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>Shouting

>Chilean minors, once thought dead, captive under ground for over a month are rescued to shouts of joy. Expected – their captivity is over!

50,000 football fans shouting in the stadium, perhaps just as many shouting in their homes at the TV screen. Why? They like the game, it is fun to shout and be emotionally engaged. Expected, they enjoy the game!

To remaining quiet in either scenario is a sign of disinterest, perhaps even being cold hearted.

Realizing what God has done should, similarly, evoke a shout or two!

“But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.” – Psalm 5:11

“LET” – meaning something that would occur if not prevented.

I learn at least three (3) things from this passage:

  1. Church doesn’t have to be quiet to be respectful, we should let it be a little noisy sometimes;
  2. God’s salvation is a “Know-So!” kind – knowing, now, we are released from guilt, the captivity of obsessions, and a certain fate worse than death1;
  3. Following God is expected to be an enjoyable experience, even through difficulties2 – if our walk is not joyful we need to find out why.

I think I’ll go shout for a while!

– fritz

1 – Matthew 10:28
2 – Philippians 4:7

>Audacity of Faith

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Into the massive ornate Jewish temple, only the second of its kind, rushed a man on a mission. He wasn’t a priest or a prophet just a “good, God-fearing man…waiting for Israel to be saved”1

But he had a secret he probably told no one else; if he had they would have thought him presumptuous. He really believed God had told him he would see the Christ before he died. The faithful had been waiting for generations for the Christ but this man had the audacity to believe God had spoken to him.

Something inside Simeon that day said, “Go to the temple now”, he probably didn’t know why. He obeyed and there at that moment were Jesus’ parents offering two doves and two pigeons, a poor family’s redemption for their son.2

The Holy Spirit speaks audacious things to people who love God. Those things can be generic to all Christ’s followers, but sometimes they are very specific – for a child, a situation, a calling.

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” – Jesus (John 16:13)

Have the audacity of faith to believe the Holy Spirit and his word.

– fritz

1 – Luke 2:25 Good News Bible
2 – Leviticus 12:6-8

Related Post: “God Speaks, We can Hear”, October 7, 2010

>Results Oriented?

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“and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.” – 1st Corinthians 3:8b

American corporate culture and our historical social work ethic rewards those who are results oriented – those who can produce what we think is of value.

It is a matter of pride to adopt a “Can do!” attitude, and we drive ourselves to accomplish what we intend. When desired results don’t happen we become agitated; when this occurs a lot we feel both shame and futility thinking our work doesn’t measure up.

God rewards differently. He rewards us according to our labor.

He can produce results by just a word (Genesis 1:3a) so he is not impressed with our accomplishments. Of value to him is the character worked in us by the labor process. Working as unto him, not being slothful but diligent, being a good steward, faithfulness in difficulties, and getting our sense of worth from him – these are what he rewards.

– fritz