Have You Collected Your Plunder?

Imagine you’ve been captured by pirates sailing to steal, kill, and destroy your homeland.  After months, perhaps years of slavery to these cruel masters a great Hero comes to rescue you. He opens your prison door and removes your chains and shackles. You stand weakly to your feet and begin to battle the enemy beside Him. 
 

They jump ship to escape His blade, others are not so lucky. Your Hero tends your wounds and feeds you. As you begin to exit the ship with Him, He turns and asks if you have gathered your share of the plunder. What do you do? Do you run to gather all you can, thanking Him for riches beyond your wildest imagination? Or do you exit the ship, cursing the pain and wasted years in the hands of the enemy, bent on revenge?

It would be ridiculous to pass up such a chance and yet we do it all the time. We get so caught up reliving the servitude that we don’t fully enjoy the freedom available to us. The Hero I mentioned is, of course, Jesus Christ. He has come to release us from the captivity of sin and take us to a place of spacious freedom and JOY in Him. He not only wants to defeat the power of Satan over us, but He wants us to gather all the plunder we can on our release.

The Old Testament gives us a literal picture of this in the true story of the Exodus. The Israelites spent over 400 years in Egypt as slaves. Before it even happened, God promised that when they came out, He would make them rich. “I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions” (Gen. 15:14). 

Sure enough, Jacob (Israel) and his family went to Egypt to escape famine and settled there. The Egyptians later forced them into slavery. Exodus chapters 1-11 tell the incredible events leading up to their rescue – Moses’ birth, attempt to rescue his people in his own strength - murdering an Egyptian and escaping into the wilderness for forty years. God brought him back to do the job His way - displaying His unlimited power through plagues and miracles over the false gods of Egypt. When they left, Moses told them to take the riches of Egypt with them. “The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing” (Ex. 12:35).

 

Their captors were physical; ours are spiritual. What has held you back from experiencing freedom in Christ? Memories of abuse, insecurity, addiction? The fallout of divorce, bitterness, fear, anxiety? Abandonment, doubt, ignorance? All of these hold us back from walking in JOY with God. He wants us to know when our Savior rescues us from sin that the spoils are ours for the taking. Out of the dungeons of pain come the plunder of compassion, wisdom, empathy, peace, faith, love, and more.

What do we do with our spoils? The Israelites used part of theirs to build a place of beauty and worship that everyone could enjoy. Moses said, “From what you have, take an offering for the Lord. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the Lord an offering of gold, silver and bronze; blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen…acacia wood; olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; and onyx stones and other gems” (Ex. 35:5-9). God used it to bless them all over again.

We can do the same. We can use the plunder we have gathered and give a share back to God to beautify and build His Church – the people He longs to rescue. What we have gained from imprisonment, we can use to comfort others in similar circumstances and help them find freedom too.

The choice is ours. We can either live as scarred survivors with a haunted past, or as grateful prisoners set free, using our plunder to point the way to Jesus.  

No Shame in the Name

There have been a lot of weddings this summer. I’ve been to a few myself. Though some brides no longer take their husband’s last name as their own, most still choose this evidence of oneness.

I love being identified with my husband...most of the time. I like to see him across a room or outdoor expanse and point him out to others. “That’s my husband over there. Yeah, the one talking wildly with his hands and making everyone laugh.” Yep. He’s mine, and I am his.

If you raised your children to know and believe in God, you hope to see them transition from ‘the God my parents’ serve” to ‘the God I love and serve.’ When they proudly speak His name and say they are His, it’s a day worth celebrating.

In Isaiah 44:3-5 God says, “I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams. Some will say, ‘I belong to the Lord’; others will call themselves by the name of Jacob; still others will write on their hand, ‘The Lord’s,’ and will take the name Israel.” (NIV)

The first step is saying, “I belong to God.” He declared His love for me and I accepted. I am His.

The second step is when you refer to yourself by His name. Not your denomination or rules, but stating that you have a relationship with Jesus Christ as your Savior.

This scripture mentions people wrote God’s name on their hands. My commentaries agree they were most likely tattoos, like the mark on a soldier, showing his allegiance to his commander. My daughter and her husband tattooed their ring fingers – to declare their love and commitment to God and each other. Many Christians today have Jesus’ name or His Word permanently imprinted on their bodies to show their love for Him.

Finally, those who love Christ above all others take His name as their own. The word Christian was originally a derisive term meaning “little Christ,” because early believers talked and acted so much like Jesus. The Church - the Bride of Christ - pray the longer we walk with Him, that people will see Him in us, just like couples who’ve been married for decades.

Our world is currently experiencing another wave of persecution against those who call themselves by the Name. ISIS terrorists in Iraq are forcing Christians to move, convert to Islam, or be killed. Men, women, and children are being slaughtered by the hundreds. The identifying mark for genocide is the Arabic symbol for Nazarene. Jesus the Nazarene.

It’s one thing to identify yourself as a Christian when it’s stylish. It’s quite another when bearing His name brings insults, job loss, or death. Many times throughout my life I’ve resisted being too outspoken about my relationship with Christ for fear someone would reject me. This is to my shame.

But now, I want to stand tall and say, I belong to Jesus Christ and my brothers and sisters being slaughtered in the east. He is our Lord and Savior. Not only do we bear His mark, but He has written our names on His hand. He promises all who love Him, “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands” (Isaiah 49:16, NIV). He is not ashamed of us either; in fact, He’s rather proud.

What about you? When faced with offending others or possible persecution, will you call yourself by His name? Who do you belong to?

Cravings

 Kelly and I are losing weight, again. If you’re like me, as soon as you determine to eat healthier and exercise more, you immediately begin to crave a frappuccino and bismarck donut (my personal favorites) and a nap by the pool. Completely counterproductive to the pool-worthy body I’d like to achieve. 

 

I have other cravings that often get in the way of what I need in order to become who I want to be. They’re unrealistic, but I get my heart set on them just the same. I crave comfort, acceptance, praise, perfection, days without interruption, sunshine without wind.

I recently read a phrase in the Bible that jumped out at me:

“In the desert they gave in to their craving.” Psalm 106:14, NIV

The Israelites craved the food and comforts of Egypt (even though slavery wasn’t comfortable), the familiar (they’d never been anywhere else), the sensual orgies of false worship (even though it ended in hangovers and heartache). They wanted to take the fast and easy route – back to Egypt!

The first question that came to my mind was, “Why did God lead them through the desert knowing that it would be so difficult. He was aware of the temptations and hardships they’d have to face. Why didn’t He make it easier for them so they wouldn’t give up?

God answers these questions in other passages of the Bible:

1     1. The only route from Egypt to the Promised Land was through the desert.

2     2. After 430 years of slavery in a land steeped in idol worship, most of the Israelites didn’t even know who God was. They needed to be taught about their God.

3     3. God wanted to show them His love, His power, His ability to provide and protect.

4     4. They needed to become a unified nation, instead of a ragtag group of slaves. Facing hardship together forced them to pull together.

5     5. He was protecting them from war until they were a cohesive group, leaders had emerged, and they had weapons and skills to use them.

In our own desert times we ask God why, and His answers are much the same. He says to us:

1     1. The only way to go from slavery to sin to your home in heaven, child, is through the desert times. I will give you refreshment, companionship, laughter, and joy, but until you’re home with me, you will also have to go through pain, need, death, and the unknowns of desert life.

2     2. I want you to know me, my dearest one, and as soon as I heard your cry for help I came to rescue. I want you to know me; let me cleanse your mind and heart of all the lies you’ve believed and see me for who I AM.

3     3. I want to show you my love, my power, my ability to provide for and protect you better than any god you have known. The desert helps you learn to trust me.

4     4. The Church is your people; you need them and they need you. When you praise together, pray together, grieve together, and travel this life together, you will become the unified group I desire. That is my plan - the Church loving me, loving each other, and loving the world into my arms.

5     5. When you first gave your heart to me, did you notice that you had a lot to learn? You weren’t ready to do battle yet. The desert is the place to learn – read my Word and learn how to pray (your spiritual weapons); get to know my Son and be empowered by my Spirit. I will not send you into battle without equipping you.

     There’s an interesting phenomena that happens when you starve the harmful cravings and feed the good ones. You begin to crave what’s good for you. Since dedicating ourselves to healthful eating, I’m starting to desire raspberries, peas, carrots, zucchini, and potatoes from the garden more than heavy fatty foods. I feel so much better when I eat them. And I see progress toward my goal.

As I head for my home in heaven with the Lord, I know the same is true in my spirit. The more I starve the cravings for the comfortable, the easy, the quick fix and feed my cravings for all God has for me, the more I will yearn for and trust in God. I hope you will crave Him too.

Are You Getting the Rest You Need?

It’s incredible what a difference a good night of sleep makes in your attitude, your ability to concentrate, and overall health. Last week I vacationed at my sister’s house in California. The warm days were deliciously offset by the air conditioned house at night. Knowing how easily I get cold, however, my sweet sis had layered my bed with soft, warm blankets. Each night after long walks, shopping, pickle ball, movie times, and lots of girl talk, I snuggled into my pillow-top bed for a goodnight call with my husband and drifted into blissful sleep.

You know you’ve really rested when you wake up refreshed, a smile on your face, and ready to face the day.

Contrast that with fitful nights in a hospital chair next to a loved one, or a vacation cabin with lumpy mattress and pillows, hotel rooms with paper thin walls and noisy neighbors, a night on a leaky air mattress, or with a crying baby. Not to mention sleeplessness caused by pain, worry, loneliness, or itchy bug bites.

I recently read Isaiah 28:20 and it perfectly describes the frustration of sleeplessness:

The bed is too short to stretch out on,
the blanket too narrow to wrap around you.

We can all relate to this word picture. A while ago I was too tired to drive home from my parents’ after visiting for the day, so they offered to let me stay the night. I didn’t want to be a bother, so I volunteered to sleep on the loveseat. Even as short as I am, I could not get comfortable on it and finally plunked the cushions on the floor where I could stretch out. Thankfully, the blankets were plenty large to wrap up in, even with all my tossing and turning. That definitely would have added to the torture.
This verse is a description of us when we try to find satisfaction or spiritual rest anyplace other than a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Our jobs, boyfriend or girlfriend, husband, wife, children, money, toys, church, substances, power, prophets, popularity – none of it will give us rest. Every time we try to lean back, the bed of these false gods will be too short. We will feel cramped and ill at ease. Like an insufficient blanket, these things won’t cover our sins; they will leave us cold, exposed, and dissatisfied.

Jesus has a generous offer for us, quoted in Matthew 11:28-29:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

If you have not yet responded to this invitation, I encourage you to think about it, search it out. Talk to God about what you need. Life is full of difficult circumstances, but you can still find deep, satisfying rest in Jesus. When you’re in a place of pain and uncertainty, you can trust Him to take care of you and lead you day by day. Your soul will find rest like you’ve never imagined. At the end of the day you will lie down and be at rest, and in the morning He will give you energy to enter the day.

Is God On Your Side?

She had lost everything, again, and there didn’t seem to be any way out of this mess. She was distraught and angry. My heart ached for her; I wanted to fix it for her, hold her, make it all better. Instead, I listened and prayed. Oh how I prayed! I lifted her once again to the only One who can bring beauty from these ashes. She railed at Him spewing out words that made me cringe. “I don’t think God’s on my side,” she said.

I’ve felt like that, haven’t you? When it seems like all the world, and God himself, is against you, trying to squeeze the life out of you and bring you down. Maybe you’re there now.

If you are and you too are wondering if God is on your side, let me ask you a question: are you on God’s side?

Here’s a true story from the Bible that puts it in perspective: When Joshua was getting ready to go to battle against the city of Jericho, a man showed up with a sword in his hand. Not recognizing him Joshua asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”

 “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?”

The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so” (Joshua 5:13-15, NIV, emphasis mine).

The message is clear – God does not come to do our bidding. We are here to do His.

In another scene, just after sin entered the world in the Garden of Eden, God comes to walk with man in the cool of the day. But Adam and Eve feel guilty and ashamed for eating the fruit God so clearly forbid, and they hide from Him. God knows what they’ve done and where they’re hiding, yet He calls to them, “Where are you?” (Gen. 3:9, NIV). God does not come to walk with us in whatever path we choose; He calls us to walk with Him, His way.

Is God for you? Most assuredly! Does He care about the pain you’re experiencing? Absolutely! Does He have the power to fix your broken life and make all things new? You bet!

Romans 8 makes it pretty plain: ^“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose…What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?...No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:28, 31-32, 37-39, NIV).

The question then is not whether God is on your side, but are you on His? How can you tell?

·         Do you want what He wants, or what you want?

·         Are you willing to do things His way even if it’s hard, even if it takes longer, even if He doesn’t always say yes?

·          Do you want a relationship with Him, or do you use Him like a dispensing machine?

The Creator does not come to follow the created, but He invites us to follow Him. He has already sacrificed everything to show us how much He loves us. Jesus came to tell us who God is and what He expects of us. He died an excruciating death on the cross to show us how much He is “for” us. Then He rose from the dead to proving His power over death and sin and hell. Now, He sits at the right hand of the throne of God talking to the Father about our concerns. When Jesus returned to heaven He sent the Holy Spirit to give us what we need for every situation. When the time is right, Jesus will come and gather everyone living and dead who has asked for His forgiveness and walked His way.

Are you ready to go with Him?

One final word from the hard-hitting book of James: “Don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God…’God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you…Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up” (James 4:4, 6-7, 10, NIV).