A Life-Saving, Life-Sustaining Relationship with God

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?"
Psalm 42:1-2

What often gets overlooked, and what often gets understated, in modern-day religious rhetoric is the fundamental fact that life is empty and hopeless without God. Mankind has always been an argumentative lot. And even in the church (or should I say especially in the church) we tend to be consumed with flash point topics, issues that often lead to theological debate and divide. Sadly, many of the arguments involve secondary matters, matters that do not address the means of salvation, which should be of utmost concern. If we, as followers of God, would but resolve ourselves to fully focus on the underlying basis for faith (the sovereignty of the God, His Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit) then much of our heated discussion would likely subside. And we could once again resume a child-like trust in God, a trust that adores the Lord and aspires to let His truth spiritually nourish us.

There have been many individuals who have helped encourage my walk with God, and motivated me to not let spiritual apathy or cynicism invade my heart. But one of the most inspirational teachers in this regard was the head pastor at the church I attended for the majority of my college years: Heritage Baptist Church in north Oklahoma City. Frankly, up until this point in my life biblical instruction was not something I actively pursued, or invested much time in. For the better part of my youth I started many Scriptural studies, but rarely did I finish them. But when I became a part of the fellowship at Heritage Baptist Church the messages presented there opened my eyes and awakened my soul to life-saving, life-sustaining doctrine. The pastor relayed the criticality of the Bible, and its wonderful daily application for humanity. I quickly realized that I was missing out on the joy of experiencing a knowledge of God, a knowledge that had the potential to provide me continual peace and power. What was holding me back was my willingness to let God's Word teach me, and God's Spirit to transform me. In the surrendering of my will I found a stillness in the Lord's Presence, and I embarked upon a journey that eventually led to my commitment to read Scripture each and every day. 

In a way, the spiritual makeover I was emboldened to pursue at Heritage Baptist Church is captured in the opening verses of Psalm 42. There is beautiful imagery portrayed in this Hebrew song. Deer go to streams needy and ready. After all, all living creatures require a steady intake of water since it is essential to their survival. And this concept has meaning for mankind in that our souls demand a steady intake of God's presence in order to survive and thrive. In other words, a relationship with God is the sole means of knowing our purpose in this world, and it is the sole means of finding the ability to exhibit a God-honoring character.

All this to say, the Bible affirms that God is a God of relevancy - of reality. The Lord is not some mystic, unapproachable force; He is the eternal Maker - a great Being Who reveals Himself at His holy choosing. Though hardships befall humanity we should not harbor a coldness, or dispute God's divine leadership. Life will gave us rain-filled days, and therefore cause us to journey mud-saturated roads. The trails are not always easy to traverse, but the trails are much easier to endure when believers of God know that God is near to those who cherish Him, and call out to Him. 

May our heart always yearn to search for God, like a deer that searches for life-saving/life-sustaining water. Even when the valley is low let us hold fast to our faith in the Lord. Even when the path is dark. Even when the days are horribly cold. Even then may we trust in the Sovereign God. Certainly, this world is cruel and unrelenting. But God's love and grace are equally unrelenting, and this proffers much hope to weary, God-searching souls. Like streams of water that can satisfy the needs of a thirsty creature so God's presence can quench the cravings of a parched spirit. Therefore, let the knowledge of God's abiding proximity carry us through all of our endeavors, and give us what we require to tarry on through life's pilgrimage.       

Confession of a Grateful Father

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”
Proverbs 22:6

If you have followed this blog for a while then you know that the previous writing entries have focused on biblical passages in a chronological fashion. To date, I have not utilized personal experiences in my posts because I feel that the rich tapestry of information captured in Scripture provides more than enough introspective material to study. But this week I am going to deviate from my established pattern of incorporating Bible-centric stories only in a sequential fashion and relay a private episode to communicate a greater thought. The reason for my momentary modus operandi change is based on the fact that I encountered a life changing event (or L.C.E. as my wife, Dawn, and I call them at home) last week. My third, and presumably last, child, Elizabeth (Ellie) Grace Orr, was born on June 13, 2013 (Ellie and her proud daddy – me – are shown in the picture above). 

With the birth of each of my three children I have been profoundly moved by the abundant blessing and provision of God. The overall process from conception to delivery is nothing short of amazing. And while I could exhaust hours elaborating on the many impressions that have poured over me during, and after, the beautiful arrival of all of my offspring I want to corral the emphasis of this post to the inherent marvel of being a parent, which I was powerfully reminded of when I met a 7 pound hand-crafted by God darling daughter (Ellie) face to face a few short days ago.

The moment Ellie exited Dawn’s body and became wholly visible I got choked up. Earlier in the day, I had spent several minutes in prayer and meditation, and had asked the Lord to help me cherish everything about Ellie’s birth. Given that Ellie’s due date was June 19, 2013 I did not expect that the day I was moved to call out to God for supernatural sensitivity and emotional responsiveness to Ellie’s birth would be the day that my eyes would first encounter her. But God, in His indescribable, unfathomable wisdom, knew what I needed to consider before I did. And so with a heightened perception that Ellie’s appearance was something I needed to mentally catalog and treasure I took in the event with excitement and thankfulness. 

As the doctor held Ellie in her arms I was infused with gratitude, as well as a realization that the Lord was quietly imparting a critical mission to me. And the mission was communicated via a spiritual, unspoken message. The message went something like this: “Kevin, Ellie is yet another confirmation of My immense love. A manifestation of My goodness.  Bona fide proof of My commitment to honor the charge I gave to Adam and Eve so long ago: to be fruitful and multiply. But understand that Ellie is a gift that I have briefly entrusted to you and Dawn. She is My creation, and I have placed her in your care. Ellie requires your devotion and dedication. She requires God-centered direction and doctrine. Resolve yourself to obey My Word and pledge to exhibit the righteous character you long to see Ellie display someday. Above all, never take your parental role for granted for it is a privilege that I have bestowed upon you.”

As I stood there captivated at the sight of baby Ellie God stirred my soul. And the Lord impressed upon my heart the fundamental difference between being a father and being a parent, at least from the world’s vantage point. This may sound like a subtle nuance but a chasm exists between fatherhood and parenthood in the modern-day culture. To many, a father is merely a biological donor. After a would-be father provides his life-giving specimen to someone from the opposite sex he may, and in many cases does, willfully walk away from his partner’s life, and thereby the life of his child. Sadly, there are tragic examples of this phenomenon occurring each and every day, which are grossly played out on television via reality talk shows. But when you consider the connotation of the word “parent” it tends to provoke a completely separate consideration from father in the societal vernacular. A parent is one who seeks to have an active role in his, or her, children’s upbringing. A parent wants to be invested emotionally, financially, and spiritually in the ones he, or she, helped bring forth into this earth. A parent is committed to intentionally, purposefully leading, and guiding, his, or her, progeny in truth and values.  

Beholding the preciousness of baby Ellie I contemplated the three primary ways that I can positively influence my children: through example, education, and encouragement. And God convicted me to utilize and balance every aspect in a righteous manner in Ellie’s life, as well as the life of my other two children (Jayden and Abby). Regarding example, I should be honorable, not hypocritical. I should be authentic, not artificial. In other words, I must be transparent and wholly devoted to the Lord. It is one thing to speak of God-centered living, but it is ultra-critical that I practice God-centered living for the sake of my family. Regarding education, I should be tenderhearted, not tyrannical. I should be a disciplinarian, not a dictator. In other words, teaching morality to my children is only effective when I couple it with a genuine relationship based on honesty, humility, and honor. It does my children no good if I speak truth through a dualistic, double-minded lifestyle. My children should see the proof of my beliefs in my behavior, as well as hear them through my instruction. Regarding encouragement, I should be a cheerleader, not a critic. I should be an advocate, not an antagonist. In other words, I cannot hope to build up my children’s theology if I am tearing them down internally. My words should be corrective at times, but compassionate at all times. How can I expect a home environment of joy if I fill the air with unkind, mean-spirited rhetoric? 

So this is the confession of a grateful father, scratch that – the confession of a grateful parent. What a glorious opportunity I have been granted: to train children in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6). Many in the world either minimize this obligation, or altogether miss its importance. But as I beheld Ellie for the first time this responsibility was not lost on me. I want the best for Ellie, but that end state requires the best from me - as a father…as a husband….as a man of God. This life is filled with many blessings, but few are greater, or sweeter, than parenting. 

The Spiritual Significance of a Godly Spouse

"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth more than rubies.”
Proverbs 31:10

There are travesties that occur every day in regard to the sanctity of marriage, particularly in the areas of appreciation and affection. Sadly, many couples suffer from unhealthy forms of communication. Spouses often choose to employ critical words rather than cherishing words toward one another. When this occurs, blame and accusations are tossed about freely. Harsh and heated arguments take place. The marital environment can quickly become one of hostility and distrust. As the relational divide deepens the outlook on the marriage transforms from a positive position to a state of misery and gloom. But this was never what God intended for marriage. When God noted that it was not good for man to be alone on earth in Genesis 2:18 He was alluding to the numerous blessings and benefits that marriage can bring about (i.e. companionship, encouragement, accountability, inspiration, laughter). This clearly indicates that marriage is a God-sanctioned covenantal bond that can, and should, be one of the most meaningful experiences in life.

But for some reason humanity has, by and large, attempted to dismiss the beauty of a marital relationship. Society has promoted derogatory references to marriage. For example, some husbands choose to refer to their wife as the “ball and chain”, implying that matrimony is akin to serving a prison sentence. This approach is a complete reversal of the Genesis 2:18 passage in that God determined there was enormous value in reclassifying a man and woman as husband and wife. So while the world is cynical about marriage God is committed. While the world is abrasive toward marriage God is assuring. All this to say, God has a hope-filled take on the marital institution. And this hope-filled take is beautifully captured in Proverbs 31.

In many ways, Proverbs 31 is the benchmark for how spouses should communicate in and outside of their relationship. The writer assessed the spiritual significance of a godly wife and highlighted many incredible benefits to a spouse of virtue:

• Trustworthiness (31:11)
• Good (31:12)
• Industrious (31:13)
• Wise (31:16)
• Generous (31:20)
• Caring (31:21)
• Knowledgable (31:26)
• Loving (31:28)
• Faithful (31:30)

Throughout Proverbs 31 there exists a pervasive desire to not take marriage for granted, or damage a marital relationship with destructive discourse. The writer of Proverbs 31 understood that when a marital  environment overflows with commendation and tribute then the environment will be strong and inspiring. The whole text in Proverbs 31 relating to marriage provides a complimentary sentiment about marriage, and rightly so. Instead of being ignored, a godly wife should be exalted for she is passionate about serving the Lord and attending to the needs of her family. A godly wife is productive with her time. She is protective of her loved ones. She is persistent in her preparation, preservation, and procurement of food, clothing, and shelter. She is praise-worthy because of her lifestyle. A godly wife should be esteemed by her family. A wife, a mother, is the relational glue that helps a family remain bonded. Such a woman strengthens connections and sacrifices so much to help keep the connections intact. 

In short, the writer of Proverbs 31 gave godly wives the recognition that they richly deserve. But the writer of Proverbs 31 also underscored that there is a spiritual significance to having a godly spouse. And this significance should be communicated as often as possible. A family that utilizes positive, honest communication is a family that longs to honor God in speech, conduct, and character. Followers of God should never assume a spouse, or a parent for that matter, knows how much we care until we express it. So many things need to be said but never are. Let this not be said of God's believers. Instead, let us be committed to applying encouraging words. Words that build up, rather than tear down. Words that heal, rather than hurt. Words that glorify the One Who makes and sustains us: God.         

Godly Governance versus Authoritative Abuse

"It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.”
Proverbs 25:2

How God exercises His means of governance versus how man exercises his means of governance yields a stunning, stark contrast. Solomon, endowed with great mental acuity and intelligence from the Lord, made note of this phenomenon in Proverbs 25:2. “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.” One small, but impactful, verse sets the stage for a litany of fascinating thoughts and discussion points regarding leadership. Man’s understanding is limited, which is why human authorities have to search out the meaning and criticality of matters. But God’s understanding is comprehensive, vast, and whole. Man derives glory from exposing the importance of an issue that is believed, by and large, to be unfamiliar. But God knows every intimate detail of every issue before it is made known to humanity. Man derives exaltation from contrived measures of accomplishment. But God is already all-glorious and requires no additional accolades to be regarded as exclusively magnificent (bear in mind though that God is an active God and works fiercely for the good of humanity).      

Solomon highlighted the enormously different approaches to leadership between God and man so succinctly in Proverbs 25:2. But then he went on to categorically contrast sound leadership from foolish leadership throughout the text encompassing Proverbs 25 through 29. Clearly, this message helps to distinguish good, or godly, governance from bad, or egocentric, governance. The list of positive leadership traits in Proverbs regarding godly governance is extensive:

• A good leader is cautious to speak in all circumstances, knowing that a finite mind can never contain complete knowledge
• A good leader surrounds himself, or herself, with moral, godly counselors, not hasty, ill-tempered loudmouths 
• A good leader is disciplined and self-controlled, resistant to implementing destructive plans or policies
• A good leader is generous and is willing to share personal resources to help address the needs of the community
• A good leader is sincere and exhibits no false motives
• A good leader is kind and seeks a God-centered outcome
• A good leader inspires others through noble action and attitude

Conversely, Solomon spells out a sequence of negative aspects tied to authoritative abusers:

• A bad leader exhibits selfishness
• A bad leader exhibits laziness
• A bad leader exhibits spiritual apathy
• A bad leader exhibits ungratefulness
• A bad leader does not seek the betterment of society, but seeks to reap the collective benefits of society
• A bad leader is focused on self-legacy advancement, not societal adoration of God

Solomon provided a watch list, so-to-speak, that would help people of every generation know how to properly evaluate the quality of their leaders. When a bad leader is in place he, or she, becomes an albatross around the neck of a kingdom’s citizens. Life feels harder and enduring hope seems less achievable or sustainable. But when a good leader is in place he, or she, is like a beacon who lights the way for the kingdom's citizens. That light is merely a channeling of the Lord, Who is the One that guides us on the path of righteousness. In other words, good leaders tether themselves to God's canon and character. 

If nothing else, Solomon's message in the latter half of the book of Proverbs reminds mankind that God is the ultimate King. He is perfect and powerful. Mighty and majestic. Great and good. All human leaders will fall therefore short of God's authority. Nevertheless, the Lord has established people in various positions of leadership. Some will godly govern while others will abuse the authority. But God forever remains the eternal Ruler and forever provides the means by which we can recognize good leadership traits. Let us rightly put our trust in Him. 

       

Artificial Allegiance

"When the Lord began to speak through the Hosea, the Lord said to him, ‘Go take to yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the Lord.’”
Hosea 1:2

For centuries marriage has been understood as a relational partnership between one man and one woman. Furthermore, it has been historically defined as a covenantal bond that incorporates such aspects as love, respect, admiration, trust, and fidelity. And while this biblically-based characterization is under attack from many facets of society today, facets that seek to pull the culture away from a God-centered worldview, marriage is the foremost expression of a relational union outside a personal connection to God Himself. This critical concept is the literary framework upon which the book of Hosea is constructed. The Lord chose to utilize the real-life perspective of a flawed marriage in order to underscore the importance of cultivating, and maintaining, a genuine allegiance exhibited by the created to the Creator. 

The book of Hosea opens with a rather shocking pronouncement: God commanded the prophet Hosea to seek out and marry an adulterous woman. Under normal circumstances advanced knowledge of a potential spouse’s affinity for promiscuity would have been justification to circumvent matrimony. And yet God deemed this to be the primary requirement for Hosea’s future bride. Hosea obeyed the Lord and married a woman named Gomer, who soon bore Hosea a son (Jezreel). Thereafter, Gomer gave birth to a daughter (Lo-Ruhamah) and another son (Lo-Ammi). One wonders what must have gone through Hosea’s mind during this time. Did he understand the forthcoming holistic message of God? Did he perceive what greater holy application would soon be made known? 

Regardless, the text in Hosea reads like a stern lecture. God, the Holy One, conveyed impactful, penetrating words for Israel. He took them to task for their overall wicked conduct. Verse after verse pointedly called attention to the examples of the Hebrew peoples’ thievery, betrayal, and spiritual deadness. One might expect the closing chapters to contain a severance of God’s favor for Israel. But God concluded His reprimand in Hosea with a plea for Israel to return to an allegiance-based relationship. Even in reproof the Lord extends love, hope, grace, and a desire to restore us to a right association with Him. Truly God is divine for His mercy is above human behavior and understanding. It longs to be expressed in our moments of utter weakness and depravity.   

God employed Hosea’s unhealthy marriage to articulate how unwholesome and dissatisfying a hollow reverence for the Lord on the part of man really is. It may seem like a trivial thing to flirt with worldly allures and trappings, but if we allow earthly treasures or teachings to replace our allegiance to God then we have willingly chosen to commit spiritual adultery. God deserves our complete focus and faith. After all, He daily gives us the best of Himself so why would we choose to surrender anything less? The sharp rebuke the Lord relayed to Israel was generated in the fact that they had broken faith. The Hebrew people had put lust, laziness, and lewdness above God. They had put idolatry, idleness, and impurity above God. They sacrificed service for selfishness. Though some apparently were still observing the religious celebrations (Hosea 2:11), God discerned the collective heart of Israel and found it wanting. The displays of worship were largely hollow and empty. The Lord saw right through the façade. He evaluated His intentions of His followers and determined they were in serious need of repentance and revival.

In short, the great challenge before humanity is holding fast in our allegiance to God. Every generation of believer has struggled to embrace the correct attitude and approach to the Lord. Sure we are infatuated with the idea of God being pleased with us, but how often are we enraptured by the notion of us pleasing God? Many proclaim to cherish God and yet exhibit some of the most horrendous, destructive lifestyles. May the Lord break us for the things that break Him. May He move us for the things that move Him. May He help us to remain true and practice an authentic allegiance, rather than an artificial allegiance.