A Heart That Is Set Apart for God

From: CBN.com, Martha Noebel

The Lord impressed upon me to consider writing an article on being “set apart for God.” I asked a few of my co-workers what they thought it meant and here are a few of their thoughts on the meaning of being set apart for God:

• God has His hand on you for a specific purpose. He’ll use other people, dreams, visions, and that “still small voice” of God to get you on track.
• To be marked by God for a particular purpose. He guides our lives differently than it might have been had we not submitted to His call. And even though it may appear that we are not in ministry, we are marked by God to minister in day to day living. Because He has set us apart, we are already walking into our destinies.
• We will feel a pull away from people and things that distract us. Even though we may feel as if we are put on a shelf and forgotten, we have been set apart for the call of God on our lives. It is during these times that we will find ourselves spending quality time with God as He molds and makes us into His image. He will build character in us so that when it is time to go on the frontlines, He knows we will be ready. He will be able to trust us with what has been appointed for us to do. Jesus said, “Come out from among them and be ye separate.” II Corinthians 6:17
• It is as if we can picture Jesus standing in the middle of a very busy, dusty, Middle East marketplace, not even aware of all the disruption going on around Him. Instead He is intently holding up and examining select pieces of fruit. Matthew 22:14 says, “For many are called, but few are chosen.” After deciding on His choice, He gently places them one by one in a basket cradled in the crook of His arm, close to His side.
• God has chosen us to do a work for Him and we need to be “set apart”, chosen to do a work for the King. He has anointed us and equipped us to be used for the advancement of His kingdom. Once, I began cutting a beautiful, crimson-colored nectarine I brought in with my lunch. To my surprise, it was totally rotten on the inside. The Holy Spirit led me to know that this fruit is symbolic of what some Christians are like —beautiful on the outside but the inside tells a different story. I felt a check to make sure I was clean before the Lord.
• It means to be made holy, consecrated to Him. Christians are given a special role in life to serve Him. We are transferred from the domain of darkness to the Kingdom of Light. We are strangers to this world’s system. Instead of thinking and acting like the world, we are set apart from this more common way of viewing and living life and are given a different purpose, which is to serve God and become more like Jesus. You could say that we are separated from worldliness and given new purpose in Jesus to be used by God.

Personally, I agree with all of the above. In my 50 years of living on this earth, I have spent 43 years as a Christian. From the very beginning, I have felt called to be separated unto God. My desires were to please God. I did not always succeed, but my heart was for God.

If I get off track, God always gently guides me back onto the path He has chosen for me. In 1 Thessalonians 4, Paul tells us that we should live a life pleasing to the Lord. In verse one, Paul encourages us to live it even more than before. A few verses later, 1 Thessalonians 4:9 instructs us to love our Christian families and Christians around us. He exhorts us to love them even more.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:6,8 Paul says,

“So we should not be like other people who are sleeping, but we should be alert and have self-control. … We should wear faith and love to protect us, and the hope of salvation should be our helmet.”

Later, in 1 Thessalonians 5:13-22, we get these insights: Live in peace with each other, warn those who do not work, and encourage the people who are afraid. Help those who are weak, be patient with everyone, be sure that no one pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to do what is good for each other.

Further instructions are to always be joyful, pray continually, give thanks for whatever happens, do not hold back the work of the Holy Spirit, do not treat prophecy as if it were unimportant, but test everything. Keep what is good and stay away from everything that is evil.

If we are set apart to do the work of the Lord, then we will not have time to get into trouble; especially if our hearts are set on pleasing God. We should be working on being full of the fruit of the Spirit and telling people about the message of the Gospel of peace. That alone is a full-time job.

And, as Paul ends his letters in 2 Thessalonians 3:16,

“Now may the Lord of peace give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.”

 

A Stubborn Intolerance for Joyless Christianity

 

by Alex Crain, crosswalk.com

“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.” – Habakkuk 3:17

Should one’s relationship with the infinite and personal living God be joyless? Francis Schaeffer didn’t think so. Yet there he was, a joyless man. Technically, he was theologically sound, but there was no denying that he had become a completely joyless Christian man. If that had continued, no one would be speaking of Schaeffer or his writings, or his legacy today. Thankfully, he was stubbornly intolerant of joyless Christianity.

In True Spirituality, Schaeffer tells how the spiritual reality, which would become the hallmark of his life, came about only after a time of great personal crisis. It was 1952. Schaeffer had become a Christian from agnosticism years before. After that, he had been a pastor for ten years in the U.S. and was now a missionary in Switzerland living with his wife and young children. Over a period lasting several months, Francis worked through the disturbing gap that he saw between the large amount of Bible data he claimed to believe and the lack of genuine spiritual joy in his life.

One significant and challenging question that caused Francis to ponder long and hard is recounted by his wife, Edith, in her book, The Tapestry, p. 356 ff.)…/p>

“I wonder what would happen to most of our churches and Christian work if we woke up tomorrow morning and everything concerning the reality and work of the Holy Spirit, and everything concerning prayer were removed from the Bible? I don’t mean just ignored, but actually cut out—disappeared. I wonder how much difference it would make?”

Apparently, during that period, it was making no difference in Schaeffer’s life. His doubts had cut the nerve of faith. And over those months as he walked in the mountains, Francis re-thought the doctrines of the Bible, the reality of the Holy Spirit, and each of his reasons for being a Christian.

At last, he declared…

“Gradually the sun came out and the song came… I saw again that there were totally sufficient reasons to know that the infinite-personal God does exist and that Christianity is true.

“In going further, I saw something else which made a profound difference in my life. I searched through what the Bible said concerning reality as a Christian. Gradually, I saw that the problem was that with all the teaching I had received after I was a Christian, I had heard little about what the Bible says about the meaning of the finished work of Christ for our present lives.

“Interestingly enough, although I had written no poetry for many years, in that time of joy and song I found poetry beginning to flow again—poetry of certainty, an affirmation of life, thanksgiving, and praise. Admittedly, as poetry it is very poor, but it expressed a song in my heart which was wonderful to me.” (from True Spirituality, p. 196 in The Complete Works of Francis Schaeffer, vol. 3 © 1982 Crossway Books, Wheaton, Illinois).

That time of crisis—and more importantly, his rediscovery of the meaning of the finished work of Christ for his present life—settled the crucial issue of spiritual reality for Schaeffer. Francis saw and believed that the finished work of Christ really is the source of the Christian’s life. Rather than pursue the trappings of Christian leadership while personally being a joyless Christian, he determined to wait for a greater reality of knowing God. With such a solid spiritual basis for his own life, he went on to become a great source of help for countless others.

 

Revival Begins with You

 

By: Greg Laurie, crosswalk.com

Then we will not turn back from You; revive us, and we will call upon Your name. (Psalm 80:18 NKJV)

Charles Finney, who was known to be a part of a great revival, said, “The experience of revival is nothing more than a new beginning of obedience to God.”

Any genuine revival that has ever happened in human history has brought about repentance in the lives of the people, a change in the community, and evangelism en masse.

We need a real revival today—not just an emotional experience and not just a tingle down the backbone. We need to see God work, because our nation needs it as never before. We don’t need some new thing. We don’t even need a “fresh word from the Lord.” Rather, we need to get back to the old things, to the very standards that God gave us, and we need to practice those.

I like what Jeremiah said: “Thus says the Lord: ‘Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls’” (Jeremiah 6:16 NKJV).

The early church, the one that Jesus started, turned their world upside down. They set the world on fire. But the church of today is much larger than the early church and has considerable resources, with incredible technology to utilize. Yet it seems as though the world is turning us upside down. Why aren’t we setting our world on fire? Because we need a revival. We need an awakening.

We talk about the need for revival in our country and about the need for change in the church. But we must each ask ourselves these questions: Am I personally revived? Am I living as a committed, on-fire follower of Jesus Christ?

If you are not, then you are part of the problem, not part of the solution.

The Original Mother’s Heart

 

 

Susan M. Watkins, cbn.com

For as long as I can remember I wanted to be an archaeologist. The whole idea of finding something buried and unseen by others appealed to me. When younger, I could be found digging in some corner of the yard. Best thing I ever found was an old spark plug calibrator. And then, I encountered Christ. My whole life changed, but my love for a good dig didn’t. It was simply redirected.

God placed a treasure trove of priceless jewels within reach when I was handed a Bible. Miner’s hat? Check. Pickaxe and shovel? Check. Burning passion to discover God? Check, check.

In my search for God’s nature, I stumbled across something stunning: His handiwork in fashioning mothers’ hearts. It’s easy to miss God weaving Himself into mothers and their hearts. A deep well, failing definition. Greeting cards offer armies of categories addressing it. Hollywood’s spent millions depicting it onscreen. Yet the wellspring of a mother’s heart remains mysterious.

Our Creator takes care to knit Himself into who we are and will become. In examining His love for us, His mothering nature is quickly apparent:

“…How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings…” (Matthew 23:37 NASB)

How could God reference Himself as a protective mother, lest He’d poured His compassionate nature into the mother’s heart? His maternal temperament continues:

“…He will rejoice over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.” (Zephaniah 3:17b NASB)

“Quiet in His love,” duplicates the tenderest moments between mother and child, referencing the child being fully contented and simply enjoying the closeness of its mother. The child wants nothing more than its mother’s presence. It’s a time of quiet love. Drawing powerful strength from her proximity alone. Again we see His mothering side:

“Can a woman forget her nursing child and have no compassion on the son of her womb?” (Isaiah 49:15a NASB)

Who better than the Designer of mothers could explain this nurturing side of Himself? The nourishing definition of Jehovah Jireh. Our Provider. His provision in limitless care was famously spoken to Moses. Asking a yet unnamed God His name, He replied, “I Am.” A statement begging to fill in the blank. “I AM everything. I AM infinite. I AM all powerful.”

Until my mother’s passing, I took full advantage of my family membership and went straight to her for comfort. Dad understood my running past him to reach her arms. With advancing years, hurts changed, but the source of my consolation didn’t. I still went to Mom for comfort. For through her kindness, forgiveness, and never-ending compassion, I came to wholly trust God. He was easily recognizable in her and I deeply valued God’s mothering heart woven tightly into hers.

The birthing process is God’s idea. He’s maternally given birth to the universe, birth to our planet, and birth to us. Most importantly He’s given us re-birth, calling us into reconciliatory relationships with Him. Nicodemus needed clarification. He knew it impossible to reenter a mother’s womb a second time. God’s way was easier with no gestational period. Being born-again in the Spirit granted restoration with the Father; enjoying unbroken intimacy.

Our Father in heaven is solidly our Father. His maternal nature guarantees attendance at every bird’s funeral. Keeps track of 7.2 billion heads of hair. Tallies innumerable thoughts about us exceeding grains of sand. Stills our storms, heals our diseases, binds our broken hearts. The most potent attribute of His mother’s heart is His lavish forgiveness of our sins. Black sins, washed in red blood, producing robes of white righteousness. Like the mother that deliberately forgets her child’s shortcomings, He casts our sins directionally as far as the east is from the west, until sinking to the floor of the Sea of Forgetfulness.

Simply stated, He is Father God with a mother’s heart. Waiting to wipe every tear; sitting up with us through the night; and listening to our troubles—solving them while we are yet speaking.

The mother’s heart is best defined by her unselfish generosity in ongoing, unconditional giving. Thank you, Mom, for letting me feel God’s love radiate through you.

 

Unexpected Company

 

 

Marilyn Nutter, cbn.com

Forty years later, I can still hear my daughter singing about a “wee little man.”  Complete with motions, climbing up a sycamore tree, and Jesus looking up to see him, she knew the story by heart.

Luke 19:1-10 tells us Zacchaeus, a tax collector, was a short-statured man determined to see Jesus. Can’t you see him, weaving through rows of people, trying to get a glimpse of the famous teacher? Frustrated and unsuccessful, he chose another route. The man had spunk. He climbed a tree and disregarded the potential of splinters from rough branches, bird droppings, and pieces of bark clinging to his robe. Curiosity and tenacity ruled.

Then it happened. Jesus stopped. He noticed Zacchaeus.

“When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’” (Luke 19:5 NIV).

Jesus even called him by name and said he must go to his house. Could it be? Unexpected company and life-changing results were in store for Zacchaeus, who was regarded by the crowd, and Jesus, as a sinner.

Every morning we have that same invitation. Jesus says, ‘I’m coming to your house today.’ Perhaps we meet Jesus reading online devotions, or our personal quiet time with our Bible, and in prayer. Though we may be Christians, we are sinners, saved by His grace. Jesus never stops seeking our attention. He wants to come. He delights in our company.

Are we delighted or in a hurry? Jesus said, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” Not “I’d like to,” but He must come. He knows what He has for us:

• The One with perfect wisdom desires to offer insight into our decisions. Do you want to miss out on hearing Him say, ‘I have a word for you about managing that relationship, difficult co-worker, finances, …’?
• The One who has purposes in mind for us offers to reveal His plans for our day. He’s just waiting to hear from you as if He is saying, ‘Pray and ask me for wisdom and direction. I have a storehouse. Listen for my voice.’
• The One who loves us with unfailing love wants to comfort us in disappointments and heartache. ‘I know you’re hurting but feel my comfort and love.’

We don’t need to climb a tree and get splinters. While we’re still dressed in pajamas with a coffee cup in hand, Jesus wants to come to our house and meet us at the start of our day. Luke 19:6 tells us Zacchaeus’ response was to welcome Him gladly. Zacchaeus looked and it was life-changing. Are you willing to do the same and take the time to listen?

God Hears You

 

Lori Hatcher, cbn.com

In my distress I called to the Lord; I called out to my God. From his templee heard my voice; my cry came to his ears. (2 Samuel 22:7 NIV)

The cries that awaken a mother in the middle of the night are many and varied.

There’s the cry that says, I’m feeling a little lonely; it would be nice to see your face. Another cry says, Something disturbed me. I don’t like it, and I think you ought to know about it. My diaper’s wet or my tummy’s hungry.

And then there’s the cry that could raise the dead. You know, the one that jerks you upright and on your feet even before your eyes are open.

A weekend with my granddaughter, Lauren, allowed me to experience all three of these cries. I was visiting for the weekend and offered to babysit so my daughter and son-in-law could have an evening out.

Following their usual bedtime ritual, I bathed Lauren, read her a bedtime story, and tucked her into bed. An hour or so later, I heard her whimper. Tiptoeing to her room, I peeked in to check on her. Apparently she had lost her pacifier and was rustling around in search of it. I watched her find it in the semi-darkness, slide it into her mouth, and drift off to sleep again.

Later that night, after I had gone to bed, I again heard a cry from her room. I tiptoed to the door to check on her. Although her cries were louder than before, she settled down in a few minutes with no intervention from me.

At 5 a.m., however, it was a different story. Shrill screams pierced the air, causing me to sit straight up in bed. My daughter, now home and asleep, responded instantly, but it took several minutes before Lauren’s cries subsided.

Wise parents learn to distinguish between the cries that warrant immediate attention, the ones that need monitoring, and those that are best ignored.

But regardless of the reason, mothers hear every cry. Their ears are attuned to the sound of their babies’ voices, and their hearts are knit together.

God the Father is the same way. David describes God’s responsiveness in 2 Samuel 22:7:

“In my distress I called to the Lord; I called out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears.”

God also responds to our cries for help. Psalm 91:14 reads,

“‘Because he loves me,’ says the Lord, ‘I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.’”

At times, however, in his infinite wisdom, God chooses not to respond to our requests immediately. Perhaps He knows we need to learn lessons or develop skills. Maybe He knows our faith muscles need strengthening or that waiting for His response will help develop our character. He knows that persevering in faith, even when we can’t see God at work, makes us stronger.

Uncommon Thought
If you’re crying out today, be comforted and encouraged by the knowledge that God hears every cry and always responds in a timely manner in the way that is best—because He loves you.

Unusual Faith
Has there been a time when God seemed deaf to your cries, but later you saw how He was working on your behalf? You can trust God for the present situation based on His faithfulness in the past. Cry out to Him, tell Him your needs, and watch to see how He responds.

I Keep Asking

 

 

 

 

 

Mary Albers Felkins, cbn.om

 

"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better." Ephesians 1:17 (NIV)

My father raised me to never, never give up. In fact, recently he asserted, “Down two runs with two outs in the home half of the ninth is no time to quit. Many games have been won under greater deficits. Persistence pays.”

No doubt he regretted his teaching when we were on vacation and within range of a gift shop.

Let the whining begin. “Daddy, can I puhleasse get a souvenir?” Never mind that he’d already blessed me with one. I’d convinced myself I needed another.

My husband and I have a son who we’ve affectionately referred to as our “persistent widow.” Why? Because, even at 20, he’s the one who keeps asking and asking and asking, hopeful he’ll get what he’s after. In matters of righteousness, this has been a blessing and demonstrated good character and courage. But on several occasions, we’ve had to say, “Enough.” And he’d stop asking.

Until a more opportune time.

To those in our sphere of influence, it’s wise to teach and enforce the biblical principle to let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No" be no (James 5:12). Otherwise, we’ll do nothing but perpetuate an already self-indulgent culture and lose the respect of those we hope to influence. Yet, there are situations when God invites – and even urges – us to keep asking.

"Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up." Luke 18:1 (NIV) A persistent widow sought justice against her adversary, albeit from a judge who was not a God-fearing man. If for no other reason than to get her to hush up so her begging wouldn’t wear him out, the judge granted her request. Luke 18:5 (Paraphrase mine)

If we carry a particular burden, desire justice, or need salvation, provision, or healing, we must keep asking. Because, unlike the unjust and godless judge referenced in Luke 18, our God loves us perfectly. He is wholly just and promises to deliver answers in His good and perfect timing.

But be warned. Satan will mock our persistent prayers with a wicked chuckle and will take advantage of moments of discouragement. During those days and seasons when the answers we desire haven’t yet arrived, the enemy is determined to silence our persistent prayers. If we let him.

The prophet Isaiah understood the directive to keep asking.

"You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give Him no rest till He establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth." Isaiah 62:6b-7

Where the will of God is concerned, not only are we to keep asking, we’re charged with giving God no rest about a matter. Doesn’t sound anything like a flustered, eye-rolling judge. Quite the contrary.

So long as we maintain an unwavering faith in God when we petition Him, there is great purpose and power in persistent prayer. Let’s not quit when weariness sets in at the 25-mile mark of a marathon or, as my father has taught, when we’re down two runs with two outs in the home half of the ninth. Not only will persistence change our hearts to be more like Jesus, but the recipient of our prayers will be forever grateful.