A Double Minded Man

When you think of Moses what character traits come to mind? 

Bold?

Powerful?

Authoritative?

Independent?

Perhaps. 

But do you ever think meek, lowly, timid?

 I only say timid because if you recall when God called him to go lead the descendants of Israel out of bondage he made excuses for himself. 

The excuses he gave made him appear timid.

Moses said unto God, “Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?”  God, I’m a nobody in Pharaoh’s eyes.

And Moses further said, “But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.”  God, they will not believe me. They will not listen to me.

And Moses even further said unto the LORD, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.”  God, I am not a good ‘speaker’ surely you don’t mean for me to preach.

And he at last said, “O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.”  God, you have the wrong man, send someone else.  “And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses.”  Holy, righteous, Godly anger… not the wrath of man, “For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” (James 1:20)

So when you think of Moses what character traits come to mind?

He was bold, powerful, authoritative, independent and fully dependant on God his Saviour.  When he wasn’t his timidity would reveal itself.

Timid people are easily angered at times when their insecurities and uncertainties are ‘challenged’.  When in a time of weakness, when they are not fully resting in the promises of God, they respond or rather they react in anger.  Moses certainly did.

I remember once when I worked for Canteen Service Company in the vending industry.  I was cleaning out my van at the day’s end and I found in the dumpster where I was putting my waste; I found a raccoon.  It looked scared.  Alone. Timid.  I determined to help it out of the bin so I layered boxes to make a ramp for the little critter to easily climb out.  I thought he would run up and out immediately.   When he didn’t I was a bit surprised, still concerned, and in my ignorance I determined to give him a boost.  That’s when I took a broom and with the wooden handle I attempted to prod the helpless creature.  Helpless, right?! The Coon snarled and lunged and grabbed the broom with a violent jerk.  He nearly yanked it right out of my hand.  I was shocked.  After all I was just trying to help him out.  Couldn’t he see that?

Moses was a man of convictions.

By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

Moses was a man of faith.

By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry [land]: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

But Moses was a timid person.  That’s not necessarily a bad thing. His timidity only led to anger when he forgot Who was in charge.  Moses was the meekest man on the planet.  Meek is what a timid person becomes when they are fully resting in God our Savior.

The scriptures say, (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.) That’s in Numbers 12:3.  The meekest man on the planet, and yet he had an anger problem.

Often it was righteous indignation, but not always.  His anger is what kept him out of the promised land remember.

Dr. David Jerimiah writes in Fruit of the Spirit in his chapter on meekness that Moses

“on occasion he could be glaringly and openly angry. And yet on other occasions he could be compassionate.  The same Moses who in righteous anger broke the tablets and slew the worshippers of the golden calf was the one who faced the anger of God and asked Him not to destroy His people.  In fact, Moses said, ‘If you will forgive their sin- but if not I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written,’ (Exodus 32:32) Here’s a man who could rise in white hot anger against unrighteousness and in the next moment be a compassionate, caring individual willing to put his own life on the line in his love for his people.”

Dr. Jeremiah  says, “Strength and compassion fused together in a beautifully balanced personality- that’s what meekness is.”  And meekness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit Who lives within us believers.  We can be meek, and not timid or angry; we can be meek if we trust fully in the internal abiding Grace of our Jesus.  He who is “meek and lowly in heart” will enable us to reflect His wonderfully powerful meekness. Strength and compassion fused together.

So often I forget Who is in charge; if we run and hide from conflict.  If we forget Who is in charge.  If we hide from the Commander then we will not have this wonderful fruit of His Spirit.  We will be like Dr. Jeckyl who had a bad ‘formula’ and became Mr. Hyde.  We must guard against this tendancy, for "a double-minded man is unstable in ALL his ways." God help us not to be double-minded, increase our faith, and if we are already, help us not to continue in double-mindedness, in doubt.

We must submit in lowly acceptance of our circumstances to the King.

If we do this He will increase and we again will decrease.

“He must increase, WE must decrease!”

Authors Personal Note: I Write these posts with His glory in mind.  To God be the glory in all we do, it must be this way.  He will honor us in due time but it is according to His good will that He does.  Will you consider sharing this post on the social network(s) that you frequent?  To God be the glory! "He must increase, WE must decrease!"

No-Eye-Deer

Perhaps you have heard the joke… “What do you call a deer with no eyes?” No-eye-deer. Then “What do you call a dead deer with no eyes?”  Still no-eye-deer.  Some would say lunch.  My friend Matt would say lunch.  On the way to the camp location that I mentioned in my last blog entitled, “I love our God”, we were following Matt in his pick-up truck, and he was quite a ways ahead of us when he pulled over to the side of the road, we couldn’t possibly have guessed what the problem might have been.

We pulled up to the side of his truck and slid the electric window down.  “What’s up?” we asked.  “I’m going to try to shoot that deer.” Huh? “What deer?” We asked.   He said matter-of-factly “That deer right there.”  And sure enough, off the side of the road just about fifteen feet into the woods, as still as a statue, stood a deer just staring wide eyed at Matt.  Matt had seen the deer cross the road in front of him and then he saw it stop where it stood.  I think the deer had a mocking, knowing, and teasing smile on its face but I’m not positive.  The only movement was an occasional flick of his white tail.

Matt got out his bow. The deer stood there staring.  Matt got out his razor-sharp retracting arrow heads.  The deer stood there staring.  Matt screwed the arrow head into place and got ready to take a shot.  The deer stood there staring.  Matt raised the arrow to the bow and anchored it in place.  And as soon as, and as smoothly as he did that, the deer pranced calmly further into the woods.   I think the deer had a mocking and knowing smile on its face as it hopped away.  It was kind of funny.  I think Matt thought so too, but I’m pretty sure he would have rather had some deer meat in his truck bed.

I think deer are smarter than we give them credit for.  And I think some people are smarter than we give them credit for too.  You know quiet contemplative people don’t you.  People who don’t tend to say very much.  Oftentimes the view some outgoing people have of quiet people is that they ‘are not so bright’, that perhaps ‘they are not the brightest bulbs on the tree’.  But that estimation is unfair.

God’s Word says in Proverbs “A wise man (a person) will hear, and will increase learning; and a man (or woman) of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:”

And “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.”

I’m pretty sure “wanteth not sin” means that you don’t have to listen for too long before some exaggeration, half-truth, or bold-face-lie will reveal itself…

 “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak,” James instructs us.

No. Quiet people are not necessarily stupid.  Sometimes very far from it.  Just the opposite even.  I believe it was St. Thomas Aquinas who was dubbed “The Dumb Ox” in seminary, or wherever it was he gained his knowledge.  He was called by this name and yet he was one of the deepest wells of theological insight in his time.  We owe a great deal of depth of learning to St. Thomas Aquinas so I am told.

Paul instructs those in Thessalonica to “study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands,”

Oftentimes those that are quiet are not quiet because they have “no-eye-deer” rather they are quiet because they know that their input would not be helpful at that very moment.  That you are not, will not listen.  They have insights that you can’t even imagine.  If you ask, and listen, you will learn from them.

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak,”

If we do this Jesus will increase in our lives and minds and our own lofty opinions of ourselves will decrease.  We will see ourselves as infinitely valuable to God and yet equally and infinitely undeserving.  And we will be thankful.

“He must increase, WE must decrease!”



If this post has ministered to you in some way perhaps it will minister to others also.  Would you consider sharing it using any of the social network links below.
Take care friend.  And take time to listen.

Who's More Loyal?

Loyalty is important.  Very important.  Loyalty to your spouse.  Loyalty to your family. Loyalty to your church; your pastor and fellow believers. And loyalty to the Lord Jesus Christ and His greater church.  But we have cause possibly to question someone’s loyalty in the book of Acts.  But "who's more loyal?" we feel we need to ask the question.


In the Acts of the Apostles we see in chapter fifteen verses thirty-six through forty-one where Paul suggests "Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do."


Now Barnabas wanted to take with them his nephew John Mark; but now we have a problem. Because Paul "thought not good to take him with them," because he had left off walking with them for a time and returned to Jerusalem. (Acts 13:13) And it tells us...


And the contention was so sharp between them,
 that they departed asunder one from the other:


Barnabas took his nephew Mark and sailed to Cyprus.
And Paul then hooked up with Silas
because the church recommended him.
They followed Paul’s original plan,
"confirming the churches."


So again, "who's more loyal?" Barnabas who incidentally helped Paul greatly when the church was afraid of him early on after his conversion. Always the friend willing to stand up for the underdog. Not willing to see anyone passed by or dismissed. John Mark wanted to return to the work and Barnabas was of a strong mind to allow it.


"Who’s more loyal?" Paul who was so powerfully called of God and empowered.  He suffered so much already for the cause of Christ. Remember Paul was a man. Although his letters the work of the Spirit of God and infallible nevertheless Paul the man was not.  I’m not saying Paul was wrong, I wouldn't dare tread where the Spirit is silent.


"Who’s more loyal?" I personally don't think it's a question of loyalty to one another.  It's a question of loyalty to the Lord and one’s own conscience as directed by the Spirit. Not the "to thine own self be true" mentality but the "Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." of Romans 14:15


Now granted we are talking about the Acts of the Apostles here, and not a question of loyalty between believers or toward a pastor or a group of believers, but the same principles that applied to them also apply to us. Hebrews 13:17 says "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account," And that is an imperative statement I believe. Obey. But if it is a question of obeying one’s own conscience or obeying those God has placed over you, and you can't compromise your convictions and conscience, perhaps it's time for a chat. Perhaps you need to give your pastor or elders a call.  You need to be clear on what your conscience is on any hindrance to obedience.


We have an interesting note in 1 Cor. 16:12 regarding pastor Appollos in regards to his superior the Apostle Paul. Paul said "I greatly desired him to come unto you with the brethren: but his will was not at all to come at this time; but he will come when he shall have convenient time."


Paul didn't rail on him, or question his loyalty, he simply said; he will come when he can.


Perhaps if we can give each other a little more flexibility in our convictions there would be less contentions and more cooperation.  The Spirit of God used Barnabas and Mark, and He used Paul and Silas, and God later brought Paul and John Mark into tender favor once again.


Stay loyal to the Lord, stay loyal to your conscience, and communicate appropriately.


"He must increase, WE must decrease!"

Dance in the Rain

One of my FaceBook Friends late last night posted a picture of two young girls dancing in a puddled street with their hands raised high.  The caption reads "Life Isnt About Waiting for the storm to pass...  It's About Learning to Dance in the Rain."  It reminded me about a thing I call The Matthew Factor.  I think it was Gary Keffer who sings or used to sing a nice song that says "I know the Master of the wind, I know the maker of the rain. He can cause a storm, make the sun shine again..."  Many times, probably all of the time if we could see from God’s perspective, the storms of interpersonal conflict in our lives are no accident.

Have you ever considered this? When Jesus was calling His Apostles to be with Him, to witness His miracles and hear Him teach, He made a selection that invariably caused many a storm among the men.  He chose Peter, James and John, Peter's brother Andrew, and some other very devout, religious, proper Jewish men who were zealous for the law and zealous for their nation Israel.  Then He did something, He made a choice, or rather, if you're worried that my theology be correct, He acted on a choice that was made before the worlds began. He chose one of those despised publicans, a tax collector, who worked for the Romans taking tribute from their own people, many of them thieves overtaxing their Jewish brothers and padding their own purses. He chose Matthew.

Can you imagine the comments from the others? What's he doing here? What is the Master doing? Surely He must know who this man is.  Can you imagine the looks, the glares possibly?

It's The Matthew Factor "I know the Master of the wind, I know the maker of the rain. He can cause a storm, make the sun shine again..."  Many times, probably all of the time if we could see from God’s perspective, the storms of interpersonal conflict in our lives are no accident.  He made the sun shine again by knitting the hearts of these men together and using them mightily to change the world.  Don't forget Matthew wrote one of the four gospels, a gospel that leans heavily on the Old Testament prophecies and spoke to the hearts of the Jewish people.

When you are going through interpersonal conflict remember The Matthew Factor, and remember...

He must increase, WE must decrease! And many times this is accomplished through conflict.

Enough to Drive Anyone Nuts!

While sitting in the break room at work one Thursday for my morning break I heard the voice of Priscilla our receptionist announce, “At eight o’clock there will be a test of the fire alarm system.  There is no need to evacuate the building.  Repeat.  At eight o’clock there will be a test of the fire alarm system.  It is only a test.”  Then I remembered that Dan my supervisor made a similar announcement not long before that; I had forgotten because the announcement was not calling for a response it was only a notice.

                When eight o’clock rolled around, almost to the second, the alarm system started its shrill deep piercing repetitive squawking.  But by then I had forgotten again that we had been put on notice and when the 1^st AAANTT!!! sounded it rattled me out of the book I was into and back out into the break room.  When I say rattled that’s kind of an understatement because what I mean by rattled is that it was so loud that I nearly jumped out of my chair.

AAANTT!!! -I tried to continue reading but it was no use, I couldn’t concentrate. 

AAANTT!!!-I placed my earplugs snug into the appropriate orifice and finished what was left of my lunch.

AAANTT!!!- It was nearly impossible to think.   AAANTT!!!- Each shrill cry penetrated deeply. It was enough to drive anyone nuts!

AAANTT!!!- I finished my break and proceeded out onto the work-floor to resume cleaning my machines.  We were down for preventative maintenance that day, as is usually the case for me on Thursdays.   AAANTT!!!- As I worked I fought the maddening repetitive intrusion and began to think through it.  AAANTT!!!- I told myself, sooner or later the noise will stop but by then I would be so used to it I probably wouldn’t even notice.  AAANTT!!!- I cleaned, and thought, and prayed, and worked, and thought.  I may even have sung a hymn or two as I worked.  I sometimes do that.  I like to sing when I’m wearing earplugs, I like to sing loud, it sounds good in your head.  I cleaned, and thought, and prayed, and worked, and thought.

                Then over the PA system I heard someone summonsed to the front office.  That’s when it occurred to me that the test had ended and, as I suspected would be the case, I didn’t even notice.  As I continued to work it occurred to me that our consciences are much like that fire alarm system.  The conscience was designed by God to act much the same way.  It’s LOUD.  It’s intrusive.  It doesn’t quit.  It’s effective.  At least it is effective from the onset as long as we don’t ignore it.

                If you are a believer in Jesus, the crucified and resurrected Savior, the One and Only Son of God, then it is likely that your conscience works overtime.  The Holy Spirit works tirelessly in our minds to keep us believers walking a straight and narrow line.  To help us to be able to live like Christ as we interact with others; to love like Christ.

                But often we don’t do either.  We don’t live like Him and we don’t love like Him.  It’s then that the Spirit reminds us; sometimes He screams in our consciences if the thing we are doing can have serious detrimental ramifications for us or for others.  Many times we ignore the conviction even though we know it’s from Him.  If we continue to do our thing we slowly get used to His protest and it’s as though we don’t hear Him anymore.  The scriptures say that some peoples consciences can even be seared, scorched as though with a hot iron.

                God will never leave His children to their own devices for long.  If we no longer have an ear to hear what the Spirit is saying He will intervene into our lives in some other more tangible ways.  Ways that get our attention and cause us to listen.  Ways that cause turmoil in our minds, our relationships, and our circumstances. This intervention by God the scripture says is actually evidence that we truly belong to Him.  He doesn't chasten the devils kids.

                We can all save ourselves a little unnecessary pain by going to the front office the first time we are summonsed by the Boss.  Going to that place in your mind and will where obedience comes easy.  Go there. Sit. Listen. Then do whatever His Spirit bids you to do.

                It’s important that we recognize who the Boss of our lives is, "He must increase and WE must decrease."  When the Spirit speaks to our conscience it is not a test, our God Is A Consuming Fire and He will consume away the dross in us so that we will come forth as pure gold.