05/12/2023
Are there places that we don't feel at home in… even when we are 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... 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 speaks to this subject, and we should keep it 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 they didn't, because she took comfort in the fact that God was there with her. She was comfortable wherever she found herself with God despite the filth of humanity that surrounded her. This is the comfort we should desire to possess. Jesus didn't stray away from sinners either; He spoke to them of love, and forgiveness. He went into their homes and dined with them. Jesus was comfortable because He was with God wherever He was at... even at their tables.
“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 when God sends us, or He leads us there; 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 our fear, our pride in faith, or a worry about having sufficiently conquered the sins we will face there. God tells us to "fear not", instructs us in humility, and He also gives us the ability to defeat our sins in Jesus. So, we should be comfortable wherever He sends us, and know that wherever we are, He is with us.
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”
Psalm 23: 4-5 ESV
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. And, no sin from which our prayers should run away.
I have come to the conclusion that there may be sins that make us uncomfortable, but there is never a cause for us to feel uncomfortable before God unless we ourselves are the sinners (like Adam and Eve when they hid themselves in the Garden of Eden). If God is with us in all places, then we should feel at ease being there with Him. God often calls us out of our human and spiritual comfort zone, but we should never feel uncomfortable before Him when He does so. Stay focused on the Father so that no sin tempts us beyond our ability to withstand it... because He is there with us always, and in all things. God’s Word defends us just as it defended Christ when He was being tempted by Satan himself.
Will we go when sent? Will we dine in uncomfortable places, and with sinners, to deliver the gospel? Will we pick up our crosses and follow Jesus into Hell itself if He asks us to go there to deliver the Good News? Will our faith comfort us?
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for your constant presence in my life; because no matter where I am, or what sin confronts me... you are there with me. Holy Father keep me righteous in the most sinful of places and in the face of all forms of temptation. Lead me as I pray your Word for the lost, and as I pray for the healing of the sick and suffering. Let no sin or disease cause me discomfort, nor allow my pride, fear, or a lack of confidence in my faith to 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 the 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, grace, and patience abounds as you stand by me in the company of sinners and tax collectors. Send me, lead me, and strengthen me as I go where many pious men quiver and cower in fear of sin, and are ashamed to be seen. It is your will that the souls who are lost in these dark places should be saved, and it is your desire that none be lost.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 5: 14-16 ESV
Rich Forbes