where sharing testimonies was a regular occurrence.  And oddly enough, after hearing these testimonies, rather than feeling uplifted, I would often feel deflated – even dejected.  I would think to myself, “That person must be extra special to God.” or “God must love him in a special way.”  For quite some time, I became convinced God loved others more than me or believed they were somehow more special to Him than me, because I didn’t have these tremendous testimonies to share as well. 

But then I read Romans 8:28 –

“And we know all things work together for good to those who love God,

to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

             In this one verse, I realized several errors in my thinking:  First, these people had such amazing testimonies to share - not because God loved them more than me - but because they loved Him more than me.  Secondly, God demonstrated His power in their lives because they were using their calling to fulfill His purpose rather than their own.  I was called but pursuing my own cause.  Thirdly, they were praising God for the “good” He chose for them rather than the results they desired.  I was missing God’s hand of mercy and blessing in my life because I was waiting for a “good” that satisfied my desire – not the “good” of being conformed into the image of Christ (see Romans 8:29).

            If you find yourself questioning God’s love for you, surprise-surprise, the problem may be your lack-luster love for Him.  If you are wondering where His power is, the problem may be you are pursuing your purpose rather than His.  If you are lacking a testimony, the problem may be you desire a result rather than a relationship.

                                                                                        

Romans 8:28-29

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God,

to those who are the called according to His purpose.

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son,

that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

 

Suggested Prayer

I praise You and thank You, Lord, for Your Word promises every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from You, the Father of Lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning (James 1:17).  I pray You would create in me a heart that adores You and pursues Your every purpose and desire.  Give me eyes to see Your hands at work in my life; ears to hear Your voice clearly; and a tongue that is quick to testify of Your greatness!  Cause being conformed into the image of Jesus Christ to be my greatest desire and end result.  What a good and perfect gift You are!

In Jesus' good and perfect name, I pray…Amen.