Applying the Gospel while making the bed

My kids came to me arguing that someone called someone a name while they were trying to make one of the beds in their room. Stretching the mattress pad over the bed is a little harder than normal since we bought them a foam mattress topper and our one daughter kept doing it the wrong way. Apparently the other one got frustrated with her repeated attempts to succeed by doing it the wrong way and that’s when the fight happened.

As we talked about it the Holy Spirit brought a lot of clarity to my mind. Less than two hours earlier in our family devotions I had prayed that God would help us functionally apply the Gospel to our everyday lives like when the dog is sick or we fight with our siblings (or our spouse). He very graciously answered that prayer.

I explained to them that rather than be frustrated, she should be thankful for the picture that trying to stubbornly make the bed incorrectly after being given guidance provides, because it is a picture of our relationship with the Lord. The Gospel tells us that we are precisely like that – insisting on doing our own thing to our own detriment and God patiently waits for us. He does not exact retribution for our stubborn pride because He has already poured out 100% of the wrath for the sin of every Christian onto His beloved Son Jesus. All we like sheep have gone astray, each of us to his own way, but the Lord has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)

We had a very good talk where my daughter, by God’s grace, saw exactly how helpful this picture was and how she failed to imitate God as she is commanded to do as His beloved child. There was no yelling, no screaming, no punishment – just pointing her to the Gospel so she could glory in how wonderful Jesus is. Only a few years ago I would have yelled at them, told them to stop fighting because it was unloving and sent them back to their room. God is very, very good.

Why Small Groups

This is a link to a good friend’s initial blog about why small groups are important and what makes a good small group in a church. As a small group shepherd, it’s helpful and convicting to me.

Establish the Work of Our Hands – II

In my last post I talked about Psalm 90:17 as it relates to my current situation and some of what it means that Moses prayed that God would establish the work of Israel’s hands. This time I’d like to talk a little about how that plays out in the lives of people like me and others who have lost a job, seen income reduced or are otherwise affected by the economy right now.

To me the most important thing to remember here is that Moses looked to God to establish the work of their hands. He had a nation of 2,000,000 people at his disposal and he still turned to God to establish the work of their hands. I am reminded of the verse “Unless the LORD builds the house the laborers labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1). Moses knew that to be true and he trusted God who is completely trustworthy to be the one who directed their steps and established their work. I am a very proud guy and I am often very tempted to think my success is up to me rather than trust God in this way.

More than that, I think it’s important to remember that God is not impaired by economics. Things can be very bad in the economy and God can do what He wants anyway. Do you remember the story in 1 Kings 17. God sends Elijah to meet a woman who is supposed to feed him. This occurs in the middle of a terrible drought and things are so bad for the widow she plans to use all she has to make one last meal so she and her son can eat one last time before they die. Her economic situation was much more desperate than almost anything anyone with America, Canada or Europe’s safety net permits. Yet God provided for her so that her flour and oil did not run out (even though she KNEW there was only enough for one more cake left).

Why did God do this? It wasn’t to be nice to the widow. I presume there were other families equally desperate during this time and we don’t have any records of God being so merciful to them. The reason He did it was to feed Elijah in a way that brought Him glory. God established the work of the widow’s hands to promote His glory.

This is where I start thinking about Job 42:1. After seeing the error of his thinking, Job confesses “I know that you (God) can do all things. No plan of yours can be thwarted.” God does have a plan. His plan might not have anything to do with our economic prosperity or America’s re-emergence as the single global economic superpower. But whatever His plan is, it will not be thwarted under any circumstances.

Are you out of a job as I am? God’s plan for you will not be thwarted. He has promised to provide for your needs and He will do it. You much be humble enough to accept the means of provision He decides. In the New Testament, that seems to be one another love shown by members of your local church.

Are you okay for now but worry about the future? God Himself will establish the work of his faithful servants and there is no cause to worry. There is nothing unemployment rates or national debt or the “wrong” president or Congress can do to stop that.

Are you comfortable living in the generous welfare the country has provided? With extended unemployment benefits, discount health insurance, food stamps, mortgage reductions and so many more things it can be tempting for even a believer to get content in his or her laziness. Remember that Moses prayed that God would establish the WORK of their hands. Paul said those who didn’t WORK shouldn’t eat. One of the very first commands in the Bible was for Adam to WORK in the garden. God invented work and we should seek to glorify Him in whatever work He gives us to do.