I manage managers in the US, Europe, India and Malaysia.  My boss works in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  As such, my work schedule gets quite interesting.  As compared to 3 years ago, my work schedule was mostly 8a-5p and the evening hours could be used for anything else.  Now, 2-4 nights of a given week, I will have meetings in the night (usually 8-10pm, sometimes later).

I have watched many of my friends and coworkers become complacent at work.  Whether it is because the direction of the company has not energized them or if it is for other reasons, there continue to be more and more people that are working 9am-4pm, Monday through Friday.

Now, the points above have been work related but I think that my issues stem from exactly that.  My family life, my church responsibilities and everything else suffer because I am not doing what God wants me to do in my job.  God doesn’t want me to be of the world but only in the world.  I am starting to see that my disobedience to God at work is spilling over into my other areas of my life.  For those who might start down a weird path, I am NOT saying God is “responsible” fot this — I am.  However, God disciplines those He loves and I know God loves me.

The interesting question now is… what does God want me to do?  Should I look for a new “position” at my company to spark new interest?  Should I stay in the current role and get energized again through the Spirit?  Should I look for a new job completely out of the company?  Discerning God’s will has always been a struggling for me.  A good friend of mine told me that I should pray 30 minutes a day for 30 days on the topic.  I have failed miserably at trying this, but it might be just what I need to do.  I also need to search my heart for unconfessed sin to see if there is something wrong in my relationship with God.

All of this to say… my work life sure does drag down the rest of my life’s priorities.  I need to change that.

¹⁸ And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

My goal isn’t to do an exegetical analysis of the “great commission” but to challenge people to pray about global missions.  How often do I sit in the comfort of my home and not consider the persecution and turmoil other people are experiencing around the global for the cause of Christ.  God’s Word tells us that we should expect to meet persecution.  In fact, we should even rejoice in it!

I have heard some (including John Piper) say that there are “go’ers” and “send’ers” — not everyone is called to be a missionary.  However, we are all called to obedience to God’s Word and His word says that we are to make disciples of all nations.  I would encourage and challenge anyone who reads this to prayerfully consider what impact you personally are being called by God to have with respect to global missions.

In the interest of spurring on your research, I offer a couple of links (this is not even close to an exhaustive list) that might help you get plugged into reliable and Christ-center organizations focused on reaching the nations with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

East West Ministries

Samaritan’s Purse

Luckily, I believe in a God who is so much bigger than any of this.  While I believe that God isn’t going to send me an email, call my cell or even text me with the “right” candidate, I have faith that He is in control of all events and that in prayerful consideration, I can make a decision that is based on Scriptures and God’s direction for me, personally.

I also watched an interview with Lacrae and Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church.  The interview covered Lecrae’s background and testimony as well as the reason he and 116 Clique are doing what they are doing.  It is an amazing ministry and great to see them accomplishing the work of God…  check it out!

I am not theologian, I am no eloquent speaker or writing… I am convicted that my life should be all about the Lord Jesus Christ.  To that end, I plan to get focused on my blogging again and get more consistent.  For those who still stumble on this blog, I really appreciate your patience and prayers.  I have no idea what God has in store but I want to be obedient.

• Jesus was not afraid of the Sadducees or Pharisees. When questioned by them, He would respond but He would quite often insult them in His response (Matthew 21:31, Matthew 21:43-45, Matthew 22:29, etc.)
• Jesus continues to speak in parables and He attempts to prepare our hearts for God’s truth. He teaches in love but not in fear.
• As He prepared His disciples for the day He would leave, He continued to prophesy of His death and crucifixion.
• Matthew 16:24-28 is Scripture I should commit to memory. Jesus tells his disciples: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matt. 16:24, 25) I do need to do more research on Matthew 16:28. This passage always challenges me.
• Matthew 19:26 is a great verse to remember: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
• Every time the Pharisees and Sadducees tested Jesus, He always amazed (or marveled) them with His response. They continued to try to catch Him but they were never able.
• Matthew 22:37-40 (The Great Commandment) is another great piece of Scripture to commit to memory.
• As Jesus prepares His disciples by explaining to them the end times, I am reminded of the fact that His return will come “like a thief in the night”. I need to be prepared every hour of every day as if it is the last.
• Reading over the events of the crucifixion make me want to weep.  The way that they treat Him and tortured Him.  Unfortunately, I am no better.  My actions and my words trample Jesus under foot just as painfully.  This is how I need to think of my sin instead of nonchalant.
• Matthew closes with one of the most memorable passages (The Great Commission): “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18b-20)

• God works in amazing ways!  He sent His angels to guide and project Mary and Joseph.  Mary and Joseph’s obedience was inspiring — it gives great example to how we should respond to Him.
• Matthew wants to make sure that the reader  ties the events to the prophecy spoken in the OT (Matthew 2:15,  Matthew 2:17, 18, Matthew 3:3, Matthew 4:14-16, etc.)
• Early in Jesus’s ministry, He identified people who were laymen to do His will.  It reminds me of a sermon recently done at my church where pastor Bo reminded us that God equips those whom He calls.  He doesn’t call those who are already equipped.  Again, it was inspiring to take note on how quickly these men responded to Jesus by leaving what they were doing to follow him.
• The Sermon on the Mount has lots of great info… just some tidbits that stood out this time:
  • Starts by really helping us to remember that Jesus coming to earth wasn’t a new thing — it was a fulfillment of the Law and the things which the Prophets spoke of.
  • Matthew 7:1 is always a key verse to remember: “Judge not, that you be not judged.”
  • Matthew 7:21-23 is a great reminder that there are many who say that they know Him but He will tell them on the final day that He knew them not and they will be cast into the fire.
• Matthew moves from the Sermon on the Mount to many of Jesus’s miracles.
• Matthew 8:20 really stood out to me in this reading — “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
• In several situations, when Jesus performed miracles, the people of the region wanted Him to leave.  They didn’t see Him as the Christ, but thought of Him as a man of the devil.
• Matthew then tells us the story of Jesus calling His twelve apostles and sending them out to the lost sheep of Israel.
• The Pharisees were so threatened by Him that every time He performed miracles, they conspired more and more to kill Him.  Again, “the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
• I still struggle with the sin against the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31, 32).  I need to do more meditation and research on this point.  I am not sure I can speak clearly about this point.
• Matthew 12:36, 37 is another key verse to commit to memory and meditate upon:  “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give an account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”  This is a major sin area in my life that I have to ask for God’s help in improving.
• Jesus spoke in parables to the people.  The disciples asked why and he answered them (Matthew 13:11-17).
• Jesus was committed to His ministry.  Quite often, He didn’t sleep.  When He tried to be alone, people would follow.  He continued to have compassion upon them and minister to them.

God will not forsake His people. He has made a covenant with them and He will honor that covenant. Our God keeps His promises. He does not say one thing and then do another (like man). He will not leave His chosen family — the believers and saved souls. God provides blessings for those whom He disciplines.

Verses 11 through 13 are incredibly interesting to ponder…

For He will command His angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up,
    lest you strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the adder;
    the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

God loves me so much that He has put me a step above the angels. He has them working to protect me. He will work on their hands to protect me and provide for me. That is an extremely humbling thought. Angels are the heavenly hosts and yet they working for the Lord to provide for me. God is so gracious and forgiving. He does all of this even though I sin against Him countless times every single day. I am amazed by His grace and His love. I have so much to learn and so much growing to do in order to truly serve the Lord with all of my heart, with all of your mind and with all of my soul.

The end of this Psalm is the part that really peaks my interest, however… “Because He holds fast to me in love…”

1. He will deliver me.
2. He will protect me.
3. He will answer me when I call.
4. He will be with me.
5. He will rescue me.
6. He will honor me.
7. He will satisfy me.
8. He will show me His salvation.

Thank you, Father God, for doing all of this for me when I have done nothing to deserve you. Thank you for your great love and compassion. I pray that I can live my life every single day in a way that is closer and closer to the way You call me to live. I pray that the light I can shine into people’s lives would be Your light instead of a worldly light. I thank you, Father, for Your great Word that motivates and inspires me beyond my imagination. You are amazing! Thank you, Father.

“My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD…” This is a very powerful image. As I think about what it means to long for something so bad that it would almost drive me to faint. Love is a lot like that. We long so much to be with someone — sometimes so much that it almost hurts! To long for the LORD can be so overwhelming that it will cause someone to faint. Do I desire God that much? Does my life show that or is it the exact opposite? If God is my greatest desire, just to be in His courts would be supremely better than anything else. As the Scripture says at the end of this Psalm: “For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” A single day versus a thousand days. One day versus 3 years. I would rather spend one day with God than three years in the most beautiful place on the entire earth. That really makes me think about my desires.

What does it mean for my heart and flesh to sing for joy? We all know what it means for our flesh to crave something. We know what it means when our flesh sings for joy — as from an intimate moment with a loved one. I think of how it feels when you first kiss the person that you love for your entire life — your heart simply sings a song of joy. David is saying that he feels this way all of the time for God. His heart and his flesh are singing to God. Of course, it isn’t just any god — it is the living God. Our God is, was and always will be. David knew that. He lived his life in a way that demonstrated that. Again, do I live my life in a way that shows that my greatest desire is God?

There are quite a few places mentioned in these Psalm.  In order to clearly communicate what all of these locations and people mean, I want to take a moment and research each of them…

• Edom - name of Esau (Isaac’s son); refused passage to Israelites during the Exodus; constant war with Israelites; conquered by David; partnered with the Chaldean’s to capture Jerusalem
• Ishmaelites - Abraham’s oldest son by Hagar (concubine) was Ishmael; tribes of Ishmael forever against everyone
• Moab - eldest son of Lot (incestuous birth); hostile relations with the Israelites
• Hagrites - tribes from Hagar but independent and different from the Ishmaelites; bitter and warred with Israelites
• Gebal - tract in the land of Edom
• Ammon - aka Ben-ammi; son of Lot; closely associated with Moabites; despised Israelites
• Amalek – son of Eliphaz and grandson of Esau; fought against Israelites
• Philistia - perpetual war between Philistines and Israelites
• Tyre - city known for wickedness and idolatry
• Asshur - second son of Shem; built Nineveh; gave name to Assyria
• Lot - lived in Sodom; slept with his daughters
• Midian -rules of Arab; battled against Israelites
• Sisera -commander of Jabin’s army; killed by wife who drove a tent peg into his temple
• Jabin - fought against Israel; lost decisive battle against Joshua
• En-dor -location where Sisera was killed
• Oreb – killed by Gideon and his army; leader of Midian army
  Zeeb – killed by Gideon and his army; leader of Midian army
• Zebah – king of Midianites; lost great battle and killed by Gideon
• Zalmunna – king of Midianites; lost great battle and killed by Gideon

Obviously, all of these places and people are used as references to show the hatred for God’s chosen people but then the victories that God was able to give them.  The historical relevancy of the people and location adds to the impact as the reader would read the verses.

Please, LORD, help me to remember what You have done for Your people!

The first verse strikes me as curious — “God has taken His place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods He holds judgment…”  God is with the men whom have been appointed to the role of ruler.  He is watching over them closely.  They will be held accountable for their actions.  God will judge them for their judgments.  This is a sobering thought.  If they ruled because of politics instead of what was just and fair, there was a price to be paid for that sin.  God knows every decision made and the reason for that decision.  Again, it is humbling and at the same time frightening to know that God knows my every thought and underlying reason.

Impact Verse:

Arise, O God, judge the earth;
for you shall inherit all the nations!

There is certainly foreshadowing in this concluding verse.  All the nations.  Would the author have any reason to believe that God would want to save anyone besides the Jews?  Why would he think that God would want to bring all the nations into His home?  Jesus Christ fulfilled this prophecy.  There is no question in my mind.

God can be heard by whomever He desires, when He desires.  Do we want to hear Him?  Do I really want to listen to what He would say to me?  The obvious “Sunday answer” would be of course!  However, is that what my actions state?

God has a clear message for the Israelites in this Psalm.  He reminds them that He is the one true God.  He reminds them that He is enough for everyone and will provide for them.  He reminds them that He alone delivered them from their oppression.  Why would we believe that God wouldn’t have a similar message for us today?  I think He does, we just don’t know how to listen.  I would argue that our hearts are hardened and our priorities are so mixed up that we don’t even know when to listen.  Stop and think about your typical day — how much of your day is centered around Christ?  Are you like most people (and myself) who carve out time and “allot” Christ some portion of your day or are you living your entire day for Christ?  We shouldn’t focus on how much time we are giving to the Lord — it should be all of the time!  When we spend our time worrying about other things or centered on ourselves, that is when we can’t hear Him even when He is talking.

God admonishes the Israelites for their “stubborn hearts.”  We are so similar today.  Our hearts keep us from following Him and being obedient to Him.  This causes separation from the Holy One.

I need to strive to live my entire day for Him — not just a portion.  I heard a friend once say that I should think about how I glorify God when I eat dinner and when I brush my teeth.  I can barely comprehend such a thing but I think this is exactly the path I need to be going down.  God is too huge for me not to want to be with Him all of the time, not just when it is convenient for me.

God performed many miraculous signs for the people but they did not follow Him.  They might have believed for a period of time, but they didn’t stay obedient.  The Israelites experienced God parting the Red Sea, raining manna from heaven, etc. and yet they complained about their comfort (travels, desert, etc.)  People today are no different.  We take everything for granted.  We think we deserve more than what we have.  When things aren’t perfect, we don’t thank God for what we do have, we are bitter that someone else has more.  Our inability to worship the Lord and have Him be at the center of our greatest desire results in our lack of focus and prioritization.  Instead of putting Him first in our life, we spend time watching TV, drinking, playing games, etc.

Impact verses:

32 In spite of all this, they still sinned;
despite his wonders, they did not believe.
33 So he made their days vanish like a breath,
and their years in terror.
34 When he killed them, they sought him;
they repented and sought God earnestly.
35 They remembered that God was their rock,
the Most High God their redeemer.
36 But they flattered him with their mouths;
they lied to him with their tongues.
37 Their heart was not steadfast toward him;
they were not faithful to his covenant.
38 Yet he, being compassionate,
atoned for their iniquity
and did not destroy them;
he restrained his anger often
and did not stir up all his wrath.

We stumble and fall.  We get back up.  We stumble again.  We are persistent if nothing else.  Our God, who gave us wonders and might, mercy and love, continues to love us and provide for us even though we do nothing to deserve it.  Quite often, it is only when we are hurting or struggling that we call out to God.  We call out looking for help.  We call out looking for a quick remedy because we suddenly have the faith in the Lord and His powers.  If He can heal wounds, if He can mend the broken hearted, why aren’t we calling out to Him when things aren’t tough?  Comfort.  When things aren’t tough, we are comfortable.  We are “appeased”.  We are pleased with our own success and capabilities.  We don’t need Him.  We have it all under control.  Right?

Your way, O God, is holy.
What god is great like our God? (Psalm 77:13 ESV)

There is no other god like our God.  We may put our false gods above Him but there is none like Him.  In our sinful nature, we lift up our false idols before Him.  We prioritize our personal gods over Him.  Why?  It is obvious our sin nature, but why!  Personally, it is all about comfort and pleasure.  Talking to the Lord isn’t always pleasurable — sometimes it really hurts.  I also know that when I go before the Lord there will be things that I don’t really want to think about come up.  I realize how useless I can be and how little I am doing to truly further His kingdom!  However, God is gracious and great!  He also reminds me that I am His child and that He will love me for eternity.  He will provide for me and protect me.  He loves me so much He sent His only son to earth, to die for my sins!  There is no greater gift — one that is not deserved and yet given so freely.  Like the author of the Psalm, I long to meditate on the Lord that works miracles in people’s lives.  I long to chase after the God that calls forth the thunder, the lightning and the seas.  Praise the Lord for His greatness — none of us can even fathom!

In the first couple of verses, the author talks of Judah, Israel, Salem and Zion. Jerusalem was in the region of Judah.  Israel was north of Judah but full of Jews and God-loving people.  Salem was referenced as the place where Melchizedek was king and is commonly believed to be another name for Jerusalem.  Zion is used to denote Jerusalem, God’s chosen Israel or the heavenly city.  What strikes me is that Judah and Israel were the beginning lands where God chose His people and begin to teach them of His ways.  Salem and Zion are referenced as more spiritual places before the earth begin and after the earth ends  (Melchizedek is thought by some as Christ in the Old Testament, where he is referenced as the king of Jerusalem and Zion is a future Jerusalem).

God is simply amazing in that He allows us to live on an earth that He created.  He allows us to be His instruments for His purpose.  Our lives become used by the Spirit to increase the fame and the name of our great and glorious Lord!

23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
you hold my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will receive me to glory.

The psalmist uses the word continually here to describe how often he is with God.  This is another great perspective to consider.  We will be with God forever!  He will hold our right hand, just like a father who holds the hand of his boy as he walks him into school.  This is the sort of visual I get when I think about God holding my hand forever.  He will not let go.  He loves me with a love that I cannot even come close to comprehend.  Praise God for His undying love for me!

25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

There is no one in heaven that matters to me nearly as much as God.  He is the only one in heaven that matters.  His angels, the heavenly hosts, will care for me but God instructs me.  He is the only one in heaven for me.  On top of that, there is no one on earth that I desire more than God.  This is saying very clearly that no one should matter as much to me (or you) as much as God!  We take for granted His love and caring for us, but He should be the center of our greatest desire (should I link to John Piper now or later? )    While my flesh and my heart will fail me, I know that God will never fail me.  He is my strength, my rock, my provider.  He is the one that holds me up when I am falling.  He is the one who helps me up if I fall.  He is the one who is there no matter what I do or say.  He is the one that will carry me and love me forever!  God is unbelievable!  He is more deserving than all of the praise I could ever give to Him.

The Lord God is to be feared.  David accurately states that God should be feared “…while the sun endures, and as long as the moon…”  If a Christian truly fears the Lord, their actions will be impacted.  If I live my life every single day in fear of the Lord, I fear that His righteous judgment will send me to an eternal place of hell.  I fear that I will be judged for my sins.  I fear that He knows everything about me and there are no secrets.  These are scary things.  The fear is squelched by the hope He gives us in Christ Jesus.  However, we are still given commandments and precepts.  I am still to live in the way that Christ lived.  If I am straying from that, I am living in disobedience to the Lord.  There will be consequences for that (crowns in heaven is something I have never understand — I would love it if someone emailed me or commented on something around this topic!).  I need to have a healthy fear of the Lord — recognizing my insignificance as compared to His.

Psalm 72:18-19 states:

18 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous things.
19 Blessed be his glorious name forever;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory!
Amen and Amen!

God alone does wondrous things.  Why does David add the word alone in that statement?  Why not just God does wondrous things?  I know I harp on this too much for some, but I can do nothing good without the love of God and His assistance.  It will most certainly be through the power of the Spirit, thankfully!  He is able to accomplish great things.  I am able to accomplish great sins.  That is the concrete difference and why I have to keep everything in perspective when I worship and praise God and when I become prideful for any reason.

Instead of living my life in a constant state of ask, I need to proclaim more often.  The author makes some great points about praising God.  I need to consider how often I ask of the Lord but don’t tell Him how much I appreciate everything He has done.  Even tonight, when a friend of mine prayed with his wife, my wife and myself over some tough situations going on in our life, he was quick to point out how great God is in prayer.  I need to think about that more often.  Instead of reflecting on what the day brought or what I am going to do tomorrow or next week, I need to spend some time reflecting on God’s greatness.  As my friend’s wife commented – our God is so huge that any problem is like a single grain of sand on a beach somewhere in this world. 

Impact Verse:  Psalm 71: 19b

You who have done great things,
O God, who is like you?

Truly, no one is like God.  He alone is everywhere all the time, knows everything, is the Supreme Creator.  No one comes anywhere close.  He has done great things while we or more aptly put I have done bad things.  I have lived a life of selfish gain.  I have put myself before others.  I have looked to myself and my own accomplishments as my means of measuring my worth.  No more.  Now, I look to God for my worth.  I am a child in God’s family.  I am blessed beyond measure.  I also know that everything good in my life is a gift from the Lord.  It is a gift because there is nothing I did that made it such that I deserved those blessings.  God has provided for me in more ways than I can ever imagine.  Again, it is because no one is like Him.  No one has done the great things that the Lord can do. 

I imagine a person standing there, with their arms spread wide crying from the bottom of their soul, saying — “Help me, Lord!  Take me away from all of this!  Turn my enemies away so that I can go on living my life!”  David was pleading for help.  He did so with certainty in his tone that the Lord would help him.  I find that in his comments about haste.  He doesn’t pray that the Lord would listen to him and hear his prayers, he prays that God would take action quickly.  That is solid prayer.  He prays expecting God to hear his cries and to respond.