05/12/2017
Are there places that I don't feel at home with God? This is my morning thought. My goal in faith is to be comfortable with God wherever I am and in whatever circumstance I find myself in... so how do I get there?
God is at home everywhere, so no matter where we are, the discomfort we might feel is ours... not his. There is a wonderful passage of scripture in Psalms 139 that we should all keep in the forefront of our minds.
“Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night," even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”
Psalms 139:7-14 ESV
Mother Theresa went into the slums of Calcutta where children were being abused and used as sex slaves; and where many other horrible sins and atrocities found themselves at home. She dealt with people whose spiritual and physical sicknesses should have caused her concern of contagion... yet it didn't, because she took comfort in the fact that God was there with her. She was comfortable with God despite where she found herself. This is the comfort I desire.
Jesus didn't stray away from sinners; He confronted them with love, and forgiveness. He went to their homes and dined with them. Jesus was comfortable with God wherever He was at.
“And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" But when he heard it, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.”
Matthew 9:10-12 ESV
When Jesus sent His disciples out to witness to Israel, without money or any means of earthly provision, he didn't tell them to go to the city gates and listen for an angel to tell them whether it was safe to enter or not... He told them to go in.
“And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. As you enter the house, greet it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.”
Matthew 10:11-14 ESV
Are there things we are uncomfortable with? Why certainly there are! But there should never be anything that makes us uncomfortable before God unless our spirits aren't right. Being called to a place where sin abounds can be uncomfortable, but the root of that discomfort is usually fear, our pride in faith, or a worry about having sufficiently conquered the sins we will face. God tells us to "fear not", instructs us in humility, and He also gives us the ability to defeat our sins. So, be comfortable wherever He sends you, and know that wherever you are, He is with you.
Once I read a devotional message that said there were places we should not pray... I took great exception to that idea. Jesus prayed with sinners, and He prayed from the cross where He had taken on the sins of the world! Why would we not pray in the face of sin? There is no reason that can keep us from the Father, no cause for discomfort when we do His work.
I have come to the conclusion that there may be sins that make me uncomfortable, but there is never a cause for me to feel uncomfortable before God unless I myself am the sinner (like Adam and Eve when they hid themselves in the Garden of Eden). If God is with me in all places, then I should feel at ease being there with Him. God often calls us out of our comfort zone, but we should never feel uncomfortable before Him when He does do. Stay focused on the Father, and let no sin tempt you beyond your ability to withstand... because He is there with you always and in all things.
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for your constant presence in my life; for no matter where I am, or what sin confronts me... you are there. Holy Father keep me righteous in the most sinful of places and in the face of all temptation. Lead me in praying your Word for the lost, and in healing the suffering of the infirm. Let no sin or disease cause me discomfort, and neither may my pride, fear, or lack of confidence in my faith bring me shame and humiliation before you. Lord, you are my God, and your Word keeps me, even as your Son Jesus Christ redeems me. Most Gracious Father, walk with me into those dark places where you send me to retrieve a soul, and give me the words that will light up the lives of the lost with the realization of your loving presence. You are worthy Lord of all praise and adoration. Your mercy and patience abounds as you stand by me in the company of sinners and tax collectors.
Rich Forbes