Devotional from Todd Wilson
United Methodist pastor in the Indiana Conference, and church
planter in the Ukraine
This week, I prepared a message on "God's testings". Focal
passage is Gen22 (Abe and Isaac). Basic idea is that God will
promise to do things and then He will let time go on to see if
we still believe Him and take Him at his word. He will sometimes
even call us to radically act in faith, against all logic, sense
or past experience (as in Abe's case). He does this to test our
faith, to see if we will really trust Him more than anything
else.
Also connected to this idea is a sermon series I did this past month on the
cycle of faith/rebellion. As we see in history of Israel and the church (very
clear in Judges esp.) there is a common cycle that we all
go thru. It starts with God's call and our obedience...then as we obey, God
blesses us. At that point we have a choice/temptation/test of the heart. We
can begin to focus on the blessing/gift/thing or we can intentionally reject
that focus and instead put our hearts on the Blesser/Giver.
IF we make the wrong choice...that choice eventually leads us to idolatry.
We begin to focus more and more on the blessings of God, the things that God
can give us...to the point that we begin to think that this is the whole
purpose of life...in fact, we deserve these gifts because we
have been faithful to God...and if God doesn't give us what we want then He
is breaking trust with us (rather than the other way around)...soon this (selfish
and greedy) mentality develops to the point that we become bitter with God
because He's not doing what He's supposed to do for us...He's supposed to make
us happy and meet all our desires (because of course, the world revolves around
us now).
And, if this continues, we may begin to say "Ok, God, if You won't give
me what I need and deserve, then I'll just go somewhere else
to find it." And whalah...full blown idolatry blossoms. This cycle continues
with God leveling curse and judgment against His people, to try to bring them
back to their senses. And eventually, some repent and come back to the beginning
of the cycle...hearing God's call and responding in obedience...which brings
God's blessing...which leads us to a choice we must make...and so on and so
on.
All this is to say...be careful! We must always be very careful that we keep
our eyes on God and not what He gives us. It's so easy to get disappointed
and even bitter with God when He doesn't do what we want Him to do in our time
frame. But that mindset ultimately comes from a idolatrous perspective...that
life revolves around us and our plans, rather than around God and His plans.
If we intentionally "let go of" potential blessings or actual gifts
that God has already given so that we can stay true to Him and His calling...then
God will work everything out for good (the best) in His timing (not ours).
I just wanted to emphasize how important it is to trust God like Abraham trusted.
Abe knew that God would do a miracle (Heb 11:17) if that was necessary-even
raising Isaac from the dead. So he didn't have any trouble doing something
crazy and illogical. His focus was on God and God's promise. So please keep
your collective eyes fixed on the Blesser and Giver of all good gifts!
God bless!
your friend,
Todd
Todd and Tammy Wilson
www.light4lifeukraine.org
Ukraine mailing address
Ukraine Poltava 36032
Street Ognivska 10-53
Todd Wilson
stateside mailing
261 W Market St
Huntington, IN 46750
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