Self Inventory

 Michael Sprague

I was asked today to pause and do a little inventory of my soul. Jesus said to the disciples, “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?”

How is my soul today? Parched? A lot of cobwebs and dust where fresh sprouts used to grow? Immersed in God and like swimming in deep water? Living out of people-pleasing, insecurity or the desire to feel needed? These are good questions for reflection. 

It is easy to be a human doing rather than a human being. It is easy to let the work of God through me overwhelm the work of God in me.  It’s good to pay attention to my interior world because out of the heart flows the rivers of life (Proverbs 4:23).

I was asked to think of a few verses that speak to my soul. A couple quickly came to mind.

1. John 15:5- I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.

My favorite verse. I need to keep connected to the SOURCE of life. There are a lot of good RESOURCES but one SOURCE- Jesus the vine. I don’t want the Holy Spirit whispering to me today, “Michael, what part of NOTHING don’t you understand?”

2. Psalm 1:2-3- But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.                                    

What an invitation to receive from the Living Water and allow His life to flow into mine. It is good to pause, reflect and meditate. 

Now I think I’m ready to tackle the day.

Bible 56

 Humility and meekness are not qualities that our culture promotes. Most in our culture have admired Mother Teresa but few would adopt her lifestyle and generosity. Keys taught a radical life asking us to follow Him. I’ve minimized the importance of His teaching, but I know He is gently asking me to change my outlook. To grasp Him, I’m less worried about the future and less anxious. I hope you find Thai true for you. 

Bible 55

 God’s mathematics curriculum is all about multiplication. Investing in Him brings multiple results. Investing in our family has a generational effect that multiplies far more than we could ever expect. Investing in a friend like you, Blake, goes on to another generation and more. But it also has a return investment of purpose and meaning that no one understands but the ones investing in each other. Jesus lives His life in front of the disciples, teaching them to follow His example. I wonder what the disciples reflected on after the resurrection. His example made a whole more sense as they taught others. 

Bible 54

 One of the things I’m learning by reading the Bible is that God worked with flawed people. They were not perfect but God invited them to participate in a plan that was far different than what they thought. King David responded to God’s presence over and over, but he still made mistakes that has lasting consequences. We can intellectually know the right stuff, say the right words when we are with the right people, but only God knows the real person inside. I’m hoping you and I can develop an intense wisdom that the rest of our culture seems to ignore or take too lightly. May we have open eyes and ears to what He is teaching us in our experiences each day. 

Hope Has. name 3

 I’m reminded again how long it took God to develop Moses into a leader. He had the best life available in Pharaoh’s household, and endured 40 years in the desert. Quite a contrast yet God trained him to be His man. Moses developed an intense communion with our Father God as did Stephen. Stephen tried to teach the rioters and resistant mob about what God has done through Moses. His talk wasn’t to false idol worshippers, but maybe they were placing their trust in a political agenda that was far different than the Kingdom Jesus promised. 

“Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time.  You will never cease to be the most amazed person on earth at what God has done for you on the inside.” - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

Hope Has a Name 2

 Stephen is a contrast to Peter, who denies Jesus three times prior to the resurrection. After the resurrection, Stephen stands tall, empowered by the Spirit to tell the trusty. I would imagine there weee so many things running through Stephen’s heart.  His passion and love to set the record straight was obvious with his recounting of Hebrew history. The lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph weee not isolated stories that built a culture. They weee personal and cultural stories of the Triune God reaching out to us, showing us His love. These lives weee filled with anxiety and turmoil, yet God was in their moments, showing Himself to them. The same can be said for us. He is present in our moments, transforming us, drawing us to Himself. 

“Patience is more than endurance. A saint's life is in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see, and He stretches and strains, and every now and again the saint says--'I cannot stand anymore.' God does not heed, He goes on stretching till His purpose is in sight, then He lets fly. Trust yourself in God's hands. Maintain your relationship to Jesus Christ by the patience of faith. 'Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.” - Oswald Chambers

Hope Has A Name 1

 What are most people hoping for in 2024?  How could those hopes be based on a shaky foundation?  I’m guilty of placing hope in finances, government, health, and my list is long. But these hopes have a lot of factors out of my control. The Biblical hero Stephen could have kept quiet and escaped the riot. But he did not hold back to explain his passion about Jesus Christ, going to great length to describe how blind his audience was to history and prophetic promises. If backed into a corner, would you and I be so articulate?  What would we fear?  Would our hope overcome these fears, empowering us to not back down?  

“The remarkable thing about God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else.” - Oswald Chambers