Many say that the true character of a person is most clearly evident in the midst of trials. I suppose it’s similar to when someone is hungry, in physical pain, or even, inebriated. In all cases, a person hasn’t the physical strength nor mental ingenuity to put on airs. But rather, they’re only capable of being genuine and honest about how they perceive their immediate situation.

As a matter of fact, it seems that anytime we’re in a position of various physical deficiencies or discomforts (minor or major, fictitious or true), who we really are, spills out. In these mortal bodies of ours, that is, common jars of common clay, all people either carry within: the life of Christ or the death of sinful man.

In recognizing these truths, we can reasonably assess, that just as the essence of an olive uninhibitedly flows out when its pressed, so also, it is with all people. The heat and pressures of trials from without, will prove the essence of a person, either the Treasure (Spirit of Christ) or tyranny (spirit of self) within. This simple testing from God our Father, helps all people to live in the light of His truth and revelation of how He created each and every one of us. Even in this, our God and Father demonstrates His common grace to His enemies who will not submit to His Lordship, and also His special grace toward His precious and beloved children who have been washed and received by and through the Lord Jesus Christ.

“And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works are evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come into the light, lest his works be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes into the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

~John 3:19-21, ESV

We are all too easily self-deceived and deceived by others, believing we are who we simply say we are. If someone claims to be contrite (repentant) or in any way genuinely sorrowful for the sins they’ve committed against God and others, and say all they want is to sow peace, we easily believe them. Especially if they become emotional in any way. But the Lord our God commanded and enabled us to,

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,


     "Awake, O sleeper,
        and arise from the dead,
     and Christ will shine on you."


Look carefully how you walk, not as unwise but wise, making best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

~Ephesians 5:11-17, ESV

We are commanded by our God and Father to test, to carefully and thoughtfully and diligently examine all things with the light of His Word. By doing so, He has granted us the strength and wisdom to rightly discern what is presented before us, rather than believe anything anyone says about themselves…or others.

No one is humbly submitted and broken before God, simply because they say so…even with tears (like Esau in Genesis 25:31-34 and Hebrews 12:17; and Judas in Matthew 27:3-5). True humility, true repentance, that is, godly sorrow that leads to life, is easily seen in the visible fruit of repentance, just as Zacchaeus demonstrated in Luke 19:8. Those whom God has granted the gift of repentance that leads to saving faith in Jesus Christ; are empowered by the Holy Spirit to bear the fruit of a humble and grateful heart before God and all men.

“[A]nd my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in the demonstration of the Spirit and power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:4-5, ESV) Only God Most High is able to free us from the captivity of sin, death, and the devil. Only the LORD of hosts is able to grant life, liberty, and happiness to any man, woman, or child. Which is why when someone is truly humble before God Almighty, what immediately flows from them, is a demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit that lasts, and not a demonstration of the power of self-preservation that ebbs and flows with the wave of every emotion.

True humility in trials will exalt and esteem Christ; causing many to give thanks and a desire to serve God our Father. False humility, that is, worldly sorrow in trials, will exalt and esteem the “strength” of a man or woman; causing many to praise and desire to serve the creation, rather than the Creator.

~Romans 12:9-13, ESV

So often (too often, for my liking), we compete. We participate in inane, daily competitions with one another. Especially us women. I can rarely be in a group of women where most, if not all, are sizing each other up. Who's the prettiest, who's the most fit, who has on the cutest outfit, who has the most perfect family? And nowadays, the most common competitions are: who has the most friends/followers, likes, comments, and social media birthday wishes (insert eye roll). The list of self-exalting, sinful comparisons, is endless.

But our God and Father says the only "competition" we ought to seek, to daily participate in, is to "outdo one another in showing honor." As God's dearly beloved, holy children, we ought to daily seek to love one another with the love of Christ—genuine, holy, agape, sacrificial love that seeks the good of others without seeking any good in return. Just as God has loved us in Christ Jesus.

Does this mean that we are to aspire to merely be doormats to the world; to anyone, whether professing Christian or not? Absolutely not. The idea that children of the LORD of hosts should consider themselves less than they are (slaves of righteousness), is absurd. We are not royal doormats for anyone to use and abuse to their wicked hearts’ desire. We are holy slaves who behold the greatest treasure—Christ Jesus the Lord.

It’s very disconcerting and gravely disheartening that there are many who are erroneously taught by teachers and preachers of the Word (who ought not be teaching nor preaching), who twist and malign God’s holy Word and precepts, rather than uphold them.

Was not Christ our Lord, the one who whipped and turned over the tables of the money changers in the temple? Was not our Lord and Savior, the Christ of God Almighty, the one who called the falsely religious Pharisees a brood of vipers and sons of the devil? Was it not our Lord Jesus that said the world hates Him because He keeps telling them their ways are evil? And was it not the Son of the Most High God, the one who spoke and taught less about love, and more about Hell and the eternal judgment and condemnation that will come to all who do not repent and trust in His name alone? Yet, in today’s churches, and among most professing Christians, this is not the holy, righteous, and strong message that is taught, nor practiced.

Being kindly affectionate, isn’t the command to appease sinners in their sin. It isn’t the command to coddle the unrepentant, under the guise of: “ministering” to anyone who claims to be weak and faint-hearted. It isn’t the command to chase after those who feign humility and injury, while allowing them to sow division and strife among the saints.

The command to be kindly affectionate, is the bold, the mighty, and high command of our Most High God and Father—to love as He loves us in His Son—in holiness and righteousness.

So if you’re tempted to size someone up, do it. But not with your Pharisaical and self-approving standards, but with the perfect and holy Word of God.

Aspire to be one who obeys this holy command, who rightly understand its holy precepts, by testing all things you hear, feel, and see with God’s Word. Be quick to listen (to the Holy Spirit), slow to speak (to the one telling the story), and slow to become angry (at anyone the speaker may rightly or falsely accuse of sin).

Part of my Scripture reading and study yesterday, was 1 Samuel 4.

Verses 3 and 4a, in particular, piqued my interest.

And when the people came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, 'Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD here from Shiloh, that it may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies.' So the people sent to Shiloh and brought from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, who is enthroned on the the cherubim.

The first thing I noticed and found interesting, was that though the Israelites didn't know why the LORD allowed their defeat, they rightly discerned that this was done by the sovereign hand of God.

The second thing I noticed, was that admitting they didn't know why God allowed their defeat, they never prayed to seek His counsel. Rather, they arrogantly behaved like the pagans they were at war with, by treating the ark of God with contempt—using it as some sort of tenebrous talisman for their own glory.

In this hasty and foolish act, the Israelites presumed upon God's grace, just as King David in 1 Chronicles 13 (with his repentance recorded in 1 Chronicles 15), as well as the Israelites in Jeremiah's time (Jeremiah 7:1-15 and 23:16-32). Besides these two references, there are other incidences throughout the Pentateuch where God’s kind and merciful admonitions for such sins are recorded (i.e., Exodus 14:20-45).

First I thought,

How could the elders of God's people be so obviously foolish? How could they so quickly forget about God’s righteous statutes, precepts, and commandments and the destructive ramifications of what would happen if they ignored and disobeyed God's prescribed way of pursuing holiness. Why didn’t they simply learn the lessons patiently and compassionately taught by God, from the people that came before them?

Then I thought,

How often do I do this—know that all things happen to me by God's sovereign hand, yet, rather than seek His counsel and direction, I try to "fix" it myself by what I think pleases God, rather than prayerfully search His Word, and faithfully trust the Holy Spirit to grant me the wisdom I need for my current situation (Prov 12:12, 14:8; 1 Cor 2:10-13; Js 1:5-8)?

The answer sadly is, I do this more often than I care to recount. And I suppose this would be the sobering answer for many saints in our day. For, how often do we presume upon our wonderful God and Father’s grace by saying, “Well, I’m a Christian, and think this is okay, so…” or “Well, _____ is a Christian so what they’re teaching, promoting, recommending, doing, etc., is okay.” When did this tragedy happen? When did we, as holy children of the LORD of hosts, decide that us being Christians, that is, who we are, is what makes something right by God? Is it not God alone and who He is that decrees what is good and right, and what is evil and wrong?

By these hasty and careless acts, we presume upon God’s grace—thinking that our, or other’s alliance with Christ makes whatever we say or do, right or wrong. Rather than testing all things (e.g., our thoughts, our desires, our anything ) with God’s Word, as we are commanded, we deceive ourselves by thinking that our approval, our “peace” about something, means its automatically acceptable to the Almighty. And I’m not saying God doesn’t give us His peace in both pleasant and pale situations. What I’m saying is that too often when we or others say we’re going forward with something because we have “peace” about it, what we mean is that we feel good about getting something we desire. Which in effect, is not God’s peace we’re experiencing, but the peace with our own sinful nature and with Satan.

That’s chilling.

Therefore, I fervently pray, that the Holy Spirit will rebuke me when my thoughts wander to what simply seems good to me. I resolve, every day (because every day I am tempted to stay away from God’s Word and prayer) to seek His face through the only means by which He has provided me in this life—His Word (Jn 1:1; Heb 1:1-3). Furthermore, I resolve to pray whatever and however the Holy Spirit leads in accordance with God’s Word, rather than pray with prideful vanity (my own desires), presuming they are God’s desires (like King David did with the ark).

One of the resources I use to help me stay the course, is Tabletalk Magazine, an outreach of Ligonier Ministries. This is an excerpt from yesterday’s study that’s still nourishing my soul today, “But they lost the ark and the fight because the Lord does not guarantee His blessed presence to disobedient people (1 Sam. 4:1-11; see Deut. 28:15, 25).” Amen. The few Scriptures I referenced in this article is sufficient evidence that this statement is wholly good and wholly true, because it accords with God’s Word.

Below is my prayerful response (based on Psalm 121) to God, for His patience and kindness in teaching, or rather, re-teaching me this lesson: to never presume upon His grace.

“I will lift up my eyes to the hills.

     From where does my help come?

My help comes from the LORD,

     who made heaven and earth.

He will not let my foot be moved;

     He who keeps me will not slumber.

Behold, He who keeps the saints in Christ

     will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD is my Keeper;

     the LORD is my shade on my right hand.

The sun shall not strike me by day,

     nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep me from evil;

     He will keep my life.

The LORD will keep

     my going out and my coming in

from this time forth and forevermore.”

If you're like me—tempted to resolve difficult, disconcerting, painful issues on your own, and/or finding others who just happen to agree with you, then I urge you to please repent with me. Please consider praying the same prayer and cry for help from our Father. Then let us wait…wait…and wait upon our faithful, gracious, wise God and Father, to act on our behalf (1 Pet 2:19-23).

When we presume upon God’s grace, we give evidence that we’re submitted to our sin and Satan, rather than to God Almighty.

This is the first of many articles I'll be writing on the dichotomic definitions between God and the world. Why am I writing articles on this matter? Because there are so many words we use today, in which the convoluted connotations of our world, have crept into the church. The tragic outcome is that now, precious and beloved children of the Most High God are being more and more conformed into the image of the prince of darkness, rather than into the image of the Prince of Peace (Eph 2:1-3).

Rest.

When the people of this world say they want or need rest, what they mean is that they want time (whether five minutes, five days, five weeks, etc.)  to spend on the desires of their heart, which in reality is, the vain, and possibly, wicked desires of their flesh (1 Jn 2:16). Unbelievers want to rest in themselves. They want to rest in self-indulgence. They want to rest in self-exaltation/esteem (feigned as "encouragement"—another dichotomic definition I'll cover in another article).

The world's definition of rest often includes doing nothing...of any significance. It means rest from work and activity that makes them think, consider, and be thoughtful and mindful of God and others.  It means rest from considering consequences for their actions and how they may adversely effect others, or more importantly, their relationship with their Creator. To rest as the world rests, requires a person to completely capitulate two common God-given graces: reason and conscience.

The sad conclusion of this kind of "rest" is that it deceptively advertises to satisfy every woe and weariness of life. Yet, after participating in the world's definition of rest, a person isn't left refreshed and energized. No. After returning from a self-centered rest, the people of this world are quickly sobered by the reality of the same angst, and chaos of frenzied activity they anticipated would look different, when they returned from a short or long time of indulging in self.

Resting in self never satisfies because resting is self, is only resting in darkness, where there is no light nor life; and where nothing good grows. Self, without Christ, is a place of death and destruction. It is a place of depravity in which no one can escape from, until they repent and believe the Gospel.

When the people of God say we want or need rest, what we mean is that we we want time (whether five minutes, five days, five weeks, etc.) to spend on the desires and will of our God and Father through His Word. Christians want rest in Christ...not ourselves. As a matter of fact, that's why most of us need rest—to have defined times away from our own thoughts and desires that tempt us to sin and grieve the holy heart of our gracious God.

A Christian's definition of rest often includes, but is not limited to: actively doing something...of godly significance. It means purposefully pursuing and demonstrating the holiness of God in our words and deeds. It means rest from working for self-importance and self-reliance. It means diligently working to die to self daily, so that we might more fully live as Christ to this world. Rest from the world. Rest from sin that is within us and sin that is around us. We want to rest as Christ commands us to rest, that is, in Him. And this kind of rest requires a person to be completely consumed by the goodness of God, granted to us in Christ Jesus.

To rest in Christ, means to remind our souls of who we really are before a holy God, and how kindly and mercifully He has treated us because of the finished work of His Son, on the Cross.

The happy conclusion of resting in Christ, is that its the only rest that is true, real, and everlasting. It is the only rest that promises and delivers a moment of sanctuary from every woe and weariness this life has to offer. And after participating in this kind of rest, a child of the Most High God is left refreshed, energized, and renewed, in mind and body and soul. And though this rest provides the fullest satisfaction of the soul, because we still live in these bodies of death, we must regularly seek to rest in the Lord and drink from the Living Water, until we find our eternal rest, in the full presence of Christ our Lord and Savior.

My exhortation and plea to all of you, is this: Actively and diligently seek to rest in Christ alone. Do not rest as the world rests. Do not plan vacations and any outings where you merely indulge in fulfilling your desires. But make plans to pray for opportunities to share the Gospel. As we, dearly beloved children of the Most High God ought to do all things differently than this world. And this includes how we rest, whether at home, or at work, or at play, or on vacation. No matter what we do, and where we do it, we should resolve to do it all for the glory of God.

"Come to me [Jesus the Christ], all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

~Matthew 11:28-30, ESV