Humbleness

God gives us even more grace to stand against evil desires.  The scriptures say, "God opposes the proud but favors the humble." So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  Come close to God and God will come close to you.  Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts.  For your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

                                                                                                          James 4:6-8

It is pretty simple:

• Humble yourself.
• Submit to God.
• oppose the devil - he's a coward.
• Get close to God.
• Clean up your act. 
• Clean up your motivations.  
• Don't have divided loyalties.

Humility:  I need growth.  I bow before God fairly easily (or so I think), but before others, I don't easily acquiesce.  This probably reveals the truth of my relationship with God, if I would admit it.  I try, but when someone is not in agreement with me and my contrivances about how things should be, I know I resist.

The solution is to clean up my sinful self in the obvious places.  Wash my hands - purify myself from sinful actions.  Cleanse my heart - in the core of my intentions and motivations.  My loyalty is divided on whether I will serve God or myself.  The question becomes:  who is on the throne of my heart?  How do I unseat myself from that throne?  

It is a pitiful sight when I live my life for just myself:  I will lose it, Jesus assures me.  But to gain life, I must give up the throne, give up the helm.  Richard Rohr says, ultimately, we are addicted to ourselves, which can be seen when I am at the center of every decision and action.  When that is true, the "Christian" life is a sham.  It is not Christ at all.  

That sham is a shame and verse 9 of James 4 explains what our reaction must be:  Let there be tears for what you have done.  Let there be sorrow and deep grief.  Let there be sadness instead of laughter and gloom instead of joy.  

It's a terrible offense to relegate God to second place in my heart.  Worse yet to think he would serve me and my purposes.  Am I truly stricken by the awfulness of usurping God's rightful place in my heart?  Do I lament and grieve?  Do I see my betrayal of God as a cause for deep sorrow?  Any joy I might seek for myself should be a place for shame!

So, now my choice is clear.  I must submit - keep God on the throne of my life by deciding to whom I am loyal.  He is the ruler.  He holds the power.  He has the plan that is perfect and perfect for me.  It is a good plan, though maybe not the easy plan, but it is the plan which makes life worth living. It is the plan that prepares me for heaven.  It is new every day.  It calls me higher.  It brings peace. 

Being loyal to God alone:  that's worth pursuing.

Wisdom

Who in your community is understanding and wise?  Let her example, which is marked by wisdom and gentleness, blaze a trail for others...The wisdom of this world should never be mistaken for heavenly wisdom, for it originates in earthly realms and is earthly, unspiritual and even demonic...Wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits untainted by hypocrisy.  It results in a harvest of righteousness which is sown in peace by those who make peace.  James 3:13-18 (selections)

I need to look for the wise in my community and not be fooled by the world's definition of wisdom, which is easy to note by its jealousy and selfishisness and the resulting chaos and evil.  

A pursuit of righteousness follows the path of wisdom.  The Greek for "righteousness" includes the thought that a person would "be as one ought to be."  To finally be right.  Yes, ultimately, to be right with God and to be the wise, sincere, peace-seeking person God intended.

I have had so many other pursuits! To be "as I should" seems to be a quest of identity or, at least, of character:  a sincere reflection of God-character in me, as he made me to be.  Because of the other-focus of this section of James, it seems to involve a sincere effort to pursue peace and plant peace so that others can be as they should, too.

The steps to that rightness is through purity, peace, gentleness, deference to others (remember not selfish ambition) and mercy.  I feel God drawing me into those definitions; his measures for these qualities come from him.  As he draws me to those qualities, other worldly measures for wisdom no longer apply.  I can be free.  To be me.  (Wasn't there a book title?)

Good

Good deeds must accompany faith, otherwise it is not faith at all.  It's just a good idea.

"What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?  Will that kind of faith save him?  Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.  Show me your faith apart from your works and I will show you my faith by my works."  James 2:14-19

Faith is demonstrated by our actions.  Jesus tells the same truth about the good apple which can only come from a good tree.  It sounds simple, yet, what are "good" deeds which result from faith and NOT FROM SELF-SATISFACTION OR SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS?

How does my faith determine my deeds?  Do my good deeds "feel" good? Or do I engage in deeds which require me to be uncomfortable because they are from God.  In fact, when I operate out of "my" gifts, I may tend to take credit for the deeds.  Excess turns all gifts into curses, says Richard Rohr.  What should be used for God's good is used to help me feel purposed, useful or more gifted.    

My deeds must originate from who God is, not who I am.  If God means to draw all men to him or for his people to be unified or to be love itself, which deeds honor his character/his truth?  Jesus said it simply, as you treat the least (by whatever definition that is for you), that is how I treat him.  Am I patronizing? Am I empowering?  Am I meeting their needs or my own?

What is "good" is determined by God and points to his goodness (not mine).  Knowing God guides me to understand how he sees people and what he wants for them.  I want to bridge cultural divides so more can have access to material goods and spiritual good because Jesus often talks about meeting the needs of the poor, both physical and spiritual.  

I also have to confront systems which oppress.  Isaiah 58 uses strong language of a true fast:  loosen the bonds of wickedness, undo the straps of the yoke which oppresses and to break every yoke.  These are action-centered efforts, which often cause me to be uncomfortable.

It is  the Lord's good when I march for change, when I write my representatives, when I advocate for changed legislation, when I empower others to vote.  I stay uncomfortable so that others can be set free.  Not as fun as teaching a class - not as succinct nor with immediate feedback - but for the cause of Christ in the world, I do this unlikely "good."

The Perfect Psalm

Psalm 19:7-10

God's law is perfect, turning lives around.

His words are reliable and true,

instilling wisdom to open minds.

The Eternal One's directions are correct,

giving satisfaction to the heart.

God's commandments are clear,

lending clarity to the eyes.

The awe of The Eternal One is pure,

sustaining for all of eternity.

The Eternal One's decisions are sound;

they are right through and through.

They are worth more than gold -

even more than abundant, pure gold.

They are sweeter than honey

or the drippings of the honeycomb.

Come Alive!

Listen to me:  You must be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger.  For human anger does not produce the righteousness of God.  So, get rid of the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept this word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

Don't just listen to God's word, you must do it.  Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the Word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror.  You see yourself, walk away and forget who you are, what you look like.  But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
                                                                                                                 James 1:19-27

I am so convicted by this set of verses.  While I am not prone to anger, I am prone to speak first and listen later.  What a practice to keep my mouth shut!

Actually, the thought-provoking statement is "forgetting who you are, forgetting what you look like."  The challenge is for my statements to reflect God's ultimate Truth about me (and not the sinful-evil/filthy truth).  If I claim the truth that I am a child of God, that I follow Jesus Christ, that I desire to obey his commandments for me, then my speech should follow accordingly.  My actions should follow in such a way to produce the "rightness" of God.

This is neither novel nor complicated.  It is quite simple, but incredibly hard.

I think though, there is clear directive about how to do it.  If I can keep my thoughts in my head and measure it by the righteousness (rightness) of God then my words would change.  "Slow to speak" gives me time to evaluate the tone and emphasis of my words within the context of the intent of God.  Then my words would be first loving, then clearly constructive and, finally, a blessing.  They could still be a challenge or correction, but more readily received and God more easily seen.

What a great opportunity!  To have my words reflect God!  Glory!

Share

My dearly loved brothers and sisters, don't be misled.  Every good gift bestowed, even perfect gift received comes to us from above, courtesy of the Father of lights.He won't change His mind or play tricks in the shadows.  We have a special role in His plan.  He calls us to life by His message of truth so that we will show the rest of His creatures His goodness and love.

                                                                 James 1:16-18

I do have so many gifts:  salvation, resources, family, good health, choices.  Lord, I have you!  (Or you have me!)  Show me how to use them to show your love.  Some are obvious:  I use my resources to benefit others.  I use my health in social justice and taking care of others.  I see that I can use the outcomes of my salvation - assurance, freedom, love, right living - the same way.

Sometimes those things appear most clearly when you carried and sustained me through dark times.  Are you seen better at the margins?  The proliferation of wealth and resources seems a murky presentation because it resembles and is mixed with cultural standards.

I want to distinctly pull out the gifts and use them to show your goodness and love.  I think that includes never taking credit for them, using it for the welfare of others, living thankfully, learning how to celebrate properly and by pointing to you constantly.  Each of those deserves expansion.

You are a generous God!

Sanctification

Items which were pure,

or of first or best effort,

were then dedicated for a holy act of God:  

sacrificed or used.

The purposes were many:

to atone for sin,

as a mark of gratitude or

as a blessing to God.

Lord, sanctify me.

Endure

Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the proofing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach and it will be given. Be sure to ask in faith with not doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is drive and tossed by the wind...

James 1:1-12

My favorite part of this section in James is that God is gladly generous.  He will not fail us.  He wants to sustain and equip us.  It's fun for him!  

I understand and accept the need for endurance - like endurance training - and as the hill gets steeper, I see the growing need for maturity, "complete," and a satisfaction (humble acceptance) of the task ahead. This climb will end.  

I can rest and relax into the life I yet have because God is gladly involved.  Not only does He know, but He is also strong and strongly in favor of helping me.  I need it!  I can approach God without hesitation because of His generous availability to help!

Transformation

I appeal to you, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, that which is good, acceptable and perfect.

                                                                     Romans 12:1, 2

Holy.
Pleasure.
Discern.
God's good.

To please you, Lord?  You are pleased by my focus to be set apart for your service, that I keep my eyes open to be yours in every situation.  The situations in this day.

I want to discern God's good from any other definition of goodness, especially cultural goodness.  What is pleasing to you, Lord?  What completes your intentions and goals for this day?  He wants transformation.  I want to know His will, every time.  

To become aware of you and your path and agree to be on its path is true repentance - a change of mind.  True transformation.

#32 An Advent Poem

At just the right time

He knocked at the door of my “Inn.”

My life was full – bustling and suffering.

Would I relegate Him to the cave in back

Or clear a room,

Clear my whole house,

So he could birth in me,

Live-with-me

A place where “Glory!” would sound?

Oh, the gifts that would come!

Could we, together, avoid an exile?

A death?

No.

Together,

We would live a stranger in this world,

The death of the old life and its power would pass

And rise to new.

Glory!

Dear Daddy - 6 June 2005

If you receive my words, hide them within yourself.

Proverbs 2:1

Dear Daddy,

I know you have so much to say to me and I don't always pursue them as fully as you offer them.  Your words.  The author of the Proverb says to "receive" your words. That is my quest, today, Daddy: to receive what you have to say to me.

Please, Daddy, place more opportunities in front of me to read, to listen.  Give me desire to go to your Word.  Help me to take in these words for your sake and mine.

I look forward to this day with you, Dad.

Love, Gina

Grace and Gratitude

We get the teaching that we can do nothing to earn salvation, which is true, but that does not negate the responsibility of a response to God’s great gift of salvation and other related gifts:

· Forgiveness is ready but stays at the cross without the response of repentance.

·  Sanctification is a process as effective as the pursuance of it.

· Treasures in heaven are only as full as the storer’s commitment to abandon earthly treasure.

· James is clear and to the point:  Faith without works is dead.

· And even the hard gifts can only improve our perseverance and character if we respond God’s way.

Thus, grace does not exclude effort.  Yet, it is not a forced effort but a responsive one.  Gratitude is not “owing” someone, but a heart-felt response. Owing someone a response turns gift-giving into a business transaction and reduces the joy-response.  It turns heartfelt praise into duty.  And while there is nothing wrong duty, it should not come on the back of gratitude.

Gratitude is more like an echo that carries the original voice far and wide.  If an echo does not sound, it means there is something wrong with the chamber.  The main way to amend the chamber is to turn it into God’s.  The truest sense of gratitude is not just gratitude for the gift, but what it reveals about the character of God.  What the chamber seeking to reflect – itself or the voice.  Every return of favor is to extol the character of God, even in the demanding, the difficult, the discipline.

How much does the chamber of our being seek to know the most about God, seek the most of him? The hardest time to see God maybe in the difficult, but the hardest time to remember God is in plenty.

May we each desire the chambers of our heart to encompass all His gifts and echo his character to the world.

Dear Daddy - May 31, 2005

Oh, Daddy,

Don't let my heart be poisoned by negativity, by cruelty.  Please, lift me above the ashes of relationships that others have burned down.  Help me to heal.  Help me to initiate reconciliation.

I see, Daddy, why you want us to love each other; you want us to extend grace to each other.  It does not look Christ-like to be excluding others or by being unkind.  I look to you, Daddy, to help me rise above, to not be dismayed or put down or have my spirit crushed.

I want to be kind and gracious.  I want to extend You to others.  

Daddy, what will it take for someone to give their brokenness up?  When will healing begin?  Please, help!  Only You can change and heal those who need it. (and don't we all need it!)

Love, 
Your devoted daughter,
Gina

Dear Daddy - May 31, 2005

Daddy, 

Your world is so soothing.  As I sit here in the shade of a tree with birds chirping around me, I consider how perfectly you made this world.  It perfectly protects and provides.  Here on an Ohio spring day it seems so calming.  That's how vacations should be!  Here it is the third day and I am completely at rest.  That was quick!

I had been contemplating why you allow for rest.  Daddy, you rested after creation and you created eternal rest for us, so I know you are committed to rest:  a place where strife is reduced and peace reigns.

I have to admit, I was feeling guilty about going on this vacation at first.  Almost like I "shouldn't" be leaving the demands of my workplace behind.  This speaks a warning to me:  I can easily get to thinking I am way too important!  You, Daddy, are the important one.  You can use anyone to do your work.  You just use me when I make myself available, but I am not critical to the accomplishment of your ways.  

Thanks for the relief!

Love, Gina
Hebrews 4:1

The Disciplines of Life

When God wants to drill a man,
And thrill a man, 
And skill a man
To play the noblest part;
When He yearns with all His heart
To create so great and bold a man
That all the world shall be amazed,
Watch His methods, watch His ways!
How He ruthlessly perfects
Whom He royally elects!
How He hammers him and hurts him,
And with mighty blows converts him
Into trial shapes of clay which 
only God understands;
While his tortured heart is crying
And he lifts beseeching hands!
How He bends but never breaks
When his good He undertakes;
How He uses whom He chooses,
And with every purpose fuses him,
By every act induces him
To try His splendor out - 
God knows what He's about!

      - V. Raymond Edman

Letters to Daddy - May 6, 2005

Oh, Daddy,

You always show yourself faithful.  Quickly, you turned around the circumstances that were causing me to feel unsure.  Often, I want guarantees from my circumstances that I have designed, that I find to be the best.  Then you come up with guarantees that show me the most about you!  You are my guarantee!

I am grateful you showed me quickly after my request.  I know it doesn't always happen that way, but your quickness demonstrated that I am in your hands and in the right place.

When I can feel assured, then I now how much to plan, what goals to establish.  You are so good to me all the time, Daddy.  Praise to you!

Love, Gina

Dear Daddy - February 28, 2005

Daddy,

I need your words today!  I will soon be in a confrontation where I want to have your words;  I want to teach.  I want to influence, even if facing an attack.  Please, Daddy, give me your words and your humble Spirit.

Oh, Daddy, but what I need most is more of you!  I am finding it difficult to set aside as much time to devotion and meditation.  Claim my time for you, Daddy.  Set me apart for your use.

Is that what you want, Daddy?  For me to keep working?  Even so, I need more of you.  How else can I survive attacks or influence others, but that I have you?

So, Lord.  So, Dad, I can do this.  I can face them; I can facing losing my job, which is a secret fear of mine, because you will be working through all situations.  

Thanks, Dad!
Love, Gina

Jeremiah 1:19

Dear Daddy - February 26, 2005

Daddy,

You want me to resolve this right now with you, not just with another person.  While I dealt fairly with that person, you want me to give it up to you, too!  The Message says, "Don't stay angry.  Don't go to bed angry.  Don't give the devil that kind of a foothold..."

That's why you won't let me go to sleep.  I need your peace on this.  Ban the devil from tormenting me:  keep me from demanding perfection/performance from myself.

It is true, Daddy.  I need you to take over this.  Please, give my attacker peace.  Let him know I have a heart-felt forgiveness for him.  I promise I will tell him!  Give me your grace to be gentle with him and sensitive.  I want my forgiveness to be thorough.  Forgive me for not giving it more quickly.  Please, protect my attacker - no, my brother - so he can have a good sleep, a cleared mind, and grace for tomorrow.

Thanks for showing me your way, Daddy.  

Your devoted daughter, 

Gina

Dear Daddy - February 26, 2005

Dear Daddy,

I want to live righteously.  A "right" life which measures up against your standards.  Right now I am measuring my strong emotions with yours.  Do any of us have the right to our feelings?  Did I have the right to be angry?  Did I do the right thing with my anger?  The answer has to be "yes" since my brother, Jesus, demonstrated so many emotions.

I admit my emotions got the best of me, though.  James 1:20 says, "A person's anger does not work the righteousness of God."  It doesn't bring about the righteousness you desire.  So, Daddy, was any of my reaction sinful?

I teach adults in a stressful situation and they often purposefully want to avoid their role in the change situation they are in.  One of my students was rude, tried to take over the class to suit his needs.  I stopped class; I took a pause. I ended class with prayer; I left.  I went back to face my attacker after I calmed down. 

As  teacher with the mantel of authority on me, I felt the need to put limits on his future behavior.  I did the right things but I question myself because of my strong emotional reaction, which I still feel in this moment, hours later.

Daddy, show me where I went wrong.  Lead me to provide teaching and leadership around this incident.  Tell me what to do.

Love, Gina

Dear Daddy - February 25, 2005

Psalm 91

Daddy!

Daddy, they're hurting him!  No matter how often people restate their position, it doesn't make them right nor convincing.  Protect your good name by protecting those who bear it! Let your Truth prevail!

If it be your will for your glory, let me give a good word about that Truth.  You open the door and I will step through, but only if you make it clear by opportunity and invitation.  I will refuse to extol sin nor will I malign a Christian person's character, especially in the presence of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Honor belongs to your children; you give it to them.

Daddy, what do you want me to do?  Help me to tell the truth in love.  Help me to respond to your promptings not to react to situations.  Help me to be the best witness to the honor of your people and your glory, which covers them.

Love, Gina

Letters to God - April 23, 2005

Genesis 1

Dear Creator,

"For purple mountains majesty,

above the fruited plain..."

I think of this phrase of America the Beautiful whenever we drive east from the central valley of California toward Tehachapi.  The Sierra Nevada arise up, deep blue above the desert floor, which at that end of the valley, is green with table grapevines, citrus and nut trees, cherry and peach trees.

Oh, Daddy, it is beautiful!  It is a wonder!  Your handicraft is beyond compare!  Thank you for making earth for us!  Thank you for giving me the eyes to see such grandeur! Last night there was lightning and thunder, fairly unusual in the desert.  

Daddy, what a reminder of your power and the complexity of your creation!  Really, Daddy, you are the greatest and I recognize that living on this earth means being blessed by the Best, blessed by you!

As I ponder your marvelous creation, I like to think how it says something about you, Father God:  that you are beautiful, a wonder, complex, powerful, life-sustaining, marvelous...There are not enough words to describe you!

Thanks for placing me in the midst of you!

Love, 

Gina

Letters to God - April 5, 2005

Psalm 51

Dear Daddy, 

You have been so good to me!  I am not forgetting what you have brought me through.  I remember how you stood close when I made sinful choices and you correct me, disciplined me and nurtured me.  Thanks for not giving up on me!  I love being your child!  I love knowing that you will not abandon me, because you never have, even when I sinned.

Daddy, what more can I do for you?  How can I get more of you?

Thanks for my husband, who has shown me more of you.  Do I look more at him?  I want to copy more of his humble, quiet behavior.  I want to be steady like him...like you.

I recognize I have far from arrived.  Help me to stay teachable.  Reach me!  Thank you for returning the "joy of my salvation" (Ps 51:11) and that I get to "teach your way to sinners so that they will return to you."  What a joy to be at the center of your will and way.

Love, Gina

Romans 2:1-10

Key verses:  If your eyes shift their focus from yourselves to others – to judge how they are doing – you have already condemned yourselves! (1)  There is no doubt that the judgment of God will justly fall upon hypocrites who practice this. (2)  Do you take the kindness of God for granted?  Do you see His patience and tolerance as signs that He is a pushover when it comes to sin? 

There is going to come a day of judgment when God, the just judge of all the world (5) will judge all people according ot what they have done (6).  He will give eternal life to those who persist in doing what is good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. (7)

But he will pour out his anger and wrath for those who live only for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and who practice evil deeds. (8) 

The Romans Road is a rocky road.  While there is an offering of a great escape from sin, let there be no doubt, judgment will come for those who consciously and effectively sin.  There will be condemnation of wrong-doing and subsequent consequences.  Yes, let me use the word punishment.  God is kind, but He is not soft.  He is kind to allow time for people to repent, to make a real commitment to His truth but He will not ignore a life of evil.

This message is not one we are to use as a tool or device to judge others, but to judge ourselves.  We are tempted to look at the law and use it as a stick to measure others, but this chapter begins with the obvious that we are to examine ourselves.  Our harshness is often reserved for other sinners, but we are to be our own primary concern.  One author said this, “My sin looks so much worse on you.”  Here in chapter 2, it is clear that we only evaluate ourselves. For on “the day” made for judgment, it will all be made public, which includes whether our seriousness about sin applied to ourselves or others and whether we took God seriously or not.

Yet, the test for judgment will not be on the list of sins, but on those who pursue the truth God is looking for.  He is looking for the good in people:  those who persistently make it their business to do that which is  useful, pleasant, honorable  (and they get eternal life, uncorrupted, seen in the glory, honor and peace they will have).  We have to stay conscious and deliberate in doing good.  We make it our business to enact good in every part of our life.  God is noting this.  He is planning a reward for this.

Paul is trying to demonstrate how God has looked for dedication and consistency towards good.  A “slip” does not bring condemnation.  Rather, what business are we known for?  To what are we dedicated?  What is our main aim?  As we explore how to move toward the moral good which is to infiltrate our lives, let us seek how God defines this path.  This is the call of the entire New Testament, to let Jesus lead.  Beware of the business of evil, where we love and pet old behaviors and refuse the great kindness of God which calls us away from that which leads to our ruin.  Some people resist this change.  They would rather be ruined than make changes.  Don’t let that be you!

Romans 1:18, 19

God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.  They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them.

I think we have taken God too lightly for too long!  Doing so not only keeps us from the greatest truth about his love for us but also the great truth about his view of sin.  He is pissed about it.  (There I said it!) If we take God seriously, we should be afraid of His anger about sin.  I can see the  dismissal of God’s place and power when we reduce sin to inconsequential definitions which minimize its impact on God and the consequences He intends for it.

The rest of this chapter lists the litany of sins which result from the character traits of “sinful” and “wicked.”  The list which follows stems from the inherent descriptions of these two words.  “Sinful” is translated in the King James as “ungodliness,” which, in the Greek, means a lack of reverence for God.  This seems to indicate a “not God” attitude, which doesn’t include God nor give credit to God and reduces God as if he isn’t looking or cares about bad behavior.  “Wicked” is translated in the King James as “unrighteousness,” which is a lifestyle of injustice – acts which violate God’s law and justice.  It is a lifestyle of deeds against humanity.

This addresses the conscious and deliberate act and lifestyle of rejecting God’s place and due honor and refusing His ways.  God lets people have their way when they choose to ignore Him.  He lets us tell ourselves the lies, which then rule in us.  That is what wickedness does.  It purports lies that cause us to deny the significance of God and his plan for us.  Refusing to worship God causes people’s lives to trivialize and fall into confusion.  They bear the weight of a life removed from truth and its covering, from God himself, and, thus, dismissed from the sanctity of life as God intended.  People exchange the truth of God for a lie that denies not only God, but their own significance and purpose.

How often we hold onto the world’s lies over God’s truth!  We can see it heightened and devolving in American culture.  Wickedness in inappropriate sexual behavior and demoralizing violence is extolled by the media, no matter what injustice it brings.  We are completely saturated a the culture which promotes wandering sexuality, enacting violence on others (read anything from the NRA and its supporters) and the absence of God in any public discourse.  The overt lies get translated to individuals in subtle and not-so-subtle ways.  People, whether male or female, do not think they measure to their gender’s standards.  Social media is used to bully.  Families perpetuate violence from generation to generation.  It seems unabated.

I have to live in this culture.  I benefit from the culture.  How can I be sure I do not participate in its wickedness?  I am selective about what movies I watch and music to which I listen and by not copying any of the language associated with either.  I live out wholesome sexuality.  I do not participate in violence, including murderous threats and accusations.

These may seem obvious or simple, but how easy is it for someone to say about a shoot-em-up movie, “It’s just a movie.” Or about certain kinds of sexualized lyrics, “It’s good ole’ rock-n-roll.”  How pure are your thoughts about your marriage partner or how you live out celibacy, if single?  In light of great harm done by others against us, how easy is it to devise harm in return?

God will stand for none of it!  The rest of chapter one of Romans tells of the opportunities He gives for people of the world to see Him and, when they refuse,  lets people live their lies out, as if they are true.  He abandons them, which might be the greatest punishment of all.  That abandonment can be seen in the description of “sins” in Romans 1:25-32.  It is “normalized” culture today.  The lie has become true.

Romans 1:17

This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight.  And now we see, it begins and ends in faith.  As the Scripture declares, “The righteous will live by faith.”

So, the person in right-standing before God by trusting Him really lives.  To live by faith means to be guided by things unseen and not yet.  It means trusting God’s way instead of making our own way.

I need to reflect on my “assignment” as Paul did so as to live by faith.  I know I am called by God into a life with Christ.  I am sometimes unfocused by its broadness and context because it does mean my whole life.  Yet, I need to find ways to apply it specifically.  This includes my call to godly motherhood, which gets diffused by parenting adult children.  I am called to be a godly wife to a husband who is balanced and wonderful.  I sometimes don’t know how to offer myself to a person who is completed and stable.  For both these roles, I just want to be my best self in Christ so I can be a blessing.

Then there is that call into the world, which can become more problematic for me.  I feel like I hold answers and then I feel like I have nothing.  What is the urgent task of apostleship that Paul feels?  I used to think that it was calling others to the obedience that comes by faith.  I doubt as much as I desire to fulfill my own tasks. What do these moments mean?

Then I remember:  “Wait upon the Lord.  Be strong and of good courage.  Wait upon the Lord.”

How profound! The answer cannot be found in me.  The answer is in the Lord/on the Lord/The Lord.  The Lord of the universe has an (the) answer for me and cares about me enough to give it.  Am I willing/patient/ready enough to hear it?  That’s why we are instructed to wait, so as to develop readiness for the answer.  “Take heart,” the King James says rightly – ready the will to hear the answer.  Then Paul gives more direction in Philippians, “For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do as he please.”  I will let God do His work!

Amen – Make it so!

If we are to be spiritually formed

in a way that leads us to God,

we want to finally and thoroughly keep God at the center. 

What does God reveal about himself in this passage?

What does God most want for us?