Two Things...

How many things can we ask for or want? If you are like me, the real answer is more than is good for us. The ideal answer maybe just two things.

Proverbs 30:7-9 "Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.

The Old Testament writer's words are as meaningful today as they were when they were first written. Keep me safe from all falsehoods and lies so that I may neither tell them or spread them, or be affected by them. The world is full of lies, schemes, and plots all cleverly designed to take our eyes off of our gracious God without even knowing it. Protect us Lord from this deceit.

The second request has a familiar sound "give me only my daily bread." One thousand years or so later Jesus would echo the same request. In a day and time with refrigerators, freezers, and drive thru windows overflowing with an abundance of food, much of the impact of this request is lost. In the Old Testament, and in the first century, asking for our daily bread was almost asking for life itself. Jesus seemed to say, today is my focus. Feed me Lord, give me life so I may serve you. Tomorrow, if it ever comes, will find the same request on my lips. Daily bread, not things I will be happy with for a moment, forgiveness, not bigger and more improved version of items I have already discarded, protection in your hands God, this is all I ask.

When I focus on God, I have abundance. When I focus on myself I have lack. Lord, give me my daily bread, give me life, that I may serve you.

In the cool of the day

Genesis 3:8 has God walking in the garden in the cool of the day. Adam and Eve had sinned by this point, and they were hiding from God, as if it were possible to hide from the Creator of the known, and unknown. I read the scriptures and wonder to myself, how could they have been so naive to think they could hide from God. Then a whisper tells me I am even more naive. I have God's written word before me. Scripture tells me what was and what will come. Still in the cool of the day I think I can hide.

Israel went into the wilderness. Joyce Meyers said the distance between Egypt and the promised land could be covered in about an eleven day walk. Israel quit walking with God just like Adam, Eve, and me. Israel trudged for forty years to travel that eleven day walk. If the math is correct, the trek was 14,589 days longer than it needed to be. How much extra time do we spend in the wilderness?

6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Exodus tell us why God is God, this is why we want God, God forgives.

God brings us out of the wilderness, if we desire. Sometimes its 14,589 days longer than it needs to be. Sometimes we need to run. Paul was a runner, Acts 20:24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. Paul knew the race was on to spread the Gospel of grace, he was in a race to grace. I like that. Sometimes you have to run before you walk. The day Jesus becomes the Lord of our lives, is the day we become runners.