God is Our Strength

It's amazing what is considered news these days.  I saw an online story about a family who claims to have seen the image of Jesus in mold on the wall in their bathroom!  According to the family, the image has given them strength.  Now it's possible in what we see, even in a bathroom filled with mildew, God will teach us things.  But to attribute power or divine ability to an image, article, or patch of mold is superstitious and unbiblical.  No person, object, or activity should ever usurp God's rightful position of honour and worth.  If I saw mold growing in my bathroom, it would be a loud and clear message to invoke the power of bleach and a little elbow grease!

There are many things from which people draw strength.  It could be an item that is considered "lucky," like a kangaroo pouch.  Some people take to heart what they read in the newspaper listed under a daily horoscope.  Others start their day with thinking and speaking positive mantras, to convince themselves of their own goodness.  I know of others who have embraced feng shui, the arrangement of furniture to support your personal energy and provide life improvement.  There are probably an infinite amount of things people draw strength from rather than the true source of strength:  Jesus Christ.  We are told in Ephesians 6:10, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might."  Human beings are beyond incorrigible, seeking any direction to run but God's way.

The Israelites were forbidden in the Law to make an image of any kind because God knows the human need to worship (Deut. 4:16-19).  All people worship.  All people hold certain things, people, God, or the multitude of false gods in high regard.  We often praise and extol the goodness of actors, artists, musicians, or athletes.  To worship does not necessarily mean the burning of incense, the offering of sacrifice, or the physical bowing of the knee.  Worship is when we treasure something in our hearts.  Idolatry, a grave sin,  is when we adore, reverence, or honour anything either at a level only God deserves or when we honour something in the place of God.  All that is in the world and of the world will perish, but they who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength.  In Christ we have strength which cannot be washed away with disinfectant, lost, forgotten, re-arranged, stolen, burned up, or left behind when our bodies perish.

Instead of being caught up with the worship of the blessings God bestows, let us place our faith in Him alone.  We are called to walk by faith, not by sight.  It is when we look to Jesus that we can say with the prophet in Habakkuk 3:17-19:  "Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls-- ¹⁸ Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. ¹⁹ The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills."  Praise God, for He is our strength.

Sacrifice with Joy

"Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and the children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off."

Nehemiah 12:43

When God directs people to sacrifice unto Him, His focus is not primarily upon the gift.  God does not need material wealth, the blood of animals, grain, wine, or oil because all things are already His.  God's desire is that every sacrifice we make for His glory be accompanied with great joy.  He cares more about our attitudes and the condition of our hearts than the amount of money or time involved in our sacrifice.  After Nehemiah read a portion of the Law to the people, he commanded them to rejoice.  Nehemiah 8:10 reads, "Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our LORD. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."  It is good for a man to sorrow for sin unto repentance.  But even he who has sinned much need not languish in despair, for the joy of the LORD is his strength.

Few people associate sacrifice with great joy.  All sacrifice unto the LORD is simply returning a portion of the whole which God has freely granted us by grace.  When the people offered great sacrifices in Nehemiah's day, all the people of Jerusalem rejoiced.  So loud were they in praising God that the "joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off."  What a testimony this is of the power of God, who makes His people to rejoice with great joy.  Sacrifice should not be seen as a sorrowful drudgery, but a companion of the greatest joy.  How wonderful it is when the church sacrifices with joy!  It is sometimes easier for us to sacrifice for God than to sacrifice and give for the benefit of others.  We grit our teeth to drive an extra half-hour to pick someone up.  We stew in frustration when others neglect their responsibilities and we must pick up the slack.  How easily we forget the principle of doing all things, especially when it involves sacrifice, as unto the LORD with joy!  Jesus relates this truth in Matthew 25:40:  "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'"

Sacrifice involves giving.  The two cannot be separated.  But joy is the three-fold cord in sacrificial giving which honours and glorifies God.  2 Corinthians 9:7 states, "So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver."  Whether it is sacrifice of time, sweat, money, effort, or service, we ought to give joyfully.  It is a moot point to debate whether the beneficiary of our sacrifice is worthy of our time and effort when we do all things as unto the LORD.  God is the worthy one.  As it is written in James 1:17, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."  Everything we possess and everything we give are first free gifts from God we have received.  When we rejoice in the Giver, we will also rejoice in all sacrifice unto Him.

The Law required that no burnt offering be sacrificed without salt, and in the same way we must not offer an sacrifice without great joy.  Let our joy also be an acceptable sacrifice in the eyes of God!  Psalm 27:1, 6 says, "The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?...⁶ And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD."

Giving Account

The Bible makes it clear that everyone will give an account before God concerning their time on earth.  Every deed and even every word will be weighed according to God's righteous standard.  Jesus says in Matthew 12:36, "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment."  Paul affirms in Romans 14:12, "So then each of us shall give account of himself to God."  For most people, to answer for your life as an entire body of work is not as daunting as citing specifics.  While we plod on in life, the Day of Judgment seems far away and not too important - just like a school assignment due in two months.

Many of the parables told by Jesus support this view.  The master commits tasks to his servants, leaves, and then each is required to give account for their actions during his absence.  The profit gained or lack thereof is the proving ground of each servant's responsibility.  Again, this contributes to the concept that all will give account to God some day in the future:  believers at the Bema Seat of Christ, and unbelievers before the Great White Throne.  Before being ushered into eternity in God's presence, believers will be judged in light of the eternal reward or loss based upon their earthly stewardship (1 Cor. 3:12-15).  Every unbeliever whose name is not written in the Lamb's Book of Life will be doomed to hell for eternity under the crushing weight of God's perfect law (Rev. 20:11-15).

It is very easy for those who have escaped the wrath to come by the shed blood of Jesus to give little thought to the day when we will give an account to God.  This can only harm our effectiveness in the present.  The fact is, we ought to daily give an account of ourselves to God.  If we are faithful to do this, we will reap eternal rewards.  I was reading Hebrews 13:17 when this fact struck me:  "Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you."  I am a child of God, under the rule of my Heavenly Father.  I am also a husband, a dad, and a pastor.  I am responsible before God for the spiritual care of my household in my private life, and also an overseer in a church fellowship.  Part of my role as a leader is to submit to the rule of Jesus Christ and be watchful over the souls of my wife and children.  I must give account to God not only when I stand before the judgment seat of Christ, but even now - today!  Every day I am to give account of myself and of whom God has made me responsible.

The following sentence shows that this is a present, ongoing accountability before God:  "Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you."  That is heavy!  A good accountant does not ignore the numbers until the end of the business year, but all along keeps accurate records.  Accountants check and double-check for discrepancies to ensure the ledgers are correct.  If we should take such care concerning temporal losses and gains, how much more vigilant should we be concerning the condition of our eternal souls and of those whom God has entrusted to our care?  When I see people burdened with sins, it brings grief to my heart.  But when I witness God transforming people by His grace I experience unspeakable joy.  It is a grave responsibility, to give account to God for the condition of souls Christ has purchased with His own blood.  Every man will stand before God and give an answer for every word he has spoken, every thought entertained, every deed performed.  Parents are accountable for how they raise their children, and pastors are responsible to give account for the condition of the souls in their care.  Who is sufficient for these things?

Knowing this, let us take seriously the charge to remain accountable to God daily.  Every person is accountable for their own souls, and many of us have the additional responsibility to feed and tend our families and the flock of God.  We MUST give account to God; from this duty we cannot shrink.  It would be better for us to discover deficiencies now than to wait until the Day of Judgment when it will be too late.  Praise God for the love, grace, and mercy He has revealed to us.  Praise God that Jesus Christ is our Saviour:  He has saved us, and He will keep us too!  1 Peter 1:3-5 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵ who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."

Seduced By Self

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."

James 1:22

A person need not live long before they have been deceived.  Deception and life on earth go together like butter on bread.  When the first sin was committed on earth, deception was not absent.  Adam blamed his wife, and Eve blamed the serpent.  Genesis 3:13 reads, "And the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."  In the KJV the word used for deceived is "beguiled," and is defined in the original as "to lead astray, to delude, or to seduce."

We have all been deceived, and we have all played the deceiver.  But the worst delusion of all is when we deceive ourselves.  James warns all who read his letter that self-deception, even for believers, is a condition we must soberly guard against.  We must remain vigilant and ever-watchful of the real potential which spawns from familiarity.  Because we read a passage with agreement, because a verse has been committed to memory, we can be deceived to think we have put the spiritual truth in continual practice.  The more we hear something we can become dull and numb.  We hear a verse quoted and are able to finish it off verbatim in our minds thinking, "Yeah, I know that.  Blah, blah, blah."  Even though we agree in principle, we can continue to live a life contrary to what God's Word says.

It is imperative we examine our thoughts, words, and deeds in accordance to scripture.  Proverbs 12:15 says, "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise."  Even as a child must be trained by his parents, so every child of God must submit to His rule.  God will discipline and chasten us so we might be restored and reconciled to fellowship with Him.  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and fools hate knowledge.  King Solomon spoke a proverb concerning the man who walks in pride and self-confidence in Proverbs 26:12:  "Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him."  Those who are seduced by self are worse off than fools.  If you are familiar with the book of Proverbs, that is saying a lot!  Self-deception is Satan's greatest ploy in warring against God's people.  The devil wants us to become dull from much hearing.  He wants us to believe we are doers of the word when we are only idle listeners.

Thank God He has provided the Bible and the Holy Spirit to search our hearts who will never lead us astray!  If at the moment you are not actively mindful to avoid potential sins or fighting the good fight of faith against temptations; if it is a foreign concept to take wicked thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ or cannot think of a single area of sin in your life which must be confessed to God and man; if you are not being held accountable for areas of habitual sin to which you have been given over to for a season of your life, you likely have fallen prey to self-deception.  Let us all pray with David in Psalm 139:23-24:  "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; ²⁴ and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

Evil or Good Towards God?

If nothing in the Bible shocks us, then we're not reading it very carefully!  It directly opposes the "wisdom" of this age, which is termed "foolishness" in God's eyes.  One fundamental difference between the humanistic view of man and God's divine perspective is the condition of man.  Man assumes he is naturally good, but God says there is none good, no, not one.  All are condemned by sin.  No one gets a free pass to willfully commit sin without eternal consequences.

2 Chronicles 36:9 is a real eye opener:  "Jehoiachin was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months and ten days. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD."  Jehoiachin was eight years old - and evil!  When I think of evil people, an "innocent" eight-year-old does not come to mind!  But according to God's righteous judgments, Jehoiachin did evil in God's sight.  Men, women, and even children must answer for a shred of evil found residing in his soul.  Proverbs 20:11 reads, "Even a child is known by his deeds, whether what he does is pure and right."  A child's actions reveal his heart not only before man, but before God.  There are manuscripts that support the view Jehoiachin was 18 years old when his reign ended and he was carried away to Babylon.  But whether a person is eight, eighteen, or eighty, God looks upon him in light of God's holiness and righteousness.  He looks upon all with love, desiring that none should perish but that all would come to repentance and salvation through Christ.

We see another example of God's piercing gaze of even the young in Ahijah's prophecy to the wife of King Jeroboam.  When she visited the prophet of God to inquire concerning the failing health of her child, she disguised herself.  Although Ahijah was blind, he knew to whom he spoke.  Because Jeroboam had done much evil in the sight of God by leading all Israel into sin, Ahijah prophesied great doom upon him and his family.  1 Kings 14:10-13 reads, "...I will bring disaster on the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam every male in Israel, bond and free; I will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as one takes away refuse until it is all gone. ¹¹ The dogs shall eat whoever belongs to Jeroboam and dies in the city, and the birds of the air shall eat whoever dies in the field; for the LORD has spoken!" ¹² Arise therefore, go to your own house. When your feet enter the city, the child shall die. ¹³ And all Israel shall mourn for him and bury him, for he is the only one of Jeroboam who shall come to the grave, because in him there is found something good toward the LORD God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam."  Though the child of Jeroboam was young, there was found in him something good towards the LORD.  He would be the only one buried of Jeroboam's house as a sign of God's favour upon him.  This highlights the devastating effects of sin:  it is like manure which is shoveled into a heap and set on fire.  I have no doubts that the soul of the young child, however, was joyfully ushered into eternal bliss in the presence of God.

Despite the wickedness of Jeroboam, God did not punish the son for the sins of his father.  Should God do this, who would remain living?  Ezekiel 18:20 states, "The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself."  If any will repent and trust in Christ, all will be forgiven.  Jesus has paid for all sin with His own blood.  God's grace is revealed that the Son of God, Jesus Christ, bore upon Himself the sins of all flesh so sinners could be redeemed and reconciled with God.  The Law only condemns a man, but the grace of God extends salvation to all who believe.  John 3:16 tells us, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."  This is good news for young and old alike!

Sword Control

Hosea 4:6 begins by saying, "My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge..."  Ignorance has contributed to much unnecessary suffering in the world, even through those who desired to do good.  Before the discovery of dangerous germs, surgeons did not wash their hands or clothes between operations.  The result of this lack of sanitation in hospitals led to the spread of disease, infections, and caused many preventable deaths.  Even to this day in developing countries, people remain who do not understand the connection between drinking contaminated water and sickness.  When a child is stricken with dysentery from drinking water containing sewage, village elders assume evil spirits are to be blamed.  While the world is not without a spiritual dimension, ignorance of something as simple as the importance of clean drinking water can lead to disaster.

We live in a day when the world is experiencing a famine of hearing the Word of God.  The world has placed science and scripture at odds with each other, though there is no conflict from a Christian perspective.  Believing the Bible and reliance upon prayer are seen as archaic coping mechanisms of a superstitious day.  Even in many "churches" there is a departure from viewing the scripture as absolute truth and that it would be foolish to take the scriptures literally.  This is exactly according to the design of Satan.  When the authority of the Bible as the perfect Word of God is undermined or removed, God's people are stranded without the necessary weapons to do battle against temptation, the world, or Satan.  The Bible and God's promises are bazookas with unlimited ammo against our spiritual foes and temptations when discerned through the power of the Holy Spirit.  But many of God's people have been inoculated with worldly philosophies and relativism, and by putting down their Bibles they have laid down their arms.  When Satan tempted Jesus, how did He answer Him?  With the Word of God, also called the "Sword of the Spirit" (Eph. 6:17).  As the grip of the church on God's Word weakens, our inability to stand and fight against the spiritual forces of wickedness follows suit.

There is a thought provoking passage in 1 Samuel 13:19-22 which reads, "Now there was no blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, "Lest the Hebrews make swords or spears." ²⁰ But all the Israelites would go down to the Philistines to sharpen each man's plowshare, his mattock, his ax, and his sickle; ²¹ and the charge for a sharpening was a pim for the plowshares, the mattocks, the forks, and the axes, and to set the points of the goads. ²² So it came about, on the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan. But they were found with Saul and Jonathan his son."  For many years the Philistines had occupied and oppressed much of the children of Israel.  To prevent an uprising among the Jews, the Philistines prohibited blacksmiths in the land of Israel.  They implemented a form of "sword control."  The Israelites relied upon the Philistine blacksmiths who sharpened their farming tools for a price.  In the whole nation of Israel there were only two swords owned:  one by king Saul and the other by Jonathan his son.  The end result was on the day of battle, there was a whopping two swords for the whole nation of Israel.  Good thing it was God who fought their battles!  Satan will blunt our blades and charge an exorbitant price.

Satan is crafty and subtle.  He knows that against the Word of God he cannot fight and win.  But if he can trick God's people to neglect the study of God's Word, it will rust in the sheath and be useless when the battle hits.  Without being trained to rightly divide God's truth through the Holy Spirit by discipleship in the family and home groups, people are without adequate balance, strength, or coordination to stand up to the temptations of the world.  God says, "My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge."  People die every day because they lack knowledge of God, His wisdom, and ways.  Jesus says the Holy Spirit has been sent to John 16:8-10 to teach us all things:  "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: ⁹ of sin, because they do not believe in Me; ¹⁰ of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more."  The primary way the Holy Spirit instructs us is through biblical truth.  If the Holy Spirit also brings to remembrance whatever Jesus has said (John 14:26), how can we know what Jesus has said except we read it ourselves?  No man but a thief would attempt to withdraw money from a bank at which he has no account.  Man is foolish to think he can draw upon the wisdom of God without the Word.

The fact is, the Bible teaches we are in the midst of a spiritual battle of epic proportions.  The destiny of the eternal souls of men and the glory of God are at stake.  In giving us His Word, God has provided a sword for all those adopted into His family by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.  How much value do you place on the Word of God?  Do you believe it is 100% accurate and true?  The demons believe and tremble!  The devil knows the fearful things written concerning him and any who fight against God.  Zechariah 14:12 is a good example:  "And this shall be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the people who fought against Jerusalem: their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet, their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets, and their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths."  If God should strike those who fight against His sanctuary with such fury, what rage shall be reserved for Satan and the rulers of wickedness?  Take up the sword, children of God!  Heaven and earth will pass away, but God's Word will never pass away (Matt. 24:35)!

Burdened No More!

This morning I was treated to a living illustration.  Since the boys go to the same school and have heaps of books between them, we decided to hire a large locker for the entire school year.  The last couple days I noticed one of my son's backpacks was completely stuffed with heavy books.  On the way to the bus today I took this picture of him carrying the burden of books.  The whole reason behind hiring the locker was to reduce the amount in our son's backpacks.  But the backpack remained stuffed while the locker is empty.

We have had several delightful conversations about why the locker is not better utilised.  The excuses have been plentiful:  "I don't have time," "It's full of spiders," "I never know what books I'll need," or "There's always a bunch of girls blocking the way."  So day after day, mile after mile, my son comes home with sagging shoulders under a heavy burden - a burden we've paid to have lifted.  But this is something my wife and I cannot do for him.  He must make a conscious decision to remove each book from the pack and carry only what he needs for the next class.

I can't see this picture without thinking of Pilgrim from Bunyan's classic, The Pilgrim's Progress.  Loaded with a heavy burden, Pilgrim set out from the city of Destruction heading for eternal life in Celestial City.  It was only when Pilgrim knelt at the cross that the weighty burden of sins fell from his back.  It is the blood of Jesus that has shed His own blood so the sins of man could be forgiven by grace through faith.  1 John 1:9 reads, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  Even as my son has all sorts of reasons to justify labouring under the heavy weight of his backpack, people can choose to bear burdens of guilt and sin Christ has already paid for with His own blood.  It is not only the unbeliever who carries such a weight, but this is possible for God-fearing, Christ-trusting people as well.

A Christian's life is not a carefree existence.  Our eyes have been opened to the spiritual plight of all people who remain dead in their sins.  This is a burden all Christians are called to carry with joy, knowing that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, the Life!  We are called to bear one another's burdens, and carry our own load (Gal. 6:2-5).  For example, when my wife was pregnant I could not physically carry the baby for her.  She had to carry that baby for 9 months.  That doesn't mean I was unable to help shoulder the burden.  I could help out with cleaning the house, with cooking, or shopping.  We all have responsibilities in this life for which we are all personally responsible and must be held accountable.  But when it comes to sin, guilt, shame, and condemnation, those are burdens Christ has taken upon Himself on the cross.  We sin in unbelief when we gather the memory and hurt of those sins for which Christ was wounded and carry them around with us.

Hebrews 10:14-18 tells us plainly of what Christ has offered to all who receive by faith:  "For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. ¹⁵ But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, ¹⁶ "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,"¹⁷ then He adds, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." ¹⁸ Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin."  God has chosen not to remember our sins, but Satan is happy to burden us with their memory.  We can stew in guilt, bitterness, condemnation, regret, and despair over what we have done or what others have done to us.  But that is a weight we need not carry.  Love keeps no record of wrongs.  When we have been born again by faith in Jesus Christ, our sins God chooses to remember no more.  He has made a conscious effort to put them eternally away from His memory, every single one.  We are forever free from the guilt and condemnation of any sin.

Psalm 103:8-12 reads, "The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. ⁹ He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. ¹⁰ He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. ¹¹ For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; ¹² as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us."  If God has shown us mercy in removing our sins from us, why should we load down our consciences with the memory of them?  Let us be partakers of the redemptive work now!  The burden of Pilgrim fell from his shoulders long before entrance to the Celestial City!  If God has made you free, you are free indeed.  Jesus does not strengthen us to bear a burden only He can bear.  Leave it at the foot of the cross, having been washing clean with His precious blood and clothed in a robe of righteousness.

Are you weighed down with the sin that so easily besets us?  Enough with excuses!  May we look to Jesus alone, not our history of unrighteousness.  Jesus entreats all in Matthew 11:28-30:  "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

No Middle Ground

We expend a lot of effort seeking balance in our lives.  No one wants to be branded a "right" or "left" wing extremist.  It seems like the demands of the world for everyone to conform is being heightened to levels unheard of in times past.  With the ever-changing landscape of political correctness, the influence of media, and the growing power of minorities to influence and transform the majority, the middle ground is becoming increasingly narrow.  It used to be that both conservatives and liberals shared some common ground.  That ground is becoming more and more scarce as traditional beliefs based upon biblical morals continuously erodes in decay.

There is one questions that has never had middle ground:  is Jesus God?  This fundamental doctrine of Christianity has only a "yes" or "no" answer.  It is impossible to "ride the fence" on this point because it is sharper than an obsidian knife.  Jesus made many claims of deity.  Jesus claimed to forgive sins, something only God can do (Mark 2:1-12).  The Jewish leaders condemned Him because of this point.  John 5:18 says, "Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God."  Jesus was a man who was also God or He was among the worst liars.  He cannot be both a good teacher and a chronic liar.  If Jesus is truly God, then He is completely holy and good.  Jesus proved His power through His resurrection from the dead and ascension to the Father in heaven.  Because He is the righteous Lamb of God, death could not hold Him.

There are proofs of Christ's divinity in both the New and Old Testaments.  The Bible teaches that God the Father is a spirit whom no man has seen at any time.  Yet God sent the Son Jesus as the Saviour of the world to seek and save the lost.  God the Father cannot bleed because He is not flesh.  Jesus being God is the only way to reconcile verses like Acts 20:28 which reads, "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood."  Jesus shed His blood for the church which is His body of which He is the Head (Eph. 4:15).

When Jesus was pierced by nails, thorns, and a spear on the cross, John 19:36-37 states, "For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, "Not one of His bones shall be broken." ³⁷ And again another Scripture says, "They shall look on Him whom they pierced."  John was an eyewitness of Christ's crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension.  Inspired by the Holy Spirit, the scripture to which he refers is found in the Old Testament book of Zechariah 12:10:  "And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn."  In context, God the Father is speaking through the prophet Zechariah.  Notice how it says of the Jews and inhabitants of Jerusalem:  "They will look on Me whom they pierced."  If God was only revealed to man as a spirit, how could He be pierced?  How could His blood be shed?  The fact is this:  God has revealed Himself to man as God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son who became flesh, and the Holy Spirit sent to indwell all believers after Christ ascended into heaven.

There is no middle ground concerning the deity of Jesus Christ.  Either He is God, or He is an impostor.  Everyone must make their decision and live accordingly.  Jesus says in John 14:6-7, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. ⁷ "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him."  Praise God for this marvelous truth!  There is salvation to all who repent and believe in Christ.  After Peter performed a miracle by God's power, he told those who looked on in amazement in Acts 4:10-12, "...let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. ¹¹ This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.' ¹² Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

Where do you stand?  Choose this day whom you will serve.  As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD Jesus Christ!

From the Housetops

No matter how wealthy someone might be, his net worth is limited.  It may be an unfathomable limit to the average wage-earner, but it is limited nonetheless.  All people face limitations which are on level with each other as well.  Everyone has the same amount of minutes and hours in the day and night to accomplish work and see their goals realised.  We all have basic necessities:  oxygen, water, food, clothing, and sleep.  Because of our naturally self-focused nature and the limitations we perceive, humans find great security in homes, careers, money, and possessions.  There are limits to the risks we take because we know that our resources can easily make wings and fly away if we are not careful.  We go to great lengths to protect and preserve what we have.

We see evidence of this in an example from scripture.  Samaria had been under siege for some time by the Syrian army.  There was a grievous famine in the city and people were starving to death.  A group of starving lepers talked over their options outside the gate of the city.  They were outcasts dying of a dreaded and incurable condition.  In the city they would starve, and they faced the swords and spears of the Syrians outside.  They decided that either way they were dead men.  It would be better to throw themselves upon the mercy of the Syrian army rather than waste away in the city from starvation.  What did they have to lose?  Unknown to them at the time, God caused the Syrian army to flee because they thought they heard the sound of a huge approaching army.  When they arrived at the camp in twilight, they found it completely deserted.  2 Kings 7:8-9 reads, "And when these lepers came to the outskirts of the camp, they went into one tent and ate and drank, and carried from it silver and gold and clothing, and went and hid them; then they came back and entered another tent, and carried some from there also, and went and hid it.⁹ Then they said to one another, "We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we remain silent. If we wait until morning light, some punishment will come upon us. Now therefore, come, let us go and tell the king's household."

These lepers were at first very happy to keep this good news to themselves.  They feasted and drank of the Syrian provisions, plundered gold, silver, and clothes and went and hid them.  They did the same with the second tent.  But then they concluded that it was wrong to keep this good news to themselves:  the whole city was perishing while they were eating, drinking, and hoarding!  Granted, their motivation for sharing the news was not good.  They feared for their own skins rather than doing good for the sake of those who were suffering.  But in the end they went to the city, and shared the good news that the Syrian army had left and there remained an abundance of food and riches for all.  In a similar way, God has provided us the Good News of the Gospel, not so we can pig out on food, drink, and hoard riches for ourselves, but so we might share the Gospel of Salvation by grace through faith in Christ to others.  Even as Jesus laid down His life in love, so we should share this Good News - not motivated by the fear of judgment - but moved by love for God and others.  The treasures of God's Kingdom are of far greater value than any amount of money can buy and will last for eternity.

Psalm 145:1-3 says, "I will extol You, my God, O King; and I will bless Your name forever and ever. ² Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever. ³ Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable."  King David proclaims the goodness and greatness of God for all to see.  All who have tasted and seen that God is good are under the obligation to boldly and broadly declare and to magnify the greatness of God.  Jesus exhorts in Matthew 10:27, "Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops."  When God teaches us something, it is not only meat and drink intended for our consumption, but for the good of all:  for the guiding of the lost to Christ, to instruct the wandering back to Him, to encourage the faithful, to edify, encourage, and exhort the Body of Christ, all for the glory of God.  Sometimes we are afraid to share the things God is teaching us with others.  Jesus knows this.  That is why His next sentence in Matthew 10:28 is this:  "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."

Let us not keep the grace, love, promises, and salvation of Christ a secret for ourselves, but boldly proclaim His goodness from the housetops!  It is better to be approved of God for our obedience and be shunned outcasts than to treasure the accolades and approval of man over the performance of our joyful duty.  God's glory is without limit, and we will forever be proclaiming His praises.  He is eternal, infinite, and worthy, and everlasting security is found in Him alone!

Forget the Two Week Notice!

It is a common practice in the States that an employee give a "two week notice" before leaving for another job.  Though it was never written into any of my working agreements, it is a simple courtesy which helps workers leave on good terms.  But there is a drawback to giving advance notice.  A difficultly arises when the company a worker is currently employed with comes back with an offer of better wages, role, or benefit package.  The employee who for some time had been seeking other employment and committed to a different job now faces a gut-wrenching decision:  leave the current company or burn the bridge you were planning to cross to the new job venture.  Most people I know who have been in this situation tend to stay with the same company.  I know other people who quit on the spot without giving notice because they did not want to have to deal with the dilemma.

I always put in a minimum of a two-week notice with all the companies I worked for, and some of them in writing.  It was always a matter of personal principal to never use a notice as a "threat" or leverage to try to improve my situation within a company.  I never put in my notice until I was convinced that it was God leading me to do so.  That way when the dialogue began or offers were presented, my decision was already final because it was God who had directed me to take the next step.  Had I not had this anchor for my heart and soul, I no doubt would have caved under the pressure of other people's opinions.  The trouble is, unless we make the decision to follow Christ without reservation, our tendency is to head right back to our worldly ways.  The devil is a master of sweetening the deal.  It is likely not a sin to decide to stay with your original company, but that's not the point.  Spiritually speaking, it is folly to choose bondage to sin and Satan over a life lived completely in service of Jesus Christ.

This same struggle is played out in the world daily on a spiritual level.  In our natural state, man is sinful and cut off from fellowship with God.  Once a man repents and trusts in Christ, his role is to pray and seek to deliver others from bondage to sin, the flesh, and Satan.  Believers are exhorted in 2 Timothy 2:24-26:  "And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, ²⁵ in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, ²⁶ and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will."  Those who are unregenerate, those who remain spiritually dead in trespasses and sins, are Satan's captives for the purpose of doing his will.  In embracing his "freedom" a sinner remains in perpetual opposition to God.  Knowing this, Christians ought to be filled with compassion, patience, gentleness, and humility to enlighten lost sinners to the knowledge of Christ through the Gospel.

The passing pleasures of sin might be attractive and enjoyable for a season, but in the end bring regret, sorrow, and death.  There is only danger in giving the devil a two-week notice.  The call of Jesus is a call we must respond to immediately.  For example Matthew 4:18-20 reads, "And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. ¹⁹ Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." ²⁰ They immediately left their nets and followed Him."  Peter and Andrew did not put in their two-week notice.  They did not remain with their fishing company until they were assured of being vested in the Fisherman's Local Union.  They dropped their tools and followed Jesus.  In Luke 5:27-28 we read of another case:  "After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." ²⁸ So he left all, rose up, and followed Him."  Levi, also known as Matthew, was literally sitting in his office when Jesus called him to follow.  He left all, rose up, and followed Him.  This is the fundamental cost of following Jesus as a disciple:  your life.  When we lose our lives for Christ's sake, we save them.

When a man leaves a company for another, it is not uncommon for people to bolster their income through "side-work" or "moonlighting."  During the day, a man goes to work for his new company.  But on the afternoons or weekends he continues to work with his old contacts.  The danger of this arrangement is divided allegiance, especially if the man is working for himself.  Spiritually speaking, it is a disastrous position to be living for the glory of God for some of the time but serving Satan and self when "off the clock."  No man can serve two masters, and no one can serve both God and the world.  There are few things more disastrous to the life of a Christian than a divided heart.  Jeremiah 29:13 says, "And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart."  In this exhortation and promise is also a warning:  if we seek God halfheartedly, we should not be surprised when God, His wisdom, strength, and comfort are strangely absent.  We must choose whom we will serve, and our lives display our answer more than words ever could.

Jesus has opened His arms on the cross to all the sinners in the world saying, "Follow me."  We must immediately answer this call, leaving all behind.  We need not give the devil, the world, or anyone notice before we make this commitment.  Once we follow Jesus as disciples, we are to put off all side-work for Satan.  Instead of giving place to the devil, we are told by Christ to "Occupy until I come" and be about His business for God's glory.  Let us seek the LORD with all our hearts, rejecting any tantalising offers the world may give us to lure our hearts away from God.  Answer the call with "Yes!" and "Amen!"

A Sure Foundation

God used Moses and Joshua to guide the children of Israel into the Land of Promise.  God fought for His people and established them in the land.  But after Joshua died, the people faltered with the lack of spiritual leadership.  Judges 2:10 says, "When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the LORD nor the work which He had done for Israel."  It is a great tragedy that the generation who followed Joshua did not know the LORD or the works He had done for them.  The land was no longer seen as a blessing from God but was seen as their rightful entitlement.  The end result of not knowing God, His works, or His Word, is that everyone does what he thinks is right.  Judges 21:25 plainly states the facts:  "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes."  There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end of it is death (Prov. 14:12).  When a man follows his heart which has been corrupted by sin, vain wisdom and philosophy of men, the attractions of the world under the sway of Satan, it will oppose God's Word and ways.

This is the day in which we live.  Isaiah 5:20-21 contains a warning all do well to heed:  "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! ²¹ Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!"  I am not surprised when I hear of the crimes and wickedness on display in the world.  Man has decided that even as "beauty is in the eye of the beholder," so there is no such thing as absolute truth.  As a king in a castle, every man has the humanistic right to create right and wrong according to the dictates of his heart and seared conscience.  And tremble if you suggest God's Word opposes his view!  It would be better to cut out your own heart than to suggest there is absolute truth - and even worse - that this truth is found only in the scriptures, the Word of God.  The scourge of relativism has been so widely embraced that most men believe those who found their life upon obedience to God's Word are the greatest of fools, contrary to the words of Jesus.  People who hold to the scriptures are seen as the off-scouring of the world.  Jesus came and brought a sword with Him (Matt. 10:34), and it is a sword we ought never to put into the sheath.  We must be taught by God to rightly handle it.  And what is this sword?  The Word of God (Eph. 6:17).

I can make no boasts of perfection.  Yet I can boast in the Almighty God, and every word of His is pure.  Because I have been bought with a price, the blood of Jesus Christ through faith, I am no longer my own.  I therefore do not have the right to formulate judgments by my own understanding.  Proverbs 3:5-6 reads, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."  God's Word is a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path (Ps. 119.105).  The Bible has not been written for my convenience so I might use it to justify my own personal beliefs.  God has written and preserved His Word so men might know Him in truth.  God created the world and ordered the laws of nature, biology, genetics, and physics that man has only recently begun to explore.  God also created the Law to govern the outward actions of man - not to arbitrarily restrict people because He is spiteful and cruel - but because He is wise, loving, gracious, merciful and good.  No man other than Jesus Christ has ever perfectly kept the Law, which confirms what the conscience of every man knows:  all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  Failure or disagreement with God does not permit us to lower His standard of absolute perfection.  I thank God that Jesus Christ has come into the world to die for my sins and rise from the dead, proving His power over sin, Satan, and death, so I might live through Him by faith.

Because the Christian, biblical worldview stands in a stark contrast to the world, only by divine means can these truths be conveyed to the unbelieving.  Many of the questions Christians face are loaded with prejudice.  For instance, on cnn.com there was a survey question:  "Do you support gay marriage? Yes or no?"  The word "support" has a wide range of meaning.  It could mean anything from "agree in theory" to someone who signs petitions, or has moved to a state or country which permits "gay marriage," or sues governments in court.  From a biblical standpoint, the phrase "gay marriage" simply cannot exist.  God ordained and defined marriage in the most narrow terms:  marriage is between one man and one woman, a husband and a wife.  Not everyone in the Bible held to God's definition and many people oppose it today.  Since government did not institute marriage nor define it, no governing body or special interest on the planet can rightly change the biblical definition.  Marriage is a physical expression compared to the intimate spiritual union between God and the church.  The church is the body of Christ of which He is the head.  Even as the head separated from the body produces death, so marriage that is outside the confines of God's definition is not marriage - nor could it ever be.  "Yes" is the answer that the world is calling for today.  A "no" answer instantly shoves Christians like myself into the dirty, cramped pigeon hole with perceived other prejudiced, arrogant bigots and haters.  Like Jesus, I am called to love all people and it is my delight to do so.  It is a love not dependent on whether we believe in the same things or agree morally or politically, but love based upon the love revealed in Jesus:  it is a sacrificial love built upon grace springing from God's goodness.

God has given every person on the earth the right to choose who they will serve, what they will believe, and how they will live.  Every day is the day of decision.  Joshua said, "Choose this day whom you will serve...as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (Josh. 24:15)  The Bible teaches that the choices you make in this life will have eternal consequences which should not be taken lightly.  What the Bible calls sin is sin, and the soul that sins shall surely die.  Because I was a sinner, I was heading to certain destruction in hell.  I praise God that He sent Jesus to my rescue!  Proverbs 28:13 says, "He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy."  No man can avoid sin before God by redefining it according to his opinions.  For those who confess their sin and forsake it, God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Hear the word of the LORD in Revelation 22:10-13:  "And he said to me, "Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. ¹¹ He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still." ¹² "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. ¹³ I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last."

God of All Comfort

The Bible reveals the Almighty God as the "God of all comfort" (2 Cor. 1:3-4).  The comfort God provides is often used as motivation for trusting in Jesus Christ as Saviour.  The modern-day Gospel presentation and emphasis of comfort is quite unlike the means used by Ichabod Spencer detailed in his book A Pastor's Sketches.  There was a man who knew something about fruitful soul-work.  When he found people in despair and sorrow, he was very careful NOT to administer the comforts of scripture until all sin had been confessed and forsaken.  Pastor Spencer was sometimes foiled in his attempts to save souls because well-meaning Christians had shared promises of comfort to the unrepentant and unregenerate.  Not wanting to see people sorrowing under conviction, self-justification and promises out of context took away all sorrow.  The conviction of the Holy Spirit was muted by the persuasions of men with soothing words - words spiked with sweet lies of Satan.

When we see someone in deep sorrow or distress, our natural tendency is to rush to their aid with encouragement and comfort.  There is nothing wrong with showing compassion, mercy, and love to those who are hurting.  We can do great damage, however, if we offer the comfort of God to those who have stubbornly refused to meet God's conditions.  God's will is not to comfort a man in his sin, but make him so miserable and desperate that he repents, throwing himself solely upon the grace and mercy of God.  Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 7:9-10, "Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. ¹⁰ For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death."  We don't see many tears from the penitent these days because we are quick to bring comfort before godly sorrow produces repentance.  People embrace a mirage of comfort by trusting in the opinions of men rather than the Word of God.

In the preface of the Self-Confrontation manual produced by the Biblical Counseling Foundation, the proper biblical order is explained:  "Confronting yourself in a biblical manner will often be difficult and will sometimes be a grievous experience. However the Holy Spirit, the Helper, will assist you to face your own sins, failures, and shortcomings. Then He will comfort you, teach you, and guide you into all truth so that your sorrow may be turned into everlasting joy."  The modern approach to dealing with sorrow is to ignore biblical self-confrontation and rush to comfort.  This may be a contributing factor to why so many professing Christians become disillusioned, never able to lay hold of the comfort of God in reality.  Specific sins have not been admitted, repented of, or forsaken.  As the infamous daughters of the leech cry "Give, give!" in Proverbs 30:15, so the modern church cries "Comfort, comfort!"  But God will never comfort and soothe men in their sin.  It is not love to comfort a soul heading to ultimate destruction.

I praise God for my Saviour Jesus Christ, the God of all comfort.  Having received the Comforter by grace, I want everyone to taste and see that the LORD is good!  But I must be wise in not giving false assurances of comfort in violation of scripture.  Those who do so have blood on their hands.  This knowledge brings godly sorrow which produces repentance leading to salvation!  God's capacity to comfort is infinite!  2 Corinthians 1:3-4 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

Mercy and Truth

Last night after dinner our family read Proverbs 3.  Proverbs 3:1-4 reads, "My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; ² for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you. ³ Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, ⁴ and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man."  How many times does God provide what the world frantically seeks!  Many people hope for a day when medicine and science will prolong life far beyond today's average life span or perhaps eliminate death altogether.  But God has promised length of days, long life, and peace to all who hear His Word and keep it.  What the world will purchase at any price is freely given by the hand of a loving Father through the sacrifice of His only Son, Jesus Christ.  He gives eternal life and peace to all who repent and trust in Him.

It is not difficult to find faults in the lives of Christians.  Trusting in Christ as Saviour is not a claim to perfection, but an acknowledgement of great need.  Yet even those who are able to easily find fault in Christians cannot detect a single fault in Christ.  A thief who died beside Him rebuked those who reviled Christ:  "This man has done nothing wrong."  The Roman centurion who watched Jesus breathe His last on the cross was convinced:  "This surely was a righteous man."  By the mouths of two witnesses every word shall be established, and those who accused Christ before the Sanhedrin could not agree.  The fact is, many people who hate God, those who deny His very existence, and even people of other faiths find much to be admired in the words and deeds of Jesus.  He was a man of absolute integrity, unshakable righteousness, holiness,godliness, and walked in mercy and truth.  King Solomon held forth the wisdom of God when he wrote, "Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, ⁴ and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man."  It is better to be held in high esteem with God than man.  Every man esteems mercy when he faces a judge for crimes he committed.  Every man esteems truth when he is innocent and is falsely accused.  God esteems highly the man who walks in mercy and truth, for this can only be done when one abides in the Vine, Jesus Christ. 

This morning I read Proverbs 16:6-7:  "In mercy and truth atonement is provided for iniquity; and by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil. ⁷ When a man's ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him."  My eyes were drawn immediately to the righteous combination of mercy and truth.  I had never noticed how often mercy and truth are coupled together in scripture.  A quick search with the Word Search Bible program revealed at least 20 times!  Psalm 25:10 reads, "All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth, to such as keep His covenant and His testimonies."  Psalm 89:14 states, "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; mercy and truth go before Your face."  Mercy and truth are indeed admirable qualities.  While man lives by such maxims as "Might makes right," "Survival of the Fittest," and "You snooze, you lose," God establishes His throne upon mercy and truth (Isaiah 16:5).  As children of the King, we ought to walk in the way of mercy and truth.  Then we will find favour and high esteem in the sight of God and man, and He will make even our enemies to be at peace with us.

We do well to examine our hearts by considering this question:  is my life a revelation of God's mercy and truth to the world?  God spoke to His people in Hosea 4:1, "Hear the word of the LORD, you children of Israel, for the LORD brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: "There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land."  God desires that the world be witnesses of His mercy and truth through the words and conduct of His people.  We remain on this earth by His grace so we might spread the knowledge of God through love, service, and the preaching of His Word.  The mercy, truth, and knowledge of God is to be shared within the family structure, the workplace, during the mundane grind, whatever we do or wherever we go.  I would suggest that most Christians go to church for one to three services a week.  Even if this were to amount to six waking hours spent at church every week, sleeping 8 hours every night, that is only 7% of your waking hours!  That means 93% of your time for ministry opportunity is taking place outside of a church building,  Let us use that time wisely.

If God has established His throne upon mercy and truth, then I would be wise to establish my decisions upon mercy and truth as well.  Establish your ministry, business practices, child rearing, words, and deeds upon mercy and truth.  When we do so, we build on the foundation of Christ, the personification of these qualities.  Don't just admire Jesus:  repent, trust, and abide in Him.  He is coming quickly, and His reward is with Him.

The Weaker Vessel

"Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered."

1 Peter 3:7

Breakdowns in communication occur when we do not listen carefully to what someone says.  How far a misunderstanding can blow things out of proportion!  I find when we take the time to actually listen to what someone else is saying without jumping to conclusions and mentally formulating a rebuttal halfway through a sentence, much confusion could be avoided.  Most of the people offended by the Bible do not actually know the Bible, but have picked up fragments twisted out of context.  They have been hurt or disillusioned by people who claimed to be Christians.  A wall is put up against the Bible or any "fundamentalist," while bitterness and hatred festers under the surface.  God is resented and rejected because of the unloving conduct of people who supposedly have been His representatives on earth.  It is a sad truth that much evil has been justified in the name of God.  But flaws in people does not mean the Bible is flawed.  The objective truth of the scripture is often repugnant to those unable to spiritually discern it.

I remember back to my Sunday School days and the resentment many of the girls carried in being called "the weaker vessel."  Arguments ensued of who could run faster, win at arm wrestling, or fight better in war.  Back and forth the barbs went, touching on everything from giving birth to mental fortitude.  But these heated discussions only served to create division when God intended to promote unity.  Comparison and judgments according to sight always divide.  Unfortunately, the whole discussion was predicated upon a misunderstanding of the text.  Peter never says a woman or the wife IS the weaker vessel.  Read the passage again.  Peter says that a husband ought to honour his wife "as to the weaker vessel."  The use of "as" reveals Peter is using a metaphor to make a point.  For instance, the way that a person handles a stainless steel water bottle and delicate stemware is very different.  At the soccer ground, the players drink out of their water bottles and throw them carelessly to the ground.  The worst thing that can happen to that bottle is a scratch or dent.  But no one in their right mind would ever take a drink out of fine crystal and toss it to the ground.  Peter is saying that husbands should honour their wives with this gentle distinction.

Fine crystal is valuable.  It is also breakable and should be treated with care.  A person who cares about their crystal does not gather all the stemware off the table in their arms and dump it clumsily in the sink to be washed.  Peter exhorts men to be gentle and careful with their wives.  "Woman" is not synonymous for "weak."  God has made men and women distinct and are both equally loved and valued by God.  Women should not use their sex as an excuse to gain advantage or to avoid responsibility, nor should men use their physical or emotional constitution to domineer their wives. Paul writes in Ephesians 5:18-21, "And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ submitting to one another in the fear of God."  Our motivation for doing good and loving one another is not because we perceive someone else as weaker, but in obedience for the glory and honour of God.  As we humble ourselves, preferring other people over self, we follow Christ's example.

Marriages fail when husbands and wives fail to think, speak, and act in a biblical manner.  Marriage is a relationship designed by God between one man and one woman.  Marriage is the joining of an imperfect man and an imperfect woman - both with baggage, character flaws, weaknesses, strengths, and blind spots.  God puts a love in the hearts of His people that transcends the physical realm.  When we walk in Christ's love, we treat others as we would be treated.  We love even as Christ has loved us.  Instead of keeping record of wrongs or resenting differences, may all heed the words of Proverbs 10:12:  "Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins."  Love is a powerful thing, to cover all sins.  No matter how strong or weak you feel, this is a love you need.  It is in weakness God's strength is perfectly revealed.  2 Corinthians 12:9-10 God revealed to Paul, "And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong."  This is a love only known through knowing Jesus Christ as LORD and Saviour.  I thank God for His love and grace!

When I am weak, I am strong by God's grace.  When my strength ends, that is when God is free to supply my lack.  Let us admit our weakness so we might walk in God's strength to love as we ought!

The Big Move

Over the years I have helped a lot of people move.  The biggest move I was ever a part of, however, was moving with my family from San Diego to Sydney.  My wife, our family, and more people than I can name helped us with packing, storing, shipping, and delivering.  Before we could move, a lot of preparation was involved.  Having to move brings to light how much stuff you have and how much stuff you don't really need.  When a friend of mine moved to Africa, he spoke of this phenomenon.  We simply don't realise how much stuff we have accumulated over the years until we are confronted by the moving experience.  Slowly but surely cabinets, drawers, closets, and shelves start to fill up and overflow.  So much of the stuff we tossed out or gave away was of use, but we rarely or never used it.

Accumulation is part of life on earth.  "Accumulation" is defined as "an increase by natural growth or addition."  We accumulate stuff, knowledge, memories of experiences good and bad, even body fat!  Some of the things we accumulate are positive and useful, but a lot of it is simply junk which serves no beneficial purpose.  It would be worth next to nothing at a garage sale.  It seems to me it is a lot easier to clean out a closet than my thoughts, yet sometimes I struggle to even straighten out my closet.  If we can let the closet or the garage become choked with clutter, I should assume the same could happen concerning the spiritual issues of the heart.  Our lives can be packed with activities, but are we grasping for what truly matters?  Wrong ways of thinking, speaking, and coping are certain to accumulate in a human heart.  It takes divine illumination from the Word of God to reveal just what needs to go.

Very few people are actually ready to move when it is time to move.  Though a family may know the move is scheduled, most people are ill-prepared when the moment comes.  Often much is not yet packed, furniture has not been disassembled, items have not been organised, and there is a frantic pace of action in the last days before a move.  Decisions about keeping and throwing out are still being made hours before the keys need to be handed over.  I don't know how many times I have helped people move over the years, but people have a major similarity when it comes to moving:  they are largely unprepared.  I think the same can be said of many people when it comes from leaving this earthly shell of flesh and being ushered into eternity through physical death.  When it comes to dying, often people simply aren't ready.  Unless they have prepared their hearts and been born again through repentance and trusting in Christ, they are unprepared for their final move.

Jesus says in John 14:1-3, "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. ² In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."  I don't want my heart and mind cluttered with the useless junk of this life when I have a Saviour preparing a place for me where nothing of the earth can be brought.  I don't want to be debating what needs to go and what I want to keep when it is time to put off this earthly tent and go to my permanent home in heaven.  I don't want the dazzling trinkets of this world to take my eyes off the prize of the upward call of Christ.  I praise God He has removed the rich gleam of the earthly so I might treasure Him above all.  It is good to have our hearts and minds purged and uncluttered of worldly accumulation!

Seeing and Eating

Embracing doubt robs people of experiencing God's blessings.  Many people have heard about or read concerning the peace, joy, forgiveness, and love of God, but unbelief keeps them from receiving.  A perfect illustration of this is seen in 2 Kings 7.  The army of Syria had besieged the city of Samaria, and the inhabitants were suffering from a grievous famine.  The situation had become so dire, people were boiling and eating their own children to survive.  After seeing the desperation of the people, the king of Israel stormed over to the man of God, Elisha.  The king sought to kill Elisha, blaming him and God for the terrible state of the city.  2 Kings 7:1-2 reads, "Then Elisha said, "Hear the word of the LORD. Thus says the LORD: 'Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.' " ² So an officer on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God and said, "Look, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?" And he said, "In fact, you shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it."

Elisha proclaimed the word of the LORD:  in 24 hours, the famine would be completely over.  Grain in abundance would be available at the open gate of Samaria.  The king's assistant voiced his doubt aloud:  "Even if God made windows in heaven, how is that possible?"  For a long time the people had languished away in the famine, and therefore Elisha's words seemed like idle fantasy.  The officer's belief in the power and salvation of God had eroded away.  Elisha said, "You shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it."  Such is the effect of unbelief.  We read in the Bible of the promises and provision of God.  But if we are focused on our weakness, inability, and the seeming impossibility of fulfillment, we will never taste and see that the LORD is good.  We see changed lives all around us by the power of the Gospel, but unbelief insulates us from God's touch.  Case after case of God's provision and deliverance may parade before us, but doubts prevent us from experiencing it personally.

How tragic it would be to be starving at a dinner table piled with tantalising foods!  This is the condition of many people who come to church and hear God's Word faithfully preached.  A gourmet meal is spread before people when they open the pages of God's Word by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  The napkin is laid across the lap, the food is presented beautifully, and refreshing water and wine are poured into glasses.  All around people begin to partake of the delicious meal.  But unbelief keeps a person from eating.  It is a lash which ties hands to the back of the chair and sews shut the mouth.  You may have sat down hungry, but now you are famished!  Frustration grips the heart.  It would be better to have stayed home and slept until noon than to sit through another sermon without belief.  Maybe you can relate.  Like the king of Israel, you might blame God for your hunger pangs.  But the reality is, God is the only one who has the words of life.  Jesus is the Bread of Life who supplies Living Water which satisfies our souls.  Whoever by faith receives of Christ's body and atoning blood will live forever.  God is not to be blamed for offering gifts you refuse to receive through unbelief.  Many see with unbelieving eyes, but few hearts trust and eat.

The word of the LORD through Elisha was fulfilled.  That night, the Assyrian army fled at the sound of a great army advancing towards them in the darkness.  Thinking the Samaritans had hired mercenaries to defeat them, the entire army fled and left all their tents, weapons, animals, food, and supplies behind them.  2 Kings 7:16-20 tells us, "Then the people went out and plundered the tents of the Syrians. So a seah of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD. ¹⁷ Now the king had appointed the officer on whose hand he leaned to have charge of the gate. But the people trampled him in the gate, and he died, just as the man of God had said, who spoke when the king came down to him. ¹⁸ So it happened just as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, "Two seahs of barley for a shekel, and a seah of fine flour for a shekel, shall be sold tomorrow about this time in the gate of Samaria." ¹⁹ Then that officer had answered the man of God, and said, "Now look, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, could such a thing be?" And he had said, "In fact, you shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it." ²⁰ And so it happened to him, for the people trampled him in the gate, and he died."  Even as God had fulfilled his word to end the famine, the life of the unbelieving officer was ended as well.  The officer saw God's salvation but he never ate of the abundance He graciously provided.  His unbelief led to his demise - not in a time of famine - but in a season of great plenty.

Perhaps you have experienced a spiritual famine for a long time.  You have read much but received little.  Even as the children of Israel could not enter into the Promised Land because of their unbelief, you have been unable to follow Christ as a disciple because of the same.  The promises of God remain a unsettling illusion, like cackling spectres in the shadows, instead of the life-supporting and mind-transforming gifts as God intended them.  Confess your unbelief and joyfully await the breaking of the dawn, for a feast waits for you!  It is a feast that will last for eternity, for God's Word will endure forever.  May the words written of Abraham be applicable to every Christian today in Romans 4:20-21:  "He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, ²¹ and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform."  If you have not yet repented and trusted in Christ as Saviour, He has promised eternal life to all who believe in Him.  Open the windows of heaven, Father!  May we both see and eat!

Don't Trade Your Birthright!

The Bible is full of flawed people.  They are displayed in scripture, not so we can criticise and shake our heads at their foolish decisions, but so we might learn from their example.  In every flaw we see a mirror image of ourselves in holy writ, the divine light driving the mist from our eyes to see ourselves in truth.  In my house we have a framed print on the wall that contains a hidden picture within.  At first I didn't see the hidden shapes carefully concealed by the artist.  But once my eyes were opened to them, the silhouette cannot be hidden from my eyes!  This is similar to when the Holy Spirit pulls back the veil from our eyes in reading scripture.  When we read of the stubborn Israelites grumbling in the wilderness, we should see ourselves.  When I see Peter taking his eyes off of Jesus and becoming overwhelmed by the tempest, I see myself.  Even as Esau traded his inheritance for a bowl of lentil stew, yep, that's me.

In the days of Isaac, the first-born son was granted a birthright.  Esau and Jacob were twins born to Isaac.  as the oldest, Esau was automatically given inheritance rights over Jacob.  The leadership and genealogy of the family would pass from the father to the son with the birthright.  Esau was famished after hunting one day and traded the birthright for a bowl of soup.  He viewed the temporary filling of his stomach of greater value than the responsibility and privilege of his lasting inheritance.  Hebrews 12:14-17 exhorts, "Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: ¹⁵ looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; ¹⁶ lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. ¹⁷ For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears."  Because Esau traded his birthright, the family line would pass from Isaac to Jacob instead of from Isaac to Esau.  Esau later regretted his decision, but scripture says he had no place for repentance in his heart.  He wanted the blessing, but he shirked his responsibility.  He ended up without the birthright and blessing, both which were rightfully his by birth!

It is natural for us to look at Esau's poor decision and shake our heads.  What a fool to give up his inheritance for what could not endure!  How ridiculous it seems, that Esau would be so shortsighted to trade his birthright for something to be chewed up, swallowed, and eliminated.  But before we stand in judgment of Esau, let me be so bold as to say that Esau represents every person who has walked the earth.  Every human being has been created in the image of the Almighty God.  Adam enjoyed unbroken fellowship with God as his birthright.  But he embraced sin in the eating of the forbidden fruit and thus forfeited his birthright.  Instead of enjoying and inheriting eternal life and communion with God, Adam received eternal death and separation from God.  Death and sin passed to all men.  Every single person on earth today is a sinner, for the Bible reveals all have sinned.  Yet if we choose to repent and place our trust in Jesus Christ, we can be redeemed through the Gospel of grace.  We are then reconciled with God, are born again by the Holy Spirit, and are restored to fellowship with God.  The promises of God are now our birthright.  God gives joy, peace, wisdom, forgiveness, and all that pertains to life and godliness without measure or partiality.

But the devil is a cunning enemy who never rests from craftily robbing us of our inheritance.  He labours to trick us to justify remaining bitter towards those who may have hurt us.  In harbouring a grudge, we exchange the peace that passes understanding for hatred in our hearts.  A bowl of stew would be a better trade!  The world tempts us to feed the flesh through fornicating with our eyes, minds, and bodies.  Again, we trade the joy of the LORD and unbroken fellowship with God for a moment of physical excitement and pleasure.  We wonder why our Christian witness is weak and unfruitful.  When the birthright passed to Jacob, the family line no longer passed through Esau.  When we trade our spiritual inheritance for the passing pleasures of sin, we should not be surprised when the divine family line no longer passes through us.  Our spiritual impotence is caused by our own stubbornness and rebellion.  It is only when we repent, putting off the old man, being renewed in the spirit of our minds through scripture, and putting on the new man by God's grace that we are again restored to fellowship with God.

Never trade your spiritual birthright for the sin which so easily besets us.  When King Ahab offered money to buy the vineyard of Naboth, the righteous man answered in 1 Kings 21:3, "The LORD forbid that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you!"  Many Christians have given the surety of their inheritance into the hands of the devil by dabbling or walking in sin.  May we repent so our inheritance and blessing might be restored!  God forbid that we would give up our inheritance for money, a career, the opinions of others, or deceitful sin.  Christ is our inheritance, and may we cling to Him and no other.  Let us pursue peace and holiness with all people, taking care not to fall short of the grace of God.  Praise God for His grace and goodness, for our God is a God of new beginnings!

Delicious, Nutricious, or Both?

It's a fact that what tastes delicious is not always nutritious!  Junk food may taste great, but it does not adequately provide for the wide range of dietary needs of the human body.  Suppressing the appetite with sugary drinks and foods decreases the intake of water, fruit, and vegetables which contain necessary vitamins and minerals for growth, repair, good digestion, energy, and concentration.  When the body is sluggish from inactivity or experiencing pain, the desire to exercise is reduced.

For people like myself who have done physical work or have been active on the sports fields, nagging injuries are part of life.  I have learned to manage my injuries over the years.  I have learned that stretching, taking anti-inflammatory medication, maintaining a decent level of fitness, and staying well-hydrated are keys to staying on the field.  Over six months ago I pulled my upper hamstring.  I was still able to play baseball, but the injury kept me from regularly working out.  It seemed like nothing I did made a difference.  Rest, massage, medication, and stretching weren't making the problem go away.  My prayer list for physical healing was mounting up:  the left knee and hamstring; the right elbow, shoulder, and wrist; and right ankle.  Praise the LORD that He hears, answers, and heals.

One thing which had slipped my mind was I had not been taking any vitamins or supplements to provide nutrition which promotes healing.  I was trying all these external therapies which had always helped before, but neglected to think about what I was putting into my body to help recovery.  I began taking various vitamins and supplements to help the body recover.  In the past few weeks, I have seen marked improvement.  Yesterday I was able to work out with heavier weights and the hamstring was pain free!  Thank God for His healing touch!  The point is this:  I had neglected the importance of diet in recovery from injury.  It occurred to me we can do the same thing in spiritual matters.  When we are hurt by someone, we can focus on external means to bring healing.  We can go to that person according to scripture and seek reconciliation.  Jesus says in Matthew 5:23-24 "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift."  Obedience to your doctor is important, but the things you are eating and drinking also affect the progress of your treatment.  I might go through the motions of meeting with those with whom I must be reconciled, but unless I am feeding faithfully on the Word of God, spending time in prayer and godly fellowship, the hurt will linger.

I read an article the other day about a woman who was addicted to drinking Coca-Cola.  She would drink 8 liters of soda on a daily basis.  Few people would claim drinking 8 liters of soda a day is a healthy lifestyle choice.  It is possible to indulge in too much of a good thing - and when that thing is not healthy to begin with, only trouble will follow!  Even as people prefer one drink or food excessively, we can do the same thing with biblical doctrine.  We can have a preoccupation with particular themes or truths which have the potential to make us spiritually gaunt or bloated.  As it is important to have a balanced diet of healthy foods, we need a balanced diet of the whole Word of God.  Books outside of scripture can have some good nutritional content, but fiction novels could be compared to junk food.  There's nothing in them to feed or satisfy your soul.  Now there is nothing wrong with having a candy bar or a soda, but that should not be your primary dietary intake.  Fiction is temporarily satisfying, but will leave you empty and looking for more.  I almost think it unnecessary to say, but reading and viewing porn is like poison.  It is a spiritual opiate which numbs and disconnects a soul from fellowship with God.  Those who desire health do not inject poisons into their bodies and brains.

Psalm 34:8-9 reads, "Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! ⁹ Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him."  Jesus is the Living Bread come down from heaven who gives Living Water, the Holy Spirit.  It is Christ who has the words of life.  It is in Christ all of our hunger and desires are satisfied.  Feed on His faithfulness!

Junior Seau and Eternity

I received the word today that longtime San Diego Charger great Junior Seau, died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest today at the age of 43.  Though I never personally met Junior, I feel like I knew him.  I had watched him play linebacker at USC and remember him being drafted to the Chargers.  I remember his exuberance on the field, how he was ejected from his first game as a professional because of his enthusiasm.  I always loved Junior Seau, and there can never be another 55.  His number 55 jersey still hangs in my closet to this day.  Junior Seau owned a restaurant in Mission Valley and I still remember the commercials and food.  My sincere condolences and heart goes out to his family and all those who are grieving his passing.  It stings a little more knowing that Junior may have hurried along his own death.  It is a sad ending for an otherwise exemplary life in the public eye. 

When I heard of Junior's passing, I thought of San Diego Padre great Ken Caminiti who died of a drug overdose at the age of 41.  These are two men from my two favourite sports teams who perished through a series of decisions they made.  I don't know that I ever idolised these men, but I always respected and held them in high regard.  I loved to cheer them and rejoiced in their mastery.  Watching Junior perfectly time the snap count for a quick sack and seeing Caminiti launch switch-hit home runs in a single game were legendary.  But there is more to life than gridiron and baseball.  There is a life outside the lines that counts for more than what happens between them.  Many people are idolised for their conduct between the lines based upon how good, fast, strong, and skilled they are.  No man is worthy of being idolised because he is not God.

In the big picture, a football or baseball career is over soon after it begins.  Wise athletes make preparations for a career after their sporting career.  Investments are made; money is carefully set aside.  They recognise there is more to life than hitting a ball or sacking a quarterback.  Most people will never play professional sports.  Those who are wise will seek the provision of security - not only for the remainder of a life lived upon the earth - but a home in the heavens eternally basking in presence of God.  This is obtained in only one way:  through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  When I was born again by grace through faith, it was then I obtained and entered into a life worth living no matter what trials I faced.  Because Jesus has given all for us, we should be joyous in giving all back to Him.

Perhaps the temptation is to judge Junior for his alleged regrettable decision.  Instead of judging, please pray for comfort, mercy, and peace for all who are grieving.  The reality is, Junior Seau, nor any other man, will ultimately be judged by men.  All people will stand before the Living God and be judged according to their works in light of God's law.  Those who have had their sins atoned by the blood of Jesus will be rewarded or suffer loss for the stewardship of their time on earth.  All who are in Christ will receive a joyful entrance into the heavenly presence of God forever.  However, those who die in their sins without the atonement and reconciliation afforded through the blood of Jesus, will be separated from God for eternity in hell.  How Junior's life ended is tragic, yet God is able to make good even come from this.  The Bible teaches that it is appointed for men once to die, and then comes judgment.  Eternity for Junior has been decided.  It is the most important choice a person can make, for what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul?

Rest in peace, Junior.  Philippians 4:6-8 reads, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. ⁸ Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things."  Junior Seau did many praiseworthy things, and that's the way I'll always remember him.