Contemplation #217
Fear the Lord and the king, my son, and do not join with the rebellious. Proverbs 24:21

The fear of God is a subject that often makes us uncomfortable, and for good reason. Too frequently human distortion has caused us to associate the fear of God with a circumstance where we terrified of God; where there is a lack of love, security, peace, and goodness. However, the real meaning of fearing the Lord is defined in this wise saying as the opposite of rebellion. To have fidelity and loyalty to the Lord, as the king, is to live in fear of the Lord. Let us fear the Lord as submissive and true subjects who live obediently rather than rebel against our King.

Contemplation #218
Fear the Lord and the king, my son, and do not join with the rebellious. Proverbs 24:21

The enticing invitation of the rebellious is constantly before us. Our first defense must be the recognition of rebellion for what it is. There are so many ways in which we may leave our submission to God: through willfulness, through ambition, by our plans and devices, and in all types of disobedience. Persistence in any of these constitutes a rebelliousness against God. Often the counsel of others, given as prudent advice, is actually an invitation to join the rebellious . . . who live by their own wits rather than in submission to God.

Contemplation #219
Fear the Lord and the king, my son, and do not join with the rebellious. Proverbs 24:21

The fear of the Lord is not primarily a feeling or emotion we have toward God, but a way of living. We typically think of fear as a cold dread in the pit of our being, or a sense of fright that sweeps over us as a shudder. The counsel of wisdom is about a fear that is expressed not in the feeling of dread or fright, but in a manner of willing what is good, thinking what is holy, and acting in obedience and humility toward God. To fear the Lord is to live in a specific way of respect toward the will of God.

Contemplation #214
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Thankfulness comes out of humility. To be grateful for anything requires a lowliness of spirit and heart, for the proud always chafe over how they deserve more than they have. Constant gratitude is possible only by those who truly believe they are owed nothing, and therefore are exceedingly joyful and thankful over whatever they receive in life. If being thankful in all circumstances will not be a bitter chore for us, then we must first be humble in all circumstances.

Contemplation #215
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Many times when we seek to discover the will of God in our lives we are searching for a direction such as what job, what decision, or what direction with regard to choices we face. Much more important than finding God’s will in those matters is realizing that God’s will for us is clearly identified in the shaping and direction for our hearts. The will of God for each one of us is to cultivate thankfulness, a pure and simple gratitude toward God for being God to us. When we know this will of God for us, we learn how to make all the other life choices within that will.

Contemplation #216
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

In Christ Jesus. When we are brought into Christ, all circumstances are redeemed and given new meaning. Conditions under which we would not have been able to give thanks are transformed, because we are ourselves transformed, so that in all circumstances we can give thanks. We are brought into Christ so that we can come to place where gratitude is possible in all things. For what purpose has God brought us into Christ? So that we might give thanks continually.

Contemplations #211
At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. Mark 5:30

This very interesting verse seems to indicate that Jesus did not ‘control’ the power of God that worked through him. Jesus was unaware of the woman’s approach, but the Father knew what was happening. The Father healed the woman, seeing her come in faith, and Jesus was only aware of what had happened after the event. The power of God that worked through Jesus was not subject to Jesus’ will, but his will was subject to the Father’s. Even at his arrest, Jesus clearly stated that he could ask his Father for 12 legions of angels (Matt. 26:53) . . . which is entirely different than having those angels to call by himself. If we are to be like Jesus, our only work is to desire to be submissive to God. God will work as he chooses to his glory through those who are humbly submissive.

Contemplations #212
At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. Mark 5:30

Is it hard for us to imagine that Jesus lived sometimes in ignorance of what his Father was doing? If even the Son of God in this life did not know what God willed to do in every moment for his glory, how much less should we. Since we cannot expect to know how God will work, our best course is to cultivate a constant submission to him . . . and so we will find ourselves caught up in his working through power. The more we accept our own powerlessness the more we experience the power of God in us and through us. The power of God comes on those who have no power, seek no power, and desire only God himself.

Contemplations #213
At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. Mark 5:30

There is a distinct blessing and joy in being caught up in the work of God in a surprising way. We should eagerly anticipate such events, rather than be disturbed that we are not going to have advance knowledge of what God is doing. Through humble submission we make ourselves available, and through attentiveness to the constant presence of God we can become aware of ways in which God is moving in us, through us, and around us. Jesus’ disciples were amazed that he could sense a specific touch in a jostling crowd, but he was attuned to what God was doing and how he moved in that crowd. Our lives are like a crowd of distractions, with very distinct divine events hidden within.

Contemplation #208
Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 8:19

This request of Simon may be easily dismissed by us as patently and obviously wrong. We might think that we could never err in so gross a manner. Yet, the essence of Simon’s request is the desire for spiritual power. How many times have we yearned to pray more effectively, with more power and results? Have we wished that great and godly works could be done through us – our words, actions, touch, and prayer? Through ‘our’ ministry? When we desire the power of God to be in us, for whatever good of the kingdom that we might envision, do we really have a request different from Simon’s on our hearts?

Contemplation #209
When they arrived, the prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 8:15

Simon observed that the Spirit came upon the Samaritan believers when Peter and John laid their hands on them, but evidently he concluded incorrectly that this power was subject to the will of the apostles – that they could bestow the Spirit, and that he too could receive this power to wield. This was consistent with his understanding of sorcery which is all about harnessing power. However, Peter and John first prayed before laying their hands on anyone. The Spirit goes where the Spirit wills, and no power of God is subject to human will. We ought to forget every impulse toward desiring the power of God working through us, and instead seek to be humbly submissive to God’s will. The desire for power is too tempting, particularly for us, some of the most powerful people in the world.

Contemplation #210
I see that you are full of bitterness . . . Acts 8:23

Peter, in correcting Simon, diagnoses the source of his aspiration for power . . . bitterness. He was a man who’d trafficked in power, reveled in the amazement of people, and enjoyed their accolades. He still desired the prestige, and mourned the loss he’d suffered by the arrival of Philip. He was no longer the center of the attention of others, and with this new power he could see himself returning to the privileged status he’d lost. Our own desire to experience the power of God may be rooted in a bitterness about our own insignificance, even though we may not be consciously aware of it. This is precisely why we should seek only the life of a servant, and embrace the insignificance of the lowly. Our work is to humble ourselves.