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Disappointed With God?

Now’s A Good Time To Tell Him—He Can Handle It

SYNOPSIS: It is easy to believe in God in the good times—when things are going great, prayers are getting answered, and the Almighty is obviously on our team. But just cut off the flow of blessing, squeeze our faith a little, push us out of the comfort zone, let God get outside of that nice, neat theological box we like to keep him in—then take our spiritual temperature and see if we’re still aflame with faith. Listen up, my friend: at the end at the end of the day, you’ll never be disappointed when you trust God.

Disappointed with God?

Moments With God // Matthew 11:2-3

John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?”

Let’s be honest—we’ve all been deeply disappointed with God. Sometimes he doesn’t live up to our expectations: a prayer didn’t get answered the way we wanted, when we wanted, a healing didn’t occur, a job was lost, a relationship went sour, a marriage wasn’t saved, a loved one refused salvation, a child died…

That’s when faith really gets tested. It is easy to believe in the good times—when things are going great, prayers are getting answered, and God is obviously on our team. But just cut off the flow of blessing, squeeze our faith a little, push us out of the comfort zone, let God get outside of that nice, neat theological box we like to keep him in—then take our spiritual temperature and see if we’re still aflame with faith.

John the Baptist was there. He had obeyed the call of God early in his life as the forerunner of the Messiah. He had arranged his whole world around announcing Jesus as Israel’s Messiah. He had lived an austere life, preached his heart out, courageously confronted the religious establishment, boldly challenged sinful hearts, and called Israel to national repentance, all to prepare the way for Jesus. He expected his faithfulness to God and obedience to the call would usher in the Kingdom of God when Jesus showed up and launched his messianic ministry.

But now he was in jail. He was in a pretty serious situation that in a few days would lead to his beheading. And Jesus was out there preaching to small crowds, doing a few miracles here and there, and not taking this Messiah thing very seriously. John was disappointed, to say the least.

Did you notice how Jesus handled John’s disappointment and doubt? Not with a browbeating, not with a rebuke, not with anger, Jesus simply reaffirmed John and spoke about his value in God’s eyes. Jesus understood where John was coming from.

Jesus also understood that God’s timing was way different than John’s. John wanted the Kingdom now, and when it didn’t happen, he questioned. So Jesus redirected John’s faith—he encouraged him to take his eyes off circumstances and put them back where they belonged:

Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen—that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor. And tell him, “God blesses those who do not turn away because of me.” (John 11:4-6)

Jesus is inviting John to keep his eye on the undeniable evidence of God’s activity; to stand firm in the unshakeable hope of God’s Kingdom; to lean into the unbreakable promise of God’s Word; to never let go of the irrefutable goodness of God’s character. And then, when it’s all said and done, John is just to fiercely trust!

We’ve all had those kinds of doubts, questions, disappointments, and perhaps even anger with God when he doesn’t live up to billing. Maybe that’s where you are today. That’s okay—God is big enough to handle your upset—provided you do as John did: Own up to your upset. God won’t give you a holy beat-down if you’ll come to him with a humble and honest heart. He’ll simply reaffirm your inestimable value and remind you of his everlasting love—and invite you to trust.

And at the end of the day, you’ll never be disappointed when you trust God. The Apostle Paul, who knew a fair amount about suffering, wrote these encouraging words in Romans 5:3-5,

We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Fiercely trust—that is how you practice hope!

Take A Moment: Have you been honest with God about the doubts you are having—especially when they concern your confidence in him? He invites your thoughts, worries, and concerns—so right now is a great time to talk to him. And to listen. And then, to fiercely trust!

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Fifteen Minutes of Fame

Be Famous For Being Godly

SYNOPSIS: Far too many people today gain fame when they’ve made no real contribution to the world. They are famous for being famous — or famous for being infamous — which, if it gains them time in the spotlight, is perceived as good and worthy since the results justify the means. The Bible, however, says rather than being famous for being wealthy (or being bad or even being famous), we ought to pursue good character and allow our reputation to grow for that reason alone. God doesn’t care how much money we have, how many cars are in our garage, what kind of clothes we wear, if our crib is big, or how many social media followers we have. When we stand before God someday our lives will be evaluated by the godly character we’ve forged during our years on earth.

Fifteen Minutes of Fame

Moments With God // Proverbs 22:1

Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.

If I were writing Proverb 22:1 today, I would add “fame” to the mix alongside riches. Fame and riches are the twin gods at which our culture now bows to pay homage. People want to be rich and famous, willing to do just about anything to get both.

Have you noticed how willing and quickly people are to appear on TV news to talk about some unfortunate event that has befallen their family? I was stunned not too long ago when a mom and dad paraded their teenage son in front of the cameras to talk about the many years he had been held hostage by a child molester—just a few hours after his rescue. Or how about young women who are willing to take pretty much all their clothes off to get on TV? There’s not a “Miss America” pageant anymore where at least one of the contestants exposed themselves, no pun intended, for having racy photos circulating on the Internet. And what about all the “tell-all” books that come out after some aid leaves the service of a well-known politician?

It seems that far too many people today gain fame when they’ve made no real contribution to the world. Many of today’s brightest stars are famous for being famous — or famous for being infamous — which, if it gains them time in the spotlight, is perceived as good and worthy since the results justify means.

The Bible, however, says rather than being famous for being wealthy (or being bad or even being famous), we ought to pursue good character and allow our reputation to grow for that reason alone. God doesn’t care how much money we have, how many cars are in our garage, what kind of clothes we wear, how big our crib is, how many people want to be like us, or how many social media followers we have. When we stand before God someday — and someday will be sooner than we expect — our lives will be evaluated on the character we’ve forged during our years on earth. If we were known for charity, kindness, generosity, humility, and the like, that, along with love for God will count. Everything else will evaporate in the presence of the One who judges the content of our character.

As you get older, it is easy to pick on young people and point out all their flaws (which I’ve heard is proof you’ve gotten old), but I am especially alarmed at today’s youth culture and its obsession with fame and wealth. Ask today’s youth what they want to do with their lives, and far too many of them speak of the kinds of things that will bring them celebrity, and all that goes with it, rather than that which will actually add value and better the world. How sad…and disturbing. And they alone are not to blame; some of that falls at the feet of their parents.

I think it is high time that parents once again begin to teach their children that reverence for God, sterling moral character, and sacrifice for the good of humanity rather than fame and wealth are what lead to a good life. Parents need to wean their children off the negative influence of this corrosive media culture—and that will be quite a challenge in this day and age — and begin to pour into their lives the eternal values of the Kingdom rather than the fleeting values of this world.

I am grateful for my own father, who taught me from my earliest years on, values that are best captured by this profound little poem he often quoted,

Tis one life will soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last!

That pretty well sums it up, wouldn’t you say!

Take 10 minutes to write your personal constitution — what you believe in as non-negotiable core values, what you are willing to stand for, and die for, what you want to be remembered for at the end of your life, and most importantly, how you want God to see you when you stand before him. Review it every day this week — and most of all, live it every day this week.

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Give Me Chastity–Just Not Yet

Get Your Parts Right

SYNOPSIS: You have been freed from the slavery of sin in order to live in the freedom of a different kind of slavery: slavery to the glory of God. Now you are to use your parts—your mind, mouth, hands, heart, feet, eyes … all of your parts—as instruments of praise and righteousness. Are you? Have you consecrated every part of your body as an instrument of righteousness to the glory of God, or are there some parts that are still doing their own thing? After all that God has graciously done to redeem you from the slavery of sin, the least you can do is exert your will and consecrate your whole life as an instrument of praise.

Give Me Chastity, Just Not Yet

Moments With God // Romans 6:13

Use every part of your body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.

A little girl burst through the door one afternoon, excited to tell her mother what she had learned in school that day. “Mommy, guess what I learned today?” she blurted out.

“What, honey?” her mother replied. “What did you learn?”

Pointing to her head, the girl began to describe her first official lesson in human anatomy, “Mommy, I learned about my parts. I learned that this is my head, and it’s where my brains are.” Then she held out her hands and looked down at her feet, “these are my hands and my feet, and they help me to do things and to go places.” Then she touched her chest and said, “here is my chest, and inside it is my heart. And it keeps me alive.” Finally, she put her hands on her tummy, and exclaimed, “and mommy, these are my bowels, and my bowels are a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes y.”

She got most of her parts right, anyway. And that’s what Paul is calling us to do, to get our parts right by offering them every day in every way for the glory of God.

But do you? Is your brain an instrument to do what is right? Are the things that you allow your mind to dwell on the kind of things that will bring glory to God? If your thought life were to be played out in living color on the big screen, what kind of rating would it be given: P? PG? How about R? What? Really…you’d have to give it an X? What about the kind of things you allow to come into your thinking? Are those things—the media you watch, the places you go on the Internet, the books you read—do they count as instruments of righteousness?

What about the things your hands do, or the places your feet take you? Would Jesus be comfortable doing those things and going to those places? What about your heart—have you closely guarded it, since it is the wellspring of life? (Proverbs 4:23) And your “vowels,” I mean, your bowels—what about what you take into your body? It is the temple of the Holy Spirit, after all. (I Corinthians 6:18-20) How are you treating the temple, the dwelling place of God? Are you treating the ol’ bod more like a temple, or a sewage treatment plant?

Paul’s point in Romans 6 is that we have been freed from the slavery of sin in order to live in the freedom of a different kind of slavery: slavery to the glory of God. We are to be instruments of praise and righteousness with every fiber of our existence:

When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:10-11)

Have you consecrated every part of your body as an instrument of righteousness to the glory of God, or are there some parts that are still doing their own thing? Far too many of Christ-followers are like St. Augustine, who once prayed, “Oh Lord, give me chastity, but not yet.”

Dedication and consecration are an either/or thing: Either you are, or you aren’t. God wants you to be totally dedicated to him; fully consecrated in mind, body, heart and energies. And he deserves it, particularly in the light of his costly investment of grace in your life.

You have been saved by grace—God’s unmerited favor. You have been freed from the slavery of sin; you are no longer under the threat of death—all because of God’s rich and undeserved mercy. You have been given the free gift of eternal life—all at Christ’s expense. Even the faith to believe was supplied by God. Don’t you think that in response, God deserves you to give “your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of him”? Since God has graciously done all that, the least you can do is exert your will and consecrate your whole life as an instrument of praise.

Now I will admit, what I am suggesting won’t be easy. In fact, it will be the toughest thing you ever do. (See Romans 7:14-20 if you don’t believe me.) C.S. Lewis said, “The full acting out of the self’s surrender to God therefore demands pain: this action, to be perfect, must be done from the pure will to obey, in the absence, or in the teeth, of inclination.” St. Augustine finally got it; he surrendered his desires to God, fully dedicating his wandering will to the glory of God. Having experienced that spirit-renovation, Augustine made this observation: “Will is to grace as the horse is to the rider.”

Will! So the question is, will you? God has given you his grace. Now mount up and get going! Use your whole body—every part—as an instrument to do what is right to the glory of God.

Take A Moment: Read Romans 6:1-23, then memorize verse 23: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Compare Romans 6:21 with 6:23. Do a cost-benefit analysis of the particular sin that you seem to struggle with on a recurring basis.

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Who Really Controls The White House

It Is Not The Current Occupant

Synopsis: This one truth trumps—no pun intended—all your concerns: God is in charge! He allows politicians to be elected, he keeps presidents on a short leash, and at the end of the day, whether rulers rule well or not, God will accomplish his purposes. He is in control—he reigns over all! History is really His story. It always had been, it is right now, and it shall be tomorrow. Let that give you great comfort and cause you to be much saner in the next election season.

Who Controls the White House

Moments With God // Proverbs 21:1

The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.

Hey all you Republicans out there, relax, the president is on a short lease. And for all you Democrats, you need to chill out, too. For those of you who still believe it’s all Donald Trump’s fault, or for anyone who’s convinced President Biden is the Antichrist, lighten up! If you’re thinking the man or woman who occupies the Oval Office will be the one calling the shots, think again:

God is in charge!

I love how Daniel 2:20-21 reminds us that all the political convulsing we do, especially in an election cycle is ramping up—which in today’s world means all the time—is really nothing more than a tempest in a teapot when stacked up against the plans of the Almighty:

“Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he has all wisdom and power. He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings.”

Now I’m not saying that politics is unimportant or that the upcoming elections won’t have consequences. The truth is the party given the power to rule greatly affects the cultural-moral-spiritual direction of America and the person in the Oval Office has great bearing on both the outward strength and the inner fortitude of our nation. It matters, and as believers, we are obligated to be well informed and actively engaged in our political process. But can I remind you again of this one truth that trumps—no pun intended—all your concerns?

God is in control!

God allows politicians to be elected, he keeps the president on a short leash, and at the end of the day, whether rulers rule well or not, God will accomplish his purposes. He is in charge—and in control. As someone has correctly said, history is really His story. It always had been, it is right now, and it shall be tomorrow.

God rules!

I hope that gives you great comfort, and I hope it will allow you to be a little saner and kingdom-focused as the politics of the election season heats up well beyond the point of sanity.

I love what Benjamin Franklin said at Constitutional Convention of 1787: “God governs in the affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this. I also believe that, without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel.”

Let me say it one more time just in case you missed it:

God reigns!

Take A Moment: Read I Timothy 2:1-4, “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” Now, like the current occupant of the Oval Office or not, pray for your president every day this week! It will please your Heavenly Father!

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That’s Quite A Prayer Team You’ve Got

When You Pray The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit Get Involved

SYNOPSIS: There is a lot of prayer going up for you! I hope that comforts you, because whether you realize it or not, you’ve got quite a prayer team. Think about this: When you pray, it’s not just you praying. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit get engaged the moment a prayer leaves your lips—if not sooner.

Every time you pray...

Moments With God // Luke 22:31-32

Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.

There is a lot of prayer going up for you! I hope that comforts you, because whether you realize it or not, you’ve got quite a prayer team. Think about this: When you pray, it’s not just you praying. Romans 8:26-27: 26 says,

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.

That is tremendous news! Paul says the Holy Spirit is actively engaged, at this moment, interceding within you and through you, lifting your life, taking your case, speaking your name before the throne of the Heavenly Father and praying the Father’s perfect will for your life. As the great theologian C.H. Dodd so appropriately noted, “Prayer is the divine in us appealing to the Divine above us.”

Even when you don’t know what to pray for, or how to pray, or stumble through prayer, or even shortsightedly pray things that would be to your harm, the Holy Spirit comes alongside you to translate your prayer into the world’s greatest prayer, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Through the Spirit, “our prayers,” as C.S. Lewis said, “are really His prayers; He speaks to himself through us.”

As frustrated and inept as you might be, when you pray, you unleash a divine dialogue between Father and Spirit. When you pray, Father and Spirit are strategizing how to turn the circumstances of your life, both good and bad, into that which will produce the greatest good in you. That’s why there’s no such thing for a child of God as ineffective prayer.

Now as amazing as that is, there’s more. Not only are Father and Spirit in a constant conversation about you, the Son is in on the discussion as well. Romans 8:34 says, “Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” Compare that to Hebrews 7:24-25, “Because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”

Jesus’ job description as resurrected Lord is to be your personal intercessor. We saw that with Peter here in Luke 22, but it didn’t stop with Peter. Now Jesus stands night and day before Father representing your case, too. And he intends not just to help you get through whatever you’re going through, his mission is to save you completely!

What all of this means is that Father, Son, and Spirit are actively engaged on your behalf at this very moment, and they won’t stop until they see that the Father’s perfect plan is fully worked out in you both in time and for all eternity.

And when you join them, that’s quite a prayer team you’ve got, isn’t it?

Take A Moment: No matter how confident you are with your prayers, offer them up to God. After all, you’ve got quite a prayer team praying with you!

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Counterintuitive Blessing

Give A Beatdown, Lose Your Blessing

Synopsis: We live in a culture where we are taught to stand up for our rights, defend ourselves, never let anyone intimidate us, if necessary (and it’s always necessary) destroy our opponent — and getting nasty to do it is now our weapon of choice. On “the street” you are tagged as weak if you let someone get away with any kind of personal offense without throwing a few nasty bombs back at your antagonist. But is it really weakness or is it wisdom to overlook an insult? King Solomon wrote that it’s to our honor to avoid strife. He also pointed out that only “a fool gives full vent to his anger, but wise people keep themselves under control.” If however, you tend toward anger and are quick to retaliate when you have been offended, you might as well hang a sign around your neck that reads, “I’m a fool.” But if you have developed the ability to control your emotions when irritated, Solomon would call you prudent, wise, honorable, and yes, even bless-able.

Moments With God // Proverbs 20:3 (NLT)

Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling.

It’s everywhere—on talk radio, the street corner, the classroom, the ball field, in the home. People are throwing bombs, verbal bombs, that is. Rather than winning arguments through respectful persuasion, which is what wise, intelligent, mature people do, they are resorting to name-calling.

We live in a culture where we are taught to stand up for our rights, defend ourselves, never let anyone intimidate us, if necessary (and it’s always necessary) destroy your opponent — and getting nasty to do it is now our weapon of choice. On “the street,” you are tagged as weak if you let someone get away with any kind of personal offense without throwing a few nasty bombs back at your antagonist.

But is it really a weakness or is it wisdom to overlook an insult? King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived outside of Jesus Christ, wrote that it’s to our honor to avoid strife. He also pointed out that only “a fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.” (Proverbs 29:11)

If you tend toward anger and are quick to retaliate when you have been offended, you might as well hang a sign around your neck that reads, “I’m a fool.” But if you have developed the ability to control your emotions when irritated, Solomon would call you prudent, wise, and honorable. He is describing a person who shows discretion, has tremendous foresight, exhibits great patience, and uses careful judgment. It is a person who takes control over their anger.

Proverbs 16:32 describes that person this way: “Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.” Proverbs 20:3 in the Message translation states, “It’s a mark of good character to avert quarrels, but fools love to pick fights.”

You will most likely have the opportunity for either foolishness or prudence this week, perhaps even today, because someone has insulted or irritated you. When that happens, just remember: you were not called to retaliation—nor to foolishness, but to blessing. That’s what the Apostle Peter, a man who preferred the sword to the cross until his transformative experience with baptism in the Holy Spirit, later wrote,

Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it. (1 Peter 3:9)

At this point, I think you get the point: Be honorable, be wise, be patient, be self-controlled, and be a source of blessing, even to the people who don’t deserve it. Why? Because God will bless you for it.

Take A Moment: If you struggle with impatience, quarreling, and anger, then consider offering this prayer: Lord, increase my patience this week with those who would irritate or insult me. Remind me as many times as needed that I have been called to give out blessing to those who would curse me. Enable me through your indwelling Spirit to love them just as you love me even when I have offended you.

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What Will Jesus Do For An Encore?

Bite Size Chunks For Now—But The Best Comes In Eternity

SYNOPSIS: As you read through the four Gospels, it is hard to imagine that much more could be added to what Jesus did and said. I suppose the Holy Spirit limited the inspired thoughts and pens of these men in order to present to us only what our finite minds could absorb. But wait, there’s more! Day-by-day eternity will reveal the never-ending story of the magnificence of the Lord Jesus Christ. So get ready to be continual and eternally surprised!

Only one thing remains

Moments With God // John 21:25

Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written.

The Apostle John ends his gospel account of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus with this remarkable commentary: “What I’ve written here about Jesus, you don’t know the half of it. In fact, since I’ve been with him night and day for three and a half years, I’ve gotta tell you, this is just the tip of the iceberg!”

Wow! As you read through the four Gospels, it is hard to imagine that much more could be added to what Jesus did and said. I suppose the Holy Spirit limited the inspired thoughts and pens of these men in order to present to us only what our finite minds could absorb.

Even then, we have trouble getting our brains around Jesus, don’t we? I mean, how do you top the incarnation, the immaculate conception, and his miraculous birth at Bethlehem? Then there is his sinless life—what do you do after that? What more can be added to the Sermon on the Mount? Can anyone illustrate Christianity better than Jesus did with his parables? What about his miracles—how could you improve upon the feeding of the 5,000, the deliverance of the Gadarene demoniac, the healing of the blind man, the walking on water, or the raising of Lazarus? Is there any “wow factor” left after the crucifixion—and the empty tomb?

Even though we would love to know more, mercifully, we have been given Jesus in bite-sized chunks. And just with that, we will spend a lifetime in wonder, awe, and gratitude for the life, love, death, and resurrection of this marvelous Savior and Lord. Even if all we ever had of Jesus was John 3:16, you and I would have enough to keep us undone with love for all eternity—and then some.

So what do you do for an encore with Jesus? Only one thing remains, which John alluded to back in John 14:3,

When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.

It is probably a good thing that we didn’t get any more details than that, because there is only so much the redeemed mind can absorb this side of heaven!

Take A Moment: S.D. Gordon wrote, “Jesus is God spelling Himself out in language that men can understand.” To as much as our finite minds can handle, the incomprehensible God has made himself comprehensible in Jesus. Get to know Jesus and you will get to know God. Spend some time meditating on John 3:16 today—I think you will appreciate God a whole lot more.