Scripture You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Exodus 19:4
Observation
What a ride! What a landing! What poetic words to describe it all.
The ‘wings of eagles’ involved 10 plagues, an angel of death, the pursuit of Pharaoh’s army, the Red Sea, hunger and thirst. But from God’s point of view it all looked quite different. He saw his hand of deliverance at work making a smooth ride for his people. As humans we focus too much on the speed bumps and not our progress. We look at life problems first; God sees our life from his solutions first. We are riding on eagles wings.
Their landing place was a desert with nothing to see but rocks and blue sky. But from God’s point of view they are snuggling on his lap. Again, from a human point of view they were in a very uncomfortable place. But from God’s point of view it was his living room, comfortable enough to take off shoes to enjoy holy ground.
Application
I choose today to stop looking at my life problem first. I choose today to be comfortable in uncomfortable places. Every life experience is bringing me to God.
Prayer Father, this day I ask that you would help me to see you as you are and my life from your point of view. Amen.
So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Exodus 3:3-5
Observation
Moses was a burned out man and so he was attracted to a fire that never went out. He was chasing sheep in the desert because he had flopped in the halls of power. He was Richard Nixon in exile. No one wanted to know him or about him. But God still did.
Throughout the Bible, God called many young men in their youth to follow him. But it is encouraging to see, that at the beginning go human history he started with old men. Noah, Abraham and Moses were three grumpy old men until God showed up. That gives hope for a renewal of our call when we fear that we have used up all of our youth.
Remember well how God called you and what he said to you in the first days, for that will form the rest of your life. The burning bush was a cameo that was to be repeated in Moses’ life. Not only did God appear in a desert with unending burning, he would invite Moses to pull off his shoes as if he were sitting on rugs in his own home. That would become a pattern in days to come. In unlikely places God would show up and Moses would need to learn to become comfortable with God in uncomfortable places. His life mission would be wrapped up in going a little further out into the presence of God than other people would go and taking them with him.
Application
There is a fresh call for me today that is built on what God has already said to me. Words and experiences that are now 30 years old are still alive and active in me. I need to go back to those first words and build my life on them.
Prayer Father, I have heard your call, help me to live it out. Amen.
Scripture For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Luke 18:14
Observation
On Friday my sister-in-law was diagnosed with terminal cancer. On Saturday my son-in-law observed his 10th anniversary of becoming a quadriplegic. Yet my sister-in-law is anticipating heaven. My son-in-law told me that January 15, 2000 was the best day of his life for because of his accident he became a better, kinder person. Everything is better than I deserve.
What does humility look like from God’s point of view? As God looks down from heaven and sees a fully grown man laying on the carpet laying down all of his abilities what does he see? When a woman cries out to the Lord in the middle of rush hour traffic at high decibels, what does he feel? When we give way, let others by us or to run over us, when we let others get the praise that is due us and aim the spotlight on others rather than ourselves, how does the Lord feel?
Attracted.
God loves humble people because he is humble at heart. We serve a God who picked losers to score his wins, who entered the world in a feed trough, died among thieves, and never once while on this earth said, “Do you know just who I am?” God loves the humble because they are most like him and draw out of him his very best.
In this chapter of Luke 18, Jesus first gave the humility principle and then showed how it applied. In the next verses he blessed children by stopping his schedule just for that. That violated cultural norms. Next a wealthy man came wanting advice about eternal life. Every Jew that that wealth was the penultimate sign of God’s favor. If anyone was acceptable to God it was the rich. But Jesus upended that fallacy. That is why Peter was so stunned, “Who then can be saved?” His worldview was turned upside down. Children were going to the front of the line and rich men to the back. Peter was just beginning to understand the great inversion of the kingdom. Blessed are those who understand it and live in it today for they will be greatly blessed tomorrow.
Humility is not less it is always more! The world sees a person laid low and pities them for being unable to reach the good things on the top rung. But the humble person knows that water always seeks the lowest level and that God’s presence is thickest on the valley floor.
Application
I need to drain every drop of resentment out of humility that comes because I feel that somehow I am missing out or should have something back. “Everything is better than I deserve.”
Prayer Meet me at the bottom Lord and take me to the top.
Scripture Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:20-21
Observation
Revivals are overrated. Hot churches “where it’s happenin’” are not where it’s at. In the past 30 years of my ministry I have seen pilgrimages of believers by the plane load head off to South Barrington, Orange County, Brownsville, Toronto, Honolulu, and Sydney to visit THE church with THE BIG event that was reported to be SO FULL of God. I’ve been on those pilgrimages too and I will probably take some more. There is always something new to receive. But I’m thoroughly convinced that the “move of God” is not to be found in any place that is is reported to be found.
Jesus never promised the kingdom that way. Listen carefully to his words: “…The kingdom of God is within you.”
After all those frequent flyer miles, hotel bills and standing in line to get the best seat, could it be true that all along the hot spot where God is sure to show up is within our own body?
I’m enthusiastic about visiting places of refreshment to be renewed, but I resist the sense of inferiority that many Christians live under. They sideline their church and their life as something less than some other place where “God is moving.” Why go anywhere else before we first discover how God is moving inside of us? If we don’t grasp how profound it is that the kingdom of God is within us, we just might be the God chasers roaming the planet but find God.
Application
Since the kingdom is within me, it would stand to reason that the more I act and react in love the more that I will see the supernatural intervention of God. Every Christian, including me, should be in expectation of the unexpected happening within walking distance of themselves because the kingdom is not showing up somewhere down the road, it is all inside of us. I have every responsibility and opportunity to stoke the fire inside my own soul and fan it into roaring flame. I am a temple and Christ lives in me.
Prayer Father, today help me to walk, talk, touch and love with the confidence that the greatest revival on the planet today is occurring in my heart. And if that revival is not happening in me, then Lord here I am for you to do something new in me. Amen.
Scripture But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. Matthew 19:30
Observation
Why is the church parking lot only partly full at starting time for Sunday service? In Australia they called it “Queensland time”; in Hawaii they called it “Hawaiian time; in Colorado “well people in Colorado…”. Those are the places I’ve lived. I’ve visited mission outposts around the globe and heard the same thing. There is a world-wide chronic habit to be late to church. It transcends culture and borders. What is the cause? We think life on earth is more important than heaven. We think our personal agenda matters more than the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
We rush to get to work on time. We are embarrassed if our kids are tardy for school. Why then is it okay for us to “get there in time for the sermon”? These are all litmus tests of our view of eternity. The presence of Christ, the worship of God, the voice of Jesus, the word of the Lord aren’t quite as needed as a paycheck, good grades, promotion, contacts and all the things that lead to a good life here on the planet.
Tardiness toward God reveals that we are not ready for what Dallas Willard calls “The Great Inversion.” There is coming a day, that what brings pride now will bring shame then; what bring reward now will bring punishment then; what brings profit now will bring bankruptcy then. The first will be last, the last will be first, those who have been humbled will be lifted up. The poor, the meek, the hungry, the thirsty, the mourners, the pure in heart, the peacemakers and the persecuted will go to the front of the line and get the greatest profit from life. As for the rest, some will get into heaven scorched and smoking and others just won’t make it because they lived life valuing garbage and throwing away gold and gems.
Application
There is coming a day of the Great Inversion when the snow-globe of life will be flipped right side up. How I’m living now will determine what life will be like for me then. Here is one simple place I can start today: just listen to the voice of Christ as the most valuable event in my day.
Prayer Oh Lord Jesus Christ, you test my devotion to you by giving me a relationship with you that has no punch clock, no tardy bell, no deadlines. It feels as if I have forever and you will always be there for me to come to you at my convenience. My eyes are opened that this is but a test. This is not reality; reality is on its way. One day I will stand in a place where I cannot change my planner or my to do list. Life will be over and what I value will be proved by what I did with my time, talent and money. I’m listening to you with a degree of fear. I so want to please you. Amen.
Scripture So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” Genesis 32:30
Observation
Jacob was a piece of work for God. Abraham was a straightforward man and easy for the Lord to lead. Isaac just plodded along and did what he was told. Jacob, on the other hand, was a manipulator who knew how to get what he wanted and then how to get out of town.
God had plans for Jacob because he wanted a relationship with him. It wasn’t so much that God wanted to stop him, he wanted to go with him. It can often feel in God’s pursuit of us that he wants to limit us when in fact he wants to lead us.
God waited until Jacob came face to face with himself. He had an angry father-in-law to the east and a mad brother to the west. He was caught in the middle with no where to turn. The smart aleck had been out smarted.
Coming face to face with himself was no guarantee that Jacob would find God. Our life hardships are no guarantee that we will find him either. God met Jacob in that lonely place where he was alone, without a friend in the world. There Jacob made a choice. All he life he had tried to do it all himself. But for the first time, he stopped and asked God to do it for him.
Application
Cleverness can take us a long way but not far enough. We need God. But to see God we must face ourselves; to face ourselves we must see God.
Prayer Father, there is something that touches your heart when you see a person determined to scrap with you to be blessed. Human effort is not enough; only you can do it. So with the determination of Jacob, I seize you and will not let you go until you bless me. Amen.
Scripture She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” So she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children. Genesis 29:35
Observation
It’s not clear what was wrong with Leah’s eyes. Most translations describe them as “weak”. I’ve read the opinions of many experts, both rabbis and pastors. The jury is out whether she was cross-eyed, near-sighted or just a cry baby. The original word for “weak” implies tenderness and softness. Perhaps Rachel had fiery, sexy eyes that got Jacob’s hormones flowing. Maybe Leah was too much the sentimental, sniffling chick-flick watcher to turn him on. Whatever it was about Leah, she knew that she did not measure up to Jacob’s expectations. She just wasn’t good enough to be loved.
For a season, long enough to have three children, Leah tried to win her husband’s approval by doing the one thing she could do well: make babies. She pumped out Reuben, Simeon and Levi, but nothing changed in her marriage. Jacob was still frosty towards her and hot toward Rachel.
It is not easy to live with the dislike of others, especially someone as close as a husband or a wife. We want to be loved. We want to be wanted. We want the perfect life. We are in love with ideals. We’ll do anything to receive the love of another. “How do you want me to behave?” we ask. Then we contour our life to please others. Leah went to ridiculous lengths to give birth to a football team full of boys just to make her husband love her and still came up as just a background person to Jacob.
There are some people who are afraid to be alone. Some men have to have a woman. Some women have to have a man. I heard Dr. Laura confront a woman who went from abusive relationship to abusive relationship. “Just leave him!” she shrieked over the radio. A frightened voice came over the airwaves, “But what would I do then? I would be alone!”
With her fourth baby, Leah shows us a better way than addiction to the approval of others. She accepted that nothing would change about Jacob, but everything could change about her. Her husband might never love her, but in God’s eyes she was highly esteemed. She called her son Praise (Judah), and filled her emptiness for a man’s love with the praise for the God who loved her.
Application
Sometimes when our desperate prayers are not answered we need to ask God to change us rather than to change our situation. Leah would never have the affection of Jacob, but she could have an intimate relationship with the God of Jacob. So what if I have weak eyes! The approval of others may never come, I may not live up to expectations, but I can rest in the unconditional acceptance of the Lord.
Prayer Father, I lose myself in praise for you. Worship is the invitation to be joyful without earthly reason and to be enveloped with the cloud of delight that surrounds you. In praising you I join the festivities that are already happening for you in heaven. You are the most self-assured, joyful being in the universe. I take delight in you and with you. Today Father, I ask you to be my praise. Amen.
I'm Phil McCallum, a husband, father and most of all one of the people Jesus loves. I'm privileged to serve Evergreen Community Church in Bothell, Washington as Senior Pastor where people love enough to believe "it's all about relationships." In 1982 I made a vow to read God's word daily and apply it to life. Each day I write out my reflections. Some days I post those on my blog. It's a little personal but it's my hope it will stir you to go deeper still. Learn how I do my devotions. These are my thoughts and not necessarily those of the ministry I serve. By the way check out the computer study Bible Glo. I highly recommend it.
