Faith or Fear

Last night I read Genesis 20, where Abraham passes Sarah off as his sister (for the second time!). He tells Abimelech, “I did it because I thought, ‘There is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’” It’s ironic that he says they don’t fear God, and yet he was the one who deceived them instead of trusting God to protect him. It was the fear of God that caused Abimelech to return Sarah to him untouched. Abraham appears to have feared men more than he feared God.

Don’t we all do that at times? We judge the beliefs of others, but we don’t realize how we are failing to live up to what we say we believe ourselves. We label others as unbelievers or baby Christians, yet our own actions reveal our lack of faith.

The Desiring God blog just posted an article by Jon Bloom, “Lay Aside the Fear of Man.” He writes, “We all experience this fear, and most of us don’t want to admit how serious its tyranny can be… we obey the one we fear.” If we truly believe God is in control and that He loves us more than we can imagine, there’s no real reason to fear anything people can say or do. Men can insult us, fire us, or even kill us, but they cannot separate us from the love of God and eternal life with Him. Perhaps the real problem is that we value this life and its comforts more than we ought. It is enjoyable to be well-liked, gainfully employed, and free from difficulties, but that may not line up with a life of obedience to God.

Abraham had been told he would be the father of many nations (Gen. 15:5) and would live to old age (15:16), yet he didn’t trust that God would protect him in his journeys. It is amusing how many times he felt he had to take matters into his own hands. Yet in spite of their failures, Abraham and Sarah both made it into the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11. The other people listed in that chapter had their own mistakes and faults as well. That makes them even better witnesses to God’s grace, mercy, and faithfulness.

It’s good to know that our faith doesn’t have to be perfect all the time. It may ebb and flow, and circumstances may cause us to doubt, but God knows our weakness and desire to trust Him more fully. It’s no coincidence that Hebrews 12 starts out with a reminder to keep looking to Jesus for encouragement and endurance. Only when we keep our eyes in the right place can we trust Him to do all that He has promised. When we start looking for man’s approval, or we see the storms raging around us, we are sure to lose heart and make the wrong choices.

As usual, I’m preaching first to myself. In this week of meetings and frustrations, it was easy to get focused on the wrong things and get bogged down in the details. But as I was reminded by the Sidewalk Prophets song, “You love me anyway.” Ultimately, God’s love is more important than any plans we can make, any budget we can write, or any policies we can pass. His love means more than a comfortable job, a happy home, or civil liberties. Faith in His love and His promises gives us reason to endure, to follow, and to obey.

“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28 ESV).

© 2016 Dawn Rutan. 

Broken People

I was skimming through the recent issue of Christianity Today and noticed this quote: “Broken people can’t serve broken people.” They never explained what was meant by that, and it did not make sense in the context of an article about prison ministry. I don’t know what the person intended, but my immediate reaction was “What?! How is that scriptural?” 

In contrast, Phillip Holmes wrote, “I am the man I am today because I have been broken down to my weakest state. God doesn’t use what he cannot break (Proverbs 29:1), and there is no one too firm he cannot shake” (http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/broken-but-grateful).

The Apostle Paul put it this way, “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness,’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9 ESV).

Those who have not been broken do not need to rely on God’s strength. Those who don’t know that they are weak can’t really identify with or minister to the rest of us. Breaking is necessary to make us usable by God. David said, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise” (Psalm 51:17). God delights in people who have come to the end of themselves and are wholly submitted to His will. His light shines through our broken places.

“But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong… so that no human being might boast in the presence of God” (1 Corinthians 1:27, 29).

© 2016 Dawn Rutan.

To Obey or Not To Obey

Earlier this year here in NC there was a big hoopla about the announced crackdown on speeding. Some drivers were worried that they'd be ticketed for driving 1 mph over the speed limit. It didn't seem to slow anyone down for long though. Apparently people think that "buffer zone" of several mph over the limit is their inalienable right. 

Aside from the enforcement nightmare, can you imagine what would happen if every law were enforced to the letter, with no mercy extended for any reason? How many citations would each person receive in a year? If Adam and Eve couldn't even resist breaking the only rule that was on the books, what chance would we have? Makes you appreciate grace and mercy, doesn't it? According to God's law, even one violation makes you deserving of death and eternal separation from Him. And yet in Christ every sin we have committed or will commit has been forgiven. 

For many people, the rule of thumb is "How much can I get away with," or "What does the law require." The question we should be asking is whether this choice is helpful for me or for the Body of Christ. As Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 6:12 (ESV), "All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful, but I will not be dominated by anything." And in 1 Corinthians 14:12, "So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church."

At its root, sin comes from a heart that is intent on getting its own way rather than looking out for the best interests of others. It's no coincidence that the humility of Christ as outlined in Philippians 2 is the same path by which He demonstrated His love for us (1 John 4). Loving others well requires setting aside our own interests and agendas and submitting to God's design for life. And submitting to God includes submitting to the authorities and laws He has established, not to earn salvation, but for the good of society. 

"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment" (Romans 13:1-2).

© 2016 Dawn Rutan. 

Qualifying Runs

This was an interesting passage to read right after the Olympics concluded: “His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor His pleasure in the legs of a man, but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His steadfast love” (Psalm 147:10-11 ESV).

I was reminded of the quote from Olympian and missionary Eric Liddell, “God made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.” That quote has always made me slightly uneasy, I think because it is so easy to take out of the context of Eric’s life. It wasn’t just because he ran fast that he felt God’s pleasure. It was the fact that his running was used as a tool to give glory to God. Eric took a stand against running on the Lord’s Day, and thereby glorified God. He used the spotlight of the Olympics to share his testimony so that God would be glorified. God didn’t “find pleasure in the legs of a man” just because he ran fast, but because Eric feared God and trusted in His steadfast love.

Maya DiRado took a little heat from some Christians when she said, “I don’t think God really cares about my swimming very much.” But she clarified, “This is not my end purpose, to make the Olympic team. My God is powerful and in control, but I don’t think He cares whether I win. It’s interesting theology you can get into when it’s a God of victory in your sport.” She got her priorities right. It’s not about what you can do but about where you place your trust. As a side note, as I watched the Olympics, I found myself praying that God would honor the athletes who honored Him.

During the closing ceremony broadcast there was a lot of talk about athletes who were “the greatest of all time,” though apparently no recognition by the commentators that time keeps marching on and records fall every year. No matter how good an athlete is, their time in the spotlight will come to an end.

The fact is that the vast majority of us will never be in the national or international spotlight for anything we do in this life. But as the psalmist reminds us, that doesn’t matter to God in the slightest. His delight is in people who love Him and serve Him with whatever gifts and abilities they may have. We may never run, walk, talk, write, or create anything particularly noteworthy, but we can glorify God with our bodies, minds, and spirits by loving Him and loving others. As Paul pointed out in the opening of 1 Corinthians 13, we can exercise all kinds of gifts and abilities, but if it is done without God’s love it is meaningless.

Ultimately, those gold, silver, and bronze medals will disappear. Names will be forgotten. Records will be broken. But God will remember those who have exercised hope in His steadfast love. He will honor those who have honored Him.

“Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8).

© 2016 Dawn Rutan. 

Preserve, Protect and Defend

I suppose it is due to election season that I have had the presidential oath of office running through my mind lately. It says in part “I… will to the best of my ability preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.” Leaving politics aside, those are interesting verbs to hang your hat on. While a person may attempt to do those things to the best of their ability, God can and will preserve, protect, and defend His people according to His perfect will and ability. The Psalms in particular highlight these roles of God.

• Psalm 37:28- “For the Lord loves justice; He will not forsake His saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.”
• Psalm 145:20- “The Lord preserves all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy.”
• Psalm 68:5- “Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in His holy habitation.”
• Psalm 91:14- “Because he holds fast to Me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows My name.”
• Psalm 4:8- “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

That is much more encouraging than any human oath could ever be. His protection may not look quite like we may think, but it will always be the best way.

God’s authority and ability can also guide the way we pray. A couple verses have been part of my prayers recently:

• Psalm 119:133- “Keep steady my steps according to Your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me.”
• Psalm 141:3- “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!”

It has been my experience that praying for God’s protection from temptation is far more effective than praying for deliverance once temptation is at the door. It’s a bit like keeping a car on the road rather than trying to correct once you’re already off the road. There are no promises of protection for those who willfully turn away from God’s guidance.

I’m reminded of Proverbs 3:5-6, and it seems to me that a large part of the trusting in, leaning on, and acknowledging the Lord is an ongoing awareness of how desperately we need Him to preserve, protect, and defend us. We can so quickly turn away from His paths when we trust in our own strength and knowledge. Going back to the driving metaphor, an intoxicated driver doesn’t even realize how badly he is driving. He thinks he is fine. God watches us weaving back and forth and He waits for us to realize how far off the road we’ve gotten into temptation and sin.

This awareness has definitely changed the way I have been praying in the past year or so, and I’m sure will continue to do so. Since God can do far more than we ask or imagine, it’s time to start asking and imagining bigger. He is more than willing to preserve, protect, and defend those who seek Him earnestly.

© 2016 Dawn Rutan. 

No Comparison

This week I read a couple articles that got me thinking about how we perceive ourselves and others. From the minute we’re born (or even before), we are compared to a standard and ranked according to percentiles in height, weight, and who knows what else. Will he be tall like his dad, or short like mom?

Starting preschool or school brings more comparisons, and not just in terms of achievements and tests. Little kids observe one another to find out what they have in common. Does she like to play with horses or read books? Commonalities serve as a basis for friendship, but they also create segregation. Where there is a lack of connection, a child, adolescent, or adult will often jump to one of two conclusions: there’s something wrong with me, or there’s something wrong with you.

I thought about some of the percentiles I fall into— 2% here, 10% there, 60% in that area. Some of those are good, some not so good. Some I would change if I could. It’s easy to look around and envy those who are different, or to feel like an anomaly because I am in the minority in many categories. But God called me to this life, not to that one. He allowed every gene, every circumstance, every heartache, and every opportunity that made me who I am today. But I don’t get a reprieve from the Great Commission just because I’m an introvert. I also don’t get to overlook people just because they aren’t like me.

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians, “Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has called him” (7:17 ESV). “But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak” (8:9). It is comfortable to hang around with people who are just like us, but it can also be detrimental to the Body of Christ. If we focus on external similarities, we may miss the opportunity to find that we are brothers and sisters at heart. The unity that comes from Christ should far outweigh any unity that comes from biology or experience.

Our culture makes it hard to really know people. We are constantly told that we need to act a certain way, wear the right clothes, and never let anyone see our weaknesses. That gives us the appearance of external uniformity, but prevents the true unity that grows out of humility and authenticity. The church is not immune to this type of hypocrisy. Most people dress up for church (to varying degrees), act differently, and maybe clean up their language around church people. It can be a challenge to let others see behind the façade, or to remember that others may not be what they seem either. I am often reminded that authentic community is started by the example of one person taking a risk. Depth of relationships can’t come about any other way.

Take a risk; I dare you!

“When they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding” (2 Corinthians 10:12b).

© 2016 Dawn Rutan. 

Betrothed

This week I was listening to Alistair Begg’s messages on marriage, which I expect will provide a good parallel to our pastor’s upcoming sermons from 1 Corinthians 7. As one who anticipates remaining single for life, the marriage vows could create a twinge of regret at never hearing someone pledge to me, “To have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part.” But as I thought about it, I realized that God has vowed all that and more to His children, and He’s the only One who can keep His vows perfectly.

“To have and to hold” – “You did not choose Me, but I chose you…” (John 15:16 ESV) “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:28). He will hold on even when we want to give up.

“For better for worse” – “But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant He mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises” (Hebrews 8:6). He gives us far more than we can ever deserve.

“For richer for poorer” – “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). Our poverty is the occasion for His riches to be poured out upon us.

“In sickness and in health” – “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy” (Psalm 103:2-4). In Christ the worst disease, sin, is already cured.

“To love and to cherish” – “In this is love, not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10). His love for us enables us to love Him and to love others.

“Till death us do part” – “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4). Not even death can sever God’s covenant!

As with Noah in Genesis 8 and Abram in Genesis 15, God makes Himself the party responsible for the whole covenant. He knows we will fail many times, but “it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy” (Romans 9:16). He extends love to the unlovely, mercy to the sinner, and grace to the hurting.

No matter how good and enduring a marriage might be, it is only temporary. It will end either in death or at the Second Coming. But God’s covenantal love will never fail and will continue throughout eternity.

Several times in Exodus and Deuteronomy, the Israelites are reminded “God has chosen you to be a people for His treasured possession” and that phrase has stuck with me this past week. No matter what my marital status, I can say “I am His treasured possession” and “I am my Beloved’s and His desire is for me” (Song 7:10). His covenantal promises are far greater than anything I can imagine or can expect from man.

“And I will betroth you to Me forever. I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness” (Hosea 2:19-20).

© Dawn Rutan 2016