Wait Out the Wicked

Waiting does not seem to be very productive as pertains to getting on with things. Shouldn’t we be taking action to move forward. Shouldn’t we keep on going and not just sit and wait. Well yes, but we should be doing so with purpose of glorifying the LORD and not just taking action to move on. Our action for the LORD is waiting, and our waiting is allowing the LORD to work.

“34Wait for the Lord and keep his way,

and he will exalt you to inherit the land;

you will look on when the wicked are cut off.”

— Psalm 37:34 (ESV)

Our waiting is not just to wait out the wicked, but to wait on the LORD to act on our behalf. He will not allow is children to harmed to the point of eternal damnation. We have been adopted into the family of God and He will ensure that we join Him in glory when the time is right.

“32The wicked watches for the righteous

and seeks to put him to death.

33The Lord will not abandon him to his power

or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial.”

— Psalm 37:32-33 (ESV)

The wicked are watching and waiting for us to falter. The wicked are going to pounce when it sees that we are vulnerable to manipulation. The wicked are opportunists. We have to be ready to wait them out for the wicked where they are patient, they are not as patient as the LORD. Once the die is cut and there is loss on their side, the wicked will move on having been cut off by the LORD (see verse 34 above).

You see, the LORD waits for us and does not abandon us in our time of need. It may seem like He is not there when we need Him, but the truth is that He carries us through the challenge and protects us from the wicked. We only have to remain faithful to Him and He will deliver us.

“5I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5 (ESV)

We are to wait out the wicked as we are waiting on the LORD. Yes, the wicked has patience and is looking for the opportunity to attack, but the LORD is more and infinitely patient as He waits on us. He protects us and cares for us and loves us more that we can imagine. When we are in the LORD, we will be prosperous in Him and will inherit glory.

What is your patience level? Do you give in when things are not going the way you feel they should and allow the wicked to take hold? What if you were to live knowing that the LORD is infinitely more patient and will win out, all you have to do is continue to wait on Him, wait out the wicked, and inherit glory as the LORD carries you forward?

God Does Leave Us to Destruction

I am in the midst of a study of the word “abandon/abandoned” and have found that God will not abandon us. Yes, He will allow us to be in distress and disaster will befall us, but He will not abandon us.

This morning I am continuing that study and have been brought to the Psalms, where David is declaring that God will not abandon him. He speaks of all the places where he will continue showing allegiance to God. Whether in God Himself, or the people of God, or His provision, or His counsel, David finds joy in the LORD.

David also recognizes that the LORD is a just God and will all distress and disaster to come upon him. He knows that it is up to him to follow the LORD and when not, the LORD will allow the path to become a bit more challenging. We choose that path thanks to the free will He has given to us, and God will allow us to explore that path. But, David also knows that the LORD will not be far away and will work to protect and guide him back.

“7I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;

in the night also my heart instructs me.

8I have set the Lord always before me;

because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

9Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;

my flesh also dwells secure.”

— Psalm 16:7-9 (ESV)

Yes, there may be some thought to the idea that we can do whatever we want since we have the LORD as our savior. Where there is a deeper discussion there, I will not get into, David shows here that he knows that no matter how bad things get, he is secure in the love and care of the LORD. He know that God is always with him.

“10For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,

or let your holy one see corruption.”

— Psalm 16:10 (ESV)

When things get bad, we can be secure in that God will not allow us to stay in that distress. He will not leave us to our destruction. God will provide the way for us to climb out of despair and into His arms of comfort and protection. He will send us help and as we are under His care, we will recognize that help at some point and find our way back. God will not leave us to our destruction, He will be with us as we experience what it is like to be away from Him.

How are you secure? Are you relying on yourself for security from destruction? What if you were to rely on the LORD, knowing that where you may be feeling the disaster in your life, He is with you and will not leave you to it as your security is in Him?

Others will See When We Turn Away from God

Disaster will come upon us when we turn away from God. He told us so in Judges as I wrote. But the LORD will not abandon us in that time. He will be with us waiting for our return. He will not make it easy. He may even allow us good things as He has given us free will to choose for ourselves. But He will be there with us waiting on our return to Him because He knows our heart.

It is not just God who will see that we have turned from Him. Others will see it as well. There will be noticed differences in our life and the world around us. In just a first pass, it may not be seen, but the continued separation from God will be noticed as disaster continue to strike day after day.

“8And this house will become a heap of ruins. Everyone passing by it will be astonished and will hiss, and they will say, ‘Why has the Lord done thus to this land and to this house?’” – 1 Kings 9:8 (ESV)

God gives us great things as He did with Solomon and the building of the temple. Those great things will continue to be there as we continue to be with the LORD and are following Him and His commandments in our lives. Yet, when we fall away from Him, those great things will begin to deteriorate. Those things will no longer be great as they were meant for the LORD and His people. As the people fall away the great things do the same.

“9Then they will say, ‘Because they abandoned the Lord their God who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt and laid hold on other gods and worshiped them and served them. Therefore the Lord has brought all this disaster on them.’” – 1 Kings 9:9 (ESV)

And those passing by will know the reason for the disaster befalling us. Those around us know who we are. They know where we have been and where our allegiance is. They know that we follow the One True God and then will know when our following has waned. They will see our lack of dependence on the LORD. They will see how we have found another to worship. They will see that our allegiance has shifted. And they will see how it has impacted us. They will see the disaster in our lives. They will see that we are struggling. They will see that we are in need. And they will know where we should go to get back.

Remember that the LORD does not abandon us. Even as we have fallen away from Him and disaster has come upon us. He is steady waiting on us to turn back to Him. He has allowed disaster to befall us and yes, things have gotten pretty bad. Our lives may be in ruin, but remember that the LORD delivers His people. Remember the love He has for us. Remember that He gets the most from the least and know that He is just waiting to again get the most out us. Others know, we only need to look at ourselves to see where we are in relation to the LORD.

Where are you in relation to the LORD? Do you see the disaster in your life? What if you were to turn back to the LORD and allow Him to restore you?

We May Abandon God, He Does Not Abandon Us

We may feel abandoned by God at times. We turn away from Him and He allows difficulty and challenges and evil to find us. Maybe not at first as we are oblivious to the challenges in our haste to experience all there is in what we are pursuing.

“11And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals. 12And they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the Lord to anger. 13They abandoned the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth.” – Judges 2:11-13 (ESV)

We may find happiness in our turning away and lack of discipline. But, we will ultimately find that the happiness in the world goes away and we will be faced with those challenges.

“14So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them. And he sold them into the hand of their surrounding enemies, so that they could no longer withstand their enemies. 15Whenever they marched out, the hand of the Lord was against them for harm, as the Lord had warned, and as the Lord had sworn to them. And they were in terrible distress.” – Judges 2:14-15 (ESV)

In the above passage, titled “Israel’s Unfaithfulness” in my ESV Bible, the people turned away from God. They were reveling to other gods than the LORD. They were bowing down to them as their god. This did not sit well with the LORD. First off, He had delivered them from Egypt. Secondly, He had given them the Ten Commandments which specifically listed worshiping other gods before Him a big no no. But, we do not listen and insist on doing things on our own and without the LORD.

“3You shall have no other gods before me. 4You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,” – Exodus 20:3-5 (ESV)

And even though we will abandon our LORD and Savior, He will not abandon us. He is right there with us through it all. He stands beside us and He watches and waits for us to return to Him. He even sends us those who will rescue us from our challenges, if we will let them.

“16Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them.” – Judges 2:16 (ESV)

Even as the LORD allowed for the people to be plundered and experience “terrible distress”, He brought forth those who could and would deliver them out of the challenges. He demonstrated His love for them, even as they turned from Him.

What a great testimony for you and me. God, even when we abandon Him, stays with us through it all. He loves us more than we can imagine and wants nothing but the best for us. He wants commune with us. He wants us to join Him in heaven. He protects us even from ourselves. We may abandon Him, but the LORD does not abandon us.

How are you getting along with the LORD? Are you abandoning Him as you chase something in the world and feel as though He has abandoned you? What if you were to open your heart and eyes to the LORD and realize that it is you who did the abandoning and the LORD is right there waiting for you to return to Him as He protects you?

Keep All of God’s Law

Some things are easier than others and we may not even recognize that we have committed sins in part. James addresses one that may slip past us. Partiality. Some may consider this as discrimination, and they may be right to do so.

“3and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, ‘You sit here in a good place,’ while you say to the poor man, ‘You stand over there,’ or, ‘Sit down at my feet,’ 4have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” – James 2:3-4 (ESV)

This partiality to the rich man may not be something that we are even aware we are doing. We will just advise folks based on what we believe would be expected in situations. But aren’t we sinning by not treating everyone equally under the Law of the LORD. And in doing so, we are sinning and are to be accountable to that sin just as any other.

“8If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.” – James 2:8-10 (ESV)

I feel I know what some will say, “but if we give the good seat to the poor man, isn’t that being partial to him as well?” I agree that when we are elevating one over another it is a sin of partiality, so that would not be wrong in thinking. It is in the intent of actions where we are accountable in this instance. If we are giving the seat to the first that came, regardless of who that is, then we are not being partial except to the early arrival. For that would be partiality, it would simply be following the process and following the Law of the LORD.

We are called to obey the LORD and do His work. Where this sin of partiality may not be conscious sin, it is still sin and we are to be accountable to that sin. We are to follow the Law of the LORD in its entirety and not just when we are conscious of it. We are accountable to sin, regardless of our knowing of it. Where we fail, we are to seek forgiveness, from God and others we have transgressed against.

What laws have you gone against? Do you even think about your transgressions that may not be conscious? What if you were to seek forgiveness daily from where you fail in God’s Law, even in those you were not conscious of at the time?

Don’t Just Hear, Act on the Law of the LORD

It is easy to sit in church and hear a sermon and think that it is great and it all makes sense. We get instruction and can see the benefit of it as we leave after service. Yet, that is where it all ends a lot of the time. We hear it and then tuck it away.

“23For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.” – James 1:23-24 (ESV)

I know that too often we find ourselves receiving something, like instruction, and then walk away putting it aside as not useful, the Law of the LORD is no exception. How is it useful in today’s world as conditions are different? How are we going to implement those things here? Are they really the same today as they were in biblical times?

Doing the work of the LORD is not about our understanding of the impacts, but rather doing the work.

“18And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” – Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)

Jesus did not tell us to hear Him and then think about going and making disciples. He said to “go” which is action and not thought. He did not tell us who would accept His invitation, He said to invite them. He did not say to have intentions on delivering the gospel, He said to deliver it. Our work is to do the work that we are given. We are to take action and not just sit and only profess to know.

“25But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” – James 1:25 (ESV)

James gives us the extension of and the results of our acting on the Law of the LORD. We will be blessed in doing so. He does not tell us that we will be receiving riches, or that our lives will be made easier, or that all of a sudden, everything will be in line, he tells us that we will be blessed. Line that up with the second part of Matthew 28:20 above and it aligns that our blessing will be our communion with Jesus always. Now that is a blessing. Don’t just hear the Law, but act it and you will be blessed.

What is your approach to learning you have received? Are you one who hears and tucks it away? What if you were to act on the Law of the LORD and receive His blessings of communion with Him?

Nothing Perfect in the Law

Ever think that, “if I just follow the law, all will be perfect”? Seems like a good thing to follow the law and create and keep things perfect. It would seem so, if we are following the law, then there is nothing that can be held against us. Until someone changes the law. I have often said that it is our duty to follow the rules or the law as that is how things work. We can work on getting the rules or the law changed, but until it is, we are obligated to follow them.

“12For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.” – Hebrews 7:12 (ESV)

Even in biblical times, there were changes in the law based on who was in the position of authority. New priest, new law. What once was, is now changed and another direction was decreed. So the old adage of if you don’t like something, wait a while and it will change has certainly been around for some time.

You see, we tend to look for the tangible to satisfy our requirement in leadership. We want things to be there for us, that we can rely on to always be, and yet, even in the law, that is not the case. There is no perfection in the law. If it were, then there would not be a need for new law. That which comes from man is not perfect, and that is where Jesus comes in.

“19(for the law mad nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.” – Hebrews 7:19 (ESV)

We have been afforded the final priest in the line. The perfect priest. The one to which there is no change. The priest that is better. The priest that is forever.

“4The Lord has sworn

and will not change his mind,

‘You are a priest forever

after the order of Melchizedek.’”

— Psalm 110:4 (ESV)

Jesus is the priest forever. He does not change. He is counted on. He is perfect.

The law leads not to perfection. We can keep the law today and where that may be good, the law may change tomorrow and that which was, is no more. But, with Jesus, there is forever. There is consistency. There is no change. There is perfection.

Where are you looking for perfection? Are you expecting that things will be perfect if you just follow the rules and law? What if you were to follow perfection that is in Jesus, knowing that He is forever?

Gain Christ with Loss Through the Law

Here goes. I know, it sounds interesting in that we can gain through loss.

Paul was a very learned man and had considerable gain in life. He was fully Jewish. He was fully Hebrew. He could be considered a Pharisee. He was a great man thanks to his work in the law. Yet, he did not fully gain until he found Christ and in doing so, he lost all that he had gained in the law. Paul ended up in prison and ultimately died for his faith in Christ and through it all, counted that time as the time of his life as opposed to all that he had gained and lost in the law.

“7But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” – Philippians 3:7-11 (ESV)

Read carefully the above again. See and feel the freedom that Paul experienced through his faith in Christ. He had everything from the standpoint of the world, and yet he was overjoyed to lose it all for the sake of knowing Christ and seeking after him daily. Paul found joy in prison as he led people and churches to know Christ. He did not want for things other than to know Christ more.

I was reading and studying this morning and this passage hit me a little different this morning. I have been struggling with things a bit and needing a bit more clarity. God provided for me this morning that I am to just be joyful in the gain of knowing, trusting, and relying on Him. I am to put all the struggle away and know that God has me in a place, whether physical or in time, that I am to be in for Him and He will ensure things to be right according to His plan. I just need to revel in the fact that I may lose that which was gained through the law, but what a minimal loss it is compared to the gain I receive in Christ.

Where are you placing your gain? Are you relying on the law to provide for you and give you great things? What if you instead relied on the LORD, knowing that there is far greater gain in Christ?

You and Me Together in Christ

You and I are not the same. You come from a different background, different social class, different continent, different economic situation, and a host of other differences. You and I would likely not know or engage with one another out in the world. But isn’t that how it is for just about everyone, differences separate us.

I remember moving to Boerne, Texas and enrolling our boys in school wondering how things would go. Bryson was in the 7th grade and was just starting athletic competition in school. Not knowing anyone, he showed up, not from here and not knowing anyone, and yet he found friends almost immediately when it was found that he was like them in the athletic arena.

“13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.” – Ephesians 2:13-16 (ESV)

We may be different you and me. But we are alike in Christ. Jesus made it possible for us to find commonality. He is out commonality. Jesus is our likeness. Our difference is on the surface, yet in the heart, we are the together. We have the same common goal and the same common home to get to.

No matter how different we are, we are able to find the commonality in Christ. Jesus came and died for my sins and yours alike. We are not better than one another. We are sinners in need of a savior and that savior, thankfully for us both is Jesus. We have Him in common and that brings us together. We are together in Christ.

What is your commonality to others? Are you looking at others as different because the do not look like you? What if you were to look inward and find the commonality with others in Jesus sacrificial love for you both?

No Law for the Fruit of the Spirit

Yes, that is right, there is no law as it goes to live by the fruit of the Spirit.

“22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” – Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)

Look a the list from God’s Word above of the fruit of the Spirit. There are no laws banning or regulating those actions. The world is free to take all of them and there is none out there telling us what we can or cannot do as relates to any of them. Those are written on our heart by God and everyone, no matter your origin, knows of them and can live them without direction.

All things under the flesh are subject to law of some kind. There are entities, whether person or other that have created rules and regulations of those things under the flesh.

“19Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who doe such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” – Galatians 5:19-21 (ESV)

Again, review the list above and see all the things that are identified as under the flesh and also find that there are rules, regulations, laws against them where entities control what you can and cannot do. Take drunkenness as an example. There is no law against drunkenness, except that you have to be of age, cannot drive while drunk, can be cut off from drinking in public, and I am sure there are others that escape me at this moment. All of those are restricted by some sort of law.

“18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” – Galatians 5:18 (ESV)

But as for the fruit of the Spirit, I again come back to no restrictions. You want to exhibit joy, do so. You want to be kind, go ahead. Patience, please do. No law, no restriction, no rules, as the old Nike slogan would say, “Just Do It”. There is no law for living by the fruit of the Spirit.

What is the restrictions in your actions? Do you find that there are things you cannot do based on rules and restrictions and laws against those things? What If you were to live by the fruit of the Spirit, there are no laws against those?