Affliction

Psalm 119.67-68

Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I obey your word.

You are good, and what you do is good;
teach me your decrees.

Psalm 119.71-72

It was good for me to be afflicted
so that I might learn your decrees.

The law from your mouth is more precious to me
than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.

Psalm 119.75-76

I know, O LORD, that your laws are righteous,
and in faithfulness you have afflicted me.

May your unfailing love be my comfort,
according to your promise to your servant.

"Affliction" is always for our benefit, if we love God. Like a good parent God looks at our lives and desires to change habits, attitudes, allegiances, minds sets, dispositions, etc. And he allows us to fall in order to teach us. At times he inflicts discipline upon us, his children. I'm so glad he cares! I'm so glad he doesn't just leave me to my own demise, to my own sinful nature, to my own self destruction!

Father, may I be able to say, with this psalmist, "in faithfulness You have afflicted me." Help me to recognize Your 'affliction' and embrace it, help me to long and learn from it, help me to grow and be grateful from it. May I understand that things don't 'happen TO me' but things 'happen FOR me'!

Here is the process:

1. God's 'affliction' is good for me.
2. I desire to learn God's ways and love him deeply.
3. Without discipline I WILL NOT learn his ways.
4. God gives me what I need. (namely 'affliction')
5. God and his ways become "more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver & gold"!

These thoughts made me think of Peter. (John 21.15-19) Peter was on this same journey. He loved Jesus, but by his own admission it was just an affectionate love, a friendly love. ('phileo' in the Greek) Jesus asked him about his love (twice using 'agapao' the highest form of love in the Greek), I believe to spur him on to the next level (#1). Peter had a deep desire to love Jesus and follow him (#2). Peter becomes hurt in this passage because Jesus asked him a third time about his love (this time using the 'phileo' word). Peter here realizes that his love is not as high as he desires it to be; this is truly revelation to him, I believe because he "is hurt by it". (#3 & 4) Then Jesus tells Peter that his love will grow, it will reach to that 'agapao' love, the love of abandonment. (#5) Peter never would have gone to death for Jesus if he did not love him with 'agapao' love. It is the same process we are all on! Happy journey friend.

Why Resolutions Fail...

Have you made resolutions in the past and then by February you’ve already broken said resolution? I know I have! Why are we so drawn to change any way? I believe God ingrained the desire to change, the desire to be better, even the desire to be godlier, deep in our souls. It’s part of what draws us to him, to his miraculous transforming power. So when I am drawn to God he will begin to change me as he desires! And believe me, he does change you! His word says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Cor. 5.17, emphasis added) So then why do resolutions fail? I can think of a few reasons:

1. After years of attempting to change my own life, I realized that I don’t have that power in and of myself! (No brainer, right.) I have to allow God to transform me a little at a time. “I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” (Rom. 7.18)

2. The new does not fit into the old container. This principle is a little harder to see but it is none the less biblical. The godly lifestyle I desire cannot and will not fit into my old sinful lifestyle. I must get rid of all those things God reveals to me that do not fit into his ways. “And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins.” (Luke 5.37-38)

3. Relationship with my Creator is another vital key. God transforms me by renewing my mind through his word and through his Spirit, as I offer him everything I am and everything I hope to be. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Rom. 12.1-2)

God’s mercies are new everyday not just every year. And he has made the ultimate resolution! He has determined, or resolved, to “make all things new!” (Rev. 21.1-6) He is at this moment making you new, making me new. It’s a process but it’s already done in his sight. Read the context of this passage, Christ is speaking from the throne in the New Jerusalem! He’s completed everything. Now, that’s a resolution I can get behind. Amen.