Sometimes fourth graders trust their parents with the same lackluster willingness that we trust God. I spent about half an hour yesterday reasoning with my son that his mom had researched the necessary data and learned that the governmentally-enforced testing he has to take this week would not determine whether or not he would make it into fifth grade. Stressed, anxious and highly doubtful, Landon was on the verge of tears as he declared repeatedly that he knew what his mother and I were saying but everyone at school was saying the opposite. The little fellow was struggling with trusting our information so I changed tactics and worked on his need to trust our love and care for him. Eventually, that settled the matter. He may have believed that we had swallowed some erroneous data about the tests, but he was convinced that we loved him too much to lead him astray. He got out of the truck and went on his way and immediately Holy Spirit whispered to me, “You do the same thing with your Father. You silently wonder if He will really come through.”
“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward Him.” – 2 Chronicles 16:9 {ESV}
At some point we need to make up our minds concerning whether or not God is for us. So many of us who have experienced the greatest gift of redemption through the work of Christ have lived long seasons where we wrestle with whether or not God will give us the lesser gift of temporary provision. While we sing and speak about God’s lavish grace in saving us from sin we might secretly wonder if He will aid us in the things of the right now. This concern is nothing new, for God motivated the Apostle Paul to address the question of God’s care for us in Romans 8:32 when he asked, “He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with him graciously give us all things?” More than once I have wondered if it breaks the infinite heart of the Almighty when His own kids are suspicious of His goodness. Clearly this is not how our Heavenly Father wishes for us to live – in doubt, fear, anxiety or dread – but, keeping it real here, we sometimes do live this way.
Accoridng to the 2nd Chronicles verse above, God is actively scanning earth’s population so that He might locate someone in which to deposit a fresh and potent measure of His goodness. He’s not like the fathers that some grew up with who reluctantly meted out blessings to their children. He’s not like that authority in your life who constantly reminds you that you don’t rise to the demand and are consequently disqualified from blessing. God is not the cosmic warden of the prison of your limitations who holds a celestial clipboard, marking off all the reasons why He’s justified in making your life empty and pointless. This is a false portrayal of a different god – the god of this world – Satan who is the lying thief who wants to plunder your life of the richness God intends for you. God is a blesser. God is a giver. God never worries about running out so He isn’t hesitant about being lavish and full toward you. We may struggle to believe that but it doesn’t make it any less true. Scripture reveals an engaged God who is active and eager in placing His bountiful mark on someone. His eyes are focused and His heart is motivated as He looks for someone. Someone who is ready for His best. Someone who has honored Him in preparing a heart that is blameless.
Don’t flake out right there! Stop! The verse doesn’t say a perfect heart. It says blameless. If His blessing required perfection in the recipients then our Father would have nowhere to place His eternal goodness. Blameless means honest. Blameless means open. Blameless people are those who aren’t playing games with their Redeemer anymore. Blameless indicates a person who is presently not living under any justifiable condemnation. We might describe the blameless person as broken but believing, needy but confident, having nothing to bargain with and no longer attempting to do so.
Blameless people are like little children whose arms are outstretched and upstretched waiting on God to meet them in their helplessness. Those are the people God is scanning earth for. I’m not the strongest, holiest, smartest, most motivated, most deliciously pedigreed, most faithful or most fruitful. But I’m learning how to be dependent and honest with God. He’s broken me of being a poser. He’s assured me that I don’t have to fear coming to the table with nothing to offer. He tells me to bring my need and not to try and package it prettily. God wants to show His goodness to me and offers strong support to me if I will take the time to honor Him by evaluating my heart as I approach Him. Don’t miss it – 2 Chronicles 16:9 teaches that He’s the one searching for someone to bless. I don’t have to talk Him into it.
I just need to be kneeling where His gracious gaze rests. A blameless heart will lead me there. A blameless heart will do the same for you. Let’s not forget this.
One of the qualities in your teaching that I bond too most, is when you mention the insidious ways our humanity and our enemy convolute God’s Word.
I have never wavered in belief in his goodness, desire or ability. I often hear the whispers of pride and the enemy. Those “shoulds” that leave me feeling benched in the Kingdom.
Knowing that those I highly respect, like you, contend with the same need…places me back on that field.
I may be Rudy, short, underdog, fumbles for a while….but what a great ending for Rudy!
Our deliverance is infinite. And touchdowns are not the determining factor.
Much needed grace from our Father, through you today, Brother.