"But God"

 

2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil... 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. 4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) Ephesians 2:2-5 NLT

The semicolon is a period on top of a comma. In writing, the semicolon is used to connect two independent but relatable thoughts. The semicolon represents a decision by the writer to continue the sentence where it could have been ended. 

I have often seen people with semicolon tattoos or wearing shirts or jewelry with a semicolon. When you see a person with a semicolon it often symbolizes that the person has overcome difficult challenges or hardships and is moving forward in their lives. The wearer could have given up and perhaps even ended their lives, but decided to overcome and move forward. The semicolon represents a continuation where an end was likely.

In Ephesians 2 Paul is reminding his readers that their lives were once on a dead end path. They, and all of us, were dead in our trespasses and sins. There was nothing we could do about it; dead people can't change their situation. But God stepped in and changed all of that. The One who is overflowing with mercy, because He loved us so much, stepped into our hopeless, dead end lives and raised us from the dead, giving us life, hope, peace, joy and so much more. The "But God" is God's semicolon; it represents a continuation where and end was likely. 

God has always been a "But God" kind of God. Consider these "But God" Scriptures: 

(Joseph said to his brothers) You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. Genesis 50:20

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26

When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead . . .  Acts 13:29-30

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able . . . 1 Corinthians 10:13

"But God" are two of the best words to hear in a story. If you’re in a season where you are waiting on God, encourage your faith by reading through and meditating on these "But God" Scriptures, and let God continue to write your story. 

Lessons in Prayer

 15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

Ephesians 1:15-16

We are studying Ephesians verse-by-verse on Wednesday evenings at church. We are in week three of chapter one 😄. Chapter one is basically one long prayer that Paul is praying for the believers at Ephesus (in fact, verses 3-14 is one long sentence!) The prayer is in the form of a benediction or words of blessing. Last night we talked about verses 15-18, which is a continuation of the benediction, and three things really struck me: 

1. Paul's prayer is very positive and affirming. Of course he is writing his prayer knowing it is going to be read to the church (or churches), so it would make sense that he would start out on a positive note. But I think that's the way Paul probably prayed all the time - positive and affirming. It made me think about my praying, and honestly much of my praying is grumbling and complaining about things that are bothering me, or things I want the Lord to fix. That needs to change. I don't like it when people complain to me all the time, I can't imagine it is much of a blessing to the Lord when I do it to Him. 

2. Paul's prayer is other-people centered. Again, he's writing a prayer that will be read to a church, so this makes sense. But, as I reflect on my praying, I usually start with me, my needs and wants, and my problems. Later down the line I'll mention others that I am praying for, but it is usually as I am wrapping things up. How different would my prayer life be if I started by praying for others first?

3. Paul's prayer is focused on the spiritual rather than the physical. The first part of his prayer (vs. 3-14) is focused on reminding them who they are and what they have in Christ. He reminds them of the gospel that they had received and how Jesus saved and sealed them in Christ. And then in the second part of his prayer (15-23) he is praying that they would know God at a deeper level, and know all the spiritual blessings they have in Him. He's praying for their spiritual growth. 

Again, when I think about my own praying, it is too often focused on material things, both for myself and the few other people I pray for - physical healing, financial needs met, jobs, relationships. Nothing wrong with praying for those things, but should those physical needs take precedence over the spiritual lives of those I pray for? 

When it comes to prayer (and many other things) I am a work in progress, but thankfully the Lord never gives up on me, and He is always challenging me to grow in my praying ... and He is you too. 

God and Gold Medals

 

But now the Lord declares: "Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained." 1 Samuel 2:30 NIV

Before this year, the Summer Olympics were last held in France 100 years ago in 1924. One of the stars of the 1924 Olympic Games was a runner named Eric Liddell. Known as the "Flying Scotsman," Liddell went to Paris as the favorite to win gold in the 100 meter, However when the races were scheduled, the 100 meter was to be on Sunday. A devout Christian, raised by missionary parents in China, Liddell refused to participate. He claimed Sunday was the Lord's Day, a day of rest not competition. Teammates, friends and even politicians pressured and begged him to change his mind, but he refused. It was determined that he would run the 400 meter that would be on a different day. 

No one expected Liddell to do very well in the 400 since he had not really trained for it. Some people even criticized him for his religious faith. One reporter wrote that Liddell "...should look down the track rather than look up to the sky.” Just before he headed to the stadium to compete in the 400m finals a trainer gave him a note that read, “ In the Old Book it says, “He that honors Me, him I will honor”1Samuel 2:30. To everyone's surprise, he not only won the gold medal, Liddell also broke the Olympic and world records for the 400 meter at the time. He would also win bronze in the 200 meter. 

Soon after the Paris Olympics, Liddell married his fiancée and began to serve as a missionary with the London Missionary Society's mission in China, where his parents had been worked and where he had been born. When the Japanese invaded China at the start of WW2 Liddell decided to stay and minister to others. Eventually, Liddell was captured and imprisoned in a Japanese internment camp. When he had an opportunity to be freed, he declined a prisoner swap so an expectant mother could go home. He ministered daily to those around him. Even in prison, not a day passed that Eric did not spend time reading Scripture and praying. He surrendered himself to be used of God in a prison camp.

In 1945 Liddell developed an an inoperable brain tumor. As he lay dying, he reminded those attending him to surrender everything to the will of God. While slipping into a coma, he was heard trying to say the word that typified his life – “surrender.” He died in a Japanese prison camp, but fellow prisoners said, “Jesus Christ was among us because we saw Him in Eric Liddell."

Eric Liddell received a gold medal in the 1924 Olympics for his efforts in a competition, but he received something greater than a gold medal from the Lord for his surrender to Christ. Friends, don't waste your life living for the wrong things, live the the eternal. 

(The film "Chariots of Fire" (1981) told the story of Eric Liddell and the Olympic Games.)

Happy Hanukkah !

 

 

The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah began Thursday, December 7th. A friend, Pastor Larry Robertson shared this information on his Facebook page. I thought it was helpful and worth passing along: 

"Jesus observed Hanukkah, also known as the Feast of Dedication. We read in John 10:22-23, “At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem; it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon.”

The story of Hanukkah really is amazing. It comes from the 2nd century BC after Antiochus Epiphanes invaded Jerusalem, raided the temple, set up an altar to Zeus in the Temple, and slaughtered pigs to Zeus in the Temple of the LORD! When the Jewish people argued against the desecration, Antiochus Epiphanes slaughtered many of the Jews and sold others into slavery. He also made circumcision illegal and required everyone to sacrifice to pagan gods and eat pig flesh.

In 167-166, however, Judas Maccabeus led a revolt against the Greeks and won! Afterward, the Temple was cleansed and rededicated to the Lord, thus the “Feast of the Dedication.”

And as the story goes, when the Jews went to relight the Menorah in the Temple, they found only enough consecrated oil to light it for one day … but miraculously, it lasted for eight days, which is why the celebration of Hanukkah lasts for eight days.

Hanukkah is also known as the Festival of Lights. Use these next 8 days as a prayer prompt to pray for the power of the Gospel to bring souls from spiritual darkness into the Light." (Larry Robertson)

As we prepare our hearts to celebrate the birth of the Savior, the true Light of the World, let us join in praying for those who have yet to see the Light, and let's strive to be Light-bearers to those living in darkness! 

God bless, and Happy Hanukkah!