Uncategorized

Uncategorized

Transmission Done Well

Published by S.M. Wibberley on February 18, 2016
“And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work….”
Colossians 1:10
 
In cold weather the transmission in our car doesn’t shift very well. Sometimes it doesn’t shift at all, especially when I first try to start off. My mechanic said it was partly due to the low quality of oil here. My wife suggested that being less forceful in trying to shift might make it go easier.
 
Having begun to learn that I don’t have the last answer to everything, I accepted the mechanic’s suggestion to let the transmission warm up for a few minutes in the morning, and took my wife’s suggestion to be gentler in changing gears. The combination works quite well.
 
Then the Lord brought to mind the fact that relations among people are like my car’s transmission. When you want to help someone change a bit, it helps to warm things up first with prayer and grace, and then be gentle in helping them “shift.” Those who know my forceful, straightforward character can see from this little insight that the Lord Himself is doing some “shifting” in my own approach to life, and I’m thankful for it—as are others!
 
The real source of this insight came through a prayer that I use each morning for my family: “Lord help us to bear Fruit of the Spirit today, to take up and use the grace that you have given us,” and then I’d go on to name each part of the Fruit of the Spirit.
 
Through this the Lord helped me to see that often we each have an overriding need to bear one particular aspect of the Fruit of the Spirit, so I would pray that each of us would take up what the Spirit was showing us we lacked: for Nat self-control, for Josh kindness, for Barbara peace, and as you may guess, for me gentleness.
 
So God has answered my prayer by using my balky transmission to get my attention and illustrate what I need to do. Praise God that He works so specifically, so individually, so personally to transform us precisely where we need it right now!
 
Prayer: “Lord, doing things in my own strength and wisdom is so fruitless; work in me to bring out the fruit of the Spirit; help me to cooperate with you in this. Amen.”
 
–From the devotional book EDIFIED!
Filed under:

Psalm 18:35-36

Published by S.M. Wibberley on February 17, 2016
Psalm 18:35 “You give me your shield of victory,”
 
[Your powerful, proficient protection of us goes on and on, Lord; you give us the shield of victory, but I must take it up and raise it with praise (Eph. 6:16)–and as I do so, you give the victory over the enemy, over temptation, over negative thoughts and emotions, over my old self.]
 
“and your right hand sustains me;”
 
[As I tire in the battle , I can look to you and you will strengthen me, refresh me, give me more will and energy to press on in the battle. In must look “to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” and “consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Heb 12:3).]
 
“you stoop down to make me great.”
 
[You in your greatness as Lord of all creation, must stoop down to enter the universe, our galaxy, to solar system, our world and come to the location when I’m at. There you reach into my life to do what is necessary to make me successful as you define success.
 
You stooped very low to willingly and lovingly redeem us, becoming a man, being weak, dying in our place, being buried, going to the lower parts of the earth. Therefore you could rise up in power and light, out of the tomb, up to the Father, again filling the whole of the universe (Eph 4:10).
 
You are astoundingly Great and you are amazingly Humble. In your grace you stoop down to share your greatness with us so we can push through and win, so can we conquer the enemy, reach the goal and achieve your success, for without you we can do nothing (John 15:5).]
 
Psalm 18:36 “You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn.”
 
[You attend to the details I can’t even think about, like where my next step will be; your capacity to deal with the minutia of my life is amazing. You protect through provision of exactly what we need, and bring us on to the place of achievement and success that you have designed for each—the good works you prepared for us to do (Eph. 2:10).
 
All credit, honor, praise and glory must go to you, Heavenly Father. You are the One to be exalted, not us. We play the small role you give, while you move all the events of history along to accomplish the end, the glorious end you have for us.
 
To live for you, to walk in obedience and trust, to reject the natural, to live in the spiritual—these are all wonderful privileges.
 
I thank you and praise you for the privilege of knowing you, being your child, working as your partner, trusting you by praising you in all circumstances. To you be glory and honor in all: may your name be exalted, may your Word be lifted up, may many be drawn to you today through what you are doing in our lives.]a
Filed under:

Psalm 18:33,34

Published by S.M. Wibberley on February 16, 2016

Psalm 18:33 “He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;”

[David had to be fleet and sure of foot in both his battles and his fleeing from King Saul. In our battles with the Satan and those he uses against us, you, Lord Jesus, make it possible for us to run swiftly, surely and gracefully in your paths; in your strength we can endure.

You enable us to “run with perseverance and patience the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:1b,2).  The credit for doing these things goes to you, Lord God, for you make our feet like that of a deer.]

“he enables me to stand on the heights.”

[For David, to be on the heights was to be safe, to be the winner. And you, Lord Jesus, bring us to the mountain tops of truth, wisdom and faith, guiding us through the traps and attacks of the enemy to the place of victory.

You empower us then to stand there, even though Satan tries to “throw me down– this leaning wall, this tottering fence. Surely they intend to topple me from my lofty place,” but you are “my rock, my salvation, my high tower,” and as I abide in you “I will never be shaken” “for my hope comes from you alone” (Psa. 62:1-5).

As we “put on the whole armor of God” we will “be able to stand in the evil day”—no matter what comes—“and having done all to stand” (Eph. 6:13).

Whatever triumph, whatever victory, whatever accomplishment, you are the One who brings it to pass, Lord Jesus, “for without you we can do nothing” (John 15:5). I give you praise for that. You are reigning, equipping and protecting God and worthy of glory, obedience and honor.]

Psa 18:34 “He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.”

[You prepare me on every level for what you know will come; as you put Joseph through training in Potiphar’s house, and through serving others in prison, making him ready for being the Prime Minister, so you are preparing us, equipping us, strengthening us through challenges and difficulties, getting us ready for the opportunities you know are coming.

I think of how you had me study Latin in high school and this prepared me for learning a difficult Asian language for ministry; I think of how you had me working for years in the tire shop, managing both people and business as preparation for leading the field in the Middle East.

To you be glory for your wisdom, for your knowing what will come, for your faithfulness in preparing us, for you unfailing presence with us, for the fact we can praise you now for things we neither understand or like.

We can trust you in every difficulty, responding with thanksgiving and wholeheartedly embracing our present experience, knowing that you will use it to prepare us for greater service for you in the future. Nothing comes to us randomly, only with your wisdom, plan and provision.

Help us to live in the light of this truth that you are training our hands for the battles to come, so we can effectively join you in your great plan to end history and bring in

 

 

Filed under:

From EDIFIED!

Published by S.M. Wibberley on February 15, 2016
“ For you are great, and do wondrous things; You alone are God.”
Psalm 86:10
 
I tell you, it is so profitable to spend time “gazing at the treasures” by meditating on the Word of God. After several weeks in Psalm 86, it still continues to yield new insights. Verses 11 and 12 especially spoke to me.
“Teach me your way, O Lord; I will walk in your truth….” That is a dangerous prayer! It is a serious commitment: “Show me what you want, Lord, and I’ll do it!” It means a promise to do things His way, to be teachable, to be kind and humble when I feel like being grumpy, doing my own thing and being left alone. It means praising God when everything falls down around me. It means ignoring my feelings and instead acting on what His Word says. It means, in short, walking in His Truth rather than in my own perceptions and desires.
David realizes that even after he knows God’s way, he can’t obey in his own strength, so he continues his prayer with, “…give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.” Our hearts are naturally so divided and deceptive. Only as God works to help us focus our affections on Him, helping us see His wonderful greatness can we really fear and obey Him well.
And the results of such surrender and follow through? “I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.” True obedience always leads to worship, and true worship leads to wholehearted obedience.
I am thankful that the Lord gives spiritual insight to understand things from His point of view, and then the grace to act in accordance with that Truth. To be able to live this way, we must commit ourselves in the same sense that David did (“I will walk in your truth,”) for then we will be able to appropriate that grace. Ah, I have so much to learn, so much growing to do! Praise God for His great patience and persistence with me.
 
Prayer: “Lord, I confess how often I am half-hearted in following you. Unite my heart to fear your name, help me to obey you rather than to obey myself. Amen”
 
–From the devotional book EDIFIED
Filed under:

Psalm 18:33,34

Published by S.M. Wibberley on February 13, 2016
Psalm 18:33 “He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;”
 
[David had to be fleet and sure of foot in both his battles and his escapes from King Saul. In our battles with the Satan and those he uses against us, you, Lord Jesus, make it possible for us to run swiftly, surely, gracefully, long and hard. You enable us to “run with perseverance and patience the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Heb. 12:1b,2). You enable us to stand, having on the whole armor of God, and having done all to stand. The credit goes to you, the glory goes to you, Lord God.]
 
“he enables me to stand on the heights.”
 
[For David, to be on the heights was to be safe, to be the winner. And you, Lord Jesus, bring us to the mountain tops of truth, wisdom and faith, guiding us through the traps and attacks of the enemy.
 
You empower me then to stand there, even though Satan tries to “throw me down– this leaning wall, this tottering fence. Surely they intend to topple me from my lofty place,” but you are “my rock, my salvation, my high tower,” and as I abide in you “I will never be shaken” “for my hope comes from you alone” (Psa. 62:1-5).
 
Whatever triumph, whatever victory, whatever accomplishment, you are the One who brings it to pass, “for without you we can do nothing” (John 15:5). I give you praise for that. You are God and worthy of glory, obedience and honor.]
 
Psa 18:34 “He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.”
 
[You prepare me on every level for what you know will come; as you put Joseph through training in Potiphar’s house, and through sevring others in prison, making him ready for being Prime Minister, so you are preparing us, equipping us, strengthening us for the opportunities you know are coming.
 
I think of how you had me study Latin in high school and this prepared me for learning a difficult Asian language for ministry; I think of how you had me working for years in the tire shop as preparation for leading the field in the Middle East.
 
To you be glory for your wisdom, for your knowing what will come, for your faithfulness in preparing us, for you unfailing presence with us, for the fact we can praise you now for things we neither understand or like.
 
We can trust you in every difficulty, responding with thanksgiving and wholeheartedly embracing our present experience, knowing that you will use it to prepare us for greater service for you in the future. Nothing comes to us randomly, only with your wisdom, plan and provision.
 
Help us to live in the light of the truth that you are training our hands for the battles to come, so we can join you in you great plan to end history and bring in eternity.]
Filed under:

Psalm 18:31, 32

Published by S.M. Wibberley on February 10, 2016
Psalm 18:31 “For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?”
 
There is no one else like you, O LORD–all others are creatures with a finite beginning, each one designed to be in relation to you. You only are the source of unchanging goodness, unshifting stability and unending grace.
 
You are the wholly other One, different from your creatures in essence, in eternalness, in entirety. You are perfect in each aspect so there is no need for change or growth, maturing or learning. You know all, you do all in completeness while making no mistakes.
 
What appears to be failure is actually perfection in process, such as the death of Christ; without this seeming defeat there would be no resurrection, no regeneration, no redemption. It was just one part of the perfect plan you were bringing to pass. You only are our Lord. You only are the Rock, you only are to be worshiped.
 
Psalm 18:32 “It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.”
 
[It is not my wisdom or effort, my talent or training nor my resources—it is you alone, Lord God, who prepares all: you are the Mighty and Wise One who pours strength into my life, who goes before and prepares situations, relationships and me for the way to be perfect according to you.
 
Right now there are a number of uncertainties before us, all of which I could worry about. But to reject worry, to trust you by praise for your help before any appears, to think the truth of who you are, to find my rest in you (Ps. 62)–these all fulfill the purpose you have given me in life: to give you glory and honor before all.
 
You, out of your eternal riches, have prepared more than I need of strength and grace, power and wisdom, guidance and protection. Whether I see them or not, sense them or not, you are pouring them into my life and I will praise you for your goodness and graciousness now!]
Filed under:

The Marvel of Meaning

Published by S.M. Wibberley on February 7, 2016

Thoughts after the last session of the Truth Project

I praise you, Lord God, Creator and Sustainer of all, for the meaning you give us in life, for the possibility of having purpose, which can only flow from you. All else is meaningless uncontrollable chaos, chance and randomness.

In you, however, there is order, a place in your affections, usefulness, a part in your great plans, and participation in eternity. We are not caught in a time box with just so many years and then nothing. As we move through the autumn and winter of our lives, we have the definite hope of another spring and an endless summer where life will continue with you through eternity.

This will be life on a higher, wider, lighter level, free from brokenness, anguish, disappointment and rebellion. We will walk with you in brightness, fullness, warmth and joy, unhindered by the twistedness of this sin-cloaked existence. We will be with you, Lord Jesus, in body, soul and spirit, free to obey, worship, work and love without that constant battle with the world, the flesh and the devil.

I think, in contrast, of how most people live in the toxic Darwinian, postmodern atmosphere, where meaning is just some chemical reaction we produce in our brains, where might makes right in the struggle of the survival of the fittest, where everything is natural and therefore right, where life ends at death and where worth is nonexistent—this is a description of pure purposelessness. No one, not even the most ardent atheist who espouses this false philosophy, can live that way. Man without meaning equals despair. As philosophers like Camus and Sartre said, in such a situation, the only serious question is whether to commit suicide or not.

In contrast, the God of the Bible has rescued us from this dominion of darkness, He has brought us into the Kingdom of Love and Light and Life where we can know who we are, where we came from and where we are going.

We can join Him in His great plans, we can have belonging, worth and competence (Eph. 1:18,19). In Jesus Christ we are embraced, accepted, cleansed, forgiven, valued, commissioned and equipped for special service to the King (Eph. 1:3-10). We can do things that will last for eternity (sharing with others about the King Jesus and the salvation He offers, doing the good works He’s prepared for us). We can know that we belong to the winning side, we can give exaltation to God and we can earn glory, praise and honor (1 Peter 1:6,7) which we can then submit to Jesus in worship when we enter Heaven.

Praise you, Lord Jesus, that your death and resurrection brought to us all these possibilities and more. Instead of complaining about things we don’t get, help us to focus on these wonderful gifts, on the light, love and life you have granted us and rejoice in you all through each day, enjoying living in the Truth where there is meaning, purpose and love.

 

Filed under:

Psalm 18:30b

Published by S.M. Wibberley on February 6, 2016

Psalm 18:30b, “He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.”

[Here again is the perfect partnership you desire with us: your powerful protection predicated on our premeditated hiding in you. If we refuse to flee to you, to seek your wisdom, to obey what we know to be true, to run in your Way, we are left outside your protection.

But if we run to you for help, thinking Truth, praying for guidance, submitting to your Wisdom–then you swing your shield of protection over us, keeping us from all true harm.

How do we run to you? Primarily through praise, thinking your Word, and obeying it. It means taking seriously such statements as”…call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me” (Psa. 50:15).

So, for example, when we are sick, taking refuge in you means our first move is to pray, thanking you for the situation, asking for your help and healing. Then going to the doctor if necessary. This declares our dependence on you, gives you glory and opens the way for you to work through whatever means you have to bring healing at the right time.

The opposite of this is seen in the life of King Asa: ‘Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the LORD, but only from the physicians” (2 Chron. 16:12). And he died.

When we believe your Word, Lord, and offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving, you raise up your shield of love and power over us. We hide in you by giving you honor in words of worship, and as we exalt you in faith, you protect us.

Recently I read in the biography of Charles Cowman how, when in a time of need, before seeing any answers, he praised you for the funds you would supply for his Bible School–and at the last minute you acted, bringing in the necessary support, a large amount.

To praise in trust ahead of time for whatever you will bring is a wonderful partnering with you, a taking refuge in you, a strong statement of faith, a great giving of glory to you before the unseen hosts.

Praise be to you, the faithful and holy One, the good and wise God who is never too late, never too early, always prepared and powerful enough to work out all the details of life.

I give you glory, Lord Jesus, for you are the trustable Teacher, the good God, the powerful Protector and the saving Shepherd. You are without error, without evil, without lack. You are complete, consistent and constant.

It is so true, Lord, that you are “a shield for all who take refuge in you.” You are worthy of all worship. Help me to worship you today by taking refuge in you.

Filed under:

Psalm 18:30

Published by S.M. Wibberley on February 5, 2016

Psalm 18:30 “As for God, his way is perfect;”

[You, O Lord God, make no mistakes, you do what is right, all the time. We can trust you to lead us aright, to teach us your way, to show us what is perfect. Thank you that you promise to, “lead us in paths of righteousness for your name’s sake” (Ps. 23:3).

With your Word you turn the negative values of the world right-side-up. You teach us to live by dying, to get by giving, to grieve by praising, to give thanks before there is an outcome. You teach us this while we live in the upside-down-world where selfishness and rebellion are natural, where fear, despair and hopelessness abound—and where there are so many opportunities to live by faith as we reject those values and instead walk in the light of your powerful Way.

Praise be to you for teaching us that being weak is a wonder, that we should delight in our weaknesses and suffering, for in this your power is made perfect and comes upon us (2 Cor. 12:9,10). You teach us that to embrace our weakness and our suffering is freeing, empowering and transforming for us and greatly glorifying for you.

Praise you that you give us vision and understanding of your perfect ways. “Teach me your way, O LORD; I will walk in your truth: unite my heart to fear your name” (Psa. 86:11).

Help us to walk in your truth consistently, denying ourselves, taking up our cross daily and following you.]

“the word of the LORD is flawless.”

[Praise you that we can trust your Word completely: there is no error, no contradiction, no mistake in it. When you speak, command, direct and teach, what you say is right and we can trust it fully.

Praise you that you have carefully had your words recorded in the Bible, and that we can take it at face value. Sadly, people try to twist it for selfish reasons, cutting it out of context, taking a superficial understanding, even blatantly denying what it clearly says and using it for their own ends rather than your purposes.

Give us wisdom to discern these perversions when confronted with them and to replace them with your clear and pure Truth. Protect us from the traps of the enemy and keep us on the pure path of your perfect way as revealed in your wonderful Word. Help us to be consistent in reading, meditating, believing and living it out every day.

Filed under:

Psalm 18:28,29

Published by S.M. Wibberley on February 4, 2016

Psalm 18:28 “You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.”

[You are light itself, Lord, shining brilliantly across the eons of time, shining long before the sun and stars were created. And now you are the source of light for our lives—physical light as well as the light of wisdom, insight, guidance and warning. You actively grant direction when we have no idea what to do. I praise you for your faithful, sure, constant presence, your leading us on in the challenges of life.

You are the One who brought us out of the dominion of darkness. As it says in Proverbs 4:19, “The way of the wicked (as we were) is like deep darkness, they do not know what makes them stumble.” In contrast, “The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever more brightly until the full light of day.” Help us, Lord, not to look back on the darkness, but to look ahead at your guiding light, moving ever more into it’s full strength that we may see and void what can make us stumble.

I praise you that darkness cannot hide anything from you, Lord, for you see all and you let us know what is necessary, giving us enough light so that we can move ahead with you, doing what is best, bringing you glory.]

Psalm 18:29 “With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.”

[This is a beautiful declaration of David’s dependence on you, Lord, seeing his own weakness in the light of your wondrous power. Humanly speaking he could, on his own, easily move toward an enemy and climb a wall, but he knew from experience that doing so in your power is vastly different than doing it on his own.

There is no record of David ever being wounded in battle. He knew your protection, your power, your provision in the hand-to-hand combat of dozens if not hundreds of battles he participated in. He declared, “Sovereign LORD, my strong deliverer, you shield my head in the day of battle” (Psa. 140:7).

Therefore it was in your active power that he trusted. He saw clearly that in the common doings of the day he needed your help and he prayed for it.]

Lord, help me to be that dependent on you, realizing I need your power in even the mundane things of life. Help me to be consistent in praying through my day, in asking for your guidance, protection and power in all that I do. May prayer be the foundation of all as I remember your words in John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Filed under: