Happy and Blessed - Pt. 2

Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments. I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules. I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me! (Psalm 119:1-8 ESV).

A friend of mine is a gourmet coffee barista. For those, like me, who may not thnk such a title exists, I can assure you, some folks are very serious about their coffee. He has made me a cup of coffee beginning with roasting the beans to the finish brewing, and I must admit it did taste incredible. However, I’m more of a pop-a-pod in the Keurig kind of guy. I do remember a time when the only means of making coffee was with a stovetop percolator like the one I’ve pictured. This model is actually a Wearever manufactured in the early 1950’s. The interesting thing is that it came with an instruction manual when bought new.

I never gave it any thought and simply put some coffee into the basket, added water, and turned the heat on until it looked done. However the instructions say: “The key to making decent coffee with a stove top percolator is to raise the temperature of the water slowly, and then reduce the heat once the pot starts perking.” Perhaps the reason I’m not a barista is because I never read the instructions! Instructions are always important whether it’s a new coffee pot, a power tool, or a car. It always makes sense to follow the maker’s instructions. They tell you what you need to know about using the new product. Similarly, we need to follow our Maker’s instructions. They are essential for living life to the fullest, as God intends for us.

 

As Psalm 119 begins, it points out that people who follow God’s way are blessed and blameless. But we need to clarify two things. First, in giving his Word, God tells us, “This is how I created you to live. When you live according to my instructions, you will be blessed.” This does not mean everything will be easy, but, whatever the circumstances, your life with God and others will flourish because you aim to honor and obey God. Second, we must consider the meaning of blameless. Blameless does not mean “perfect.” Everyone sins, falling short of God’s righteousness and perfection (cf. Romans 3:23). But all who are redeemed by Christ, the Savior, are declared righteous by God. When we believe in Christ as our Savior, we long to be like him, to live God’s way. That brings happiness.

Happy and Blessed - Pt. 1

Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! (Psalm 119:1-3 ESV).

 

Thanks for all the “happy” wishes on my birthday yesterday. As I began to think through the concept of being “happy” I went to Psalm 119. With 176 verses, this psalm is the longest psalm as well as the longest chapter in the Bible. It is an acrostic poem, in which each set of eight verses begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The theme of the verses is the prayer of one who delights in and lives by the Torah, the sacred law. It is about being happy. It seemed a series through this wonderful song was in order. All of who are living through this world filled with frustrations and disappointments long for a ray of sunshine. Further, isn’t that a legitimate longing? Jesus declared that a part of His work was to come so that we might “have life, and that abundantly” (John 10:10). The founders of our nation considered being happy important enough to put it in the Declaration of Independence, saying that we all have the inalienable right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” So, let’s begin looking at this pslam with the goal of achieving happiness.

 

The first section of Psalm 119 points us to the Lord and the great blessing he gives, filling our lives with happiness. God blesses us through his Word, and that calls for a wholehearted response on our part. Simply knowing what’s in the Bible is not enough. We can read it from cover to cover and still feel miserable. That’s because unhappiness is caused by our self-will and our sinful disobedience. When we live according to our own ideas and values, we will always run into trouble. The Apostle Paul uses an agricultural principle to illustrate this truth (cf. Galatians 6:7). He says simply, “… we reap what we sow.” I find great encouragement from that. Not only is it true that when we sow bad seed we get a bad harvest, but when we sow good seed we will get a good harvest.

 

Of course I am not suggesting a quid pro quo agreement with God. He is not a vending machine where we can put something in to get something out. His gifts of grace are unmerited and free. However, it is also true that when we willingly conform our lives to what the Lord Jesus wants us to be, we will find the blessing he promises (cf. Mathew 5:3-12). Is this easy? Of course not! Again and again we have to resolve to seek God’s will and not our own. The author of this psalm cries out, “Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying.” And with God’s help we can be steadfast. That’s our beginning point. Join with me there! As we find more principles through our look at this psalm, the beginning will remain our unwavering commitment to Jesus!

Then and Now

Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save. (Isaiah 46:3-4 ESV).

 

Well, today I am 71 years old! I don’t know why that sounds so much older than 70, but it does. Perhaps it is because of some of the little things that are going on physically in my life at the moment. I can certainly tell you that I have reached the point where I can be considered “out of warranty”. I put together a couple of pictures of the “then and now” in my life. They come from my senior year in high school and about a year ago as I officiated a wedding for a wonderful young couple I have known since they were children. For those of you who may have kindly remarked that I haven’t changed at all through the years, thank you, but we know that’s simply not true (insert laugh track here)!

 

I’ve gained weight, gone gray, and gathered a plethora of physical ailments through the years. Perhaps that’s why I am so encouraged by our reading today. The Prophet Isaiah says: “…from before your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.” (v. 4).

 

Just yesterday Mary and I were in a car accident. No one was injured, though we were shook up a bit. I won’t detail the event, but it did precipitate an interesting conversation between my sons. It seems that Aaron was a bit concerned with my safety. He talked with Kyle and David and simply asked, “Is it time to talk to Mom and Dad about restricting their driving?” When I told Mary, her response was both emphatic and immediate, “No one is taking my keys away!” I don’t think either of us is as good as we once were, but I also don’t believe it’s to that point either. At the same time I’ve got to be honest and plan a bit better considering all my activities. I am getting a bit older and that means I’m simply not as strong as I once was.

 

I suppose that means I need to learn how to both ask for and accept help doing some of the things I may have not given a thought to before. I also know that I should rejoice in that inevitability instead of regretting the process. You see, God hasn’t left me to simply get weaker and one day die. As He has been with me from before the foundation of the earth, He is now with; and, will remain with me throughout eternity. This is simply my journey to that moment when I will see the end clearly. This is the path to get me to my eternal home! That thought makes my birthday truly happy!

A Great Story - Pt. 4

[Jesus said] “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:25-34 ESV).

 

In a deeply therapy-minded culture, we are much more prone to making sense of our present by reference to our past: I am who I am today because of the experiences of yesterday.  We’re less inclined to ask how we should live in the present in light of the future, in part because the future seems uncertain. We saw yesterday that the biblical perspective is one in which we’re asked to believe that God is bringing all of human history to a glorious conclusion, in which heaven and earth will be renewed, and God will dwell with his people (cf. Revelation 21:1-4).  And knowing this, we are asked to live accordingly, as a people who have a firm and unshakeable hope.

 

Well, that’s easier said than done, isn’t it? Sometimes I find myself wanting to peek ahead to find out how a book or movie is going to turn out. I may look again at the back cover of a book or check out a movie on the Internet to find out more. Sometimes it feels better if I know what’s coming next. I often want that in my own life story as well. When I face uncertainty or risk in my life, I want to look ahead to see what kinds of problems will develop. I figure I’ll enjoy today more if I know that tomorrow won’t be marred by a fresh wave of problems.

 

But God doesn’t usually offer sneak peeks into the future. Instead he urges us to simply trust him. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus repeatedly encourages us to trust God for each day at a time. “Give us today our daily bread,” he taught us to pray (Matthew 6:11). In our reading for today he urges, “Do not worry about tomorrow.” And he assures us that “each day has enough trouble of its own.” Since tomorrow is my birthday, I’m going to turn one more page in God’s story for my life. My prayer is that page will provide opportunities to continue developing the gifts God has given me. That page may also contain difficulties that will prompt me to cling to God; and, I know through the day’s experiences I will have the chance to notice the presence of Christ. I merely need to look. Are you looking today?