Purpose, not Fear

God did this (see verses 24-26) so we would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far away from any one of us. ‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’ (Acts 17:27-28 [NIV])

Imagine you and a navigator use a rowboat to travel over the waters. You begin the journey with hearty conversation and begin dreaming about the future. Periodically, the navigator tells you when to veer eastward or westward. You trust him because he knows more than you, and you and he have the same agenda. After days of being in the boat with the navigator, you’ve talked all you want, and the air goes silent except for the splash of your oars as they break the surface of the water. You can’t hear the navigator, but you keep paddling. Eventually, you realize you’ve not seen anyone on the water for a long time. Then you realize you’ve not asked the navigator for directions in a long time. At that point, you understand you stopped listening to and left him and you don’t have any way to know where you are. You lose your way and become stranded on your own, then you don’t know what to do as panic rises within you.

Jesus is like the navigator of the boat. We often see Him as unnecessary for our journey, then go on our merry way. Still, as we continue, we realize we had a sure purpose and direction in life when we listened as the navigator gave directions. We realize we learned about life as we talked with Him throughout the journey. As children of God, we have a purpose in life. 

Jesus’ purpose and calling on earth was to live as the Son of God as the Son of Man to fulfill prophecies about the Messiah and become the Savior of the world by dying on the cross. Each Christian has a God-ordained purpose, too. Our purpose is to let the Son of God live and move and have His being in us (Acts 17:28) so that other people will seek Him, see Him, and come to know Him as their Savior. Our purpose as Christians is to bring glory to God by testifying about Him.

When Jesus entered the Garden of Gethsemane for the last time, He entered it already a victor because He is the Son of God. He prayed intently not to fail in His purpose of dying as the Son of Man. Jesus came to earth to die on the cross for each person to remove their sins, which caused their separation from God, and their resultant judgment. God had defeated Satan long before when He cast Satan out of heaven. As the Son of God living on earth, Jesus defeated Satan, too, during His forty days in the wilderness when he tempted Jesus, but Jesus did not yield to sin. The challenge that faced Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane was going through His crucifixion as a man, the Son of Man. Going through the agony as the Son of Man revealed He accepted the purpose God had given Him as the Son of God. His agony provided humanity the simplest way to be saved from their sins. Jesus’ greatest action, dying on the cross, provided humankind the greatest victory, victory over sin and death. Salvation through Jesus makes us co-heirs with Him in the kingdom of heaven. As such, we do need not fear what may happen to us, but instead follow in Jesus’ footsteps with His strength. The writer of the book of Romans said, “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ-if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.” (Romans 8:16-17 [BSB]) We are co-heirs with Jesus through His death and resurrection. God’s children do need not fear, but just follow Him. He has a purpose for our lives that is for our good. God will always be with us, for us, and in us.

We each face similar challenges in fulfilling the purpose of God in our lives. The greatest challenge is saying, “Yes, I will give my will, my life, my all so that the will of God can live, move, and have its being through me and in that way other people can come to know Jesus and the salvation He offers.” The challenge is do I want my will or God’s will to rule my life. This challenge comes throughout our lives as life-choice questions. Should I take the job offered to me with higher pay so I can provide more for my family, even knowing it will mean we must move and the ministry in which God has placed me will suffer? Should I seek safety and comfort closer to family offered by my employer during a perilous or pandemic time, even though the ministry in which God put me will suffer and people would turn their backs on God? Should I seek a degree in a field that offers surety of employment and good money, even if God has gifted me in the arts and has told me to get a degree in the arts? These and other life choices arise, and we must decide if we will live as a person the Son of God lives in, moves through, and in whom He has His being so other people would seek Him, see Him, and know Him as their Savior.

More is at stake than our own lives and fears when we live as the son or daughter of God. As heirs of salvation, for that is what Jesus said we, His disciples, are in Matthew 25:34 and of what Paul reminds us in Romans 8:16-17, we are the body of Christ on earth to testify about Him and God’s great love. God calls each of us to tell people about Him so those people may be saved. Jesus’ salvation was not for a few select people, but for all people. Jew, Greek, male, female, slave or free, He loves and cherishes every person. God has a purpose for where He places us and for what He tells us to do. That purpose may sometimes put us in uncomfortable situations. Thoughts may come to mind that we can find another job somewhere else. Or, our families need us to provide more money so they can do X or Y or Z. Or, surely God doesn’t want us to die far from my family?

If we seek ease, money, or health over God’s will, we hinder God’s means to reach the people to whom He wanted us to be a living testimony of Him, so they would come to know Jesus Christ as the Son of God, their Savior. This does not mean the people He wants to know about Him won’t hear about Him; it means He won’t use us to do it. Besides this, if we choose to go our own way and not God’s way, we don’t know if what we sought instead of God’s plans will occur. Perhaps a job for which we moved will not be a good “fit” for us, and our families experience more problems in that city. Or, possibly, going our own way instead of God’s will lead to an avoidable health crisis that we wouldn’t have experienced if we followed His plan. Considering factors besides ourselves, the people God meant for us to meet would not hear a testimony of Christ from us or they would think we don’t believe God can protect us. Finally, if we seek a degree that “guarantees” a good income, the people we would have met in the art world might not hear about Jesus, and the income might be too little on which to live. Making decisions based on self because of fear or personal desire will often lead us away from God’s plan and possibly into hardships against which we cannot stand by ourselves.

The purpose of Jesus’ life, the Son of God and the Son of Man, was to be our Savior through His crucifixion, the most agonizing of deaths. Similarly, the purpose of our lives, as co-heirs with Christ, is to be a living testimony to Jesus. Our lives  are meant to show His living, moving, and being through our actions, words, and thoughts. Considering laying aside our agendas and our ideas of what is best and where is safest for us is agonizing. Still we must remember, Jesus’ agony on the cross was the greatest suffering ever experienced by humanity. Jesus, as Son of Man, probably dreaded the pain of crucifixion just as we dread what might happen to us if we don’t take our lives into our own hands. Even in the face of crucifixion, Jesus told His Father, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet, not as I will, but as You will.” (Matthew 26:39 [NIV]) The Son of Man gave His will entirely to the will of the Father though it would require a crucifixion death because of humanity’s sins and a separation from the Father until it was “finished”.

Where is God telling you to be today? What is He telling you to do today? To whom is God telling you to go? Nothing you can figure out for your own life is greater than living, being, and moving for Him because nothing is more important than obeying Him and leading people to know Jesus as their Savior. Your life choices are not more important than eternal salvation from hell. Your health, safety, and wealth are not more important that God’s plan to save each person.

When you choose to do what you want and ignore what God asks you to do, you choose your desires over someone’s eternal life.

You could be condemning someone to eternal separation from God.

Who are you to decide someone should go to Hell?

God was the navigator of your rowboat as you began your Christian journey with Him. You enjoyed daily conversation with Him and learning from Him. You realized you never had to worry about how to get food and fresh water to drink. God taught you many things and took you to meet people you wouldn’t have met if He hadn’t been your navigator. He wanted you to talk with other people on your journey to glean from their journey with Him or to tell them about your relationship with Him. One day, after having exhausted conversation topics with your journey companion, you realize God is not in your boat anymore. He has not navigated your journey for a long time. Now you paddle in circles without meeting many people and without eternal purpose. You don’t know where you are or how to get to any place. Think back to when your journey began. How did you know what to do then? You spoke with God daily. You sought Him. God promised that when you seek for Him, you will find Him. (Proverbs 8:17; Jeremiah 29:13; Matthew 7:7; Luke 11:9; Acts 17:24-28)

But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deuteronomy 4:29 [NIV])

Today, you can choose to renew your relationship with God. Pray to Him. Read your Bible. God waits for you to turn back to Him. He loves you, has a purpose for your life, and wants to be your Navigator again.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10 [NIV])

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4 [ESV])

Choose today who you will serve – God or yourself.

Lord, forgive me for being blinded by my ego and fear, and considering You less important than me. Forgive me for my self-centered view of life. I had never considered my choices could affect someone’s eternal situation – permanent separation from You or permanent life with You. Lord, I am sorry. I got into the boat with You to live life with You, but then I put You ashore and set out on my own agenda. Lord, You are most important in life and eternity. Your gift of salvation is more important than anything I could ever do for myself or anyone else. Lord, You are almighty, faithful, and loving, and I am not any of those things. Today, Lord, I give the oar to my boat, my life, back to You. Lead me where You want me to go. I will trust Your plans and live Your purpose for my life to bring You glory as I obey You by telling people about You and the salvation You offer. I must decrease and You must increase. I understand this better now. Thank you for Your patience with me. I love You, Lord. Amen.

Aligned by Cataclysm

Aligned by Cataclysm

Crash of waves. Roll of thunder.

A mighty cataclysm of force will be

The moment of change, the reason of strain,

Status quo will cease to be.

Change, they say, is inevitable;

If that’s so, why do we battle against it so?

Where battle is greatest, our fight rages hardest;

Why won’t we let it go?

Some people grow with little fight

While others roar against the flow.

Staying in calm waters is peaceful they say,

Yet stagnant and stale it grows.

Change for change sake is often unwise,

While learning from life’s storms is wise.

“Come follow Me,” the Teacher said,

Does not mean following as blind.

It’s a willingness to trust with faith

The One of whom God’s prophets told;

It’s a leaning completely upon His grace

At first timid, then more bold.

“Come follow Me,” makes one giddy at first,

Then recognition of what that means

Can cause doubt, indecision, and rebellion;

Yet without storms growth is rarely seen.

Doubt, indecision, and disobedience,

“My choice,” we often say,

But if we’re to grow and if we’re to go,

Then to the Master we must obey.

“What’s that?” you say, I hear nothing now,

The heavens seem closed to my prayers.

God’s shut His door, His ears closed, it feels.

Please God don’t leave me here.

I want You; I choose You.

How can I change? What have I done?

How can I grow like You?

“Listen carefully. Have peace. Walk My way.

I’ve been waiting. Follow Me through the waves.

It lasts mere moments in history. Trust Me now.

Share the burden with Me. I’ll show you how.

Come on. You have it. Keep your eyes on Me.

You are growing, keep walking and see.

The cataclysm, a great force, don’t resist.

Grow with the storm. Change, don’t just exist.

I’m calling you to more than each breath.

I call you to follow, tell, and show.”

What greater purpose? What better change? Why did I say no?

Lord, those storms strong, thunder peals loud, waves raged over my head;

In and by them You brought me through.

Now I will never be the same, I hear You call my name

Call and grow me, take and mould me, I’m Yours to use.

For growth does come through cataclysm

Through it I’m more nearly aligned with Thee.

--Gail Suratt Davis

July 27, 2019

Ends and Means: A 2 Samuel 4 Devotional

Focal verses: 2 Sam. 4:5-8

 ⁵“So the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, departed and came to the house of Ish-bosheth in the heat of the day while he was taking his midday rest. ⁶They came to the middle of the house as if to get wheat, and they struck him in the belly; and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped. ⁷Now when they came into the house, as he was lying on his bed in his bedroom, they struck him and killed him and beheaded him. And they took his head and traveled by way of the Arabah all night. ⁸Then they brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David at Hebron and said to the king, “Behold, the head of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life; thus the LORD has given my lord the king vengeance this day on Saul and his descendants.” [NASB]

Rechab and Baanah were commanders of troops in Saul’s army, which Ish-bosheth inherited from his father, Saul. When Joab, the commander of David’s army, killed Abner, the commander of Saul’s army, in revenge for killing his brother, Rechab and Baanah took matters into their own hands. Before we go further in this study, I find it interesting that the Hebrew meanings of the names Rechab and Baanah. Rechab means “rider” and Baanah means “affliction.” They enacted their names when they killed Ish-bosheth.

Back to your story. Why would Rechab and Baanah decide to kill their king, Ish-bosheth? That is an interesting question. Immediately prior to the time of Ish-bosheth’s murder, Abner began encouraging the Israelites to give their allegiance to David. He did this out of spite when Ish-bosheth reprimanded him for lying down with one of Saul’s (his father) concubines. Abner did not like being called-out and reprimanded so he swore he would change allegiances and take Israel with him. Later in 2 Samuel 3, Joab killed Abner.

Back to our question: Why did these two men kill Ish-bosheth? Two possible answers come to mind. The first is they wanted to finish what Abner tried to do before his death. They wanted to make David king of all Israel. The means of it did not matter to them. For Rechab and Baanah, the ends justified the means. They did not ask David or God how to make David king of all Israel; they decided for themselves. By taking the head to David, they wanted recognition as loyal followers of David and consideration as men of worth.

The other possible answer to this question could be Rechab and Baanah were loyal to Abner in life and so wanted to be loyal to him in his death. They decided to finish what Abner began. Again, Rechab and Baanah did not consider how Abner wanted to make David king over Israel and Judah; they just acted upon their impulses. In this answer, they perhaps sought the approval and applause of their fellow Israelite army and civilians. Faithful even after death. Once again, they considered the ends justified the means.

Rechab and Baanah were not commanders of armies, but of troops. There is a reason they were not higher commanders and it probably hinges upon their wisdom and maturity about purposes, actions, wisdom, and maturity. When a goal reaches into the future, the best course of action is not necessarily the most expedient one. Rechab and Baanah were both a part of the nation of Israel God created. Their father and rabbis taught them about Yahweh. Each of these men knew to seek the Lord’s will before acting. Yet they are like people nowadays, too. They wanted to reach a goal and took whatever means they felt most necessary to bring about a quick result. They did not consult with God, a rabbi, another military leader, or an elder. Rechab and Baanah heard God anointed David. They wanted to follow the command of their leader who was murdered, but they wanted to do it the way they wanted and for the desired intent of their own good. They wanted recognition by the new king who ruled over them.

In life, we believe we know God’s plan and want to make it happen. We immediately begin to make plans to make God’s results happen. Then we wonder why we are experiencing difficulties. When we do this, we become like Rechab and Baanah. We get too concerned with reaching the goal and consider all costs necessary to get to the end. The goal becomes our focus and not God. Our commendation of “good servant” becomes more important than continuing to listen to God. Teachers and preachers expressed in the past, “God is more concerned with the journey than with the destination.” Our walk with Him here on earth is about becoming closer to God and becoming more like Him. It is not about getting to the goal, heaven. If that were the case, then we would all just kill ourselves now. God, though, created us for relationship with Him and He put us on this earth to begin and develop that relationship. He put us on earth to enjoy His creation, too. If the goal were merely to get to the end result and be with God in heaven, then He would not have created the universe and placed us on earth to live.

God anointed David to be king over all Israel over fifteen years before he actually began his reign. He had a plan, but it would happen in His time. Things needed to happen. David needed to grow and mature. Rechab and Baanah did not wait on nor ask God what He wanted them to do when Abner died. They aimed to accomplish the goal no matter how they had to do it. These commanders of troops killed the God-appointed king of Israel then. David, as God’s instrument, administered punishment to them for killing God’s appointed king for Israel.

God cherishes our lives. He created us to love us and have a relationship with us. This takes time to grow and know. All relationships take time to be built. Our lives are about the journey as well as the end. The journey is the time we need to know God and grow more like Him. The end is the place we will forever be with God in His heavens if we accept Him and His gift of salvation.

Those teachers and preachers were right. Life is about the journey. It is also about the destination – heaven. Do you work doggedly to get the job done and forget to ask God how He wants it done? Do you spend too much time working for God instead of getting to know Him His heart, and His plans? Maybe it is time for you and me to turn to God and consider His plans and timing. Maybe you have walked about from God in your process of doing His work.

Do not be like Rechab and Baanah. Seek God first when trying to help Him bring about His will. Seek God so you can know Him and be known by Him. Seek God so you can have life through the salvation He provided through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. Now is the time to turn around and seek God first (Matthew 6:33).