No Rules, Just Relationship

May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Ephesians 3:19 (NLT)

Last week I had a conversation with someone about submitting to God. She asked me "How do you do that? What's the process?" As I was praying for her and thinking about this conversation, it occurred to me that this was the wrong question. And, we often ask the wrong question when it comes to God. We want a step by step process for how to do "religion."

This week, the posts have been about our hearts being right during offerings, praising God, repenting and representing God to others. All of these things are important for Christians and for our spiritual walk but let's be clear, if you are making yourself do these things so you can check the box, your offering is stinky (see the post from July 2.)

Often we can make ourselves do the right thing. (I personally have never been good that this.) But doing the right thing isn't at the core of what life with Christ is about. The Bible is really clear that the goal is to know him. To fall in love with him and be in a relationship with him. 

How do you do that? Here is the only thing that you can do that will truly change your life; spend time with him. It doesn't matter if it's five minutes for five hours. Spend time with him.

• Read the Bible or if you are just getting started and that's harder for you, read a devotional.
• Pray - no timer - just talk and listen. When you are done, stop. When you want to talk again, start.
• Listen to Christian music - some of the best encouragement is here.
• Praise! When you are happy, praise him! Shout it out, dance around and yell WOOHOOO!
• Find a friend or two that know Jesus. Share with them.

I left the church for a while after high school.  After I had my kids, I decided to go to church (that felt a little awkward.) I was sitting in the pews, the preacher was preaching and I very clearly heard "Come back." For some strange reason, I knew who it was. And, I said "No. There are too many rules and too much judging." Do you know what he said? "Come and get to know me. No rules. Just me." I thought "Well, what do I have to lose? I'm pretty sure this isn't going to work." So I said "OK." I don't remember everything but I remember starting with a five-minute devotional every morning. When I finished that, I bought another. I started praying more.....not every day at first and slowly, through life's circumstances, God's word (in the devotional) and people, I began to experience Him. That was so long ago but, God is still in it with me to this day.

Get to know who Jesus is - no rules, no check boxes, just honest curiosity. When you do this, your life will take on new meaning and you will be changed. And oh by the way, it does become an exciting adventure.  God is anything but boring. 

What Do They See When They See You

Very early the next morning, the king got up and hurried out to the lions’ den. When he got there, he called out in anguish, “Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?” Daniel answered, “Long live the king! My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.”  Daniel 6:19-22 (NLT)

The King decreed that anyone who bowed down before another would be killed. Daniel continued to bow before God and pray. Back in those days, there were no pardons. As much as King Darius did not want to do it, Daniel had to be thrown into the Lion's Den. King Darius paced all night long unable to sleep because he was worried about this friend, Daniel. The next morning, as soon as he was able, he ran to the Lion's Den and said "Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?" 

Did you notice that? Darius was distraught about what was happening to Daniel. It was personal for him and the first question he asked was "Was your God able to save you?" Yeah, we notice that right away but we gloss over the statement "Whom you serve so faithfully." In all of the commotion, the stress of the situation and the drama, Darius noticed that Daniel was faithful to God. Daniel did not deviate from his relationship with God for any reason. He didn't compromise on what God called him to do and Darius took notice.

In verses 26-27 Darius puts out a decree that says:

I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel.
For he is the living God,
    and he will endure forever.
His kingdom will never be destroyed,
    and his rule will never end.
He rescues and saves his people;
    he performs miraculous signs and wonders
    in the heavens and on earth.
He has rescued Daniel
    from the power of the lions.”

Daniel's relationship with God and God's power convicted Darius about who God was.

So often in our lives, stuff happens. Things don't go the way they should. We, as Christians, face trauma and problems just like everyone else.  What sets us apart? Our trust in God and the way we handle our messy lives. Just like in Daniel's life, the people we know and love watch what we do and they take note. Who is in charge of our lives? What motivates our decisions and our reactions? If you looked back over the last week or so, how do you think people would answer that question?

A Different Kind of Freedom

For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17 (NLT)

A couple of weeks ago, I did something that at the time seemed good. However, immediately after I did it, I felt this twinge of doubt. I had decided to do something that involved someone else but I didn't ask them first. I knew the twinge was probably because I wasn't respecting the other person and giving them the honor that was due to them.

On the big scale of things, this doesn't seem so bad. I reasoned that I was going to fix it and no one would ever know and all would be well. But, as days slipped by and it was not rectified, I also reasoned away the prick of my conscious. 

Finally, one day during my worship, I felt the Holy Spirit, with more force than a twinge or a prick, tell me to deal with it. Not only did I need to fix the mistake I made but I had to tell the person I had ignored and apologize.

To be clear, I did not want to do this because well, admitting you are wrong and apologizing, that's hard for this sometimes wayward human heart. But I knew God's voice was not going to get quieter and that if I didn't listen and he stopped talking about it, I would have dishonored my relationship with him. While the other unknowing person in this situation would probably never have known, God always does. I had a choice to make.

My relationship with God is more important to me than my pride so I fixed the situation, went to the person, told them what happened and apologized. They were gracious and forgiving. 

The next thing I felt was relief. I'd been carrying that around for two or so weeks and I could feel it festering in my soul.  Suddenly, it was gone. I was freed from that thing that was invading my walk with man and my walk with God. There are all sorts of freedoms that we can celebrate today but, the ability to live free in your heart is the very best one.

Rocking The House

Like some fiery choir, they would call back and forth continually.
Holy, holy, holy is the Eternal, the Commander of heavenly armies!
The earth is filled with His glorious presence!
They were so loud that the doorframes shook, and the holy house kept filling with smoke. Isaiah 6:3-4 (VOICE)

Ever been to a concert or some event where the crowd is on fire for whomever is entertaining them? The room is filled with electricity. Everyone is "in one accord" as they join in singing to the music and being united with one purpose. Mostly, I enjoy this if it is a Christian concert because adding praise to that scenario takes it to the next level.

Can you imagine how Isaiah must have felt in that room with all the seraphim singing and praising God? Like a fiery choir they called back and forth praising God and filling the temple with songs of praise and adoration. Isaiah 6 tells us that they were so loud the doorframes shook! 

WOW! Wish I could be in that place worshipping in that way. The electricity, the excitement, the joy as everyone praised God. There will come a day when we get to worship with the angels in this way and my heart skips a beat to imagine how awesome that will be. 

Until then? We should keep on praising him here and now. The gentle praise of his kids has a mightier impact than the choirs of angels....we forget that we can rock the house with our lives.

Doesn't That Stink?

Then slaughter the young bull in the Lord’s presence, and Aaron’s sons, the priests, will present the animal’s blood by splattering it against all sides of the altar that stands at the entrance to the Tabernacle. Then skin the animal and cut it into pieces. The sons of Aaron the priest will build a wood fire on the altar. They will arrange the pieces of the offering, including the head and fat, on the wood burning on the altar. But the internal organs and the legs must first be washed with water. Then the priest will burn the entire sacrifice on the altar as a burnt offering. It is a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the Lord. Leviticus 1:5-9 (NLT)

Is it just me? Does anyone else wonder why this would be a pleasing aroma to the Lord? All throughout the first few paragraphs of Leviticus it talks about organs and fat and body parts and how burning them is a pleasing aroma to the Lord. As I listened to that, I thought - there has got to be something I'm missing because that does not sound pleasing.

So, I started looking into it.  The sacrificial process in Leviticus was put in place so the people could come to God and say "I'm sorry" and "Thank you." There were other sacrifices but these were two at the beginning of the book. When you come to God wanting to say those two things, your heart has to be in the right place, right? 

Of course, you can get side-tracked and just go through the motions of saying "I'm sorry" or "Thank you." I bet we do this more than we'd like to admit. As a matter of fact, the Israelites did. In Isaiah 1 God chastised them for it. 

“What makes you think I want all your sacrifices?” says the Lord.
“I am sick of your burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fattened cattle.
I get no pleasure from the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.
When you come to worship me, who asked you to parade through my courts with all your ceremony?
Stop bringing me your meaningless gifts; the incense of your offerings disgusts me!
As for your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath and your special days for fasting—
they are all sinful and false.
    I want no more of your pious meetings. (v 11-13)

They had gotten so used to the routine that they were making it about them. Not about their heart with God. The pleasing aroma in Leviticus was God's pleasure in hearts that were willing; in hearts that were open to a relationship with him. It wasn't in the actual smell of the burnt offering. And this is still what he wants from us today.

We are not going to go out and slaughter an animal to tell God we're sorry or thank you. But our hearts can tell him. When we say it, we can mean it and I know that this is still a pleasing aroma to the Lord. 

He Never Does It My Way

Remember the things I have done in the past.
    For I alone am God!
    I am God, and there is none like me.
Only I can tell you the future
    before it even happens.
Everything I plan will come to pass,
    for I do whatever I wish.
I will call a swift bird of prey from the east—
    a leader from a distant land to come and do my bidding.
I have said what I would do,
    and I will do it. Isaiah 46:9-11 (NLT)

As they were into the fifth plague, do you think the Israelites wondered what God was doing? Do you think they, or even Moses, thought "WOW. Plague number five. God should just give up because Pharaoh is too stubborn." Or "This really isn't working. These plagues are horrible."

The plagues never touched Israel. The Bible says over and over again that they hit the Egyptians but not the Israelites. But, can you imagine the tension across the land during that time? Here were the people that held your life in their hands and your God was making them suffer....and he was making the ruler mad. And, the ruler was evil which was evident when he ordered that all baby boys be drowned. Talk about stressful.

Do you think the Israelites wondered if God was in it? Do you think they questioned if he would do what he said he would do? And what about "When?" 

What about you? Do you wonder what he's doing? Do you wonder if he's ever going to come through? I can say, I do. Recently, I felt that God was telling me to do something which was not logical (of course, God's directions often don't sound logical.) But, I did it because well, he's God. I am still waiting for him to come through on the part I thought he needed to fulfill.

Should I give up and say "Well, I guess that wasn't God and now I'm in a pickle." Or worse, do I assume he isn't going to follow through? I could but shouldn't. It's usually right about then that he shows up. Just because what is happening doesn't look like what I think it should, doesn't mean God isn't in it.  His ways are not mine - not even close.  Praising him for that!

Gift From The Heart

Tell the people of Israel to bring me their sacred offerings. Accept the contributions from all whose hearts are moved to offer them. Exodus 25:2 (NLT)

I was listening to my Bible the other day and I heard today's text. Made me think....the Bible is pretty clear that we are to give God our tithe (Malachi 3:10). And it notes that tithe is ten percent. We are also told to give offering above what we give in tithe. But there really isn't a set amount.

And there is the rub. There isn't an amount so it's easy to forget about what this really is. Our offering is the amount we give to God from our heart.  It says in Exodus 25:2 that God only wanted the contributions of those whose hearts were in it.  It also says that again in Exodus 35:5.

"Take a sacred offering for the Lord. Let those with generous hearts present the following gifts to the Lord." And in 1 Chronicles 29:9, "Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord." and "You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake." Deuteronomy 15:10. 

The New Testament continues the thought. 

"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7

There are so many texts about giving and sharing, taking care of others and trusting that God will provide. The thing that amazed me is that with all God gives us, what he wants in return is for our hearts to be in it. He wants us to be so in love with him that we willingly give to him and his people. And from that overflowing of worship, all the needs would be cared for.

If this is how we are supposed to give and if we love God as much as we say we do, why do we have such poverty in our world?  Makes you wonder......

A Minute In It - Leadership

A minute in Gods' word will change your life.  Read through the Bible text and read the questions at the bottom of the post.

7 The Lord told Moses, “Quick! Go down the mountain! Your people whom you brought from the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves. 8 How quickly they have turned away from the way I commanded them to live! They have melted down gold and made a calf, and they have bowed down and sacrificed to it. They are saying, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.’” 9 Then the Lord said, “I have seen how stubborn and rebellious these people are. 10 Now leave me alone so my fierce anger can blaze against them, and I will destroy them. Then I will make you, Moses, into a great nation.” 11 But Moses tried to pacify the Lord his God. “O Lord!” he said. “Why are you so angry with your own people whom you brought from the land of Egypt with such great power and such a strong hand? 12 Why let the Egyptians say, ‘Their God rescued them with the evil intention of slaughtering them in the mountains and wiping them from the face of the earth’? Turn away from your fierce anger. Change your mind about this terrible disaster you have threatened against your people!13 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.[a] You bound yourself with an oath to them, saying, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven. And I will give them all of this land that I have promised to your descendants, and they will possess it forever.’” 14 So the Lord changed his mind about the terrible disaster he had threatened to bring on his people. Exodus 32:7-14 (NLT)

And

19 When they came near the camp, Moses saw the calf and the dancing, and he burned with anger. He threw the stone tablets to the ground, smashing them at the foot of the mountain. 20 He took the calf they had made and burned it. Then he ground it into powder, threw it into the water, and forced the people to drink it. 21 Finally, he turned to Aaron and demanded, “What did these people do to you to make you bring such terrible sin upon them?” 22 “Don’t get so upset, my lord,” Aaron replied. “You yourself know how evil these people are. 23 They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will lead us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt.’ 24 So I told them, ‘Whoever has gold jewelry, take it off.’ When they brought it to me, I simply threw it into the fire—and out came this calf!” 25 Moses saw that Aaron had let the people get completely out of control, much to the amusement of their enemies. (v. 19-25)

There are two types of leaders represented in these passages. Which of these leaders would you want on your side? Which one truly cared about the people? What were the character differences between the two? Which type of leader are you?