NON RIESCO A CAPIRE

I CANNOT UNDERSTAND!

These are the words that continue to roll off the lips of all those who find out that we just moved to Italy. “I cannot understand”. Although we have moved to a beautiful country, with great scenery, comforts, art, food, and people, it just does not make sense to most Italians that one would leave the USA to come and live in Rome.

Our explanation of the Gospel as the reason we want to be here does not produce much more clarity, as they believe they are already Christians, with no real need for any new information about God. For many, it’s the first time they have talked to “Protestanti Evangelici”, Evangelical Protestants. They have never heard the simple message of grace, of believing the Bible is the only authority, and of trusting Christ alone for salvation, without the need for works or a structured religion to follow.

Do you celebrate Christmas? Many ask us this question, almost fearful to salute us with “Buon Natale”, Merry Christmas, in their polite attempt not to offend us. It’s a good question that I would like to answer with: “We do, but you don’t!” If they don’t know the true meaning of the Gospel, then how can they celebrate the incarnation of the Eternal Son of God, Immanuel, God with us, the Good Shepherd, the only Savior?

            Philippians 2:5-8

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

           

 Reflecting on these events, I must ask myself if I have lost the wonder of the coming of Christ on earth. Christ left perfection to come and live among men. He had always known perfect communion with the Father, perfect love, perfect holiness, riches untold, continuous glory, perfect worship. This is a move that truly does not make any sense. Man had nothing to offer Him. In fact, all they would offer Him was humiliation, scorn, rejection and death in the most humiliating form, the cross.  

As we approach our Christmas celebrations, we should ask ourselves if we truly celebrate Christmas. Do we end up celebrating the same way everyone else does? Are lights, food, presents, family the focus of the event?

If people are surprised that a couple living in America would move to Italy, how much more puzzled, surprised and, consequently, humbled and grateful should we be that God, Himself, would come to earth and live among us?!

We can only say that we truly celebrate Christmas, if we remember the coming of Christ to earth and live our days according to these truths. Knowing Christ should produce a genuine worship of God, driven by grateful love. It should also produce a selfless love for others - for our families, our fellow believers, our neighbors, and even our enemies.

Has the fact that Christ left heaven to come on earth been taken for granted by us? It truly should not be so.

Christmas should remind us that we, too, have been called to leave our comforts to share the Gospel with those who do not have a clue what Christmas really means.

As you and I live out our human propensity to complain, we should remember that Christ left heaven to be born in a manger and live in a city that was disdained by people in His day. He left the unity of the Trinity to be born into a family with brothers who did not accept Him. He left perfect eternal love to experience hate like no one else ever has, He left purity to carry the weight of man’s sin, and He left eternal life to know death, death on the cross, He left perfection to know pain. Christ did all of this for you and me! This does not make sense!

May our Christmas be a celebration of the resurrected Christ, Who is now honored at the right hand of God! May we purposely point our families, our neighbors, and our world to Christ.

The world around us might not understand, but may we never forget the privilege of celebrating Christmas every day of our lives, no matter what our circumstances are, and to live lives that point others to Christ.

Coming to Italy and leaving the comforts of the USA makes perfect sense for those who truly know Christ, and desire, with His help, to live for Him.

Buon Natale e un Benedetto 2014 a tutti voi!

Merry Christmas and a Blessed 2014 to all of you!

DON’T GIVE UP!

READ PSALM 63

GOD IS IN TOTAL CONTROL AT ALL TIMES

Psalm 63:5-8

            5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,

                        and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,

            6 when I remember you upon my bed,

                        and meditate on you in the watches of the night;

            7 for you have been my help,

                        and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.

            8 My soul clings to you;

                        your right hand upholds me.

David has reminded us of his complete dependence on God, as well as his desire to know God and rely on Him. His thirst and weakness were only satisfied by God’s power and unfading love. As he writes here, his satisfaction was complete. God’s provision was not only adequate, but rich and bountiful.

When you go to bed, does your mind sometimes race in many different directions? As David went to bed his thoughts were many, his concerns were real. Remember that he was in danger for his life. His nights were not necessarily safe, but his mind led him to rehearse and meditate on the presence and care of God.

His day was filled with praise, and his night was equally-filled with adoration.

Dear friends, when you stop for a night’s rest, are your thoughts driving you to look at your Savior or to look at your enemies and circumstances? I want to remind you that as real and difficult your situations are, David’s plight was also very difficult. His psalm tells us that he was clinging to God and that the Lord was sustaining him.

We certainly need to cling to God at all times. There are so many temptations that come our way that would push us to let go, but our souls must be resolute in holding on. Our own flesh is our greatest enemy. Why do we let go so easily and allow lies to produce doubt in our lives?

God’s character is holy and pure. He cannot think nor do anything that is evil. He never wavers in His perfection; He never has a sinful thought or reaction. We cannot even live a moment of our life without proving the reality of sin, but God is not so. Since we are so easily deceived, why would we not cling to our Lord?

I know that God is wise. He can see what I cannot see, or even imagine. He knows everything about our past, our present, and our future. He was acquainted with us before the foundation of the world and He chose to reveal Himself to us, to send His Son so that we could be forgiven and become His children forever. Nothing ever surprises God. Although He is displeased with our sin, it does not come as a surprise. He saved us when we were His rebellious enemies with nothing to offer, and He is faithful today, as we continue to be needy of Him. His wisdom should cause me to hold on with great determination.

I know that God is powerful. He will never encounter any enemy or situation that He cannot overcome. He is the creator and sustainer of all; apart from Him, no one can subsist. Every atheist and God-hater is alive today only because of God’s grace. Our greatest enemy is not independent; he operates only under the sovereignty of God. Why would I look anywhere else for help?

God’s love is unchanging and perfect. He is never selfish; all of His actions are perfectly loving. Every situation, every encounter in our life is filtered through God’s love. God’s love is sufficient for all His children, and it is never driven by our merits. Why would we ever look anywhere else for help?

God’s hand is always stretched out to help us navigate the difficulties of life. Yes, there are many times when we don’t understand why things are happening to us, when even fellow believers turn against us. We live in a fallen world, where sickness and sin surround us, so we are not immune to its sorrows and pains. We should never lose sight of God’s outstretched hand.

Psalm 63:9-11

            9 But those who seek to destroy my life

                        shall go down into the depths of the earth;

            10 they shall be given over to the power of the sword;

                        they shall be a portion for jackals.

            11 But the king shall rejoice in God;

                        all who swear by him shall exult,

                        for the mouths of liars will be stopped.

God has defeated death and the devil. He will bring all things to His perfect completion:

1 Corinthians 15:53-58

                        “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

            “O death, where is your victory?

                        O death, where is your sting?”

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Christ defeated sin and death. We are victorious in Christ. Are you tempted to despair? Are you tempted to give up? Are you tempted to rebel? Are you tempted to become bitter?

Don’t give up! Your enduring faith is not in vain. It will produce God’s perfect will in you and will also produce an effect, according to His eternal purposes, in the minds of those who watch you cling to God and live for Him.

May your life be a shining light, even in the most difficult of times. Live for God, desire His word and will, and rest in His perfections.

I NEED THE WILDERNESS!

GOD IS MY ONLY HOPE

READ PSALM 63

Psalm 63:1-4

            1 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;

                        my soul thirsts for you;

            my flesh faints for you,

                        as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

            2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,

                        beholding your power and glory.

            3 Because your steadfast love is better than life,

                        my lips will praise you.

            4 So I will bless you as long as I live;

                        in your name I will lift up my hands.

We know that when David wrote this psalm, he was in the wilderness. It could have been when he was fleeing from Saul or when he was fleeing from his son, Absalom. In both cases, he was in danger for his life and weighed down by sorrow that those he had once been close to now desired to do him harm.

Yet David’s love and dependence on God jumps out vividly, as we read these words. His physical life is in jeopardy, but his spiritual life is very much alive and in fellowship with his God.

As I read these verses, I ask myself what keeps me from having the same thirst for God and the same utter dependence. The answers can be many, but at the core, I believe is that fact that I am distracted by my belief that I can do things on my own.

David is in a difficult situation, but he is not desperate. He knows where to look for his help and he knows that he can count on God’s unfading, faithful love.

The wilderness is certainly a place where we would not prefer to be, but it is very conducive to our dependence on God. There are no distractions and there are no human solutions for us, apart from God’s intervention.

I am convinced that I need the wilderness. I need trials to keep me close to God. I should not look at them as a curse, but as a blessing. I need to be stripped of my self-sufficiency, of all the distractions of the world.

When the distractions are out of the way, then God’s power and glory become more visible, and certainly more necessary. We have the privilege of a relationship with our glorious God. His power is complete and without equal. We are truly blessed.

The wilderness is God’s loving work of creating in us a thirst for Him, above all else. God’s care and love for us is truly better than life. Our fears should dissolve in the light of His glory and love.

Maybe it’s time to examine ourselves. Is our life characterized by this kind of longing and desire for God? Are we distracted by the cares of the world? Are we attracted by the “water” of this world? Are our eyes constantly fixed on God? Is it God’s power that we depend upon? Are we enthralled by His perfect love?

Our dependence on God can be measured by the amount of praise for Him that rolls off our lips, and how much our life is driven to worship Him.

The more I become aware of my desperate need and of God’s immense love for me, the more truly these verses will resonate in my life.

We live in the wilderness, but at times we are fooled by mirages that the world offers. May our difficulties and trials produce a thirst for God and, as a consequence, produce the dependence, praise, and worship that David modeled for us in this psalm.

MEET MY GOD!

READ PSALM 62

DO OUR LIVES INVITE OTHERS TO THE SAVIOR?

Psalm 62:8-12

            8 Trust in him at all times, O people;

                        pour out your heart before him;

                        God is a refuge for us. Selah

           

As David reminds himself of the meticulous care of God and of His sovereign protection, he turns to the children of Israel to invite them to also trust in God.

Dear friends, as children of God, have you stopped to reflect on your purpose? What is your duty, as you look around and live in a world that is oblivious of the God of the Bible?

What impresses the people around us, as they observe the way we live? Are they able to see our dependence on God and our complete trust in Him? Our responses to stressful situations - what we say, our calmness in the storm - will be the loudest testimony. The more difficult our situation, the more impactful our testimony will be. It will be our humanly-impossible reactions that will cause the grace of God and His work in us to shine brightly.

David’s invitation is to avoid placing our trust in earthly positions, plans, or possessions:

9 Those of low estate are but a breath;

                        those of high estate are a delusion;

            in the balances they go up;

                        they are together lighter than a breath.

            10 Put no trust in extortion;

                        set no vain hopes on robbery;

            if riches increase, set not your heart on them.

           

These are such good reminders, as we are prone by our human nature to think incorrectly. We tend to think that, if our life was different, our reactions would be different. If we only had more means, or a better environment, our testimony would shine. But it is good to remember that our times of pain or want last only for a short while, because our lives on earth are so short. Being powerful and rich only bring an illusion of well-being. Looking for our situation to change in order to find peace is unwise, for the psalmist also warns against the temptation to escape it through sin.

Even if our material circumstances do improve, God, through the psalmist, is reminding us not to become attached to them. God does not want anything to turn our attention away from Him. He wants our dependence upon Him to increase daily.

Are you frustrated by your present situation? Are you disappointed in people? Are you feeling overwhelmed by obstacles that seem impossible to overcome? Are you finding yourself constantly desiring that your circumstances would change? Check your heart and trust in God!

11 Once God has spoken;

                        twice have I heard this:

                        that power belongs to God,

            12 and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love.

                        For you will render to a man

                        according to his work.

God is powerful and He loves you! His power is unmatched! Even those who seem to have the control over your circumstances have received their power from God!

God’s disposition towards us is driven by His steadfast love. His love is perfect, constant, faithful, unwavering, and undeserved. We did not do anything to invite it and we cannot do anything to divert it. Our trials are filtered through God’s eternal love.

What does that mean, practically? Well, it means that we should not complain and we should not be anxious for anything. Our frustration is only an expression of  rebellion against God!

This psalm is both helpful and rebuking. I certainly cannot change the reactions I had yesterday, but I must recognize the sinful ones and repent of them. Today, I must begin with an awareness of God’s meticulous care, and live mindful of the privilege of knowing the eternal, loving God of the Bible. Overall, my life should be a light to others, to lead them to Christ. And remember that our testimony begins at home, with our family who most closely observes if we are truly trusting  our God!

And above all, remember that God will reward and punish everyone righteously. May our awareness of God’s watching eyes both encourage us and cause us to be careful in what we do.

AN EXPOSED HEART!

HOW DO YOU REACT TO DIFFICULTIES?

READ PSALM 62

Psalm 62:1-2

            1 For God alone my soul waits in silence;

                        from him comes my salvation.

            2 He alone is my rock and my salvation,

                        my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.

David maintained a single focus through the difficult times. He was dependent only upon God, he trusted only Him for his salvation, and he knew that God alone was the stable ground on which to stand, his only protection.

By his words, we observe that David’s resolve was not momentary; it was not based on the circumstances or the length of the trial, but on the character of God. He had put his complete trust in Him.

We should ask ourselves if that is where we also stand. It is during difficulties when our hearts and our resolve become exposed. It is easy to give lip service to our belief and trust in God, but trials expose very quickly where our heart is, just as David’s reactions show us where his heart was.

David waited in silence, without being shaken. His silence exposed his trust, for he did not complain through the trial. Our first exam during a trial is our mouth! What do people hear from us? We tend to quickly justify our complaining or our outright anger. We call it venting, or ‘thinking out loud’.  We think that it is inconsequential, but it never is. It is exposing that our hearts are rebelling against God. We tend to think that we are just dealing with people, but in reality we are always dealing with our Lord.

When we complain, become bitter, or get angry, our reactions always offend God. We are rebelling against God’s sovereignty, His care for us, His wisdom, and His timing. David knew his God well, and therefore he also knew His character, His wisdom, His power, and wisdom. Maybe we do not know God well enough, maybe we have not reflected enough on Him during our circumstances, and our focus has merely been on us and those around us.

David’s mouth exposed his heart, and his demeanor was also evidence of his trust in God. He was not shaken; his world did not fall apart. David did not waiver or fear, he knew very well who was in control and who was really the hand behind his circumstances.

Dear friends, what are your difficulties exposing in your responses? In what way is your mouth voicing the state of your heart? How is your emotional state exposing your focus?

We all remember moments in which we have failed in the past; maybe some are wondering right now how to bring their heart and feelings under control. The Lord, through this psalm, is calling us to think on Him, to look away from people or circumstances.

David’s enemies were real!

Psalm 62:3-4

            3 How long will all of you attack a man

                        to batter him,

                        like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?

            4 They only plan to thrust him down from his high position.

                        They take pleasure in falsehood.

            They bless with their mouths,

                        but inwardly they curse. Selah

His enemies were trying to make him fall, they were lying about him, and they were pretending to say nice things about, but hated him. Although we do not know in which instance of David’s life this psalm was written, we certainly know that he experienced the betrayal of his family and friends. David’s life was not easy, but his trust in God never wavered.

David needed to remind himself to trust in God, the same way we also need to do.

Psalm 62:5-7

            5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,

                        for my hope is from him.

            6 He only is my rock and my salvation,

                        my fortress; I shall not be shaken.

            7 On God rests my salvation and my glory;

                        my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

David was convinced that God was his rock of refuge, and had deep and sure trust in God. How long we are willing to wait exposes the depth of our dependence on God; the length of our silence exposes how true our trust is; the peace of our demeanor exposes how much we truly trust our God.

David’s resolve reminds us that our trust must be in God alone. When we trust ourselves or others alongside with God, we will feel overwhelmed and are often disappointed. We must have a single focus. At the end, only one Person will receive the glory, because we know that through Him all things come together.

Even when our circumstances are more pleasant, we should guard ourselves from taking personal credit for what is happening. Our awareness of our dependence on God should be constant, our gratefulness should be evident, and our praise for God should be heartfelt.

May God help us to refocus our lives upon Him, and may our lives invite other people to trust God for their salvation, their hope, and their refuge.