Category: faith

Anna, our dear missionary friend from Brazil, visited us this past week. Sunday evening she shared an encouraging verse from Daniel (11:32b): “… but the people who know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” Since an exploit is ‘a daring deed or heroic act’ I perked up, thinking this might have something to do with future ‘tales to tell.’ But while Anna mentioned the wonderful purposes our heavenly Father has for each believer, her emphasis was on these words: “… the people who know their God…”

God can use a donkey to accomplish his will but his great desire is to be in close relationship with each of us. One of the most jolting passages of Scripture tells of people recounting their wonderful exploits. “Jesus, we preached in your name! We performed miracles! We even drove out demons!” Yet Jesus said, “Depart from me. I never knew you.” Of course God knows every person who has ever lived, but Jesus taught: “It does not matter what mighty things you say you’ve done, if you have not been in relationship with me, I don’t even recognize you.”

How often do we put the cart before the horse? “Look at these mighty plans I’m accomplishing for God!” we boast, while Jesus asks, “Do you know me?” The one who knows God does not take credit… for he understands grace is the reason for the relationship. “God drew me and taught me… through his Son. I listen and obey. I just want to know him better. I’ve failed many times, but I forget the past and press on toward this goal of knowing my Lord.” Paul wrote such things.

“You don’t know my Father at all!” Jesus said this to the religious of Israel and his words still echo. “Here’s the truth: You care more about your reputation than about doing right. Those who know my Father seek his praise… not the praise of men. You prove you don’t know my Father when you fail to practice mercy. ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ You’d do well to search out the meaning. You don’t even recognize a good man when he’s in your midst. If you don’t see God in me then you don’t know my Father.”

Jesus knows what we need – life. “I have come that you may have life and that you may have it more abundantly. This life does not consist of gaining more stuff or becoming more prominent; don’t even worry about such things. The pagans are consumed with this thinking. Seek God first and his righteousness and trust that your heavenly Father will supply what you need. Hunger and thirst for what is most important – eternal life. And this is eternal life: knowing God and knowing the Son he sent.”

“This is what the Lord says, ‘Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,’ declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:23-24

Last week I returned home from Emory and am slowly joining the land of the living. Thank you so much for every prayer, kind thought, card, and word of encouragement. I go to the clinic every other day where they check my blood and vitals. Next week I am to see a cardiologist, as they are concerned my heart has been impacted by all the trauma of this process. I’m thankful for the doctors and nurses and techs… but I need more.

The first Sunday I was in the hospital, my son, Taylor, brought the message I needed. He and his girlfriend, Emma, had heard the testimony of a young pastor at an active church in the city. As Taylor talked, I thought, “This sure sounds familiar,” then I remembered that this pastor’s wife was one of my basketball players from a few years back. Once she had asked me to pray about a huge career decision to be made as they finished their time at the university. The offer seemed beyond spectacular… large company, incredible position, great pay, grand future… The problem was there were many opportunities for compromise. The question in both their hearts was: Could we get this position and be on top of the world while ignoring and even offending God? I was so proud those many years ago when my basketball player said, “Coach Davis, We just couldn’t do it. No matter what the money or so-called ‘security,’ we knew we would not be walking in faith. God wouldn’t be leading our lives.” So they said ‘no’ and eventually accepted a leadership position at a start-up church in the city. The impact they have had on souls in Atlanta these past several years are immeasurable. Don’t you love God’s ways?

So Taylor is sharing this story in my hospital room and he tells me he’s not reached the main point yet. For several mornings he had been texting me Scriptures, until I lost my phone by sending it out with the laundry (it turned up in Rome, GA four weeks later). He asked, “Remember that verse I gave you from Isaiah about wings like eagles?” “Yes, look at the nice eagle Kinsey drew on the nurse’s ‘whiteboard’ with those words underneath. And Karlyn, seeing that my hair was falling out, wrote ‘Bald Eagle’ above the head, just to make sure there was no confusion.” “Well,” Taylor continued, “the powerful message is in the preceding verses. This is my hope and Emma’s hope and your hope and everyone’s hope!”

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.” – Isaiah 40:28

“I’m a little slow, son, explain it to me.”

“Dad, it is all in the ‘WHO.’ We often concentrate on the lesser words. ‘WHEN’ I graduate, then I’ll be ready for life. No, I’ve got to focus on ‘WHO’ is leading me in college day by day. Or, ‘WHAT’ are they doing to you in this hospital to get you well? You’ve got to focus on ‘WHO’ is with you, strengthening you, comforting you. Or Emma may think, ”HOW’ am I going to get to this place in my career when there are so many people ahead of me?’ But she must simply concentrate on ‘WHO’ got her the job and honor Him in all she does and trust Him completely.”

“Taylor, this is so simple, but profound. Will you thank the preacher and give his wife a hug? Will you remind me of this truth when I am in pain and tend to forget? Will you live like this and encourage Emma and all your friends to keep this focus? It will mean we will trust God and honor Him… and love Him. And look at the promise He gives?”

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:29-31

At dinner recently, five-year-old John prayed, “God, I hope you’re having a good day up in Heaven.” Jesus praised this innocent faith in little ones and said we couldn’t enter the Kingdom without it. John has been able to go to camp with us a couple of weeks this summer. He soaks in the stories of God in our assemblies and at home. On a rainy afternoon at our house, after a long tiring day, we watched ‘Josh and the Great Wall’, one of the Bible stories from the creative people of VeggieTales. This episode recounts the conclusion of the Israelites’ wanderings in the wilderness and their victory at Jericho as Joshua led the people to faithfully obey God’s unusual instructions. John was quite impressed when the wall came tumbling down.

After the show concluded, he started to walk out of the room, but stopped and said, “Dana, I’ve got to do something.” He then walked to our den window, looked up into the cloudy sky, and started praying: “God, me and Dana really want to play outside. Would you let the sun come out? Would you make the rain stop? Please!”

So a forty-nine-year-old man, needing faith for the day, played ball with a little boy who believed the same God that brought down Jericho’s walls could let the sun shine a couple of hours before bedtime. I don’t think it rained another drop that afternoon.

Faith must be most pleasing to God when it is child-like. This is my desire: to walk with God in simple trust. I am the child; He is the Father. I am the clay; He is the Potter. I am the branch; Jesus is the Vine. Why should it be more complicated?

So when we reach the moment of crisis or when we enter the dark valley, we can recall with deep, but simple faith David’s classic song: “The Lord is my Shepherd, I don’t need a thing. He leads me into still and quiet places; He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for the glory of His wonderful Name. Even if I enter the valley of the shadow of death, I have no reason to fear, for you, Jesus, are with me. You comfort me with your rod and your staff; you anoint me with the oil of your Spirit; you pour more into my cup than my cup can hold! You even prepare a table where we can fellowship in the presence of our enemies. I want to have a good day in your presence! Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in your house forever.”

Susan and I recently celebrated our 28th anniversary in a place in South Carolina rich with history. Slaves from the 1700’s until emancipation communicated simple confidence in the Good Shepherd, though they were thousands of miles from home. Alex Haley, the author of “Roots,” closed a 1981 article about the Gullah people of Daufuskie Island with their rendition of a section of David’s Psalm. Simple faith…

“Eben do a wak tru de daak walley ob de shada ob det, a yent scayd, cuz oona da stay ‘long me.” Psalm 23:4

So the answer to many prayers was: 2.25 million stem cells in 3 days of collection. Some credit drugs (though they were the same drugs I took three years ago when we got 1.8 million in 6 days). Some credit the doctors, nurses, and hospital. Some credit luck. I credit the One who created me and knows everything about my body, my past, and my future on this earth and beyond. And I thank all who have loved, encouraged, and prayed.

One of the best answers to our prayers last week (a story for another time) was “no.” God answers “no” a lot, just like we say “no” to our kids quite often. Jesus taught us to be persistent and to persevere, but we still know God sometimes says “no.” He said “no” to Paul’s request for a ‘thorn’ to be removed and he told Paul the reason. I now know the reason God said “no” to us last week (in the story for another time), but most often I don’t have a clue.

So what I want to share today of what God taught me and my family last week comes from a guy who still has cancer, who has been the target of scores of prayers, and who has heard “no” quite a few times. This is something that does not please God at all: ‘double-mindedness.’ James teaches a simple thing particularly about praying for wisdom: “But when he asks he must believe and not doubt.” He then says a man who doubts (as he prays for wisdom) is “like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the winds. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.” (see James 1:2-8)

Here’s a confession: I would pray ‘impossible’ prayers to God, knowing he can do all things, but in talking to others I would declare a totally opposite point of view. Of course, I would not say to a friend, “I am praying for 2 million stem cells but God will not answer that prayer.” No, I would pray in private then simply disregard God in conversation with others. To God: “Lord, you can do all things! Please don’t let this time in the hospital be wasted. Bring millions of cells!” To friends: “Yeah, they hope to get 2 million stem cells, but it ain’t gonna to happen. They only got 1.8 three years ago and I’ve been on chemo for three years. My bone marrow is so beat up that we’ll be lucky to get a million.” This is double-mindedness – I’m talking one way to God and a whole different way to others.

This may be a poor example, but it’s the best I could come up with: A four-year-old boy often watches his athletic dad ride a bike and he wants to be just like him. So one day he sincerely asks, “Daddy, will you get me a bike and teach me to ride just like you?” The wise father refrains from answering ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ but says instead, “Son, I’ll think about it.” Within the hour the little boy is playing in the neighborhood with his three best friends and as someone rides down the street on a bicycle, he seriously says, “I’m so little and those bikes are too big. I’ll never be able to ride one!”

Of course, we would understand the little boy’s thinking as he sees ‘bike-riding-without-training-wheels’ as an impossible task, but here’s what the dad might say: “Son, if you ask me to get you a bike and teach you to ride, you’ve got to believe I can do it.”

God can answer our prayers any way he likes… we confess he knows what is best. But he does want us to believe in him, to trust him, to know he loves us, and to consistently share these things with one another and with an unbelieving world.

“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.” John 11:21-27

Paul asked some disciples at Ephesus: “‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ They answered, ‘No, we have not even heard there is a Holy Spirit.’ So Paul asked, ‘What baptism did you receive?’ ‘John’s baptism,’ they replied. Paul said, ‘John’s baptism is a baptism of repentance…’” (Acts 19) Peter, recounting the events at the house of Cornelius, said: “Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’” (Acts 11) John the Baptist preached of one who would give what he could not: “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire…” (Matthew 3)

But Jesus also preached repentance. “From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near.’”

Here’s a familiar story, but an important reminder of God’s will and our choices. A young man, probably raised in a God-fearing, successful home, came to Jesus and asked what he should do to inherit eternal life. Jesus, knowing very well the state of man and the purpose of the Law, answered, “Obey the commandments.” The man asked, “Which ones?” Jesus listed half of the Ten Commandments and one more: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man replied, “I’ve kept all these. What do I still lack?” Mark wrote that Jesus looked at this man and loved him and then said, “One thing you lack. Go sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Jesus loved the rich young man enough to bluntly tell him the Father’s will for his life. “Follow the Christ! I am the Messiah, predicted to come by the prophets of old. One day I will give you the greatest gift you could ever have on earth – the Holy Spirit will dwell in your heart and give you power to live an abundant life. I love you, but right now your mind is clouded and you can’t comprehend my love. Follow me and you will! But first I’ve got to tell you what prevents you from possessing true life. Your stuff hinders you. Your wealth is more important to you than God. You’ve followed the commands on the exterior, but you know there’s something wrong on the inside. I’m your answer. But you must repent! Turn from what is destroying you! I see it plainly and I’m telling you what to do. Sell your possessions and follow me.”

But Jesus will never take the choice from a person. We know this man hung his head in sorrow and sadly walked away because he had great wealth. We, like the disciples, might be troubled with Jesus’ teaching on the difficulty of the rich entering the kingdom. “Who then can be saved? What about all my stuff… I admit I have too much. I’ve tried to live right, but deep down I know I’m in need. I’m afraid I put other things before God quite often. Is there hope?”

“With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” This tells me God can even bring about repentance. He can soften a heart hardened by materialism. He can plant a desire for God where no desire exists. He can convict a soul of sin and bring godly sorrow… which leads to repentance. He can bring such clarity that a relationship with Christ becomes all-consuming and a person will be willing to do anything the Master says. As John the Baptist, we must humbly declare: “He must become greater; I must become less.” Help me, Lord.

“I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.” Acts 26:20

“So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.” Acts 11:18