In the fields, wherever you’re called to serve God, I’ve
been reminded all the more that there are pitfalls (traps, snares; hidden or
not easily recognized dangers or difficulties) to watch out for.
There are wolves in sheep’s clothing; things you can snag
your life on; deep holes you can fall into; lazy places where you can lay down
and miss moments; distractions; and even your own feet that you can fall over.
The longer I’m in the fields, the more these pitfalls
seem to abound. And I’ve realized all the more how quick I am to get hurt,
lost, or off track.
Yet God hasn’t called us OUT of the fields…to live lives
of comfort and ease. Nor does He want to lift us out of dangerous places where
there are no pitfalls. Jesus’ prayer for
us makes this clear:
John
17:15, 18
My
prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them…As
you have sent me, so I have sent them…
In fact, God often sends us TO or keeps us RIGHT IN those
hard places. Why?
Because in broken and hurting places are people who need
light, hope, joy, peace and the knowledge of a Savior who died to give them
life.
I’ve been so touched by the Samaritan’s Purse- SIM
missionaries in Liberia- who were there giving treatment to Ebola patients- a
disease that has a 90% fatality rate.
And two of the staff caught the disease.
This to me is a true example of obedience to Jesus, not being afraid to
go to the fields where God calls you and being willing to lay down your life
for others. May we keep these missionaries in prayer and the people in the
countries affected in prayer.
God also often has us in those hard places facing the
brokenness of others and situations, because this often brings out the brokenness
in our own lives. And God can use these times to deeply refine us and heal us. The pitfalls we find ourselves in or near…God
can use to teach us. These trials and tests and even failings can be turned
into great testimonies.
Psalm
40:2
He
lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a
rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth…
Thankfully, we serve a God who is gracious, merciful, and
all about our ultimate healing and transformation. He is changing us into the
likeness of His Son and is teaching us about kingdom life and how to share that
life with others.
2
Corinthians 3:18
And
we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed
into His likeness with ever-increasing glory…
1
Peter 2:5
You,
like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy
priesthood
It’s funny, many days here in Ethiopia, I’m called
different names…”teacher, miss, you, forengie” (foreigner).
Many people in Africa overall often call me
HOLY. They say- HO-LY… what a nice Bible name.
And I’m quick to say it’s Holly, pronounced Hah-lee, NOT Holy.
When I think of holy, I think of God. And well, most days my temper is short, my
patience too thin, for me to feel comfortable being called “holy.” And I’m
usually stumbling in or through a pitfall.
But, I WANT to
be holy. I know I’m called to be holy.
1
Peter 1:16
…be
holy, for I am holy.
Ephesians
1:4
He
chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and
blameless before Him
1
Peter 2:9
You
are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to
God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness
into His wonderful light.
This is part of my identity as a member of God’s family. But, I, like Paul, just often feel so
frustrated with myself. Does anyone else relate?
Romans
7:15-25
I
do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate
I do. And if I do what I do not want to
do, I agree that the law is good. As
it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that
good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For
I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil
I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now
if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin
living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: Although I want to do
good, evil is right there with me. For
in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see
another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me
a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a
wretched one I am!
So how can I live well, in honor of God, when there are
so many pitfalls in the fields?
How can I be holy, live holy? And what does that even
mean anyway?
I’ve been reading a great book called: The Utter
Relief of Holiness. I’ve been so encouraged and challenged by the wisdom in
this book. The author (John Eldredge)
talks about what holiness is and isn’t.
Often when we think of someone who is “holy”- we think of
an untouchable- maybe a priest in a robe that lives a very disciplined and “set
aside” life for God. One of self-denial and self-sacrifice.
Many of the Pharisees and Sadducees in Jesus day were thought
of to be the “holy” ones in society. But surprisingly, Jesus had very hard
words for their kind of holy…check out Matthew 23.
Their actions looked to be set apart for God and done for
His work and purpose, but their hearts were not in it- and they were doing
things to be seen by others.
Jesus challenged that our holiness, our “righteousness”
has to be more than that:
Matthew 5:20
For I tell you that
unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of
the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
So what is this “holiness/righteousness” that our lives
should show?
“Holiness is a
matter of the heart. It’s a transformation of the heart, mind, will, and soul-
that begins to express itself externally in our actions.” It’s godly character. It’s wholeness, it’s
goodness. We see Jesus demonstrating this holiness, it’s right living and
speaking that doesn’t turn people away, but draws them close… “People who knew
themselves to be anything but holy found the holiness of Jesus open-armed and
utterly compelling.” (The Utter Relief of Holiness)
I don’t know about you, but I’d like this holiness to be
seen in my life, more and more and more.
But how can I get stronger in my display of this? These thoughts have been going through my
mind.
Last weekend, I had the privilege of watching many of my
former students here in Ethiopia graduate. I wiped the tears of pride from my
eyes as I shook their hands and hugged their necks.
One thing that came to mind as I watched them receive
their diplomas was the pitfalls that many of them faced in their three years of
college. Times of trial and frustration. Death of loved ones. Low test scores. But they pushed through and crossed
the finish line.
We too can persevere.
In our desire to represent God well, to be holy, the key is to keep
going. To not give up. If you fall down…get up. If people disappoint you or
you disappoint yourself, get up. Keep going. Keep your eyes on the author and
perfecter of your faith and run on.
James
1:12
Blessed
is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that
person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who
love him
Romans
5:3-4
But
we also rejoice in our suffering, because we know our suffering produces
perseverance; perseverance character; and character, hope.
Hebrews
12:1-2
…let
us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and
let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on
Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…
James
1:22-4
Consider
it pure you whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the
testing of your faith produces perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work
so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything
Hebrews
12:10-11
…God
disciplines us for our good that we may share in His holiness. No discipline
seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a
harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
As we continue in the fields where God has called us, may
we continue to look at the life of Jesus as our example.
“There is a way to be good again. The hope of
Christianity is that we get to live life like Jesus. That beautiful goodness
can be ours. He can heal what has gone wrong deep inside each of us. He gives
us His goodness. We get to live each day by the power of His life within us. He
makes us whole by making us holy. He makes us holy by making us whole. Genuine
holiness restores human beings; restored human beings possess genuine holiness.
(The Utter Relief of Holiness)
Romans
8:29
God
knew what He was doing from the beginning. He decided from the outset to shape
the lives of those who love Him along the same line as the line of His son. The
Son stands first in the line of humanity He restored.
May we embrace the wholeness and holiness of Jesus in us.
Spending time with Him is how transformation happens. May we let Him address and heal the brokenness
inside of us. And as he changes us, our
inward healing leads to an outward display of holiness and health and right
living that can be a beacon of light for others.
In the fields, may the goodness and strength and hope we live by come
from the life of Christ in us.
Remembering…
Isaiah
35:4-10
…Be
strong, do not fear; your God will come,
…He will come to save you… And a highway will be there; it will be
called the way of Holiness… only the redeemed will walk there, and the ransomed
of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy
will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and
sighing will flee away.
2
Corinthians 5:20
We
are Christ’s ambassadors…
Psalm
103
Praise
the Lord, Oh my soul, and forget not all His benefits- who forgives all your
sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns
you with love and compassion,…the Lord does not treat us as our sins deserve,
for as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those
who fear him as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our
transgressions from us…
John
15:16
Remain in me, and I will remain in you... Love each other as I have loved you. ...Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. ...You
did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-
fruit that will last…
Onward in hope with you!
Prayer Requests
-My sister finished up her final Czech summer camp and
moved out of Prague this past week. She’s now in her former town, Revnice, for
her final week before moving this direction in early August. Pray for her as
she makes this huge move to Africa and says final goodbyes.
-Pray for a trip I need to make to Kenya this week to get
my Ethiopia Visa renewed…that the plans for that will come together and be smooth.
Also, that there will be safety in travel and a good reunion time with former
co-workers friends there.
-Pray for my fall schedule- as I work to finalize what
that will look like and plan ahead. For
now it looks to include language school (I will finally be learning Amharic),
teaching three classes for the seminary (in youth ministry and missions), and
teaching English (at my former school). All classes kick off in mid to late
August.
-Keep my parents in prayer as their summer vacation time
winds down. They are both in good health and we give God great thanks. They are
such a blessing!
Thank you so much for your prayers! Please let me know
how I can pray for you as well!
