Are You Waiting for a Miracle?

What are you waiting for God to do?

John 4 is one of my favorite chapters in the bible. I love the story of the Samaritan woman at the well, and the way Christ pursues her. I think though that I've gotten caught up in that story, and that I've missed the second half of this chapter, the story of a royal official who's son was dying. I think this story is so relevant and convicting to our own lives and how we are waiting for God to do some miracle in order to believe in Him. Read this short passage and I'll explain...

When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, for they also had been there. Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death. 

"Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe."

The royal official said, "Sir, come down before my child dies."

Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live."

The man took Jesus at his word and departed. While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, "The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour."

Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." So he and all his household believed. 

Jesus is returning to where he performed His first miracle of turning the water into wine, and when the man approached Him he says in verse 48, "Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders...you will never believe." I've heard it said many times that people love the gift and not the Gift Giver, Jesus. 

What's sad to me is I think God has been so faithful in our past, and we seem to forget not only the greatest gift of Him dying on the cross for our sins, but also his faithfulness of things he has gotten us through already. We quickly forget his previous miracles, and almost look at Him and say, "alright one more miracle, one more blessing, and I'll see I can trust you". How quickly we forget what God has done for us, and so often ask for more.

What is it in your life that you are waiting for God to do before you will believe? 

I love what John Piper has to say about the royal official's response:
"'The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.' What is remarkable about this is that the man had asked Jesus to come with him. But when Jesus simply spoke, 'Go; your son will live," the man obeyed without a question. He believed and went. He did not insist on seeing the miracle. He did not complain that Jesus would not come with him. And amazingly, he simply left, John says, believing. I'm inclined to think that in that moment of seeing Jesus speak so sovereignly in spite of his accusations, something awakened in the man. he saw something more than a miracle-worker."

The man believed in Jesus and trusted His word without knowing the outcome. Are you trusting in Jesus and his sovereignty? While we are waiting for God to do something He is already at work. He is doing more in our lives than we can possibly imagine (Ephesians 3:20). We have to see Christ as more than a miracle-worker. He is our Savior, our Messiah. He is faithful and good. 

I pray that we don't forget the miracles God has already done in our lives. His promises to walk with us through the fires and storms with us (Isaiah 43). I pray that like the royal official, we would take God at His word, trusting in the truth and promises found in the bible. Ultimately that we will never forget the greatest gift (Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9) He has already given us in the cross. He came from heaven down to earth for us. To live a perfect life, die on the cross, and rise again defeating death that we may have eternal life, and life abundantly through Jesus Christ. That is the greatest miracle. Jesus is all we need. What's amazing is we get to know the outcome. We have assurance of Salvation as believers (John 5:24). We know how this story ends. Trust in Him. 

BE EXPOSED

Are you afraid of being exposed?

My community group is going through John right now and last week did John 3. It's been awesome diving into the Word with some amazing women who all bring great insight each week on what they are learning. John 3 holds one of the, if not the, most well known verses from the bible:

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." 

This is how much God loves us. He gave his one and only Son for us that we might have eternal life. That is amazing love! But keep reading...

"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” -John 3:17-21

There is so much in this passage, but the part that hit me most this time reading is verse 20:

Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.

I've read John 3 many times, but the word EXPOSED stuck out so much this time and really struck a chord with me. I think often times we don't turn to God, or don't want to go to church, or don't want to be honest with people because we are afraid of being EXPOSED. 

I think that fear comes because of many reasons. We are afraid people might "judge" us. They might tell us to stop what we are doing. They might see that we aren't "perfect". We know what we are doing is wrong, but we don't want to admit it. Or we don't want to admit that we are struggling with something, or that we are hurting.

Before I found my current church, Watermark, I was afraid to admit how much I was hurting. I had never dealt with a lot of pain from my past. I wanted to appear strong and that I had everything together. I acted like life was great and I was living it up. I was living a lie. I was hurting, hiding, and trapped in the darkness. I've found the greatest freedom and healing though in bringing things into the light and being exposed. If you wonder what that means, "bringing things into the light", it simply means what the next verse says...being truthful. Letting others in your life know what's really going on. Being transparent. Not sitting in the darkness trying to hide the truth. Being completely transparent with a couple girl friends about my actions, thoughts, fears, insecurity, doubt, and struggles has been one of the greatest blessings in my life. They sharpen me, encourage me, pray for me, and continually call me to something greater...following and trusting Jesus. 

Being exposed is a good thing, because as you walk in the light the Lord can heal you. Restore you. Redeem you. Bring others along side you to encourage you, help you, and love you. Then you truly get to see more of how amazing God is. How faithful and good your loving Father is. And let me tell you HE IS GOOD. HE IS FAITHFUL. 

When you aren't exposed it will keep you from ever having a great relationship with those in your life, and more importantly you will always feel that distance between you and God.

Light has come into the world, the light is Jesus. Don't be the men and women that "love darkness instead of light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed."

As I've been reading for tonight's community group, and reading the next chapter in John, I am reminded by the story of the Samaritan woman at the well. God already knows what you are doing. He knows what you've done too. And he still loves you and wants to give you eternal life, living water, and free you from the darkness. That is why he sent his one and only Son, Jesus. Turn to Him and those in your life. There is nothing you have done to keep him from loving you. It doesn't matter how many times you have done it. There is nothing bigger than the cross. Be honest. Be exposed. Be set free.

Incapable of Insignificance

I'm reading a book called The Gospel of Ruth, Loving God Enough to Break the Rules, and loved what she wrote about being an image bearer of God:

"When...anything alters a woman's life, the center of her identity doesn't disintegrate, for she in not defined or redefined by circumstances, relationships, her resume, or public opinion. God defines her. If you look up "woman" in God's dictionary, you'd find the definition he set down as he drew up plans for the very first woman. He defined the woman as follows: "Image bearer; created in God's image and likeness; called to be fruitful and multiple, to rule and subdue." It's the same kingdom definition that he gave to the man. God issued definitions for the woman and the man when both were naked and their resumes were blank. Reduce them to their most elemental selves, and they are still God's image bearers. It ascribes to them the highest value imaginable...A woman's high calling as God's image bearer renders her incapable of insignificance, no matter what has gone wrong in her life or how much she has lost..."

Teaching in Uganda

I remember our last day teaching in Uganda we asked the women what they learned from our time together. We had taught on many things, and so it surprised me when a woman stood up in the back and said joyfully, "I learned that I am created in the image of God!" This was such good news to her, and I sat there thinking... I've heard this time and time again, but have I truly let it sink in to where I am overjoyed at the goodness of that truth? 

One of the beautiful ladies in Uganda.

So often in life we let circumstances, our job, or our relationships define us. Then when any of that changes, or is altered, we lose ourselves. Other times if we don't have those things (job, relationship, etc) we have a hard time knowing our identity, our value, our worth. 

I've realized looking at my own life that for a while I let my own circumstances and failed relationships mark me in such a way that I thought I was defined by those things. I thought that my past disqualified me from anything good. I had my identity in all the wrong places. Once I realized that I was a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), that I was created in the image of God (Genesis 1-2), and that there was nothing that could separate me from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39)... I finally found the joy and hope that I had been missing.

You see when God looks at me, he doesn't see my sin, he doesn't see my past, He sees His Son Jesus. As an image bearer I pray that I reflect him well to all those I meet, and that daily I find my identity in Him and nothing else. 

I love this sentence from the book, you are "incapable of insignificance, no matter what has gone wrong". Why? Because you were created in the image of God. He created you. He loves you. He has a plan for you. Do you know Him? As you know more about God, your knowledge of your identity grows, and it's so awesome. 

JOY. We are created in the image of God.

For more information here are two great resources:

What does it mean that man is made in the image of God?

How should we live our lives in light of our identity in Christ?

Something Doesn't Feel Right

Widows in Uganda 2011 singing praise to God.

The last couple weeks I could tell the Lord was trying to show me something. I was just "off". You know the times where you can't quite pinpoint what's going on, but something just doesn't feel right? Then I finally realized what the Lord has been trying to remind me. This life is not about me.

I've heard this over and over again, but lately it has become "crystal clear" as Ryan would say. I am very thankful that the Lord is opening my eyes, and that I'm realizing that I struggle at times with wanting recognition and the need for approval. It's embarrassing to admit that, but I am confident that I am not alone in this (1 Corinthians 10:12-14). Since I am not alone I figured why not bring it into the light, and share what I am learning through God's word and community about HUMILITY.

What does the bible say?
Matthew 6 
Do not do things to be seen or honored by men. Desire God's will to be done, not your own. 

Philippians 2 
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Have the same attitude as Christ who came to serve, not to be served. 

1 Thessalonians 2
We are not trying to please men but God, who test our hearts. Do not look for praise from men. The Lord is our hope and joy, and to him be the glory.

James 4
God opposed the proud but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves to God and draw near to Him. Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up.

God is very clear about his concern with our motives, our heart, and our desire to glorify ourselves and not Him. The Lord talks over and over again about us being humble. One of my favorite verses is Micah 6:8 "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

After going to God's word I also talked with community and loved what my dear friend Kylea had to say:
"I know it's hard to not want recognition...affirmation in that 'look, look how much better I was than before. I'm doing great, right?' I think that's natural. We've all grown up in a system that's performance based: grades, trophies, pageants, scholarships. It's hard to not subconsciously crave affirmation and recognition, but I think that's where we have to let go of the 'what we've done part', and switch to what the Lord has done. It's a tough barrier to overcome, but not one that's impossible. I don't think it's an overnight transformation. I think it's just one that you become aware of, and when you find yourself craving recognition/affirmation, you stop, remind yourself of truth and what scripture says about the subject. Then pray for God to remove that. It's all discipline, but something we have to choose to surrender. That's the hard part. Choosing to let go of the desire for the pat on the back, and choosing to believe that the Lord's recognition is enough." 

At the end of the day if we are doing great things, but with the wrong motives, or looking for anyone's name to be lifted up other than the Lord...it doesn't please God. He cares more about our heart, our faithfulness, than anything we "accomplish". After all, He is the one who is actually doing the good, he is just allowing us to be apart of it, and using us. I am beyond thankful that the Lord is not done with me yet. That he continues to sanctify me, grow me, and give me eyes to see. 

Paul can get wordy at times, but this describes exactly how I sometimes feel...

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

-Romans 7:15-25