WHERE IS GOD?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.”
(Lamentations 3:40)

MEDITATION:
Our society continues to try to fix every problem through tolerance. We
are told that if we will just agree to allow others to express themselves in
whatever way they please, we will become a well-blended and perfect society
where no one’s individuality is suppressed.

But it doesn’t work like that, does it? By default, tolerating one thing results
in being intolerant of another one that is completely opposite. As a result of
this idea of tolerance, believers are expected to be tolerant of things that
conflict with their beliefs. It seems that everyone’s actions and every idea
should be tolerated (accepted as good) except those which are ordained by
God.

How has our Christian nation gotten to this point? It could be that the
modern day philosophy of self-reliance and self-sufficiency has caused
the masses to believe that we can do just fine without God. As a result,
our society is bent on excluding God from EVERYTHING.

It’s an idea that believes ‘religion’ is okay for a selected group
of emotional people, but our world will be better off when people
believe in themselves and their own abilities (to the exclusion of God).

We have heard phrases like, “If it feels good, do it” and later, “Just do it”.
In other words, there should be no restrictions placed on anyone. No Bible
principles should be considered, because after all, our world has left God
behind in our pursuit of happiness and a utopian society. He just gets in
the way of progress (that’s what we’ve been told).

The question we need to ask is,
    “How is this type of philosophy working for the world?”
We can see that this self-confident generation has produced more alcoholics,
more dope addicts, more criminals, more wars, more broken homes, more
assaults, more embezzlements, more murders, and more suicides than any
other generation that ever existed.

Our society has steered us into believing that we have no faults and all of
our mistakes are a result of the actions of others, and not ourselves. As a
result of this type of thinking, there are record numbers of people seeking
psychological and psychiatric counseling to try and figure out ‘what went
wrong’.

We have been guided into believing that we should be in total control
of our lives, but at the same time, we should not accept responsibility
for anything we do that’s considered wrong. Instead, we need to blame
others for all of our problems.

So, what is the remedy for a society on a slippery slope toward anarchy
(a state of disorder due to the absence of, or non-recognition of authority)?
We need to follow the advice of the Bible – “Return to the Lord”. We need
to have confidence in our abilities and we need to have pride in doing a
good job, but neither of these should be a replacement for our dependence
on God. Our world NEEDS God, and needs to understand that He wants
our dependence and not our independence.

It is the same way we feel toward our own children – we want them to need
us. We enjoy providing for their needs and giving them pleasant surprises
for no particular reason. Would God be any different toward His children?
According to the scriptures, the answer is “No”. He loves everyone (even
those who want to remove His visibility), and He developed a salvation plan
so that we can ultimately be with Him one day.

He also blesses us in many ways, which we may take for granted. One of the
blessings He provides on a daily basis is, the beat of our heart. If He removed
that ONE blessing, we would KNOW without a doubt that we are absolutely
NOT self-sufficient.

When we ‘examine our ways’, we find that they are not working out very
well for us. When we ‘test them’, we can see how they have failed us. The
world doesn’t have solutions to the rise of problems we face, but God does.
We need to return to Him and have more trust and faith that He is the One
who can solve the worldly problems. Instead of pushing God into any kind
of background, He should be brought to the forefront in everything.

You may be saying,
    “I agree with the content of this devotional,
      but it will never happen in the world we live in”

It may seem like an impossibility, but what do the scriptures tell us?
    “If my people, who are called by my name, will
      humble themselves and pray and seek my face
      and turn from their wicked ways, then I will
      hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin
      and will heal their land.”
      (2 Chronicles 7:14)

ACTION:
We have been discussing the world as a whole, but making it more personal,
do you need to ‘return to the Lord’? Have you excluded Him from certain
areas of your own life? Are there things you know you should be doing (or
not doing) but you have allowed your selfishness to be in control? Do you
humble yourself and pray for our world? Have your turned from the things
that displease God, and embraced the things that please Him?

The scriptures remind us to worship together (this pleases God),
    “And let us consider how we may spur one another on
      toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting
      together, as some are in the habit of doing, but
      encouraging one another—and all the more as
      you see the Day approaching.”
      (Hebrews 10:24-25)
This is not a suggestion, it is a command from God through His Word.
Yet, there are many who have decided to push this act of faith into the
background.

We are not given the freedom of picking and choosing which of His
commands we will obey. Yet, church attendance continues to drop
as Christians find other things to do instead of meeting with God
(and other believers) on a regular basis. Only 17% of the believers
surveyed say they worship on a regular basis. God can change the
direction of our society, but as believers, we need to make sure that
we are personally including Him in every facet of our own lives.

The Title of this devotion provided by the Lord is,
    “Where Is God?”
He provides the content and scriptures for these (His) devotionals,
and this morning, through a sister in Christ (who is also serving the
Lord where He has called her), He provided an answer to the question
in the Title.
    God is still good, even when I don’t understand.
    God is still faithful, even when it doesn’t make sense.
    God still has a plan, even when I can’t see it.
    God still reigns, even when things look like chaos.
    God is still near, even when I can’t feel Him.
    God is still God.

Even when we don’t understand, when things don’t seem to make sense,
when we can’t see what’s going on, when everything looks like a mess,
and when we can’t ‘feel’ His presence, God is still where He is, and has
always been…just a whispered prayer away. God tells us to trust in Him,
depend on Him, be thankful for His blessings, and He will always be with
us.
    Keep your lives free from the love of money and be
    content with what you have, because God has said,
    “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
    (Hebrews 13:5)

When Satan tries to fill our minds with the lie that God
doesn’t love us, remember these words (say them to Satan):
    Dear friends, let us love one another, for love
    comes from God. Everyone who loves has been
    born of God and knows God.
    (1 John 4:7)

Love is our connection to God. He loves us and in return,
we love Him. How do we determine if we really love Him?
    If you love me, keep my commands.
    (John 14:15)

One of His commands is:
    “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,
      and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and
      learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,
      and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is
      easy and my burden is light.”
      (Matthew 11:28-30)

Satan wants to convince us that God’s commands are too great
of a challenge for us, but Jesus says the opposite – His commands
are easy and are not burdensome. That means it’s up to us to decide
if we will show our love through obedience, and receive rest as our
reward.

God proved His love for us through the sacrifice of His Son
for our sins. We have the option of proving our love for Him
through our obedience to His commands. What choice have
you made? Are you willing to change your choice if you chose
wrongly?

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, when I examine my heart, I see too much
of ‘self’ is present. I ask You for Your forgiveness and I pray
that you would help me place my confidence, trust and faith
in You. Teach me the value of loving You more and reaping
the benefits of obedience. Develop a greater humility in me
as I pray for our world (and me) to return to You.”

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