Day 30, Chapter 29: The Connection Moses was dead (Joshua 1:2). It was bitter-sweet, for he was the last of a generation that had to die before the next generation was allowed to stop wandering in the desert and living in tents. Their inheritance awaited them – nice cities, homes, gardens, and more. After his death they could possess this inheritance. And yet Moses was the great leader that led them out of slavery with amazing signs and wonders. He knew God in ways no other mortal ever has. His staff parted waters, turned rocks into fountains, made the sky rain plagues and rivers turn to blood. He once spent so much time in God’s glory that his skin glowed. Certainly this was no ordinary man. But he was gone and his spiritual son, Joshua, was about to take over for him. He would lead this chosen nation into the Promised Land. For over four hundred years this had all been in the works. It started with Abraham, whom God chose to help him redeem fallen humankind. Messiah would come through his offspring. As a thank-you, God promised him some land. Abraham would have to wait for the land, however. Almighty God wouldn’t simply take it from its current occupants and give it to him. In His justice, He would wait until the sins of the inhabitants reached a level that justified it (Genesis 15:16). It was time. What should be done to prepare for the momentous fulfillment of this great four hundred year old promise? Four centuries is a long wait. Certainly something very special should be done over the next three days to celebrate and prepare. Should they fast for three days? Perhaps they should pray around the clock while they waited. Maybe they should worship nonstop for the next seventy-two hours. Should they offer hundreds, maybe thousands, of sacrifices? Or throw a three-day party? Whatever we do, it needs to be monumental, they probably thought. When God’s instructions came, there were two of them. The first was humorously practical. “Pack,” He said. “Spend the next couple of days packing so you can cross the Jordan into your Promised Land” (Joshua 1:11, paraphrased). Pack? Yep. Sometimes we want instructions that are profound, but God knows we need something profoundly simple. At times, the most spiritual thing we can do is the most natural and practical. Work is practical yet very spiritual; feeding hungry people is, as well; nurturing our children is practical, time consuming, tiring – and very spiritual. Keepin’ it simple is sometimes keepin’ it spiritual. Movement requires preparation. There was, however, another important assignment given in order to prepare for this historical day. It, too, would be simple, but would be an internal, not external, preparation. And it would be profoundly powerful and important. “Qadash yourselves,” Joshua told them, “for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you,” (Joshua 3:5). This, you will recall, is where we started this 30 day series. Qadash is an important Hebrew word meaning “to set apart.” In biblical context, it usually meant “to be set apart unto God.” There is another Hebrew word for separation from, which we’ll look at momentarily, but this one is separation unto. Qadash is often translated using theological words such as sanctify or consecrate, but don’t let them confuse you. Keep it simple. The concept simply means “to separate or set apart a person or object unto God.” Setting a person or thing apart and to God meant it was reserved for Him. For example, furniture and utensils in the temple were qadash-ed to God, meaning they were not to be used for any other purpose. The Israelites were to be qadash-ed to God – they couldn’t give themselves to the worship of other gods. I am qadash-ed to my wife, set apart to her alone. On special occasions, the Israelites were often asked to qadash themselves to God in an extra special way. This would be like Ceci and I getting away for a day or two, perhaps even for vacation, in order to separate ourselves from other activities and spend extra, quality time connecting with one another. Occasionally, God asked Israel to qadash themselves to Him in this additional manner. The key to truly understanding God’s heart in the use of qadash is the “unto Him” aspect. Though we have made sanctification and consecration religious and legalistic, they are actually relational concepts. A poor understanding of this has hindered our connection to Him. Consecration is for connection. In the same way that the wedding vow is relational, so is spiritual sanctification. The Lord’s request to Joshua and the Israelites before this monumental occasion was simple: “Draw near to me today. Let’s celebrate this new era by celebrating the pleasure of one another’s company.” How refreshing is that! Interestingly, the Old Testament word for “holy,” qodesh, comes from qadash. To be holy doesn’t mean being separate “from sin,” but rather “unto God.” BIG difference. Think about it. Inanimate objects were called “holy” in Scripture, as were places and days. Obviously, this was not because these objects or days hadn’t sinned. It was due to the fact that they were being set apart to God. Holiness isn’t sinlessness. Performing every good work imaginable would never make us qodesh - holy. Please don’t misunderstand me. To live a holy (“separated unto God”) life will always result in purity, because connecting with God will make us like Him. His nature is imparted to us through the connection. Qadash, separation unto Him, is the cause; qodesh, holiness, is the effect. There is another word in the Old Testament having to do with separation, but it involves separation from. This word is nazir. You can probably see the word Nazirite in nazir. A Nazirite vow was a promise to separate from certain things, usually temporarily, as an outward demonstration of devotion to the Lord (see numbers 1:2-21). It was a fast, of sorts. Nazir, however, and Nazirite vows didn’t make anyone holy. Only qadash led to qodesh – holiness. Can you see from these words in their definitions how backward we have this truth? Typically, we try to become holy through nazir – separation from doing certain things. “If I can only refrain from or stop this activity I can be holy,” we tell ourselves. Then we make the effort to stay away from that sinful activity. When this approach alone is taken, however, there is no power flowing to us from His presence. If, on the other hand, our attempt at purity begins with qadesh – separation unto the Lord – this connection provides the power and willpower necessary to overcome sin. Samson is a good example of one who didn’t get this right. He was supposed to be a Nazirite all his life: separated from the dead, from unclean or forbidden foods, from alcohol, and from the cutting of his hair. These, however, were to be outward signs of his inward relationship with God. Samson obeyed the outward Nazirite vow for part of his life, nazir-ing himself from those activities. But his Nazirite condition never made him holy. Try as you may, you’ll never derive the word qodesh from nazir, only from qadash. Sadly, there was never any indication that Samson was ever separated unto God. His inward pursuit never matched the outward vow. His hair was separated from a razor but his heart was never separated unto God. Therefore, he yielded to selfishness, lust of the flesh, and compromise. Delilah and the cutting of his hair ultimately occurred because his heart connection had been cut off from God. Without power from this God connection, he was powerless against the temptation. It is comforting to me that strength lies not in the perfection of my outward performance but the connection of my inward heart. I’d rather reach toward God than run from sin. I’ll take a God who wants me over my good works any day. A religious, legalistic approach to God leads to pride if we think we succeed, or hopelessness and condemnation if we fail. God hates pride and also dislikes hopelessness, knowing it leads to spiritual heart failure (see Proverbs 13:12). He wants our heart to be healthy through a connection with Him, the source of its life. There’s a vast difference between performing for acceptance and performing from acceptance. God has already “accepted” us through Christ’s sacrifice (Ephesians 1:6). Connect, celebrate His love and acceptance, and allow the power of His purity to flow through you. Never again be satisfied with a performance-based, works-oriented relationship with God. His love isn’t for sale – it cannot be earned. It is, however, available. Reach out to Him and receive it. Then, like Joshua and the Israelites, get ready to move into your glorious future, found in the pleasure of His company. Pray with me: Lord, help us to keep our Christianity simple; resting in Your grace and trusting in Your love. Keep us from striving toward perfection in our own strength and feigning consecration through works. You asked that we be set apart unto You. We recognize that it’s only from the getaway place of relational exchange that we will receive the power to walk in holiness and consecration; living a life truly set apart. We want to live a life of victory over sin and compromise, but on our own we know we’ll quickly burn out. Today we boldly draw near, Father, and respond to Your call to qadash ourselves unto You. We receive the power of purity that flows from Your presence; it’s the heart connection by which we are sustained. Father, we have separated ourselves unto You this past month. It has, indeed been a pleasure. Now we are confident You will do as You have said and work great wonders through us. Bring forth the greatest revival in church history! We boldly decree this shall be so! In Jesus’ name we decree it! Amen. Today’s post was taken from my book The Pleasure of His Company. Dutch Sheets, The Pleasure of His Company (Grand Rapids, MI: Bethany House Publishers, 2014), pp 249-256. Watch prayer here:

Day 29, Chapter 28 (Part 2): The Face Yesterday, we discussed the possibility of being Christians without actually developing a close relationship and friendship with God. We looked at Jacob and myself as examples. Today, we will see how God resolved this in Jacob. Two decades after his encounter with Yahweh at Bethel, Jacob had a second encounter with Him. This amazing meeting was so personal and powerful that Jacob named the place Penuel, meaning “the face of God.” Overwhelmed and radically changed, he declared, “I have seen God face to face“ (Genesis 32:30). What a difference between Bethel and Penuel. Bethel, a “house of God“ relationship, allows one to know the blessings of salvation without ever experiencing the pleasure of His company. At this level of relationship Jesus is more a Savior than a friend, and God is more of a distant ruler than an affectionate Father. A Penuel, face-to-face relationship, on the other hand, changes everything. Jesus becomes our Friend (John 15:15), God becomes Abba/Papa (Romans 8:15), and Holy Spirit becomes our indwelling Helper (John 14:16). Let’s take a deeper look at Penuel. The name comes from paneh, the Hebrew word for “face.” It is interesting and revealing that paneh is also the word for “presence.” Turning the face towards someone, as in face-to-face encounters, obviously requires being in their presence. Thus, the word for “face“ became the word for “presence.” When the Scriptures speak of individuals having face-to-face encounters or relationships with God, or that God’s face shines on them (Numbers 6:25; Psalm 80:3, 7, 19), they aren’t implying we’re supposed to literally see His physical face. Rather, we’re being reminded we can live in His presence, experiencing an intimacy so strong and personal it’s akin to a face-to-face meeting with a friend. The circumstances leading up to Penuel, the beginning of Jacob’s face-to-face, presence-driven walk with God, are important to see. Jacob is about to go home, where he will face his brother, Esau, out of whom he had swindled the coveted firstborn birthright inheritance twenty years earlier. On the journey, Jacob moves ever closer to a confrontation with powerful Esau, who has heard of his approach and is on his way to meet Jacob with four hundred men. For Esau, revenge would be sweet. True to form, conniving Jacob devises a plan to appease his still-offended brother, sending a series of gifts ahead. As he continues on his way, he ultimately sends everything he owns to Esau, including his servants. Though I’m sure he hated to lose them, it was better than death. Eventually, he even sent his family. It must have been a painful site as he watched them cross the stream called Jabbok, wondering if he would ever see them again (see Genesis 32:22). Jabbok means “pouring out,” and what an irony it is that this is the place where all of Jacob’s accomplishments and wealth - the blessings promised at Bethel, the house of God - were poured out from him. God is determined to deepen the relationship with Jacob and realizes that to do so He’ll have to empty Jacob, at least temporarily, of all that matters more than Him. What a scene this became. Jacob, who has spent his entire life conniving his way around and through every obstacle in his path, is wealthy – very wealthy - and has proven he is at the top of the food chain when it comes to manipulating circumstances. Or so he thought. God had an appointment scheduled with Jacob here at Jabbok, and in a day everything was gone, poured out to the brother he had swindled twenty years earlier. All in all, forty years of hard “heel-grabbing” were gone in a day. The next verse sums up Jacob’s circumstance and sets the stage for what is about to occur: “Then Jacob was left alone” (Genesis 32:24). Jacob has bought and connived his way out of trouble and into prosperity for the last time. He isn’t yet aware of it, but Esau has become the least of his worries – he is once again alone with God, and this time it isn’t for sweet dreams, as it was at Bethel! As preposterous as it sounds, Jacob and God will spend the night wrestling (see v. 24). Wrestling with God doesn’t sound like fun! Jacob’s heavenly adversary begins by dislocating his thigh. Sometimes we have to be broken in order to be fixed. In Scripture, a person’s thigh represents his or her strength. Not only have Jacob’s possessions and family been “poured out,” God has now removed his strength. But there are not many people who could be as stubborn as Jacob. Still he fought. “I won’t let you go unless you bless me,” he says to his opponent, whom many scholars believe was an Old Testament, preincarnate appearance of Christ Himself. And what is this “blessing” Jacob wants? Protection from Esau, of course. The Lord, however, is about to bless this conniver with something so much greater than physical protection! God’s initial response to Jacob’s statement is so bizarre it almost sounds like a verse or two have been omitted. “What is your name?” He asks Jacob (Genesis 32:27). Try to picture this: two men fighting, one limping painfully but holding on for dear life while demanding a blessing; and the other – who obviously knows His opponent – demanding to know his name. It could actually come across as humorous, if not ludicrous, if you didn’t know what God was doing. The Amplified Bible gives the clearest explanation I’ve seen or heard regarding this scenario. It translates Jacob’s response to the question this way: “And [in shock of realization, whispering] he said, ‘Jacob [supplanter, schemer, trickster, swindler]!’” (verse 27). Jacob was acknowledging and confessing his true nature: “I’m a conniving schemer.” Finally! Jacob was pursuing one thing; God was after something altogether different. And He needed this humility and repentance from Jacob in order to get it. Jacob was seeking another blessing - protection. God was seeking Jacob. “It isn’t your possessions, servants, or family I want, Jacob,” He was saying. [The Lord gave all that back.] “It’s you. You can con everyone else, but you can’t con Me. I want you to realize, once and for all, that your strength is not what I need from you. I need for you to acknowledge your weakness – who you really are. Only then can I pour it out from you, delivering you from yourself. I want a far deeper relationship with you, one accessing your heart, not some ‘deal’ we cut involving temporal, earthly benefits. And since I’m God, by the way, I could kill you, but I’d rather just conquer your heart. Then we can dream together and I can use you to help Me save the world.“ Amazing. The fight was over the moment Jacob acknowledged and confessed his true condition. God’s goal wasn’t to win a fight but a friend. And what did He do next? Demonstrating His matchless grace, after changing this former heel-grabber’s nature, He changed his name: “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel” (v.28). Don’t misunderstand this. If Jacob is your name, you don’t have to change it! The Lord continued referring to him as Jacob after this. He was simply telling this particular Jacob that the negative symbolism the name had carried for him was gone. Now noble, patriarchal Jacob could emerge. In a matchless display of his grace, wisdom, and persistent love, God transformed this conniving swindler into a prince and patriarch...just as He intends to do with each of us. His sovereign actions made clear the bigger picture: “Now we can get on with the dream I gave you at Bethel, Jacob. Because the dream wasn’t just for you; it was for Me, as well. And for the generations to follow! I told you I would bless all the nations of the world through you. I not only want you to see My face; I want you to reflect My face. I need a nation through whom I can demonstrate to the world My ways and heart, and through whom I can bring the Messiah. You are going to birth that nation for Me, and you’re going to do it from Penuel - My presence.” When God wrestled with Jacob, He was fighting for the heart of a man and warring for His dream of redeeming the human race! Israel, leaving the fight with a life-altering limp, decided to name the place Penuel. Twenty years earlier Jacob entered Bethel, “the house of God,” and found a dream. This day he had seen “the face of God“ and found the Dream-giver. He would never be the same.1 On the heels of this experience, there’s one more scene too powerful to leave out. Jacob built an altar and gave it a name. In his day, altars were often monuments, a way of commemorating important events. In a sense they gave permanence to them. The name he gave the altar, El-Elohe-Israel (Genesis 33:20), was a magnificent statement. The phrase means “God, the God of Israel.” Remember, Israel was not yet a nation; it was Jacob’s new name given him at Penuel. He was referring to himself. The monument was his declaration: “I’ve made my choice. Yahweh is not just my father’s God - He’s mine.” A Bethel – “house of God” – relationship won’t sustain you in the tough places of life. Just as importantly, it won’t fulfill the portion of your heart created by God for the purpose of knowing and enjoying Him. You were made for Penuel – a face-to-face relationship with your Maker. Being a part of God's household, having a church home, or being in a family where God is served and honored is important and wonderful, but not enough. Sooner or later you’ll need to graduate from His house to His face; from knowing Him as someone else’s God to experiencing Him as your own. Only then will the promise of His company in heaven become the pleasure of His company here on earth. Don’t wait another day – find your Penuel. Pray with me: Father, we are grateful that we can meet with other Christians where we learn of You as Savior, Provider, and Lord. But from there, we want to move toward Penuel – the place where we meet You face-to-face. Deliver us from self-centered thinking that keeps us focussed only on the things You can provide us. We choose to empty ourselves of arrogance, self-sufficiency, and performance based religion that causes us not to seek out Your full heart. Holy Spirit, take us deeper; we want a greater revelation of Abba. We want to know and be known by our God, face-to-face. We don’t want our lives of Christianity to be in name only. We want to experience it, knowing Your heart and Your ways. We desire that our lives be lived enjoying the pleasure of Your company, conversing with our Best Friend and Papa, face-to-face. In Christ’s name we ask for this. Amen. Watch prayer here: _______________________________ Today’s post was taken from my book The Pleasure of His Company. Dutch Sheets, The Pleasure of His Company (Grand Rapids, MI: Bethany House Publishers, 2014), pp 240-247. Adapted from Dutch Sheets, Dream (Minneapolis: Bethany House, 2012), pp 146-148.

Day 28, Chapter 28 (Part 1): The Heel-Grabber When I was born my dad was a traveling evangelist. Those were the days when many evangelical churches had annual two-week revivals. Dad preached mostly on hellfire and brimstone. It worked, too. The preaching scared people to the “mourners bench,” the name used by many back then for the altar or kneeling bench. Dad could describe the fires of hell so well I would break out in a sweat. Because of this I was saved at a very young age - several times, just in case! I think I may have been born again before I was even born! Because of this fear-based gospel, and the works-based lifestyle it generated, a religious existence was all I knew growing up. A Christian was what I was and going to church was what I did, so I could one day go to heaven. When asked if I knew God, the answer was an immediate and unequivocal yes. I didn’t. I knew who God was, and I was certainly born again. Nevertheless, for my first 20 years, I didn’t know Him in a personal way. I attended “the house of God,” as we referenced the church building, but I had never connected with “the heart of God;” tragically, I had known the practice of religion but never the pleasure of His company. In my family, one simply had to be a Christian. My dad was a preacher – I served my father’s God. Period. When Dad quit the ministry, left home, divorced Mom, and married someone else, all of my worlds crashed: My family world was shattered, my religious world lost all credibility, and my personal world had a head-on collision with cynicism and rebellion. The two things that had brought me identity – faith and family – we’re gone. Without these moorings I began drifting in the murky waters of pain, bitterness, and sin. Looking back, I realize my personal faith simply wasn’t strong enough to sustain me during this ordeal. I didn’t know Yahweh experientially as my God; rather, He was my father’s God. Consequently, when Dad failed and left me, so did his God. A secondhand, generation-removed God might get you to heaven, but He won’t get you through much here on earth. When the going gets tough, He’d better be your God. God is not satisfied, however, with just being our God. His ultimate goal is to be our Father and Friend, and through this relationship allow us to partner with Him in overseeing our home, planet earth. That is the plan He began in Genesis, and it is what Christ restored at the cross. If God had wanted more creatures just to serve Him, He could’ve made a billion more angels. His desire was for family, however, so the Lord made us in His image and likeness, then breathed His very Spirit and nature into us. Adam’s fall robbed us of this family and friend relationship with God. And sadly, even on this side of the Cross, religion often blinds us to it. If anyone had told me in my early years that I could be God’s friend and partner, I would’ve thought they were insane. Sadly, most Christians partner with religion, not with God. One of the great Hebrew patriarchs, Jacob, a grandson of Abraham, is a great biblical example of a “He’s my father’s God” kind of guy. He, too, had only a superficial relationship with Yahweh in his early years. It may surprise you to know that for the first 40 years of Jacob’s life, Yahweh was never referred to as his God. During that time-frame, the Lord was referenced as “the God of Abraham and Isaac;” never as “the God of Jacob.” Jacob, means “heel-grabber,” and one of its figurative meanings is “circumventing, as if holding the heels; also to restrain, as if holding by the heel.” Jacob was given this name because he was born clutching the heel of his twin brother, Esau. This humorous aspect of his name, heel-grabber, became more than just a name for Jacob, however. It was actually a play on words, a prophetic picture of Adam’s fall, manifesting itself in Jacob as a conniving tendency toward holding back or taking from others in order to advance himself. The Amplified Bible uses four words to summarize what Jacob became: supplanter, schemer, trickster, swindler (see Genesis 32:27). (For all of you actually named Jacob, take heart. The problem wasn’t Jacob‘s name but his nature. Jacob is a name associated with honor and greatness in the eyes of God and man. In the end, Yahweh actually chose to call himself “the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”) Jacob’s journey with the Lord began in Genesis 28, where Jehovah extended the same covenantal offer of blessing and partnership to him He had originally made to his grandfather, Abraham in Genesis 12. When Yahweh called Abraham and gave him his dream of a family and land, the passage makes clear that He, too, had a dream - and that His and Abraham’s dreams were connected. Also, with the incomprehensible ability God has to paint and hide pictures of future events in the lives of people, Abraham’s dream would picture His. God’s dream also included a family - the one He had lost; and it involved land - all the earth. “We are going to be partners, Abraham,” the Lord was saying, “and will share a similar ‘dream-journey.’ I’ll bless you with family and land; you are going to bless Me with the Messiah who will redeem My family back to Me, and restore their dominion over the earth.” The Lord gave essentially the same promise to Jacob in Genesis 28: Then Jacob departed from Beersheba and went toward Haran. He came to a certain place and spent the night there, because the sun had set; and he took one of the stones of the place and put it under his head, and lay down in that place. He had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And behold the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants. Your descendants will also be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and in you and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. So Jacob got up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had placed as a support for his head, and set it up as a memorial stone, and poured oil on its top. Then he named that place Bethel [house of God]... (Genesis 28:10-19) Incredibly, after this dramatic dream encounter with the Lord at Bethel, “the house of God,” Jacob was still only willing to relate to Yahweh as Dad’s and Grandpa’s God, not his own. He actually told the Lord he still wasn’t sure whether or not to make Him his God. He would decide later, based on Jehovah’s performance. Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and will give me food to eat and garments to wear, and I return to my father’s house in safety, then the Lord will be my God.” (Genesis 28:20-21) Can you imagine such audacity? “If you perform well enough, Jehovah – give me wealth, land, protection, and favor – I’ll choose you over Baal and the other gods of Canaan.” Six times over the next twenty years the Lord is referenced in Jacob’s life but is always referred to as the God of Jacob‘s fathers; never is He called Jacob's God (see Genesis 28:13; 31:5, 29, 42, 53; 32:9.) Amazing. Jacob’s “house of God” (Bethel) relationship with the Lord wasn’t enough. Even after receiving such a powerful encounter with Him there, Jacob still had no personal walk with or commitment to Jehovah, and a partnership with Him was nowhere on his radar. And as far as God’s dream was concerned, Jacob still had no idea it even existed. Godly parents, divine encounters, angelic visitations, supernatural dreams, and a visit to “God’s house” weren’t enough to transform Jacob’s surface relationship with the Lord to a heart relationship. And they will not be for us, either. The heart can only be transformed through intentional, personal decisions and time spent with God. I realize that though the correlation between Jacob and a born again Christian cannot be exact, I still believe God was painting a picture for us. How many Christians go through life and, like Jacob, never become intimately acquainted with God. Surface relationships abound in “the house of God.” Deals similar to Jacob’s are cut all the time: “You bless me and take me to heaven one day - I’ll be a Christian.” And as far as knowing Him as Papa and partnering with Him to save the world, the thought never enters their mind. What a tragedy. Yet, for each of us who are willing, God has a plan to deliver us from our heel-grabbing ways of religion and draw us into His heart. It took 20 years with Jacob - God is patient - but it need not take that long. Tomorrow, we will look at this process. Pray with me: Father, the fall that we humans experienced when Adam ate the forbidden fruit, along with our propensity to turn relationship with You into religion, hinders our ability to know and trust You. And like Jacob, we tend to focus more on our desires and dreams than we do Yours. We are asking that You give us great revelation of Your passion to relate to us as family and friends. Awaken the church to this profound truth. May the coming revival be marked with incredible passion for You and be completely presence driven. We boldly declare that You will have Your dream...that You will have people in Your family from every tribe, tongue, kindred and nation on earth. And we pledge to partner with You in this amazing endeavor. In Christ’s name we pray and decree these things. Amen. Today’s post was taken from my book The Pleasure of His Company. Dutch Sheets, The Pleasure of His Company (Grand Rapids, MI: Bethany House Publishers, 2014), pp 235-240. Watch the prayer here:

Day 27, Chapter 27: The Advantage “It is to your advantage that I leave,” Jesus told His disciples (John 16:7). Can you imagine a more ridiculous sounding statement? They had traveled with Him for three years, listening to Him expound on life, the ways of God, and the kingdom of heaven. His words carried such wisdom and authority that even His enemies said of Him, “Never has a man spoken in the way this man speaks” (John 7:46). The disciples had watched Him cure blind eyes, open deaf ears, heal paralytics, cleanse lepers and raise the dead. Once when He needed money, He procured it from the mouth of a fish. On another occasion, when He needed to cross a lake and didn't have a boat handy, He simply walked on the water. And when storms tried to mess with Him, He knocked the wind out of them with the power of His words. Then, He has the audacity to tell these men, “I'm going to leave you, and it's for your own good.” One can only imagine the shock and disbelief of the disciples. It wasn't completely unheard of for Him to shock them with His statements. "You'll have to eat My body and drink My blood," He said to a large crowd on one occasion. Keep in mind these people didn't go to church every week and partake of Communion. They had no idea what He was talking about, and several of His followers left Him over it. A short while before this preposterous "it's better for you that I leave" statement, Jesus was at it again, telling them things they wouldn't understand until later. This time He was waxing eloquent about heaven: In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going. (John 14:2-4) At this point in His homily, Thomas - thank God for Thomas - spoke up and said what they were all thinking: "We don't have the slightest idea what you're talkin' about" (v. 5, Sheets' paraphrase). Jesus didn't seem too bothered by it and carried on with His speech. Not understanding the "heavenly homes" statement is one thing, the disciples probably thought, we'll just trust Him on that one. But this leaving business was different. Leaving? Better? I don't think so. What did Christ mean when He said, "It is to your advantage that I go away"? Two understandings will help us. The first has to do with his choice of the word advantage, or as the King James Version says, "expedient". The Greek word is sumphero, which means "to bring together.” Since bringing right things or people together produces benefits or an advantage, the word was used for the concept of expediency or gaining an advantage. Christ was telling His disciples, "My departure will cause a new connection to take place for you. This 'bringing together' will be of great benefit to you, more so than even My physical presence." The second piece of information that brings enlightenment to Christ's words is an awareness of who He was going to connect the disciples with: Holy Spirit. Why would this relationship be so advantageous? Because Holy Spirit would be with them in spirit form, not in a flesh-and-blood body as Christ had been, and could be everywhere at once. He could actually be "in" them, not just "with" them (John 14:17). I don't believe many people come anywhere close to grasping this revelation at its fullness. God is in us. Yahweh, the Almighty, Everlasting God, the I AM - that God is inside us. What might we be like if we could only receive a full revelation of this? Perhaps we would become "little Christs", which is the meaning of the word Christian. Could it be that Christ's own words concerning us doing the same things He did would be fulfilled? Would we be miracle workers, life transformers, fearless, completely unselfish, and always led by Holy Spirit? Would we walk in perfect love? As staggering as these things seem, I believe we would. Read what two leading Christian voices of our day wrote concerning Holy Spirit. Jack Hayford says of Him: “It is the Spirit who keeps the word alive, and progressively being ‘incarnated’ in me… It is the Spirit who infuses prayer and praise with passion and begets vital faith for the supernatural. It is the Spirit who teaches and instructs me so that the "mirror" of the word shines Jesus in and crowds sin out… It is the Spirit who will bring love, graciousness, and a spirit of unity to my heart; so that I not only love the lost and want to see people brought to Christ, but I love all other Christians, and refuse to become an instrument of injury to Christ's body - the church.”1 The late Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, states it this way: “He guides us (John 1:13), empowers us (Micah 3:8), and makes us holy (Romans 15:16). He bears witness in our lives (Romans 8:16), comforts us (John 14:16-26), gives us joy (Romans 14:17)... As our teacher of spiritual truths, the Holy Spirit illuminates our minds with insight into the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:12-13) and reveals to us the hidden things of God (Isaiah 40:13-14)... As you are filled with the Holy Spirit, the Bible becomes alive, prayer becomes vital, your witness becomes effective, and obedience becomes a joy. Then, as a result of your obedience in these areas, your faith grows and you become more mature in your spiritual life.” 2 Great stuff. Holy Spirit is all of this and more. He was Christ's Helper and He must be ours, as well. As a human, Jesus was filled with, led by, empowered by, and anointed by the Holy Spirit (see Luke 4). Acts 10:38 also tells us Christ derived His power and anointing from Holy Spirit. This very same Holy Spirit resides in us and wants to be our source of power and strength. But so often we don't make the connection, not allowing His power to flow. In a seminary missions class, Herbert Jackson told how, as a new missionary, he was assigned a car that would not start without a push. After pondering his problem, he devised a plan. He went to the school near his home, got permission to take some children out of class, and had them push his car off. As he made his rounds, he would either park on a hill or leave his car running. He used this ingenious procedure for two years. Ill health forced the Jackson family to leave, and a new missionary came to that station. When Jackson proudly began to explain his arrangement for getting the car started, the new man began looking under the hood. Before the explanation was complete, the new missionary interrupted, "Why, Dr. Jackson, I believe the only trouble is this loose cable." He gave the cable a twist, stepped into the car, pushed the switch, and to Jackson's astonishment, the engine roared to life. For two years needless trouble had become routine. The power was there all the time. Only a loose connection kept Jackson from putting the power to work. 3 J.B. Phillips paraphrases Ephesians 1:19-20, "How tremendous is the power available to us who believe in God." When we make firm our connection with Holy Spirit, His life and power flow through us. Don't waste this amazing help. Second Corinthians 13:14 says, "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all." The term “fellowship” is from koinonia and is rich with meaning, revealing some of what the Holy Spirit wants to be in our lives. The following English words are all translations of koinonia: Fellowship - Holy Spirit wants to visit with us. Communion - Holy Spirit wants to commune with us. Sharing together - Holy Spirit wants to share his insights and power with us. Participation in or with - Holy Spirit wants to participate in our efforts and activities. Distribution - Holy Spirit wants to distribute revelation, gifts, anointings, and blessings to us. Impart - Holy Spirit wants to impart God's nature and benefits to us. Partaking - Holy Spirit wants us to partake of His anointing and life. Partnership - Holy Spirit wants to partner with us. Companionship - Holy Spirit wants the pleasure of your company. "May the koinonia of the Holy Spirit be with you." What a loaded statement. We are told in Proverbs that God wants an "intimate" relationship with us (3:32), not a superficial one. Psalm 25:14 says, "The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him, and He will make them know His covenant." Secret and intimate are translated from the same Hebrew word, cowd, which means "couch, cushion, or pillow". The picture is one of two intimate friends seated on a couch; or perhaps a wife and husband sharing a pillow, enjoying the pleasure of one another's company. Holy Spirit wants that kind of relationship with you - get to know Him! Pray with me: Thank you, Father, that after Your Son Jesus' time on earth, You sent us another Helper - Yourself in Holy Spirit form - to dwell not just among but within us. His indwelling was given to guide us as we steward the great victory that Jesus won. Holy Spirit, we want to experience all of who You are and what You do. We don't simply want to know of You; we desire to have You alive and active in every part of our speech, actions, and thoughts. We want to manifest the empowerment for Christ-likeness and kingdom advancement You bring. Holy Spirit, You're also the connection to sweet communion with the Father, further glimpses of God's depths, and doing greater works than Jesus did. Help us to receive a full revelation of how we can be led by You in every way. Open the scriptures and position our hearts to understand koinonia with You. We request the pleasure of Your company. Watch prayer here: _____________________________ Today’s post was taken from my book The Pleasure of His Company. Dutch Sheets, The Pleasure of His Company (Grand Rapids, MI: Bethany House Publishers, 2014), pp 227-234. Jack W. Hayford, The Power and Blessing: Celebrating the Disciples of Spirit-Filled Living (Colorado Springs: Victor Books, 1994), p 21, quoted in Robert Heidler, Experiencing The Spirit (Ventura, CA: Renew Books, 1998), p 34. Bill Bright, The Holy Spirit (San Bernardino, CA: Here’s Life Publishers, 1980), p 116, p 121, quoted in Robert Heidler, Experiencing the Spirit (Ventura, CA: Renew Books, 1998), p 35. Craig Brian Larson, Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1993), p 182.

Day 26, Chapter 26: The Altar Have you ever been lost? I have. Well, not really lost. I'm a man, you understand. We don't get lost; we simply drive around for hours because we like to take the scenic route. It's entertainment. After a few hours we stop to "use the restroom" and very discreetly check with someone else to confirm that we're not really lost. "Yep, right on target," we declare to our passengers. "All we do is..." The most I've not really been lost is ninety miles. I recall a time I wasn't really lost in the woods. I was hunting in an area of Colorado that was new to me. We arrived at our cabin late in the afternoon and I decided to take advantage of the last couple hours of daylight. I'll just go scout around a little, I thought. This will give me a slight advantage in the morning. And who knows, I might even get lucky and see an elk. Better take my gun. I scouted 20 minutes too long. This meant a lengthy walk back to the cabin in the dark. No problem. I had my flashlight, compass, and survival gear. I wasn't scared. That's why I whistled and hummed as I walked. I always whistle and hum in the woods at night when I'm not really lost and not really scared. Somewhere I missed a turn. Things look different going the opposite direction, especially in the dark. Nothing jump-starts the imagination like being alone and lost - well, not really lost - in an unknown woods at night. (Not that I was scared, you understand.) Creatures I don't even believe in live in unknown woods at night. I heard noises that were downright weird. I also walked past approximately ten mountain lions and five bears. Luckily, they heard me whistling, detected my confidence, and ran off. It helps to be smarter than they are. In times like these, at some point the mind begins to think crazy thoughts and ask strange questions. I know all elk are supposed to be vegetarians, but I wonder if some are really meat eaters? I recall thinking. They don't have deductive reasoning like we humans, but could they possibly know why I'm out here? "Naw!" I heard myself say out loud. Then for some unknown reason I also heard myself say very loudly, "Sure is a great night for a walk. I hope no elk think I've been hunting them." Suddenly something near the trail jumped. Limbs and branches cracked and the ground shook as something sounding like a horse rumbled through the night. I think it was a Sasquatch. After I set a new record for the 400 meter dash, I slowed down to 50 mph and congratulated myself for having the calmness to take advantage of this time alone to enjoy some jogging. If you're going to be almost, but not really, lost in the woods, you might as well get in a little aerobic exercise. "Most guys would never think of that," I bragged to myself. "They'd be too scared." Finally I came to the main road. I was only a mile or two south of where I wanted to be. Not bad, I thought. As I approached the cabin, my concerned buddies were outside waiting for me. "We were starting to get a little worried," they said. "Were you lost?" "Not really," I replied. "Probably just wanted a little exercise, right?" They remarked in a matter-of-fact manner. Guys understand things like this. 1 We humans aren't really lost. We're just wandering around the planet exercising in the darkness. The reality of our denial is often lost to us. Admitting our lost condition is the first step to being found. The next step? Finding the cross. The streets of London can be challenging to navigate. The city is huge and it's streets meander in different directions. I've been there on numerous occasions, and most of the time while being transported, I have no idea where I am or how I got there. I simply leave it to my host and the cabbies. There are certain landmarks that serve as fail-proof reference points for the locals. One of them is the Charing Cross. Near the center of the city, it is known by most Londoners. A little girl was once lost in this overwhelming maze of concrete, rivers, buildings, and roundabouts. A bobby, the informal term for a British policeman, found her wandering the streets. Between her sobs and tears she explained to the bobby that she was lost. "I don't know my way home," she cried. The policeman asked her for her address. "I don't know what it is," she said, even more panicky. "What is your phone number?" He inquired. She didn't know that, either. "Is there anything at all you can think of?" The kind bobby asked the little girl. Suddenly, her face lit up. "I know the cross," she exclaimed. "Take me to the cross. I can find my way home from there." 2 The lost have been finding their way home from The Cross for two thousand years. Easy to find, yet missed by many, it marks the way to Father's house. I both hate and love the cross. It was there that humankind’s greatest act of injustice occurred, and yet it was also the place of heaven’s greatest act of love. The cross is, indeed, history’s greatest paradox. Frequent visits there to think and meditate are recommended. God hid pictures of the cross in the Old Testament. The pieces of furniture in the Tabernacle, for instance, were in the shape of a cross. Other pictures were given, not through an object’s shape, but it's message or meaning. One of these was a mountain named Ebal. Located across the valley from it was another mountain, Gerizim, and these two mountains became very significant. Ebal was barren and rocky - that’s where it got its name, which means “stony heap of barrenness.” Gerizim, on the other hand, was fertile and lush. Consistent with their names, Ebal became the mountain associated with the curses and judgments associated with sin, Gerizim with the blessings of redemption. It was on these two mountains that both of these results - the curses resulting from disobedience and the blessings associated with obedience - were read to the twelve tribes of Israel (Joshua 8:30-35). These blessings and curses can be found in their entirety in Deuteronomy 27 and 28. The reading ceremony was unique. With the Israelites in the valley (Shechem) between the two mountains, delegates from six tribes went to the top of Ebal, and representatives from the other six went to Gerizim. The curses were read from Ebal, no doubt a consequence of its condition and name, and the blessings were read from Gerizim. It would have been quite dramatic for the listeners below as these blessings and curses rang out across the valley. Through this dramatic enactment the message to Israel was clear: the choice of whether you'll be blessed or cursed is completely up to you. What was not so clear that day was the picture of the cross and our redemption hidden in the actions. Israel was commanded to build an altar on Ebal upon which they offered sacrifices and offerings to Jehovah. None was built on Gerizim. The barrenness and absence of life on Ebal represented us humans in our fallen, spiritually dead and cursed condition. The altar and sacrifices offered there symbolized Jesus becoming our sacrifice in order to take our curse and death. He went to "Ebal" for us, the place of barrenness and cursing, in order to give us the life, fruitfulness, and blessings represented by Gerizim. The New Testament makes this clear: Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us - for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree" - in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” (Galatians 3:13-14) These verses make clear that because of Christ's sacrifice we have the awesome privilege of choosing the blessing of Deuteronomy 28. But there was another part of the ceremony that also pictured this great truth. Israel did more than sacrifice on Ebal's altar. They also whitewashed the stones and wrote on them all the words of the Law of Moses. This is detailed in Deuteronomy 27:1-8. Why this strange act? Not until Holy Spirit interpreted it for us through the apostle Paul's writings do we find the answer: “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His Cross.” (Colossians 2: 13-14 KJV) Absolutely amazing. I'm sure these Israelites on the mount of cursing didn't know they were painting a picture of the cross, where Christ would cancel the curses they were writing and bestow on us the blessing of redemption. It must have been quite a day for Christ as He watched this from heaven. Perhaps He winced a little as He watched the actions and listened to the curses being read from Ebal. The pain He would endure when fulfilling their prophetic actions would be horrific. And yet He must have smiled when He heard the wonderful blessings being read from Gerizim. "For the joy set before Him [Christ] endured the Cross," the Hebrew writer told us (Hebrews 12:2). Take some time and read Deuteronomy 27 and 28. Think of the price Jesus paid at the Cross, and determine to receive its blessings. In fact, why don't you declare the blessings mentioned in Deuteronomy 28 out loud over yourself and your family. Consider doing it daily for a while. At some point, years after this ceremony, the Samaritans built a temple on Gerizim, in opposition to the temple at Jerusalem. This became their place of worship. Though not sanctioned by God, it's easy to see why they chose Gerizim over Ebal as their place of worship. The problem is, however, that we can't bypass Ebal (the cross) and go straight to Gerazim, (the blessings). Many people try to do this. But there is simply no way home... without starting at the cross. I encourage you to visit Ebal often in your meditations. There you will find an old rugged cross; worship Him there. The more you do, the more you'll find yourself at Gerizim. “On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suffering and shame; And I love that old cross where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain. So I'll cherish The old rugged cross, Till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to The old rugged cross, And exchange it some day for a crown.”3 Pray with me: Father, we are so grateful for Your gift of grace - by it we are safe from eternal condemnation and empowered to live a life of victory. Jesus, it's Your cross that made this grace available, and today we choose to reflect upon and return to it. Help us to daily find the cross, acknowledging and appreciating its significance. It is the reference point for all of life’s treasures. We are asking that You teach us to fully appropriate this heavenly endowment - cancelled curses and bestowed blessings of redemption. Receiving the full rights of Your family is a choice left to us. We choose to live in the charted course of blessing laid out in Your word, Father. We also choose to obey Your commandments and walk in Your ways, not to earn Your blessing but to model You and Your ways. We boldly declare that Your blessings pursue and overtake us, such that we'll be favored everywhere we go. Blessed shall be all that we produce and touch, and victory over our enemies will be secured. At the foot of the cross there is redemption; a fountain of blessing and abundant life. We choose to sit before the old rugged cross and drink deeply as we enjoy the pleasure of Your company. Watch prayer here: ______________________________ Today’s post was taken from my book The Pleasure of His Company. Dutch Sheets, The Pleasure of His Company (Grand Rapids, MI: Bethany House Publishers, 2014), pp 217-225. This chapter introduction originally appeared in Dutch Sheets, The River of God (Ventura, CA: Regal 1998), pp 177-188. Used by permission. Adapted from D.T. Forsythe, quoted in Roy B. Zuck, The Speaker’s Quote Book (Grand rapids: Kregel, 2009), p 124. George Bennard, “The Old Rugged Cross,” 1912 (lyrics in the public domain).

Day 25, Chapter 25: The Look One of the things I like about the Bible is that God allows its heroes of faith to be real, choosing not to hide their humanness from the rest of us all-too-human earthlings. Pedestals are great for non-human displays, but they are far too unstable to support the average human. There are no worries concerning this when it comes to the scriptures. The Bible puts the average reality TV show to shame. Affairs, murders, betrayals, failures - all the zits are there. Simon Peter is one of those real-life characters. I love his realness. A down-to-earth fisherman, grinding out a living in the small town of Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee, Peter was probably a tough, callous, hard-nosed individual. This outspoken disciple sometimes wore his emotions on his sleeve - he once rebuked Jesus (Matthew 16:22) and later at the Lord's arrest, cut off the ear of the high priest's servant (John 18:10). And, like many good fishermen, Peter was known to string out a few expletives, when necessary (Matthew 26:74). Like any good carpenter with a raw piece of wood, Jesus could see past the knots and blemishes in Peter, to the potential within. I like this guy, He must have thought. A little rough around the edges, but great potential. He may have even mused, somewhat pensively as His prophetic gift kicked in, He is so loyal, in fact, that one day he'll be willing to die for me (see John 13:36; 21:18). "Follow me!" He shouted to Peter and his brother Andrew one fateful day. The rest, as they say, is history. One of Peter's all-too-human moments came at the Last Supper, the night before Christ's crucifixion. Like many of us, he was a bit overconfident concerning his commitment to the Master. When Jesus spoke of his arrest and the disciples' scattering, Peter spoke up and bragged, "I'll never run. I'm ready to go to prison and die for you" (Luke 22:33, paraphrased). I'm sure Peter believed his level of commitment was this great. Christ, however, knew otherwise and gave Peter the now famous "before the cock crows, you'll deny me three times" prophecy (v. 34). Evidently the Lord wasn't the only one seeing the potential in Peter. Satan wanted him out of the picture. "Simon, Simon," Jesus told Peter. “Behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (vv. 31-32). Rather than being offended or "put out" with Peter due to his impending betrayal, Christ was compassionate toward him. "I have prayed for you," the Lord said, "and because of that you'll make it through this ordeal." The Lord knows that in the course of life all of us will fail Him. If He demanded perfection, where would any of us be? Jesus was aware of Peter's weaknesses, but He also knew that deep in him was a faithful heart, and He was determined to mine the gold. He is committed to your development and success, as well. He won't give up on you. The Lord's prediction concerning Peter came true later that night. He did, indeed, deny Christ three times. I've always believed Peter's denial was born more of confusion than fear. Confusion disorients and leads to fear, which in turn produces loss of courage and paralysis. Peter was experiencing all of the above. Initially, he was ready to fight for Jesus; a few hours earlier when the Lord was arrested, he had drawn a sword and cut off the ear of the high priest's slave. He was not a coward. But Jesus had chosen not to resist arrest and now things were spiraling out of control. Having followed Christ to His trial, he was watching the proceedings from a distance when three times he was accused of being one of His disciples. By the time the third accusation came, things were in chaos - Christ was being slapped around, beaten, and spat upon, and a dangerous mob-like atmosphere was forming. In what must have been a confused state of panic, Peter buckled under the pressure. "I don't know Him!" He shouted, peppering his denial with bad language. Scripture says, "He began to curse and swear" (Matthew 26:74). Obviously it was more than one expletive. I find what happened next very moving. Jesus was close enough to hear him, and upon doing so, "turned and looked at Peter" (Luke 22:61). We're left to guess what kind of look He gave Peter, but it certainly wasn't one of shock or surprise; after all, He predicted the denial. Another possibility would be an angry, condemning, I-can't-believe-you-just-did-that look. Knowing Christ as I do, I can't believe this was the look He gave Peter, either. Though obviously it cannot be proven, I'm reasonably confident the look Jesus gave his troubled, confused and dedicated fishermen - who had left everything to follow Him - was one of deep compassion and reassurance: "Don't worry, Peter, I understand. And I still believe in you. Remember, I saw this coming and prayed for you. Everything is going to be all right." If I'm correct, to think that Christ had the presence of mind at this point to be concerned about someone else's well-being is amazing. One would think His response, if not surprise or anger, would have at least been something like, "I'm a little busy right now redeeming the world, Peter, and things are getting a little intense. Sorry, but you are on your own." But Jesus was no ordinary man. Even while on the cross, one moment He was comforting a thief, the next making sure His mother was going to be taken care of. In keeping with His character and the nature of His earlier comments, I believe Christ gave Peter a loving and reassuring look. I also believe that with one glance He saved Peter's destiny. Seeing Christ's look, Peter was undone. One can only imagine the flood of emotion he was experiencing. In Gethsemane, he had just seen Christ literally bleed through the pores of His skin, a condition called hematidrosis. Then came the arrest and beatings - Christ's face and clothing must have been covered in blood and spittle. And now this. Overcome with emotion, Peter fled the trial and "wept bitterly" (Luke 22:62). The emotional roller coaster continued with the cross, three days of mourning, followed by the resurrection. As thrilled as the disciples were to see Jesus alive, however, things were still not the same. He kept vanishing and reappearing, only to leave again. He was gone most of the time. Finally, Peter had had enough. All of this was way above his pay grade. We are not sure of his exact train of thought, but I'm guessing it was similar to this: I'm no Rabbi or theologian; and I'm not a prophet, with the ability to understand mysteries and see into the future. I don't understand all of this theology, and certainly not the events of the last few days. Nothing has worked out the way I expected; I have no idea where Jesus is. I'm going back to the only thing I really understand right now. I'm returning to my previous job. "I am going fishing," he said to several of the other disciples (John 21:3). Also confused and unable to connect the dots, they simply said, "We're going with you." I suppose it's possible these guys were just needing some rest and rehabilitation, but I don't think so. I believe they were finished. Having gone home to Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee, it doesn't take much imagination to think they were likely sitting around asking one another, "What do we do now? How do we make a living, pay the bills?" Finally, one of them stated the obvious, "Well, we still have the boat." "Yep," answered Peter, "and I'm goin' fishin'." I imagine the Lord was sympathetic to their plight. He caused it, after all, and He loved them. He knew if they could just hang on until Pentecost they would make it. So He told Dad, Holy Spirit, and Gabriel He was going to make another earthly appearance. "The guys could use another encouraging word, especially Peter. I'm going to go cook them breakfast, visit with them awhile, and help them pay some bills." And that's exactly what He did. After they had finished a fruitless night of fishing, Jesus was waiting on the beach at daybreak. When they were about a hundred yards from shore, He shouted, "Did you catch any fish?" The Lord knew they hadn't caught any; He probably caused their fruitless night so He could get their attention with what He was about to do! "No," they responded, still unable to recognize Him. "Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you will find a catch" (John 21:6). Bells must have started ringing, reminding them of an earlier encounter with Him, when he helped them reap a great catch and subsequently invited them to follow Him (Luke 5:1-11). With the similarities, they must have wondered, but... No way. It couldn't be Him. They decided to give His plan a try and, sure enough, caught more fish than they could drag into the boat. John, now certain, said, "It is the Lord" (v. 7). And Peter - you just have to love this guy - was so excited he decided to jump in and swim ashore. Why not wait until the boat could be rowed the hundred yards to shore? Not Peter! Surely you can see his great love for Jesus. He was so flustered that rather than take some of his clothing off to make the swim easier, he put his coat on and dove into the water. Impetuous? Perhaps. But also passionate. Jesus might have smiled. He already had a fire going and food cooking. "Come and have breakfast," He invited them. It must have brought back great memories to all of them. We don't know everything they talked about, but the pleasure of His company must have been wonderfully reassuring. Eventually, knowing Peter was probably still grieving over his earlier denial of Him, Jesus began addressing the situation. Three times He asked Peter if he loved Him, and each time Peter responded affirmatively. Some theologians believe Jesus asked the question three times in order to offset Peter's three denials. Perhaps, but the first time He asked Peter the question, Jesus added the question, "Do you love Me MORE THAN THESE" (v. 15, emphasis mine). Was He referring to the other disciples, or was He referencing the fish? I believe Jesus was referring to the fish, which represented Peter's formal livelihood and career. Could this be why He chose to meet them at the same location where their original calling had occurred, and why He worked the exact same miracle? If that wasn't enough, He then gave Peter the same command - twice - as He had on that first occasion. "Follow me!" He said to him (v. 19). When Peter tried to deflect the attention from himself to John, Jesus would have none of it. "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!" (v. 22). Notice the exclamation points. These are, indeed, commands in the Greek tense they were written in. Jesus was saying to this uncertain fisherman: "Your calling hasn't changed, Peter. I still need you, and it will be to catch men, not fish. Your failure didn't disqualify you; and the fact that I'm not around at the present time hasn't changed the plan. Hang in there - everything will make sense in a few more days." And it did. On the day of Pentecost, Peter was born again and filled with the Holy Spirit. The Christ who used to walk beside him now lived in him. Peter preached that day, and three thousand people were born again! A few days later he healed a lame man known by the entire city of Jerusalem, and five thousand more people were saved! He had made it. The crusty, foul mouth, impetuous, confused denier had survived his trauma and made it through the most confusing and consequential season in world history. He came into the new era of redeemed humankind with strength and purpose. You'll make it, too. If and when you fail Him - and most of us will - look for the look. It'll be there. Understand the temporariness of setbacks. When you're grieving and confused, He wants to take you to breakfast, not expel you from the family. Follow him! Pray with me: Father, we are so grateful You look past our external deficiencies and search deep within, mining for the gold that's within our hearts. You were fully aware of Peter's weaknesses. Yet, You focused on the faithfulness Your love and compassion were able to see in him. Thank You, Lord, for Your commitment to our development and success. You never give up on us! Even when we are full of confusion, fear, and failure-induced shame, You lovingly whisper, "Look up, child," and with one glance of Your eyes, comfort, confidence, and new strength arise within us. Today we choose to sit face-to-face and stare back into Your intense gaze. Identity, destiny, and everything we need is found in those fiery eyes burning with passion for us. We will follow You, Jesus, and look for the look that is everything. Amen. Today’s post was taken from my book The Pleasure of His Company. Dutch Sheets, The Pleasure of His Company (Grand Rapids, MI: Bethany House Publishers, 2014), pp 207-216. Watch the video here:

The Last Full Measure of Devotion I have been determined not to interrupt the series we’ve been doing on The Pleasure of His Company. Today is the only exception. I feel it is appropriate to pause and honor those who have paid the ultimate price for our freedoms. “I recently read an account of American warriors who fought in the battle for Betio Beach during World War II. It was imperative that America take this beach. The odds against us doing so, however, were great. The results of the battle were horrific, the hearts of our men heroic. In his book Looking for America, Douglas Simpson states concerning our soldiers, ‘Never before in the history of warfare have men been asked to face such withering fire before them with only the cold sea behind to which to retreat.’1 “The enemy, knowing the importance of this location, had hand-picked 6500 of their finest soldiers and placed them in fortified positions from which to defend the beach. When the battle began, it was terrible. Our men were cut in half by the firepower. Seventy-five of the 125 landing crafts were destroyed. The waters of the lagoon turned crimson; hundreds of bodies bobbed in the surf, with hundreds more littering the beach. The Marines suffered 3000 plus casualties, but still kept attacking. Of those who reached the pier, many did so by walking on the submerged bodies of their fallen comrades! “By the end of the second day, Colonel Shoup, commander of the Marine landing forces, radioed to headquarters, ‘Casualties many; percentage dead unknown; combat efficiency - we are winning.’ Though the battle was costly, our Marines took the beach. “Warriors! “Freedom’s heroes!!”2 I have asked my friend, spiritual son, and retired Army Major William Ostan to share a few thoughts with us regarding what this day means to him. “There’s an old saying that bears witness to a day like today. ‘People sleep peaceably in their beds because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.”3 On Memorial Day, we remember the “rough men and women’ of the U.S. Armed Forces who have sacrificed their lives so we can enjoy the blessings of liberty in peace. “As a combat veteran of two foreign wars (Iraq and Afghanistan), I tend to experience mixed emotions on Memorial Day that can sometimes vacillate wildly. One minute, I will be in deep anguish and sorrow while remembering my fallen comrades in arms. I mourn the loss of friendship with them, and think about their families left behind, the Gold Star spouses and children whose lives have been radically changed forever. “In the next minute, after the wave of grief has crested and fallen, I feel a sense of overwhelming pride. Pride that I was privileged to be friends with such great Americans. Pride at what we accomplished while at war. Pride that we kept the homeland safe while fighting over there. While seemingly paradoxical, it is good and right to experience both ends of the emotional spectrum when it comes to memories of the fallen. “In this vein, for the past few years, I’ve initiated and led a family tradition of reading the Gettysburg Address on Memorial Day. Sometimes we read it aloud at home in the late afternoon before enjoying the inevitable barbeque with friends. Other times we read it silently before laying a wreath at a Soldier’s grave in the early morning hours. I want my young daughters to know and understand the high price of freedom. I think oftentimes children grasp more than we adults realize. “Our civilization’s fragile flame of liberty is able to keep burning brightly because of such moments when generational transfer takes place. “Why the Gettysburg Address? Because I believe the words hold the import and portray the gravitas of what the military dead have given to us, the living, more than any others. Furthermore, President Abraham Lincoln’s speech is much more than a remembrance, as critically important as remembering is, but is ultimately a thunderous call to action. “Lincoln, the great orator and gifted wordsmith, crafted a masterful phrase to describe what the fallen have provided for those of us still enjoying life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In his legendary Gettysburg Address, the penultimate words he scribed before closing the short, yet epic speech were, ‘we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion.’4 “He was speaking, of course, about the soldiers from both the North and the South who had been killed at Gettysburg. He describes their death as the “last full measure of devotion.” Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines ‘devotion’ as, ‘the state of being dedicated, consecrated, or solemnly set apart for a particular purpose.’5 The military warriors had done away with half-hearted measures and were “all in” to complete the mission, even though it meant laying down their lives. They did their duty, and Lincoln now calls us to do ours through this exhortation: ‘It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us…that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain – that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.’6 “So you see, my fellow Americans, Memorial Day is about much more than remembering the heroes of the past. It is also about us, their descendants, honoring our ancestor’s sacrifices by continuing the unfinished work they so nobly advanced. This is why we must, with all the fire of our faith, continue to pray for America to be turned back to God. Regardless of how bad circumstances may look, we must not falter, because duty is ours - results are God’s. A new birth of freedom is possible, if we don’t give up.” “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” (Psalm 116:15) Prayer Heavenly Father, Your eyes have seen the sacrifice of every one of the fallen. Every man. Every woman. Every casualty of war. Every friend, every spouse, every parent, every child and family member, every comrade who has lost a loved one both past and present– You’ve seen their tears and grieved alongside them all. Not one moment in battle has escaped Your attention. You are intimately aware of each dying breath and the measure of full devotion that was poured out through their ultimate sacrifice. Father, we take a solemn moment now to join our attention with Yours. We honor the men and women who so selflessly gave their lives, and we honor those family members and loved ones who feel the loss most deeply. For those still mourning, would You wrap your arms of comfort around them and make Yourself known to them. For those lost far in the past, help us to never forget their sacrifice. For our own hearts, Lord, we ask that You impart to us a deep gratitude for the great cloud of witnesses who’ve paid a price so we can live in a land of liberty. Fan aflame the fires within us to continue to advance the unfinished work of our ancestors. On this Memorial Day, we ask You, Lord, to remember the fallen and all that they so nobly fought for – we join our prayers with theirs and ask that You would bring a new birth of Freedom to the United States of America. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen. Our Decree: I decree that the lives of our American Servicemen and women were not lost in vain. This nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom. BIO: William J. Ostan is a retired Army Major and the recipient of two bronze stars. He is the founder and CEO of Arc of Justice, a nonprofit organization that advocates for wounded warriors. He is the co-author of the Wounded Warrior Bill of Rights, which is bipartisan legislation being considered in Congress. You can find out more about his efforts at arcofjusticeusa.org Watch the video here: 1. Simpson, Douglas. Looking for America, P 310. 2. Sheets, Dutch, The Way Back, pp 42-43. 3. The quote is of unknow origin, but most scholars attribute it to either George Orwell or G.K. Chesterton. 4. Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863. 5. American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828, “Devotion” First meaning. 6. Gettysburg Address

Day 24, Chapter 24: The Revelation Back in the day, I was pretty good at football. Oh well, why be so humble? I was great! In all seriousness, I was actually decent in football and a step below that in basketball and track. I worked really hard at them, especially football. Unlike some of the more gifted athletes, I had to be very diligent to attain any level of success. I did start at quarterback for three years in high school, but it was my tenacious work ethic that enabled me to do so, not natural ability. At the time, I found much of my identity in athletics. Growing up as a very insecure kid, I needed the success of sports to feel good about myself. As I excelled, I also became popular and was able to hide my insecurities and the accompanying fears of failure and rejection. Without my realizing it was happening, my self-esteem became performance based. My self-acceptance was not based on internal well-being, but was measured entirely by how well I performed. My success in sports, along with my popularity and the subconscious coping mechanisms I had built into my personality, kept me from realizing how insecure I really was. Our souls can look very different on the outside than they actually are inwardly. We can even fool ourselves, creating what have come to be called blind spots. We probably all have a few. Call them what you want - I was in trouble and didn't know it. When I became a student at Christ For the Nations in 1977, through my spending time with Him, the Lord began identifying my inward condition to me. The process began due to intense jealousy I felt toward another student because of his gifts and popularity. For several days I tried to deny those feelings. Thinking I was pushing them away, I was actually pushing them down into some hidden hole in my soul. I believed I could keep them from gaining a hold on me by denying them. But like a rubber ball in a swimming pool, the jealousy kept popping back up. What I didn't want to admit was that these feelings originated from within me, not as a temptation from without. My deep and camouflaged insecurities were reacting to someone else's success, and I had no Friday night game through which to offset the feelings. Holy Spirit began speaking to me about this, challenging me to acknowledge that the jealousy actually existed within me, not from without as a temptation. I argued with these "thoughts", refusing to believe they were the voice of the Holy Spirit. He persisted, however, and eventually prevailed. I could no longer deny it, but I didn't know how to evict it. To most people, the fact that they experience some jealousy may not have been as big a deal as it was to me. A secure individual would probably have acknowledged it, asked God to help them deal with it, and move on. I, however, was an insecure perfectionist; I "performed" for His acceptance, as well as for others'. I felt condemnation for having this problem and anger that I couldn't overcome it. I remember finally blurting out to God, "Okay, I'm jealous! I have issues." He probably smiled. "I'm not upset or disappointed with you that this weakness exists", I heard Him say clearly. "I know how it got there and that you had no control over the process. I just want to get rid of it." I knew this was the Holy Spirit speaking to me and was shocked that He wasn't angry or disappointed with me. From that moment my perception of God began to change. Looking back, I see now my whole world began to change. Yahweh started becoming my Father, not just my God. In the ensuing days, once I began to trust His heart, He started focusing on the cause, not just the effect. Jealousy was a symptom; deep insecurities were the root. Again, initially I resisted somewhat. I'm not insecure, I thought. I'm outgoing, popular, friendly. I'm very secure. But again, the Holy Spirit lovingly persisted, giving me some evidence. "You manipulate relationships to be in control. You're talkative and outgoing, but that is not really the personality I gave you. It is actually something you developed in order to be thought of as cool and funny. When you are engaged in a conversation, you aren't really listening to the other person; you're thinking about what to say next in order to sound interesting, intelligent, or funny. You're always posturing and performing for acceptance... even with Me.” I was stunned. Over the next couple of weeks I began to clearly see these things about myself. If I was speaking with someone, the Holy Spirit would point out the behavior. "There, you just did what I described to you." When these manifestations occurred and He pointed them out, I was eventually able to see the patterns and acknowledge my performance issues. Finally, I said to the Lord, "Okay, I see the fears and insecurities in me. What do I do?" Through my quiet times He guided me to verses of Scripture on which to meditate; He spoke to my heart in ways that brought comfort, healing, reassurance, and strength. His Father-heart was amazing. As He healed me, my personality actually changed. The real me is quiet and somewhat introverted by nature. I enjoy being alone. God made me this way. It is necessary that I enjoy solitude in order to study, think, pray, write, and spend much of my life alone in hotel rooms. Also, I no longer feel a need to "perform" for acceptance. I have nothing to prove and am secure in being who He created me to be. When God reveals weaknesses in our lives, it is not to condemn us. His goal is closure, not exposure. His fire is to refine us, and his faceting machine, like that of a master jeweler, is to shape us into the finest diamond possible. He knows how and where we can shine the most. God is our Father, not a taskmaster; a Shepherd, not a hireling. Trust His heart and ways. Our wise Creator makes no mistakes, never miscalculates, and has no bad performance days. His ways are perfect. The psalmist David had this trust in God. A trust that led him to pray things like, "Search me, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way" (Psalm 139:23-24). "Hurtful" is from the Hebrew word otseb, meaning "pain, whether mental or bodily, sorrow, or a harmful habit", including idolatry and other forms of wickedness. David was saying, "I don't know myself as well as I think I do, Lord. Perhaps you'd better take a look inside and check things out. See if my heart has any blockages or valve problems; analyze my soul and show me my blind spots. Look into my emotions and reveal any buried pain or unhealed wounds. Perhaps I've lived with them so long I've learned to compensate, mistaking coping mechanisms for true health. I believe that you will lead me out of any problems you find, and into your wonderful ways of healing." Maybe we should pray a prayer such as this. The Great Physician knows us better than we know ourselves. Trust Him with your heart. You'll never fully know the pleasure of His company until you experience it with a healthy heart. Don't "perform" for your Father's love and acceptance, settling for a superficial relationship. You were made for more, much more. Today begins the new. Pray with me: Your love, Father, is amazing! You refuse to let us live with the secret pain of hidden, unhealed wounds. Healing and wholeness are the outcome of Your work in us; loving-kindness and compassion are Your tools. There's never a lecture condemning our faults, just a much-needed revelation of our need. And if we fully yield, You'll remove not just the symptoms of our weaknesses, You'll be sure to get right to the root. Today we lift up a prayer like David's. Lord, search our hearts; examine all our thoughts and ways. Show us the patterns that point to our condition - the manifestations of any illness in our hearts. Great Physician, we place ourselves upon Your table, surrendering our all. Set Your healing hands upon us now. Guide us, Holy Spirit, in applying the medicine of Scripture to every area of our lives. We want to fully experience the healing balm that is the pleasure of Your company. Amen. Today’s post was taken from my book The Pleasure of His Company. Dutch Sheets, The Pleasure of His Company (Grand Rapids, MI: Bethany House Publishers, 2014), pp 199-205. Watch the video here:

Day 23, Chapter 23: The Return I like older things. I like antiquing, shopping in old stores, and studying history. Ceci and I have always liked vacationing in places that cater more to older folks. I'm not sure how I got old so fast. While I do like older things, I don't like fixing or restoring them. I've never been into restoring furniture, homes, or cars. I tried to restore an engine once - never did figure out where all the leftover parts went, and couldn't understand why the stupid thing wouldn't run when I was finished. Probably a lemon. Oh, and there was the table I once restored. Ceci was so impressed she gave it away. First, she reminded me of the passage of Scripture where three of David's mighty men heard he was craving water from his hometown well of Bethlehem. Even though the well was currently controlled by enemies, three brave and loyal men broke through enemy lines and brought David water from the well. He was so moved by their sacrificial love he wouldn't drink it: "Be it far from me before my God that I should [drink] this. Shall I drink the blood of those men who went at the risk of their lives?" (1 Chronicles 11:19). David poured it out as an offering to the Lord! The story has always moved me. Knowing how much I love this story, Ceci reminded me of the noble act and compared the restored table to the water. "It's just too precious to keep," she said. "All that hard work you put into it; I think I'm going to donate it to Goodwill so a poor family that could never afford such an amazing table can enjoy it." Moved me to tears! Still chokes me up just thinking about how much it meant to her. Anyway, that was my only successful furniture restoration. I figured I'd better stop there or Ceci would be wanting me to restore furniture all the time. Of course, some people actually are into restoration and are good at it. God is into it - and He's the best. Yahweh can take hearts and lives that seem beyond repair and make them as good as new. In fact, healing broken hearts and restoring lives are both portions of Christ's mission statement: “The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.” (Luke 4:18; KJV) The Son of God finds great pleasure in healing broken hearts and bringing deliverance to those bound by sin or oppression. He's a restorer and redeemer by nature, not the mean-spirited judge many believe Him to be. Several years ago I counseled a young woman who had been horribly abused sexually. Her soul was broken, fractured by the pain of being abused by a family member. It was gut-wrenching to listen to her speak of it, in between the sobs and wailing. Over the years she looked to drugs and alcohol, sexual promiscuity, and even cutting to find a way of escape from her painful past. Of course, none of those things helped. After several weeks I was finally able to persuade her to forgive her abuser, lower the protective walls around her heart, and allow the Lord entrance. The transformation was dramatic. The pain began to lessen and was gradually replaced by peace. She began to see herself as pure - not defiled - and special to the Lord. Experiencing His love allowed her to regain self-respect; it's special to be loved by Jesus. Ultimately, her ability to trust was restored and she is now healthy in every way and enjoys the pleasure of His company. Jesus heals and restores. He also forgives. When we sin, Yahweh’s message to us, just as it was to Israel through the prophets, is "return to me" and be forgiven (see Isaiah 44:22; Zachariah 1:3; Malachi 3:7). The Scriptures tell us, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). When the returning takes place, the restoration begins. Both terms are actually the same Hebrew word in Scripture (shuwb). How revealing! When we return to God, we are restored to wholeness and purpose. John's gospel shares the account of a woman caught in the act of adultery. The Pharisees brought the woman to Jesus, asking His opinion as to what should be done with her. “The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the midst, they said to Him, ‘Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. Now the Law of Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?’" (John 8:3-5) Christ’s response is now famous: "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her" (v. 7). Then He stooped to write in the dirt. We don't know what He wrote - some surmise He was listing their hidden sins - but while He wrote they began to leave. Jesus stood and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?" She said, "No one, Lord." Then came Christ's famous saying: "I do not condemn you either. Go. From now on sin no more" (v. 11). What a wonderful story of forgiveness. Christ is looking to restore us, not condemn us. His forgiveness of this woman does nothing to lessen the wrongness of adultery. What it does do is exemplify the level and overwhelming power of Christ's redeeming love. He is waiting to redeem, not condemn. Our distorted perception of God's intentions is well illustrated by the urban legend of a woman driving home alone one evening when she noticed a man in a large truck following her. Growing increasingly fearful, she sped up, trying to lose her pursuer, but it was futile. She then exited the freeway and drove up a main street, but the truck stayed with her, even running red lights to do so. In a panic, the woman wheeled into a service station, jumped from the car, and ran inside screaming. The truck driver ran to her car, jerked the back door open, and pulled from the floor behind her seat a man hiding there. The woman was fleeing from the wrong person. She was running from her savior! The truck driver, perched high enough to see into her backseat, had spied the would-be rapist and was pursuing her to save her, even at his own peril. So often we run from God, fearing His wrath, while He is pursuing us to save us from destruction. Instead of seeing Him as our Savior, we sometimes see only the promise of loss and a lack of fulfillment. I urge you - if you have sinned, stop running from Your Savior. Return to God; allow Him to forgive and heal you. He's waiting with His atoning blood. One of my favorite hymns is one I remember from my youngest days: There is a fountain filled with blood, Drawn from Emmanuel's veins; And sinners plunged beneath that flood Lose all their guilty stains.1 Millions have bathed under this fountain and lost their guilty stains. Neither your sin, nor your pain is stronger than the cleansing power of Christ’s shed blood. Take the plunge. Pray with me: Father, no reputation has been as wrongly maligned as Yours. What a good and gracious Father You are; not only forgiving us when we return to You, but also healing our hearts and lives. This was, and is, Your mission statement. Even when we seem to be beyond repair, the cleansing power of Your blood is always able. You have only good intentions toward us, Father. Yet we so often run from You. Help us, Holy Spirit, to always run to You when we fail. Your saving grace is always sufficient. We will stop running and return to You. Help us to see the incredible joy You receive when You’re allowed to heal a broken heart and mend a troubled soul. You ARE good, all the time! In Christ’s name we pray these things...Amen. Today’s post was taken from my book The Pleasure of His Company. Dutch Sheets, The Pleasure of His Company (Grand Rapids, MI: Bethany House Publishers, 2014), pp 191-198. William Cowper, “There Is a Fountain Filled With Blood,” 1772 (lyrics in the public domain). Watch the video here:

Day 22, Chapter 22: The Prodigal In the book What Will It Take to Change the World by S. D. Gordon, he relates the story of a couple who discovered that their young son - we'll call him Steven - had lied to them. He had skipped school for three consecutive days and was caught when his concerned teacher called his parents to inquire about his well-being. The parents were obviously very concerned, more so over his lies than his missing school. After thinking about and discussing the situation, they decided on a very unusual and severe form of punishment. For the next three days, one for each day of his sin, he would be grounded to the attic after school, even eating and sleeping there. Steven had no choice but to accept the punishment, and headed off to the attic. It was a long evening for Mom and Dad, perhaps even more so than for Steven. At dinner neither could eat, and after a seemingly interminable evening, at last it was bedtime. But bedtime brought no relief. As the hours ticked by, both lay awake thinking about how lonely - and perhaps afraid - Steven must be. At 2:00 a.m. Dad could stand it no longer. "I'm going to the attic," he muttered as he grabbed a blanket and pillow. He was not surprised to find Steven still awake, his face wet with tears. "Steven,” his father began, "I can't take away the punishment for your lies because you must know the seriousness of what you have done. You must realize that sin, especially lying, has severe consequences. But your mother and I can't bear the thought of you being all alone here in the attic for three days, so I'm going to share your punishment." Dad laid down alongside his son and placed his arm around him. Their tears mingled as they shared the same pallet and punishment - for three nights. God can relate. Two thousand years ago He crawled "out of bed" with His blanket and pillow - actually a thorny crown, three spikes and a cross of crucifixion - placed His tear-stained cheek next to ours, and bore our punishment for sin.1 Our sin doesn't lessen God's love for us. I mentioned previously that I ran from God for a couple of years. Actually, I wasn't running from Him; I was running from my pain. When I was seventeen, my father, who was a pastor, fell into adultery and subsequently left our family. It was devastating. (He was restored to the Lord a few years later and is now in heaven. We had a wonderful relationship the last thirty years of his life.) In my pain and confusion I turned to drugs and alcohol. The Lord was gracious and patient, and pursued me for two years. I ran hard, but He persevered and loved me back to Him. For those two years of wandering I had a very skewed impression of my heavenly Father. While I was thinking of Him as angry, He was actually feeling my pain. Scripture tells us that Jesus, our High Priest representing us in heaven, sympathizes with our weaknesses, having been tempted with all the temptations we face (Hebrews 4:15). He also experienced rejection, betrayal, and the pain of broken relationships. The Lord knows how to comfort us. Father God wasn't condoning my sin, but He was merciful and patient. His desire was to heal me, not dole out condemnation and punishment. Ultimately, as the old hymn so clearly states, "when nothing else could help, love lifted me."2 Most Christians know the story of the prodigal son, told by Jesus in Luke 15. This young man took his inheritance while his father was still alive, left home, and "squandered his estate with loose living" (Luke 15:13). Actually, the term prodigal doesn't mean "lost", "away from", or "runaway" as many think; it means "recklessly wasteful; extravagant consumer; a squanderer.” He was "the squandering son". Just as in our opening story, one of the most significant points of the prodigal’s story is the heart of the father. Both are great pictures of our heavenly Father, who is quick to forgive and is even willing to restore our squandered inheritance. “When the son returned home, while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him... The father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.’” (vv. 20, 22) If you - like the prodigal, the boy in the attic, or me - have sinned against God, His desire is to restore you. I pray that you find repentance and return to Him. Make sure you understand what repentance is. We've misdefined this, just as we have prodigal. Biblically, repentance doesn't mean "turn from sin"; nor does it mean "remorse". To be sorry for our sins is good, and to ultimately turn from them is necessary. But before these things can occur, we must receive revelation, which brings a change of thinking. This is the literal meaning of the biblical word for repentance. "A new understanding" and "think differently" are good definitions of repentance. The prodigal experienced this. The passage tells us, "He came to his senses" (Luke 15:17). In the midst of his pain, shame, lack and condemnation, the young man finally saw through the fog. I could live better than this as one of my father's servants, he thought to himself. With a new outlook, he returned home, humbled himself, and confessed his sins. The repentance - understanding - I experienced was that God wasn't angry at me and that I couldn’t keep running from my pain. He wasn't disappointed with me, nor was He condemning and threatening me with hell's fire. To the contrary, Abba came to me in a bar one night, put His cheek next to mine, and helped me grieve the loss of my father. I received a revelation of my condition and His love (true repentance), told Him I was sorry, and changed direction. The Lord restored me to Himself - and to my inheritance. If you have failed in some way, perhaps have even run from God, He wants to do the same for you. Don't accept a lie that says your sin lessens His love for you. Abba runs to meet His returning kids. Yes, He needs your humility, sometimes even your brokenness, but never the crippling paralysis caused by condemnation. Toward the end of the 19th century, Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel awoke one morning to read his own obituary in the local newspaper: "Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, who died yesterday, devised a way for more people to be killed in a war than ever before, and he died a very rich man." Actually, it was Alfred's older brother who had died; a reporter had botched the obituary. However, the account had a profound effect on Alfred Nobel. He decided that he wanted to be known for something other than inventing the means for killing people in war, and amassing great wealth in the process. So he initiated the Nobel Peace Prize, the award for those who foster peace. Nobel said, "Every man ought to have the chance to correct his epitaph in midstream and write a new one."3 Your story isn't over - go home to Dad. Pray with me: Father, we thank You for entrusting us with so much and sharing all that You have. We don't want to squander our inheritances. We want to be responsible stewards of Your promises and provision. Holy Spirit, help us to ascribe worth and rightly handle every spiritual blessing extended to us through the gift of Your Son. Truly You are good in every way - a faithful Friend, a loving Father, and a gracious Comforter. You never give up on us. Thank You for drawing us back to Your heart with unfailing love. Thank You for Your redeeming heart. Father, we love Your house! This is where we belong; the place where Your goodness and glory dwell. All our fears and failures disappear when we return to You. And the pleasure of Your company is, once again, our reward. In Your Son’s name we pray, amen. Today’s post was taken from my book The Pleasure of His Company. Dutch Sheets, The Pleasure of His Company (Grand Rapids, MI: Bethany House Publishers, 2014), pp 183-189. Watch the video here: 1. Adapted from S.D. Gordon, What Will It Take to Change the World (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1979, pp 17-21. 2. James Rowe, “Love Lifted Me,” 1912 (lyrics in the public domain). 3. David C. Cooper, Faith Under Fire (Cleveland, TN: Pathway Press, 2001), p 187.

Day 21, Chapter 21: The Visit I watched the cesarean-section delivery of a baby on television once. It was on one of those educational channels that enlighten us to things we need to know to survive in life. Thank God for satellite TV! I also saw a face-lift on the same channel. They peeled the skin right off the face! Believe me, now I know why they say beauty is only skin deep! They sucked up a bunch of cellulite, then pulled the skin back up. I don't know what kind of cells those are, but they also sucked up some fat - I knew what that was. Seemed to me they should have left the "lite" cells and sucked up the fat cells, but I reckon they had some reason for doing what they did. The things we do to look better. The delivery of the baby fascinated me most. I always figured they just cut the skin and out plopped the baby. No way! They pert-near (that's Texan for nearly) turned that poor woman inside out. When they finally got to the baby, it was all they could do to pull him out. I don't know why he held on like he did. If he had been seeing what I was seeing, he'd have wanted out of there fast. Anyway, all of us need to be educated on the finer points of C-sections and face-lifts. And if you're gonna read a book by someone, you probably want to know that person is well versed in many areas of life. We don't need no more dumb authors!1 Hopefully, by now you know there is a method to my madness, and somehow - perhaps minutely, but somehow - this relates to our subject. The New Testament speaks of our minds having a "veil" (kalupsis), which prohibits us from clearly understanding spiritual matters: “Even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ who is the image of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4) Kalupsis simply means "to hide or cover". My lexicons said the inside of a tree is veiled by bark; the inside of a human body is veiled by skin. I understood immediately! Interestingly, a "revelation" comes from the same Greek word; it is kalupsis with the prefix apo added - apokalupsis. Apo means "off" or "away", so literally a revelation is an unveiling or uncovering. As I watched those surgeries, I received a revelation of the inside of a human body - at least some of it. God wants to reveal "inside" information to us. This could be special insight into a verse of scripture, the solution to a problem we've been asking Him about, or direction we've been seeking. Any information revealed to us by the Holy Spirit, versus information we glean intellectually, is revelation. It should come as no surprise that the primary place to receive revelation is the Lord's presence. He wants to speak to us, not shout from far away. Spending time with God and His Word allows Him to access our minds. Like a surgeon with a scalpel He can peel back the veil, revealing to us spiritual insights and His wisdom for our lives. The power of the revelation flowing in Christ's presence can be seen through a meeting He had with some of His early followers. As He was beginning His earthly ministry, Jesus visited John the Baptist, who publicly announced concerning Him, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29, 36). Two of John's disciples heard this stunning announcement and decided to check. One of them was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, who became one of the twelve disciples. As they followed Him, Jesus noticed, turned to them, and asked, "What do you seek?" Their answer was interesting. "Rabbi (which translated means 'Teacher'), where are you staying?" "Come, and you will see," was His invitation to them. They took Him up on His offer and ended up spending the day with Him (v. 39). If you're happy with things as they are, spending a day with Jesus isn't a good idea! Having a private audience with Him for an entire day is going to change you. Radically. The conversation might be superficial at first. At some point, however, you would no doubt ask personal questions concerning you and your future. Everyone thinks about purpose. Experts tell us the desire to know our purpose is one of the strongest desires we humans have. Did these two men ask Jesus about this? We don't know for certain. But something Andrew heard while with Jesus impacted him so greatly he decided on a career change! Destiny flows from days spent with Jesus. Another revelation Andrew received that day had to do, not with his own identity, but Christ’s. He began the day by referring to Jesus as a teacher ("Rabbi"); he ended it by calling Him the Messiah. "He found first his own brother Simon, and said to him, 'We have found the Messiah' (which translated means Christ)" (John 1:41). Andrew received the two most important revelations needed for a successful life that day: who Christ is, which is the key to unlocking everything in life, and who he was. When those two things are known, they unlock destiny. The purpose of anything is found in the mind of its creator, not in itself. Self-identity comes from identifying and knowing the One who made us. You'll never really find yourself until you find Him. Andrew found both that day. At the end of Christ's ministry, two more of His followers had a revelatory encounter with Him. The meeting occurred just after the cross; to say their world had turned topsy-turvy would be a gross understatement. To have discovered, lived with, and traveled with Jesus for three years, only to lose Him, would be life's cruelest injustice. These two men had heard earlier in the day that Christ had risen from the dead. But, really, who would believe two grief-stricken ladies claiming to have been visited by angels? As they walked the seven-mile journey to Emmaus, they were discussing this too-good-to-be-true report and all that had transpired over the past few days. That's when He arrived. "And it came about that while they were conversing and discussing, Jesus himself approached, and began traveling with them. But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him" (Luke 24:15-16). "What are you discussing?" He wanted to know. They gave Jesus a brief summary, expressing their surprise that He would even have to ask. "What else would we be discussing?" was there inference. It seems everyone in Jerusalem could think of little else than what had transpired with Christ the last few days, since so many of them had thought He might be the long-awaited Messiah. They spoke to Him of their devastation and also of the rumor that He had risen from the dead. Jesus, His identity still hidden from them, "explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures" (v. 27), including the fact that He needed to suffer and die. Though they still didn't know it was Jesus, His words began impacting their hearts. "Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us... explaining the Scriptures to us?" they stated (v. 32). When they reached their destination, the men pleaded with Jesus to spend the night. The Lord agreed to do so, and during dinner, "He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized Him" (vv. 30-31). He disappeared from their site at that moment, and they hurried back the seven miles to Jerusalem with the good news: Christ was, indeed, risen. I find it more than a coincidence that after hiding from these men who He was, the Lord chose to release the revelation "in the breaking of the bread" (v. 35). Was the timing His way of saying to them, “Sup with me and I will reveal to you hidden things?” I believe so. Feed on His words (Matthew 4:4). Eat them. As you do, revelation will come. He will unveil Himself to you, just as He did these two men. And as occurred with Andrew, He will also reveal to you your purpose and destiny. Spend a day with Jesus. Pray with me: Father, there is so much we need to hear from You. Your Words are spirit and life. They feed our spirits and give us life. Filled with revelation and wisdom, they give us the insights we need to succeed in life. Remind us, in these hectic lives we live, to take the time and sup with You. As our Creator, You alone know what is best for us and the purpose for which You made us. We do not want to live our lives fulfilling a purpose that isn’t that for which You created us. As we walk with You, You will reveal our destiny to us, and reveal Yourself to us, as well. Help us all to know and remember that these times with You are the most important of our lives. We love you. Amen. Today’s post was taken from my book The Pleasure of His Company. Dutch Sheets, The Pleasure of His Company (Grand Rapids, MI: Bethany House Publishers, 2014), pp 173-181. 1. This chapter introduction originally appeared in Dutch Sheets, Intercessory Prayer (Ventura, CA: Regal, 1996), pp 159-160. Used by permission. Watch the video here:

Day 20, Chapter 20: The Lingerers When I was a student at Christ For The Nations Institute thirty-five years ago- back when I could run for miles and still had a six-pack, all my hair, and no wrinkles - I was diligent to spend quality amounts of time everyday with God. I had actually developed this lifestyle prior to attending CFNI. Before work each day I'd wake up an hour or more earlier than necessary in order to spend time praying and reading the Word. I loved hanging out with God then, and still do. My practice while a student was to pray and/or spend time reading Scripture for at least an hour before school began with chapel at 8:00 a.m. Chapel didn't consist of a message but was thirty-five minutes of glorious worship. Combining these two things meant that I had a good hour and a half at the beginning of every day to enjoy the pleasure of His company. Many days I would also pray another thirty to forty-five minutes after our last class ended at noon. I would then rush to the cafeteria before it closed at 1:00 p.m. During these forty-five minutes I would pray and meditate over what I had learned that day, as well as anything the Holy Spirit would bring to my mind to intercede for. These times of lingering became special to me, and I believe they were to the Lord, as well. I mention this two plus hours per day I spent with the Lord not to boast, but to emphasize the fact that anyone can develop a love for His presence. I was anything but a spiritual giant at this time of my life, only very hungry for God. One afternoon at my usual 12:45 time, I came down from the balcony, where I often spent this last forty-five minutes with the Lord. The student council was selling tickets for a banquet, and they were just putting their supplies away, preparing to leave. Two of them, a guy and a girl, were carrying a folding table to a closet. The girl, whom I had never met, was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. I decided right then to marry her! I quickly grabbed her end of the table, demonstrating my chivalry and muscle. The student council member on the other end of the table, whom I knew, introduced us. It took me a few weeks to get the nerve to ask her out, but when I did she quickly said yes. She, too, was smitten. Ceci and I were married nine months later. That, my friend, is what happens when you linger with God! Okay, you may not be rewarded with a spouse, but good things do happen to "lingerers." I've always believed God orchestrated the timing of our meeting just to demonstrate how much He enjoyed our times together. It would be just like Him to do so - He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). Of course, the greatest reward is simply the privilege of connecting with Him. One definition of linger is "to leave slowly and hesitantly." If you don't find yourself leaving God's presence slowly and hesitantly, there's a short somewhere in the connection. When you truly connect with Him, it's like a warm bed on a wintery morning - you don't want to leave it. Regular visitors to the throne of grace become lingerers, pure and simple. Charles Swindoll shares this story: “I vividly remember sometime back being caught in the undertow of too many commitments in too few days. It wasn't long before I was snapping at my wife and our children, choking down my food at meal times, and feeling irritated at those unexpected interruptions through the day. Before long, things around our home started reflecting the pattern of my hurry-up style. It was becoming unbearable. I distinctly recall after supper one evening the words of our younger daughter, Colleen. She wanted to tell me something important that had happened to her at school that day. She hurriedly began, ‘Daddy, I wanna tell you somethin'andIwilltellyoureallyfast.’ “Suddenly realizing her frustration, I answered, ‘Honey, you can tell me... And you don't have to tell me really fast. Say it slowly.’ I'll never forget her answer: ‘Then listen slowly.’”1 You'll never find yourself having to say to your heavenly Father, "Then listen slowly." He has plenty of time for you and loves it when you linger in His presence. In fact, His biggest problem is our limited time with Him, not our lingering. We are often in such a hurry we actually want Him to listen really fast. But He isn't our spiritual Santa Claus, wanting us to take our two minutes in His lap, give Him our wish list, and be on our way. He is Abba...Papa. Our Father is not easily offended. He is patient and long-suffering, and His loving-kindness is everlasting. But still, I can't help but wonder if He doesn't get offended at the way we treat Him. We give Him such little time, expecting Him to listen fast and perform quickly. I have a friend who actually believes the Lord once told him, "Don't defile My presence with your impatience." Ouch. David, the shepherd and psalmist who became king over Israel, was a lingerer; he loved being in God's presence and he left slowly and hesitantly. David once said, "One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple" (Psalm 27:4). Notice the words dwell, behold, and meditate. Those are lingering terms. He also said, "O Lord, I love the habitation of Your house and the place where Your glory dwells" (Psalm 26:8). You don't make statements like that unless you've learned to linger. First we learn to linger, then he becomes addictive and we love to linger. Listen to David's language: "I love the habitation of Your house." I enjoy reading about David and his walk with God. It has been revealing and enriching to observe their relationship in the Scriptures - the good, the bad, and the ugly. One thing I especially like is that David kept it real, sharing with God his most intimate thoughts. Whether he was joyful, discouraged, lonely, or on top of the world, David talked to the Lord about it. He knew God wanted to be involved in his world, and he wanted to be in God's. Eventually, a change came in their relationship, a change so subtle that most people never think about it. Many people love God's presence. Thankfully, the worship movement of the last thirty to forty years has taught many of us the difference between singing and worshiping. And as we have learned to truly worship, we've discovered the glorious truth that it attracts His very presence (Psalm 22:3). Through this process, we've come to expect and enjoy the presence of the Lord. David understood this and was a passionate lover of God's presence. As much as he loved the Lord's presence, however, David was never called "a man after God's presence." He had the awe-inspiring honor of being referred to by the Lord as "a man after My heart" (see Acts 13:22, italics mine). There can be a huge difference between pursuing God's heart and experiencing His presence. It is possible to be in a person's presence and never make it into their heart. There are plenty of people I'm willing to hang out with, but very few I’ll allow into my heart. That part of me is reserved for the people I've spent enough time with to know I can trust their motives and intentions. I need to be confident my heart has value to them. It is breakable; I want it handled with care. God is no different. His heart can be broken. His emotions can be wounded and His hopes dashed. He allows many into His presence but is much more selective with His heart. His presence is free, but His heart will cost you time and effort. But oh, how worth the effort He is. Pay the price to find His heart, no matter what it costs you! I emphasize to young leaders that when considering their futures, not to focus first on developing a vision or a big dream. So often young people are challenged to dream big, to develop a large vision. Personally, I've discovered how easy it is for my own ambition and selfish desires to sneak into my plans when I begin with the dream itself. I urge them to seek God's heart, not a dream. When they find His heart, hidden inside they’ll also discover their purpose and destiny. Then they can dream, knowing it's God's dream for their life. Sadly, you may not encounter much competition on this quest for God's heart. Many love His presence and are willing to sing a few songs once or twice a week to enter it. Few, however, are after His heart. Choose to become one who is. Don't settle for a cursory look; be a lingerer. Talk to Him slowly, listen to Him slowly, and leave Him slowly. Pray with me: Father, You are worthy of our time and attention, of the greatest affections of our hearts. You are generous in rewarding those who diligently seek You with greater glimpses of the beauty of Your heart. Forgive us for our impatience, Lord, when approaching Your throne of grace. Like Joshua at the Tent of Meeting, we want to be those who love to linger in Your presence, leaving slowly and hesitantly. This one thing we ask for and seek: to dwell in Your house all our days, beholding Your beauty and meditating upon Your Word. Lingering... lingering… We want to go further still than enjoying the glorious place where You dwell. We love to enjoy the pleasure of Your presence, but want also to seek after Your heart. We know there's a high price that must be paid to enter that intimate place, but we’ve determined to give the time and effort to find and know Your heart. We will linger, longer still… In Christ’s name...Amen. Today’s post was taken from my book The Pleasure of His Company. Dutch Sheets, The Pleasure of His Company (Grand Rapids, MI: Bethany House Publishers, 2014), pp 165-173. Charles R. Swindoll, Man to Man (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996), p 272. Watch the video here: