Sunday School With O.J. Simpson

I remember so clearly the eyes of everyone in the house glued to the television screen. Seemingly every station had interrupted their normal news stories to air the live police chase taking place in L.A. The white Ford Bronco was being pursued closely by a convoy of police cars weaving in and out of traffic at a high rate of speed. What made this event so captivating was that the driver of the SUV was none other than football legend / screen actor O.J. Simpson! Who could forget the weeks of commentary on the trial, but that car chase just stuck in my mind.

This week the images of that white Bronco racing down the freeway came flooding back to me as I thought on a passage of scripture read to me by a friend. The passage is Hebrews 12:14.  

“Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14)

So what does “pursuing peace” look like? A car chase. When God reveals any bitterness, or unforgiveness in our hearts toward someone else, our response ought to be that of chasing down a fleeing criminal. In a high speed chase the cops are relentless. They won’t let a little change in direction hinder their pursuit. They will stop at nothing until the subject is apprehended.

If we want to see Jesus, then we must have pure hearts. If we want pure hearts, we must have consciences that are clear! Having a clear conscience means that there is no one alive that we have hurt or offended that we have not gone to and asked forgiveness and tried to mend the broken relationship. If there is anything between me and my brother, the Bible says my offering won’t be accepted or my prayers answered!

I recently have been earnestly pursuing peace with those who I have been out of fellowship with for one reason or another. I can honestly say, to my knowledge, there is no one I have wronged or offended that I haven’t gotten right with. We’re not responsible for the other person’s response, just our obedience.

Is there bitterness of any kind in your life? Chase it down, cuff it, and take it downtown!

Brokenness... Joy

“For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5

A part of the journey in following Jesus is discovering new mysteries in Him. Almost like “waking up” to a new reality in our walk with Him. This week, a verse that I’ve known by heart for as long as I can remember took on a new and precious meaning.

I’ve always assumed that the verse above (Psalm 30:5) was speaking of hardship in our lives. “When times are difficult, when we’re down and out, just hold on, ‘cause joy’s coming in the morning!” While it is true that our sorrow and troubles are fleeting, and we ought to wait on God for the joy that is to come, I think there’s more to this verse.

God is teaching me that brokenness and joy go hand in hand. They’re actually dependent on one another. I’m not sure we can have the real joy that is ours in Christ if we’re not broken.

I have had an increased awareness of my sin this week. It seems that God is just giving me grace to see my wretchedness in light of His glory. He has broken my heart over and over. Yet even in my brokenness, joy is bubbling over! When I am obedient to confess my sin and adjust my life accordingly, joy comes like a morning dawn breaking over the horizon. This week has been one big daybreak!

I have gone from brokenness to joy… from brokenness to joy… brokenness… joy… brokenness… joy!

This is the “normal” Christian life. Although all this is not really new to me, it is strangely… new. Why? Because I’m free. For so long I have not been able to see myself as I am. For too long I have been far too aware of others’ sin and not my own.

My experience over the last several days is what I call personal revival. I pray that God will revive His work in your life as well!  

Lord, let me be your match to set the world ablaze!  

Be A Cave Man

"There he came to a cave and lodged in it." 1 Kings 19:9 (ESV)

At this point in my life, God is teaching me one simple truth. I must be with Him. I'm hearing His call to come away and be with Him more and more lately. With all that we have going on in our fast-paced little worlds, it seems so hard just to be still. We throw around the scripture, "Be still and know that I am God," but when is the last time that really happened?

I have heard stories all my life of how godly men and women spent hours in prayer and study, seeking God's face. I used to always beat myself up about my devotional life... or lack thereof. I was so amazed at these seemingly super-disciplined saints.

How does one have such a devotional life? Discipline may have something to do with it. But I think it is more about desperation for me.

I am overwhelmed with this one realization... I need Jesus. I not only love Him and want to know Him as much as He can be known, but I see that I can't live without Him. I can't function. I can't be used of God if I haven't been at His feet. I can't be a godly husband or father if I'm not spending time alone with Him. I can't even act or think rightly if I've not been with Him. If I don't meet with Him consistently, I'm miserable! Nothing else satisfies my longing heart, and I'm okay with that. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't have it any other way.

I wish I had discovered this truth earlier in my life. I pray that this desire never lessens, that God's call would never be drowned out by the world.

I'm reading "In Light Of Eternity: The Life of Leonard Ravenhill." For my friends in ministry, here's a quote that sums it all up...

Ravenhill once said, "Lots of preachers burn out and then come to me saying, 'Brother Ravenhill, I really need a vacation.' I always tell them, 'No you don't - you need a cave.' They haven't been spending time alone with God consistently. Then they grow weak, spiritually lean, and drained because they are not replenishing and maintaining their spiritual life. But men won't get alone because we are afraid of loneliness. We can't take it. But if you don't know how to get alone with God, you won't know God deeper. There is no painless Pentecost. Many grab at the power that the saints knew in the Upper Room. But who wants the three years of trailing the Master? Then the ten days of tarrying in the Upper Room? There is a preparation, a price, and often true pain."  

Find your cave and meet with God.