When Righteous is Wrong

"there is a season"

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Does it look like Autumn yet, where you are?

It doesn't here.  Believe me, I know, because I keep checking.  I'm looking forward to Autumn.  Summer is my 5th favorite season. 

{I know, but that's how much I dislike summer...}

The kids and I will be starting school on Monday, so they want to decorate the house with our fall decorations this weekend.  We're bringing in fall whether the weather wants it or not!

And the forced (and eventual) coming of Autumn has me thinking about how it won't be long before Christmas is here. 

Which is how I ended up thinking about Christmas today.  While it was 97 degrees outside. 

And what I ended up thinking was about the concept of the Naughty or Nice list.  My kids and I like to read Calvin and Hobbes comics, and there are often story lines about Calvin's attempt to be "good" as Christmas approaches.

Credit:  The talented Bill Watterson

Belief in Santa was a great incentive when I was a kid.  I mean, I really tried to be good all the time.

Most of the time.

I think. 

My mom might remember it differently...

Anyhow, I didn't just try to be good in December.  But when December came, I was more aware of my behavior.  It was easier to be good, and while I was on my best behavior, it was easier to look in the mirror and see a good child.

I recently heard a pastor say that we tend to place ourselves in a "pocket of self-righteousness".   I thought that was a very interesting concept.  And probably more true than I'd like to admit.  I think maybe sometimes we surround ourselves with people who make us feel better about ourselves, and then when we do a self-evaluation, it's when we're at our best.  It has to be, because when we're at our worst, it doesn't even occur to us that we should be checking our behavior.   But the reverse is true, too.  As soon as we catch ourselves in sinful behavior, we on our way back to the right road. 

There's righteousness, but there's also self-righteousness, and God's righteousness.  That should be my heart's desire, in any situation I'm in ~ Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall.

~ "Then it will be righteousness for us,

if we are careful to observe all these commandments

before the Lord our God,

as He has commanded us" ~

Deuteronomy 6:25

~

Simon

 "to carry His cross"

Matthew 27:32

One of the things that I love about the Bible, is that Jesus is everywhere. 

And one of the things that I love about reading the Old Testament is finding Jesus in places where His name is not mentioned.  Which, of course, is everywhere in the Old Testament.  Or nowhere...

For instance, we see Jesus in the story of Noah.  The ark was a place of refuge for Noah and his family, and the animals of the earth.  Jesus is our refuge. 

And we see Jesus in Isaac, a willing sacrifice in obedience to His Father. 

I like the challenge of finding Jesus symbolized in the people, or even objects (like the ark) in the Bible, both Old and New Testaments. 

But the other day I found Jesus in place I wasn't expecting Him.  I mean, I know I just said He's everywhere in Scripture, but still...

The reason it surprised me what that it was a verse about Jesus' crucifixion.  And generally, in a scene where Jesus is the star, the place to find Jesus is, well, Jesus. 

But look at Matthew 27:32.  This is a detail of the crucifixion narrative found only in Matthew.  And it mentions a man mentioned nowhere else in Scripture, Simone of Cyrene. 

Simon, as you probably know, helped Jesus carry His cross.  But I find Jesus here, in the knowledge that we do not have to bear our burdens alone.  The verse says that Simon was "compelled" which in his case means forced, really, by the authorities.  I think Jesus, too, is compelled, but in a different sense of the word.  He cares for us, and carries our cross, because He can do nothing else. 

He tells us in Luke 9:23 that if we are to follow Him, we must take up our cross.  But He also tells us (in Matthew 11) that His burden is light, that in Him we will find rest.  Those two things sound contradictory, but they both are true in Him.

~ "... casting all your care upon Him

     for He cares for you" ~

1 Peter 5:7

~

The more I know the more I know how little I know

"prayers night and day"

1 Timothy 5:5

I had trouble sleeping last night.  That ever happen to you? 

I mean, I fall asleep just fine, but if something happens to wake me ~ like the cat, or the heat ~ I have trouble falling back asleep. 

You too?

Is your problem the cat or the heat?  Cuz either way, I understand.

At any rate, the more I move, the less likely I am to fall back asleep, so I just turn on the fan, or put in my earplugs (depending on the sleep obstacle) without opening my eyes, and then lie very still and hope for the best. 

You too? 

And of course, I try to fill the time by praying.  If I don't, there is no telling where my mind will go ~ worries and anxieties are always waiting in the wings, you know?

So last night I was praying the Lord's Prayer, aka The Our Father.  They are some beautiful verses of Scripture, aren't they?  I once heard someone say that the Dictionary is the best book, because it's got all the other books in it.  Well, I think that Jesus' model prayer in Matthew 6 might be the best prayer, because it's got all the other prayers in it. 

It's got praise:  "Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name."

It has a prayer for His will:  "Your kingdom come.  Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

It has a prayer for our basic needs:  "Give us this day our daily bread."

... and for forgiveness: "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors."

... and for protection: "And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."

And it ends with praise: "For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.  Amen."

Yup.  That's a good prayer.  Maybe the perfect prayer.

But as I lay there thinking about prayer, and thinking about that prayer, I remembered another prayer, which I believe, despite all it lacks, is my favorite prayer.

So what is it missing, this other prayer?   Well, nearly everything.  It has no praise, and really no outward request for bread or forgiveness or His kingdom come. 

What it does have, is absolute humility. 

You can find it in Mark 9, in the words of a father begging Jesus to heal his son.   Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."  And immediately the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"

Humility.  And acknowledgement that He is God, and we are not. 

The word "believe" is the word "pisteuo", and it means to be persuaded; to think to be true; to have conviction and trust.   The word "unbelief" is the word "apistia" and it means lack of faith, or weak faith.   The meanings matter, and they help us understand what could be misunderstood with the English words, as it sounds a little like he was saying, "I believe, but I don't believe." 

The meanings of the words make it clearer.  "I trust You," he was saying, "but my faith that this miracle will actually happen, is low."  It's understandable after a lifetime of discouragement ~ like a child with who has needed help since childhood; and after a failed attempt to help ~ like the disciples' inability to cast out the demon.

So I'm glad to know the deeper meanings of the words, but I still prefer the prayer in the language I know.  English, with all its faults, is poetic here.  I believe; help my unbelief. 

I have faith, but not enough.  I trust Him, but not enough.  He is mighty, but I fear not mighty enough.  He does miracles, yet I have no hope. 

Faith I have.  Enough to know, that it is faith I need.

~ "If we are faithless,

    He remains faithful;

       He cannot deny Himself" ~

2 Timothy 2:13

~

Live and Learn

"the teacher with the student"

1 Chronicles 25:8

We're only days away from starting up school again.  We've gotten our books, and we're each cleaning off the shelves to set things up and get organized for a new year.  New folders, sharpened pencils, etc.

My Awesome Girl is a little more eager than my Amazing Boy to start.  They both do their best when they sit down to learn, but he takes a little more encouraging before he'll actually sit down.  She, on the other hand, does schoolwork on vacations and days off.   Voluntarily.  How many kids do you know do that?

So in the past few days, she has cracked open a couple of her textbooks.  Not at the beginning, mind you.  She's all about organization, and she likes to start Page One on Day One. 

But she's been looking through the books, familiarizing herself.  And math books always have exercises in the front.  Sort of aptitude tests, to make sure a student has learned what they need to be at that level.  So she does those.  Not to make sure she's at the right level, but to get back in the swing of things.  And simply because she likes learning. 

But this is the same child, who many, many moons ago, made an interesting statement to me. 

We were discussing life lessons at the time.  As opposed to school lessons, that is.  And I was saying something about the things God teaches us through the circumstances in our lives.  And she said to me with a sigh, "Mom, sometimes I don't want to learn; I just want to know."

Boy, I hear that.  There are some lessons that are hard to learn.  Sometimes the things we have to go through, we have to go through for a long time.  Or we have to watch someone we love going through a trial, while God works on both of us. 

It's not just about knowledge.  Knowledge is wonderful, and important.  But we can't get there without the learning process.  At least most of the time, we can't.   We prize knowledge.  But maybe we should appreciate the learning a little bit more.

~ "Blessed is the man whom You instruct,

O Lord,

and teach out of Your law" ~

Psalm 94:12

~

Preventative Maintenance

"be armed, ready to go"

Numbers 32:17

I ran out of gas in my car once.

But only once.  Because when my father arrived to bail me out, he said, "There is no excuse for running out of gas."

He wasn't mad. {Although he was probably justifiably irritated at the inconvenience of having to come rescue me!}  So it wasn't an anger-fueled comment, he was simply stating a fact.   There is no excuse.  Gas stations are everywhere, and you have a gauge to tell you when you are low.

It was a lesson that stuck with me.  Obviously, since it was ± 25 years ago, and I still remember it.  I think about when my gas tank gets low, which is probably what my father had in mind.

But I also thought about it recently, when I had a full tank of gas.  It was on the same day that I had the oil changed in my car.   And when I have my oil changed, they also do all those other checks, air filters or other fluids or whatever.  And they rotate and align the tires.

I drove home that day feeling equipped; ready for anything.  I could go anywhere and do anything I needed to for my family without any worry about my equipment.   I had full confidence in my car.

I mean, I know I was still vulnerable to a surprise flat, or unforeseen engine trouble.  But I had done everything I could to be prepared.  That's all we can do.

And that's what we should do.   Know in advance what the possible problems might be, and take steps to head them off.  When my kids were little, I used to remind them, when they were going into a difficult situation, that they needed a weapon.  And based on Ephesians 6:17, our weapon is the word of God.  So I would tell them to have a verse in mind that would strengthen them.  To be ready.

Ready for anything

There's so much that is unpredictable in life.  All the more reason to prepare in whatever way we can.

~ "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God...

that the man of God may be complete,

thoroughly equipped for every good work." ~

2 Timothy 3:16,17

~

The Art of Conversation

"something shaped by art

and man's devising"

Acts 17:29

My sister and her family came into town a few weeks ago.  They stay at my folks' house, which is only minutes from our house, so we spent the vast majority of our days over there, watching movies, playing card games and board games, and just hanging out.

Dinners were especially nice.  We ate outside every night in my parents' lovely, lush yard.  And long after the food was gone, we were still talking, solving the world's problems, as it were.  Or maybe identifying a few more...

We're not a huge family.  Three daughters, all married, and all with children.  But our views on the world can be diverse:  politics, faith, social issues, child-rearing, books, movies... you name it.  We don't always disagree, but when we do, we're not afraid to say so.  On the contrary, we love a good debate.

Well not so much our husbands... They are just men who happen to love women who love a good debate.

Naturally, this diversity makes for some stimulating conversation, and though you may not leave with a different opinion, you've definitely encountered some thought-provoking discussion.  And to me, there's nothing better than having my thoughts provoked.  I guess I agree with Socrates' famous line, "The unexamined life is not worth living."

Anyhow sitting around the patio table this summer, we were remembering a great discussion we had over Christmas, when we were all together at my sister's house.  But it wasn't about politics, or religion or foreign affairs. 

It was about puppies.

Or farm animals.

Or jazz musicians.

It depends who you ask.

Here's the source of the controversy:

What do you think?  This is the artwork that hangs above the fireplace in my sister's home.  And after we'd been there for several days, someone finally said out loud what we were all thinking:  "So, what's that supposed to be, anyway?"  And a rich and varied conversation began in earnest. 

One viewpoint was that they are instruments.  One said it was three musicians playing on instruments.  Another said that it was a puppy lying on his back (head to the left).  Still another said it was the faces of three farm animals (I think that's a pig on the right).

It was such an entertaining and educational discussion, trying to see each others' points of view, sometimes only with difficulty. 

"See it?"  
"No, I really don't."
"Tilt your head a little."
"Yeah.... nope.  Can't see it."
"Try squinting."
"Ohhhh, there it is!"

This is what I like about a good discussion.  Seeing something that you didn't see before.  It's why I've been involved in Bible study for the past 12 years, because I love to discuss Scripture with people who love it as much as I do, or are as interested in it as much as I am.  Sometimes I come away thinking, "Huh.  Interesting, but I don't think that is the best interpretation."  Other times I come away thinking, "Wow.  I can't believe I never saw that before!"

There are facts in Scripture.  Unassailable, indestructible, unquestionable truths about Him, and about us.  But there are also points to discuss and interpret and research.  And I think that's exactly what He had in mind.  I think it was Martin Luther who said, "The Bible is shallow enough for a child to wade in, but deep enough for an elephant to swim in." 

Or vice versa.  It's sort of like abstract art.

The point is:  sometimes we're the elephant, and sometimes we're the baby, but we gotta get in and get wet!

~ "So they read distinctly from the book,

in the Law of God;

and they gave the sense, 

and helped them to understand the reading." ~

Nehemiah 8:8

~

Together

"Nevertheless I am continually with thee."

Psalm 73:23

Did you ever come across a line or a verse or a passage of Scripture, and feel it touch your heart?  Did you find yourself pondering it, musing it, turning it over and over in your mind as you dwelt happily on its meaning...

~ only to find out that you'd misread it?

I suppose this is what happens when we read something out of context, and think we've got the whole picture.   Sometimes that sort of misunderstanding can lead us astray.  Dangerously astray, as illustrated by the false prophets and teachers that the Bible warns us about. 

But in this case, what I misunderstood wasn't biblically incorrect.  As a matter of fact, it's a truth that can be found elsewhere in Scripture.  "Nevertheless, I am continually with thee." 

Now, what I read there was a promise from God, that no matter what happens, He will always be with me.  Which is true.  See Matthew 28:20. 

But then I looked up the whole psalm, and discovered I had it wrong.  It's not a promise from God, it's a declaration by the psalmist.  It's what we should pray to God!

"My heart was grieved,

and I was vexed in my mind.

I was so foolish and ignorant;

I was like a beast before You.

Nevertheless I am continually with You;

You hold me by my right hand.

You will guide me with Your counsel,

and afterward receive me to glory."

All of a sudden, the meaning changed drastically.  I thought it was promise that no matter what I do, no matter how foolish and ignorant I am, He will be continually with me. 

Which is true. 

But this psalm is an acknowledgement that no matter if I am sinning, even if I am being weak, that does not change my desire to be with Him.  I am never far from His love and protection, even when my heart is leading me away.  Like a child that is trying to cross the street without looking, He holds me by His right hand, and guides me.  He knows I want to be with Him, even when I'm acting like I don't.

I know; it's a slight difference.  Me with Him, or Him with me.  Same outcome, right?  But I think I'm celebrating the wonderful, if slight difference between Him making a promise, and me acknowledging that promise. 

Even though I....

and even if I....

and no matter what I.....

I am with Him, and He is with me. 

~ "it is good for me to draw near to God;

I have put my trust in the Lord God,

That I may declare all Your works" ~

Psalm 73:28

~