Author: Meredith Beatty

Last time I talked about a TV show I had watched and later the Lord used His word to convict me about some things I’d seen on this show. There’s no need to name the show because it’s the principle that matters. So the Lord used some content on this show to teach me a deep lesson about sin. When I reflected on the passage in Psalm 97 and how holy and pure the Lord is, I immediately thought of a person on this show who delights in wearing clothing that make her look like a prostitute. She made comments that were vulgar. Let’s step back and call it what it was. She was choosing to portray herself as and speak like a whore and I was watching. I couldn’t just equivocate and say it was just TV or she was just being funny. God is very clear – sin is not funny.

“Hate evil, you who love the Lord.” Psalm 97:10
“Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.” Proverbs 3:7
“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.” Proverbs 8:13
“Hate evil, love good…” Amos 5:15
“Let love be without hypocrisy; abhor what is evil, cling to what is good.” Romans 12:9

I think television has fooled us into thinking that because actions are being shown on a screen and not right in front of us in our own living room then we are somehow detached from it and it doesn’t matter and shouldn’t affect us.

“But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22
“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.'” 1 Peter 1:14-16

The Bible does not talk about us being able to handle evil or tolerate certain sins. God uses violent language against sin and evil. I don’t think we really understand the extent of sin’s evil and destruction. Millions upon millions of animals were slaughtered by the Levites and rivers of their blood could not fully atone for and defeat sin.

It took the brutal death of God’s own Son on a cruel cross to defeat it. This is how much God hates sin. He hated it enough to give up His own Son to die.

To be neutral about sin is not an option. God says to abhor, hate, abstain from sin. To do otherwise is to believe the first lie ever told. “Did God actually say….?” Genesis 3

Summer is a great time to have extended periods of study and devotion in the Word of God.  The Lord has been very gracious this past week as I’ve been reading in Deuteronomy and the Psalms.  This morning I was in Psalm 97 –

 1. The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice.

 2 Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

3 Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side.

We may think that reality is everything we can see, hear, taste and touch before us but that is not the case.  Psalm 97 presents the true reality that transcends all the show and pretense of the world.  We cannot see this, yet, but it is true.  This is who God is.  He reigns over all the earth, right now.  Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne, right now.  Fire goes before him, right now.  In Daniel 7:9-10 Daniel has a vision of the throne of God that’s similar to what the psalmist presents.  His throne is a flame of fire and a river of fire was flowing before him.  In Revelation 1:14 Jesus is described as having eyes flaming with fire.

Thinking and meditating on this picture of God, of who he is right now on the throne “looking down on the sons of men” (Psalm 12) immediately brought conviction to my spirit.  The Lord spoke to me about something I watched last night on television but over the course of my time with Him, this conviction brought home a much deeper lesson about how little I understood sin’s evil treachery in the world and in my own fleshly heart.

Two years ago I couldn’t have written this post.  But after running two marathons in the past 9 months, 10 miles doesn’t seem so far anymore.  This morning I was out for a long run and it was so muggy.  I thought I’d get the best of the heat by going out early.  Well, 5:30am wasn’t early enough I guess.  Come to think of it, there probably isn’t a time during the day that won’t be hot and humid for the next three months in Atlanta.  Just gotta suck it up I guess.  Like I said, it was hot and muggy and the sun wasn’t even out yet!  Any visions of a fast pace quickly vanished.  I hooked up with two friends about 4 miles into the run and we went out and back for a little over 6 more.  Then I had to head back home alone.  And up a hill.  Actually, more than one hill but who’s counting!  On my way back something awesome happened.  It’s something that’s happened before this far into a run but sounds crazy.  I started feeling really good.  I got a burst of strength and for the first time was really enjoying this run.  Yes, it took 10 miles to really enjoy the run.  So why am I doing this?  Some days I don’t know.  A lot of days I hate the first mile or two but then it gets better.  Other days I love the whole thing.  Those are actually rare, but I’ve recorded them in my log book and go back every now and then to lovingly reminisce.

Life, just like running, stinks sometimes.  We will never find that perfect balance, that even keel throughout our days as parents, employees, friends, or runners.  It’s a fact of life that we live in a fallen world and inhabit sin stained bodies that wear out.  It shouldn’t surprise us when things don’t go the way we want them to.  But sometimes we hit that sweet spot.  It may come after one mile or ten and it may last only a moment.  But let’s be thankful.  These sweet spots are just foretastes of a future reality to come when we will no longer be hampered by our weaknesses and sins.  “If then you have been raised with Christ, set your minds on things that are above where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”  Colossians 3:1

Several years ago I noticed a trend in how network TV advertised its shows.  Every so often a certain episode was labeled, “an event!”  It’s obvious what the advertisers were doing.  They wanted to set this episode apart; if you missed it, you missed everything that was important about the show.

But this is just TV, right?  It’s been around for less than 100 years.  The other day I was thinking about the TV show Lost.  Very popular show a couple years back.  My husband and I came in late to the trend and started watching it online from season 1.  We were soon hooked and quickly caught up with the plot.  Every week ABC would tease you with clips that showed close to nothing but were very intriguing.  Finally, the show’s creators decided to end it and there was much hype about the last episodes.  What would happen?  Who would survive?  Will all our questions be answered?  My husband and I even got together with another couple and had a small party to watch the last episode.

Guess what?  It all seems so superficial to me now.  Those ‘event’ episodes have been quickly forgotten.

What happens when we assign so much meaning to something so trivial?  It’s just a TV show, just entertainment after all.  What happens is words lose their meaning and everything that should be important is shoved into a back corner with all the other ‘boring’ things.  The only thing that matters is what’s new, what’s popular.

Can you see how that affects your soul?  John Piper talks about how the trivial can dull your taste for the spiritual and the serious.  If we’re not careful, if we don’t truly think through how this culture has polluted our desires, we can come to the Word of God or prayer with the same mentality.  It’s true for me.  I seek a quick hit of spirituality out of a devotional.  Reading multiple chapters of the Bible or spending extended time in prayer can seem boring.

He tells us not to be conformed to this world.  I’m afraid this world’s sensibilities can seep into our ways of thinking more insidiously than we like to admit.

I’ve been sick all week which has been a terrible bummer for me whose moods are often determined by how much I can get done.  Running last week?  44 miles!  Running this week? 3 😦  Homeschooling schedule?  What schedule?  Kids’ TV consumption?  Please don’t ask. 

Sickness usually tends to dull my desire for spiritual things.  Reading or memorizing the Word held no appeal for me even though I tried.  My achy tired body couldn’t muster up any desire.  I tried to give thanks for His gifts but that didn’t work either.  I finally began feeling better yesterday but was faced with a long car drive today.  I don’t like driving long distances and this was going to be long.  Four hours down and four hours back in one day.  My oldest qualified for the state youth Bible drill which was being held in The Middle of Nowhere, South Georgia.  Charming and quiet it was, but also very far away.  We headed out at 4am with another family carpooling with us.  Not much on the radio and not much conversation.  I was the only person who really needed to be awake anyway, right?  So I soldiered through until we got some food and, more importantly for me, coffee.  After that things started getting better.  For one, the sun came up.  Then the caffeine kicked in.  Wonderful blessing of God there.  My passengers continued to doze, but the Lord kept giving gifts. 

A blue-gray layered morning sky.  Uplifting Christian radio.  Interesting south Georgia town names like Smarr and Omega that made me smile.  Long rows of big strong pecan trees.

After pullling into Norman Park, (don’t blink or you’ll miss it!), we waited for the drill.  I was so nervous that I felt like I was preparing for an audition or something.  I guess it was just the old competitive drive in me kicking in even if I wasn’t involved.  One extra gift during the drill was having my child called on to recite the answer to, “How Do I Grow?”, with 2 Peter 3:18, a verse that I pray often for my children. 

While I was sick, I couldn’t muster up the desire to read, memorize, or give thanks.  But the Lord is so gracious.  He knew of my impaired desire this week while sick and yet opened my eyes to His gifts today. 

We arrived home safely (another gift) and I couldn’t be prouder of my son who has worked hard for six years hiding God’s word in his heart.  Those seeds are just beginning to sprout and I look forward in faith to seeing the fruit (gifts) that will come.

I can imagine that in heaven I will be totally free in worshiping the Lord, but until then I still struggle with self-consciousness.  In private I have no problem raising my hands, and even stretching up towards the heavens in worship.  I’ve even been known to raise my hands in worship while listening to particular worship songs during a run.  But in corporate worship I’m still not there.  When I observe the congregation from the orchestra, I love to see people totally absorbed in worship no matter how that’s conveyed in their body language.  There’s an older couple who sit near the front who just exude joy in praising the Lord and I have to admit it’s pretty cool to see people in their 70s raising their hands.  So do I have a problem?  Shouldn’t I be raising my hands?  I don’t think so.  I think my main problem is with being self-conscious.  When you are self-conscious you are being prideful.  You are worrying about how you look to other people and that is making your own reputation an idol.  This entangling sin causes me to stumble by losing focus on the Who of worship.  Why am I there anyway?

A couple weeks ago I was able to get free from some of these tangles.  I was in a large group setting worshiping with others in the room and even more believers via video.  It was great to feel like I could just worship in the way that was most comfortable for me physically and that allowed me to focus on Who deserved my praise. 

I do long for the day when these thoughts of self will be carried far, far away from my existence in heaven.  And I will be given a far greater and unimaginable capacity to worship Him who I will see face to face.

Before going any farther with this new blog, I have to mention a major inspiration.  Her name is Ann Voskamp.  Some of you may know her through her blog, or her amazing first book, One Thousand Gifts.  Reading this book just may change your life and I don’t think I’m exaggerating here.  I’ve never been able to get into the habit of thanksgiving.  Whenever I would read the familiar passages exhorting believers to give thanks I’d say to myself, “I need to do that.”  Then I would forget again.  I kind of took the whole giving thanks habit as a Christian version of Oprah’s Five Things.  Oprah encouraged her viewers years ago to write down five things you’re thankful for every night before you go to bed.  Sounded good to me, but I never got in the habit.  Somehow it felt contrived and a little superficial to just list things you’re thankful for. 

Then I started reading Ann’s book.  She showed me the key that opened up the meaning of giving thanks.  You must move from gratitude to worship.  Anyone can list things they’re thankful for.  But when you give thanks for something, you’re usually thanking someone.  Who gave you these things you’re thankful for.  What do these gifts say about the Giver?  This is where a whole new world has opened up to me.  It’s not just a list.  It’s a door to worship. 

Buttercups are a door to worship.  Worship of the God who is powerful enough to create this mind-bogglingly big universe and yet thoughtful enough to design the beautifully simple and small buttercup.

Small wonders.  Amazing God.

Several years ago I noticed buttercups.  Of course I’d known of their existence but I never really bothered to look at them.  Or rather, examine them.   As a child you’d put them under your chin to see if you liked butter.  As an adult they’re usually a nuisance to your otherwise pristine, weed-free lawn.  Next time you see one, pluck it from the ground and really look at it.  You’ll be amazed at the symmetry of its design.  And not just the design of its petals, but even the leaves underneath.  Something so small and yet designed so beautifully and thoughtfully.

Does it make you wonder?  I don’t mean wonder as in question.  I mean wonder as in marvel.  I look at this small thing, this weed really, and I marvel.  I worship the Creator of the small and overlooked.