Hey friends!
I felt the urge to write down the following ramblings from my quiet time the other morning. I pray some of it will be relevant to whatever you're going through this week, or this season of your life! Enjoy them...and enjoy this WEDNESDAY from the WORD!
“Is not the Lord your God with you? And hath He not given you rest on every side? For He hath given the inhabitants of the land into Mine Hand; and the land is subdued before the Lord, and before His people. Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God…” – 1 Chronicles 22:18-19
My favorite song by Casting Crowns is Who Am I? Take a moment to read these beautiful lyrics:
Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart…
Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love and watch me rise again
Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me?
Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are.
I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
Vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours.
Hearing this song and reading the verses from 1 Chronicles this morning, I was reminded of the following passage from Psalms: “The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places…Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” – Psalm 16:6,11
Solomon must have felt awed by what his father, King David, told him. Because of David’s tireless work and great effort, Solomon was able to live in peace and focus his attention on building the House of God. Because David had battled and fought great wars, Solomon was able to live in peace. I’m sure Solomon must have wondered, “Why me? Why have the lines fallen for me in such pleasant places? Why am I the lucky one?”
On the flip side, I wonder what David thought. “As hard as I’ve served the Lord; as close as I am to Him; as much as He calls me a man after His own heart; why not me? Why have I not been chosen for this great task?” David might have had these passing thoughts, but his actions revel that he didn’t dwell on them (1 Chronicles 22:14-16). Instead, he did everything in his power to help Solomon, making his son’s task as easy as possible.
In church this past Sunday morning, my Pastor discussed the text from Genesis 25:29-34, where Esau despised his birthright and sold it to his brother Jacob for a single meal: lentil stew and bread. For instant gratification that lasted only a few minutes, Esau gave in the lifelong blessings and privileges of his birthright. Pastor Dan explained that we, as children of God, likewise have a Christian birthright. We are privy to the riches and rights of our Heavenly Father! (Romans 8:17) In addition, we each have a spiritual birthright, a spiritual gift that God has specially endowed to each of His children. For some it might be ministry; for others it might be a career; the list can go on and on.
But each of us is guilty of following in Esau’s steps. We have succumbed to our hunger pains; desiring fulfillment in the moment, we have been willing to give up whatever our birthright is for our own version of lentil stew. Satan knows what our weak points are. They look different for each of us, and he want use the weakness of person A to tempt person B. He is much to cleaver for that (1 Peter 5:8). Because of that, we must constantly be on guard, never naively assuming we are above falling into sin and capable of trading in our God-given birthright.
I encourage you to prayerfully consider what God has given you. What is he calling you to today, this semester, this year…for your lifetime? Claim that birthright. God is fighting for you; and if He is on your side, nothing and no one can get in your way (Psalm 46:1-3, Romans 8:31)! What a promise!
You might be like Solomon. Your life may look beautiful and carefree. Thank God for that, and use your smooth life for His glory. Or you might be like David. You life might be full of wars and battle scars. Don’t resent God for them, and don’t resent the “Solomons” around you for their bump-less lives. Whatever your birthright is, whatever God is calling you to, trust that He in His sovereignty has lovingly and carefully selected that for you. Who are we to know what that is, what our life should look like?!
I had dinner with my dear friend Allison last night. As I was sharing with her my current frustration with my convoluted life, and how confused I was that none of my jobs and internships to date made sense with my future career goals, she said this to me: “God may want you to serve Him for the rest of your life doing odd jobs rather than having a prestigious, lifelong career. That may be how He is most glorified through you. And don’t rob Him of His glory!”
Wow. I’m still in the process of digesting that, of taking it all in. One thing I do know: I don’t want to rob God of His glory, the glory I am privileged enough to play a part in. And whatever He is calling me to that brings Him glory, that’s what I want to do.
Father, give me the strength to do nothing as I let you be God (Psalm 46:10). Give me the peace to rest in You with open hands – resting in Your plan as You take or put in them whatever you see fit.
