Tear Down This Wall

History reminds us of the Berlin wall, which was built to keep the people of East Germany from escaping their totalitarian ruled country. The 40th president of the United States, Ronald Reagan, recognized that the East Germans had spent far too long in the wilderness locked behind their wall. Therefore, he gave a message about freedom in which he called for their leader to "Tear down this wall."

The wall was eventually torn down. But, how many of us are like these East Germans who are imprisoned by walls of our own making? Many of us are fortified cities with walls that imprison us while keeping others out. Our walls are constructed with stones of mistrust, hate, jealousy, selfishness, anger, rejection, guilt, shame and fear; which are strongly cemented by unforgiveness. These are tough walls to crack.

We hide behind our fortification - a facade of fallacy. Far too often, we are also trying to hide from God.

The sons of Israel did things secretly which were not right against the LORD their God. Moreover, they built for themselves high places in all their towns, from watchtower to fortified city. 2 Kings 17:9 

Somehow we think we are safe from the watchful eyes of an All-knowing God. However, we unknowingly hurt ourselves, believing we are protecting ourselves by creating strongholds that are buttressed by our pain. These strongholds are defense mechanisms built to protect our pride, making us cold and withdrawn, or sometimes arrogant becoming belittling and belligerent. Our Heavenly Father waits for us to give up our sinful strongholds, so that He will become our only Stronghold.

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2

Although, I understand why we build walls of protection, it doesn't make it right. Our walls do not allow us to accept the gift of freedom which Jesus offers us. We are not only blocking out problems, we also inadvertently put up a barrier, keeping out our Protector, Provider, Prophet and Priest. We are now at more risk for hurt behind our walls, hindering the flow of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We must trust God to be our fortress, and Jesus to be our gate.

 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. John 10:9

Not only will we be saved, but we will be safe when we allow Jesus to be our gate. He will let in what needs to come in our lives and lock out what doesn't belong there. Jesus will know what is best for us and when, even though it may not feel good. We must realize that pain can have purpose, and problems can have positive potential.  When Jesus is our gate we can securely walk in freedom, no matter the situation.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17

I believe their are spiritual lessons to learn from the fall of the Berlin Wall, and President Reagan's words ring true for us today.

"Come here to this gate! ... open this gate! ... tear down this wall!"

Let us open our lives to Jesus, and tear down our walls, so that we can take refuge in our Lord, our Protector. Let us become the city of God.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Psalm 46:4-7

Redeemed to Redeem

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 1 Peter 1:18-19

It is interesting and actually fruitless how we try to buy our own way back into a "good life."  We have fooled ourselves if we think that money, big houses, luxury cars and our influence can "make" us.  If we lose all these, then we are nothing in the sight of the world.

I looked up the word "redeem" and I love the definitions in the Merriam-Webster online dictionary. 

Definition of REDEEM
1  a : to buy back : repurchase

b : to get or win back

2

: to free from what distresses or harms: asa : to free from captivity by payment of ransomb : to extricate from or help to overcome somethingdetrimentalc : to release from blame or debt : cleard : to free from the consequences of sin

3

: to change for the better : reform

4

: repair, restore

Jesus purchased us with his blood.
And they sang a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.  Revelation 5:9

Jesus is our ransom.
For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. Hebrews 9:15

What Jesus has done for us, enables us to reform our attitudes towards life.
This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. Jeremiah 7:3

If we are Jesus' disciples, we too should help to repair the broken people and restore the fallen.
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. Isaiah 58:12

Jesus has done all this for us. Why then do we walk around less than conquerors?  We run after the things that lead to death, wanting more and more material possessions.  Yet, what we really need is to accept the redemption of Christ and live it out.

We are FREE!!! However, we turn away from liberty and become enslaved by our own selfish greed and pride.  We walk in fear of man while spurning the love of Christ.  Whine over our wounds, instead of harmonizing with our Healer.  

At some point we need to realize that our redemption is not about us.  We are set free by Jesus to go and set others free.  When we recognize this and realize God's purpose in our lives by living it out, then we will bear fruit of the Spirit. People will be able to see that we are connected to the Vine, and they too will want to be engrafted in this amazing Tree of Life, so they will have the abundant life.  Having seen lives transformed, we will know we have been redeemed to redeem.

Man Up - Be the Proverbs 31 Man

I admit I used to be scared of the word submit and I also had an aversion to the Proverbs 31 woman.   What really bugged me about this woman was this:

Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. Proverbs 31:23

Seriously now?  Here is this dude chilling at the city gate with the other guys, while his wife is working hard, getting up when it's still dark, buying fields, planting vineyards, and managing her household among a number of other things.  This just made me mad as I felt that this lazy man was taking advantage of his wife and she was letting him get away with it.  I would not have been dealing with such a man.

But then, I looked closer at this man. How did he get such a wonderful woman who had this noble nature and who was involved in so many industrious initiatives.  Verse 10 asked "A wife of noble character who can find?"  Well, he sure did, didn't he?

That must not have been an easy task as she is worth far more than rubies (v. 10).  He had to have some good qualities himself to attract this woman and better yet, get her father's permission to take her as his wife.  I believe her Father knew her value and would not have let her go to just any man.  

So, who was this man?  He was one of the elders in the community.  And, he was not sitting idly by just chit-chatting with the fellows.  The city gate was a marketplace where business was conducted and it was a public meeting place where important issues pertaining to the city were discussed.  This was an influential man who was taking responsibility for his community.  Consequently, he was a wise man to have chosen a wife who was adept at managing the home. 

This Proverbs 31 man had full confidence (v. 11) in his wife.  He knew he could trust her to do what she had to do.  I believe he could trust her, because he too was trustworthy.  He honored and respected her, so he knew there was no reason for her to do anything else, but to bring him good, not harm (v. 11). She didn't have to worry about him cheating, gambling the money away or beating her.  She was confident in his love, knowing that he loved her, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.   (Ephesians 5:25)

This type of love gave her freedom and the peace of mind to explore new ventures and be all she could be. She didn't mind getting up early to take care of business, because her husband first loved her and expressed his love in a multitude of ways that made her want to work hard to give him a comfortable environment to live in. She didn't feel obligated, this was all for love, she was giving back to a man who loved her as he loved his own body. He took great care of her and she flourished in the warmth of his love.

He was a generous man, he encouraged his wife to give to the poor and help the needy.  After all, she was not the type of woman to do things behind her husband's back without his consent.  He knew she was a giving woman and supported her in sharing what they had.

A strong woman did not intimidate him, because he understood who he was as a man of God.  His wife's strength and dignity (v. 25) attracted him and so she could laugh easily and gracefully as he encouraged her to grow to be a mighty woman of God.    

This man also knew that his wife was wise and had faithful instructions (v. 26), which came from Biblical principles.  Being discerning, he understood that he should listen to her heartfelt words and this helped him in making better decisions, hence becoming greatly respected among the elders.  

Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”  (Proverbs 31:28-29)

The Proverbs 31 man gets better and better as I dig deeper into his characteristics. He definitely knows how to treat his wife.  He adores her and appreciates her.  He won't allow his children to condemn her, but instead to commend her.  He tells her how wonderful she is and that there is no woman who could compare to her.  

This husband gives her the reward she deserves and he praises her works at the city gate (paraphrased v. 31). He doesn't just flatter her to her face, but celebrates her among his friends and co-workers.  He tells the world of her love for God, her gentle and quiet nature, and that there is no other woman for him. She is the woman who he has left his parents to cleave with, and he will never leave her or forsake her.  She is confident in his love because he is a man of noble character.    

I can see clearly now.  It is said that behind every good man there is a good woman, but it takes a wise man following Godly principles to find a good Godly woman.

Time for our modern men to Man Up and become a Proverbs 31 man!

Where Has All the Love Gone?

Lately, I have been hearing of so many marriages that are ending in divorce. In other cases, I am privy to the pretense within certain marriages as spouses tell me that they put up a front to show perfection.  Yet, behind the facade lies a home in ruins.

I have been praying. asking God why the covenant of marriage has been crumbling. Over the last few days He has given me the reason from the collapse during my devotions.  It is simply DISOBEDIENCE.  We are not following His teachings.

Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me."  John 14:23-24

Not only are we, not loving each other, but we are not loving God.  If we did love Him as we should, we would obey His teachings and He would abide in us and our homes.  As Christians, we have taken the Lord's name in vain, by living our lives the way we want.  We make our plans asking God to bless them, instead of asking God what His plan is for our lives, so we can be a blessing to Him.

God wants our marriages to succeed, but we have not opened the door for Him to come in and make our hearts ready for what He has prepared for us.  We are not willing to watch and wait for His way and His timing.  Instead, we jump the gun, and like Usain Bolt in the 100 meter, we false start.  Then as everything goes wrong we run to God asking him to fix the problems we created from our own willful nature. And, if He doesn't fix it fast enough for us, then we take matters in our own hands, causing more hurt and heartache.

The solution to our problem is to continuously abide in Christ.

"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." John 15:4-5
Our marriages are going nowhere if we are not connected to the Vine.  With getting nourishment from the Vine our marriages bear no fruit and dies.  Both parties should come into the marriage being one with  Christ.

“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends." John 15:11-13

Too many spouses are not on friendly terms. The home is a war zone. There is no joy in the family as we do not love one another as Jesus told us to.  If we would only obey His word, we would have His joy and we know that the joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10).  Marriages are not strong today, they are built on shaky ground and lack joy. We need to follow God's instructions for marriage.  Wives should submit and work on having a gentle and quiet spirit which is of great worth in God's sight. Husbands should be considerate of there wives and respect them. (Paraphrase 1 Peter 3:4-5 & 7) The husband should be willing to die for his wife, and the wife should be willing to live for her husband.

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another. John 15:16-17

Jesus has chosen us to be His disciples, to let His light shine throughout the world. Our marriages too, should be a beacon of light to a hurting world.  Unfortunately, Christian marriages are no different from those of the world.  We have perceived marriage to be like that of a Hollywood movie.  When we romanticize marriage, working arduously to have a fairy tale wedding day so we can live "happily ever after", our actions become incongruous with the principles of the Bible.  

Jesus is concerned with our image, since our image is supposed to reflect Him, not a Hollywood celebrity couple.  Becoming like Him, means long suffering.  He uses our differences in marriage to smooth off our edges so we can look more like Him.  We grate on each other, but this irritation is necessary.  It doesn't feel like the "happily ever after" we expected, but it is what we need.  Nevertheless, this is not what we want so we opt out of the marriage as it is not pleasing us.  We never seem to understand that it is NOT about us, but rather the God in us.  

Our marriages are not really consummated (made complete) as we confuse contract with covenant.  We believe our agreement is just between each other, so we sign on the line and seal the deal with the act of intercourse, always in the back of our minds there is an option for out.  God's view is more than this.  He sees marriage as a covenant not just between a wife and husband, but it is an agreement with Him.

For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 1 Corinthians 6:16-17

We are one in union with God 'til death do us part'.  Then, we don't have to ask, "Where has all the love gone?"

Toby Mac - Made to Love