When God's Ways Are Invisible

When a life partner or friend deserts us, it is hard to understand what God is doing in our life.  It’s as though our vision is somewhat impaired. Sometimes when our health is challenged we can experience the same thing.  Early in May 2002 a doctor friend informed me, “You have melanoma cancer, the fast spreading kind where some people don’t live more than several months after the discovery. It’s very vital that you have this checked out very soon.”  At that time I felt dazed like I was moving around in a fog.  It is at those moments we need someone to come to our rescue and pray for God to open our eyes to see the invisible.

“For by him (Jesus) were all things created, that are in heaven,

and that are in earth, visible and invisible.”

Colossians 1:16

It was that way in II Kings 5 with ungodly Naaman, an honored army commander who was diagnosed with leprosy. His little foreign servant girl told his wife, “I wish my master could go the a prophet of God in Israel. He would cure him of his disease.” Because of that, Naaman went to Elisha who instructed him to wash in the Jordan River. That made Naaman angry and he told his servants, “I thought he would just wave his hand over the place and heal me. The rivers back home are a lot better than this water in Israel. Why can’t I wash in them and be clean?”  Then his servants came to him and said, “If the prophet had told you to do some difficult thing, wouldn’t you have done it? All he said for you to do is wash and you will be clean.” Naaman listened to their counsel and was healed…just as God said he would be. It was after he obeyed that his eyes were opened to see the invisible God.

…Naaman said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel.”

(II Kings:15)

His eyes had been opened to see the invisible God, but it all started by a little servant girl’s advice. Then later his servants challenged him to not let his pride stand in the way of his healing. God sometimes talks to us in the most unexpected ways through the people we least expect Him to.

Ruth Graham tells about a friend who was a deputy with the local sheriff in their county. The sheriff had decided to require each man to qualify on the firing range. Each one had to hit the target accurately at twenty five yards with twelve shots in eighteen seconds. George Burgin had just been fitted with a pair of trifocals the day before this test. He aimed at the target and suddenly he began to perspire. All he could see was a fog. Then he remembered what a Navy instructor had taught him, “If you ever lose sight of your target…just remember your position. So he just held his position and pulled the trigger as fast as he could. He had less than eighteen seconds left, but got all his shots off. He then removed his glasses and wiped them. To his amazement, he had hit the bull’s eye every time.”

We may feel like our spiritual glasses are fogged up today, but if we will hold our position in doing what God tells us to do today…we will hit the bull’s eye every time.  Those are the times when God’s invisible ways become visible.  They did for Naaman. They did for George. They did for me. They will for you.

Selah….

Al Yoder

3/25/2011

The Wonderful Grace of Jesus

Do you know this hymn?  More importantly, do these words resonate with you?

Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Greater than all my sin;
How shall my tongue describe it,
Where shall its praise begin?
Taking away my burden,
Setting my spirit free;
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

Refrain

Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus,
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
Wonderful grace, all sufficient for me, for even me.
Broader than the scope of my transgressions,
Greater far than all my sin and shame,
O magnify the precious Name of Jesus.
Praise His Name!

Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Reaching to all the lost,
By it I have been pardoned,
Saved to the uttermost,
Chains have been torn asunder,
Giving me liberty;
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

Refrain

Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Reaching the most defiled,
By its transforming power,
Making him God’s dear child,
Purchasing peace and heaven,
For all eternity;
And the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

I don't know how many times I heard this hymn as a child.  I liked the bass line in the chorus, and it was a nice, peppy song.  But the words never really struck me.  And I don't think they do automatically strike a chord unless you have been changed by the grace of Jesus.  Unless we realize the fullness of the wonderful grace of Jesus, singing songs like this won't make that much sense.  I pray that you know this grace to the fullest and your heart can join in singing of the wonderful, matchless, overwhelming, life-changing, powerful, eternal grace of Jesus.  

God's Voice Through a Child

When our children were at home yet, there were times when Rose and I were having a hard time communicating with each other. Our children would beg us to go and be reconciled with each other. Our conflicts made it difficult for them to be happy, so they were used of God to speak to us. It’s an amazing experience to hear God speak through our children. 
As I was in the middle of writing this devotional, a friend called to say his forty four year old daughter Kim died of pneumonia last night. I’m sure there were many thoughts racing through his mind of her childhood up to the present. Children have a powerful impact on us as parents, just as surely that parents impact children.
We have some good friends that told us they had never been used to “going to church”, but they took their only daughter because they thought it would probably do her some good. One day their daughter begged them to come to a revival meeting at the church. They didn’t really want to go, but since the sun rose and set on their only child, they got dressed and went with her. When the alter call was given, they felt God tugging at their hearts and both received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. After they took a tour of their daughter’s Sunday school room, they saw their names on the chalk board. The class had been praying for this mom and dad’s salvation.
Children often have a tremendous impact on God’s kingdom, so let’s not underestimate the power of taking time to train them and listen to them. Little children have qualities that Jesus places high value on.

Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Mark 10:15  NIV

Max Lucado tells of a father and mother that came home feeling grumpy because of things that happened to them during the work day. Each wanted a little sympathy from the other, but neither got any. So as they sat down at the supper table with little five-year-old Emily, she folded her hands and began to pray. The mother and father bowed their heads, but not their hearts and listen. To their surprise this is the prayer they heard: “God, it’s Emily. How are you? I’m fine, thank you. Mom and Dad are mad. I don’t know why. We’ve got birds and toys and mashed potatoes and each other. Maybe you can get them to stop being mad? Please do, or it’s just gonna be you and me having any fun tonight. Amen.”  The parents looked at each other in the middle of her prayer and at the end they laughed and said they were sorry for their grumpy attitudes. They were thankful for the little voice God used to speak to them about what really matters in life.

How are we reacting to the pressures and problems we are having in life? Do we let God speak to us through these little people, like this couple did? Not only can we not come into the kingdom of God unless we have the humility of a little child…we can hear God’s voice more clearly when we pay attention to children.  Let’s lighten up and laugh more often. Let’s forgive each other more quickly, and let’s remember that the urgent is not always what matters the most!

Selah…

Al Yoder

3/02/2011

What is Better Than Life?

Psa 63:3  Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. 

Do we really believe that God's love is better than life?  If we believed the Bible, if we were wholly open to the Spirit's leading and work in our lives, if we have really experienced the life-changing experience of renewal through our Savior Jesus Christ, this statement would ring absolutely true to us.  As I was praying this morning, the words of this Psalm came to my mind, but I was struck by the intensity of the statement.  I was convicted of the fact that too often the meditation of my heart and the words of my mouth speak of my commitment to these passing things around me rather than the infinite worth of knowing Jesus.  How often do we fret, plan, worry, expend our energy, talk about, spend our money, and use up the biggest part of our lives for things that will seem so insignificant when we see Jesus face to face.

I want to live like God's steadfast love is truly better than life.  No matter what blessings or hardships this life may hold, we have a love that is worth far more than anything.  Anything!  That is the love poured out from on high toward us, the love that led Jesus to the cross, bearing our sins and accepting our punishment.  The love that comes into our lives through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, filling us with a love that was previously unattainable and unthinkable, both for God and for our neighbor.  

Another line from a Psalm that I have been thinking about is from the 24th Psalm: 

Psa 24:3  Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?
Psa 24:4  He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.

The phrase "who does not lift up his soul to what is false," has implications in this line of thought.  Day by day we are lifting up our soul.  We are expending our life's energy in pursuit of so many things.  We need to make a living, though we have been told to pray for our daily bread and trust God for it.  And to have meaningful goals and hobbies are great.  But all of these things will pass away.  To lift up my soul, to give more than I ought to give of myself to any of these things that are so temporary, is to betray where my heart really is.  Lord, help us to store up treasures in heaven, rather than clutching at these dust-covered shadows of treasure that are passing away each day.  Help us to truly believe and experience that Your love is better than life.  Help us to see that You are the greatest treasure of all and that You have promised that we will enjoy You and live in Your presence forever if we are among those who are called by Your name.   Help us to embrace the full meaning of Your love for us, and that it truly is better than life.