Author: STANDPOINT360

This is what the Lord says – your Redeemer – the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow.” Isaiah 48:17 NLT.

It is so easy to overthink God’s intent towards you and me. A good exercise is just to look at what God says about His purpose towards us. In this one verse we learn quite a bit:

Our redeemer: God is our redeemer. While there may be others who pose as a redeemer, there is only one true redeemer.

The Holy One of Israel: This is important to understand. “The Holy One” is a phrase that is about one truth. There is only one holy one. He is not “holy among other holies”. He is it. He is holiness, he is the essence of holiness. He is the source of holiness. He is the holy one. Of Israel: God chose to make himself known to the rest of the world by focusing on one people. The people of Israel. When Jesus, God’s son, comes on the scene he makes it very clear that what God established for the Israelites is available for everyone.

I am the Lord your God: This is a declaration. While the world may think that there are other gods one can be loyal to, at the end of the day, there is one Lord. He is God.

…who teaches you…: God teaches us. He is engaged with us. He is involved in our lives.

…what is good for you…: God is all about good. He establishes good in everything he does.

…and leads you along paths you should follow.: This is the image of a trail guide who is with us on the trail of life. He is literally leading us on the right trails through places where we could easily get lost and confused. He simply asks that we follow.

Let’s not overthink God and His purposes towards us. While He is completely God and absolutely Holy, he is not disconnected or distant. He teaches you and me. He guides us on the “trails of life”. He is with us.

“Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.” John 21:11

The disciples who fished were not having a good fishing day. Nets were empty. There was not much to show for their efforts. Jesus shouts from shore for them to try the other side of the boat. The results….a major haul of fish.

When Jesus shows up in our lives he brings “abundance” with him. Abundance is part of the essence of God’s character, He is unlimited in His ways and His capacity.

In contrast, you and I can strive away with our very best efforts and skills, and not see much results for all of our efforts. We can work to the bone with the idea that more effort will simply change the outcome. Exhausted and depleted in our own efforts, Jesus show up, and says “do it this way” and the results are overwhelmingly helpful.

Jesus’ abundance does not destroy; “the net was not torn”. In His provision, Jesus gives them the full amount of what the infrastructure could support – not more – not less. His abundance left things in good condition.

The truth is, Jesus knows what our capacities are in life better than anyone else. He knows what we can handle. He reveals who He is, in part, through his generosity.

You know how this story ends? Jesus invites the disciples to bring some fish and join him for a meal he has prepared for them on the shore of the lake. Jesus wants us to bring some of what He has provided to Him. He invites us to spend time with Him.

This week I was harvesting plumbs from three plumb trees, two varieties. It is a stellar harvest for which I am thankful. There has been plenty to share with family and friends. As I was harvesting the plumbs, the Lord reminded me of His faithfulness in my life and in the life of my family.

Several years ago Bev and I, along with our family, built a home. We thought it would be our “forever home.” It was a labor of love and joy to build and create with family and friends. We were putting down roots. Part of putting down those roots was the planting of three plumb trees, two varieties. It would be a few years before we would see any fruit.

Little did we know at the time that we were going to get hit with multiple “storms of life” that would rock us at the very core. One of the storms involved letting go of the family home we had worked so hard to build from the ground up. The roots we had put down into that piece of earth were pulled up.

During that time many questions swirled around like: God, why are we going through this?, Will we every recover from this loss?, How will we start over at this season in our lives?, What will the impact on our family be?

Personally, I was struggling with a sense of complete failure at multiple levels. It was a very difficult time. Thankfully, God had surrounded us with people who would thoughtfully walk with us. He never left us alone.

Among the roots being pulled up, were three little plumb trees. We carefully dug them out of the earth, transported them to the home we currently live in and transplanted them with care. Every year the trees have been growing. Each year they have been bearing a little bit of fruit, but not much… until this year!!!

This year, however is a different story. The trees are beautiful, fully formed and are well over 20 feet tall. The deer make their way into the yard for a delicious snack. The birds take rest in the branches. Even rabbits are found nibbling grass in the shade the tree provides on a hot summer day. And yes, the plumbs, two varieties, a bountiful harvest overflowing to share with others.

God teaches us that God restores. Over this past decade I have watched Him restore so many things that were hurt or damaged in a season of intense storms in our lives. He has covered our lives with forgiveness, grace and mercy. He has increased wisdom. He has surrounded our lives with people who genuinely love and care for us, and have demonstrated so with their lives.

In fact, He is providing a bountiful harvest exceeding what I could barely dare to hope for not too many years ago. Three plumb trees, two varieties. A generous harvest of blessing.

Plumb Perspective

It is an interesting question to think about – who is really worthy of your time and money? It’s not an arrogant question, it is a practical one with significant implications.

A good friend of mine, Joshua Brooks, was speaking at a family camp, and he posed this question. The context for the question was the extravagant act of pouring out on Jesus a resource that was the equivalent of year’s salary.
“A woman came in with a beautiful alabaster Jar of expensive perfume made from the essence of nard. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume over his (Jesus) head. Some of those at the table were indignant. “Why waste such expensive perfume?” they asked. “It could have been sold for a year’s wages and the money given to the poor!” So they scolded her harshly. But Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to me?” Mark 14: 3-6

The challenge was to ask each person to consider who they view as worthy of two of the most precious commodities we have; money and time.

So much of our thinking and actions related to money and time have to do with returns and results. The common leading questions are: “What am I getting out of this?”, “Is there a good return on investment?”, or “How will this benefit me and my future?”

While these questions do have value, there is an underlying focus that is much more important: Who or what am I going to give my life to? Who or what am I going to give time and money to?

Long ago I decided to give my life to a relationship with Jesus Christ. I did this because I really needed him. As time has gone on, I have learned that I am giving more and more of who I am because his is worthy and His love is life changing.

There are so many requests for my limited time. There is even competition within myself where I choose things that simply use up all of my time and find myself not connecting with Jesus, the one who loves me and knows me more than anyone else.

There are also so many requests for my limited money. From day to day living expenses to the tension between needs and wants. Each month priorities have to be adjusted to realities. The money that always brings me the most joy and fulfillment, is the money given to help other people because of all that Jesus has done for me.
My answer to Joshua’s question is that the most meaningful use of my time and money is always connected to my relationship with Jesus….because…He alone is worthy.

“For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.” Romans 10:10 NLT

Bev and I have been married for nearly 37 years. We love each other, we enjoy being together. At the center of our relationship is the continuing belief that we love each other. This is reinforced when we kiss each other in front of our kids, or speak well of each other with our friends and family.

The continuing belief and the declaration of our love for each other saves and protects our marriage.

As I am serving, leading, counseling, consulting with other people; I have adopted the discipline of introducing Bev in conversation as soon as possible and, in that introduction, declaring my love and appreciation for her. I do this – because it reinforces and safeguards the love that we know, cherish and share in covenant commitment with each other. I do this because it bring me joy and delight.

Paul is saying something similar in Romans 10:10. The continuing belief in and declaration of our relationship with God provides the continuing basis for the life-saving work of Jesus Christ to be safeguarded in our lives every day.

Today, through Jesus Christ, I am in right standing with God. Even in writing those words “through Jesus Christ, I am in right standing with God”; I am encouraged in the very declaration of it. I am aware that I am saved. This brings more joy and delight into my life.

In my own strength, I know that I can’t do enough to be in “right standing with God.” The belief of the life-saving work of Jesus Christ and the life changing work of the Holy Spirit give me hope. The declaration of this, brings it to life in my words and actions today.

Today, I live as a saved person from myself and my own short comings. I live as a saved person in the midst of a world that is broken and hurting in so many ways. In humility and confidence, I can connect with the world as one who is in “right standing with God” because of all that God has done for me. What a privilege to share this with the world.

Thank You God, for Your life-giving word.