Quick - Get Into the Lifeboat!

Many years ago, my husband and I were in a small church, which we just loved. As I was praying one morning in March, the Lord spoke to me that we would be leaving that church in July of that year. It was so specific and vivid, that I wrote it in my journal.

We had 3 young children, I was working, and we were very involved in the church. So, I put aside the thought that we would be leaving the church. I put it aside so much, that I completely forgot about it - until the first day of July. The Lord promptly brought it back to my memory. I had shared the Word I received with my husband and he was ready to take the step. I, however, drug my feet. I just wasn't sure it was the right thing to do. I fasted and prayed and prayed and fasted seeking the Lord on what was a big decision for us. Finally, at the end of August, a month late, we shared with the pastors that we would be leaving. Why was it so hard for me to be obedient to what the Lord had given me much notice about?

In Acts 27:27-31, it says: "On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. They took soundings and found that the water was a hundred and twenty feet deep. A short time later, they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet deep. Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight. In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow. Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved." So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it fall away." [emphasis mine]

In the scripture preceding the above text, Paul and the other shipmates had been battling this storm for several days. They were beginning to give up hope of surviving. But an angel of the Lord had come to Paul the night before and told him that they would all be spared. Paul had then shared this message with those onboard.

But the reality is, that it was not looking good. A few sailors decided they were going to escape via lifeboat. What's the purpose of a lifeboat? To do just that, to save your life; to rescue you at sea. Paul discerned their plan and quickly told them that if they left, they would die.

The very thing that was intended to spare their life (the lifeboat), would be what would take it from them.

I'm just going to ask the question boldly. What are you clinging too, thinking it is your life source, when really it is taking life from you? Maybe it's a relationship, maybe it's a job, maybe it's a church. You are the only one that can answer that question. The truth is this - you will only find life when you cut it away. Perhaps you are like me and God has told you more than once (for me it was way more than once). I encourage you to take the step and cut the lifeboat away. He has not called you to cut it because he wants to take your life. Rather, He wants to GIVE you life.

You see, my friend, when we left that church, it was so hard for me and I fought it. From the natural, it did not look like the right time or the right thing to do in any way. And yet, many years later, I understand that God called us out because He had a mission to accomplish. The church we moved to was pivotal in the spiritual growth of our daughter. Had we not moved, she would have missed that. We had to cut the lifeboat ropes of comfort and familiarity of the church we were in, and trust that God was going to lead us to safety. He did and I am ever so thankful we let the lifeboat go. 

As humans, it is easy to become secure in what is familiar to us. When we have to step into the unknown, that security can wane. Trust me, there is nothing on earth that can provide for you better than Almighty God. He is a good God and He wants to give you life and life more abundantly (John 10:10). Be bold, be obedient, and receive life!

All For Him,

Dawn

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Everyone likes new clothes. Right?

Everyone likes new clothes. Right?  Putting on a new outfit can change the way you see yourself.  It can change the way you feel and can have an emotional effect. It also has a practical, functional side, for instance it protects the human body from the environment; weather, insects, germs. For that I am grateful.

Look in any clothing store or watch the runways and you will see that humans have put a great deal of time and creativity into how they cloth themselves.  From elaborate gowns to protective undergarments, much thought has gone into not only protecting ourselves but making sure we look good in the process….well, most of the time.

Clothing can be an indication of who we are.  Certain clothing and how it’s worn can symbolize our social status, marital status or religion.  What we wear speaks of the time and culture we live, telling a story about us.

Whether we like it or not, what we wear matters and it is foolish to think “this does not apply to me.”  You may not care but it doesn't change it’s importance. 

From the beginning, starting with Adam and Eve, clothing spoke of protection and status.  In the case of Adam and Eve the clothing they wore specifically spoke of their relationship with God or the unfortunate lack of it.

We wear more than the clothing on our back.  When Adam and Eve chose disobedience, they ended up putting on more than animal skins. They also put on shame and regret.  They put on a sin nature that made them painfully aware of how far they had fallen from God.  One of their children put on jealousy, anger and hatred resulting in the murder of his brother.   The trend continued down through the ages, and even with our best efforts to be good and do good mankind has still ended up wearing what the word of God calls in Isaiah 64:5-7 “filthy rags”.

Jesus told a parable one day in an effort to explain the kingdom of heaven that spoke of this very thing. 

Vs 8-13 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests. “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment.  And he said to him, “Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness…

Good and bad were invited to the wedding feast.   The condition of the person was not held against him concerning the invitation.   ALL where invited but not all came in their wedding clothes.  There was one who didn’t think it was important.  Maybe he mistakingly thought, “I’m invited surely no one will care what I am wearing.” Or maybe he thought,  “This will have to be good enough. This is who I am and what I have!”  The problem was that although the invitation was open to all, the King still found it very important that wedding garments were worn.   

We can be at the party, thinking that everything is great because we got an invitation but an invitation isn’t enough. Feeling loved and accepted by the King because he invited us, isn't enough.   Being in the room with all the other invited people isn't enough.  Seeing and maybe even tasting the feast isn't enough if we end up getting thrown out because of refusing to take off the old clothes to put on the wedding garment.

What are old clothes or filthy rags?  They are works of the flesh, the Apostle Paul explains in Galatians 5:19-21,

We now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Works of the flesh don’t always look so awful, they can also look like good works. Galatians 2:16 tells us that “A man is not justified or made right by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.”  Jesus tells us in Matt 5:8-9, "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”

Pristine or filthy and stained, holding onto the remnant of “old clothing” for the sake of identity, tradition, individuality or any other excuse with will seem futile and regretfully a huge mistake if in the end eternity is lost because of it. 

The amazing thing about all this is that the Lord has not only sent out the invitation to all but also He has also provided the wedding garment through Jesus Christ. 

Isa 61:10 tells us, “ I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.”

The wedding garment simply must be put on and worn.  Put on the “robe of righteousness” just like a the bride puts on her dress and jewels.  

Daily we must choose to dress ourselves in all that God has provided.  As tempting as it may be to stay in those old, worn out, comfortable rags, I encourage you to lay them aside and cloth yourself in the new, and quite costly, clothes the Lord has provided for you.  Keep your wedding garment, tend to it, wear it boldly and stand ready in it. 

I encourage you to take Revelation 16:15 to heart, “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame”. 

And, if by chance you see a brother at the party who is not wearing the wedding garment. Please, tell him, encourage him, plead with him to lay down that which will ultimately get him removed. 

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Why Do We Judge Ourselves So Harshly?

In his letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul made an interesting statement:

"But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself" (1 Corinthians 4:3).

How many of us make it "a very BIG thing" to be judged? Whether by others, or by ourselves, it seems being judged is often a source of contention in our lives. We're tempted to be angry and defensive if we feel people are judging us in any way-- and then we are just as guilty of judging when we face our own mirrors.

"As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don't even trust my own judgment on this point" (NLT).

We have to be careful that in an attempt to "not care" about being judged that we actually become hardened and rebellious. This is not at all what the Apostle Paul was trying to communicate. He goes on to say, "My conscience is clear, but that doesn't prove I'm right. It is the Lord Himself who will examine me and decide" (verse 4).

In other words, Paul strived to live conscience-free. And believe it or not, it's possible. Whenever our heart convicts us, we should be quick to repent. "If we confess our sins, [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). If, when you recognize you've missed it in an area, you are quick to say sorry (first in your heart to God, and then to others if necessary), then you too can have a clean conscience.

This is why Paul was able to say, "I'm not aware of anything that would disqualify me..." (MSG).

"It matters very little to me what you think of me, even less where I rank in popular opinion. I don't even rank myself. Comparisons in these matters are pointless" (MSG).

When we judge ourselves, are we not really just comparing?

And understand, I'm not referring to keeping yourself in check regarding sin and righteousness. I'm asking the question, "Why do we personally judge ourselves so harshly?" I believe the answer is because we care too much about what others think and we've not understood the power of forgiveness (toward self and from God).

"But [as for me personally] it matters very little to me that I should be put on trial by you [on this point], and that you or any other human tribunal should investigate and question and cross-question me. I do not even put myself on trial and judge myself. I am not conscious of anything against myself, and I feel blameless; but I am not vindicated and acquitted before God on that account. It is the Lord [Himself] Who examines and judges me" (1 Corinthians 4:3-4, AMP).

When you understand God's love for you, and it is your daily goal to live with a clear conscience toward Him, then there's nothing to judge-- there's no fear of man or lack of sleep.

Concerning God's Word and our application of it, Paul said, "For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged" (1 Corinthians 11:31). In other words, we don't want to be ignorant of God's way of doing things. There is a right and wrong way, and we need to care about that. But concerning the harsh comparison of self to others, we don't need to put ourselves on trial.

So repent quickly when you miss it and you too can have a clear conscience. Then when you look in your mirror, you'll be able to say, "Quit judging me. I'm not disqualified."

-Daphne Delay

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