Seeking God Daily

Oswald Chambers’ was a living example of what it meant to “soar on wings like eagles” (Isaiah 40:31). He unswervingly demonstrated a life that was “abandoned to God”. In spite of illness, the discomfort of Egypt’s climate, and the rigors of serving as chaplain to the British troops during WW I, he daily walked and talked with the renewed strength that God promises to those who trust him. I’ll let OC wrap up our eagle week.

“There is no thrill for us in walking, yet it is the test for all of our steady and enduring qualities. To “walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31) is the highest stretch possible as a measure of strength. The word walk is used in the Bible to express the character of a person—”…John…looking at Jesus as he walked…said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” There is nothing abstract or obscure in the Bible; everything is vivid and real. God does not say, “Be spiritual,” but he says, “Walk before me…” (Genesis 17:1). Having the reality of God’s presence is not dependent on our being in a particular circumstance or place, but is only dependent on our determination to keep the Lord before us continually.

“…those who hope in the Lord…will walk and not be faint.”  (Isaiah 40:31)

I’m going to put the big bald birdies on hold for a day because John Wayne’s birthday was yesterday. I idolized him as a kid, attempted to master his walk and voice as a teen, referenced his movies and quotes as illustrations when I taught and preached, mourned his death in 1979, and now have an extensive library of his films. He is still one of Hollywood’s biggest icons of in your face toughness and I’m still a big fan. In his final movie, The Shootist, he portrays an aged gunfighter who’s dying of cancer. Ironically, during the shooting of the film, the Duke was in a real life battle with the “big C” that eventually took his life. There is a memorable line in the movie that could characterize much of John Wayne’s  life. ”I won’t be wronged, I won’t be insulted, and I won’t be laid a hand on. I don’t do these things to other people and I expect the same from them”.   Nice sentiment. It’s reminiscent of what is often called the “Golden Rule” which says, ” So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12). Unfortunately, what Jesus had in mind and the way many interpret this teaching are miles apart. Jesus’ ministry clearly communicated an unconditional doing for others in every aspect of life while our American culture puts a provisional spin to it. “I’ll do for you but not until you do for me first”. Do you attach strings to your kindness and caring? Are you waiting for people to treat you fairly before you reciprocate? You may be waiting a long time, Pilgrim.

“Never look for justice in this world, but never cease to give it.” (Oswald Chambers)

“…whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant…just as the Son of Man (Jesus) did not come to be served, but to serve…” (Matthew 20:26, 27)

I was on a fishing trip in Canada a few years ago and bald eagle sightings were an everyday occurrence. We saw them feeding their young in meticulously constructed nests, dive bombing like Kamakazis to snatch defenseless Walleyes, and my personal favorite, soaring higher, farther, and faster in the face of ever changing wind gusts. I marvelled how they utilized those gale forces to their benefit. God has equipped the eagle with massive wings that have hundreds of feathers that function like flaps on an airplane guiding its movement and speed.  What are adverse winds for lesser birds are advantage winds for eagles. In fact, eagles have been sighted in hurricane force winds soaring effortlessly. Turbulence in life is inevitable for everyone and we have a choice to struggle and eventually be grounded by it or, like the eagle, rise to greater heights. How can this happen? God wants to give us wings that will enable us to turn adversity into advantage, anxiety into confidence, fatigue into energy, confusion into clarity, and defeat into victory. His wings can guide our every movement in life no matter what we face and then make adjustments when and where needed. How do we get these wings? ”…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 40:31).  This hope of which Isaiah wrote is not a wishful thinking but rather a “blessed assurance” that God wants and wills to display his presence and power in and through us. When that happens, we will marvel at how we are able to soar higher, farther, and faster in the face of life’s ever changing winds.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverence.”  (James 1:2, 3)

Have you ever had someone encourage you to keep an eagle eye on something or someone? When my  sister and I were kids our grandmother would tell us each Christmas Eve to keep an eagle eye on her front room door because she had heard that Santa Claus had been seen in the neighborhood and he just might pop in to say hi and get a cocoa pick-me-up before his busiest night of the year.  That expression, of course, was alluding to the incredibly keen eyes of the great bald eagle.  The eagle’s eyes are said to be three to four times more powerful and sharper than human eyes and enable the king of the raptors to see panoramically as well as to zero in on distant objects with vivid detail. God, the creator of eagles, has the ability to see us in complete detail. He knows what’s going on in our hearts and heads at all times. Psalm 139 reveals that when God checks us out he knows where we are and where we’re headed, our frame of mind, what we’re going to say next, our emotional makeup, and exactly what we’re needing at that very moment. How do you feel about this? What does God see when he has you in full view? Is he pleased? You can be sure that he will be if you take care of your own sight and remain “eagle eyed” upon God’s one and only Son, Jesus. As Jesus never lost sight of where he was headed, he’s available to sharpen your focus on where you are to be headed. BTW, although Grandma has been gone nearly 25 years, I still find myself eagle eyeing our front door on Christmas Eve, just in case Jolly St. Nick decides to drop by.

“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him…”  (2 Chronicles 16:9)

“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer…”  (1 Peter 3:12)

I don’t know exactly when it started but I have been intrigued by eagles for a long time. Interestingly enough, though, I didn’t actually see a live eagle until I moved from Indiana to Minnesota to go to college. While on a canoe trip in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of northern MN, my eyes first caught sight of the majestic flight of our nation’s icon. I was mesmerized. In the excitement of the moment I foolishly stood up in my canoe, nearly swamping it, and yelled, “Look, its an eagle!” At which my MN friends replied, “Oh, really?” It was a common place experience for them but a brand new one for me to see an eagle in its natural habitat. Later that year I took a class on Proverbs and came across the following statement: “There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand: the way of an eagle in the sky…” (30:19). Here’s some fodder to chew on this week as we learn some valuable lessons about God and ourselves from a big, beautiful bird: Has my relationship with God become commonplace or does it still amaze, still seem brand new everyday, and still challenge my understanding?

“Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name…who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”  (Psalm 103:5)

Oswald Chambers lived a full life of just forty-three years. His sensitivity to the heart of God still amazes those who read his works in our present day. He had much to say about faith. Here are some additional anointed insights from My Utmost for His Highest.

“Faith is not some weak and pitiful emotion, but is strong and vigorous confidence built upon the fact that God is holy love. Faith is the supreme effort of your life —throwing yourself with abandon and confidence upon God. God ventured his all in Jesus Christ to save us, and now he wants us to venture our all with total abandoned confidence in him. But faithfulness to my own ideas means that I first clear the way mentally. Faith, however, is not intellectual understanding; faith is a deliberate commitment to the Person of  Jesus Christ , even when I can’t  see the way ahead. The life of faith says, “Lord, you have said it, it appears to be irrational, but I’m going to step out boldly, trusting in your Word.”

“Whatever he says to you, do it!”  (John 2:5)

Dramatically rising nearly 1,300 feet above the Belle Fourche River in the Black Hills of northeastern Wyoming is the massive volcanic intrusion of sedimentary rock called Devil’s Tower. Forty years ago I climbed it for the first time. I’m not sure why I climbed it…perhaps, because “it was there”. Next to teaching preschoolers, it was one of the most strenuous and challenging experiences of my life. During my initial encounter with Mato Tipila, as the Lakota Tribe calls it, I was struggling with a particular pitch. I couldn’t see where to move next and the blood was rushing from my fingers and feet causing me to have the shakes; not a good thing when you’re dangling 500 feet above the ground. Above me with my belay rope was my buddy, John. He told me that he would be my eyes and then instructed me how to position my feet and where I should place my hands. In spite of my pain, fear, and inability to see where to go I moved as he prescribed and, wouldn’t you know it, his directives were right on. My confidence to make the move, though, was not in John’s plan but rather in John’s person. Because of our close relationship I trusted him. That’s the kind of faith God requires of us; one that puts absolute trust in him in spite of our pain, fear, and inability to know what to do next or what he might do next. It’s all about the relationship. He promises to be our eyes. When you trust the person of God you’ll discover that  his plans are right on.

“…We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”  (2 Chronicles 20:12b)

“We live by faith, not by sight.”  (2 Corinthians 5:7)

Ok, I want to live a life of faith but where does faith come from anyway? Yesterday I concluded my thought with some of the Apostle Paul’s most direct teaching on faith when he declared that “…faith comes from hearing and hearing comes from the Word of Christ” (Romans 10:17 NASB). Now let’s go back to the mountains. One of the most critical aspects of climbing is found in the communication system. By this, I’m referring to the direct voice commands that must be given before, during, and after a climb in order for the climb to have maximum safety and success. It is essential that the appropriate commands are given loudly and clearly, so that all parties involved in the climb can function effectively. Blowing or misunderstanding a command could have disastrous results. On the other hand when the climber hears and responds accurately the results can be exceptional. One of the most critical aspects of Christian faith is found in its communication system. Simply put, its all about the voice of Jesus and the ears of the follower. God himself commands that we “listen to him” (Mark 9:7). Jesus himself said, “My sheep listen to my voice. I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). How’s your hearing? How’s your doing? How’s your faith?

“…Everyone should be quick to listen…So do not merely listen to the word…Do what it says.”  (James 1:19 & 22)

Another valuable faith lesson I learned while mountain climbing was in the rappel. Simply defined, rappelling is the act of descending from the top of a rock face down to where the climb began by means of a specially designed piece of hardware that creates enough friction to allow a climber to slide down a fixed rope safely. What that definition didn’t say was that the first step in a rappel has the potential of being extremely frightening.  If it wasn’t for the persistent questioning of the climber handling my safety belay rope I’d probably still be on the cliff”s edge during my first rappels. But he kept asking me if I trusted him and did I trust the equipment and I kept saying yes, yet my body wasn’t moving.  He countered with “I won’t believe that you trust me and the equipment until I see you take the first step over the edge. I need to see some action to back up your words”. Once I put my actions where my words were it was one sensational ride to the bottom. I wonder how many Christians are missing the sensational ride the Lord has available for them because their faith hasn’t progressed beyond their words. God hears our words of faith but expects to see lives that back up those words. God may be asking you why you declare belief in him but aren’t willing to step over the edge and prove it. Are you confused and afraid of how the Lord wants you to demonstrate the genuiness of your faith? Why don’t you ask him. You’ll be amazed at what he’ll reveal. “Now faith comes by hearing and hearing comes from the Word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).

“…faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead…I will show you my faith by what I do.”  James 2:17, 18

I usually learn more through experience than I do from lectures and books. Case in point is when I climbed the Grand Teton during my youth. There were moments of amazement and wonder and other moments of just wondering what in the world was I doing on the side of a 14,000 foot mountain. Exhausted, sore, afraid, and unsure, our guide persistently reminded us that the struggles could never outweigh the joys if we would listen to him, watch him, and trust him in our journey to the top. And amazingly enough, the climb was exhilarating. I saw beautiful sights and had enriching experiences that surpassed my wildest expectations. 

The Christian life is full of amazement and wonder and at the same time can issue moments of uncertainty and fear. God, the author of life, knew that following him wouldn’t be easy…nothing worth having or doing ever is. He too promises that the joys will far outweigh the struggles if we would listen to him, look to him, learn from him, and live for him daily. And oh, the exhilaration of the spiritual sights and experiences that he brings us will excede our wildest expectations. All he asks is that we trust him.

“Do not fear for I am with you, do not be afraid for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you with my righteous right hand.”  (Isaiah 41:10)