A Stumbler's Walk | GOD AT WORK

…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you…"

- Philippians 2:12-13

Part 1:

There are things only God can do. 

However, God will not do for us we he has called us to do in faith. We must understand this. If not, we remain stuck in the same spiritually-stagnated spot. No progress, and we somehow blame God. 

Spiritual stagnation is evidence that we have not been faithful to act on what we know. James, in the book bearing his name, makes the argument that faith is demonstrated in action.

Paul tells us to work out our salvation. We do this by acting on what we already know, and trusting God for what we don't. The biblical narrative is chalked full of examples of the greats of the faith acting on what they knew and relying on God for what they didn't. Faithful action, steps of obedience, trust in God; this is working out our salvation.

Notice Paul writes, "…your OWN salvation…" No one else can do it for us. Not our parents, pastor, friend, spouse, favorite author, etc. We are responsible and accountable for the incredible gift God has given us. No one can be faithful and obedient for us.

God, I will take the steps I know; help me to trust walk the steps i don't see.\

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | AT WORK

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

- Philippians 1:6

Years ago (wow, decades!) there was a popular Christian song that included the lyric: He (God) didn't bring us this far to leave us. He didn't lift us up to watch us fall." Moses said it more poignantly to his protege Joshua: "It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)

God begins a work of transformation in us when we say yes to Christ. Actually, we really don't know how, and how long, he has prepared us. And this God who has prepared us; this Christ who laid down his life for us; this One who has given us forgiveness and new life by his powerful grace; He promises to continue his transforming work in us until the day we see him face to face. (That last sentence was a little long, but we need to grasp it. I need to grasp it - more today than ever.)

Paul writes: (He) is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us. (Ephesians 3:20)

It is God's power, according to his plan, that is at work in us. Our part? Simply put… cooperation. Cooperation with the Spirit of God requires surrendered humility and audacious faith. 

In the second chapter of Philippians Paul exclaims, "…it is God who is at work in you…" (If you don't mind, I need to add an exclamation point!) Ponder it. The Creator, who said, "Light!" and light happened; who breathed life into clay and you and I happened...

...that God works in us!

God wants us to be more than we are; to be ever growing. His desire is that we would be, "… continually being transformed…" (Romans 12:2). He wants us to live more, love more; to serve more, to dare more.

Paul is convinced: "...I am sure of this..."

God, work in me.

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | AND THEN...

And then… - Acts 29:1 

True, there are 28 chapters in the book of Acts. Chapter 29 is our chapter. And its pages are filled with the accounts of what you and I do with this message of grace. 

The story of Christ's ongoing mission is being written every day. It is scribed in our hearts. The Acts 29 journals of our lives are written with ink of joys and pains for others to read; and in these words, to find hope.  

In the closing lines of Acts, Paul quotes the prophet Isaiah: 

For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed… (v27). 

Could there be a more sobering description of the spiritual state of culture today? Could there be a better description of my heart, my ears and my eyes at times? (Yours?)

But there is hope! 

…lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears 

and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them. 

Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent… (v27-28).

As the recipients of God's great love, we are the conduits of his grace and power. We are the pages upon which his story is still being written.

God, write your story in me… and through me.

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | OVERBOARD

And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea... So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea.

- Acts 27:38,40 

There come times when we need to throw some things overboard; when we must leave old anchors out to sea.

Paul had a message from God. It was not one he, or those with him wanted to hear. In the midst of the blowing tempest, he told those in charge of the prisoner ship that everyone on board would be spared. However, he said, they must be willing to run aground. They must be willing to face shipwreck.

276 men clutched to the rails, the mast, anything they could as the storm violently rocked them. The ship, they thought, was their hope and salvation. However, their wooden hope was being shaken apart plank by plank. 

There come times when we have exhausted possibilities. We’ve worked through the options and are at a loss. It is at this point that desperate faith takes over. (How much better it is to begin with desperate faith, than to be driven to it.)

And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea. (v.38)

We are wise to prepare for our tomorrows. However, we must realize that our plan for tomorrow is near-sighted. We should never be so confused as to think our plans give us control. Jesus called such a man who trusted himself and his plan for tomorrow a fool (Luke 12:18). 

The men aboard Paul's ship threw overboard their provision for tomorrow (some by faith, and certainly, some by force). The result? Rather than one more meal aboard a sinking ship, they found life.

So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea. (v.40)

The men’s last hope of riding out the storm in their ship was abandoned when they let go of the anchor ropes. They were completely at the mercy of the wind and the waves. Or so they thought. It was actually at this point that God’s provision was activated. The analogy is too easy; Jesus is the true anchor of our souls and lives. Any other anchor is faulty and we must let go the rope.

So we cast the wheat overboard and let go the anchor ropes. What’s next? A pleasant cruise into a sandy shore? We would like to think so, but that is seldom reality. No, a reef stood in the way, and shipwreck was the means to realizing God’s plan of grace. 

All 276 would later say it was well worth it when gathered around a beach fire. The difficulties of life are always easier in retrospect.

Two questions: 

Am I willing to throw the wheat overboard? 

Will I let go the anchor rope?

God, guide me to the beach.

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | PERSUADING LIGHT

And (king) Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?”

- Acts 26:28 

Do we live persuasive lives? Do we speak words, as did Paul, of selfless authority and penetrating authenticity? And are these words evidenced by the follow-through of a changed and changing character?

King Agrippa walked into court with all the self-promotion and pomp of Apollo Creed in Rocky (I or IV – you pick it). He thought hearing Paul would provide good sport. When Agrippa walked out, it was with a new recognition of a void in his soul. Truth pierces the heart and exposes what is within. The power and authenticity of Paul’s words (and life) could not be ignored.

I believe Agrippa hid behind his question to Paul. He was exposed and it was uncomfortable. A light was shone into dark areas of his life; into areas he was unwilling to go. The Apostle John utilizes the analogy of light and darkness in the first chapters of both his gospel and of his first letter. The light of Jesus shines in the darkness. Yet many react by trying to hide from the light. Many embrace the darkness. Like Agrippa, it is natural to hide when the light of truth shines into areas that we are not ready to face.

Paul was exposed by the light of Christ on the Damascus road. It changed him. When we are exposed by the light of Jesus and his truth we are faced with a choice; a choice that leads down divergent paths. One is a path of perpetual darkness, hiding and covering up. The other, though blindingly uncomfortable at first, is a path of grace and continual light. John writes that we, "…walk in the light, as he is in the light… (1 John 1:17).

Exposure to the light of Christ is not a one-time thing. We are continually exposed through scripture, worship, the community of believers, prayer, etc. And as we walk in the light, we become persuaded people. Persuaded by Christ's love, his truth, his presence. As the old hymn says (based on 2 Timothy 1:12): I am not ashamed: ...for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Persuaded people are persuasive people.

God, shine your light on me.

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | MY NAME

So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city.

- Acts 25:23 

Some people need to prove themselves a big deal. People who realize they are a big deal to God don't need to prove it to others. 

You and I are a big deal to God.

We are the focus of his love, the recipients of his grace, the targets of his mercy, and the conduits of his power. And that is enough… because it is everything.

God, thank you for knowing my name.

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | FREE to LOVE

Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.

-Acts 23:1 

How do we live our lives "before God in all good conscience?" What is it God requires of us? 

In the book of Micah we read, "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8). 

Do justice… love kindness… walk humbly…. 

Pretty simple. Jesus summed up the whole Bible with these words, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind… (and) love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:37-39).

Love is the core of the Christian message; love for God, love for others and love for ourselves. We are most like Christ when we love. We are the greatest reflection of the Father when we love. Jesus said, "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).

Love exposes un-love. Notice what immediately follows Paul's statement: "'Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.' And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth" (Acts 23:1-2). Religion, devoid of love, is ugly.

When we are honest before God, he exposes the un-love in us. He doesn't expose in order to condemn. Not to punish. But to remove it, and free us to love; Him… others… ourselves. It is this process of honesty before God - the openness, exposing, cleansing and freeing - that allows us to live "before God in all good conscience."

Never confuse conviction with condemnation. God convicts with a purpose to restore. Condemnation is not from God; its source and purpose are destructive. Paul writes, "There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).

Jesus said, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36). We have been set free. Free from condemnation - by God or others. Free to love. Free to live "before God in all good conscience."

God, thank you for setting me free.

For now...

D