right in my eyes . . .

Posted on February 22, 2014 by jimtheyouthguy

 But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she is right in my eyes.”
(Jdg 14:3 ESV)

Lots of things can look good on the surface.  That investment that is guaranteed to double or triple in a few months.  The car with the sweet wheels and immaculate interior.  That guy/girl with the “hot” body.  The beautiful red tomato on the counter that my fingers sank into as I picked it up and yellow liquid ran down my arm as little black insects flew up from the puddle of hairy goo beneath it . . .

There is virtually no limit to the harm we can do ourselves when we make decisions based on initial impressions.

As I’ve said before, we’re just not that smart.

It’s not that we can’t make decent decisions as much as it is we rarely have sufficient information or the right vantage point.  Taking time to really “see” is a skill that must be cultivated.  Learning which point of view really matters (as in the way God sees it) takes effort and experience.  Usually we just don’t take time for all that effort.  We want cake now!

It’s easy to target our consumerist or lustful actions.  But don’t let yourself off the hook too quick.  It also applies to our emotional reactions, retaliation, passive aggressive behavior, outbursts, condescension, manipulation, etc.

We believe (in our own eyes) we have a right to . . . _______________ . . . (Fill in your own brand of self-righteous response)

I have a right to be angry after what she said.

I have a right to take this.  After all they never appreciated me.

I have a right to do this after he did that.

I have a right . . .

But my eyes only see in one direction, are sometimes confused, can’t see inside something, are limited in perspective . . . they just don’t give me enough information.  And so I often end up “doing evil in the sight of the LORD”.

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my idols

Posted on February 20, 2014 by jimtheyouthguy

I’m not sure who to credit with the following bullet points – Paul Tautges, Paul Whitt, James the half brother of Christ, crosswalk.com . . .

Here is the link to Paul’s blog post.

  • “Rebellion = believing a lie about ourselves.”
  • “We must stop seeing ourselves as we want to be seen, but as God sees us.”
  • “The bottom line behind all of our idols is ‘I want to be God. I will be in control.’”
  • “Whatever makes you angry reveals an idol in your life.”

These are all things I have said in various counseling/mentoring situations for years, and it is affirming to hear them from someone else.  I am always suspicious when I seem to be the only person saying something.  But, more importantly, it is good to hear them from another source, because it is convicting.

I don’t know about you, but I often find that I don’t hear my own words.  I give “great advice” to others, but I don’t even see the issue within my own life.  I often get accused of selective hearing by my wife or children, but the truth is I have selective hearing regarding what proceeds from my own mouth when it comes to teaching the Word of God.

Yes, I know these things are true.  Yes, I admit to areas of my life where I have weakness.  Yes, I provide real live, just happened yesterday examples of how these things still rise up in me.  But often, I fall short of doing due diligence, of peeling back the layers, of letting the light really flood into the dark places.

Yep – I’m still a man in need of a Savior.

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he shall begin to save…

Posted on February 20, 2014 by jimtheyouthguy

And the angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold, you are barren and have not borne children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.” (Jdg 13:3-5 ESV)

There are only a few times when an angel foretold the birth of a child.  Isaac, Samson, John the Baptist and Jesus are the only ones who come to mind at the moment.

As a parent, that has to do something to the way you think about your child.

Isaac was going to be the father of a great nation.  Samson was going to be a deliverer.  John was going to prepare the way for the Messiah and Jesus was to be the Messiah.  That has to change something in the way their parents raised them.

We are told that we are part of a priesthood – a holy nation set apart to God.  We are ambassadors for Christ and ministers of reconciliation.  We are peacemakers and children of God.  Check this out from Romans 8:

  • We are not condemned (vs 1)
  • We are free from sin and death (vs 2)
  • The Power that raised Christ from the dead lives in us (vs 9-11)
  • We are adopted and God is our father (He chose me!) (vs 15)
  • We are heirs with Christ (We are legitimate) (vs 17)
  • When bad things happen, it doesn’t mean He doesn’t love us (vs 35)
  • We have already won (No losers here!) (vs 37)
  • Nothing can separate us from His love (vs 38-39)

Shouldn’t that change something!

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Evil in the sight of the LORD …

Posted on February 19, 2014 by jimtheyouthguy

And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, so the LORD gave them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years. (Jdg 13:1 ESV)

So often, we think we know what is best.  Best for ourselves, best for others, best in this world – politically, economically, in health, in relationships.  Yet the history of mankind seems to indicate that we are sadly mistaken the overwhelming majority of the time.

We just don’t know enough.

We decide based on our own knowledge and experience, but also on our fears, expectations, anger, bitterness, insecurity and a host of other emotions.  What we believe is best, is usually what we want or is the most comfortable or convenient.  Rarely do we see a best that is more beneficial to someone else while requiring a great sacrifice on our part.

We just don’t know ourselves enough.

In Star Trek, they had the Prime Directive.  This supreme command was in, around and over all other commands.  It was the idea that mankind just didn’t have enough information.  We zigged when we should have zagged.  We stood when we should have sat.  We walked when we should have run.

And we never seemed to see it until we put out our own eye.

The Prime Directive prohibited Star Fleet personnel from interfering in the natural development of another species or civilization.  Usually it meant “less developed” societies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SsF15wTWU4

We don’t always have enough information.  We don’t always know enough.  But if we will follow God’s principles, even when they don’t make sense to us, He will make up the difference.

I get it wrong way more than I get it right, but it’s okay.  God’s got this.

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