Dear Friends,
Sitting in my study in Wisconsin, I am thinking about all
the Lord’s people we have met whose lives are lived ‘out loud’ in really
troublesome situations. They insist on
such a vibrant life in Christ that their lives shout the message of
transformation to their world just by being who they are, and they don’t care
who hears them, even though many could get into big trouble by announcing how
much they love Jesus! It’s pretty impressive!
Upon returning from a six week ministry trip, I began
writing a book on Ecclesiastes, and I had cause to challenged anew, not only by
my friends’ lives and witness, but by the ‘Teacher’s’ words concerning the
brevity and importance of time on this little swinging planet. The shocking news of the bombings from the
UK, Which was so horrific and sad, had greeted us upon our return. It made my writing somehow more urgent, and
the material more relevant. This little
Old Testament book walks down the stairway of time into a world tired with
time, its toys, and its turmoil. It
tells me there is a God to know and obey, and in knowing Him, I can know real
joy even in a violent world. And it
makes me say, “Yes, I want to live my life out loud and unafraid too,” like my
friends living in troublesome places!
Life is so brief it appears meaningless; I am reminded by
the ‘Teacher.’ Yet it is time enough to
come to know God who alone gives us meaning and purpose, and who is the God who
can give us joy in the midst of sorrow.
So here are three of the things from this favorite piece of Scripture of
mine that have helped me. And I trust will help you at this time, so we can all
together learn to live our lives ‘out
loud’ while yet it is day, ‘for the night cometh when no man can work!’
First, be wise.
Wisdom is spiritual intelligence
– to be spiritually ‘street smart’ – and, of course, that is impossible to
obtain without The Spirit of wisdom Himself.
We all need ‘life skills’ in a complicated and heartbreaking world, to
have the knowhow to know what to say or do, or what not to say or do! We will need a spiritual perception and
intelligence beyond ourselves to deal with relationships that go astray in
family, mission or in church. Who
doesn’t need the ‘Sword of Solomon’ to broker a peace in society – between
warring saints or deal with the beloved but difficult people in our lives?
To live above with saints we love
Oh that will be glory
To live below with saints below
Well that’s another story!
Wise words, however, come out of wise people, and I have
discovered as this book teaches, there is no short cut. It takes work to be wise!
So, secondly, Spiritual intelligence takes spiritual industry. I have learned you have to be willing to work
at wisdom. It doesn’t come
naturally. That’s because it comes
spiritually. The teacher of wisdom
wearies himself, pondering and correlating his wise words to impart to the next
generation, searching it out until he finds ‘just the right words’ that are
fitting for the dilemmas that demand a statement of truth and righteousness.
So what is the secret of finding words that will change my
world? And where do I get the power and
strength to declare them to the next generation? The secret lies in spiritual intimacy – in words given by one Shepherd. Ecclesiastes Chapter 12. And we know who ‘that’ is, don’t we?
Receiving ideas and words, firsthand from one shepherd, that
will declare His power to the people who are living the shallow places
where everyone lives, are found in ‘The Deep Place Where Nobody Goes,’ as you
sit on the steps of your soul, with the ‘Golden Book,’ outside Gods ‘Front
Door.’
I have
found my life and ministry is only as powerful and rich as the time I spend
with God. I must
find my way to the ‘waiting room’ a hundred times a day where He is waiting for
me to wait! I must learn quietude
however much the ‘Busy Grinch’ howls.
Strangely, in finding quietude so I can hear His voice, I can begin to
live my life out loud. However many good
things there are to do, good programs to organize, good meals to cook, good
children to manage, good soccer games to attend, good messages to prepare and
good people to meet, I must above all work at good intimacy with God, for this
is where the power lied. Power to live a
life of meaning and power and to declare that power to this troubled
generation.
Remember wise words come out of wise people, and there is no
short cut. In marriage, ministry, or
marketplace, in the university of life and the school of hard knocks, may God
grant us Spiritual intelligence gained
by Spiritual insistence and industry,
stemming out of Spiritual intimacy – with One Shepherd in the deep places where
nobody goes. Read the book of
Ecclesiastes this week – listen to the Teacher – He had a word for us all.
Blessings,
Jill Briscoe
Executive Editor
Just Between Us Magazine
ok, I will Jill♥
ReplyDeleteJill, I listened to Ecclesiastes on Bible Gateway in the KJV & they had a lady reader with an English accent. It made me sense God being so involved by making it more dramatic with her heart-felt reading. The best part was the deep peacefulness listening to that Book gave me. ~Thank you!~Leslie2Jill♥ BTW, I right-clicked on that page & made a book mark so I can click the icon on my screen & listen-so worth a repeat session♫
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