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Ancient Path

12/10/2012

As Christmas gets ever closer, we are inundated with sales fliers, marketing emails and television commercials about the latest, greatest and most updated version of myriads of things that are “only on sale for a limited time and just in time for the holidays” as the retail industry strives to end the calendar year well in the black.  Each advertisement shows beautiful, shining pictures of things in such a way that we begin to believe that we cannot live another moment without buying them. Toys that were played with in our youth (or, dare I say, by our parents and grandparents in their youth) have been re-released with a new updated look to either the item itself or to its packaging, or both.   The electronic devices – along with their many attachments - are clamored for by children young and old. And
for the adults, how did we ever live without the latest gizmos and gadgets that have been specifically designed to save us time yet usually only succeed in draining us of our hard-earned cash?   It’s enough to make your head spin.

Being enticed by the ‘latest and greatest’ is not something new.  Nearly from the beginning of mankind’s life on earth, he has been tempted by Satan to go his own way by some new idea or thing.   (Remember when Adam and Eve ate the fruit that was forbidden? See Genesis 3:6) And ever since mankind gave into temptation and fell out of right relationship with God, he has searched high and low for more new and improved ways to restore that relationship.

Jeremiah 6:16 “This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”

What is this ancient way? It is the oldest, truest way God has given to mankind when He afforded him the choice to obey Him and trust that He would protect and provide for him, or else reject God’s way and go off on his own misguided course.   Sadly, the wrong path was chosen.  To follow God’s right path for living was, and is, the only way to find peace and rest for the soul that we so long for.

So how do we get back onto this ancient path?

John 14:6 “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”

There is no ‘new and improved’way to reach God. He still requires that we make a willing choice to trust Him in the provision He has made for us. And that provision to right relationship with Him is through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Which way will you choose? He’s waiting for you.

(For more information about forming a relationship with the Lord, see How
You Can Find Him located at the top of this page.)

Whole-Life Coverage

12/4/2012

As I bemoaned the sighting of additional gray hairs – how do they sprout up over night? – my hairstylist (who is in her early 20s) smiled at me and said, “Those aren’t gray hairs. They are wisdom hairs.”

I appreciated this new perspective on the evidence of the aging process and thought back to a time in my girlhood
when I could not wait to be middle-aged so I could be like the older ladies in my circle of influence who appeared, to my young eyes, to have so much wisdom about life things.   Looking in the mirror while my stylist chirped happily away as she trimmed my hair, I couldn’t help but wonder when I would feel as wise as I thought those women were from my youth.

Our society looks differently at graying men than they do of women.  Men get more ‘distinguished’ looking and are viewed as experienced, hence more trustworthy and valuable, in the workforce. Women, on the other hand, are viewed as merely old and worn out.

The Bible, however, tells us quite a different story.

Proverbs 16:31a “Gray hair is a crown of splendor;”

While we think of crowns as used solely for kings, queens and high priests, a crown is also indicative of the presence of honor and an elevated status.   Living to old age is an achievement and something to be celebrated.

Titus 2:4 “Then they [older women] can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.”

Women are to pass down the wisdom they have learned through their own life lessons to the younger women. Doing so sets them (and successive generations) up for greater success in their relationships with their husband, child(ren), and those in their community.    It also helps create a healthier society that is better able to take care of all of its citizens, including the elderly.

God, who knit me together in my mother’s womb with so much care (Psalm 139:13) has also promised to take care of me throughout my old age.

Isaiah 46:4 “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”

My ‘wisdom’ hairs are now viewed not only as a “crown of splendor,” but also as an encouragement to share my life’s lessons with younger women so that they are equipped for better success. And most importantly, these gray hairs, once looked at with such disdain, now act as a promise that the God, who cared for me at conception, will also care for me all the days of my life. What better assurance of
whole-life coverage could I have than that?

There is no better coverage you could have either. Why not start today? The choice is yours. He’s waiting for you.

(For more information about forming a relationship with the Lord, see How You Can Find Him located at the top of this page.)

Wise Choice

11/30/2012

Choices.  We, as free-thinking, free-willed individuals, make them all the time. This choice-process for each new day usually starts the previous night when we climb into bed and decide what time the alarm clock should be set for the following morning.   When that alarm sounds, our feet hit the floor and we jump right into practical decision-making mode without much thought as these are decisions that we make daily. Will we have breakfast before or after showering?   Do we even need to shower? What we will wear? In
what order do we need to accomplish items on our ‘to-do’ list to maximize our productivity? And on and on it goes as we move throughout our day until we can return home, weary and worn out from the days’ activities, to fall once more into bed where we make the last decision of the day and set the alarm clock for the following morning so we can begin the routine all over again.

While every choice we make will have either a positive or a negative consequence to it, not all of the choices we make will have life-altering implications attached to them, while some will.

When we were children, the majority of our decisions were made for us.  Then as we moved into adulthood, we made more decisions on our own. Most of the time, we did so consciously, with purpose; yet sometimes, when afraid to make a decision, we
chose to ignore committing to a firm decision thereby making a choice – often the incorrect one - by our silence.  The older we got, the more ‘grown-up’decisions we had to face, and sadly, would at times make the wrong choice, usually when we chose to ignore the hazards of risky behavior and instead believed that ‘it’ (whatever that means to you) could never happen to us. (Italways happens to the other guy,
right?)

And the resulting negative consequences of ‘it’ can be quite painful to live with. Too often in our decision-making process, we think that the choices we make only affect us and not anyone else. As such, we recklessly pursue selfish wants, all the while ignoring everything and everyone else except the attainment of our desires. It isn’t until afterward that we become aware of how others were affected by our poor choice.  As a rule, the closer in relationship these others are to us, the greater the affect our decisions have on them.

Living with this painful outcome can be quite uncomfortable. While it is better to face the consequences of our actions, some people refuse to acknowledge it in the hope that if they deny its existence, the pain will disappear. Others spend large amounts of time and energy pining over what could have been – what should have been - and wishing that the wrong choice hadn’t been made so that they would then not have to deal with the unwanted changes in their once-comfortable world.

Neither of these ways are healthy ways to deal with the resulting pain.  Thankfully, God has provided a way for us to positively deal with the negative choices either we, or others, have made.

Choose to acknowledge that you are in pain. Psalm 69:29 (MSG) “I’m hurt and in
pain;”

Choose to give your pain to God. Psalm 55:22 (NIV) “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”

Choose to forgive whoever brought about this pain, whether it’s yourself or someone else.   Mark 11:26 (NASB) “But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.”

Choose to live in the hope of God’s promise that good will come. Romans 8:28 (NIV) “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Perhaps life may not have turned out as you dreamed it would when you were a child.  That does not mean that it still cannot be good.  With God in charge of your life, while it will be different than you hoped for years ago, it will be far better than you could ever imagine. The choice is yours.   He’s waiting for you.

(For more information about forming a relationship with the Lord, see How You Can Find Him located at the top of this page.)

In the Midst of Chaos

11/26/2012

At this time of year in many parts of the country, the outdoors is transformed into a magical place as pristine blue-white snowflakes fall to blanket the dreariness and drab colors that remained after the beautifully colored leaves of fall dropped to the
ground. For those areas without snow, holiday lights strung in windows, in doorways and on trees can make the humblest of structures appear enchanted and festive.  Everywhere we turn, Christmas carols fill the air.  Our childlike wonder awakes and, for a brief moment, we feel the joy and expectation of the holiday season.

Until we have to go shopping.

While the stores have Christmas decorations up and have well-remembered carols playing in the background, holiday cheer is blatantly amiss amongst the majority of the masses as they try to navigate their shopping carts down store aisles that more closely resemble rush hour traffic that is at a near stand-still. Some, impatient to get the items they need, plow rudely and heedlessly through other holiday shoppers with dogged determination and without so much as an “excuse me”as they cut others off, then bang and bump on their selfish way, ticking off both the items on their list as well numerous people along their route.

And yet, even in the midst of all of this stress and chaos of this shopping experience, simple childlike wonder could still be found.

We heard her singing before we actually saw her. A four-year-old girl was sitting in a shopping cart as her expectant mother tried to maneuver their cart through the store.
Completely oblivious to the stress, impatience and disgusted looks on the faces of the adults around her, she sat intently playing with a small toy while she absent-mindedly sang a Christmas song to herself.   It was obvious that she felt no stress, was completely secure in her environment, and knew that she was safe with her mother watching over her.

There were several of us standing around – in yet another buggy traffic jam – who couldn’t help but hear the words she sang. This melodic reminder out of the mouth of a child about the joy of the holiday season helped to mitigate some of the hectic feelings that had been growing since we had entered the store. We smiled towards this precious singing soul before turning to also share the smile with our buggy-neighbors. Many of the hearers began to hum along with her and, as they gently eased their buggy on their way, were no doubt better able to enjoy the remainder of their shopping experience.

Seeing this little girl and her mother in the midst of the holiday craziness was a beautiful reminder of the relationship between God and His children.

As His child, we do not have to carry anxiety.

Philippians 4:6  “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petitions, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

As His child, we can feel secure because He is always with us.

Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

As His child, we are safe in His care.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 “But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.”

Once we accept the assurance of God’s promises, we will be able to perform tasks in our life with more ease as we live in the security of His constant care. And with a joyful heart, we can sing our praises to Him.

Start your Christmas gift exchange early this year. God has a very special gift to give you and there’s nothing better you can give to Him than yourself. He’s waiting for you.

Luke 18:17 “I [Jesus] tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

(For more information about forming a relationship with the Lord, see How You Can Find Him located at the top of this page.)

Thanksgiving

11/19/2012

This week, many across our beloved country will be busily preparing a Thanksgiving feast for their family and/or friends this Thursday. It’s an exciting time of traditional recipes, or for the more daring, new recipes that we hope will turn out picture-perfect and become a new favorite. In addition to all of the food we will overindulge in, there are football games to enjoy – “Please, God, if you’ll just let my team win, I’ll thank you from the bottom of my heart!” – as we head into ‘Black Friday,’ the day that usually begins in the wee hours of the morning for many die-hard shoppers so that not one door buster sale is missed.

Yet Thanksgiving is so much more than overeating, watching too many football games or spending more money than we can repay before Christmas the following year. In our state of bountifulness, it is easy to think that everyone else is also experiencing the same level of plenty. The truth is that many of the holidays on our calendar can be painful to people who are alone, feel forgotten, or who do not have the opportunity to feast and spend as others do. For all of us, regardless of where we fall on the ‘plenti-meter,’ Thanksgiving is an attitude that begins in the heart.

Psalm 9:1 “I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your
wonderful deeds.”

What wonderful deeds has the Lord done for you? Or do you have a difficult time recognizing any of them because you haven’t received what you think you should have by this stage in your life? If you are having a hard time seeing them, then start simply and thank God for Who He is.

Thank Him because He gave us life.

Revelations 4:11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their
being.”

Thank Him for His love and faithfulness.

Psalm 115:1 “Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.”

Thank Him for the wisdom …

James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

… and for the strength He offers to us.

Psalm 18:32 “It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.”

Thank Him for His constancy.

Deuteronomy 31:8 “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

And, best of all, thank Him for the gift of eternal life through His Son.

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Start a new tradition this Thanksgiving and take time to thank God for all of the good He has given to us, for “apart from you [God], I have no good thing.” (Psalm 16:2) You will discover that the more you give thanks to Him, the more you will find to thank Him for. He’s waiting for you.

(For more information about forming a relationship with the Lord, see How You Can Find Him located at the top of this page.)

Fear or Faith

11/15/2012

Fear.   It’s felt across the land and is daily reinforced by the news of current events. Our minds are fed a
consistent diet of negativity as we read (or listen to) the accounts of numerous natural disasters, crimes, and acts of terror. People have isolated themselves behind the closed doors of their home, or sit inside their locked vehicle, both of which are armed with security devices that are supposed to act as a deterrent to those who may wish us harm.   Hoping to feel better – safer - the ‘protected’ have become the imprisoned ones. We live in bondage, yet the fear has not been stilled.

According to The American Heritage Dictionary, one definition for the word fear is: 1a. An emotion of alarm and agitation caused by the expectation or realization of danger.

Many times we fear what could happen as opposed to reacting to what is happening.
This fearfulness is not something new to the modern age and is a tool that Satan used, and continues to use, to keep us from living the life of freedom that is ours through Christ.

Cities designed and built in the modern day are quite different than the architectural structures contained within or around the cities of yesteryear.  So too have the weapons of war changed over the centuries as mankind has developed ‘new and improved’ ways to fight battles and bring the most harm to their enemies.   Our God has not changed, however, and the Psalms paint beautiful pictures of His protective attributes towards His children.

Psalm 91:2 “I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.””

What is a fortress?  It is any place of exceptional security.

Psalm 91: 4 “…his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”

We know in a general way what a shield is from watching movies of the Roman era, but what is one really? It is a piece of personal armor that is meant to intercept attacks.

And what of a rampart?   That’s hardly a word that we have a reference point for in today’s world. Quite simply, it’s a defensive wall that is used to defend a city or settlement from potential aggressors.

Psalm 17:13 “Rise up, O Lord, confront them, bring them down; rescue me from the wicked by your sword.”

A sword is something that we are probably more familiar with than the other implements of war and protection listed above. It is another weapon of warfare with a long blade for cutting or thrusting.  It is an instrument of destruction.

When these definitions are strung together, a more personal image comes to light about God’s protective nature towards us. He is our place of exceptional security; He intercepts attacks and defends us from potential aggressors; and He brings destruction on the wicked.

One definition of the word fear from The American Heritage Dictionary was given above, yet there is another definition of fear that is vital to grasp: 2. Extreme
reverence or awe, as toward a supreme power.

God is the most supreme power and by virtue of that fact, we should profoundly adore and respect Him, in complete awe, simply for who He is. This is a holy fear and the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10) and, once we accept it, the avenue that leads to the freedom that we have through life in Christ (Galatians 5:1).

Psalm 34:4 “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my
fears.”

What is it that you fear today? God longs to set you free from every one of them. Fear or faith. Which will you choose? He’s waiting for you.

(For more information about forming a relationship with the Lord, see How
You Can Find Him located at the top of this page.)

Crisis Point

11/13/2012

Crisis.   According to one online definition, a crisis is “a time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger.” If you are human – and I highly suspect that you are – and are at least in the teenage years or older, you have had a   minimum of one, if not several, already in your life.  Over the course of your lifetime you will likely experience several more.

Yet hope is not lost.  God, in His wisdom and great love for us, knew that this would be so as far back as the Garden of Eden when mankind had their first and greatest crisis.

At the time of creation, God made a lovely environment – a garden spot – and put the man He had formed in it.

Genesis 2:15 (Amp.) “And the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and guard and keep it.”

God also created a wife for Adam and together they lived in and took care of the garden and all of the things in it that God had created for them there.   Life was going well until Genesis chapter 3 when Satan spoke through a serpent that also lived in the garden. He (Satan) deceived Eve by implying that God was unfair because He was withholding something from them when He forbade them to eat the fruit of two trees in the garden. These trees were the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Eve believed Satan, ate of the fruit and then shared it with her husband.

Genesis 3:8 (NIV) “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of
the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?””

Adam and Eve heard the sound of the Lord as He was walking. The implication is that God walked so frequently in the garden that the sound of His tread was recognizable to them. This day though, instead of joining Him to talk over the days’ activities or simply walk with Him while He saw what work they had performed that day, they hid from Him because they were ashamed.

When they had eaten the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, several things happened at once:   They recognized that they were naked (i.e. exposed); in their disobedience to God, the first act of sin was committed which caused a chasm in their relationship with Him; the ruling of the Earth was immediately transferred from Man's authority into Satan’s hands; God cursed the serpent (i.e. Satan) and He cursed the ground; there would now be greatly increased childbearing pains for the woman; and man would have to eat by the sweat of his brow.  As if that were not enough, God, in His great compassion for them, had to exhibit tough love and banish them from the garden He had created for them so
that they would not also eat the fruit of the Tree of Life, which would cause them to forever live in their now-fallen state of separation from Him.

Talk about a crisis!  The knowledge Adam and Eve had gained through their acceptance of Satan’s deception cost them their home, their dominion over the earth, and eternity with their Creator.

All was not lost, however, as before God banished them, He clothed them in animal skins so they would not be exposed, and  He also gave them hope that, while this crisis would now be passed down to every member of humanity from this point forward, He had a plan.

Genesis 3:15 (Amp.) “And I [God] will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her Offspring; He will bruise and tread your head underfoot, and you will
lie in wait and bruise His heel.”

God gave them assurance that a plan was already put into motion that would not only rescue them, but also us from this crisis state. This plan would come about through the Offspring of woman spoken of in the verse above and was in the form of Jesus Christ, God’s only Son. Because of Him [Christ], we no longer have to be separated from God through our inherited state of sin.  He is still our only Hope today to have a right relationship with our Creator.

Romans 7:27 “Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day,
first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people.  He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.” (emphasis mine)

Do you find yourself facing a crisis today? You do not have to face it alone. Just as God called “Where are you?” to Adam and Eve, He’s calling also to you today.  He’s waiting for you to answer.

(For more information about forming a relationship with the Lord, see How You Can Find Him located at the top of this page.)

Coming Apart

10/27/2012

A friend of mine and I used to have ‘come apart’ weekends. Usually taken once a month, these weekends were designed to, as she and I would say, “come apart before you come apart.”

Too often, the busyness in our respective corner of the world prevented this from happening as frequently as was needed. Many times when she and I would talk about all the craziness that was going on in life, it wasn’t long before one of us would verbalize the need for the other one to have a ‘come apart’ weekend.  Once the ‘ah-ah’ moment came and the necessity acknowledged, one was scheduled as soon as possible.

What does ‘come apart’ mean? In this case, the individual would purposefully remove his/herself from all of the craziness of everyday society, including interaction with people whether via the computer, in person, or on the telephone so he/she could spend concentrated periods in prayer and quiet contemplation. It was not uncommon
for a ‘come apart’ session to also include complete silence when no word was
spoken for the duration of this season.  Setting oneself apart from the bustling activity of the world within the confines of this haven that is filled with stillness, quietness and communion with the Father allows the mind, the spirit, as well as the body, to rest. At the end of this period of seclusion, the world could once again be entered with renewed energy and greater clarity.

Jesus acts as our example for this ‘come apart’ time.

Mark 1:35 “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place where he prayed.”

Luke 4:42 “At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place.”

Luke 6:12 “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.”

While a weekend is not necessarily the prescribed amount of time in these passages, it is understood here that Jesus – who was consistently pressed in by the crowds that followed Him wherever He went - removed Himself from the demands of His daily world while He prayed alone to the Father for as long as was needed in order for Him to rest and be renewed by the Father’s presence.  Once this was accomplished,
He could re-enter the world and interact successfully with those whose lives He
came to impact. Can we expect our need to be any less than Christ’s?   Indeed, as humans, we can expect our need to spend ‘come apart’ time with the Father to be even greater.

While it’s not feasible in the hectic pace of our word for one day, let alone two, to be set aside for this ‘come apart’ time, it is nevertheless vital for some span of time to be
dedicated each day to spend with the Father away from the world so that we, too,
can be successful in the life He longs to give us.

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in
heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is
light.”

Do you feel yourself coming apart? Come apart before you come apart. He’s waiting for you.

(For more information about forming a relationship with the Lord, see How You
Can Find Him located at the top of this page.)

Constant Vigil

10/25/2012

The longest awaited dawn is one that is preceded by a night of watchfulness over a sick family
member.

I sat alone – a solitary sentinel – in the darkened hospital room that was lit solely by the glow of the LED lights of the many buttons on several pieces of medical equipment. The whoosh whoosh sound from the various machines acted both as a comfort and as a constant reminder as to why I was here.

It’s challenging to see a loved one’s fever-wracked body in a tug-of-war hour after hour as it works hard to fight off infection. Throughout this particular battle, mine were the loving hands that, time and again, placed a cool compress onto the heated brow; mine were the many prayers - filled with both petitions and thanksgiving - that were whispered into the dim surroundings; and it was my hand that held the hand of the one in discomfort as an assurance of a steady presence so they knew that they knew they were not in this fight alone.

Many, including our Lord, have endured these ‘bitter watches of the night.’ Yet none were so bitter, or so vital, as was this particular night for Him.

Matthew 26:36-38 “Then Jesus went with his disciples to a placed called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.  Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of
death. Stay here and keep watch with me.””

Jesus, ‘sorrowful to the point of death,’ desired the comforting presence of His friends while He entreated His Father in prayer for another possible way for mankind to be reconciled to God other than for Him to have to walk the painful path to crucifixion.

Yet His friends could not stay awake to keep watch with Him while He agonized in prayer.  Twice He returned from praying only to find them asleep.  You can almost hear the deep disappointment He felt when He asked them in verse 40 of Matthew 26, “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?”

Jesus, full of compassion, knew how heavy the eyes of His friends were and He also knew the emotional challenges the next three days held in store for them.  While the humanness in Him longed for someone to watch with Him, the Godliness in Him knew that no one could walk this path with Him.  So He went quietly a little way away from them – for the third time – to once again converse alone with His Father.

In full submission to the Father’s will, Jesus prepared Himself to face the only way the sin-debt of mankind could be paid so that we could truly be in right relationship with Him.  He then willfully, with purpose, accepted the path that led to His death.

And as dawn broke three days later, He arose from the grave the Victor over sin and death.  We could now be free from the bondage of sin and would never again be alone or without hope.

Unlike Jesus’ human friends, we are assured that God never sleeps ….

Psalm 121:4 ”Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.”

... and that He is a constant presence.

Deuteronomy 31:8 “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

What is it that you are facing alone today? Jesus longs for you to know the assurance of His constant presence and wants to accompany you along life’s journey, through all that it may hold. The choice is yours.  He’s waiting for you.

(For more information about forming a relationship with the Lord, see How
You Can Find Him located at the top of this page.)

Can't Buy It

10/16/2012

The most valuable things in life cannot be purchased.

Before my husband and I married, we lived 1,000 miles away from one another.  Since we could not have the typical in-person dates as other couples do, we had to utilize other media during our courtship.  Very early in our relationship, he asked me what it was that I wanted. I told him, “I want all of those things that money can’t buy.”

To many in our society who equate the acquisition (or giving) of things as a telltale sign of their desirability and/or success, this statement is incomprehensible.  My husband, on the other hand, fully understood what I meant by those words without me ever having to give further explanation.

What does the phrase “all of those things that money can’t buy” mean?   Simply, it means love, respect, faithfulness, honor and understanding. These all lend itself to true living instead of simple mindless existence without fulfillment. It’s all of those
‘heart’ things that people down through the ages have longed for and sought
out. Sadly, in their impatience over not finding it in another human being quickly enough, many end up settling for less and their heart remains unsatisfied. It is in this discontented state that longings for true heart things grow until one day the search is resumed and, if not careful, unfaithfulness is born into the relationship.

God knows all about those heart things we crave because He’s the one who designed that desire-specific area in our spirits. As we go through life, we attempt to fill that God-shaped hole with all manner of things hoping to find the contentment, true love, honest acceptance and the meaningful life we long for, yet all the while, He’s the only one who can perfectly fit (and truly fulfill) that empty place in our heart.

The longings we experience in our physical existence mimic the same deep-seated desires of our spiritual selves.  While it is true that the best things for our earthly life cannot be purchased, so it is also true in our spiritual life.

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.”

God gave His very best to us – His son Jesus Christ - in the form of a gift.  It cannot be bought; it cannot be acquired through works.  This gift has to be received through
faith.

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”

I love the definition of the word ‘gift’ according to Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary:
1. Something freely given by one person to another for his benefit or pleasure.

God freely gave us His Son solely for our benefit. This is how deep His longing is for us to not die in our lost spiritual state which would separate us from Him forever. Instead, He wants us to freely accept His gift to us in this life so that we can then live with Him in the next for all of eternity. That is how much He loves us!

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Would you like to have all of those things that money can’t buy?   He’s given the gift to us. You need only accept it. He’s waiting for you.

(For more information about forming a relationship with the Lord, see How You Can Find Him located at the top of this page.)