This past week I recognized two needs in my life. First, I was tired (exhausted would be a more descriptive term of my true condition). Our daughter’s wedding was a wonderful celebration with family and friends; however, the wedding prep required a lot more time and energy than our regular busy schedule consumes. I also recognized that I needed to be more careful about my food choices because of various sensitivities and allergies. So, I took a little time to rest and chose the better boundaries for my diet. If I had not made these necessary changes, I would have remained in an unsafe position for temptation AND my physical body would have continued into a deeper unhealthy state. Both of these negative outcomes would have the potential of physical/spiritual pain, wrong modeling, poor mentoring, and undesirable spiritual baggage. It was not just a nice thing to do. I purposely chose rest and healthy food to become a better husband, father, pastor, and disciple of Jesus. What do we need to purposely pursue this week to become a better disciple of Jesus Christ? We need to be sensitive enough to purposely pursue becoming more like Jesus. Let’s look at 4 Purposeful Choices for the Church to Pursue.
Jacob – “But I really want it!”
#1 - HONESTY & INTEGRITY
Genesis 27:18-28—Honesty and integrity -- even if it means you will not get what you want. Honesty & Integrity are crucial for the believer! Jacob lies to his father 5 times within 7 verses (vv. 18-24)!
v. 19, “I am Esau…”
v. 19, “I have done according as thou badest me”
v. 19, “…my venison…”
v. 20, “…because the LORD thy God brought it to me”
v. 24, “Are you my son Esau?” --“I am…”
Many adults have memories of their own father’s choices. One man shared this story in the Our Daily Bread devotional: I worked with my father during the summer months. Each morning we stopped to pick up the early edition of the newspaper at a small grocery store. One morning when we got to work, my father found that by mistake he had taken two newspapers instead of one. He first thought of paying the man the extra price the next morning, but then after a moment’s consideration he said, “I had better go back with this paper. I don’t want the man at the store to think I’m dishonest.” He got in his car, drove back to the store, and returned the paper. About a week later, someone stole money from the grocery store. When police pinpointed the time it occurred, the grocer remembered only two people being in the store at the time—and one was my father. The grocer immediately dismissed my father as a suspect, saying, “That man is really honest. He came all the way back here just to return a newspaper he took by mistake.” The police then focused their investigation on the other man, who soon made a full confession. My father’s honesty made a big impression on that non-Christian storeowner, and on me. (Source: Our Daily Bread, Henry G. Bosch, April, 15, 1998)
WHERE DO YOU FALL ON THE HONESTY SCALE OF LIFE?
Do you have a habit of stretching the truth?
When you get too much change from the clerk do you say, “Well, it’s his fault. He should have been more careful.”
When your spouse asks where you were, do you answer fully…truthfully?
When you are asked about your social media/internet activity (where you go, how much time you spend there, who you are hanging with online), do you tell them the truth? Does your transparency allow easy access for your spouse or parent (if you are a minor) to any electronic device you possess?
All these and more are observed by family, friends, co-workers, and complete strangers. Do these observations draw them closer to the One who is “the Truth?”
Col 3:9, “Lie not one to another, seeing ye have put off the old man with his deeds.”
Rom 12:17, “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.”
II Cor 8:21, “Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.”
Prov 11:3, “The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.”
Prov 12:22, “Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.”
Honesty is not a side issue for the church. Jesus describes Himself and His word as truth. We are also given much admonishment and commands about truthfulness in scripture. We need honest men of God in our homes…men of integrity!
#2 - DESPERATE NEED FOR GOD
Genesis 32:24-29—Recognition of his desperate need for God to bless him. God allows circumstances in Jacob’s life (much of Jacob’s own doing from the past) to bring Jacob to this point of needing God more than anything else. He is desperate for the Lord!
Diamonds are formed under great pressure and heat. If these conditions do not exist, they are simply not formed. It is not that they will be low quality, or smaller in size. It is simply that they will not form. When God sees our lack of character, He will bring into our lives what we need. The only difference between a diamond and a piece of coal is pressure. When we run from God allowed pressure, we run from God enabled “diamond-like” blessing!
Jacob’s trial is cause for rejoicing! Jacob’s trial brought him to a position of being desperate for the Lord to work. What are you desperate for? Are you desperate for more money to pay bills or get ahead, better health and freedom from sickness, or better marriage or better job?
My friend, we are often desperate for good things…but we are not often desperate for the right things! All these and everything else are found in one source! Stop pushing against the pressure…begin yielding to the God-allowed pressure and become desperate for God. Come to Jesus!
Eli – “But I love them too much to chasten them!” (I Samuel 2:12-17, 22-29)
#3 - Fear & Love God More
Eli was a judge of Israel for 40 years (I Sam. 4:18). He is an example of a permissive parent. The children were in charge. They were given to their own way – and their own way led them right where the Bible says it leads (Prov. 14:12) – DESTRUCTION!
I Sam. 2:12 – his sons (Hophni & Phinehas) were not saved
I Sam. 2:17 – his sons abused the offering procedure & thus the people “abhorred the offering of the LORD.”
I Sam. 2:24 – his sons caused the people to sin
I Sam. 2:34 – his sons would both lose their lives on the same day, as judgment from the Lord.
Fear and love the Lord more than your own child (2:29; 3:13) (in the end the child will feel more loved than giving them what they want). It is your love of God that will overflow in your love for your child.
What world view do you embrace in raising your children? Look at the side-by-side comparison of a humanistic/godless world view versus a Biblical world view:
Expose him to any or no religion vs. teach him truth in salvation
Reason with your child vs. chasten rebellion when Spirit-filled
Allow the child to decide what is best vs. direct him in the ways of God
Don’t apologize for pointing your children to God! Their greatest need is God!!
#4 - Trust & Surrender
Samuel tells Eli God’s message of judgment against Eli because his sons “made themselves vile” (I Samuel 3:13). Eli responds with total surrender to God’s plan. Trusting God is key for the ability to surrender.
Then we read how the presence of the Lord is removed (I Samuel 4:13). This is a grieving outcome for Eli. The devastating defeat at the end of Eli’s life is that he knew that all of Israel was in desperate need of God and the removal of the ark of God declared the removal of the presence of God. We also can take the presence and blessing of God for granted! Eli saw the big picture, but he did not see his individual need to live the big picture in his daily choices as he parented Hophni & Phinehas. This failure had far reaching impact on his family and on the nation.
When we struggle with surrender to God we must dig deeper into our relationship with God. Trusting God is a key for the ability to surrender to God.
Here are four helps for better relationship with God:
1. Rehearse who God is (He is good, wise, powerful, and love)
2. Remove distractions that derail relationship with God
3. Realign priorities to put God back on the throne of your heart
4. Run to His throne in prayer and in desperation for God
Honesty before God and men, desperately pursuing God, fearing and loving God more, and trusting God / surrendering to God are purposeful choices the church must make! Are you purposefully pursuing Jesus in your day-to-day choices?