Saboteur! (Part 2 of 4) - "God Desires"

I've Needed This

Where has the time gone?!  Almost one month later, and I'm now just posting "Part 2" - shouldn't the series be finished by now?  According to Justin, attempted-controller-of-all-things-pertaining-to-his-world, the answer is yes; ideally, the series would be complete, full of wit and wisdom, waxing poetic and elegant, cleverly packaged and awaiting mass praise and adoration from my newly established reader-base of thousands.

However, as a dear sister in the Lord of mine has said so many times before, "God had other plans."  He always does, thankfully.  As it turns out, unsurprisingly, this change of direction and lapse in time has been exactly what my heart - and marriage - have needed.

Do You Ever Get Caught Up?

As a writer - or actually in about everything I do - it is extremely easy for me to get caught up in the form and function of my task while skewing the Central Figure of it all, Jesus Christ.  While I've drafted numerous copies of this posting, each has not satisfied me.  I was focusing on function and form again.  I had to remove myself from the process of writing to return to my original purpose - my personal growth in understanding God's "good pleasure" and how that translates into my marriage relationship.

The Traveling Post-It Note

This entire series' outline has been roughly sketched out upon a neon orange Post-It note for many weeks now.  From my Bible cover to passage after passage, it has softly clung to numerous pages of Scripture, traveling with me through my daily devotions and studies, an intended reminder of the lessons God has been teaching me.

Despite this neon sign blazing before my eyes, I so quickly grow accustomed and blind to the thick-lined text scribbled by a green Sharpie marker.  I overlook the very truths that God has used as a turning point in my walk with Him.

Complete Relapse?

Somewhere along this journey, I had begun to regress into the old ruts of my previous thinking and habits, though thankfully and with much praise, I had not completely relapsed.  As I finally turned my blind eye to the Light of God's Word in these same passages that had convicted my heart weeks before, I was convicted of my ungodly attitudes once again while I was nourished and comforted to an even greater extent than before.

Now, if you will, let me share with you the beginning of God's "good pleasure" towards us -His desires.

The Most Comforting News

For some reason, just as I can easily lose focus and understanding of my wife's intentions towards me, I can lose grip upon precious truths from Scripture, assuring me of God's good intentions towards us, His children.  So many people today, confused by conflicted and confused, well meaning Christians trying to make sense of His Word, live according to the notion that God, "the Big Guy Upstairs" is out to get them, squashing them at every and any wrong turn, a celestial Judge Wapner of sorts.  Not only does this bring the Holy, Holy, Holy, Almighty God down to man's level, it stands in direct contradiction to what Scripture teaches us, particularly in Paul's epistle.  Let's read:

"[God the Father] having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will"   (Eph. 1:5)

My wife and I, unable to have children yet after 6 and a half years of marriage, have heavily discussed the idea of adoption.  Regardless of the natural offspring the Lord may bless us with, we would still like to adopt a child some day.  What better picture of godly love than to take the financial and legal actions necessary to take a child, who is not yours, and give them the same rights, care and love as your own child, to allow them to carry on your name - for this is exactly what God has done for those who have placed their faith and trust in the shed blood of Jesus Christ.  

Former "children of wrath" (Eph. 2:3) transformed into "children on God" (Rom. 8:16), all because of God's "good pleasure".  This is what He wants for us.  He desires us.  It is His will.  Hallelujah!  Do I really have a reason to doubt Him?  I think not...

But Wait...There's More!

In the tradition of the great genre of info-mercials, there really is so much more to our adoption and life in Christ.  He doesn't merely adopt us and throw us in the back closet, but rather, He places us on a pedestal, equating us with His favored, only son, Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:17).  Even further, He doesn't just leave us to our own devices to figure out this new life He's afforded us:

"Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself." (Eph. 1:9)

He wants to develop a relationship, intimate and deeply personal - life altering, in fact - with each of us.  It is His "good pleasure" for us to unwrap the multi-faceted jewels of truth in His Word.  In context, we come to understand that part of the "mystery of His will" is in  identifying what God is doing today - operating according to His grace alone apart from the Law (Gal. 3:24-25; Eph. 2:8-9).  As we are able to unfold God's plan for all the ages and better understand His written Word, the Bible, we are able to draw even closer - in freedom (Gal. 5:1) and truth (Eph. 4:21) - to our Abba, Father as He daily sustains us, transforms us and enables us to do His will.  

Take a Step Back

As we've discovered together, God holds good intentions towards all of man, but particularly towards His children.  As His child, you are adopted into His family having been given a new name - joint heir with Jesus Christ; you are given continual and sustained direction from God likewise, as a result of His good pleasure and desires.  What power and freedom this gives the once cowering enemy of God!  What confidence and strength He has given us!

Reflecting upon these truths, I return to my original situation - my wife's intentions.  I realize that no matter what, even if my wife's intentions are ill towards me - AND THEY'RE NOT FOR EVEN A SECOND - it doesn't matter!  My God's intentions towards me are perfect and "good."  As I bear this in mind, taking it to heart, I am challenged by my Father to 

"walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor" (Eph. 5:2)

 Because of how He has and continues to love me, I can in turn live in that same love towards those around me, regardless of their intentions.  Remember, we were all once enemies of God with horrible intentions towards Him (Eph. 2:1-3) and He loved us anyways.  

Candace, my bride, I desire to serve you and honor you always, just as our Father loves us.  I thank you, beyond this, that you truly do have good intentions towards me.  I so greatly appreciate your sweet spirit, gracious, giving heart, patient attitude with me and your continued efforts and work to build up our marriage and family.  You most certainly are not a "saboteur" but rather the solution for me!  I love you.

What About You?

I have many people approach me regarding their home life, "My spouse just doesn't even try or care any longer.."  My heart is burdened for you.  Loneliness is difficult; so is the process of life change and victory!  My encouragement to you is to take some time - yes turn your computer off, put my blog away - and take a mini-retreat in your heart and mind with the Lord.  

To seek change and breakthrough, we must always examine ourselves.  Where are you at with the Lord?  What do your intentions look like?  Bitterness, pain and anger easily morph our desires and attitudes.  Believe me, I know.  Reread this Scriptures.  Seek out others.  Reflect upon them.  Ask God to allow this reality in Christ to seep deeply into your soul.  Most assuredly, He can and will transform your own attitudes and intentions to a strengthened servant, able to love and serve your loved one, despite their intentions, reflecting and glorifying the fantastic love of God.  

Until we meet again, I'll be praying for you.  Won't you pray for me?  Thank you.