by Chad Lewis on March 6, 2009
C.S. Lewis said, “If by one miracle, the total content of time were spread out before me, and if, by another, I were able to hold all that infinity of events in mind and if, by a third, God were pleased to comment on it so I could understand it, then, to be sure, I could do what the Historicist says he is doing. I could read the meaning, discern the pattern.”
Though we can know the main story line of human existence through the Scriptures, we often put some pressure on ourselves to “figure out” what God is doing in every circumstance. I have no doubt that He is working in the minutest details of His kids’ lives, but I also know that our tiny brains could not even begin to understand all the implications of each day on eternity. So where does this leave us? What are we to do? Though the answer is definitely too simplistic in ways, it is the calling of all believers everywhere. Our calling is to trust. Our calling is to fight for faith. Our calling is to battle to believe.
Some days, our faith will be strong enough to see mountains moved. Other days, I know I have experienced a weakness of faith that felt like a string was holding me up over the Grand Canyon. But what I continue to know, is that through all of these times, God doesn’t let us go. He is our refuge and our calling is to trust in Him. As Rich Mullins said, we must trust in the reckless, raging fury that they call the love of God. So, whether you are weary and barely holding on, or you are seeing God move in marvelous ways, be reminded today that God is in control. For every one thing we see Him doing, He is doing 1,000’s of things we will possibly never see. His work is masterful and the canvass is our heart. He invites us into intimacy. He invites us to know His heart. As Hebrews 6:19 says, we have this hope as an anchor for our soul.
by Chad Lewis on July 23, 2008
“The Bible is not an end in itself, but a means to bring men to an intimate and satisfying knowledge of God, that they may enter into Him, that they may delight in His Presence, may taste and know the inner sweetness of the very God Himself in the core and center of their hearts.”
A.W. Tozer wrote this in the preface of The Pursuit of God. As I reflect this afternoon, I am convicted of my inability to stay centered on the fact that the main goal of my life is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. I can only enjoy God if I know Him. How do we get to know Him? God reveals Himself to us in His Word. How often do I approach the Scriptures as something to be understood so I can teach them to others instead of seeking to grow in intimacy with the Father? How often do I open the Bible in order to check off the list of “to dos” for the day? Sadly enough, this is how I can easily operate.
After such realizations in the past, I would beat myself up and just try harder, but I don’t feel like this is the proper route to go. My motivation to seek God must come from something greater than some mustered up self-will. I need to repent and confess my sin before God and others. I need to ask God to help me because I am in desperate need. Then I need to preach the Gospel to myself.
How can preaching the Gospel to myself help me seek God? I must remember who God is, what He’s done, and who I am. God is holy. He is good, perfect and always right. I am a sinner and I am deserving of Hell because of my rebellion against God. God has brought me from the domain of darkness and death and adopted me to be part of His family. With such great love that I cannot imagine, God has wiped my slate clean and given me a new heart. I no longer try to earn anything because, plain and simple, I can earn nothing but death. He lavishes His grace on me and calls me to seek Him. Even typing this is an awesome reminder to me of what Rich Mullins writes, “the reckless, raging fury that we call the love of God”. My motivation is delight and not duty.
Times do exist when we will walk through the valley where we will have to continue the disciplines, but our goal in all of this time is to brought near to God and know Him more. May we be like Moses and plead with God that we might see His glory and not settle for the things of this world that are mere dung in comparison to knowing our Amazing God!
by Chad Lewis on May 1, 2008
I’ve been thinking about God’s gifts this morning. The gifts of difficult relationships, hard working environments, disobedient children – all of these and many, many more are gifts even though they don’t seem to be in the moment. God uses all of these “gifts” to make us more like Jesus. They are all part of our sanctification.
As you approach these “gifts” throughout each day of life, the choice exists for us to react in our own strength and understanding or turn our eyes to the Father and seek to use each of these situations as redemptive possibilities.
With difficult relationships, we have the opportunity to move towards people with the love and forgiveness that Christ has shown us. He is always moving toward us – especially when we are unlovable. With hard work environments, we have the opportunity to realize how needy we truly are and this can drive us to God to ask for help moment by moment to love others, react with kindness and actually live in the strength that God provides. And with our children, we have the opportunity to not merely correct behavior, we can explore their hearts and see each opportunity as a chance to share grace, love and discipline. It even gives us the opportunity to ask for their forgiveness when we act sinfully towards them.
Is any of this easy? Nope. It isn’t supposed to be. The fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5 is not named by mistake. It isn’t the fruit of my good efforts or the fruit of trying harder. It is the fruit of the Spirit because it is the fruit that only God can truly give.
Rich Mullins wrote, “The long and short of all of it is that if I believe that God is good, then I need to accept whatever happens in my life as being a gift, and allow Him to take some of the things that hurt, allow Him to take some of the things that sting, some of the things that I think are going to kill me – allow Him to take those things and make of me the person He wants me to be. It may not be the person I want to be, but it’ll be the person He would want me to be.”
Let’s remember that God is at work today and seek to be thankful for these “gifts” that God gives.
by Chad Lewis on April 26, 2006
This past weekend I had some friends come into town. What do old friends usually talk about? That’s right – relationships. This has been the most exciting time of my 31 year life in regards to relationships as I’m preparing to enter into a marriage with my best friend and biggest supporter on earth. Ginger and I both love to share the story of how God brought us together.
In relaying this story, I was quick to add to my single friends about some of my frustration in the past concerning advice given by those who had walked the road before me. Much of the advice I got seemed very much like a magic formula to repel singleness and catch a mate. A few times I received the advice to stop looking and then God would be sure to provide someone really soon. However, when after months turn into years, one has to wonder about the advice.
I never did buy into these thoughts hook, line and sinker, but they did plague me on occasion. What I have found to be true is both liberating and beautiful. We all have different stories. In Psalm 139, David declares that God has written all the days David would live in His book before one of them was even lived!
As we apply this to our lives, the implications are wonderfully exciting. God decides what is best for our lives. He asks us to give our lives to Him completely and trust Him with all that He gives and all that He takes away. He is not some cruel God saying, “I wish they would stop looking for a mate so I could finally bless them with one.” No, God is working out whatever He wills and I have said many times, the best thing in the whole universe for us is God, Himself.
He is writing a different story with all of our lives. We are sometimes bruised and battered. We are sometimes joyful and full of rejoicing. Through it all, we must surrender each day and trust that He knows what is best.
One of the greatest song lines I have ever heard was written by Rich Mullins. He sings, “I’d rather fight You for something I don’t really want than take what You give that I need.” I find myself doing that so much. I have fought God for different things and in reality, I was blinded to the fact that I didn’t really want those things. The encouraging thing is that God knew what was best. And in my life, He took me through 31 years before He provided me with a helpmate. In His good plan, He ripped a relationship from my hands that I thought would end in marriage three years ago, but He knew best. I am so glad that God did not give me what I thought I wanted. I would not be the person I am today.
So as you are giving advice, don’t put handcuffs on God. He works in everyone’s lives and He is writing different stories for us all. All of these stories will one day bring glory to God as we sit around and discuss how awesome our God is for all eternity.
C.S. Lewis said, “If by one miracle, the total content of time were spread out before me, and if, by another, I were able to hold all that infinity of events in mind and if, by a third, God were pleased to comment on it so I could understand it, then, to be sure, I could do what the Historicist says he is doing. I could read the meaning, discern the pattern.”
