Monthly Archives: May 2021
“When You Feel Lost”
“I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant,
for I do not forget your commandments.” (Psalm 119:176, English Standard Version)
I grew up on a working farm, but we did not have sheep by the time I joined the family. I once asked my dad why we didn’t. His answer was terse: “They can’t take care of themselves.” He went on to explain that he had tried to raise sheep, but neighbors dogs ran them to death—literally.
God’s people are often compared to sheep. This is true of Israel, both in the Old Testament and the New Testament. Followers of Jesus in the New Testament are also often called sheep. This is not a flattering comparison.
I have been feeling pretty down for the past several days. Sunday morning, my prayer consisted of one remembered verse from the longest chapter of the Bible, Psalm 119. “I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant,
for I do not forget your commandments.”
I looked at the Hebrew for the verse, but I also checked a couple of commentaries to see what those who are wiser than I am might have written. I was tremendously comforted by two very wise and humble students of the Word—Derek Kidner and J.A. Motyer.
Derek Kidner comments, “The note of urgent need on which the psalm ends (lost could be translated ‘perishing’) is proof enough that the love of Scripture, which has motivated the scribes of every age, need not harden into academic pride. This man would have taken his stance not with the self-congratulating Pharisee of the parable, but with the publican who stood afar off, but went home justified.”
J.A. Motyer writes, “[Verses] 175-176 focus on personal needs, the sense of ebbing vitality and the tendency to stray. The clue to vitality and to recovery is the sustaining and unforgotten word.”
“All we, like sheep, have gone astray,” says Isaiah (53:6). Yep, that sounds about right. But to be aware of our lostness and of God’s Word, and to vocalize those awarenesses in prayer—these are perhaps enough. Sometimes, they are all we have.
Oh, I almost forgot. I only quoted the first part of Isaiah 53:6 just now. The whole verse reads as follows:
“We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.”
The New Testament applies the “him” who carried our iniquity to Jesus. When I feel lost, I need to remember who called himself “the great shepherd,” and who was called “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” I need to remember. I need to remember.
“What I Can Do Better than God”
I have been struggling with the idea of surrendering to God here of late. It seems as if everything I read or hear is asking me to give up every attempt to be in charge. Even the bone spurs in my right heel are screaming at me about surrender.
Also, I began rereading an old book, published in 1952, called The Christians Secret of a Happy Life. You’ll never guess what the book is about. Okay, I’ll tell you. It is about surrendering your entire self and life to God. I was hoping that the “secret” would be something else.
So, I whined to my significant other, “You know, I don’t like the idea of giving everything over to God.” She shot back with an exceedingly helpful question. “So, what do you think you can do better than God can?”
Ouch! They say that truth hurts. And they know what they are talking about—whoever “they” may be.
As I understand the Bible, humankind has wanted to be in charge since shortly after our creation. I don’t think that it has worked out very well. Since I am human, I also participate in this nonsense.
But my wife’s question keeps echoing in my mind. What can I do better than God? Why am I afraid to surrender everything to God? What do I think God is going to do that is not precisely the right thing? Wouldn’t I want those “God things” to happen if I had a lick of sense?
And why not try it, in any case? After all, I haven’t done such a hot job of running my own life. Ruining it, maybe; but not running it. Maybe, just maybe, God would do a better job.
“Infectious and Lethal”
No, this is not a post about a deadly pandemic virus. I am speaking about hanging around with people who are prone to fits of anger.
The Bible—as well as common sense and our parents who may have had some common sense after all—tells us that we should be careful who we hang out with. We don’t just come to like our friends; we also become like our friends.
In the Old Testament, it is especially the book of Proverbs that makes this point repeatedly. For example, Prov. 13:20 tells us, “whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” (English Standard Version)
Proverbs 22:24-25 is even more emphatic.
“24 Make no friendship with a man given to anger,
nor go with a wrathful man,
25 lest you learn his ways
and entangle yourself in a snare.” (English Standard Version)
Commenting on Proverbs 22:25, Bruce K. Waltke writes, “The habits of the hothead are both infectious (verset A) and lethal (verset B).” It is wise to remember that snares are meant to trap and kill animals. Entangling yourself in the snare of anger is means that you are dressing for your own funeral.
Now, this is good advice, but I have a huge problem: I myself am a hothead. How on earth do I avoid hanging around myself? Wherever I go, there I almost always am. I can try to avoid the company of other hotheads, but what do I do when I am the hothead?
The Apostle Paul has some counsel for people like me: Lay your hothead aside! “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.” (Colossians 3:8, English Standard Version)
How do you put something away? You just do it. It is not that big a deal. I’ve noticed that, even when I am getting angry—even very angry—I can still choose to be in control. I don’t always, but I can choose that path.
One more thought that some of you my readers will really like, and some will not like at all. Avoid the internet and the 24/7 news programs as much as possible. Many internet sites (as well as some of the news services) have a lot of really good and helpful things, but there is also a lot of vitriol. I have discovered that I do not cease to be if I don’t click on political discussions.
“Secure in my Insecurity and Fear”
I had a very unwelcome insight the other day. I realized that my overwhelming sense of insecurity and desire to possess and dominate is simply fear. Most of my life is a fear-based attempt to have security. And of course, all attempts to possess and dominate make feel even more insecure. I am like a man dying of thirst who, in his desperation, drinks seawater.
So, now what? An insight is all very well and good, but what about the live-out part of it? What about the “So-what question”?
Well, for one thing, this insight invites me to ask certain questions of myself, whenever I find myself wanting to possess or dominate. What am I afraid of here? What do I need to do because of my fears? Or do I need to do anything? If I don’t ask the right questions, I can’t possibly get to a helpful answer.
Some people think love is the most basic human trait. Love may be the most important, but I will vote for fear being the most basic human trait.
And, admittedly, fear can be absolutely vital to my survival. But beyond the point of survival, fear is the enemy. President F.D. Roosevelt said, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” He said that in the context of the Great Depression. Here is the longer quote, which demonstrates that Roosevelt was not talking about reasonable, healthy fear:
“So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is…fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.”
And that is the problem, isn’t it: a fear that “. . . paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.”
So, after I have acknowledged fear, I can refuse to try to possess or dominate. Instead, I can ask myself what needed efforts I can make to convert retreat into advance. Only when I acknowledge my fears and then seek to move on to positive actions can I be secure in my insecurity and fear.
DTEB, “Accepting Unacceptable People and Behavior”
I like to think of myself as an accepting, non-judgmental person. But the truth is that I am very non-accepting and judgmental. Here is my report to my twelve-step sponsors this morning, concerning my recovery efforts and results from yesterday:
“Dear ______ and ________,
No violations. No secrets.
Today, by God’s grace, I refuse to keep score on myself or on anyone else.
I did not do well on this one, but I did learn something: I do keep score on myself and everyone else.”
I tried to counter my report concerning yesterday with today’s affirmation:
“Today, by the grace of God and with God’s continual help, I am accepting myself as I am at any moment. I am also accepting, moment by moment, the fact that I can do the next right thing in the moment.”
Being judged is a profoundly uncomfortable business. Judging isn’t easy either, but it’s more fun.
Accepting is not easy either, is it? And accepting is never fun.
The Apostle Paul wrote to two of his churches about this very matter of accepting one another, rather than judging one another. This is quite ironic, because many people think that Paul himself was very judgmental. Perhaps he was, in some ways. But he seems generally to have been deeply skeptical of a non-accepting, judgmental attitude.
“As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.” (Romans 14:1, English Standard Version)
Paul says something similar to the church at Corinth.
“This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.” (1 Corinthians 4:1-5, English Standard Version)
Apparently, Paul (like Jesus) had a simple piece of advice for believers concerning judging: Don’t! Paul didn’t even judge himself! Apparently, the Corinthian Christians had a bad case of comparisonitis. They compared their leaders to each other and decided which ones they really liked. They compared themselves to one another. And what is comparison, other than judging whether others or you yourself measure up to some standard, real or imagined, realistic or idealistic?
Perhaps there is a better word than “accepting” for how we should relate to ourselves and one another. Perhaps “welcome” would be a better one. The Greek word προσλαμβάνεσθε can indeed mean “to welcome.”
A friend of mine gave me a wonderful devotional book, God’s Promises Every Day, by Jack Countryman. My wife read the following devotion for today, May 14, 2021. It speaks to the very character trait with which I am struggling.
“Anyone can claim the love of God. Anyone can have sins forgiven and shortcomings forgotten.” And the brief meditation ends with the following prayer: “Lord, You offer Your salvation to anyone who comes to You. Help me to be as accepting and loving as You.”
“Cherishing and Cherished”
“Cherish is the word that I use to describe
All the feelings that I have . . .” (“Cherish” The musical group, The Association)
“God knows how many hairs you have on your head.” (Jesus of Nazareth)
“I cherish my wife, but I don’t know how many hairs she has on her head.” (Me)
I let my wife talk me out of getting a bunch of strawberry plants. I am so glad that she succeeded! I would have gotten twenty-five (or even fifty), which would not have been good. I’m seventy years old, have bone spurs and various other problems. I have no business acting like I am fifteen years old. I bought 1,000 strawberry plants the year I turned fifteen or sixteen. It was for a Future Farmers of America crop project. Seventy is a long way from fifteen.
So, I bought ten plugs with three strawberry plants in each plug. Much smarter! They are everbearing, and already have some berries ripening.
I went out yesterday to see how they were doing. I asked them, and they said, “Oh, we’re just fine! Thank you for giving us a home.”
However, I knew that the rains were coming, so I gave the plants some TLC by placing grass clippings around the plants and especially under the berries. This will (hopefully) keep the berries from getting too muddy. When they get muddy, they tend to rot before they ripen.
As I was carefully lifting the berries and gently placing the clippings under them, I was cherishing the plants and the berries. It occurred to me that, if I had a lot of plants, there was no way that I could cherish them and take such good care of them. There is a saying, “Go big, or go home!” That is probably a good saying for many things. Along the same line is the expression “the economy of scale.” However, there is a lot to be said for the economy of small scale as well.
One of the benefits of the economy of small scale is that, when I go small, I can cherish things more. Staying small helps me to cherish small things in a big way. A friend of mine reminded me that doing small things out of the love of God is the best way to live a life that is worth living. Yes!
Only God is big enough to cherish everything that is. I will confine myself to loving those around me. That would include my wife, our little dog, the goldfinches that visit my bird feeders, and my strawberry plants. It also includes you, dear reader. I hope that you not only feel cherished by reading this little meditation. I hope that you also are moved to cherish other things, including your job, your spouse, and your friends just a bit more.
DOWN TO EARTH BELIEVER
- DTEB, “Getting Christ and Ourselves Back in Focus” November 11, 2024“Col. 3:1 ¶ If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Col. 3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Col. 3:3 For you have died, and your life is hidden […]
- “Search Me!” October 27, 2024“Psa. 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:23-24, English Standard Version) I am participating in a Bible study, and this is a prayer […]
- “Christian Speech” October 26, 2024“Eph. 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Foulkes, in his excellent commentary on the Book of Ephesians, writes the following, which I quote at some length: “29. Now the […]
- “God is in the Details” October 11, 2024“The devil is in the details.” (A general saying, often quoted by lawyers, reporters, and negotiators.) “God is in the details.” (Me, almost certainly not original.) “Luke 12:7 Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Jesus) God does not micromanage, but God […]
- “Grandma’s Pump” October 8, 2024When I was a little critter, I would stay at my grandma’s house for a night or two sometimes. I liked this for a lot for many reasons. One thing I liked about staying with her was that Grandma’s house was much more technologically advanced than ours was. For one thing, she had indoor water—sort […]
- “Wearing the #14 Wrong-Side-Out” October 5, 2024Pete Rose, #14, is dead. Many of the old guys with whom I play softball watched him play and appreciated him greatly. I do as well. He was one of the greatest players who ever played the game. Yes, he admitted (eventually) to betting on baseball. But many of us still regard him as one […]
- “Passing Along the Love (and a Link)” October 4, 2024Several years ago, a friend of mine put me onto a daily meditation by Richard Rohr and friends. I don’t read them all the time, but I probably should. They are good! I thought that today’s writing was especially good, and I also figured that this would be a good way to post something. I […]
- “Witnessing Versus Being Witnesses” September 19, 2024“Acts 1:1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, Acts 1:2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. Acts 1:3 He presented himself alive to them after […]
- “A Bathroom Prayer for Hurting Hands” September 11, 2024A week ago Sunday, my hands were hurting so badly at church that I went to the bathroom to run hot water over my hands. Arthritis perhaps, or carpal tunnel, or general orneriness—I don’t know why my hands hurt, but they do. They have for years. So, while I was running hot water over my […]
- “Waiting and Seeking” September 10, 2024“Lam. 3:19 ¶ Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! Lam. 3:20 My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. Lam. 3:21 But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: Lam. 3:22 ¶ The steadfast love of the LORD […]
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