faithfulness

An Undivided Heart

Matt Otto D-Groups , ,

Abraham Lincoln, the soon-to-become 16th president of the United States, said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” The statement of the then U.S. senator cautioned against compromising on the issue of slavery. The powerful and memorable remark warned against threatening the stability of an already fragile nation by being divided on this foundational human rights issue.

Even more importantly, the Bible calls every Christian to have an undivided heart (Ps 86:11). Our very existence is to be singularly centered on God, because a united heart births trust, while a divided heart breeds faithlessness. After Israel had conquered Canaan, Joshua gathered the tribes and their leaders to recount their history and remind them of all God had done for them. He concluded with the following admonition:

“Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:14-15)

The people responded as one: “we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God” (vv.16-18). Sadly, that didn’t last long …

God’s desire has always been to have a holy people, a people of His choosing, a people to treasure, a people that would glorify Him among the nations. In turn, He would strive with them, protect them, and provide for them. Yet, Israel had wandering eyes. For their entire existence, the fickle and faithless hearts of God’s people proclaimed: “You are not enough!”

Fast forward to today and little has changed. Idols carry our hearts far from God. The sin of faithlessness causes us to direct our attention away from God, considering Him to be unreliable and not worth trusting. As our hearts drift from God, we fill the space with other people and things: idols.

So what are the idols that divide and capture your heart today? A few questions, answered honestly, might begin to identify the idols that battle for your heart’s allegiance:

  • What disappoints you?
  • What do you make time and financial sacrifices for?
  • What causes you to worry?
  • What do you dream of?
  • Where do you seek comfort?
  • Whom do you seek approval of?

Remember, breaking the idols’ grip and uniting your heart will demand drastic surgery, beginning with a circumcision of the heart that only God can perform (Rom 2:29). Then, maintain good heart health by responding to conviction with repentance and running to grace with confidence. He is and will be faithful!

Mark 8:34-36 (ESV) – “And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, [Jesus] said to them, ‘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 and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?’”

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Always Faithful

Matt Otto D-Groups , , ,

Semper Fidelis, Latin for “always faithful,” has been the Marine Corps’ motto since 1883. It embodies the Corps’ values of honor, courage, and commitment. According to its public website, the “United States Marines are a family that fights together, finding individual purpose in a collective cause—the protection of our Nation and the advancement of its ideals. Side by side, we welcome obstacles and thrive on challenge. Each Marine stands as a vital part of a united force, greater than any individual, more fulfilled than ever before.”

Truly, our military veterans, current servicemen, and in particular, the Marines are another breed. When the majority seeks comfort and dodges danger, the faithful soldier heeds the call and runs to the rescue. Hence, in their promotional spots, the Marines have often been known as “The Few.” Clearly, faithfulness is hard. If it were easy, everybody would be faithful.

Similarly, faithfulness to God is costly. As people of a faithful God and children of a faithful Father, faithfulness should be a hallmark of every believer. Yet, faithfulness doesn’t simply appear out of nothing. It must be cultivated. David wrote “Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness” (Ps 37:3). The Hebrew word translated “befriend” literally means to graze on or cultivate. As a former shepherd, David used shepherding or agricultural terms to explain the all-important connection between trusting a faithful God and responding faithfully. Therefore, faithfulness cannot be forced or willed, because it is a posture of the heart that is nourished and grown with submission to God, the Holy Spirit through spiritual habits like fasting and prayer.

Few joined Ezra’s appeal to return to Jerusalem (Ezra 8). However, those who heeded the call did so for more than rebuilding a consecrated nation. They faithfully trusted YHWH – the faithful covenant keeping God – because they longed to be near Him. That was the collective cause that convinced them to abandon their present comfort for the advancement of God’s glory.

There are very few to whom the term “faithful” is ascribed. The apostles, Peter and

Paul, mention some. So, will you be the next Silas (1 Pet 5:12), Tychicus (Eph 6:21), Epaphras (Col 1:7), or Onesimus (Col 4:9)? Will you be like the few faithful men and women who heeded the call, leaving the comforts of Babylon behind, to journey to Jerusalem? If so, let us faithfully seek Him together!

Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV) – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

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His Lovingkindness Endures Forever

Matt Otto D-Groups , , ,

I just took a moment to check the delivery status of a recent book order. I was a little surprised and disappointed that it had not yet arrived in my mailbox. Can you relate?

In this day of digital communication and online shopping it is not uncommon to want an immediate response and speedy delivery, receiving an order in less than two days and without any additional shipping cost. We have been conditioned to think that we are entitled to a response that is quick and painless. Sadly, our world doesn’t revolve around us nor does time bend to our bidding.

God is the one who holds the planets in their orbits, creates galaxies and stars, and knows every moment from beginning to end. The remarkable reality is that when it comes to Israel and the church, God has unequivocally shown Himself to be bound to His people, working on their behalf and for the sake of His glory. Throughout the Old Testament we find the human authors declaring that God’s steadfast love is everlasting. God is unalterably loyal, protective, faithful, and true. We can conclude from this, that God’s aforementioned work is certain.

This should be fabulously comforting to the church! In and through Christ, God grows us “into a holy temple in the Lord” (see Eph 2:19-21). Eden, the Tabernacle, and the Temple at Jerusalem all point to the temple that is Christ and His Church. The Old Testament spaces are examples of God’s very presence taking residence among His people. With the arrival of the Messiah, Jesus, God again has moved into our neighborhood. He inhabits you and me. How easy it is to forget this! Paul pointedly asks:

“… do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (1 Cor 6:19-21).

So, let us be patient with one another as God continues to transform each one of us. At the same time, let us long for our church to be built up in beauty as it welcomes God’s holiness, glory, and steadfast love.

Exodus 34:6 (ESV) – “The Lord passed before [Moses] and proclaimed, ‘The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness…’”

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