Onward & Upward

Blog

  • Grow On!

    I’m so thankful that God brings people into my life that sharpen me. They help me to see things that I didn’t before, my perspective is refined and I am helped. Nobody should be so foolish as to think that they have it all figured out and have no need of another set of eyes. Listen to those in the “social network” that God has formed for you. This week we have a guest pastor visiting with us and we went for a jog this morning. He shared something in passing that caught my attention. He noted that three times in the book of 1 Samuel the Bible distinctly states that Samuel grew:

    1Sa 2:21  And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.

    1Sa 2:26  And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.

    1Sa 3:19  And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.

    What an impression this made on me! Samuel did not have a godly authority (Eli) nor did he have godly examples (Eli’s sons), yet amidst their turmoil he grew continually before the Lord, in favor with the Lord, and the Lord was with him. There is no reason for me to not grow. I can find excuses, I can create growth “diversions,” but at the end of it all, when I stand before my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, there will be no excuses.

    That from a comment in passing while out for a run. It was worth stopping to listen.

    I pray that the Lord would help you and me grow onward and upward, no matter the circumstances, as He did for Samuel!

  • Horse-Drawn Caring

    In Hosea 6:6, Jehovah responds to his people’s announcement to return to him having endured chastisement.

    “Come, and let us return unto the Lord:”

    They sound authentic. Committed. Yet the Lord, who knows the heart and sees what is really going describes their “goodness” as morning fog and dew that burns off with warmth of the rising sun. It’s springtime here in New England so this image is particularly useful to the mind’s eye. Just as quickly as their new commitment to God is made it dissipates into thin air, a forgotten memory.

    What kind of goodness were they trying to display? Externalism. In verse 6, the Lord notes that their sacrifices and burnt offerings where not what he desired. It is not that he was dissolving the law and its program of offerings and sacrifices, but he is explaining that they have “the cart before the horse.”

    The horse is the living, breathing being that has the power to move the cart. The cart is a dead, unmoving frame that has no power on its own. Together, though, when hitched together correctly much can be accomplished. In Ephraim’s case, they neglected this reality, and God calls them on it.

    The cart of practice (sacrifices and burnt-offerings) must be drawn by the horse of mercy and knowledge. Our understanding of “mercy” here refers to kindness, not to the withholding of punishment.* The knowledge of God is real and personal knowledge of his person and character. We are seeing the recurring theme and command to love the Lord our God with all thy heart, soul, mind, and strength, and our neighbor as yourself. Knowledge and mercy. They are the horse that draw the cart of our practices.

    So, what do we learn? A return to God takes place with your whole heart. Put the horse in front. First. Will seeking to first fill your life with religious practice, placing the cart before that horse, take you anywhere? Nay.

    Onward and upward.

    *Consequently if you study “mercy” you’ll see in a number of other places in the Bible this emphasis. Study it out!

  • Just Get Over This Hill

    On Saturday I did my long run in preparation for a half-marathon at the end of this month (April 27). I put in nearly sixteen miles and over a thousand feet of elevation. Logging miles is actually not too daunting, in fact increasing mileage has been an injury-free and enjoyable experience.

    I don’t run on a treadmill or track, I run roads, both paved and dirt, across flat terrain and over hills. Hills are not enjoyable. Hills are valuable. Physically speaking they increase strength in my legs, are better on my knees because they are less impacting, and give my heart a good workout. Mentally they stretch me as well. As I approach the hill I think on it, look at its length, pitch, and any spots where the hill flattens even for a few strides. The first steps up the hill are uneventful, but once I am halfway up the “summit” my pace slows, my breathing and heart rate increases, and my body begins to rebel.

    There is a back-and-forth between my body and mind.

    “Walk,” says the body to the mind.

    “Nope. We already agreed not to do so. We both know that it’s for the best.”

    “You only have to walk this hill. It’s worst one, and you’ll run the rest of them.”

    The back and forth continues, and repeats at every hill. Thus far, the mind through discipline has brought the body into subjection. It won’t always be this way, I’m sure of that.

    Hills provide value physically and mentally, but they are furthermore instructive spiritually. Life is a race, Christian. It is to be run with patience, (Hebrews 12:1) through discipline (1 Corinthians 9:24-27) and for Jesus Christ (Hebrews 12:2). The race is chock full of hills, but before you entered the race at salvation God had mapped your course (Psalm 37:23) and it is a great run! It’s length and elevation at times bring thoughts of quitting, no doubt, but through the strength of Christ you can finish (2 Timothy 4:7).

    It’s not perhaps “the key,” but I’ll tell you what has been “a key” for me when it comes to the hills: just get over this one. (Proverbs 27:1, Matthew 6:34). Hills have helped me grasp what the Word of God has taught me about today. Focus on today, and the hill that it is, and not tomorrow, what comes after this hill. Listen today to what God is revealing of Himself to you.

    So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. -Psalm 90:12