You Gotta Be Kidding

You Gotta Be Kidding

Genesis 19: ¹² Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Son-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whomever you have in the city—take them out of this place! ¹³ For we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before the face of the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.”

 

¹⁴ So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, “Get up, get out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city!” But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking.

 

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Majority ruled in Sodom. Everyone else was doing whatever they pleased and Lot seemed like a judgy nag. The angels asked Lot if he had any other relatives in Sodom, because they were going to destroy the city with the people in it because their sin had reached a point of no return. Lot went to his future sons-in-law, begging them to leave. They scoffed at him in disbelief.

 

My Observations:

• Lot’s future sons-in-law were probably raised in the Sodomite ways.
• Angels are not all knowing, so they asked Lot about his relatives.
• GOD sent the angels to do a special intervention for the first time.

 

Destroying a beautifully made city seemed preposterous to Lot’s future sons-in-law. Why would GOD destroy anything? Sounds like the questions of today when GOD says HE will destroy the earth. The imminence of destruction was seemed like a joke.

 

The angels knew what they were told to do and when. Destruction of the city would happen whether Lot stayed or left. This is the second time Lot had to be rescued. The choice of the city that looked so great was a disaster. GOD intervened.

 

Challenge

• Why do the angels explain why they were there to Lot?
• Have you checked to see how much grace GOD is extending to you?
• Is GOD about to do something in your life that requires you to realize how great HIS grace and power really is?

See, I told you so!

Jude 1: ²² Be merciful to those who doubt

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Sitting in front of the professor I heard the words of doom come from his lips. “Unless you write an excellent final, you will fail this course.” He then followed with these words “Why don’t you consider changing professions.”

That’s all I needed to hear! His words seemed to fuel rage and anger that drove me to outperform many in the industry. What was that professor’s name? Maybe I’ll go back to the university and gloat in his face.

• Just because someone doubts me, doesn't mean their doubt is true.
• Just because someone doubts me, doesn't mean I should treat them differently.
• Just because someone doubts me, doesn't mean my abilities are broken.

There have been many situations in which I have proven people wrong about their doubts in my abilities and skills. I threw the “I told you so” in their face and gloated exponentially. What did it get me? I made an enemy rather than winning over the doubter. I wonder what went wrong.

• GOD wants me to show mercy on people who doubt me and especially who doubt HIM.
• GOD wants me to show grace on people who seem to be going their own way and leaving HIM.
• GOD wants me to show love to people who are difficult to love in hopes that one day they will trade rejection of CHRIST for HIS love.

I have a tendency to distance myself from doubters. I mean they really drag me down. BUT GOD wants me to show mercy so their faith can grow and all eyes will be on HIM.

• Do you have doubters in your life?
• Are you moving away from doubters because you have a hint of doubt?
• Can you show your faith without being judgmental or without gloating?
• Won’t you show mercy to the doubters by helping them grow?

LORD please open my eyes.

Romans 11: ⁸ as it is written:

   “God gave them a spirit of stupor,

   eyes that could not see

   and ears that could not hear,

to this very day.”

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After being someplace that I shouldn’t have been it was time for me to leave. “You shouldn’t have been here” was the thought that crossed my mind but it was too late. I looked around for my car keys and for the life of me, I couldn’t find them.  I looked high and low, still no keys.

Where could those keys be? As I reached to scratch my head I hit myself in the face with “my keys!” I was carrying them with me the entire time!

• Sin has a way of blinding me to the truths of GOD.
• Sin has a way of closing my ears to what HE is trying to tell me.
• Sin has a way of distracting me from seeing GOD and hearing GOD on a daily basis.

The more I do things “my” way the less I see GOD.  In fact I start doubting that GOD is working in other folk’s lives. I point out their hypocrisy not looking at my own. After a while my sin becomes so regular that GOD is only a distant concept. What can help me?

• Asking GOD to open my eyes helps me see the sin in me and the GOD in others.
• Asking GOD to open my ears helps me hear HIM tell me to forgive the person I want to persecute.
• Asking GOD to open my eyes helps me see the person in need I would have normally, selfishly passed up.
• Asking GOD to open my ears helps hear the cry for compassion from those who don’t look or act like me.

GOD will either soften or harden my heart.  The thing that makes me nervous is the fact that HE could help me walk away from HIM. I thank HIM for opening my eyes and ears.

• Are your eyes closed to your own sin?
• Are your ears closed to correction?
• Do you doubt your usefulness to GOD because of some sin or age or physical condition?
• Won’t you release your heart to GOD to soften it instead of hardening it?

They just don’t understand

Acts 25: ¹⁸ When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. ¹⁹ Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive. ²⁰ I was at a loss how to investigate such matters; so I asked if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial there on these charges.

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“Shocked” was the look many people gave me when I told them I was going on my first missions trip. “Why now?”, “why you?”, “don’t we have enough problems here?” were only a few of the questions I got as I discussed my plans. Funny, these questions were from people who claimed to follow CHRIST.

• It seems like there are times GOD has me do some unusual things that benefit the kingdom.
• It seems like there are times GOD directs me to do things people don’t understand that benefits the kingdom.
• It seems like there are times GOD leads me to places I would never go but it benefits the kingdom.

GOD desires that no one will perish and HE wants anyone who is willing to go out and spread HIS message of love, grace and mercy. HE wants me to be open to going to my neighbors, my city, other states and even other countries if HE tells me to.  This openness is the beginning of compassion for “all” humans not just the ones I would choose.

Many people will question the timing, method or reason for me serving GOD.  It seems like each time I have gone on a trip, money was an issue or some event was in conflict or some other reason was a better option. Even writing down a daily devotional is questioned as people ask “why do you do that?” or “why make yourself look bad?” There is a harsh reality to relaying HIS message that must be coupled with “love.”

• GOD’s message will remain strange to those who are not seeking HIM but I must try anyway.
• GOD’s method will be doubted by those whose faith is small but I must have faith anyway.
• GOD’s timing will seem inconvenient to people but I must accept HIS timing and HIS plan.

Paul tried to explain JESUS’ resurrection to people who could care less. They treated him like some religious fanatic and he was ostracized. GOD desires HIS simple message of love to be given even though people may not receive it.

• Are you trying to live for GOD and people do not understand what you are doing?
• Are people confused by your decision to serve GOD more and more?
• Can you stay the course while delivering HIS message with love, compassion and grace?

It’s easy for GOD

John 21: ⁵ He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

 

   “No,” they answered.

 

 ⁶ He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

 

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Sometimes I think I have become too smart for my own good.  There is nothing wrong with learning and education, but there are times when I brush off situations as coincidences or I explain them away with my scientific prowess. Do miracles happen daily and I am just numb to them?

• Bullies told me to be scared of them because of their power but GOD said something different.
• My professor told me I would never make it in my field of study but GOD said something different.
• Scientists told me my child could be born with an illness but GOD said something different.

Throughout the years GOD has been there in my life nudging me along to a much better place. HE raised me to levels I should have never been, HE took me to places I would only have dreamt of travelling to and HE has shown me HIS power over and over again. 

 

Many would chock it up to just being lucky or karma or the “universe” just likes me but I say give credit where credit is due. 

• It’s easy for GOD to protect me from that terrible accident.
• It’s easy for GOD to heal my broken body.
• It’s easy for GOD to mend my broken heart.
• It’s easy for GOD to handle any and every situation or obstacle placed in my way.

Even the disciples had stopped following JESUS when HE died. They had seen HIM alive again and yet went back to work like nothing happened. HE wants me to know miracles happen daily, just open my eyes, ears and heart and they will happen.

• Do you doubt GOD’s power?
• Have you placed your belief in other mystical or scientific things outside of GOD’s HOLY SPIRIT?
• Can you give GOD credit for doing more things in your life?

Stop doubting and believe!

John 20: ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

   But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

 ²⁶ A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

 ²⁸ Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

 ²⁹ Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

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Confidence is an amazing thing. As my father followed behind me he had let go of my bike and was simply running. I thought he was still holding on. When I was lifting weights some guys pretended to hold each side of the bar but later I discovered I did all the work. I thought they were still holding on.

In either case when I found out “I” was doing what I thought I could not do, my mind overshadowed my faith and I fell off my bike or dropped the weights. I didn’t believe!

• GOD wants me to have faith in HIM.
• GOD wants me to believe HE has overcome all situations.
• GOD wants me to stop doubting HIS methods, HIS motives and HIS love for me.

HE knows when I don’t believe HIM and needs to have patience with me, but HE gets excited when I put my trust in HIM and when I throw away my doubts. HE enjoys when I forget caution, when I stop trying to protect myself and when I fully turn to HIM.

I have not seen GOD yet I believe! HE motivates me and guides me even though my faith is small.

• Are you trying to protect yourself?
• Are you full of fear?
• Can you drop your fears, doubts and worries by “knowing” GOD has taken care of the situation?

Do I really know what to believe in?

John 20: ⁶ Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, ⁷ as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen.

⁸ Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. ⁹ (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)

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Pranks could easily be played on me because gullible was stamped on my forehead. Blind faith was my “strength” and a weakness as the con artist or liar covered their tracks well. Soon my blind faith just turned into blindness toward believing in anything. I didn’t want to be burned again.

• Life has a way of making me cynical.
• Life has a way of placing negativity in front of me causing me to want to give up.
• Life has a way of reducing my dreams turning them into the mundane.

Like a whipped animal with a broken spirit, I moped around thinking “why believe?” I mean what good is church or “believing” anyway when it seems like evil people are easily getting their way?

• JESUS died for my sins because HE is concerned about my eternal life.
• JESUS sent HIS HOLY SPIRIT to live in me because HE is concerned about my earthly life.
• JESUS is building a new heaven and a new Earth for me because HE wants an awesome relationship with me forever!

Even the disciples who watched HIM heal people, walk on water, create things right in front of their faces and raise dead people, still did not grasp the magnitude of what JESUS did. Quite frankly I don’t either but I know this, HE has done some incredible things in my life! 

If given the choice of “my way” or “GOD’s strange way”, I nervously choose GOD’s way to guide my path and relieve my worries, doubts and fears. I choose to believe.

• What do you believe in?
• Do you have blind faith that GOD will work everything out?
• Are you fighting against GOD with your lifestyle?
• What are you doing to make changes in your life specifically for serving GOD?

Am I missing something?

John 17: ¹ After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:

  

 “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.

 

² For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. ³ Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. ⁴ I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.

 

⁵ And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

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After reading this, I could not find a situation in my life that would do these words justice. All I know is that there must be something really big that I am missing. A flood of questions came to mind.

• You mean to tell me GOD is greater than science or the human will?
• Can’t I just be good? Yes I sin but compared to “those” people over there I’m doing pretty good. 
• Why can’t GOD just accept the way I want to worship HIM and make everything good the way I want it?

 

Then I realized, all of my questions are coming from a sinful position. With my questions, I am trying to make GOD bow down to me while attempting to justify my ways. It’s a difficult thing to say “I need you to save me LORD” if I think nothing is wrong with me.

 

• What I am missing is a full understanding of what sin is.
• What I am missing is why I have to go through a sometimes difficult life to get to a place I have never seen or touched.
• What I am missing is why I have to be the one who serves or sacrifices my money or gives in to arguments to keep peace.

 

I mean science says life was created by two mega planets colliding, so what if I’m wrong about this “GOD” thing?

 

Faith was the one word that came to mind as I asked “what am I missing?”

 

• It’s actually harder for me to reject the “fact” that GOD always existed rather than two objects always existing.
• It’s harder to believe I can ever be good enough to deserve GOD’s love rather than GOD showing “pure” love by dying for me.
• It’s harder for me to believe everything will be fine on earth when I have seen it deteriorating rather than believing JESUS is building a perfect eternal spot just for me!

 

Do you believe?

 

Do I believe a little or a lot?

John 12: ⁴⁴ Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. ⁴⁵ The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. ⁴⁶ I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

   ⁴⁷ “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.

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Being a follower of GOD is tough sometimes. The occurrences of JESUS happened over two thousand years ago and while well documented, take faith to truly believe all of the things HE did. Over the years my broken faith has led me to ponder GOD and HIS relationship with me.

Wrong or right for testing HIM, I did check to see if HE was there and I concluded with a resounding YES!

• I looked at science who says my creation came from a large collision and the fragments on this planet were just right to start the chain of evolution.
• I looked at groups who don’t quite believe in science, but they somewhat believe in a higher being, and they somewhat believe in their field of study.
• I looked at “religion” and there were so many conflicting views over what a deity truly is.

These tests were done with filtered thinking because my parents had taught me the ways of CHRIST, but I had to see for myself. Here is what I found.

• It’s easier to believe GOD was always here rather than gasses and minerals colliding by happenstance.
• It’s easier to believe GOD created humans in HIS image with love embedded in them than cells evolving to the point where love happened to appear.
• It’s easier to believe GOD’s rules are so pure that only HE could save me from the consequences.

The more I read the Bible, the more it makes sense. No science, self-help or coincidence can explain what is truly going on. It boils down to this, I am a sinner and I need GOD not only to save me eternally but to guide me through this murky thing called life. HE even knows my faith is faulty, yet HE loves me!

• Do you believe in science more than GOD?
• Is your comfort zone in your field of study or can you step out on faith and add GOD to your thoughts?
• Do you believe in some things about GOD or all things GOD says?
• Is JESUS just a myth to you or is HE GOD who became a human to die for you?
• Are you avoiding learning more about GOD because you don’t want to change?

I am “sure” everything will be alright!

John 10: ²⁷ My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. ²⁹ My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and the Father are one.”

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Sleep hid from me as the excitement of my first camping trip went through my mind. What was going to happen? It was the unknown. Sleep escaped me the day before my first day of school, my first day of college, my first day on the job or moving to a new city.

Why was my mind racing? Was I sure this was the right thing to do? What if something bad happens to me?

• When new things happen it makes me unsure.
• When bad things happen it makes me more cautious in the future.
• When I sin it only makes matters worse and shakes my faith in GOD.

I wish I had the faith of Abraham who seemed to do things for GOD without question. It seems like I have this habit of trying to predict the future based on past experiences. The tougher my experiences, the more nervous I get and the more I question GOD’s intentions with me.

• GOD knew my faith would be weak so HE grabbed onto my life.
• GOD knew I would serve sometimes and sin sometimes, yet HE holds my life in HIS hands.
• GOD knew fear, worry and doubt would be my comfort zone, that’s why HE put a grip on my life that no one can touch.

GOD is all seeing, all knowing all and all powerful. No one can force HIM to release HIS grip on me. HE made me exactly how HE wanted me to be made. Anyone who has a problem with me has a problem with GOD. That goes for me as well, if I have a problem with someone I have a problem with GOD.

I can be sure, that I am sure, that I am positive, that I am sure that no height, nor depth, nor obstacle can keep me away from the love of GOD. I can’t even get in my own way, that’s how much GOD loves me!

• Do you believe GOD is all powerful?
• Why do you doubt HIS strength to hold onto your life once you believed in HIM?
• Are you making an effort to hear HIS voice?
• Are you “sure” you know HIM and more importantly, HE knows you?

Believing takes more than words.

John 7:³ Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. ⁴ No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” ⁵ For even his own brothers did not believe in him.

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“Inspect what you expect” was a term I was groomed with as a leader. In other words follow up behind the person to see if they were doing their job. Unfortunately, the more I “inspected” the more I noticed creativity flying out of the window.

I had become a micromanager, breathing down everyone’s neck. Every task I assigned was followed up with a question and soon the atmosphere of mistrust was born. It’s like I said “I trusted them”, yet assigned a private eye to spy on them.

• Many times I said “I trust YOU LORD” yet I build plan “B” just in case HE doesn’t come through.
• Many times I said “I trust YOU LORD” yet I lose sleep wondering if HE will take care of this problem.
• Many times I said “I trust YOU LORD” yet I focus my efforts on trying to change an uncomfortable situation that GOD has placed me in.

Lack of trust comes from fear of the unknown. It’s kind of a defense mechanism for me. Since I am the captain of this ship I feel more comfortable seeing signs of progress rather than trusting the right things are happening in my life. GOD says something different.

• GOD gave me enough words to believe in HIM and they are written in my heart and the Bible.
• GOD shows me enough evidence to believe in HIS imminent return by the violence in nature and in humans.
• GOD protected me through enough situations to believe HE will bring me through this one and many others.

When I “expect” GOD to act the way I want HIM to act then sometimes I am just using words instead of true belief. I have to drop the pretense that I trust HIM by really “trusting” HIM. This means to drop my worries, fears and doubts and “act” like HE is really going to do what HE said.

• What has GOD promised you?
• Are you acting like it won’t happen?
• Do you believe HE can and will deliver you from whatever you are facing?
• Won’t you stop faking your trust and truly believe in HIM today?

Believing “is” my job

John 6:  ²⁸ Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

 ²⁹ Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

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Sitting alone in my apartment was great for me because I could finally feel a need to go back to church. This was no longer my parents’ decision but mine. After wasting many years I felt I needed to make up for lost time. I think I volunteered for everything in church. “GOD, this makes up for all my sinful years, right?”

• I can never “work” away my sins.
• I can never “work” my way into GOD’s approval.
• I can never “work” hard enough to obtain eternal life.

I truly thought I could be “good” enough to erase the sin in my life.  In fact I stopped doing so many things soon I thought I was pretty “great.” I compared myself to my old “down trodden” friends and of course now I was better than them because they were still sinning and I wasn’t.

My attitude was smug and at that time I probably thought I could teach JESUS a thing or two.

• The only job GOD has given me is to believe.
• My one and only task in life that is paramount to anything is to believe.
• The greatest thing I can do for people is to believe in JESUS.

Spreading the great news about JESUS does take work but the work doesn’t make me holy. My willingness to tell people about HIM coupled with my faith that HE is “the ONE” makes me holy. My righteousness is like, excuse the expression, a used tampon.

Many times I have the wrong attitude about working, giving, and living for GOD. It’s either out of obligation or out of guilt and shame that I press hard to do my part. GOD the FATHER gave up everything when HE gave HIS one and only SON. HE wants me to believe “everything” will be fine in spite of today’s circumstances.

HE wants me to believe all the way to death and that’s my only job.

• Are you trying to work your way into heaven?
• Have you turned from GOD because it seems too hard to follow HIS rules?
• Have you been able to just “stand still” and watch the power of the LORD?
• Can you get your hands off of GOD’s job and do yours, namely “believe?”

GOD does not need to be proven.

John 5:  ³⁶ “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. ³⁷ And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form…

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Finally I finished one problem after an hour of work. The advanced math class was quite challenging because I had to not only compute the answer, but show the right steps it took to derive my solution.

Each postulate, hypothesis and puzzle had to have an “exact” answer which could be proven by others otherwise it would not be believed.

• Many times I don’t believe GOD will help because HE doesn’t do things my way.
• Many times I doubt GOD because HE is not operating on my schedule.
• Many times I blame GOD because I’m busy looking at someone else’s action rather than focusing on mine.

I have to tell the truth sometimes I doubt GOD so I can be in control. It seems as if life runs crazy and I just want to pull the lever and make something happen. Then when my plans fail, I come running back to GOD who I didn’t believe in the first place.

• GOD’s existence doesn’t require proof it requires worship.
• GOD’s SON doesn’t need my blessing to be called KING of kings and LORD of lords.
• GOD’s presence doesn’t my need eyes to see HIM because my sin blinds me to what is standing right in front of me.

Daily GOD shows HIMSELF and my distracted mind ignores what HE is doing. My sinful expectations of “how” HE should appear to me, blinds me of the many things HE does right before my eyes. GOD operates the way HE operates and as harsh as that sounds, HE operates with unadulterated love for me.

• Are you busy trying to make GOD appear the way you want HIM to appear?
• Do you feel you have to prove HIS existence to someone?
• Do you think HE should prove HIS existence to you?
• Won’t you trade your disbelief for faith that worships GOD as the highest authority?

Denial of GOD only makes it worse.

Luke 22: ⁵⁹ About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”

 ⁶⁰ Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. ⁶¹ The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” ⁶² And he went outside and wept bitterly.

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“Come on let’s go out to the bar” was the beginning of a weekend of bad decisions. I would just have a few drinks, flirt a little, dance a little and release some of the cares I had from the week.

That phone number along with my pounding head would once again keep me from going to church. I mean GOD will understand the need to release my anxiety by having a little fun right?

• It’s amazing how much I deny GOD’s words on a daily basis.
• Many times I don’t believe GOD would do anything to any human.
• Sometimes I think it’s crazy to believe in demons.
• Other times I question the existence of Hell and the possibility of me going there.
• Still other times I dare GOD to sequester consequences on the sin I’ve just committed.

Invisible, inaudible and only words and feelings describing HIM make GOD look like a fable to me sometimes. Then that thing would happen. A difficult situation that requires HIS mighty power would somehow pop into my life at the wrong time. “GOD I need YOU” I would cry out!

• You would think GOD would say, “But you sinned when you knew better”, but HE doesn’t.
• You would think GOD would say, “You should have thought of that before you got yourself in this mess”, but HE doesn’t.
• You would think GOD would say, “You flat out denied me and chose sin to solve your problems”, But HE doesn’t.

Why doesn’t HE say these things about me? It’s GOD’s loving nature that pursues me even when I try to go my own way. I deny HIM, HE pursues me trying to get me to see that my sinful plan won’t work. Only HIS plans have a future so I can’t deny HIS words, existence or JESUS’ position as GOD the SON.

• Are you denying GOD by the sin you are planning?
• Did you deny GOD last night?
• Which part of the Bible don’t you believe?
• Are some of the miracles far-fetched to you?
• Won’t you stop trying to figure GOD out with your mind and add faith to your heart?