Still sticks in my mind that God is out to get me, but not in a good way. By lowering the boom. Tossing salt on my wounds. When things go swimmingly tickety-boo, then watch out. One false move and out you go, Fischer. However, I don’t find any of this in my Bible. Quite the contrary.

Read Exodus 34, especially the first nine verses. It blows me away when I think how different God is from some of my skewed and twisted thoughts about Him.

Somewhere I read that C. S. Lewis wrote that the biggest danger we face as Christians is not believing in God but coming to believe dreadful things about Him. Was Lewis looking straight at me when he penned such wisdom? Is it time to consider our private thoughts about God and Jesus? How we really feel about our God?

Is He such a cosmic meany? Bitter old codger? Impatient and ready to pounce all over us? Moses and ancient Israel could have felt that way. They gave the Lord just cause (as I have). Earlier in Exodus 32, you can gander at God’s people worshipping not the Lord but golden calves, crafted by their own hands, at the first sign that Moses has left the scene, off on some burning mountain for who knows what. Time to sin! And did they ever.

Moses, who gets wind of their traitorous treachery, blows his top, shattering those stone tablets containing God’s Ten Commandments into innumerable shards. Now turn to Exodus 34 where you’ll discover what God says to Moses, who might be a tad nervous after all those ungodly shenanigans of his fellow rabble-rousers. Who wouldn’t? Is the boom about to be lowered? Curtains alas?

Not at all. This is what God says about Himself in Exodus 34: 5-7–“The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him (Moses) there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin…'”

Can you imagine? Not only does the Lord give us His own personal name, Yahweh, but He tells us all about His wondrous self: that He’s merciful, full of grace and kindness, not perpetually hot-tempered but patient, giving second chances many times over, superabundant in love, faithful, and forgiving. Wow!

These character traits are to be cherished by God’s people, not taken for granted or leaned upon with no intent to repent by those who snub their noses at Him, turning their backs on God once and for all, wishing Him a final good riddance—well, that’s certainly not you or me, is it?

So let’s start getting our minds around the truth for a change. Say ‘no’ to all that negative clap-trap we’ve conjured up. Walk away. Counter weird thoughts with what God has to say. Listen to Him for a change.

Spend time this week meditating on those verses found in Exodus 34. They should clear up some issues holding us back from finding more rest and comfort in our Christian lives. I’m looking in the mirror now. I think I see you with me. Is that you?

Lord Jesus, we love you and thank you for being such an amazing God. Amen.

As I look back on my ordination to the Gospel ministry, I sense troubles ahead not just for me but for my church families. Okay, I was young. Not thirteen; though, I was twenty-six, having successfully navigated eight years of higher education beyond high school: college, Bible school, and seminary, each a tad more challenging, culminating with Princeton.

My Moody Bible Institute undergraduate sheepskin says this about me–‘…Approved Christian character and commendable zeal in practical Christian work.’ My Princeton Master of Divinity shingle, which is entirely in Latin, says that I’m of noble habit and Christian faith having studied theology well, or words to that effect. I’m quite the catch for any church, wouldn’t you agree?

Alas, not quite. I wish I could go back and redo what I did half-heartedly but now with expected confidence and trust in you-know-who. No, not in me. I tried that, and it was a big boo-boo.

Where a wrong turn was taken can be found somewhat in Acts 20: 28. Interested?–‘Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood’ (Acts 20: 28). One simple verse that if heeded puts us right back on the road where the Lord wants us. Living for Him. Devoted to others. Even for ourselves.

‘Pay careful attention to yourself’. Don’t be flighty about your relationship with Jesus. Take nothing spiritual for granted. No wishy-washy casualness about reading our Bibles. Nothing about ‘weather permitting’ or if I have some spare time with nothing good on TV.

Get serious about what He thinks of us, more than what others do. Maturely prioritize God in our lives. Why has it taken me so long to wake up and smell God’s roses? To see what was always in front of my eyes?

It’s God Himself who calls us to serve Him. Such a privilege should not be taken lightly. Get with it. Do for God. Be in His service. Walk in Jesus’ footsteps. Talk often with my Lord. Such an Einstein near the end of my life! Better late than, well, you know.

The hard part is to stop moaning about what can’t be changed, looking over my shoulder way in the past, which can only drag me down. I know Jesus has forgiven me. I’ve asked Him many times. So now, believe Him, already. Feel His cleansing goodness. And stand up, keeping busy for Him, for others! Then, there will be no regrets from now on! Or at least a lot less.

Thank you, Jesus, for second and third chances. Amen.

What? I’ve got to be kidding. Am I loony bins? Lost the last marble I had? Asking you to read about endless land inheritances found in the Old Testament book of Joshua? I glance over these chapters, speed-reading them, trying to note anything that will help me. However, not much sticks to my craw. Little inspiration was found in these chapters. Or was there?

Well, they’re found in my Bible, God’s inspired and holy Word, which is without error, from Genesis to Revelation, including this portion of Joshua. Might want to listen up, Fischer!

Now it’s true that some Bible sections, as this one surely is, have less meat to chew on than others. But they’re included for God’s reasons even when I don’t understand them. It’s good of God to share. Shame on me for being so obtuse and lamebrain not to get through my thick skull what He has to say. Duh!

Back to God’s message here in Joshua. His point? Think about it for a moment. You must have some ideas. Here’s mine. All these chapters talk about God’s people being given a place to live. A place called home. Their own territory for their own people. His people are cherished, ever close to God’s heart. Never forgotten nor abandoned.

I get the point here in Joshua. We matter to God. He loves us more than we could ever imagine. Probably, it’s in heaven when we’ll have our eyes fully opened, seeing Jesus gazing down on us with such devotion and tenderness. There will be no more tears except for joy. It’s a home we’ll never leave and never grow tired of. New adventures every moment yet never out of Jesus’ sight. We’ll always be with the Master.

Even the most obscure parts of the Bible have lessons to show us if we’d only look. Take a gander this week. Why not?

Lord Jesus, help me to understand more about you from my Bible. Amen.

Ever feel like God is absent without leave, AWOL? In hiding and out of sight? God does a Houdini disappearing act of cosmic proportions? During tough times, I sometimes feel like He’s abandoned me, leaving me high and dry. It’s not like I don’t deserve it.

When I think of a book in the Bible where struggles with God come to a head, I think primarily of Job. Patient man, is he? Not after you’ve read this book and paid attention to what he says. Godly Job lets out a kaleidoscope of emotions with his ‘friends’ and with his God. Holds nothing back. A hint for us? Possibly.

Read Job 23 and discover that he experiences God as missing in action. Job 23: 2, 8-9–‘Today also my complaint is bitter; my hand is heavy on account of my groaning…Behold, I go forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I do not perceive him; on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him; he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him.’ AWOL.

We know, don’t we, that God is always with us? All through the Bible, He promises just that for His own. Deuteronomy 31: 6–‘Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.’

This is one of many Bible verses conveying that promise. So, rely on the Lord, who has always been faithful, whether I can sense Him or not, whether all the evidence seems contrary. So, I want to depend on Him during dark and hopeless times. Especially then.

Reading Job 23: 11-12, you’ll discover what Job does to get through the shambles he feels stuck in. What are his suggestions? Nothing really. Rather he stays the course, steady as can be with his God. Not deserting the One who seems far away. Overcomes his doubts with a faith that looks beyond his wayward feelings. Job decides to hang in there with his God. To be obedient. To follow the way of the Lord. He takes his stand with a nevertheless faith.

Hear Job himself–‘My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food’ (Job 23: 11-12).

I hear you, Job! Or do I?

Thank you, Jesus, for standing with me always. Amen.