A Unique, Beautiful Frame

 

“Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.”

—Psalm 16:5-6

When looking at a picture, do you notice the frame? The frame can either enhance or detract from the picture it holds. Sometimes, it can reflect as much beauty as the picture. I am convinced that our lives compare to frames. They get more ornate as the years add up and reflect the imagination of God, the Creative Artist who fashions each life.

As time works on us, our struggles bring out a rich patina to the metal. The trials and deadly effects of life add swirls and cut deep into the wood, adding carved designs to the frame. In the end, we realize that Romans 8:28 has become true for us:

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Recently, in preparing to teach from 1 Samuel about Samuel’s mother, Hannah, I came across this quote about her: ¹

When Hannah took a very young Samuel to Shiloh and knelt with him in worship before leaving him behind to serve the Lord all the days of his life, the frame around her words was her long history of infertility and persecution for her faith in God. Hannah knelt in prayer that day within the context of a relationship with God that had withstood the tests of time and adversity.

When we feel the effects of wear and tear on our bodies, or the scraping and carving of the knife on our emotions and heart, we must realize that God considers the unique, beautiful frame with which He has surrounded us.

Our prayers and our words of encouragement to others have been framed by those circumstances that God the Artist has allowed us to experience. The picture may not be completed yet. Nevertheless, along with the finished frame, that picture will sometime reveal a more beautiful piece of art than we have ever realized.

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1 James, Carolyn Custis. Lost Women of the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing Company, 2005. p. 132.

 

 

Taste Test

 

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.”

—Psalm 34:8

I am always heartened to see the professional cooks on television taste their food to see if they like it. As a rather insecure cook, I must frequently use the taste test myself.

Psalm 34, quoted above, was written by David when he was in trouble. He had no one to trust but God Himself. Here David urges those who have difficulties like his to test the Lord and to find out that that the “taste” proves God’s goodness.

So, how are we to implement this particular kind of “taste test”? We perform that test by putting our trust in God when we need protection or provision. David tells us we won’t be disappointed. The test of our faith will reveal so much more nourishment and enjoyment from God than we could even imagine or expect.

We can also “taste” the goodness of our God by the reminders of His power, mercy, grace, and love through His written Word. Like a savory meal or a rich, satisfying dessert, we can dine on God’s revealed truth to us in His precious written Word. Another Psalmist tells us, in Psalm 119:103:

“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth.”

When I have guests coming for a meal, I am especially nervous about the right balance of the food. When we share our favorite dishes, we want those whom we’ve invited to enjoy them as much as we do.

But, what about those who have never “tasted” our God through the Lord Jesus Christ, His Son? How should we prepare and season the food of God’s written Word for those we hope to invite to the meal?

We want our feast filled with the zest of Christ. We desire those who have never tasted Him, to smell the aroma, to be drawn to the table prepared by the Holy Spirit. As Christians, even Jesus told us that we have the effect of presenting the world with His savory goodness. In Matthew 5:13, Jesus said:

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?”

Let us pray that God will allow us new bites of His goodness. Then pray that He will make our lives and the “food” we present to those who need it, tasty indeed, full of flavor, and sparkling with fresh goodness.

 

 

Sibling Rivalry

 

“If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load.”

—Galatians 6:3-4

Where does sibling rivalry come from? It seems to me that largely it comes from jealousy, selfishness, or a combination of both. Even the Bible has stories of such family disputes. These stories caution us about the common, but contentious, occasions between brothers and sisters, both at home and perhaps especially within our churches.

One such story occurs in Luke 10:38-42. You know how this story goes. Martha is cooking, while pots and pans pile up in the kitchen. But, Mary sits at Jesus’ feet listening to Him teach. Martha complains to Jesus and He sides with Mary because she chose to do “the most important thing.” Mature Martha loves Jesus. So, she undoubtedly responds in humility and love for her sister, as well.

Jesus tells another well-known story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32. In this story, the younger brother rebelliously demands that his father given him what will become his inheritance money, recklessly spends it on foolishness, but later returns home to ask forgiveness from his father. The older brother, who has remained faithful, stayed at home, and continued to work for his father, doesn’t appreciate the celebration and the banquet given to this ne’er-do-well sibling. The rift may have separated these brothers permanently. But, we aren’t told whether or not this is true.

My last illustration from Scripture can be found in Mark 10:35-45. This story shows what can happen within a faith community infected with rivalry. Brothers James and John come to Jesus and ask if they can sit in the two most prominent seats in heaven—one on Jesus’ right and the other on His left. The remaining ten disciples became so indignant that Jesus has to sit them all down and tell them:

“… whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.”

These stories illustrate the way that small rifts between brothers and sisters can cause disunity in our homes, at our workplaces, and, sadly, in our churches. Each such rift provides an entrance for the devastating work of the evil one. This kind of disharmony adversely affects the witness of the body of Christ and tends to turn Christians from allowing the power of the Holy Spirit to work freely in that body. Scripture admonishes us often to work at maintaining peace with our brothers and sisters, particularly within the church.

As Paul tells Christ’s followers in Ephesians 4:3:

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

We may expect, even tolerate, sibling rivalry between little children. But, among mature believers, we must ask God to protect us from the sins of jealousy and selfishness that create an atmosphere ripe for disunity. In our homes, in our places of work, and particularly in our churches, may God’s peace grow and abound to Christ’s glory!

 

 

Not Seen As Yet

 

“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by which he condemned the world, and became heir of righteousness which is by faith.”

—Hebrews 11:7 KJV

Noah found favor with God. And, according to Scripture found in Genesis 6 and 7:

God found him (Noah) righteous, blameless, among the people of his time, and he walked with God.

Noah was chosen by God for a very unique and historical appointment. In great detail, God laid out for Noah plans and promises for building an ark because God intended to send a great flood of judgment on the world.

Scripture tells us in Genesis 6-8 just how Noah dedicated his time, effort, and faith in doing exactly what God had said. This act of extraordinary faith landed Noah in the “Faith Hall of Fame” found in Hebrews 11:7.

Noah no doubt suffered cruel mocking by the godless people who lived around him. Yet, he followed every element of God’s plan. Noah may not have understood these life-changing commands of God, but Noah was rewarded with the saving of himself, his family, and all the living creatures when the world was indeed destroyed by a great deluge and flood.

Consider the extraordinary matter of this story. The key to the strength of Noah’s faith is contained in that phrase: “…of things not seen as yet.” Despite what Noah could not see, he believed God and obeyed.

Puritan Thomas Manton comments on Noah’s faith:¹

Though Noah only had the naked word of God, he believed. Also, the means of an ark was an improbable and incredible way of safety. The ark was made like a coffin where Noah was buried with all kinds of living creatures for many days. Certainly so great a work was done at great expense and labor… He had a thousand discouragements, yet being moved with fear, he prepared the ark. These things being so remote from sense, and only certain in God’s word, show the great force and virtue of his faith… It is the property of faith to be moved by such things that are not open to sense.

Could this account of Noah speak to us in 21st century America? Does God see things in our lives that we “have not seen as yet”? In His good season, does God intend to ask us to step out in faith? Are there new relationships He wants us to form? Does God have a new ministry that He wants us to create or join? Does God intend to give us new talents that He wants us to develop for His use?

While God may not ask us to build an ark to save those we love from the judgment He intends to bring against our generation, certainly He calls us—and all Christians in this day—to step out in faith for the saving of His people and for the performance of the work of His church.

______________________

1 Manton, Thomas (author). Richard Rushing (editor). Voices From the Past. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 2016. Vol. 2, p. 255.

 

 

Yet

 

“Why are you so downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”

—Psalms 42:5

Don’t you just love procrastinators? They say they will send you something, or come to visit you, or do something for you or others, or take care of an issue, but you can’t depend on when, or if, they will actually do what they have promised. You watch and hope they will come through. You wait, and you wait, and you wait.

Many accounts in the Scriptures make God look like a giant procrastinator. We wait and wait and pray and pray and nothing seems to happen like we think it should. We have many examples in the Bible:

• Joseph, son of Jacob, stayed in prison for a crime he didn’t commit for two full years. (Genesis 41:1).
  
  
• Hannah wanted a baby, but the years went by and she remained childless. (1 Samuel 1:7).
  
  
• David was anointed king. But, before he was crowned king, he still spent years being chased by the murderous King Saul. (Books of 1 and 2 Samuel).
  
  

Yet, in the study of all these stories, and many more, we see that God actually had a long-range plan and, which was His right as God, He waited for the right time to bring that plan to pass. A pastor I once knew called it: “the eventuality of God’s working.”

In the Book of Habakkuk, we read the prophet’s cry in Habakkuk 1:2:

“How long, O Lord, must I call for help?”

Then, God answers the prophet in Habakkuk 2:3:

“For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.”

Finally, in Habakkuk 3:17-18, we read that the prophet himself has taken up the word “Yet”:

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”

When we seem to “hope” our procrastinator friend will come through, we actually “wish” more than having a godly hope. But, when we wait patiently on God to act, the Bible encourages us to depend upon real God-given hope.

The Psalmist speaks of such a hope in the verse found at the beginning of this blog post. As we read in Lamentations 3, the Prophet Jeremiah, whose “splendor, and all he hoped for from the Lord was gone,” used the word “yet” and spoke of the “hope” he had.

What a God-given hope it takes for us to believe that, after months or years of praying, and believing, and waiting, God will eventually act according to His plan and His love for us. We must always wait, and pray, and believe. We must trust God to strengthen us for the waiting days ahead. And, to encourage us in our waiting, let’s read biblical accounts of faithful servants who hoped, and waited, and finally received that for which they prayed to God.