After Four Invites

Nehemiah 6:4
Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer.

With all the Napoles-pork barrel news flooding our nation’s front pages, there’s one item which I found most amusing. Not that I am verifying that the accusations were true, I am no law expert here. But who wouldn’t be suspicious? First, these senators denied knowing Napoles at all.  With around P400M of their allocations going to her bogus NGOs, I wonder how they did not take time to get to know her. Days after, we see them in a photograph together plus a document proving their family members were business partners. Their statements went from ‘not knowing at all’ to ‘just casual acquaintances’ to ‘not on a personal level’ relationship. Quite confusing, really.

As early as chapter 2, we’ve been seeing the names Sanballat and Tobiah ran alongside the wall rebuilding.  They were as passionate as every Jew in daily checking the status of the project. Only theirs was on the destructive side. Today, we see them inviting Nehemiah to meet with them. They made it appear like a casual gathering of course. But God warned Nehemiah’s heart that it was a scheme to harm him. The verse above mentioned the invitation came four times. Actually it went up to five. And every time, it was met with a NO answer and this reason: because he was carrying on a great project and the work shouldn’t stop. No sweet excuses. Nothing sour either. Just truth and the resolve to stay to his call.

Given the same scenario, how will we fare? Will we lose it on third invite? Say being on a diet and a teaser would treat you to a buffet?  My answers would have progressed from ‘No’ to ‘Not now’ to ‘How about next time’ to ‘Just one hour’ to actually piggin’ out.  Even if it’s work and not diet, a nagging temptation is just hard to resist. Hard but not impossible. There is always a God-provided way out so we can endure it. The crucial part is to know why we’re saying No. Without God’s truth to back us up, we’ll end up more vulnerable to giving in. It is imperative to know that it is God who has purposed you to do all that’s in your hands today. That’s the only answer you have to give to your full-time, faithful distractions. One which you have to believe yourself.

Maid in Heaven

2 Chronicles 25:2

He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not wholeheartedly.

The other week, I had the hilarious time listening to two housewives exchange their maid horror stories. The lady on my left spilled it first that she finally kept her stay-out househelp from coming. She complained that the haphazard work only made her redo the cleaning herself. The other lady commented that the good maids out there are literally out of the country already. What’s left are the younger ones with little know how and those smart ones with an attitude. The hilarious laughs kicked off here as they alternately recalled their experiences to both extremes. Once, they even asked for my preference: someone whom I’d need to wake up to prepare my already late breakfast or that one who’ll serve my appetites in time but with a cold face. I’m glad I don’t have to choose any.

At first glance, no one would categorize King Amaziah as haphazard. In fact, he did what was right in God’s eyes. In this chapter, he acted in accordance with the Law of Moses by not punishing the children of those who murdered his father, whom he justly executed. He also commendably obeyed God’s instruction of dismissing hired Israel troops from fighting alongside Judah, although it already cost him a billion dollars. But just like a househelp who does work for work’s sake, when he saw the neighboring gods appealing offer, he readily ran away and shifted loyalty. He disregarded the grace his Master showered him for many years. There was obviously no love for God’s household in the first place.

Wholehearted, according to the Free Dictionary, is marked by unconditional commitment, unstinting devotion, or unreserved enthusiasm. It is the picture of an ideal maid who sees you as family, not mainly financiers; who has work initiatives, not just as instructed; and who sincerely gives you a smile, like everyday. Now let’s translate that to our service unto the Lord. Are the things we’re doing right, and good, and godly remain unwavering regardless of worldly offers outside and despite difficulties inside?  Are we obeying His commands because we ought to or because we love to? We’ve heard the quote ‘Find something you love to do, and you'll never work a day in your life’.  Doing the right things can be tiresome if we don’t have the right reasons. So let our reason be His love. No master would ever give his life for us like He did.

Why They Got Away With It

2 Chronicles 7:19,20a

“But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will uproot Israel from my land”

For the longest time, I have been receiving text messages from this person complaining about her choir, and their worship team in general. “They have no commitment ate” she said. “They come in late, sometimes they’re just a handful, and once or twice, they won’t come at all.  The saddest part is that they won’t even drop an excuse nor any apology after.”  Imagine her waiting on the piano every weekend, clueless if anyone’s coming at all. I remember how I felt for that boy in Little Man Tate when nobody showed up for his birthday party. Such makes us frustrated and angry. We’d demand that someone takes the blame. Or at least something.

As early as Eden, whenever God engages man to a relationship with Him, or a task for Him, He makes sure pros and cons are in black in white. “Work at the garden, take care of it, and you may enjoy its fruit. But not the middle tree, or you will die.” He left no room for them to fall into sin because of ignorance. When they ate the fruit and found themselves naked, He did not say, “Ok, let’s make some rules here.” God established the system before He called people in. It was the same in Exodus. When He gave the commandments, He made clear the blessings of obedience, and the curses that come with disobedience. Same here with Solomon. God reminded him the Davidic covenant and His desire that he’d follow his father’s footsteps for the establishment of the royal kingdom. And then He itemized what will happen if he and Israel will choose otherwise. All in print. Out in the open.

We’ve seen broken relationships and breach of contracts left and right, and sadly, the very offenders are the ones we see free and yes, carefree. Adding insult to injury. And as much as we want to force them to make amends, the fact that we entered that relationship without provisions for possible breach, sealed that invisible right for them to ‘get away with it’. Now we know why it’s wise to be God-like in our dealings. It’s one thing to have faith in someone, but it’s another to teach them accountability and responsibility. This likewise applies to parenting and marriage, even ministry organizations. Take time to draft rules and make it clear to everyone. Otherwise, you know who’s to blame why discipline can’t take its place.  

Perfectionist?

1 Kings 15:3

He committed all the sins his father had done before him; his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his forefather had been.

For the longest time, I consider myself a good teacher. I was vibrant, creative, resourceful, and loving to the kids. WAS.  Homeschooling challenged that esteem. With my own kids, I get so drained, I feel irrelevant, and yes, I am losing my temper.  Every parent wishes to see their kids do their best. But my frustration springs from the unreasonable expectation for perfection. Sometimes I forget they’re just five and three. That those wiggly letters are already their improved scribbles and that blue apples are two separate words they can now identify. If only I’d just take Meriam-Webster’s definition of perfect as ‘corresponding to ideal standard’ instead of the idea of being ‘flawless’, then given my kids’ age, effort and enthusiasm, I think they’re just perfect :>

Our featured king today is Abijah, Rehoboam’s son. He only reigned three years and with only eight verses allotted to him in this book, we read this description: his heart was not ‘fully’ devoted to God, as David had been. Fast forward to the reign of his son Asa, in verse 14 of the same chapter, we’ll find this: ‘although he did not remove the high places, Asa’s heart was fully committed to the Lord all his life.’ The original word used was ‘shalem’ meaning complete or perfect. Wait. Perfect? Asa wasn’t flawless. David was not sinless either. But their hearts was perfect before God? It took me awhile to grasp this. Then I noticed shalem sounds like shalom, meaning peace. When I checked it again, yup, ‘shalem’ means at peace with God. Then I came across another perfect word, mature. One verse written was in the context of perseverance. Then I think I understand. A heart fully devoted to God is committing yourself to run His event, pushing all limits, with an eye to finish the race. We may fall like David or have backlogs like Asa, but unlike Abijah, they did not change course. They were committed to the one and only God.

I’m sure we all have frustrating seasons of imperfections. We share Elijah’s depression and hopelessness especially coming from that mountaintop experience. All the passion and promises to faithfully go and serve last week in a snap turned to so hating ourselves today because of that one covetous glance, one selfish lie, one thoughtless act. There were many times I wished the ground would just swallow me alive. Sin disrupts us momentarily. But should it stop us entirely? Flawlessness will say we’re disqualified, unworthy. Because we are. We can never be perfect. Our sins will block that peace. Praise God for grace. In Jesus, God sees us guiltless, blameless, sinless. He qualifies us and so we can keep on running and in the process achieve maturity, completeness, and be like Christ. So are we perfect? Yes, at peace with God. Perfect? Yes, getting there. Perfect? We’re justified :>

Sustain That Note

1 Kings 13:18

The old prophet answered, "I too am a prophet, as you are. And an angel said to me by the word of the LORD: 'Bring him back with you to your house so that he may eat bread and drink water.'" (But he was lying to him.)

Controlled breathing is so important to singers. In sustaining a good tone, they need to achieve the perfect balance of holding back while letting go. Sounds crazy. But so difficult too. I wish singing would just be blurt outs and staccatos.  Maybe, I'd pass with that, haha :> But  my muscles are so lazy to hang on. You wouldn’t believe I signed up for Voice as my minor in the College of Music. In the middle of the semester, my teacher advised me to consider switching to flute. I didn’t. That needs a lot of air too, haha. I managed to finish the semester, and the next, and then I pulled myself out of that school. For a different reason though.

Here’s the second part of the story about that man of God. We now find him under an oak tree, possibly worn and famished. The encounter with the king was more than stressful and the idea of a long walk back home – without food and water - was unimaginable. Then an old prophet arrived with an invitation to dine at his home. God’s order was still clear to him at this time and so he refused. But the old man was persistent. Suggesting food to a hungry man makes him hungrier, right? Mentioning it again, that will make him drool. The man of God is now very vulnerable. Flesh is now taking over his spirit. The old prophet completed his goal when he tapped his mind, his will. He lied that an angel sent him. Coming from an old prophet, that’s quite believable. With no further inquiries and confirmations, he dropped his defenses and took the offer. He was halfway the finish line. He may have accomplished the bulk of the assignment in Bethel, but it was not yet over ‘til he’s home. The old prophet bothers me too. How could he, at his final lap of ministry, deceive his co-worker and cause his destruction?

When God calls us to a faithful and steadfast commitment, it means He expects us to be unwavering, persevering, and fixed ‘til the end. It’s sad that even after being used by God mightily in Egypt and in crossing the Red sea, plus enduring the company of thousand of complainers, Moses would not be allowed to enter the Promise Land because he once angrily struck the rock and dishonored God. Yes, just one unguarded moment. Just one meal for Esau and this man of God. Just one lie for the old prophet. We sure have vulnerable times. Thorns in the flesh. But we also have a God who promised grace sufficient and strength perfect in weakness. Hide His Word in your heart. He never contradicts His own assignment. Sustain that note. Don’t ever let go.

First Things First

1 Samuel 17:20, 22

“Early in the morning David left the flock with a shepherd, loaded up and set out, as Jesse had directed. He reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions, shouting the war cry. David left his things with the keeper of the supplies, ran to the battle lines and greeted his brothers.”

Between my husband’s rest day and the next day’s worship service is our lazy family night. Lazy meaning it’s a no-agenda, anything goes, whatever pops-up let’s go thing-y. From dvd watching to baking cookies, angry birds to curling up under the blanket, it’s a treat of some sort. So fun it could keep us up ‘til almost midnight. Calling everyone to bed carries with it my back-to-reality duties as a home manager: pre-prepare breakfast, press clothes, etc. Oh, don’t I deserve a FULL day-off too? Giving in to my rights made some of our Sunday mornings hurried and harassed, and yes, not honoring to God.  

David was remarkably mindful of his duties. Leaving early that day meant he may have tapped the lamb-sitter the night before. Handing over both sheep and supplies to trustworthy men meant he made an effort to seek them. Going straight to his brothers for Jesse’s needed assurance, and not watching around as falsely accused by his brother, meant he was set to accomplish his task as directed. His eye for details and ears to discipline fits him well to be a great servant-leader. He spends time promptly. He secures treasure properly. He succeeds by doing things purposefully. And he didn’t mind attending to this errand despite the glitters of being already employed in the king’s service. Verse 15 says ‘he went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s sheep’. There was no mention of demands or rights or special treatment or day off. He’s first Jesse’s son, the sheep steward, now Saul’s servant, soon holding the scepter. By heart, he keeps this order, and in time, God will fully-honor his obedience.

What time is it?  What’s in your hand? What are His orders? Knowing the answers to these daily life questions is crucial part of the work, but it’s still half the work done. Merriam-Webster defines discipline as control gained by enforcing obedience or order. It is why Paul beats into submission his own body and calls us to take it captive and place it under the Lordship of Christ. The temptation to ‘do not do what you want to do’ or ‘do what you hate to do’ may grow louder every minute, but ey, we can always shout ‘shut up!’. Better yet, look Up! See the cross and how Jesus surrendered his will to the Father. First things first equals putting God first. By heart, let us keep this order. It is His order.