Desiring Steadfast Love

Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.
– Psalms 51:12,13

More important to God is “mercy” (in the Hebrew, “hesed”) meaning steadfast love. This mercy leads us to have compassion for sinners as Jesus did…For, he desires love, not sacrifice, not religious observance (Hosea 6:6 & Matthew 9:13). This is the way taught to sinners, while we were dead in sin, caught in adultery, within the very throes of murder…Christ died for us.

I am realizing my natural proclivity is not found in a generous state. Yet, this is a way of life that I would desire to have. I want to be the grandpa who loves to spoil (reasonably) his grandchildren. I want to be kind. I want to be a joyful person. But these characteristics seem far from me. Perhaps these riches are found in a breaking of the heart. What God desires is a broken and contrite heart (Psalms 51:17)…He desires a humble heart of genuine love.

Holy Habitation

Sing to God, sing praises to his name;
lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;
his name is the Lord;
exult before him!
Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.
God settles the solitary (the lonely) in a home;
he leads out the prisoners in prosperity,
but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.
– Psalms 68:4-6

It is said that to know the true nature of a beast, you must visit the beast in it’s den…this is where the monstrosity can truly “be.” How interesting then that this phrase is directed towards the nature of people in regards to relationship.

We do not serve a “changing” God; our God “does not change like shifting shadows.” In His natural habitat He is kind, and helps those who cannot help themselves. A father to orphans portrays God as one who protect the most vulnerable. God’s provision for them reveals His compassion, as well as His justice. The faithful are to sing to God because He has shown Himself as kind.

Enduring brokenness

For He says,
“In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, now is the favorable time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.

But as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way:
By great endurance
In afflictions
Hardships
Calamities
Beatings
Imprisonments
Riots
Labors
Sleepless nights
Hunger;

By purity
Knowledge
Patience
Kindness
The Holy Spirit
Genuine love;

By truthful speech
And the power of God;

With the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;

Through honor and dishonor
Through slander and praise.

We are treated like imposters
And yet are true;

As unknown
And yet well known

As dying
And behold
We live;

As punished
And yet not killed;

As sorrowful
Yet always rejoicing;

As poor
Yet making many rich;

As having nothing
Yet possessing everything.

We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. In return (I speak to you as children) widen your hearts also.
– 2 Corinthians 6:2-13

These able to endure all understood these things:
God listens
He gives favor
His is salvation
He is a God who helps in time of need.
Because of knowing this at their core, they see themselves as equipped by God to handle all circumstances. But these trials come for a greater purpose; for the heart of the afflicted becomes open to pour out loving kindness and compassion upon others.

It is for the unnamed others that I suffer what I do. Though sleepless nights plague me, hardships, hunger, poverty…it is for the hope that my heart may become broken before God and man. That love would be birthed from pain and suffering.

Lord help, give me endurance to face these hardships. I feel like caving in, like giving up. I do not know what to do…except to turn to you. I am weary, tired, alone. Help me to place my trust in you. Grow love from these broken places.
I do ask for companionship Lord, I am terribly lonely. I ask that you would bring a good thing into my life. Someone to understand and seek to understand who I am. Prepare my heart for such a person.
In the meanwhile, grow our love between you and me…that you would be my God, and I would be all yours.
Amen

Born of Fire

And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’
– Zechariah 13:9

The Lords testing is to prove true the commitment of His people. Will they fold under the pressure, and bend in the heat? Who will they bow to in the midst of a furnace? This third spoken of has mutually committed hearts…ones that reflect and return the love of Christ.

God brings me into extreme heat…quite a few times actually. But, it is through suffering that I am perfected; that my love is made more effective and proven true, steadfast. And in this way others will know who I follow as I love others the way Christ loved me.

Lord disfigure me into the image of Your Son. The old ways of love and affection, would You burn them away…lost in the burning passion of Your loving kindness. Grow my heart that I may edify others in a greater capacity. Bring a greater kindness to surface out of the overflow of Your person within me. Help me to see others the way that You saw me.
Amen

Absorbing Hate and Turning the Tables

Scripture)
If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him. If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him.
-Exodus 23:4

Observation)
I am reminded of when Jesus speaks to his disciples and says, “love your enemies” and “do good to those who hurt you”. As a people under the true and living God we are called to turn the tables. Yes God delivers justice but we are called to grace. We are to be instruments of Christ’s love because he was to love us. That yet while we multiplied our offenses against him he still died for us. And after doing so we are ushered to a life of dying for others and bringing love to a world of hatred.

Application)
This life is not my own anymore. For those who mistreat me, I am called to treat in-turn with kindness. If I’m socked in the face, though hurtful, I am to be tranquil and allow for the same kind of treatment. Not because it is enjoyable but to remove bitterness, to absorb pain and hatred because that person out of the overflow of their heart has becomes overwhelmed. Christ calls me to suffering so that I may live out promise. That in these sufferings I too may be completed.

The heart of Kindness

Scripture)
Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
-Romans 2:4

Observation)
God’s kindness is a tool that he uses to turn us away from our broken line of living; it is kindness that brings us back to the heart of God. But if we turn our face from his kindness and continue down our way, we reap wrath.

Application)
This goes back to the question: What treasure am I storing up? If I live with an unchanging hard and stubborn heart I end up with a storehouse of really bad stuff! But if I live a life of honor and obedience, then my treasure will be awesome. So I must turn against a lifestyle of my own wants and seek a life that will edify others. My heart must turn from the shadows that grip me and run into open arms of light.

Prayer)
Lord, I thank you for your kindness that you have shown me. I ask that you would help guide my feet along the right path of living. Give me wisdom for today and sound understanding. Let my actions live out in a right way. Amen

Quarrels and Controversy

Scripture)
Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lords servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.
-2 Timothy 2:23-25

Observation)
The believer is to be a person who brings the peace of God into any situation. The example of the “real deal” is this: the believer is kind, able to teach, patient, and gentle.

Application)
With all of life spinning around me it seems that humankind insists on being quarrelsome. For some reason we call for the need of a fight, something to argue over to prove the sickly point that we are “individuals” and hold a pride in our diversity. This is where the presence of the Creator stands out, when He exists in human flesh. His presence turns the tables of a fight, returning a grace and gentleness in the place of a quarrelsome outcome. So: when people want me to side with them in slander or I start feeling arguable I must in all cases call upon the strength of the Lord. People may try to fuel a fire of arguments and ill intent…but I shall rely on the kindness of the Lord toward all.

Prayer)
Lord, exist in me entirely, let not my emotions and thoughts be pulled around and fueled to a wrath that is against my calling. Guide me and my conversations to align with Your will, thoughts, and words You want spoken. I pray for Your peace to be in existence in my life today. Amen