THINK ON THESE THINGS

PERFECT

Pt. 1 

                    by Geralyn McGill

At the cutting edge EVERYTHING is surrendered up to GOD. 

GOD perfects HIS.

What you dedicate to God, HE will PERFECT.  God perfects what is HIS to the very extent it is HIS.  HE makes excellent, perfect, what is surrendered to HIM. 

Have there been entanglements, holdbacks, places you feel stuck?  Have unresolved issues, relationships, conditions, or even body parts frustrated you?  Has praying your will concerning these things (knowing that your will is for the best of all concerned) left it yet unresolved?  God has provided details in the Bible and modern-day testimonies about people in similar spiritual situations and how they emerged successfully. 

That, which is totally dedicated to HIM, HE makes excellent work of; GOD beautifies it and makes it perfect.  Have you ever desired something so “sorely” it made you ill emotionally or physically?  You looked around and saw others with the thing you desired, and wondered about why it was not likewise given to you?  

The word “perfect” is translated from the Hebrew word tamiym, which means “whole, entire” or “complete.”  Scripture tells us Noah was tamiym (Gen 6:9).   God invited Abraham to be tamiym when Abraham was still Abram (Gen 17:1).

That which is given to God is rightfully given to God.  All belongs to Him. It is only natural to desire, and sometimes God-given desires are put inside us to accomplish God’s purpose.  However, it is only reasonable that everything we have should be given back to Him.  Jesus gave His all to us. 

There are questions we want to explore that we won’t find expressly answered in the Bible unless we know exactly where to go and how to understand.  This, and any Christian writing is to help God’s people learn to make sound judgment guided by the Holy Spirit and supported by Scripture (John 7:24; 14:26; 16:13).  Your questions are healthy to whet your appetite for Godly wisdom, to cause you to seek Him to seek a personal relationship with Him.  When your curiosity is provoked and you have questions about spiritual matters, God is available.  Scholars may agree or disagree about theological issues, depending on their predisposition, method of research, denomination, and many other factors.  God directs you to HIMSELF for questioning (James 1:5).  Surely God prepares teachers and ministers to receive revelation and to help direct you; but because there are varying opinions concerning spiritual matters, always confirm with God to be absolutely sure.  God loves to share information; and all the while your relationship with Him will grow when your curiosity leads you to question Him about the things He delights for you to learn. 

A Modern-Day Question

A couple had a newborn baby with several illnesses.  People who knew prayed for the complete healing of the child.  However, the child finally succumbed to the physical ailments and died.  It was the most saddening, disappointing and heartbreaking ordeal.   Being the curious one that I am, I asked God why this happened.  I heard this answer:  If the child had been given, dedicated to God, the child would have survived and been miraculously healed.  During much prayer for healing of the child and for a miracle for all involved, the offer to sacrifice the child to God had not been offered—likely not thought of to consider.  Even when, as in this case, one feels they are at fault for the problems that come to them, God will take a situation, a person, a place, and forgive and miraculously perfect it when it is given to Him.  It is so good to study and to know the word of God.

We may not know not to hold on to problems and people, as if we might do more for our loved ones than God; we risk then having to use our own power.  When we hold people, as if we love them more than God, we are blessed if we find that we cannot do more for or with them than their God Who created them.  That which would be perfect cannot be split.  The degree to which it is HIS is the degree to which it will be perfected.  God does have a course for learning for those who would be perfected. 

Those who have not learned much about God may still have a level of distrust, fear that if one should give their beloved thing to God, He may do other than what is right or fair with their precious, beloved desire?  If so, we may learn from others who grew to trust God more, and get to know Him better ourselves.  We would find, as they did, that He is more worthy than all our best thoughts of Him.  He is far brighter than our lightest visions of Him.  He is far ahead of our best desires for us, and our plans for our precious desire fall far short of the glory of His plans for our precious desires or for us.   His love for us is greater than our love for ourselves, and He is far more intelligent than we could ever hope.  We eventually learn to do the right thing--to let go of our own control of earthly things and give them to Him, to Whom all things belonging to His children rightfully belong.

In this multi-phased study, Part 1 today, review and exploration of several passages of Scripture and modern-day experiences will show that God perfects what is committed to Him, and that which will represent Him fully.

Do we desire a spiritual condition, or a natural “thing”?

Can we be sure we will not do anything selfish or against God’s will with the assets we are requesting?

Examine:

1.   Why do we want this?  If we do not truly know our own heart, ask what the most pointed result to come of this is—the result the heart is most gleeful to anticipate?  Then think, is this pleasing to God?  Is this beneficial to the Kingdom?  Or is this for my own self?

It is possible that something that we receive joy from may benefit the Kingdom too, but if our own motivation is to please ourselves, can we receive the same joy if someone else accomplishes the blessing or the task?  If you know no one can achieve your desire with the same flavor you bring, and your passion will not abate, you are most likely being purified so that your intentions are GOD'S and you do not add sorrow to the blessing.

2.   How much of this blessing do we anticipate keeping for ourselves?  Do we plan to keep, for example, 90%; and then to give God 10%?  Now this question applies not only to financial blessings, but also to glory and honor.  Even though we may not know our own hearts, God does know our hearts.  He is ahead, far ahead of our thoughts; and He may be dealing with us accordingly.

You may think of someone now, “Lord, I know so-and-so who has just that thing I want and more—in abundance, and they are consuming it upon their own lusts.  Why do You bless them, but not me?”  Yes, when you think about the spiritual view of that situation, consider: Do you truly want that—that spiritual condition?   “But,” you say, “Lord, if you blessed me with a beautiful wife I would never mistreat her or cheat on her like Brother Pumpkin Barrel.”   “If I had my healing now, or my fabulous business deal I would never boast and glory in my superiority like they do without giving You all glory.  And, I would never think of quitting church.”   Great!  Remember, some things are shown to us as examples of what we should NOT do.  And I can hear the Holy Spirit saying, “By the time you are ready for your desires to come to pass you surely WON’T do any of those things.”  You will be more like Job.  The word “perfect” was used to describe him.  He was upright.  He feared God and he eschewed evil, we read. 

A Biblical Account

Elkanah was a godly man from the tribe of Ephraim.  His name means acquired by God.  Hannah, his wife and the mother of Samuel, means gracious.  Peninnah, Elkanah’s second wife’s name, means pearl.  As for Hannah, God had “shut up her womb.”  Why? 

She suffered because she was childless, taunted and provoked by Peninnah, the other wife, because of her lack of success in the mothering arena.  Peninnah had both sons and daughters.  It could have been that Peninnah was taken in marriage to make up for Hannah’s inability to have a child.   There was a competition taking place.  Sometimes others provoke you for your lack, and suggest you lack what God has held back because God does not favor you—but HE favors them.  They boast themselves over you and look down on you.  Peninnah was blessed with children in abundance, while Hannah lacked.  It seemed so unfair.  Yet, why?  Her loving husband tried to make it up to Hannah in other ways.  God is so good to us with delicious appetizers and salads while we wait for the main course.  The wish Hannah most desired in her life was unanswered, while other desires were granted.  God kept her well, and continually reminded her she was loved through her loving husband, though her most ardent desire was unfulfilled. Had Hannah conceived early, before the struggle and the shame of barrenness, would she have dedicated her child, Samuel, completely to God? 

After Hannah had all she could take, when her soul was bitter, she mourned and cried; she had no appetite and could not eat.  Her husband worried about her, and he asked her why she was so upset.  He reminded her how especially good he was to her despite her not having a child.  He tried to comfort her, but her soul would not be comforted any more.  She wanted a child. 

People tell you to be grateful and to look at the blessings you have.  They remind you of how blessed you already are.  Elkanah tried to comfort her in this way, reminding her he had been better to her than ten sons.  But, when you want what you want  – not something you saw someone with last year and coveted for yourself ever since; not something you saw on television while you were going through a midlife crisis and thought it might take you back to your youth.  Not anything new; but that old thing you have always wanted, always prayed for and dreamed of since you were a little girl or a little boy but never had or achieved — that thing you wanted most in your life, that thing your heart cannot be fulfilled or comforted without is the only thing that will comfort you. 

This spiritually devout family traveled to the city of Shiloh for the yearly sacrifice.  Those who go out of their way to dedicate themselves and their time to God are rewarded (Hebrews 11:6).  Hannah cried out to The Lord in the temple.  Hannah made a solemn vow, a covenant, a deal with God.  She vowed that if The Lord would grant her a son, that she would dedicate that son to God’s ministry his entire life.  She said his hair would not be cut like the Nazarite vow stipulated.  This would mean Samuel would live his entire life in God’s professional service. 

Hannah was so grieved in her praying that the priest, Eli, misunderstood her; he accused Hannah of drunkenness because of her sad, even miserable countenance, and her strange seriousness while praying.  She and her praying appeared unusual to him.  Hope deferred does make the heart sick (Proverbs 13:12a).  

Hannah explained her actions to Eli. She was humble before Eli.  The Scripture does not tell us that she spoke back harshly to Peninnah, nor to Eli.  She was humble and she dealt with God, HimSelf.  This was apparently the best way to handle the situation successfully. After she explained her seemingly unusual actions Eli blessed Hannah and told her that God was going to grant her request. When a longing is fulfilled it is a tree of life (Proverbs 13:12b).     She became happy and joyful; her appetite returned and she ate.  Hannah and her husband then worshipped God.  They went back to Ramah, which means “high place,” and conceived the last judge of Israel. They conceived Samuel, who was also the first great prophet who prophesied within the Promised Land, the country of Israel.[i]  Hannah determined that as soon as Samuel was weaned from the breast, then she would dedicate him to the priesthood.  And just as promised, during their yearly trip to sacrifice in Shiloh, Hannah with her husband in agreement, turned Samuel over to the priests according to their vow, along with their yearly sacrifice of bullocks, flour and wine.  Samuel was indeed dedicated to God all his life; and the word of God tells us God let nothing Samuel ever said be false.   God made Samuel 100% accurate and reliable in his prophecies (1 Samuel 3:19).   God fulfilled their covenant in greater style than Hannah could have imagined.  God gave Hannah a child, and what a beautiful and perfect child God made!

The nation of Israel needed a Samuel. God created the conditions by which a Samuel would be created.  God creates the good and HE creates the ra, as well—the ra, the conditions necessary, the heat and the pressure required to transform black, smudgy coal into a pure, dazzling diamond (Isaiah 45:7).  The spiritual nature of the mother and the father were the foundation required.  The natural situation, societal expectations and the household situation, the provocation and years of longing, sacrifice and maturing with God created the pressure for Samuel to be offered to God completely. 

Samuel, Prophet and Judge of Israel, anointed Saul and David, the first two kings of Israel.   His presence was of key importance at the transition from one era, the era of the Judges, to the era of the Kings of Israel.  He was a strong military leader.  God used him mightily and relevantly because he was surrendered to God 100%.  There was never any account of Samuel backsliding or of Samuel, himself, bringing reproach upon his office.

What you totally and fully commit to God HE will perfect and make whole and complete.  Those arthritic hands, totally commit them to God in everything they do and watch God perfect and heal them.  Your business or ministry, totally commit it to God and watch God make it whole.  Commit your broken heart to God.  Commit your artwork or talent to HIS service.  Share with others as God instructs, and watch as God beautifies the humble with salvation (Psalm 149:4).  HE will deliver and make beautiful and victorious that which is not its own, but is HIS; for that which is HIS boasts of HIS CHARACTER and HIS GLORY.  I think I’d like to shine as HIS CHARACTER and HIS GLORY.  Wouldn’t you?  Give GOD 100% today.

Do you have questions or comments?  Agree?  Disagree?  Please share with us.  Your wisdom and your thoughts are welcome.

Part 2 coming soon . . .