Skip to main content

Actually, Really, Honestly and Truly


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.
The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer
he enables me to go on the heights. (Habakkuk 3:17-19)

 

         "No matter who the president is, Jesus is King." This phrase or one like it came to mind yesterday. I don't recall whether I was thinking about the president, or a judge, or someone else. I found myself wondering if I really meant it. Would I be content if someone of whom I didn't approve was president? The fact is, I haven't approved of the president for the past eight years and I'm not thrilled about the man who is taking his place. Am I living as if it doesn't matter who the president is because Jesus is King? Sometimes I live as though it doesn't matter who the president it, but do I live that way because I know Jesus is King, or do I live that way because I don't really see a lot of connection between the president and me? The question really comes down to this: do I live as if Jesus is King?
         When things go right, it's not difficult to rejoice in the Lord or to be joyful in God my Savior. What about when the fig tree doesn't bud and there are no grapes on the vines? What about when the fields produce no food and there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls? What about when the electricity isn't working or the price to heat the house, put food on the table or maintain an internet connection rises. How about when my best friend decides she doesn't want to ever hear my voice again or I've lost my cell phone? Am I joyful in His sovereignty then?
        An even tougher question: If the sovereign Lord is my strength... do I obey Him? Do I eat according to what my body actually needs or do I eat what I want? Do I make sure no unwholesome word comes out of my mouth? Do I throw away (or return) a book or turn off a TV show that does not obey the principles and laws He has set forth in His Word? Do I even bother to study what He has said so that I know what the sovereign Lord has said? Do I live as if I really believe that He actually, really, honestly and truly is sovereign? 
           It's a good thing that my disobedience doesn't nullify His sovereignty. I try to take control without even thinking. Even within His sovereignty, I tell myself that I need to be in control of that for which I am responsible. That sounds good, but it's really just an excuse for my need to be in control of the piece of my life. I need to make this verse part of my life again.

 

           

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Think About These Things

                 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8) This passage is a major challenge for me. Like everyone else, I struggle to keep my thoughts from wandering off into the weeds, then wondering what possible benefits those weeds might have… Sigh. But as a writer, I have to delve at least a little into the ignoble, wrong, impure, unlovely, and debased. After all, there’s no story if everything’s just as it should be and everyone’s happy. As Christians, there are times when we need to deal with all the negatives, but that makes it even more important that we practice turning our minds by force of attention to what is noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. It’s just too easy to get stuck in a swamp. With my...
1 comment
Read more

Higher Thoughts

  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the  Lord . “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)           The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments,   for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord      so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (I Corinthians 2:15-16) If you read about the ancient gods of the various peoples, you’ll find that they think just like people. In fact, they think just like the sort of people we really wouldn’t want to be around. They think like the most corrupt Hollywood producer or, like hormone overloaded teens with no upbringing.   It’s embarrassing to read. I have a friend who argues that because God is not just like us, He is so vastly dif...
2 comments
Read more

Pure...

            The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (I Timothy 1:5)   I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:15-16) I’m probably cheating - or mishandling the Bible, but earlier I was thinking about love being pure and purifying. And hatred being pure and purifying. And anger…joy…patience… fear… jealousy… courage…lust… and other strongly felt feelings, attitudes, and beliefs. Today’s verse brings purity and love together, so it’s the verse of the day, but it’s not really the focus. That means my motive for sharing it with you probably isn’t pure. As you read through my list, you   probably thought, “Yeah” about some, and “What’s she on?” about others. But consider how much hatred, a...
Post a Comment
Read more