Four Sources of Trials

If a man tied us down, flashed a bright light in our face, slashed us with a knife and took all our money, what do we call him?

 

It depends on whether it happened in a dark back alley or in an operating room. One is a thief trying to destroy us and the other is a doctor working for our best.

If we see trials akin to a back alley, we may question God’s heart: “When a trial hits me, how do I know God isn’t angry and just punishing me?” Satan’s henchmen enjoy pushing us around to separate us from our unchanging help, God Himself. Lean in close to God like David in Psalm 13:1-2 (“How long, O Lord…?”) and Jesus in Gethsemane (“Father, take this cup of the cross from me, if possible”). Awareness of these four sources of trials has helped me navigate rough waters…if I don’t linger too long on the “WHY?” but move quickly to “WHO?”

1. Jonah Trials: we may suffer for our own disobedience to God’s spiritual and natural laws and for our sins and stupidity.
2. Satan’s Trials: Christians may also suffer because of faithfully following Jesus without compromise, doing good in a world with a serpent/dragon/roaring lion seeking to devour us.
3. Genesis 3 Trials: we all suffer as human beings because we live in a fallen world alongside fallen humanity.
4. Job Trials: Christians also experience trials directly initiated by God to train us as His child for our highest and best.

The first two sources have different responses: repent and rebuke; simply receive the last two. Think of trials as a workout to become a top-tier athlete. God’s plan purposely bends us and shapes us so we are changed by His love into the image of His Son, Jesus (Rom. 8:29). God uses the kind of things we would never choose to bring about good in our lives. God is good and so can only do good, though it may not always seem so.

When a “tornado” storms into your life, how will you respond? “Lord, help me to actively lean into Your loving presence while also honestly facing the devastation of the turmoil swirling around me.”

• This avoids the pitfall of denial (“It’s not really so bad.”)
• Also of a victim/martyr spirit (“I always get the short end.”)
• Also of discouragement/depression (“What’s the use in trying.”)
• And it avoids the pitfall of passivity leading to disengagement (“Well, there’s nothing I can do anyway.”)

The Thessalonian believers were only 3-weeks old when his enemies drove Paul out. He wrote back to them, reminding them of what he had already taught them on trials (1 Thess. 3:3b-4). So take one difficult trial from your past. Spend time to “Treasure Hunt,” mining God’s good He brings out of the bad. Then reframe the painful event with God’s light.

This is Reflection #30 in my book, Foundation Stones. I also have a web-site with tools, books and "more than Bible studies" that have helped me to live out of this spiritual DNA, www.JimFredericks.com

A Healthy Perspective on Tough Times

 

Over the years, I have grown certain that every circumstance in my life is an invitation to grow from a loving God. Trials are “super-charged” with rich possibilities to break long standing habits. First and foremost, trials illuminate the “gaps” in my life so I might partner with God to transform my mind (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:23).

 

First, the “gap” between what God is really like and my perception of Him. Second, between how God knows me and how I see myself. Third, between how God sees His world of people and how I see them so that I might better serve those around me. Put eggs, potatoes and coffee beans into hot water; eggs harden, potatoes soften, and coffee beans release flavor into the hot water. Heat reveals what’s inside. James 1:2-18 is a great place to begin seeing God’s invitation to full life in tough times.

1. Trials invite me into great joy as I face them squarely (not the trial itself, but the opportunity for change latent within as we turn to God), 2.

2. God releases an ability for me to wait long enough in the heat of the testing of my faith for Him to further His work of maturing me, 3-4.

3. Trials display “gaps” in my life so in faith I will ask my generous Giver for practical wisdom to discern the source of the trial and my response to close these “gaps,” (four sources of “crisis of faith”), 5-8.

4. Trials come impartially and uniquely to all, 9-11.

5. After standing through the trial, “treasure hunt” within the trial to discover God’s crown of life and then reframe the event with this good (Heb. 12:2b; Rom. 8:28), 12. Trials are temporary; the results eternal.

6. Never blame-shift, especially toward God since He is not in the tempting-business, 13. We empower trials as we set our focus on them.

7. Under pressure, my self-life is forced out of hidden darkness into the open. Now I have the choice to stop my self-life from birthing more sin and deathlike events in me since God wastes nothing, 14-15.

8. Trials are fertile soil for the Evil One to deceive me, unless I hang onto God’s goodness with one hand (“good & perfect”) and His greatness with the other (He sovereignly “chose,” 18), 16-17.

9. Expect God to birth fresh life in me through His Word (so dive into your “deep wells” of Scripture during these fluid times), 18.

Trials are super-charged. They are pregnant with opportunities for change…and also with the danger to spiral down if we focus on ourselves or our turmoil (these two words are combined in the Chinese word for “crisis”). Develop godly passions, aligning with the “expulsive power of a new affection.” What does God want to gift you with through these tough times? Lean into Jesus now. Learn to navigate in the calm.

This is Reflection #29 in my book, Foundation Stones. I also have a web-site with tools, books and "more than Bible studies" that have helped me to live out of this spiritual DNA, www.JimFredericks.com

A Golden Key for our Lifelong Journey

C.S. Lewis calls change our “golden key” to unlock treasures on our journey in life. Since we all are still very much in-process, we must change if we are to grow and not settle. My Christian life began by stepping through a gate by faith, leading to an upward journey (Matt. 7:13-14), with twists and turns and plateaus.

Later on my journey, I came to another narrow gate where God posed the same question: “Will you trust Me in this ‘crisis of faith’ or settle for the broad pathway?” If the answer is “yes,” we push through the gate and continue to ascend on our journey. If “no,” the pathway winds back for a while on a broad path until we find ourselves at the same gate again. I’m a pragmatist. A loving, patient God does not back off necessary change in me. Life is easier if I say “yes” the first time instead of going through pain again.

Every “crisis of faith” includes endings of good things we wish to hold on to and a time of transition before getting to the better new beginnings. You will shortly learn that good things can become enemies of the best. And God never allows too much in our lives, even when it feels like it (1 Cor. 10:13).

On our journey, how will we know which choices to make to keep in step with the Spirit? Let me give a three-fold lens. First, Jesus is the Model Man, the Second Man (1 Cor. 15:4). Do what He does.

 
First, Jesus is the Model Man, the Second Man (1 Cor. 15:4). Do what He does.

• Forgive others as Jesus forgives us (Eph. 4:32).
• Accept others as Jesus accepts us (Rom. 15:7), although accepting does not necessarily mean approving all they do.
• Love others the way He loves us (1 John 4:19).
• Show mercy, not judgment, like Jesus does to us (Jm 2:12-13).

Second, Jesus instructs His people to treat others like we would like to be treated (Matt. 7:12). Ask, “How would I like another to treat me in a similar situation?” Then treat them with a similar respect and care.

Third, in 1 Corinthians Paul gave the 1^st century believers four questions as general tracks to run on in “grey areas.” In these questionable areas, we make choices where no clear Scripture directly applies. Paul begins with our vast freedom in Christ, not limitations.

1. All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable (1 Cor. 6:12a). Ask: “Is the choice beneficial for me/others?”
2. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything (6:12b; 10:23a). “Will I be brought into bondage?”
3. All things are lawful for me, but not everything builds up (10:23a). “Does this choice build up me and others?”
4. “Will my choice accurately reflect God’s glory?” (1 Cor. 10:31).

This is Reflection #28 in my book, Foundation Stones. I also have a web-site with tools, books and "more than Bible studies" that have helped me to live out of this spiritual DNA, www.JimFredericks.com

Work as Worship & Mission

From the first days of knowing Christ, I could not get enough of the Bible and talking to others about Jesus. Church leaders told me, “God must be calling you to be a pastor since you have such a passion for Jesus.” Well, I was reading the book of Acts at the time, describing the whole body called to minister like this. I remember thinking, “We should all have this passion. I’ll be a Christian accountant and show people this normal Christian life for Christian business people.” Shortly after, I went off to school to learn to understand the Bible better so I could share as a businessman. For the next forty years, my occupations wove in and out of the church world as pastor and missionary and also the business world as manager and accountant. I was equally comfortable in both.

At a mission’s conference a few years before I retired, I heard a pastor say, “20% of the people do 80% of the work in the church…and that’s about right. The other 80% should be actively responding to God’s call to the work-world.” This surprised me, and drove me into Scripture to see what it says about our work world. Most all Bible events happened in normal life or in the marketplace, not in the religious setting. What portion of our waking hours during our work week are we at work? If we live all-in for Jesus, it must also include our work-world.

In Genesis 1 & 2 prior to the Fall, God designed each to work, caring for and cultivating what is around us (Gen. 1:28; 2:8, 15). As a good gardener, we find our special way to cultivate our God-given “garden plot” of people so life flourishes. Every moment in the work-place can be pregnant with possibilities. So work with tip-toe expectancy, patiently ploughing and cultivating, weeding and seeding our “garden plot.”

Ephesians 6:5-8 uses the lowest working class in their society (slaves) to illustrate our attitude toward work. Over and above finding meaning in work, we bring meaning to work because we bring the light of Jesus (I like Matthew 4:16, the light of Jesus dawns through our lives). Serve our bosses wholeheartedly with competence and enthusiasm, giving them a full day’s work for a day’s paycheck. And we also worship the Lord our God at work as we walk out authentic Christianity, serving others as we would Christ. This revolutionary 1^st century perspective sets us apart to make a difference in the circle of the world we touch.

What could happen if we trained ourselves to infiltrate our work-world as competent workers who bring the light of Jesus with us? When we see our work as worship, we respond as a priest, a bridge-builder from God to others. We bring God’s presence with us in a “naturally supernatural” way, without judgment and with generosity in service.

This is Reflection #27 in my book, Foundation Stones. I also have a web-site with tools, books and "more than Bible studies" that have helped me to live out of this spiritual DNA, www.JimFredericks.com

Farming & Fishing for Men

How did Jesus connect with the lost?

 

He related with people through leisurely conversations and compassionate responses. Jesus looked for “echoes of a Voice” that pointed back to our Eden-design to connect others with His Father’s love through presence, power, and proclamation evangelism (1 Thess. 1:4-5). The NT uses the pictures of farming and fishing to convey this patient process. No pressure. No coercion. We can all patiently farm and fish today. In Colossians 4:2-6, Paul provided his window into how to touch our world of people around us with the life of Jesus. Touch the world with God’s heart in these three ways.

1. The Touch of our Prayer (4:2-4): Devote our lives to prayer because prayer knows no bounds of either time or place. This prayer is warfare prayer and takes intense effort and focus. With “one foot raised” in anticipation, pray relentlessly for God to open doors into hearts and give us words to share. Look for God’s fingerprints on the lives of the lost with tiptoe expectancy since God is here (John 5:17+19).

 

2. The Touch of our Lives (4:5): Although the touch of our prayer reaches the ends of the world in an instant, nothing impacts people more powerfully than our ministry of presence empowered by the Spirit. First, live wisely in all our responses, at work and at play, as we shop and do life. When we stand for Christ, people watch, especially when tough times hit. Second, make the most of our opportunities. These are the same ones for which we prayed in the “touch of prayer.” God has placed us in the exact right place. Think of our normal week. Where do we rub elbows with those who need Christ? Also, keep alert for key transition events like early marriage, pregnancy, raising children, a layoff or marital tensions. God often uses these to open the hearts of the lost.

 

3. The Touch of our Words (4:6): How do we answer those who ask about our faith (“answer everyone”)? First, initiate conversations with others, even strangers (this stretches me!) Second, learn to graciously turn conversations to spiritual connections with winsome words. Third, season our conversations with “salt” so they become thirsty for more spiritual Reality. Put a comma in every relationship, not a full stop.

 

God has given you a unique life-story to share with others. So truthfully tell those around you what has happened in you (develop your three-minute testimony using “Telling My Story” in the Appendix). Depend on the Holy Spirit to touch a sense of need in people, needs like an eagerness for caring relationship, longing for significant purpose, yearning for their intrinsic beauty to be noticed, and crying out for justice (all “echoes of God’s Voice,” God’s image, marred but not destroyed).

This is Reflection #26 in my book, Foundation Stones. I also have a web-site with tools, books and "more than Bible studies" that have helped me to live out of this spiritual DNA, www.JimFredericks.com

Equality, Diversity & Unity in Community

One of the channels through which we experience God’s strong grace (His action-love) is koinonia in community. Koinonia is more than socialization. It’s a partnership, a sharing in common of the very life of Jesus, like the interaction within the Trinity as His image-bearers. That is why we are called to a New Testament (which means covenant). In a covenant, people have become one with each other in Christ. The world trumpets our differences; the Bible our equality, than celebrate diversity supporting unity. Eph. 4:1-16 begins with our equality as image-bearers, while valuing all three, leading to mutual ministry, like the Trinity.

1. Embrace Equality (4:2): Paul describes two pairs of transforming responses flowing from an equality as image-bearers (4:2). Since we are equal, approaching others from equality connects. Ephesians 1-3 remove any need for self-protective responses to prove we are equal. We are all image-bearers with equal worth, all still in-process. Now we are free to serve the highest good of others, which promotes trust, the essential soil for community relationships. (1) We know who we are (humility) and respond more like God does (gentle, considering others, not rough or self-assertive). We are strong enough to use our strength for others. If we experience insult or injury in community, (2) we are able to be patient, extending space to unpleasant people. We forbear foolishness in others without whining (when wronged, forgive and do them good).

2. Maintain Unity (4:3-6): Paul then describes a God-birthed, seven-fold unity in 4:3-6. No external uniformity, but rather a foundational unity in which all are aligned with the Lord and so are also aligned with each other. We embrace this seven-fold treasure of unity, and also battle to keep it. Great power has always been released through unity since the Trinity is the most basic element in the universe. Our enemy also knows the power in unity full well. Satan’s primary weapons erode unity by sowing “community breakers” so keep working hard to preserve unity.

3. Celebrate our Diversity (4:7-11): God wants what we willingly give. So Paul calls us to go all-in with God and others with our unique, one-of-a-kind diversity. He has given unique resources to all His image-bearers (represented in part here by spiritual gifts, 4:7+11). Now, this is crucial. In this diversity, Paul includes the same people as in the unity. In other words, the same buy-in is expected of every one of God’s people, not just the smaller number of positional leaders. As one new man, Jesus Christ eliminates the barrier of distinction and creates a community of equals (2:12-22). The passage then points to full participation of each part (4:16) so we dare not hold back whatever part God has given us.

This is Reflection #25 in my book, Foundation Stones. I also have a web-site with tools, books and "more than Bible studies" that have helped me to live out of this spiritual DNA, www.JimFredericks.com

WORSHIP

At the core of worship is living all-in towards the Father, Son and Spirit in all aspects of life. This is our only sane response as we grow in comprehending what God is like (Romans 12:1). We give back to Him the love and honor He deserves since He first loved us (1 John 4:19).

God deserves worship for His sake since He is worthy. As His Bride, He only wants from us what we willingly give, yet also woos us toward our best to be all-in. So relentlessly respond to pursue this love-relationship with the most incredible person. We are most fully human when we freely and gladly live in intimacy with Him, even in our routine in life. Intimate worship is first and foremost for God and about God. Only then for us as a byproduct. Take care then not to evaluate a worship experience by asking, “What did I get out of it?” This takes what is a secondary byproduct (although wonderful!) and makes it primary.

When you hear the word “worship,” is your first thought “worship songs,” like me, because of the many wonderful worship songs? Yes, this can be breath-taking (if our hearts are engaged as all-in to do what God says). Please don’t narrow your worship to songs of worship. We also worship with our prayers and the praise of our lips, through the ordinances (baptism and communion), by giving financially to support God’s plans, as well as songs of adoration, as long as our hearts follow.

Long before creation, God intended us to be worshipers, drawn to become more like whatever we behold (2 Corinthians 3:18). The proof of our authentic worship is not so much our ecstasy, but our changed lives, immediately and over time. Fill our minds with what is pure, admirable and excellent. Make Jesus the focal point of our lives and become more like Him. This lifestyle is at the heart of all worship experiences.

Like me, I suspect you will find it important to set aside a specific time to be alone with God each day in prayer and quietness with God. Also scatter short “One-Minute Sabbaths” throughout our day as we invest in intimate worship, even in the routine. God designed us to give full allegiance to something that gives significance to our lives, something bigger and better than we are. We will never discover genuine purpose and meaning separate from worshipping Jesus as Lord with our whole being. Read Philippians 3:7-8 several times to grasp the core of true worship. One exercise that has helped me make this concrete is to develop a “longing statement.” Then I pray my longing statement daily into my life. The following is my longing statement for this season: “I long to enjoy Your presence as my highest good” (Psalm 16:11).

What is your present longing statement?

This is Reflection #24 in my book, Foundation Stones. I also have a web-site with tools, books and "more than Bible studies" that have helped me to live out of this spiritual DNA, www.JimFredericks.com

Embrace God’s Word: BIG-small-BIG Approach

How can we engage the Bible in a way so we will continue to be a lifelong life-learner and doer?

Reading consecutively through the NT and OT is good. So is memorizing Scripture verses in key areas. However, the best way I have discovered to really get one book after another under our belt is to soak in one book at a time through BIG-small-BIG learning.

When my family pulls out a jigsaw puzzle, we first focus on the corner pieces and outside border to lay the framework. Second, we then fill in the details of the inside pieces, one key color after another. Finally, we look at the puzzle again as a whole in light of the picture on the box to be sure the parts fits together with the whole.“BIG-small-BIG.”

“BIG” – Survey (grasping the panoramic view of the interconnected whole). Survey the book by reading it rapidly and repeatedly regardless of verse or chapter, as you would any book. When the church received a book of the NT, for instance, Philippians, what do you think they did? Gathered the believers together to read it aloud, probably repeatedly. Our first shift in thinking must be to begin with the whole, rather than with isolated parts. Without the big-picture, our minds dislike bits and scraps.

“small” – Analyze (understanding the nuances of the individual parts). Then analyze the chapters, one after another. Many ways exist to study. From my study of a number of books on how to study the Bible, I blended the best and simplest ways to study in five-week long “DiscipleMaking Companions,” very user friendly, yet effective (free download at www.JimFredericks.com). Read the passage daily and soak in it. As we inquire into the details of the parts, we recognize that this part participates in the whole, of this book and also of the entire Scripture.

 

Like with the Trinity (one God, and three distinct persons), we keep the indivisible whole firmly in mind, even while we explore the uniqueness of each member. Each Christian not only has the right, but the ability and responsibility to interpret Scripture for ourselves. We are able because our Resident Tudor, the Holy Spirit, lives within.

“BIG” – Synthesize (re-connecting individual parts into the dynamic whole). Finally, synthesize by rapidly reading the whole again as we reassemble the parts. Modify your view of the whole or the individual parts where necessary since they mutually unpack each other.

This interconnectedness between “BIG” and “small” is a force releasing life. A failure to see this simple plan leads to much of the failure to understand Scripture today. As we bring our study of Scripture into alignment with this natural sense of BIG-small-BIG learning, much of the weariness of studying this Book of books will disappear.

This is Reflection #23 in my book, Foundation Stones. I also have a web-site with tools, books and "more than Bible studies" that have helped me to live out of this spiritual DNA, www.JimFredericks.com

John 15

The analogy of a fruitful grapevine in John 15 has stirred me from early-on to practically draw on His marvelous sufficiency day by day in order to live life from Him and for Him and to Him (Romans 11:36).

God the Father is the Vintner. This vintner works with vines as a passion, not just as an occupation. He sets each vine and branch exactly where He wants, crossbreeding and growing prize grapes. When the vintner finishes, he stands back, delighted at the work of his hands. This is a picture of the Father’s passionate heart delighting in His children and working with us for our best. He’s so far beyond what we can conceive.

God the Son is the Vine. The very life of the vine surging through the branches provides all that is needed for life and delectable fruit. Get in touch with Jesus’ generous heart for His branches. Are you amazed and overwhelmed yet by the profuse outpouring of the fully satisfying provision of Jesus in your life? He’s the Vine; we’re the branches. He supplies; we open ourselves to receive. Jesus is “for” us…always!

We are the branches. The world tries to define people based on what they do or have or what others think of them. Instead, Jesus calls us branches, little sticks of wood, not very impressive in ourselves. The power and life of the Vine, however, is perfected through the weakness and interdependence of the branch. This Big God created us as His image-bearers (Genesis 1:26-28). Through faith in Christ, He now re-creates us in Christ for the one purpose of fruit-bearing flowing out of intimacy. Fruit is always for others, and God changes us in the process.

Our one response is to abide. Abide (“remain” NIV) means to make our permanent home in Jesus. As branches, we receive everything we need for life and for godliness as we burrow the roots of our lives deeply into Him (2 Pt 1:2-3). We are “in Christ” and “Christ in us” (Jn 15:4).

The process of fruit, more fruit and much fruit. Our all-in connection with the True Vine channels the life-giving nutrients of the sap into us. Fruit grows through us so we can pass it along (an allusion to the Spirit).

1.      Fruit of LifeChange through God’s Word and prayer. Notice the organic union between abiding in the Word and growing (7-8, and Galatians 5:22-23, the fruit of the Spirit).

2.      Fruit of abiding in His love (9-10). Again, God inseparably links obedience with love so we make our home in His first-love.

3.      Fruit of joy. Joy authenticates our true abiding (11).

Ironically, every generation attempts in its own way to dim the dazzling brightness of the Good News of grace. It simply seems too good to be true. Courageously embrace all that God has freely provided.

This is Reflection #22 in my book, Foundation Stones. I also have a web-site with tools, books and "more than Bible studies" that have helped me to live out of this spiritual DNA, www.JimFredericks.com

We Become What We Behold

Early in my Christian life I identified what needed to be changed inside me, and prayed that these weak areas would be changed. The more I prayed, though, the worse they seemed to get! For instance, as I prayed for God to take impatience away from me, it seemed that my impatience increased. I also realized that as I prayed against the faults of others, I began to take on their bad traits. Plus our relationship deteriorated.

Gradually God taught me that we “become what we behold.” And I’m one grateful man! Instead of praying for what needed change, I identified and prayed for the positive trait God could grow in my life to push out the negative (often relating to the nine-fold fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23). Philippians 4:8 taught me to focus on positive traits in others. What a change! Much later I realized the basis. When God created humanity in Genesis 1 and 2, He designed us as worshippers. God’s good design draws us toward whatever we fix the affections of our hearts on. God originally designed us to become more like Him as we beheld Him in awe and worship (2 Corinthians 2:17-18).

Then the Fall in Genesis 3 fundamentally changed us (compare Genesis 1:26-28 w 5:3, in God’s image vs in Adam’s image). However, God’s built-in design that “we become what we behold” remained intact. It’s just as sure as gravity that we become more like whatever we focus our heart on. The bottom side of a quilt is a jumble of knots, but what beauty from the top side. Which side do we behold? Add to this: when we come to Christ, the world has already squeezed our minds into its mold and our minds must be transformed (Romans 12:2). The world since the Fall is upside down, and often values what has little true value.

Jesus taught His followers that the way up is to descend; the way to live is to die; the way to have is to give; we save our lives by losing them. Jesus turned the world right side up (God’s perspective in Isaiah 55:8-9). No wonder such a crucial aspect of our growth depends on devouring God’s Word so our minds are transformed.

Keep this firmly in mind and a number of confusing issues will find a resting spot…but not all. That’s why I have a “Deuteronomy 29:29 Bucket.” After wrestling with these paradoxes of Scripture (appear to be a contradiction), I throw them in my “bucket,” waiting for further insight. Because God is the unlimited Creator and we are His created, it makes sense to me that God could not reveal everything to me. When I see what is beyond the ability of my pea-brain to decipher, I worship (Romans 11:33-36)! I’m thrilled. My God is beyond my ability to fully comprehend. If I understood it all, God would be no wiser than me, not big enough to handle my problems.

This is Reflection #21 in my book, Foundation Stones. I also have a web-site with tools, books and "more than Bible studies" that have helped me to live out of this spiritual DNA, www.JimFredericks.com

A Loving Presence

For some who have been Christians for a while, God may have become more of a deduction from evidence they feel is adequate, an inference. These people attend church and may even consider themselves pillars in the church. Their ideas of God are brain-deep, not life-deep.

By contrast, a loving Personality dominates the Bible, walking in the Garden and breathing fragrance over every event. We can know these Three-Persons with at least the same degree of immediacy as we know any other person. God designed us as image-bearers, so as born again Christians we have in our hearts what is necessary to know God through our five senses.

 

God’s presence surrounds us, embracing us, within our reach, waiting for us to recognize Him. The divide between a nominal Christian life and a life radiating God’s light, life and love occurs at the point of spiritual awareness as we acquire the lifelong habit of willing response. Are we aware of a presence surrounding us? Do we respond?

The Bible calls this lifelong spiritual response faith. Christians are often called “believers” because faith (belief) is at the core of our responses. As you read the Bible, keep a sharp lookout for faith in Scripture. Let these few sample verses below whet your appetite.

• Hebrews 11:6a: Without faith, it’s impossible to please God.
• Romans 10:17: True faith must be based solely on Scriptural truth, Reality, or else it’s merely conjecture or presumption.
• 2 Corinthians 5:7: Faith is contrasted to sight, and therefore calls us away from self-dependence to God-dependence.
• Hebrews 11:1: Essentially, faith is having the confidence (“the assurance”) that things yet future and unseen (“hoped for”) happen just as God has revealed them. Faith anchored in God’s Word substantiates and gives evidence of things not yet seen.
• James 2:17-20: Faith always calls for a response. Without a response, our faith is dormant. This is the active faith by which we are to stand firm (1 Cor. 16:13) and live (Galatians 2:20b).

A song invites us to turn our eyes upon Jesus and the “things of this world will become strangely dim.” Paul encourages us to set our hearts and minds on things above (Col. 3:1-2). Shift our initial focus from the seen to the unseen. As we begin to focus upon God, He will come alive all around us, in creation, in people, in events. We will experience this loving presence (John 14:21-23).

 

“A new God-consciousness will seize upon us and we shall begin [to] hear and inwardly feel God, who is our life and our all….God will become to us the great All, and His presence the glory and wonder of our lives” (A.W. Tozer, “The Pursuit of God”).   

 

What is your response?  

“Take my life, Lord, and use it!”

This is Reflection #20 in my book, Foundation Stones. I also have a web-site with tools, books and "more than Bible studies" that have helped me to live out of this spiritual DNA, www.JimFredericks.com

God Communicates: We Respond

Self-expression is inherent in the very nature of the relational Community, Father, Son and Spirit. God spoke creation into existence and walked with Adam in the Garden (Genesis 1:28; 3:8). John calls Jesus the Word (John 1:1+14). And God not only “spoke” (past tense), but “God is still speaking” today, at times outside Scripture, although never contradictory to Scripture. In Psalm 19, David reveals that God is communicating to us through creation (1-6), Scripture (7-11), & through our inner inclinations (12-14). Jesus could only do what He heard and saw the Father doing (John 14:10; 5:19), and the Father sends us as He sent Jesus (20:21). Our Father longs to communicate with His beloved children, just like He communicated with His Son while on earth. By nature, God is continuously articulate. Expect Him to speak to you in a variety of ways. For me, He normally speaks through a fleeting thought.

And words have living potential, life bringing and life releasing (James 1:18; John 6:63). “God spoke in a Book and lives in His spoken words, constantly speaking His words and causing the power of them to persist across the years” (A.W. Tozer, “The Pursuit of God”). God initiates and we respond. So God’s speaking voice points to our responsibility…to hear and respond. Look at James 1:19-27 from this perspective. Quick obedience is a key to healthy growth.

God communicates through people (1:19-21): Why does James call us to be quick to listen? God often disguises Himself as people to speak to us! Practice “L-shaped listening,” listening intently to the words and heart of the speaker, and also to the Holy Spirit to see what He might have for that person and/or for us to reveal the righteous life that God desires. When another blocks my agenda or goal, my self-centered anger flares up, which blinds me to God’s plan. What grows in darkness feeds on decay. Bring it into the light and the light will kill the decay. Humbly welcoming God’s words through another releases insight to act on it.

God communicates through Scripture (1:22-27): The primary and clearest way God communicates with His beloved children is through the Bible. How is your daily habit of soaking in God’s Love-letter? If we had a significant other who wrote us a letter, we would rip it open as soon as we received it, and devour it…over and again, listening for every nuance.

We respond (1:21+22-27): Act on what God says with wholehearted allegiance to Jesus. It’s the only reasonable response to a Father who so dearly loves us and has our best on His heart. James is practical, and gives us three concrete expressions of obedience:

     1) taming our tongue,
     2) caring for the needy, and

     3) keeping our lives pure (1:26-27).

This is Reflection #19 in my book, Foundation Stones. I also have a web-site with tools, books and "more than Bible studies" that have helped me to live out of this spiritual DNA, www.JimFredericks.com

God’s Part, My Part

“The way in is the way on.”

What felt needs did God use to woo you to Himself? As you reflect on God’s footprints, this self-awareness fuels healthy growth. God strategically initiates, bringing us to that point of yielding our lives to Him. Of course, early ways are like seeds sown into our lives, which later grow into fruitful trees. I call this incremental learning “layer learning,” learning one layer after another. As I mined truth from my salvation event, three very crucial seeds stood out (at the time, I did not see, reminding ourselves of the need for reflection). These “ways in” are also essential for our “way on” this spiritual journey.

First, God’s part is to initiate and mine is to respond.

Second, I knew I could not run my own life…ever. On our Christian journey, we do not fail because we are “too weak.” We falsely believe we can do some things alone (John 15:4b+5b; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10). So lean into God in every single event in life. Christ is our life (Col 3:4).

Third, fairly early through my “passive” mentors (Christian literature I read, beginning with Scripture), I realized that God simply calls us to be all-in with Jesus, to affirm His will before we know it. I signed the blank title deed to my life on the bottom line. And said “You fill it in.” Oh, not that I saw this so clear or that I always responded well. God saw my heart (Jn 17:6), even though I often struggled to yield.

With hindsight, I realize how vital it is for healthy growth that we sort out on a high level what is God’s part and what is ours. He initiates and I respond. We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). In Psalm 23, God makes me lie down, then leads me to resources so I choose to engage. God always takes the first step toward us, and we respond to His amazing first-love. God does His part very well, and also outfits us to partner with Him in ours.

 

However, our enemy strives to deceive us to attempt to do God’s part, which we cannot ever do. Or to wait for God to do our part, which God will not do. Discern so we don’t fall into this spider web of deceit. And don’t be a man-pleaser, but live to an audience of One (or better, Three-in-One, Father, Son and Spirit).

When I came to Christ, He first loved me and I responded with “I’m Yours.” I knew I could not run my own life. Have you come to that deep conviction that you desperately need Jesus? Has Jesus captivated your heart? Full allegiance to Jesus! And it costs us to be all-in (Philippians 3:7-8), though I prefer “investment” more than “cost.” Through an accounting lens, both cost and investment are outflows of resources. However, an investment is an asset on the balance sheet with an expected future return greater than the outlay. We cannot out give God!

This is Reflection #18 in my book, Foundation Stones. I also have a web-site with tools, books and "more than Bible studies" that have helped me to live out of this spiritual DNA, www.JimFredericks.com

Mind the “Gap”

God birthed a passion within me to become more like Christ.

I wanted it immediately! I had not learned that God calls me to be an oak tree, not a weed that springs up overnight. So this longing to become like Christ clashed with my realistic appraisal of where I was on my journey. As an example, at first I saw Christlikeness as five feet high, and my life as six inches. Then as I grew towards twelve inches, I focused on Jesus and realized that now I saw Him as 100 feet high. I grew, yet the “gap” widened between Jesus and me since I was learning more about Him.

 

My melancholy streak and perfectionistic bent spiraled me down into discouragement since the “gap” continued to increase the more I grew. So at first for me, the “gap” was a big-time discouragement (especially when others noticed it). Several years later (yes, I can be a slow learner!), I learned that God uses this “gap” as motivation. I learned to “bounce well.” So no doubt lingers that the God who launched this great work in me will keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish, closing the “gap.”

 

Aligning our lives with our design is the most powerful motivation in life. And pruning is crucial for growth (John 15:2) to become more like Jesus. Our design and a crucial part of our destiny. I wonder what would happen in my life and in yours if we really knew ourselves the way God knows us. In Christ, the True Vine, God’s divine power and love has given us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 2:3-4).

 

And also a battle still rages in our lives in this process of growing more like Christ (yes, life is full of Both/And/And tensions). Since Jesus suffered in His body, we are encouraged to arm ourselves with the same mind-set Jesus had (1 Peter 4:1-2). Not as a martyr or a masochist, but to free us so our lives might be lived for God’s will, the longing of our heart.

 

All Scripture is God's invitation into fuller life in Him.

 

God’s prohibitions warn us of what violates our creation-design. James graphically describes this downward spiral as we allow our evil desires to control us (James 1:14-15). And God gives His commands to show us how to draw near. As you read the NT, notice the very graphic moral sections and remember that God always has your best at heart.

 

This way to view life (worldview or mental map) contrasts sharply with what the world says. Society wants to squeeze us into its cancerous mold. By contrast, God intends to renew and transform our minds over time. Saturate ourselves with His view on life (Rom. 12:2; Eph. 4:23), and respond, especially when God’s Word cuts across the grain of our flesh. However, this takes consistent, intentional effort on our part to ingest God’s Love-letter in a way that encourages a quick response, which in turn releases fresh life. What is your plan to soak in Scriptures?

This is Reflection #17 in my book, Foundation Stones. I also have a web-site with tools, books and "more than Bible studies" that have helped me to live out of this spiritual DNA, www.JimFredericks.com

Removing Spiritual Allergies

My wife had devoured nuts all her life. While we were missionaries in Germany, she picked up a severe allergic reaction to her favorite food. One nut and her glands would swell up so she looked like she had been in a street fight.

One of the best allergist in Germany gave her no hope, except shots to control her allergic reaction. Back in the States, we were in a holistic Doctor’s office. He shocked me when he stated that he could reverse the allergy. The Doctor first needed to test a baseline of common, foundational life-essentials and clear any allergies in these areas. First Fran needed a healthy baseline. Once Fran had a solid baseline, her body operated in a state of higher health to naturally support vibrant life. I write to provide a healthy spiritual DNA as a baseline.

Our physical makeup imitates God’s spiritual design. Our spiritual lives operate in a state of higher spiritual health when we lay a solid foundation of life-essentials. God fashioned us as highly interconnected beings, fearfully and wonderfully made. If one or two key “foundation stones” are missing or poorly laid, our life reflects diminished health. We may cope by saying, “I’m just broken,” excusing ourselves from pushing in to all that God has for us. But God provides a better way!

We understand allergies a bit, right? For example, we discover that our physical body is Vitamin C deprived, causing serious long-term health problems. However, we are pounding Vitamin C rich fruits and veggies and top supplements.

 

What has gone wrong?

 

Our body is allergic to Vitamin C, rejecting what is actually essential for health. Some chain of events or associations in the past have falsely re-programmed our brain and destructive cellular memories to miscalculate that Vitamin C is a threat to the wellbeing of our body. Vitamin C is ingested and our brain erroneously deploys its soldiers. “Destroy the enemy, Vitamin C. Disrupt the body so badly that Vitamin C will not be ingested.” After exposing and clearing the deceptive physical allergy, a new level of physical health is available because our body can now assimilate Vitamin C.

It’s the same in the spiritual realm. Flood your life with what releases and supports health. Then if you have a spiritual “allergic reaction,” clear the spiritual allergy so assimilation of the good, spiritual nutrients flow again naturally. “Perception is reality” is certainly a lie. We often respond though based on our false perceptions, not on Reality.

 

These “Foundation Stones” lay down a spiritual Reality to transform our minds (Romans 12:2). Growth comes by adjusting our reality to God-Reality. Align our mind-set with God and restore spiritual health to everyday life. And, yes, Fran eats bunches of nuts today with no negative impact.

This is Reflection #16 in my book, Foundation Stones. I also have a web-site with tools, books and "more than Bible studies" that have helped me to live out of this spiritual DNA, www.JimFredericks.com