The Lion or the Dog?

The comedian, Michael Jr., gives an illustration of a man running to the top of a mountain. He reaches the summit --How does he feel? Great, right? Exuberant. Another man runs toward the top of a mountain, but a dog is chasing him --How does he feel? Relief. Just relief. The first man runs because he has chosen to run, to meet a goal, to see the world from the top --whatever his motivation, it is his motivation and he obeys it because he chooses to obey. The other man has no choice but to run --or, be bitten. He will yield to necessity as many times as necessity dictates, in the way necessity dictates, for as long as necessity dictates, or he will suffer painful and unpleasant consequences. And when he reaches his moment of safety, he will pray he will not need another; but there are no guarantees. The dog will rule the man's behavior. Michael Jr. asks, "Which man are you?" 

Throughout history, there have been folks who have chosen their destiny, followed their destiny, created their destiny. And there have been folks driven by circumstances, doing all of life in response to whatever life throws at them, driven by the need to react. There have been Christians in both camps. But is one closer to God's design for us than the other? I think the answer is Yes, but I want to be clear with regard to "destiny": I'm not talking some abstract or cosmic purpose for being, or some self-decided path for career or life. By "destiny" I mean the God-ordained, God-employed, God-directed manner in which we serve Him and bring Him glory. And if this is the definition, can there be any other way but to follow after such a destiny but with zeal, intent, and every bit of ourselves? Can there be any other choice but to comply? Unlike the dog that will inflict damage if we do not flee, God rewards those who diligently seek Him. One is flight from harm, the other is pursuit of Reward. One finds us in a necessary place but not necessarily the place we'd choose to be; the other finds us in a good place, safely and firmly in the center of God's will. One is an obligation, the other is a choice. One is a reaction, the other is action.

I say all of this today because so much of my life was spent reacting to others and responding to the problems I encountered throughout each day. Spinning plates. Extinguishing fires. Choose whatever metaphor you'd like. I'm thinking that, maybe, you have experienced this in your life as well. But Scripture tells us that submitting ourselves to Jesus brings freedom, freedom from sin and death, freedom from anxiety, freedom from the things of this world that will rule our behavior and determine our destiny if we haven't submitted to a loving and sovereign God who calls us to heights He has prepared for us.

Which man are you? Are you living because it is your joy, because there is something glorious waiting for you at the end of the race? or has life become nothing more to you than dodging pitfalls, fear and insecurity driving you, the dogs of this world nipping at your heels? Are you in pursuit or trying to stay one step ahead? Have you yielded your way to Jesus or have necessity and expectation put you in chains? Who sits on the throne of your life, your destiny, your behavior --the Lion or the dog?  

Midweek: There's Freedom from Anxiety in Minding Your Own Business

Luci yanked hard on her leash, almost pulling me into the busy street. A driver tapped his brakes, unsure that she wouldn't. The dogs on a nearby corner were barking and Luci was jumping and twirling wildly. Days of her anxiety on our walks had me frustrated and sore; nothing the trainer had suggested was working. That's when I decided to go back to basics, a bag full of treats. 

When Luci had first begun training, I was lured by the hope of simply speaking a command --even at the most stressful of times --and having her obey. I longed for a day in which my pockets and backpacks would not be littered with crumbs from her treats. Alas, it was not to be --at least, not for the time being. Instead, I began feeding her treats each day we passed the corner yard. Slowly, she progressed! Eventually, she could walk past (on the opposite side of the street, of course --I'm not crazy) with barely a glance. And to this day, the same holds true. The discipline of distraction has left its imprint. In areas of our neighborhood where I didn't train her in the same manner, every noise, every scampering rabbit, every suspected threat is an opportunity for one of her full-blown panic attacks. In Luci's case, anxiety hasn't taken a holiday, but the promise of a crumbly treat proved just enough of a distraction that, even today, those dogs that once upset her to the point of mania she encounters again and again without incident. As she began to associate that corner with something positive, a disinterest in the negative developed.     

The Bible is clear that gratitude is a great way to crowd out anxiety, a positive that develops in us a disinterest in the negative. Scripture is clear, too, in the causes: sin causes anxiety, resisting the work of the Holy Spirit --even through trials and difficulty --can be the cause of anxiety, and being a busybody can provoke anxiety as well. Apparently, this was something of an issue in Thessalonica; Paul writes on two occasions that those in the church should strive to live quietly and each individual mind his or her own business (1 Thessalonians 4:9-12; 2 Thessalonians 3:11, 12). Being a busybody, he says, causes problems in our relationship with others, causes disorder, and can leave us without the very things we need. But is anxiety the same as being a busybody?

Well, anxiety and a quiet life are unable to coexist much in the same way gratitude and anxiety cannot. Stewing over, worrying about, or fearing outcomes --even if we do those things quietly --are not what is meant by living a quiet life. Psalm 46:10 tells us, Be still and know that He is God. It is through stillness and quiet, placing our focus on God, living as He directs that we begin to truly know Him. When our attention is on the things around us or we fret over how those things may impact us, we cannot see His power, His sovereignty, His purpose, or His loving care. We cannot know Him, and our life is instead directed by the noise and turmoil of circumstances. When we're giving attention to matters we cannot control, we are not doing what we are called to do --Be still and know, Pray and give thanks (Philippians 4:6, 7), Do all things to God's glory (1 Corinthians 10:31), Love God and love others (Mark 12:30, 31). We cannot concentrate on our work when we're fixated on circumstances beyond our influence or authority. Quite frankly, anxiety and tension should be the result of overstepping our commission! The behavior of others, sickness, death, trials and troubles that come with being residents of the physical world --those things always were and always will be more than we are equipped to remedy in full. They are, quite literally, not in our job description. And if we are taking them on, we are not only unable to do our own work, but we are standing in God's way, trying to steal His glory, and assuming problems, the weight of which will crush us. 

As we walk, Luci's job it is to walk with me and follow my direction. She is free to look around, sniff the air, listen, get some exercise, enjoy every place I lead her. She is not free, however, to concern herself over squirrels being squirrels or dogs barking from the confines of their own yard; and when she does, chaos results. Because she has overstepped; she is not minding her own business. As we walk with Jesus, it is our job to walk with Him and follow His direction. We are free to bring Him glory, to do bold and courageous things, to be salt and light to a decaying and dark world, to rightly enjoy every thing He has created and righteously bless every one He has placed in our path, to pray confidently and serve selflessly, to mind our own business and be free of anxiety. 

He Is Just AND Merciful

Karma. Just desserts. Payback. Call it what you like, it's not of God. Some people think of God as some great equalizer, looking to even everything out, render to everyone that which they deserve. That is such a diminution of His character. Though He is perfect in justice and holiness, though the law He gave mankind demanded eye for eye and tooth for tooth, life for life, God's system of equity is nothing like humanity's. He is just, He is merciful, He is kindhearted, and He is Lord.

The book of Judges reads like a shampoo bottle. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. Israel falls away in their obedience to God. God sends outsiders to torment Israel. Israel begs for mercy. God sends a rescuer. Israel follows God again. Until they don't, and the whole process repeats itself. Does any of that sound familiar? In Judges 10, the people have once again abandoned God. Yet, this time, God seems to handle things a bit differently. Rather than respond with rescue to their pitiful cries, God replies, Did I not deliver you from [those who] oppressed you; and you cried out to Me, and I delivered you from their hand. Yet you have forsaken Me and served other gods. Therefore I will deliver you no more. 'Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them deliver you in your time of distress.'  (v. 11-14) Ask the gods to which you've been so faithful to return to help you. Ouch! I mean, it's not like they didn't deserve that response. It's not like I don't deserve that response when I fail in my efforts to control things or when the things in which I seek comfort fail me. But God is merciful. This time, He allows the Israelites to sit in their situation for a bit. They finally repent of their sin, put away the idols of their familiar gods and begin serving the Lord. And God steps in. Even as fallible human parents are moved by the misery of their children, our perfect Heavenly Father is moved by the plight of His children. Mercy. But God is no pushover.

In Judges 11 and 12, Jephthah, son of a prostitute, is a strong warrior, but an outcast. That is, until the people of Israel were once again tormented by another nation. Come and be our commander, that we may fight against the people of Ammon, the elders in Israel pleaded. Jephthah replied, Did you not hate me, and expel me from my father’s house? Why have you come to me now when you are in distress? (11:4-7) That was probably a mic drop moment. So, Jephthah was able to negotiate a position as judge of Israel if he agreed to lead them into victory. The terrible treatment Jephthah suffered at the hands of his brothers cost them something. And later, when the men of Ephraim took issue with Jephthah excluding them from the prestige and spoils of war, Jephthah asked them where they were when he asked for their help: My people and I were in a great struggle with the people of Ammon; and when I called you, you did not deliver me out of their hands. Jephthah was no pushover either.

Unlike Jephthah, however, God strives with His children again and again, providing His elect with countless opportunities to submit to His authority. Yes, He disciplines us, but what parent doesn't discipline the child they love? Yes, He demands things of us, but don't all relationships require the participation of both parties? And, yes, He is perfect in holiness and justice, but never to the exclusion of His loving kindness. Jesus, Son of the Father, took our place, paid our debt, fulfilled the wrath of our holy, just God. He doesn't negotiate for a place of authority in our lives; He has claim to it and implores us all to surrender it. He doesn't need our service or sacrifice; He gives us the privilege of laying down before Him all we are given. And He shows us His mercy --it's all mercy! Because He is Lord. He is not threatened by our reaction to His kindness, whether we are dropped to our knees or our fists are clenched against Him. He is not that small. But He is just. Just and merciful. Kindhearted and Lord.