Chaos Contained

 

Chaos Contained

Colossians 1: ¹⁷ Christ existed before all things, and in union with him all things have their proper place. ¹⁸ He is the head of his body, the church; he is the source of the body's life. He is the first-born Son, who was raised from death, in order that he alone might have the first place in all things.

 

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Running late, I hurried to get myself out the door. I grabbed whatever things I could remember for work and hastily jumped in the car. When I got to work, I reached for the computer and it wasn’t there.

 

• I had a chaotic morning that day.
• I hurried through my decisions and caused more chaos.
• I caused my own chaos and had to deal with the consequences of my actions.

 

In a world filled with chaos, Paul gives an assuring message. He spoke about JESUS existing before all things. Everything has its proper place in JESUS. HE is the source of life.

 

My Observations

• When the world gets chaotic, I can always turn to JESUS who brings all things into order.
• Knowing that JESUS existed before all things helps me put my current thing under HIM.
• Since JESUS overcame death, I can know that there is nothing too hard for HIM.

 

Chaos is scared of order. I mean, chaos wants randomness to create fear in my heart. The unknown gets bigger and bigger, causing me to move faster and faster into possible bad decisions. BUT GOD has a remedy for chaos.

 

JESUS is the head of the church, which is the group of those who believe in HIS resurrection. HE is the source of life for all who believe. All chaos can be brough to HIM in prayer and HE in turn will order our steps. I am glad HE is willing to take first place to bring peace to me.

 

Challenge

• What “things” does the writer speak of?
• Have you ever felt your life is out of control?
• Do you have a place to give your chaos?
• Will you bring your life into order by giving it to the one who existed before all things, namely JESUS today?

Just in Case

Just in Case

Acts 17: ²² Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. ²³ For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.

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Picking up the penny made me excited. I would have “good luck” all day, according to the saying. I searched for more loose change and found more! I was having good luck. I started looking for “lucky” implements like shirts, clovers and team apparel. I even started reading horoscopes, just in case.

• At one point in my life I believed in luck.
• At one point in my life I believed in “the universe.”
• At one point in my life I believed in placing my hope in fortune cookies or winning the lottery.

Paul saw an altar amongst many altars to other gods. This one had an inscription “to an unknown god.” The people built this altar, just in case they missed a god. Paul knew this was his chance to speak about the one and only true GOD.

• GOD wants me to believe HE is completely what I need.
• GOD wants me to know HE does not need additions to HIS power.
• GOD wants me to understand that HE holds the universe in HIS hand and there are no random events.

What seems to be random to me is organized by GOD. HE knows all, sees all and is everywhere. The “bad” things that happen is due to free will, given by GOD. When I choose not to believe in GOD’s SON JESUS, who saved me, bad things happen.

JESUS wants and deserves total belief in HIM. I mean, HE forgives me when I panic and try to do things on my own, but loves when I put my trust in HIM. I am grateful HE has made the unknown, known by giving me the HOLY SPIRIT.

• Where are you placing your hope?
• Do you seek random events or try to play the odds or try to control your life?
• Will you let go of your “just in case” thinking and allow GOD to direct your path through JESUS who saved you?

Destruction Restored

Nahum 2: ² The Lord will restore the splendor of Jacob
    like the splendor of Israel,
though destroyers have laid them waste
    and have ruined their vines.

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“My life is ruined!” I thought to myself. I had a new pair of pants and the pen in my pocket “flooded” and drained all throughout the fabric. I had to deal with the humiliation all day, which was about five hours or so!

“My life is ruined!” I thought to myself when I was in a head on collision. Not making much money, I did not have enough to buy another car. I had to resort to walking a mile and a half to work!

• There were times when I thought “my life is ruined” because I lost something I deemed as special.
• There were times when I believed “this is the end” when something was taken out of my hands.
• There were times when I felt “Everything is falling apart” when something I wanted was not achieved.

From music collections to money, I have had things stolen, lost and destroyed. When I lost five dollars before going into the amusement park I cried like a child, because I was a child. In fact, even when I got older I was childish in response to the stuff that was now gone. What should I do?

• GOD says to me “The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.”
• GOD says to me “You cannot serve money and ME.”
• GOD says to me “Give everything to ME and all will be well with you.”

By giving everything to GOD I noticed I did not mind “as much” if HE took whatever “it” was away. “It” is all HIS anyway. Job said “The LORD gives and the LORD takes away; blessed be the name of the LORD” and this is true. I cannot say it does not hurt to lose stuff, but I can say that I do not have to stay in mourning over the lost stuff long.

GOD says “I will restore your splendor” which means I have splendor in the first place. HE enjoys picking me up, dusting me off and placing me in a high place that I never would have expected. GOD’s plan is incredibly wonderful for me. I do not have to fret over “stuff” very long.

• Are you crying over something you lost or was stolen from you?
• Do you feel like everything is ruined now that you don’t have the income, house or car?
• Can you stop looking at the stuff for a moment and look at GOD?
• Will you allow HIM to restore you to the splendor HE made you with today?  

A Very Bad Day

Job 1: ¹³ One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, ¹⁴ a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, ¹⁵ and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

¹⁶ While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

¹⁷ While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

¹⁸ While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, ¹⁹ when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

²⁰ At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship ²¹ and said:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
    and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
    may the name of the Lord be praised.”

²² In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

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I have had some bad days, but not nearly as bad as the one Job had where in a moment his entire life was turned upside down. They say “Trouble comes in threes” meaning if you are having trouble, just wait, more trouble is around the corner so get ready.

I pondered, why did GOD allow Job to have his stuff taken and his people killed? Then I noticed something interesting.

• My sinful view of life makes me think “my stuff” is “my stuff.”
• My sinful view of life makes me think people around me should never be hurt or scathed.
• My sinful view of life makes me think GOD is to blame when things go wrong.

I also noticed Job did not ask “why” in this passage. Well, not yet. Job probably did not feel like praising GOD, yet he was obedient to the task. He knew that GOD is the only refuge rather than the center of blame.

Praise GOD for all HE has done!

• Are you blaming GOD?
• Are you mad that you are not getting your way?
• Can you see that GOD has a wonderful plan for you if you would just hold that complaint back?
• Will you seek to praise GOD during your trial?

Worshiping Something Else

2 Kings 17: ³⁵ When the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites, he commanded them: “Do not worship any other gods or bow down to them, serve them or sacrifice to them. ³⁶ But the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt with mighty power and outstretched arm, is the one you must worship. To him you shall bow down and to him offer sacrifices. 

³⁷ You must always be careful to keep the decrees and regulations, the laws and commands he wrote for you. Do not worship other gods. ³⁸ Do not forget the covenant I have made with you, and do not worship other gods. ³⁹ Rather, worship the Lord your God; it is he who will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.”

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Times were getting tough and I wasn’t hearing from GOD so I opened a fortune cookie and lottery numbers appeared. I wonder if I should play the lottery popped in my mind. Another time things were getting tough and I wasn’t hearing from GOD so I read my horoscope, hoping for some encouraging words.

Yet another time things were getting tough and I wasn’t hearing from GOD so I spent about an hour looking for a four leaf clover so I could have ”good luck.”

• When I want my way I will seek other gods for direction.
• When I want my way I will seek other gods for advice.
• When I want my way I will seek other gods for fulfilling my dreams.

My lack of trust sent me looking for answers in the wrong places. I wanted instant information rather than listening to GOD on a daily basis. When things started to go wrong, I would immediately go to the next thing to satisfy my craving for immediate information. BUT GOD wants something different.

• GOD says to me “Do not worship any other gods or bow down to them, serve them or sacrifice to them.”
• GOD says to me “I am brought you up out of Egypt with mighty power and outstretched arm, and I am the one you must worship.”
• GOD says to me “Be careful to keep the decrees and regulations, the laws and commands written for you. Do not worship other gods.”
• GOD says to me “Do not forget the covenant I have made with you, and do not worship other gods.”
• GOD says to me “Worship the Lord your God; it is he who will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.”

So I started worshipping GOD and more things started to go wrong! Wait a minute! What happened? GOD then opened my eyes and showed me I had a long way to go in order to fully trust HIM so I stayed on the road. I am so glad I now put my trust in HIM because my hope is much stronger.

• Are you seeking symbols, trinkets and bobbles to bring you luck?
• Do you believe you will be “lucky” and get rich one day?
• Are you doing anything for the god of money even being sad when it doesn’t allow you to have some?
• Can you stop bowing down to various gods and stand firm for the one true GOD?

GOD means “no other gods”

1 Samuel 5: After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. ² Then they carried the ark into Dagon’s temple and set it beside Dagon. ³ When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! They took Dagon and put him back in his place. 

⁴ But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained.

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“Ooo $5” I said to myself! I looked around and grinned because no one was there to claim my windfall. Days later I found some coins on this same lawn, then an old but useful umbrella.  Finally I found the cream of the crop, my lucky gold chain and playboy stick pin.

I was hooked on the lucky lawn and would go there daily to see what gifts the lawn would bestow. Wearing my lucky chain I was driving down the street and a car came out of nowhere smashing the front of my already beat up car. Wouldn’t you know it was right next to my lucky lawn? Oh, and the guy didn’t have insurance!

• There have been times where I put my trust in luck over GOD.
• There have been times where I thought a piece of metal or a shirt or sitting in a certain place would bring me luck rather than seeking GOD.
• There have been times where I put my trust in bank accounts, investments and insurance rather than trust in GOD.

It’s not that I was down on my luck or sad, I just happened to get something unexpected and called it lucky. I began to think luck would be with me if I carried it around with me in the form of trinkets. BUT GOD wanted me to think differently.

• GOD wants me to put my trust in HIM rather than things.
• GOD wants me to seek HIS ways instead of constantly seeking the “lucky windfall.”
• GOD wants me to have faith where others fail to see what HE is doing.

I have to be honest, faith is the harder road. It’s easy to believe in luck because when things go wrong I can just blame it on “bad luck” and change my trinkets. GOD wants me to grow up and put my trust in HIM. HE wants me to maturely see that blessings and trials have to ask HIS permission.

HIS sovereign plan is ultimate, supreme and somehow loving and caring. I should worship HIM.

• Are you putting your trust in “Luck?”
• Do you think if you buy more trinkets, even crosses, then you will have better luck?
• Won’t you put your trust in the Living GOD who loves you and wants the best for you?

Weak forces make me weak

Galatians 4: ⁹ But now that you know God—or rather are known by God —how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!10 

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Nimble footed was my practice as I hopped over each crack in the pavement. “Step on a crack, break your mothers’ back” was the superstition I was trying to avoid. I also took special care not to break any mirrors which was supposed to bring seven years bad luck. When things went wrong I wondered what superstition had I missed. Did I walk under a ladder or something?

• When I believe in “luck” more than GOD I’m on the wrong path.
• When I believe in “fate” more than GOD I’m on the wrong path.
• When I believe in “dates” more than GOD I’m on the wrong path.

I would attribute bad situations to Friday the 13^th or Halloween. It seemed like luck, fate and dates were running my life. BUT GOD has something different in mind for me.

• GOD’s power is greater than any worry I can have.
• GOD’s love is greater than any sin I can commit.
• GOD’s grace is greater than any doubt I can muster up.
• GOD’s mercy is greater than any malefaction I can commit.

My superstitions got in the way of having a clear view of what GOD could do in my life. I wanted things to go my way so I placed my hope in things far weaker than GOD. I searched for four leaf clovers and hoped the lottery would come through someday. GOD’s power is greater than any charm, scheme or luck I can ever fall into. I put my trust in GOD and HE has brought me peace.

• What have you placed your belief in?
• Do you trust other things outside of GOD?
• Can you turn your trust in GOD a little more today?
• Will you let go of one of your superstitions today?