Crosswalk.com--The Devotional

[Judy Harder]

January 4, 2010

Grace for Families in 2010
Sarah Jennings, Crosswalk.com Family Editor

"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."
Genesis 2: 24 NIV


Part of my job as Crosswalk's Family editor includes receiving letters from you, the readers, about family issues. Something that struck me this past year was how many Christian families suffer - truly suffer. Some struggle from financial woes, others from the behavior of rebellious teenagers, and some from painful relational problems within their marriages.


While I can't offer quick fixes in this small devotional entry, I want to reflect on some scriptures here that will hopefully offer you some encouragement if you are among those facing a difficult family situation.

"The man said, 'The woman you put here with me--she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it." Gen 3: 7 - 12.

First, if you're facing a broken situation or relationship, remember you're not alone. With the fall of man came the fall of family life.  We can see this in Adam's dysfunctional words as he blames God and Eve for his own sinful decision to eat the forbidden fruit.

You may compare your family to others and feel like a failure - like everyone else has this family thing figured out. But truthfully, we are all sinners who marry sinners and give birth to sinners. While this truth doesn't excuse a person's hurtful, sinful behavior (God himself is grieved by such behavior), it helps ground me a little more in reality when I find myself playing the comparison game or building up unrealistic expectations of others.

"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord." Ephesians 5: 8

Second, we're not doomed to this sinful state forever. Becoming Christian doesn't necessarily make family life easier, but it does make healing possible.  It is through the sanctifying grace of Jesus Christ that not only can we be transformed as individuals, but our relationships can also be transformed, successfully reflecting the Trinitarian love of God to each other and the world. This is God's desire for every Christian family, not just a privileged few. For as many disheartening letters as I receive from distraught spouses and parents, I receive encouraging letters and articles from those who have found true transformation and healing in Christ. If you are a believer, know that you have profound spiritual support to overcome your family trials.

"Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them." Ephesians 5: 8-11

Third, transformation requires humility, help and work on our part. This may seem like I am stating the obvious, but sometimes it's helpful to me when a loved one reminds me of basic truths. Just as we didn't instantly become perfect upon our acceptance of Christ, neither will our families. Each day we have choices - choices to choose Christ and accept his grace or to turn our backs. Occasionally we have breakthroughs - giant leaps forward in sanctity - but most of the Christian life consists of small, everyday decisions to seek God and live in his truth.

Sometimes we need help from fellow believers to live successfully as children of the light - even Christ, who needed no help, graciously received help from Simon in carrying his cross (Matt 27: 32). I encourage you to plug into a local support group or check out some of the resources at the end of this devotional if your family is hitting particularly dark days.

"My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done." Matt 26: 42

Fourth, God grieves with us. He doesn't rejoice in our pain or sit back and watch indifferently. Whatever trial you're facing, he is there, wanting the very best outcome even if sometimes we don't feel his presence or understand why things are going the direction they are going. When I find myself questioning God's loving presence, I reflect on Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane where he accepted the painful cup of sacrifice out of profound love for you and me.

"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10: 10

Fifth, while being Christian means embracing our crosses, it doesn't mean we'll never know joy or peace in our lives or families. There is hope. My prayer for you is that you will have renewed strength, happiness, and faith within your families in 2010.

Intersecting Faith & Life:  Sometimes it's easy to get overwhelmed by our situations, and we forget to remember the positive. List at least one good trait in each family member and reflect on these positives during your quiet time.

Further Reading

The Power of Rewriting Your Story -- Dr. David Hawkins

Resources:

The Marriage Recovery Center
Retrouvaille
Love Path 911
Heartlight Ministries (for parents with struggling teens).

[Judy Harder]

January 5, 2010
Restoring Authentic Joy
Alex Crain
Editor, Christianity.com

"Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit."
Psalm 51:12


Today marks the first Tuesday of the new decade and the first of many Tuesday visits yet to come with Dr. Francis Schaeffer. Decades ago, Schaeffer walked with his students in the rarefied air of the Swiss Alps and applied Christian theology to all of life. While the alpine option with him is no longer available to us, we follow his trail of thought by way of his writings.

Edith Schaeffer wrote of her husband in the book L'Abri that he was a man who wanted his life and work to be "a living demonstration of the existence of God," which it most notably was. But prior to the time of his most fruitful ministry years in post WW II Europe, Francis went through a period of severe crisis in which he felt he had to honestly address the lack of genuine spiritual joy in his life. What came out of that crisis is the content of his book, True Spirituality.

Assuming that you share Dr. Schaeffer's interest in having a life characterized by authentic joy, let us consider together some of the initial points in True Spirituality (chap. 1) as we embark on the first steps of our journey with Schaeffer through his Complete Works. 

At the onset of chapter one, Dr. Schaeffer begins True Spirituality with a necessary discussion of first things so as to be clear about what it means to be a Christian:

1)       We were created for fellowship with God, but there is a barrier in that God has a character. He is a holy God. We are sinners by nature and by choice.

2)       We cannot breeze past these facts. Before we can become Christ followers, we must acknowledge our alienation from God and that we have real guilt deserving death and hell, not just guilty feelings requiring a therapeutic faith solution.

3)       Only the finished work of Christ upon the cross as the Lamb of God—in history, space and time—is enough to remove our true moral guilt so that we can be brought into fellowship with God.

4)       We must not attempt to add anything on our part to the finished work of Christ.

5)       The only instrument for accepting that finished work of Christ upon the cross is faith alone.

a.       Faith is not a leap in the dark—trying to believe in something that you doubt is true.

b.       Rather, faith is...

·         believing the specific promises of God,

·         no longer turning your back on them,

·         no longer calling God a liar by suppressing the testimony of Scripture, attested by history

·         but raising the empty hands of faith

·         and accepting that finished work of Christ as it was fulfilled in history upon the cross. 

This is sufficient food for thought for today. But not just for today. Schaeffer's recap of the gospel—how we can be right with God in Christ alone, by grace alone, through faith alone—provides that which is absolutely essential not only to the initial discovery of joy, but the ongoing recovery of it every day. The gospel is utterly foundational to authentic Christian living and it must be personally rehearsed again and again in all of its dimensions.

One gospel resource that resonates with Schaeffer's recap here is a book called A Gospel Primer for Christians by Milton Vincent. It is amazingly helpful for reviewing the deep truths of the gospel every day. For instance, this past Sunday, I shared the following excerpt with our congregation at the close of the service:

The gospel reminds me first that what I actually deserve from God is a full cup churning with the torments of His wrath (Rev. 14:10). This cup would be mine to drink if I were given what I deserve each day (Psalm 75:. With this understanding in mind, I see that to be handed a completely empty cup from God would be cause enough for infinite gratitude. If there were merely the tiniest drop of blessing contained in that otherwise empty cup, I should be blown away by the unbelievable kindness of God toward me.

That God has, in fact, given me a cup (Psalm 23:5) that is full of "every spiritual blessing in Christ" (Eph. 1:3), and this without the slightest admixture of wrath leaves me truly dumbfounded with inexpressible joy... Life's blessings, however small, always appear exceedingly precious when viewed against the backdrop of the wrath I deserve. (pp. 47-48 A Gospel Primer for Christians, Milton Vincent)

Let's walk on now and be restored to authentic joy in the good news of peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1).

Intersecting Faith & Life: 

How blown away are you by the blessings of God in your life?

What is the reading on your authentic joy meter?

How central to your life is the habit of daily rehearsing the gospel?

Further Reading
Ephesians 2
John 6:68

[Judy Harder]

January 6, 2010

The Beauty of Waiting
by Katherine Britton, Crosswalk.com News & Culture Editor

"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." - Psalm 27:14

Waiting seems to be a common theme in my circle of friends right now. For some, like my friend who was laid off twice in eight months, the long-awaited hope is a stable job in a tough economy. Others are biding their time, trying to find useful ways to serve and stay busy until God speaks. Some can see their heart's desire just across the room and yet must act as if it's a world away. Those finishing graduate school and starting new jobs find themselves waiting on new friends in new places.

This weekend, two of my dear friends reached the end of their wait. Their story waited for three years while they grew ever so slowly together. They might have constructed a different narrative for their story back then if they had had a choice, but as I watched her walk down the aisle, I wondered if she still felt the hurry. This bride and groom's circumstances refused to follow the seemingly most desirable timetable, and the monumental effort they both invested sometimes seemed ineffective. But I witnessed a tender moment as my friend walked towards her groom - her eyes never left his face, and he couldn't stop smiling at her. Those three years slipped by in a moment to reveal two people refined and beautiful.

I crave a destination, not the trip, so likening waiting to some over-spiritualized journey is lost on me. But I am a person who goes endures the racking climb to see the spectacular vantage point - I want to see the beauty of the Lord made known. Seeing my friends walk down the aisle gave me a similar feeling. I saw the beauty that had come from waiting - and that made the wait beautiful too.

Sitting at home tonight, my thoughts keep drifting back to Hannah, the prophet Samuel's mother. This dear woman endured years of childlessness, wanting a son so badly that the waiting made her sick. Her prayer was "remembered" after many tears and pleadings with God, and ultimately she gave the reward of her waiting. Yet her story concludes with a song, a beautiful meditation on the paradoxes of waiting on God to fulfill his promises. As she delivered her son to a lifetime of service - away from her, no less - she proclaimed, "My heart rejoices in the Lord... for I delight in your deliverance." This was a woman whose night of sorrow lasted for years, but even she saw the beauty of the morning.

My driving heart would like to think that good things come through waiting, but perhaps that understanding narrows the beauty of redemption. Why don't we extend the beauty to the waiting itself? As the song goes, "He makes all things beautiful in his time." Yes, even the waiting.

Further Reading

Why Waiting is Really Trusting
"The Fullness of Time" .

[Judy Harder]

January 7

Letter from Dad
by Shawn McEvoy, Crosswalk.com Senior Editor

Abba! Father! All things are possible for you.
Mark 14:36

My son was having a problem at school. Not with his schoolwork, or even socially. It was a personal problem, and it was minor, but it was of some concern to his mother and me. And if he didn't solve it soon, it would become of greater concern to him as well.

We tried all sorts of encouragement (even forms of discouragement). We did everything we could within the bounds of letting him feel secure, making sure we knew he was excelling at the important first-grader-type stuff, making sure he didn't develop a complex. Still, nothing was working. Basically, he'd get so involved and engrossed in whatever he was doing that day or at that hour that he just couldn't remember to take care of other important items. A multi-tasker he is not yet. Nor must he be. Laser-like focus and concentration is a trait I know many parents wish their children displayed.

Anyway, as with many things, the solution came from him. One morning as we were praying and encouraging him about the issue before school, he suggested a note. He said it might really help him if I wrote him a note - a special, secret note in a code just for us - that he could keep in his chair-pocket at school, one he could take out every day and read and think of me and remember what he was supposed to do.

Immediately I got out some paper, wrote out a message of love and encouragement that also contained a hidden meaning for Jordan, and sent him on his way, not knowing what to expect.

More than three weeks later, he'd not had an instance of the problem. He credits the letter from dad, says he takes it out before every class. It makes him smile, it makes him feel loved, it reminds him who he is and what he needs to do.

We all have one of those, you know. A letter from Dad. Something to read at the start of every day that tells us we're loved, encourages us, challenges us, reminds us who we are and what we need to do. A note that has surprising power to heal our woes and solve our problems.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Have you read yours today? 

Further Reading

Proverbs 3:3
Deuteronomy 6:6-7

[Judy Harder]

January 8, 2010

Living in 300 Square Feet
by Laura MacCorkle, Crosswalk.com Senior Editor

He makes me to lie down in green pastures.

Psalm 23:2

It's a new year, and it's almost time for the new Ikea catalog to hit the mailbox.  I couldn't be more excited.

Not only am I a fan of browsing through its offerings, but I thoroughly enjoy walking through the different departments of the local Ikea store—or the "First Church of Ikea" as I affectionately and jokingly call it.

I marvel at how they can cram so much stuff into such small spaces and at such low, low prices.  The Swedes are genius!  And the Swedish meatballs aren't too shabby either (be sure to check out the in-store cafeteria—it's cheap and surprisingly tasty).

Probably my favorite area of the store is where there are different "living" displays that have been set up.  As in, "Living in 300 Square Feet" and so forth.  It's usually a bedroom, a living room, a kitchenette and a tiny, blink-and-you'll-miss-it bathroom all in one, with Ikea's products making the space seem like a cozy home.  But you also can't help but wonder how someone could live like this (college students, big-city apartment dwellers, and perhaps people in pods somewhere).  It brings out the claustrophobic in me and makes me want to bolt for wide, open spaces and just, well, more freedom. 

It makes me think of how I could view the Christian life right about now and about Psalm 23.  (Yes, Ikea and Psalm 23 somehow miraculously coincide in my world, where all things—and for the purposes of this devotional—work together for good.)

Truth be told, life feels small right now.  I've already checked out this corner and that.  I'm tired of being in this room and in that one over there.  And now I'm ready to break out and experience something new.  But I also know that God is asking me to be content "living in 300 square feet."  He's not leading me anywhere, and he's clearly showing me that he wants me to stay put and wait on his timing.

In my study of Psalm 23 this week, I'm reading from Elizabeth George's Quiet Confidence for a Woman's Heart where she takes the reader through a study of how we as sheep relate to the Great Shepherd. 

Here's what she has to say about "restless and discontent sheep" ...

These sheep jump into other fields or climb into bushes and onto leaning trees.  They sometimes fall and break their legs.  They're nervous and dissatisfied and cause the shepherd endless trouble.  Are you settled—at home with and abiding in the Shepherd?  Are you one who trusts ... and rests ... in the Lord?  Is the Lord all you need?  Are you content to be nothing more than his sheep and delight in what he gives you?

Much like sheep, perhaps the Great Shepherd keeps us in what feels like a more confined setting for our own protection.  To keep us away from that which will entangle and snare.  To prevent us from wandering off.  To shield us from harmful people or situations.  To offer us rest for our souls.  It's definitely something to think about.

Today, as a restless sheep, I am praying that He will settle my heart.  May He help me to abide in Him as I open my life, redirect my desires and priorities and make my heart a home for Him.

Intersecting Faith & Life:  You might feel like the walls are closing in on you today.  How can you ever learn to be content in such circumstances?  Look up, my friend.  Look to your Shepherd.  He is there to comfort, to provide, to love and to guide.  Remind yourself of these things with Psalm 23.

Further Reading:


"My Heart, Your Home"
Words & Music:  Watermark

Come and make my heart Your home
Come and be everything I am and all I know
Search me through and through
'Till my heart becomes a home for You

A home for You, Lord
A home for You, Lord
Let everything I do open up
A door for You to come through
And that my heart would be a place
Where You want to be ...

You are my portion, filling up everything
You are the fortune, that's causing my heart to sing
That it's amazing ...
That You could make Yourself at home with me

[Judy Harder]

January 11, 2010

Wisdom for All Ages
Sarah Jennings, Crosswalk.com Family Editor 

A wise man's heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction. ~ Proverbs 16: 23 NIV

Last week we explored the four cardinal virtues: wisdom, justice, courage, and temperance. While these virtues sound nice on paper, what do they really look like in the life of someone committed to Christ?

Take wisdom for example. If someone asked me to draw a picture of wisdom when I was a child, I would have drawn an old, wrinkly, robed man meditating in a tent. I imagined wisdom as something that belonged to those focused on the "higher things," people isolated from the day-to-day grind of life. But this is a faulty understanding of wisdom. True wisdom contains both clarity of insight and the ability to apply that insight to real life situations

In my recent reading of The 33 Doctors of the Church, I came across an ancient Christian who exemplified both aspects of wisdom. While his name is not well-known, God worked through St. Ephram to greatly influence the early Church.

Ephram was an eastern Christian, born in Syria during the 4th century. His native language was Syro-Chaldaic -- the same language Jesus, His family, and His apostles spoke in everyday life. Born of Christian parents, Ephram developed a thirst for God's Word early in life. He soaked in the Scriptures line by line, delving into the nuances that came more easily to him than you and me today.

Ephram's deep study of Scripture inspired him to employ his gift for language by writing countless poems, hymns, and homilies for God's glory. Unlike most writers, he never seemed to be at a loss for words. Bishop Gregory of Nyssa, a contemporary of Ephram's, joked that if you needed a cure for writer's block, you should just ask Ephram for an idea he already "prayed away."

In some ways the studious, poetic Ephram resembled that old, robed man in the tent because he lived as an unmarried hermit. But Ephram hardly isolated himself and was known for applying his deep-seated knowledge of scripture in practical ways that benefitted the common people. He often wrote to instruct the confused and played an active role in shepharding youth.

One of his more famous uses of his poetic talent came in response to a heresy spreading among the local community in the form of a collection of popular hymns. He witnessed young people embracing the songs' messages and falling away from godly living. In response, Ephram borrowed the melody and wrote new lyrics. He taught the new words to the community while also instructing them in God's ways. Ephram's version of the hymns, superior in artistry and taught with fatherly love, ultimately became so popular the old hymns were all but forgotten.

Ephram's love for God's Word also inspired him beyond his writing and music. He often pitched in to help the local community during times of need, and he was so loved that even bishops abroad insisted Ephram embrace priestly ordination (he refused the honor). Ephram was a sensitive, kind man known for joyfully weeping with those who rejoiced and sorrowfully weeping with those who mourned. He died from exhaustion in his 60's after assisting his suffering community during a famine.

Ephram's legacy continues to resonate with the modern world. He lived in a time and place not unlike our own, surrounded by war, sadness, confusion, and even rebellious youth. He could have retreated from the world entirely or he could have thrown his hands up and said, "What difference can a poet make?" Yet he did not shun the surrounding culture but wisely employed his gifts to engage and change the hearts of those around him. In fact, Ephram's gift for hymnody was so great that today much of eastern and western Christian worship has its foundations in his prolific and profound writings. Many churches even continue to sing Ephram's hymns today just as he wrote them 1,600 years ago.


Intersecting Faith & Life: St. Ephram cultivated wisdom by immersing himself in God's Word. This week, read a chapter of the Bible you've never read before and study up on its meaning.

Further Reading

Proverbs 16: 21


The Incomparible Worth of Wisdom  

[Judy Harder]

January 12, 2010

The Most Important and Least Important Day

Alex Crain
Editor, Christianity.com

Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you,
unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."
John 3:3


The nursery quietly awaits the arrival of its little master. The crib stands assembled and accessorized with matching mobile, blankets and padding. Diapers, booties and footy pajamas hide in a three-drawer changing table. The oak rocking chair sits sturdily in the corner nearest the tall window. As God wills it, in a matter of days a tiny life will fill this little room with cries, coos, and all manner of baby sounds. And the Crain home will be filled with great joy.

For now, a mood of patient and grateful expectation is upon us. There is an unexplainable excitement that surrounds the beginning of physical life—from the miraculous moment of conception to the long-anticipated time of holding a newborn closely in arms.

As soon as the day of birth arrives, however, it will simultaneously become the most important day and least important day of his life. It is the most important because, without it, he would not be able to enjoy life; but it is also the least important because it is only the starting point and then it is history. After the moment of birth, the most important thing is, of course, living.

Obvious as this seems, I was reminded again this week while reading Francis Schaeffer's True Spirituality that many professing Christians seem to languish in denial of this fact regarding the moment of their own spiritual birth. Ask a friendly, "how is your relationship with the Lord?" and you may hear an answer emphasizing a past decision, a moment of crisis, or an experience—as if past events were all that mattered.

"In one way, the new birth is the most important thing in our spiritual lives, because we are not Christians until we have come this way. In another way, however, after one has become a Christian, it must be minimized, in that we should not always have our minds only on our new birth. The important thing after being born spiritually is to live." (ch. 1)

Yes, we are grateful for the past. We look forward expectantly to the bright future ahead with Christ in His manifest presence. But our present walk with Christ, right now, is the most important moment. Romans 14:17 says, "The kingdom of God is [present tense] ... righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."

First John 1:7 reaffirms this emphasis on the present—true spirituality is concerned with walking [present tense] in the light "as He is [present tense] in the light, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us [present tense] from all sin."

Intersecting Faith & Life: 

What do you do if your mind is stuck in the past, or if your present fellowship with the Lord is broken? The next two verses (1 John 1:8-9) illumine the pathway, instructing us what to do: "If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Ask if any sin needs to be confessed. What is His response to confession? Trust His promise of forgiveness and cleansing in Christ, and begin walking in the light with Him again. Take one step, then the next, then the next, the next... The important thing after being born spiritually is to live spiritually.

Further Reading

Psalm 86:7-12

Continuous Revival, by Norman Grubb (Chapter 1: "The Walk")

[Judy Harder]

January 13, 2010

Fixing a Drafty House
by Katherine Britton, Crosswalk.com News & Culture Editor

Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast--as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. - 1 Corinthians 5:6-7

The joys of home ownership continue in the Britton household. Our "real estate with potential" is now home after five weeks of renovation and two months of unpacking, but we're still discovering the quirks and "personality" of our old house. For instance, the hot water promptly disappears after 15 minutes of showers and certain appliances sound like they hiccup as they recharge.

The most recent discovery came with the chill in Virginia weather. After a couple weeks of outside temperatures hovering around freezing, we were finished wearing five layers in the house and still shivering. (I'm always cold, but that's beside the point). Thus began a quest for the chilly culprit marauding about our first floor. I'd like to say we quickly dispensed with him, but we're either slow learners or in homeowner's denial.

The process began when we realized the chimney flue had been left open for who knows how long (yes, we felt smart). With this overlooked detail amended, the wood floors were no longer painfully cold, but that wasn't saying much. We graduated to stuffing rags under the drafty back door, and begrudgingly turning up the thermostat a tiny bit. That difference was negligible. We programmed the thermostat to turn on a little earlier and invested in warm house slippers. Better, but not much.

Next came the space heaters that we broke out for our frequent haunts, like the den and bedroom. Those worked, but underscored the contrast between the chilly rooms and the warm rooms. This week, we took the desperate measure (or perhaps it was the pièce de résistance?) of attacking the still-drafty fireplace with microfiber, packing tape, cardboard, and decorative pillows.

If you could only see my lovely green living room with its boarded-up centerpiece now.

Here's my guess. We endured a lot of chilliness (and wasted heat) due to our not-so-efficient fireplace, and we probably should've noticed the draft a lot sooner. I think part of our dullness came from thinking "we fixed that" by closing the flue, and part from not wanting to deal with another "home improvement" opportunity. Now that we've acknowledged the problem area, however, we're ready to figure out what one does to better insulate an old chimney and hearth. Besides use decorative pillows, that is.

I suppose it's only fitting that my house issues mirror my faith issues. The temptation to say, "I already dealt with that, God, can't we move on to something else?" frequently suggests itself to me. And... a few weeks (or months) later, guess what I'm doing? Going back to the original problem, and discovering that I hadn't properly dealt with it originally. Like the drafty air into my house, my sinful attitudes will find a way into my heart if I don't block them entirely.

Paul twice warned churches, in Corinthians and Galatians 5:9, to stand guard against even the tiniest amount of sin, discord and bad doctrine. As he writes, "a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough." It's not enough to keep most of it out. Even that little bit will make itself known, whether it's cold floors, yeasty bread, or a selfish attitude.

Intersecting Faith & Life: What truth is God impressing on your heart right now? Are you in a hurry to learn, get it over with, and move on to bigger and better things? In my own life, the challenge is to slow down enough to hear God's voice the first time, to grow consistently and humbly. The haphazard quick-fix just won't cut it.

[Judy Harder]

January 14, 2010

A Mathful God?
by Shawn McEvoy, Crosswalk.com Senior Editor

God doesn't count us; he calls us by name. Arithmetic is not his focus.
Romans 9:28, The Message


Thank God that he calls us by name, that our names have been written in the Book of Life. He knows us intimately. We are not just numbers to him, as the scripture above reminds.

That said, have you ever looked at the face of a calculator and marveled at how completely God is involved in all of those functions? He adds, he subtracts, he multiplies, he divides. Positives, negatives, rationals, irrationals, imaginaries, radicals... all indicate some aspect of God and what he does, how he interacts with his creation.

Let's take a look at some examples of the most basic of these functions, and how they suggest a perfect sum of completeness and trust. He's worked it all out. The numbers add up. The whole world - its time and history and future - is well calculated, and safe in his hands. 

ADDITION

Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. --Acts 2:46-47, NAS

So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. --1 Corinthians 3:7, KJV

"Nothing in Scripture and in the life of Christ could be clearer: Wealth is not an objective of the spiritual life. When we encounter money on the path of life, we are encouraged to do one of three things with it: Turn and walk in the other direction; pick it up and give it away; or use it for the necessities of life. It's this last part that I think has become skewed over time. Our list of 'needs' is much greater today than it was in 1900 and their list of needs were certainly greater than during the time when Christ walked the Earth. Now I know that here in the year [2010], it is countercultural to give money away. It is countercultural to seek your security in things that aren't man-made. But, remember what Jesus promised, 'But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you' (Matthew 6:33, NKJV)."  --Steve Scalici, "Should Christians Strive for the American Dream?"

SUBTRACTION

The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! --John 1:29, NAS

If you subtract from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will subtract your part from the Tree of Life and the Holy City that are written in this book. --Revelation 22:19, MSG

"Our spiritual engrafting provides an eternity of new life. While the struggles of our present earthly existence cause momentary, light affliction, the life to come for those who are in Christ Jesus will last forever. There will be no more heartaches, no more pain. He has taken our heart of stone and replaced it with a heart of flesh. He died so that we might live."  --Peter Beck, "Engrafted for Life"

MULTIPLICATION

For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. --Hebrews 6:13-14, KJV

Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. --2 Corinthians 9:10, NAS

"I would be afraid to bring children into this world if I did not know God. But because I know God, I am free to encourage you to have children... God's people are the ones who ought to be bringing a godly seed into this world. What does the world need? Jesus. How are they going to hear if the light goes out?"  --Adrian Rogers, "Bringing Children into the World"

DIVISION

So you shall divide this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. --Ezekiel 47:21, NAS

And the people of all the nations will be gathered before him. Then he will divide them into two groups, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. --Matthew 25:32, GNT

"God is in the business of division. As in creation, He divided whatever was necessary in order to bring order. He divides light and darkness today also. That is why His people are in this world but not of it. God's children are separated from the world as they are sanctified, or set apart, for the things of God. As Christians, we think of the Lord as One who wants to make "everything ok" or to bring peace to a given situation. However, the Lord Jesus clearly said that He came to divide. 'Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword' (Matt. 10:34)."  --Tonilee Adamson & Bobbye Brooks, "Division"

The Sum of the Equation

I know that whatever God does will last forever; there is nothing to add or subtract from it; and God has done it so that people will fear him. --Ecclesiastes 3:14, CJB

Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. He said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD." -- Job 1:21, NAS

You can't take any of this stuff with you. Enjoy it and praise God for all of it. Instead of counting widgets, count blessings, count it all joy. Let him do the math of your life: be your accountant, buyer, salesman, financial planner, marketer and profiteer.

[Judy Harder]

January 15, 2010

Be a Friend to Have a Friend
by Laura MacCorkle, Crosswalk.com Senior Editor

A friend loves at all times.

Proverbs 17:17

Christmas is now four weeks past us, but the remnants remain on a bulletin board in my office.

There, I have thumb-tacked various holiday family pictures and newsletters that I received in the mail from all different sorts of friends and acquaintances.  I decided that that's how I would actively "handle" these materials this year, instead of putting them in a pile to collect dust and go unused and forgotten.

As I look at the bulletin board each day, my heart is warmed as I see the faces of friends who have played different roles in my life:  comforter, truth-teller, listener, hugger, encourager, constructive criticizer, food 'n' fellowship provider, relationship decoder/investigator, and so forth.

So many ways of serving and giving from so many different types of friends!  I am blessed as I am reminded of what they have done for me.  And then I am also convicted:  What am I doing for my friends?  How am I pouring into their lives as they have—and still are—pouring into mine?  How is God moving me to be part of their worlds? 

Ralph Waldo Emerson famously said:  "The only way to have a friend is to be one."  And he was so right about that.  Friendships don't just happen.  They take time.  They take effort.  They take upkeep.  And that means we all have to do something if we want to cultivate, grow and nurture relationships with others.

When I look at my bulletin board of friends, if I am truly willing to be a friend "who loves at all times," I know that that means I have to always be ready to shelve my plans in order to help meet the varied needs of others. 

It's something God has been working on me for a while now.  Am I willing to lay down my agenda and sacrifice my time and my desires for my friends?  Or is it more important that I get done today what is on my list and what I think is right for me?  Am I seeking the Lord for his direction?  Am I paying attention to the Holy Spirit for conviction?

Let me warn you, though.  Don't ask God to move in your life in this way unless you really mean it.  Because when you do ask him to help you be a better friend and to help you reach out to others, he will open your eyes (and heart) to plenty of opportunities that you may or may not like or may or may not be what you had in mind.

You might be asked to ...

Offer your professional skills to someone else in need for free (lawyers helping someone navigate a legal matter, hair stylists cutting and styling where needed, teachers offering tutoring to struggling students, etc.).
Forgo your after-work errands or "must do!" agenda to just sit, listen (for as long as it takes) and offer a warm hug to someone's who's trying to be "strong" in a traumatic situation and just needs to let it all out.
Give up your entire Saturday to get down and dirty and make a difference while helping someone to move, paint a house, organize some closets or run a giant garage sale.
Better yet, you might be moved to ...

Give financially to someone you don't even know to help them raise support to adopt a child.
Befriend the "different" or "difficult" person whom no one else likes and get past the oddities or prickly barrier to reach the heart and connect with who this person really is.
Not take careless words or confusing situations/messages personally and instead choose to "cover" these minor offenses with love when you think someone has stepped on your toes or wounded your pride. 
That's what a true friend does.  Gets outside of themselves.  And gives.  And gives.  And gives!  Are you up to it?  I'm asking myself the same question.  For friends both new and old, how can we be true friends to someone else today?

Intersecting Faith & Life:  No doubt, at some point in your life you've known what it's like to be on the receiving end of someone who has been a good friend to you.  But what's it like to be your friend?  Do you take more than you give?  Are you ever around during the hard times?  Do you take time to listen and care about others' concerns and life matters?  Take a friend inventory today and see what changes you might need to make in your outreach to those you call "friend."

Further Reading:

John 15:13

1 Corinthians 13:4-7