And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself. Acts 20:32, NLT*
God has set us apart for Himself. Not because of anything we’ve done to earn it, but because of His great mercy and grace.
Set apart for God…
for His glory, in our conduct and in the transformation others will see in us
for His service, as and where He leads and empowers
for personal relationship with Him, because He has adopted us
for our rescue and resuscitation, and to build us up
for an inheritance in eternity
Because He chose us, while we were still dead in our sins. (Romans 5:8)
God our Rescuer and Redeemer, You have given us new life and hope, not just for ourselves but that we may live set apart for You. Help us fully embrace Your rule in our lives so we can be filled with Your Holy Spirit and live lives that please You. Shine through us to draw others who are still in the darkness.
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. Romans 5:3, NLT*
When trouble comes, or something goes wrong, how often do we respond this way? Or do we react instead, taking it personally? Like it’s one more thing to fight.
Paul writes these words in the midst of teaching about the right relationship and peace with God that we’ve received, the “undeserved privilege (verse 2)” we’ve been given through Christ. He highlights God’s great love for us, and our hope of salvation.
In this context, it’s easier to see that he’s not asking us to somehow celebrate hardship.
He’s giving us a different perspective on what’s happening, and showing a healthier response than our natural one.
If salvation life is all about relationship with God, then problems and trials are opportunities to practice depending on Him. They keep us from drifting back to trusting our own strength. They develop our faith by letting us prove His faithfulness and power.
They may be meant for harm, but God can use them for good. I’m learning to pray “use this” or “help me pass this test” – when I can notice what’s going on before instinctively reacting in battle mode.
God our Rock and our Refuge, grant us spiritual sight to recognize the deeper realities in the trials and difficulties that You allow in our lives. Help us choose to rely on You, so that You can grow our endurance, our character, and our hope. Draw us deeper into relationship with You, for our joy and for Your glory.
So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. Romans 5:11, NLT*
New Christians are so vibrant and full of joy. Whatever our spiritual “age,” let’s think about what relationship with God means:
no dread, or fear of punishment
no hopelessness about our lives
confidence to approach God with our needs (see last week’s post)
peace in our spirits
forgiveness and cleansing from our sins
changing character and behaviour
hope of heaven
the Holy Spirit’s presence with us each moment
access to God’s wisdom
spiritual eyes that are learning to see what He sees
healing for our hurts
usefulness to the Master
And more…
Some of these things are still developing. We haven’t fully arrived, but it’s so good to be on the path with Him.
More than any of these things, relationship with God means we have Him, and He has us. Let’s take time today to rejoice in this wonderful relationship.
God our Maker and Redeemer, it’s beyond wonderful that You have brought us back into relationship with You through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. Forgive us for getting used to this great gift and not seeing the wonder of it. Teach us to rejoice in You, and make us contagious, so that others will want to know You too.
So now, come back to your God.
Act with love and justice,
and always depend on him. Hosea 12:6, NLT*
In the middle of declaring His chosen people’s unfaithfulness to Him and of pronouncing the consequences, God adds this invitation.
It’s followed by “But no…” (verse 7). Realistically, the people are in full intent of going their own way. They don’t see the need to return to God – yet.
In praying for our world today, we see the same thing. Most people aren’t ready to turn to God. And as trouble comes, instead of making them re-think, it seems to harden them in their desired independence from God.
Meanwhile, we who know Him wait sadly, knowing He loves them too much to leave them that way, and that to get their attention things will likely grow worse instead of better.
Some are finding Him, though. And each one is cause for rejoicing.
Our God and Redeemer, we praise You for Your love and mercy that keeps reaching out to the lost and wayward. Open their hearts to respond to Your call. Move believers’ hearts to echo Yours in prayer for them. What can we say but thank You?
∞
This song from Thousand Foot Krutch is the cry of a soul finding its way to God. May it remind us to pray for those who are responding to His call: “In My Room”
But afterward the people will return and devote themselves to the Lord their God and to David’s descendant, their king. In the last days, they will tremble in awe of the Lord and of his goodness. Hosea 3:5, NLT*
We’re a pretty unfaithful bunch, aren’t we, as humans?
It’s worth noting that the people whose return to the Lord is anticipated in this verse only come back after a serious intervention on God’s part. Their choices lead to consequences.
The Book of Hosea is a beautiful picture of how much God loves His people and desires a relationship with us – and how easily we’ll turn away from Him.
Even those of us who know and love Him need to be careful not to drift away. Those who don’t know Him yet don’t want to get closer in the first place.
But God…
Read Hosea and see God’s love, mercy and grace – and the impact of human unfaithfulness. See how God takes it upon Himself to bring us back, because He knows we won’t come on our own.
And see the promise of how it will be when we “finally know Him as the LORD (Hosea 2:20)”
God our determined and loving Rescuer, thank You. May we who know You devote ourselves to You. Overwhelm us with Your goodness. Keep us close. Please draw those who don’t yet know You, even through the many struggles in the world today. Open their eyes and hearts to who You are, so that they will tremble in awe of Your goodness.
∞
Todd Agnew’s song, “You are Good,” points to how we see God’s goodness in Jesus’ willing sacrifice to save us.
When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” Luke 19:5, NLT*
As a child in church, I learned the song about Zacchaeus [say za-KEE-us] being “a wee, little man” who climbed a tree so he could see Jesus over the crowds. I didn’t think too much about who he was as a person. (Luke tells his story in Luke 19:1-10.)
Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector, an occupation that brought great wealth and greater condemnation from his fellow Jews. It made him a Roman collaborator, one in a position to cheat his own people.
So… he was rich but hated. All Zacchaeus had was his wealth, power and prestige. I’d expect a man like that to take his dignity most seriously. Everyone around would want to cut him down, so wouldn’t he project an indestructible image?
Yet he’s so desperate to see Jesus in this vignette that he forgets appearances, runs ahead of the procession, and climbs a tree to get one glimpse of Him. Is he up the tree to hide? Or is Jesus’ route so crowded with citizens that the branches are a short man’s only option?
I don’t know how tax collectors dressed in those days, but I picture an extravagantly-clad little man dashing through the crowded street and scuttling up the tree.
His dignity is forgotten in the desire – the need – to see Jesus. In proof of that, when Jesus calls him out of the tree, Zacchaeus takes Him home “in great excitement and joy.” (Luke 19:6, NLT*) There’s no blustering or posturing from wounded pride.
Instead, imagine Zacchaeus’ happiness. Cut off from his people, only dining with those his money can impress, suddenly he’s offered the chance to host this famous miracle-worker and teacher – and Jesus is accepting him, not condemning.
Zacchaeus throws away his self-made status to meet Jesus. What do we cling to that keeps us from fully entering into relationship with Jesus? Is it worth the cost? [You can click to tweet that.]
God our Maker, it matters how we respond to Jesus. Thank You that He makes a way for each one of us to know Him. Help us to give our all for the privilege of living in Your presence – not letting anything hold us back.
∞
I think the David Crowder Band song, “Undignified,” refers to Israel’s King dancing before the Lord in 2 Samuel 6:12-23, but it could as easily be Zacchaeus’ theme song. Could it be mine? Yours?
