Gift Frustration

I know there is someone in your life that is almost impossible to buy a gift for. For me it has been my wife. What do you get a woman who has no similar interest, a perfect husband, everything she needs and a wonderful life? I guess a box to put it in. Seriously, I’ve learned that when all else fails, “jewelry.” Now all I need is money.

Definitely the most difficult one to buy for is God. The entire universe is His. I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it. Psalm 50:9-12

Some of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever done or seen others do is bargain with God. “Lord, I put a little extra in the offering plate this week so I pray you would let me win the lottery.” How absurd! This is a poor example, but it’s somewhat like offering Bill Gates a nickel for Microsoft. Everything we have is the Lord’s. All the money, possessions, job, health, family and friends we have are The Lord’s and are just on loan to us.

There are many religions that teach that we are to sacrifice and do many religious practices to get God’s favor and attention. It’s really sad. Why do they do it? So they can claim they had something to do with their salvation. Pride!

The Truth…

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise. Psalm 51:16-17

God just wants us!

On Who's Terms?

You have been running from the enemy for days now. On many occasions you were almost caught, but somehow you manage to escape. You will twist and fight and you are determined to never give up. You’re thirsty, you’re wounded, tired, and haven’t eaten for days, However, you’ve ran into a canyon to make your escape, but now you’ve come to a dead end. You’re trapped and there is no where to go. The enemy is all around you with weapons pointed at you and they tell you to surrender. You shout out you will surrender, but only on your terms. They tell you that you can only surrender on their terms or you will die.

This is an analogy of our life. We as humans with a sinful nature are stubborn and determined to do it our way. The only problem is that our way just leads to more and more pain and hurt. The hurts and pains in our life are to motivate us and help us quit running and surrender to God. These problems in our life are meant to break us down so the only thing to do is surrender to God.

However, the pride in us refuses to give up and keep on fighting God. We are determined to make it work our way and on our terms. The only terms there are God’s and we have to accept them. This is where we will finally have peace. On the other side of surrender is peace. I’m not saying you’ll never have any problems again. I’m just saying its easier going through life with God on your side than fighting with Him.

I want you to understand something that I had as a misconception for most of my life. I felt that surrendering to God meant to agree to never commit a sin again. This is not what it means and it is impossible for us to do so. It means to change my heart from having to do what God says to wanting to do what God says.

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield (surrender) yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? Romans 6:16