27 May 2013

Take Heart!

"And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way."
Numbers 21:4

How true it is, that God's ways are not our ways!  The way God often uses is the way that is inefficient, long, difficult, and indirect.  Instead of bringing us directly to His desired end, He leads us on the most roundabout course.  The children of Israel were not strangers to this feeling.  They reached the very doorstep of the Promised Land and were turned back because of their unbelief.  Even with the presence of God leading the people, they often had to circumvent land they would have preferred to pass through.  They were continually having to leave the well-worn track and trail blaze.  Having to go the "hard way," the people were discouraged.  Their souls were "much discouraged because of the way."

There is no shortage of trials and difficulties we experience during our lives which give reason for discouragement.  The children of Israel thought that following God would be easy, but it wasn't.  It was hard because it was a walk of faith.  God tested and challenged the faith of His people, leading them through wilderness filled with enemies.  They became disillusioned because their focus was on the difficulty of the path and forming judgments rather than trusting looking to God for sufficiency.  As long as they questioned God's plan and direction, they found no rest or peace.  For those who have been born again, the same thing can be true.  We know in theory that "God is on the throne," but when the way becomes hard we can become discouraged.  Discouragement comes when we recognise our inability, frailty, and failures and do not believe God will redeem our circumstances for good.  Discouragement springs from a selfish perspective.

We can take heart even in disheartening circumstances when we look to God and His promises.  When Paul was tempest tossed, starving after eating nothing for two weeks, with plots of violence upon his life by guards, and no hope for survival in his strength, he took heart in what God told him.  Paul bravely addressed the soldiers, crew, and fellow prisoners in Acts 27:22-26:  "And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, 24 saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.' 25 Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me. 26 However, we must run aground on a certain island."  God had a plan that involved mortal danger, starvation, storms, huge financial loss, even running aground and being shipwrecked!  In the end, God would deliver all the soldiers, crew, and prisoners from their stricken vessel.  God used this situation to strengthen Paul's faith in the midst of a horrible ordeal and glorify His name.  The word God spoke to Paul came to pass, and the everlasting Word He has spoken to us will no doubt all come to pass.

In Luke 18, Jesus told the Parable of the Unjust Judge to teach people to pray and not lose heart.  This is something we must learn because it is not our natural tendency!  I cannot convey this important lesson better than Paul illustrated in 2 Corinthians 4:7-18:  "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed-- 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death is working in us, but life in you. 13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak, 14 knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."

If we look upon our trials or difficulties as man sees, we will lose heart.  Even as Christians filled with the indwelling Spirit of God we will faint and be discouraged unless our inward man is renewed by faith in God's Word day by day.  We are unwise to drift on the undercurrents of discouragement.  This will always cause us to veer far off course and lose sight of God and the ultimate destination He desires for us:  that we would be transformed, refined, and fashioned into the image of Jesus Christ!  Dig in those oars and pull!  PULL!  Invite God's Word to establish your proper course, even your thoughts, attitudes, and desires.  Let the mind which was in Christ be also in you, who humbled Himself and was made of no reputation.  Stay on course, keep the faith, and finish with joy.  God can bring encouragement and strength even from disheartening circumstances.  Won't you trust Him today?

Home With Him

In a few days, I will be taking a flight from Sydney to Los Angeles.  As the day of my departure draws nigh, the occasional sound of a plane in the distance reminds me of that fact.  It has been two years since my last visit to the United States.  It's a strange thing to have lived in the San Diego for most of my life but to feel like a stranger heading back.  Don't get me wrong:  I know most of the streets, freeways, suburbs quite well.  By God's grace I should be able to recognise family and friends, though I probably won't remember all the names I once did.  I am coming back to people who have changed, and I have changed too - hopefully for the better and wiser!

I was born in San Diego, but San Diego is no longer my home.  This was settled even before I left San Diego for Sydney in 2010.  God brought my heart to Australia long before my family came or our stuff arrived in a container.  Sydney is where I currently reside, yet technically it is not my home either.  Though ultimately my home is in heaven, God has provided a way for me to always be home.  Jesus says in John 14:23, "Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him."  Often we think of "home" as a fixed point on the earth, yet God comes to those who love Him and makes His home with us wherever we are!  The Holy Spirit takes up residence in the heart of every believer.  Jesus is called "Immanuel," meaning "God with us."  We will never be "home" - we will never find true rest - until we enter into a relationship built upon the truth of God's Word.

They say "Home is where the heart is" and there is truth in this cliche, though perhaps not in the way intended.  More important than having a house for my body is that God makes His home with me.  Whether I travel far or stay near, if I live or die, God and I will be together forever.  This is a comforting thought not only for me, but for my family that I will be leaving behind.  I will be leaving for a while, but God will never leave or forsake them.  Praise God for the confidence, peace, and rest we find in Him! 

25 May 2013

Sanctify the LORD

This morning I found the passage when Moses struck the rock at Meribah most compelling.  When the people complained about the lack of water, Moses wisely sought the LORD.  God told him to speak to the rock and water would flow from it and supply water for all Israel.  Understandably annoyed by the complaints and murmuring of the people, the frustration of Moses was evident:  "Hear, you rebels!  Must we fetch you water out of this rock?"  Instead of speaking to the rock according to God's command, Moses struck the rock twice and water issued forth.  The people were glad to have water, but God was not pleased with Moses and Aaron.

Now I have often heard people say the sin of Moses was the fact he "misrepresented God."  I am sure Moses was guilty of this infraction as all people are, even those who have been called to lead in various church ministry.  But that is not the sin God cited.  Numbers 20:12 makes it clear:  "Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them."  The sin of Moses and Aaron was primarily unbelief, and unbelief leads to all manner of sin.  A little background is after the rebellion of Korah, the staff of Aaron budded to prove that God had indeed placed them in leadership over His people.  Numbers 17:10-11 reads, "And the LORD said to Moses, "Bring Aaron's rod back before the Testimony, to be kept as a sign against the rebels, that you may put their complaints away from Me, lest they die." 11 Thus did Moses; just as the LORD had commanded him, so he did."

Moses was to hold this rod as a testimony against the rebels, but the words and actions of Moses did not not make God holy or sanctified in the eyes of the people when he struck the rock as he had previously (Ex. 17:6).  The credit for this deed could have been attributed to the power of the rod or the favour Moses had in the sight of God.  For their sin, God disciplined Moses and Aaron by refusing them entrance to the land of promise.  The people did not enter because of unbelief, and that was the sin of Moses and Aaron as well.  They trusted God and relied upon Him often, but to whom much is given much is required.  They paid a heavy price for their unbelief, though they had faith to trust God when most would faint.

Let us believe.  All is possible to those who trust in God.  May we remember to sanctify God in our hearts and display His power for His glory with meekness and grace.  1 Peter 3:14-15 reads, "But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear..."  We do not speak our wisdom, nor can we generate living waters from our own merit.  All we have and all we can offer is all God has given us by His grace.  As I am sanctified, may He be sanctified in me!

22 May 2013

Things New and Old

In our natural state we cannot discern spiritual truths.  When we are born again by grace through faith and receive the indwelling Holy Spirit, we can become Christian "yes" men.  We read the Bible and nod our heads in approval, but we can fail to see that the radical precepts and truths of scripture have yet to be actually lived out in our lives.  We know the truth in a superficial and theoretical sense, but there has not been implementation.  The things we agree with have not been put into practice, or we have put the scripture into practice with rigid inflexibility.  Like a child dancing in a circle with his hobby horse, we can come to a point when we do not seek or even desire further transformation according to God's Word.  We have established beliefs through which all scripture is filtered, and even God cannot change our minds.  Instead of allowing scripture to challenge us to see things in a new light, we can become stuck in a rut A.W. Tozer called "a circular grave."

How am I able to speak of such things?  I have experienced this condition myself!  I remember times of refinement when I would ask God earnestly, "You want me to give that up?  You want me to change this too?  How much more of my life do I need to give up?"  He simply said, "All of it."  See, I knew that's what He would say.  Even though I knew it is my reasonable service to commit my beliefs, thoughts, lifestyle, career, wife, and children to His control, I didn't feel like doing it.  I was more concerned about what I was giving up than what God had already given!  My perspective was all wrong.  I came to this conclusion through reading the scriptures and the Holy Spirit opening my eyes and convicting me of my sin.  It may be better said this conclusion was given to me by God, and it took me quite a while to agree with Him.  I am far from perfect, but He has established the fact that I am the one who needs to change.  Change will be required in me until I put off this body of flesh and am glorified in the presence of God.  God's Word should confront my flesh, challenge my mind, and reform me until the day I die.  I will be reading and studying the scriptures for eternity and never learn all.

God reiterated this to me when I read a passage in Matthew.  In context, Jesus spoke parable after parable to His disciples.  I almost laughed when I read Matthew 13:51:  "Jesus said to them, "Have you understood all these things?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord."  How hilarious are Christ's disciples?  They thought they understood everything when they didn't even grasp the basics!  Instead of pointing out their great delusions, Jesus continued in Matthew 13:52:  "Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old."  Scribes were trained in how to rightly handle the Word of God.  They were men revered for their mastery of scriptural texts, able to teach and interpret the law, and copy it precisely according to Jewish tradition.  The role of the scribes was illustrated in Nehemiah 8:8: "So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading."  Because Christians have the Spirit of God living within us, we have received instruction from God concerning God and His kingdom.

Once we are regenerated by the Holy Spirit, He takes up residence within each believer and guides us into all truth.  God has provided a great treasury of knowledge and wisdom in the Bible of far greater value than a million universes.  Through God's Word we can know God, learn of His love, justice, and character, what He requires of us, and how to live in the way that pleases Him.  The old truths of God's Word should never lose their lustre, for God has many new things to teach us through them.  Some passages are new to us, while other passages are very familiar.  God has an infinite amount of new things to teach us and to apply personally from old, well-trod passages.  God can apply an old passage in a new way without forsaking the truth.  A householder may know his stock very well, but as he digs through some old boxes while organising he will find many useful things he had forgotten or misplaced.  Both the Old and New Testaments are relevant, practical, and useful to aid us in knowing God, leading others to Him, and walking righteously.

When we think we have mastery of the scriptures, we have begun to be entrenched in our own thoughts.  Our God is the One who makes all things new.  He wants to make us new daily as He renews our minds and strength through the scriptures.  If we think we know all, then we know nothing as we ought to know.  Speaking for myself, my theology has changed over the last few years, and I trust years from now it will be radically different - different not because God has changed or I am bold to take liberties to wrest scriptures according to my opinions - but because God has changed me!  If I am willing, humbled by my great lack, He will open my eyes and mind to understand truth I cannot now comprehend.  Unless we are born again and renewed, we will not progress.  We are to called to put off the old man, be renewed in the spirit of our minds, and put on the new man that we might walk in newness of life (Eph. 4:20-24).  The world looks at progress this way:  "Out with the old, and in with the new!"  Yet scripture should never become old to us.  The only way we will be renewed is if our lives are consciously brought into obedience to the scriptures in faith.  Out of His treasury He provides things new and old!

20 May 2013

Grapsing the Sword

"Your fingers would remember their old strength better... if they grasped your sword."
 Gandalf, "Lord of the Rings:  The Two Towers" to King Theoden

This quote is from one of my favourite scenes in the Lord of the Rings movies directed by Peter Jackson.  King Theoden had long been under the the control of the evil wizard Saruman, and as a result the king was decrepit and listless.  He was a puppet in the hands of an oppressive ruler who sought to destroy him and his kingdom.  In his ear whispered Grima Wormtongue, a once loyal adviser to Theoden who had covertly become a servant of Saruman.  Gandalf was wise to see who truly was in control and "drew Saruman like poison from a wound."  Once freed of the magic bonds, Theoden transformed back to the king who could recognise friend from foe.  His long nails and wizened beard melted away, as the king came to his senses.

It was at this moment when King Theoden looked at his hands and said, "Dark have been my dreams of late."  Gandalf replied, "Your fingers would remember their old strength better... if they grasped your sword."  The king slowly reached out to touch the hilt of his sword, and slowly took hold of it.  The moment his hand closed around it, his eyes sparked with memory.  It was like taking hold of the sword had instructed him, and he knew the right course to take.

So it is with Christians.  God has given us His Word the Bible, and it is called the "sword of the Spirit."  Hebrews 4:11-12 reads, "Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."  In our lives we face trials and difficulties far beyond our ability to handle.  We do not have the wisdom to know the right course to take.  Yet if we will lay hold of the Scriptures, they will reveal our heart and motives.  The words of God are relevant for every situation, and reveal God's righteous judgments to us.  If we make the Bible a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path, we will not stumble.  God leads us through deep valleys, dry deserts, even through the furnace of affliction.  If we will fix our eyes upon Him and walk in obedience, we know He will doubtless bring us into a broad pasture where rest is found.

It is one thing to read words on a page, but how much more important is it to grasp them!  We can only grasp the truths of God's Word when He reveals them to us through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Thankfully, the Father has sent the Spirit to indwell and empower every follower of Jesus Christ.  When we grasp the scripture we do not recall former strength, but God renews our strength and adds to it!  We are then able to discern the voice of God from the whispers of Satan.  Praise God that when we walk in His ways, we can be strong in the LORD and experience victory in the power of His might!

19 May 2013

The Meekness of Moses

In my morning devotions, I am reading through Numbers.  How impressive is the meekness of Moses!  He was a man who remained faithful to God despite opposition and struggles.  Here is a man who did not fight for himself, but committed his life - trials, reputation, and all - into the awesome hands of God.  He is really an Old Testament foreshadowing of how Jesus Christ lived (1 Pet. 2:23).  Moses was meek because he knew God.  He couldn't for a moment allow his authority given him by God go to his head.  He was an vagabond killer, a shepherd, and a servant of the Most High God.  When challenged, he fell on his face before God and submitted to His rule.

After the rebellion of Korah, the people were upset about the outcome.  They assembled against Moses and Aaron, and accused Moses of murdering God's people.  God sent a plague among the people and they began to die.  Seeing this, Moses quickly moved into action to save the people from God's wrath.  He commanded Aaron to atone for the sins of the people so they would be saved.  What a heart of love and compassion, despite their hurtful accusations.  Numbers 16:47-48 reads, "Then Aaron took it as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the assembly; and already the plague had begun among the people. So he put in the incense and made atonement for the people. 48 And he stood between the dead and the living; so the plague was stopped."  Aaron, the High Priest, stood between the dead and the living after making atonement for sin.  This is what Jesus our Great High Priest has done through His shed blood.  He is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and be saved.

That is the heart of love I desire, the heart of Christ!  Meekness is a fruit of the Spirit, a supernatural humility that springs only from God.  It comes from having our eyes on Christ, casting our cares upon Him.  What comfort we have when we commit ourselves into His loving, secure, nail-scarred hands.  Jesus says in John 10:27-28, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand."  Jesus tasted of death so His sheep might live with Him forever.  How grateful I am of such sacrifice!  What value God has placed on us sinners to purchase us with the shed blood of His own Son!  Rejoice in this and be exceedingly glad!  May we be meek, seeing we have such a Saviour who calls outcasts and murderers friends through the Gospel, cleansing us from all sin, and making us His own children of light.

16 May 2013

The Scars Speak

There is a story behind every scar.  Some are a result of an accident or work injury.  On my body I have scars from injuries I caused, and some caused by others.  Over time the scars may fade, but the wound is not easily forgotten.  I used to have a scar running down the bridge of my nose given me by my brother.  He wanted to "play dinosaurs," and my dinosaur playing days were over seconds after I agreed to the game!  I still bear the scar of a see-saw being slammed into my face and opened my lower lip on the playground in primary school.  In my right eyebrow is hidden a scar I am responsible for.  When I worked in my trade a pulled on a wire with end-nippers.  The wire snapped and boom!  I whacked myself in the face and opened up a deep gash.  For the most part, my scars are a testimony of carelessness or folly - either mine or of someone else.

There is one scar I earned worthily.  I was probably around eight or nine years old when my dad asked me to hold the lead of our dog Max in the front yard.  Max was a strong dog, an Akita-Lab mix that certainly outweighed me at the time.  He was not yet trained to "come when called" and whenever he ran off, he was tough to catch.  I remember my dad telling me:  "Don't let go!"  Then he went back into the house for some reason.  Max was content to stay in the yard...for a minute anyway!  Suddenly he became aware of a dog or a cat across the street and jumped through our split rail fence.  I was immediately yanked off my feet and pulled headlong through the fence, and my dangling legs kept me from being pulled Indiana Jones-style down the footpath.  I had wrapped the lead around my wrist and hung on, remembering what Dad said.  So as Max strained I balanced on my belly on the lower rail and yelled for rescue.  It was not long before my dad responded.  After he extricated me from the fence and lead, I noticed blood on my right hand.  As Max pulled me through the fence, the wood took a little chunk of skin from my middle finger.  It has faded over time but it remains a testimony of my hanging on with stubborn obedience to please my dad.  It is a worthy scar.

There are no scars more worthy than the nail pierced hands and feet of Jesus Christ.  In obedience to the Father with a heart filled with joy and love, Jesus embraced the cross for sinful man.  Today, almost 2,000 years later, His scars still speak.  They speak of love, sacrifice, and obedience.  They are proof of Christ's divine condescension, that He is God made into human flesh.  He knows what it feels like to be rejected, ridiculed, tortured, abused, and murdered, though innocent of all crimes.  Scars are not revered for their beauty, but those scars on the brow, hands, feet, and side are the most beautiful of all.  God has provided Jesus Christ's suffering on the cross as the primary portrait of His everlasting, gracious love toward all people.  May His sacrifice never be cheapened or forgotten.  His scars still speak to all who will listen.

What is your response to those scars, those wounds Christ bore for you?  He died so you might live.  Are you willing to reach out in faith and acknowledge those scars were made for you?  John 20:26-31 describes a scene after Christ's resurrection from the dead:  "And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!" 27 Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing." 28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." 30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name."

15 May 2013

Praying or Fainting?

On Wednesday evenings, we hold a prayer meeting at our church building.  Last night was a special blessing.  It is wonderful to gather with fellow Christians to praise God, intercede for others, and lay petitions at His feet.  What made the time more special still was the silence.  There is no "awkward silence" when we approach the throne of God.  It is in those times of silence when God often speaks because we have given Him permission by waiting on Him, without demands or selfish expectations.  No one enjoys a relationship that is based upon someone always wanting something:  the only time they contact you is when they want you to do or give something to them.  I think our relationship with God can be like that.  We tend to pray when we want something.  But just like you appreciate friends who love and simply enjoy spending time you, so we ought to approach God to spend time with Him - not just to achieve our ends.  God is gracious and good, delighting in us even when we are shortsighted and self-centered.  But He has a special blessing for those who delight in Him, drawing near with expectant hearts of faith to spend time with Him because we love Him too.

With the historically low turnout to prayer meetings in churches these days, it is obvious people really do not comprehend prayer.  It is true one should have a "prayer closet," or personal time of prayer on a regular basis.  Yet should the opportunity be provided to meet and share a meal with Jesus in bodily form on a weeknight (for free!), I would imagine the whole church would turn up and invite friends.  But when we talk about corporate prayer - entering into His throne room of grace with other like-minded believers - the draw is not the same.  This is a curious thing.  People will attend a prayer meeting once or twice and never come back.  Why?  Perhaps they had an expectation that was not met.  Perhaps other things in their lives are more important.  Maybe they don't believe it is making a difference.  Or their son has soccer training on those days!  Whatever the reasons, without prayer each of us - and therefore the church of God of which we are each a necessary part - will grow increasingly weak as we drift from our Saviour.

G. Campbell Morgan had some profound remarks on prayer in his sermon titled, "Prayer or Fainting."  He suggests we are doing one or the other:  either we are praying, or we are fainting.  He says in the sermon:
We may now consider our Lord's philosophy of life.  He puts these two things into opposition (Luke 18:1).  He declares in effect that this is the alternative before every one of us, to pray or to faint.  There is no suggestion of a middle course...Prayer is the opposite of fainting.  Fainting is a sudden sense of inability and helplessness, the cessation of activity, weariness which is almost, and ultimately is death.  Pray, and do no faint.  To pray is to have the vision clear, the virtue mighty, the victory assured. (The Westminster Pulpit, Volume 3, Morgan, pg. 55-56)
Morgan continues:
The prayer life does not consist of perpetual repetition of petitions.  The prayer life consists of life that is always upward, and onward, and Godward.  The passion of the heart is for the Kingdom of God; the devotion of the mind is to His will; the attitude of the spirit is conformity thereto; and the higher we climb in the realm of prayer, the more unceasing will prayer be, and the fewer will be the petitions.  It is the opposite of importunity that is taught here.  The thought that Jesus gave of God is that of one compassionate, just, mighty, quick to respond to the forward wish of the weakest soul., so that in the midst of the stress and strain and struggle there need be no fainting. (Ibid., 58)
He concludes:
"They ought always to pray, and not to faint."  If we do not pray always, we never pray.  The man who makes prayer a scheme by which occasionally he tries to get something for himself has not learned the deep, profound secret of prayer.  Prayer is life passionately wanting, wishing, desiring God's triumph.  Prayer is life striving, toiling everywhere and everywhen for that ultimate victory.  When men so pray they do not faint.  They mount up with wings as eagles, they run without weariness, they tramp the hardest, roughest road, and do not faint. (Ibid., 61)
May our prayers be constant, persistent with patience, as we seek to discover God.  When we know Him, we will then be able to grasp His will.  Too often we desire to know where a road leads instead of following Christ on the road wherever He leads.  Let us seek the LORD while He may be found, and call upon Him while He is near.  He is seeking such to worship Him in spirit and in truth.  He has promised that those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength.

14 May 2013

God, Change Me!

People face many challenging circumstances during their lives, Christian or not.  When we are in the midst of a bitter trial, it is natural for us to desire God to change the difficult circumstances we face.  As much as we want our situation to change, God wants to change us right where we are.  A lot of time in my Christian walk I was crying out to God to change my circumstances when God instead desired to use them to change me!

Just like repentance is a continual process, God wants to keep reforming us as we are transformed by the renewing of our minds.  When we read His Word, it should confront our fleshly ideas and misunderstandings.  Once we embrace the fact God remains in control, we can face trials and temptations with renewed vigour, looking to the One who has supplied all our needs by His grace.  Instead of looking to escape, God turns our hearts to seek Him in midst the trial.  This increases our faith.

I love the picture provided when King Nebuchadnezzar threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego into the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual.  It was in the furnace they were loosed from their bonds and had fellowship with one likened to the Son of God.  They had fellowship with God before they were thrown into the furnace, but how much sweeter and closer His presence as they trusted Him in faith, willing rather to die than to dishonour and disgrace His name.  They did not find death in the belly of the furnace, but new life.  Another picture is Jonah in the belly of the great fish.  I'm sure from the moment he was gulped down, Jonah wished to be free of his oppressive, living prison.  In Jonah's case, God made sure Jonah had changed before He spoke to the fish and had him spewed out.

Paul and other Christians suffered many things at the hands of their enemies in the New Testament, even incarceration, torture, and death.  Paul wrote in Romans 8:16-18, "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."  When our eyes are on Jesus Christ and our lives spent for His glory, we begin to understand the suffering we endure cannot even be compared with "the glory which shall be revealed in us."  To have the glory of God housed in these earthen vessels, what a joy and eternal hope!

I pray that God tunes my heart to hear His voice.  Instead of desiring to change my circumstances, I desire for God to change me.  I know I need to change, and I must be willing to change first.  I need to be more like Jesus, and it will be God who does the work.  My part is to submit to His will in faith and walk in obedience.  It is God who has begun a good work in me, and it is He who will be faithful to complete it.

13 May 2013

Don't Blame Church!

Colossians 1:18 says of Jesus Christ, "And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence."  Many times in the New Testament, the relationship shared between Jesus and the church is compared to the head and a body.  Even as a body cannot function without a head, so the church cannot properly function without Christ.  A mistake that many people make is they reduce "the church" to their local fellowship.  If offense, strife, or division occurs, people stand in judgment of one another, adding sin to sin.  When we are hurt, our tendencies are to lash out or withdraw.  Thus hurting people move from church to church or cease fellowship altogether because of what they have suffered.  They pin blame on the "church" or even God for their negative experiences instead of the flawed people which comprise it.

I don't want to minimise the pain or rejection many people have experienced after they bared their souls only to face betrayal or embarrassment.  Abuses and crimes have been committed by people who profess to know Christ.  This is a poor reflection of our Saviour and without repentance is gross hypocrisy.  Even as being overtaken by sin does not mean a person is not a genuine Christian, a church with flawed people can be a legitimate part of the body of Christ.  We should call sin sin, and the manner in which we do so is a revelation of our heart.  We are called to revenge all disobedience when our obedience is fulfilled.  We are also called to harsh self-examination, removing the plank from our eye before we lunge for the speck in our brother's eye.  Our heart should be one of compassion with fervent desire for reconciliation as it is written in Galatians 6:1:  "Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted."

Undoubtedly, many people who leave church in a huff over offense have not been obedient to the words spoken by the head Jesus Christ in Matthew 18:15:  "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother."  The temptation is to tell everyone or no one, not even the one who has offended us - because we are certainly NOT offended!  It is among the easiest tasks to find fault in people.  Therefore it is easy to find flaws in a church filled with sinners saved by grace.  Instead of standing in judgment, we ought to give more grace.  Love covers a multitude of sins, and being angry does not work the righteousness of God.  OK!  So your pastor isn't perfect, the secretary was rude, and an usher ignored your complaint!  In the face of ungrace, may we give more grace out of a pure heart - for they know not what they do.  That follows Christ's example.  When we are treated poorly, even by fellow believers, may we turn the other cheek according to Christ's command.  Let us not forget the exhortation of 1 Peter 2:19-20, "For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God."  The church is a training ground.  It is commendable before God for us to suffer wrong but return good for evil, casting our cares upon God because He cares for us.

Sometimes the frustration of people with their local church is the "vision" or perceived lack thereof.  Let me tell you plainly:  if everyone in the church kept Christ as the sole focus of their vision, much conflict and judgments would be avoided.  Perhaps you are frustrated by the lack of focus on missions or outreach by the church you attend.  Many times you have suggested opportunities for involvement for the Body, only to be denied.  You say, "We should be doing something.  Why aren't we involved in that ministry?"  Please hear me, brothers and sisters:  what are YOU doing about it?  YOU are a member of the body of Christ.  YOU are part of the church.  When God puts a burden on your heart, that the church ought to be doing something, are YOU being faithful to answer that call?  If not, it is YOU who is in sin.  God has shown you something to do, and you have refused on account of others not coming along with you.  God has led you, but you are waiting for someone else to take the lead.  In a church filled with flawed people, by God's grace you can choose to do the right thing in humility.  You can be a good example.  Your hands are never tied as a servant of the Living God!  It is Christ who has given us liberty.

God also desires that we live in unity.  We are called to submit to one another in love.  We need to respect and obey those God has placed in authority in our lives.  We are not to clamour for titles and dictate our terms of service.  Christ humbled Himself and we ought to emulate Him, not seeking our own glory.  Not one person in the Body of Christ is without accountability before God or men.  Let us be faithful to heed 2 Peter 1:5-11:  "But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

You know the old adage:  if you point at someone else, three fingers are pointing back at you.  When it comes pointing out the flaws in the Body of Christ, if we do so as part of Christ's body we incriminate ourselves.  May we walk in love, brothers and sisters.  Regardless of where God has us, may we be those who walk soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age.  Instead of seeking to find fault or blaming others, let us stand up and make our calling and election sure.  May our words and deeds be the fragrance of Christ to all!

12 May 2013

Church Zero by Peyton Jones

I recently finished reading Church Zero:  Raising 1st Century Churches of the the Ashes of the 21st Century Church by Peyton Jones.  I was blessed and challenged by it.    Perhaps there might be some who may be a bit put off by the large amount of pop culture references, but the substance is scripturally sound and thought provoking.  It encouraged me to seek God's direction and stay the course.  It caused me to examine myself and the ministry of the fellowship I am part of.  It also was another confirmation concerning things God has already been saying:  we cannot just keep "doing church" as we have seen traditionally modeled, but must embrace the scriptural model revealed in the book of Acts.  Jones emphasises the need for kingdom expansion through church planting, not building empires that become insular and hungry for more people so we can afford better toys.

There was one time when our "modern" worship services were cutting edge, proactive according to the leading of the Spirit.  For the last thirty years or so I have observed, not a whole lot has changed.  Well, things have changed - but perhaps not always for the better.  We know so much, but we trust God little.  Once the machine of ministry is rolling, we can be snagged between jagged gears which catch men and women, painfully chew them up, and spit them out.  The church tends to "cherry pick" those who serve, rather than training and encouraging all people to do the work of the ministry beyond the walls of a church.  There is more to Christian service than chores around a building:  it is the building up of one another in love through fellowship, pressing forward towards Christ in faith.

Having worked with children, youth, and adults during seasons of ministry, I can relate to many of the things Peyton Jones says.  What is particularly troubling (in a good way!) is it challenges the model that passes for youth groups and even church these days.  I found several passages almost haunting, as they dripped with raw truth.  Jones writes, "As E. Stanley Jones explained, The very setup of the ordinary church tends to produce the anonymous.  The congregation is supposed to be silent and receptive, and the pastor is supposed to be outgoing and aggressive.  That produces by its very makeup the spectator and the participant.  By its very makeup it produces the recessive, the ingrown, the non-contributive, and the parasite.  Men and women who during the weeks are molders of opinion, directors of large concerns, directors of destinies are expected to be putty on Sunday, and are supposed to like it.  The have little responsibility, hence make little response, except, perhaps, "I enjoyed your sermon."  They have little to do, hence thy do little." (Church Zero, Kindle, highlight on page 199, Loc. 2383-86)

Following Jesus Christ is not a spectator activity.  To be honest, I suspect many Christians are more emotionally involved with their children's sport's teams, a TV show, or a novel than with Jesus Christ!  I do not say these things to criticise the church, but as a part of the church I know that at times it has been and still can be true in me!  Oh, that we would learn to love and follow Christ!  That we would lead others to Him!  This may mean we need to change our methods, but Jesus is still our means and end.  A flaw of church today is the tendency to be reactionary.  In seeking to be progressive by implementing a program or strategising with plans that have worked for others, it remains a reactionary response.  The only way the church can ever be progressive or effective for the kingdom of God is to be led and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

God is working and moving in the church today.  He is stretching hearts and shattering paradigms.  He will break forth with power and might when we choose to repent, inquire of God, and faithfully obey His commands.  In due season we shall reap, if we faint not.  We must be willing to follow Christ standing on His Word alone.  Even if no one follow us, may we follow Christ.  Where He goes, we must follow!

When Overwhelmed

With God, all things are possible.  It may be often quoted, but this truth is seldom believed.  There are many people in scripture who certainly believed in God's existence, had a living relationship with Him, and yet had doubts.  Moses, one of the great fathers of faith, had moments of doubt like all of us.  Even those with genuine faith have a great need for their faith to be renewed and strengthened, growing upon the foundation of God's Word and His faithfulness.

After God miraculously delivered the children of Israel from bondage in Egypt, the people complained because they didn't have meat to eat.  They suffered from the common malady of a "selective memory."  While they toiled in Egypt under heavy burdens and an oppressive regime, they cried out for deliverance.  But when God delivered them, they only remembered the fresh vegetables and meats that were available to them after a brutal day's work.  Their ungrateful hearts and covetousness angered both God and Moses.  After hearing the complaints of the people, Moses brought his complaint before God.  He said to God in essence, "If this is how it's going to be, kill me now!"  In His grace, God promised to provide His people with meat.  He would not only give them meat for a meal or a day, but meat with such abundance that they would become sick of it - every meal, every day for a month!

Moses was gobsmacked.  In the middle of a desert, where would this bountiful supply of meat come from?  Numbers 11:21-23 reads, "And Moses said, "The people whom I am among are six hundred thousand men on foot; yet You have said, 'I will give them meat, that they may eat for a whole month.' 22 Shall flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, to provide enough for them? Or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to provide enough for them?" 23 And the LORD said to Moses, "Has the LORD'S arm been shortened? Now you shall see whether what I say will happen to you or not."  At that time there were over a million people in total.  Because Moses focused on the great magnitude of the need, doubt crept into his heart.  He could not imagine such a source of food readily available in the desert.  But God corrected the fault of Moses.  Instead of focusing on the greatness of the need or the scarcity of meat, Moses was to look to God as His source.  God said, "Have I suddenly become weak and pathetic?  Wait and see if I can and will do what I say."

God was true to His word.  He caused a wind to blow quail into the camp of the Israelites a meter deep, and the ridiculously plentiful quail stretched for a day's journey in every direction outside the camp.  We too can fall into the trap of being overwhelmed by the needs all around us and wonder if God is not overwhelmed too!  We believe in God and His Word, but we doubt that He is willing or able to do anything about our needs.  When our big problems make God appear small, we have lost proper perspective.  David wrote in Psalm 61:1-2, "Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer. 2 From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I."  Notice that David did not say, "If my heart is overwhelmed" but "when."  It is not a case of if you are overwhelmed, but it is only a matter of when.  When we are overwhelmed, let us turn to God in faith.  Let us not be ashamed to admit our unbelief to Him.  He is faithful and with our own eyes we will see His provision and salvation.

11 May 2013

Treating God like an Idol

This morning at Calvary Chapel Sydney we finished 2 Samuel 5 during the morning service.  One of the points which impacted me was how after God defeated the Philistines who encamped in the valley, those who fled left their idols behind.  Their false gods were exposed as the feeble nothings they truly were.  The Philistines brought their idols to the field of battle, thinking that by their presence they would gain the victory.  In the end, the idols left behind were gathered by David's men and burned.

Two times in the chapter, God fought for His people Israel and defeated the Philistines.  The key to their victory was that David first sought the LORD for guidance and walked in obedience to His commands long before the fight was enjoined.  There were two battles fought against the same enemy in the same valley, yet God directed David with two very different courses of action.  The first time God told David to go up against them directly to fight, and the second time he was to stealthily wait in front of a grove of trees.  When he heard the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, he was to attack immediately, for God went before His people to smite the Philistines.

The theme which weighed heavily upon my heart was the fact that David sought counsel of God before he went into battle.  Sometimes we treat God like the Philistines treated their idols.  We attempt to bring God along into our daily activities and plans, thinking that if we find ourselves in trouble He will deliver us.  That is exactly what Hophni and Phinehas tried to do with the Ark of the Covenant.  Instead of inquiring of the LORD for direction before going into battle, they brought the Ark thinking by virtue of its presence they would have victory.  They perished on the field of battle, and the Ark was taken by the Philistines!  As Christians, we have the living presence of God dwelling within us but can treat God like an idol that cannot think, speak, listen, or answer.  We don't bother to seek or inquire of Him, so He allows us to stumble in the dark.  If we choose this way of dealing with adversity or trouble, we should not expect a better outcome than the beaten Philistines.

When we are attacked or troubled, our first course of action is to take refuge in the stronghold that is Jesus Christ.  David was speaking from personal experience when he penned Psalm 18:2:  "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."  David sought guidance from God before he responded, and he was obedient to do what God commanded.  God's Word contains the answers to questions we have not yet asked!  He speaks, guides, instructs, and keeps us.  God is the One who gives us the victory.  God has provided the Way:  may we walk therein!

07 May 2013

Hands of Love

Last night I read in James, "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into diverse temptations..."  Falling isn't a joyful experience.  Skinned knees, broken bones, torn clothes, and embarrassment can all be effects of a fall.  Yet this is the very first exhortation James gives in his epistle:  "Count it all joy when you fall."  In context, James is not speaking of a literal fall or being overtaken by sin.  He is talking about times in our lives when we experience difficult trials.  The trial itself may not be joyful, but in Christ we can respond with pure joy knowing that God is working for our good and His glory through it.  James 1:2-4 says, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."  When our faith is tested, patience is produced.  It is God's way of bringing us to completion.

Sometimes we experience pain and discomfort because of our wandering, even like a wayward, stubborn sheep.  In ancient times, if a young sheep was prone to wander the shepherd would carefully break a leg of that sheep.  He would carry the sheep wherever he went and a close bond would form.  Even after the leg healed and the sheep could run away, it would freely choose to remain near the shepherd.  From the perspective of the sheep, a broken leg was a painful trial.  But somehow, through the continuous gentle care of the shepherd, the sheep knew that staying with the shepherd was the place of safety.  When we wander, the Good Shepherd Jesus Christ may discipline us sharply.  The purpose of this is to keep us closer to Him in the future.  That is why David wrote after his sin with Bathsheba in Psalm 51:6-8, "Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me hear joy and gladness, that the bones You have broken may rejoice."

Did you catch that last verse?  "Make me hear joy and gladness, that the bones You have broken may rejoice."  Broken bones rejoicing!  A loving father disciplines his children, and God disciplines those He loves.  He allows trials, difficulties, and even chastens us so we might mature in faith.  When we recognise the love behind those hands which can hurt, even the bones which are broken rejoice.  No one curses a surgeon for cutting through skin to reach the malignant tumor that will cause certain death.  The surgeon that successfully operates is counted as a hero, not a villain!  Job understood the goodness of God though he found his life bitter.  He said in Job 13:15, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him."  By the end of the book of Job, he had changed.  He still trusted God no matter what, even at the cost of his own life.  But his suffering taught him the folly of justifying himself before the holy, All-Powerful God.  As long as we walk upon this earth, even the most righteous require refinement.

May we have this heart of trust and faith in the God who loves us and sent Jesus Christ as Saviour.  Whether we find ourselves fallen in a trial or being chastened by a God, never allow you pain to blind you from the loving God who wounds and heals. God proclaims in Deuteronomy 32:39, "Now see that I, even I, am He, and there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; nor is there any who can deliver from My hand."  No one can snatch us out of those loving hands, hands pierced with crude Roman nails.  Abide there, believer.  May the joy of the LORD be your strength!

06 May 2013

The Cost of Worship

"Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 11 "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created."
Revelation 4:9-11

In a world preoccupied with acquiring, how thought provoking it is to fix our eyes on this heavenly scene of worship.  When the living creatures praise God who sits on the throne, the elders fall before Him and worship Him.  Their worship is not limited to words, but they cast their crowns before the throne of God.  These were crowns given them by God.  Crowns are valuable.  Even more importantly, they represent authority.  Usually tooled from precious metals and adorned with priceless jewels, it wouldn't be the sort of thing a person would think to throw.  Yet so great is the power, worthiness, and goodness of God that the only thing the elders could do was to cast their crowns at the feet of the One who lives forever and ever.

David said he would not offer the LORD what cost him nothing.  Worship for these men was costly, but no cost was too great when they perceived God's splendour, majesty, and favour.  Their riches and roles were laid before the throne of God, left at His feet as an offering of praise.  Worship is more than words, a song, or a body laid prostrate on the ground:  it is a cry of adoration and sacrifice unto God from the heart.  Worship is giving back to God all He has given us, counting all loss so He might be glorified.  It is the natural response of a regenerated soul of thanks and rejoicing, knowing we are unworthy even to speak the name of the living God, much less serve Him or be adopted into His family as children.

The casting of crowns points us to the One who is worthy of all praise:  Jesus Christ.  We should not praise the men who have sacrificed, but the One who deserves such an offering.  It is not what we bring in our hands before the throne, but the God who sits upon it both now and forever.  At the same time we do well to consider:  have I cast my crown before His throne?  Have I freely given back to God the most precious possessions and treasured aspects of my life?  Has my worship stopped short of such sacrifice because I count the gift more worthy than the Giver?

May our lives be a proclamation of the everlasting truth:  "You are worthy, O LORD, to receive glory and honour and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created."  God has given us new life through Christ.  We of all men ought to be most generous and thankful, especially concerning our Saviour.  Let us seek to offer a sacrifice of praise worthy of His greatness, not so the gift will be recognised by men, but that God will receive glory.

Have You Seen the One You Love?

The Shulamite says in Song of Songs 3:1-4:  "By night on my bed I sought the one I love; I sought him, but I did not find him. 2 "I will rise now," I said, "and go about the city; in the streets and in the squares I will seek the one I love." I sought him, but I did not find him. 3 The watchmen who go about the city found me; I said, "Have you seen the one I love?" 4 Scarcely had I passed by them, when I found the one I love. I held him and would not let him go, until I had brought him to the house of my mother, and into the chamber of her who conceived me."

Have you ever felt far from God?  Even people who have trusted in God sometimes feel far from Him.  We know that if God feels far it is not He that has abandoned us, but we have lost sight of Him.  Sometimes it is our doing through wandering, a season of trial may overtake us, or an attack of the enemy of our souls may lay us low.  We know Whom we have loved, but He does not always feel as close to us as He ought.  God's face shines upon us continually with grace and love, yet we can become calloused to His presence.  We are forgetful and easily distracted.  After a dark season we may as the Shulamite come to our senses, and in our waking moments discover we cannot find the presence of the One we love.  How troubling this is!

What happens next is critical and an indicator of our heart.  What should we do?  Do we drown in despair and sorrow?  Do we call frantically upon God to reveal Himself?  Do we become angry or disillusioned?  Or do we care to such a degree that we will relentlessly pursue our Saviour in devotion and worship?  The Shulamite did not confine her love for her beloved to the bedroom or palace, but took to the street in the dead of night to seek the one she loved.  It was not long before she was met by the watchmen.  After consulting with them, it was not long until she met face to face with her love.  In her words, "I held him and would not let him go!"

Though there is great depth of meaning in this passage beyond what can be delved in volumes, allow me to point to the important role of the watchmen.  The watchmen found the frantic woman who ran through the darkened streets looking for the lover she had lost sight of.  The Shulamite asked a question of them:  "Have you seen the one I love?"  The response or words spoken are not recorded.  But it was not long after their interaction that she found her betrothed.  When we read this verse last week in homegroup, it occurred to me that the watchmen act as the Holy Spirit does, prompting our hearts to enter into the LORD's presence.  It is God who has come to us; He has sought us out and found us.  When we lose direction or heart, He is the One who draws us to Himself.

Christians are told many times in scripture to be sober and watchful.  All of us are called to be watchmen, and the pastor doubly so.  Quoting Charles Jefferson, "Men are called to pray and to watch.  Now, if every man is surrounded by perils, if the universe is alive with forces hostile to the soul, then watchfulness becomes one of the most critical of all the pastor's responsibilities.  To him precious lives are committed, lives for which he is to render an account.  Watching, surveying, scanning the horizon, peering in to the darkness of days not yet born, spying out the interior nature of forces which are working like insidious and poisonous leavens, calculating the advent of storms asleep as yet in the caves of coming days - all this is pastoral work." (The Minister as Shepherd, pg. 37)  It is easier at times to watch for dangers coming outside a fellowship than the condition of the people within.  We are all called to make disciples, that is, to encourage and lead people in following Jesus.  Disciples are not made in a day.  The command of Jesus should not be limited to the evangelism of the unsaved, but the continual discipling of those who genuinely love Christ and seek Him.  The watchmen found the woman, but it was important that she found her lover.  Each of us must seek and find God for ourselves, and we need the Holy Spirit to guide us.

After the Shulamite found the one she loved, she did not rest until she had shared him with her closest family members.  She immediately took him to her mother.  We are to share Christ with those we know.  We ought not to neglect the introduction of our Saviour and Lover of our souls from those closest to us.  We should be active in sharing Christ with those who already know Him as well so they might be encouraged and exhorted to glorify Him always.  Let us as believers always seek to hold fast to Christ, seeking Him alone.  Do you notice when His presence is strangely absent?  How many hours or days must pass before we realise it?  Even a moment without our Saviour is one too many.  Let us seek guidance from the Holy Spirit so we might abide in Christ.  May we also keep watch over those who are in the faith that they too might cling to the One they love.

04 May 2013

A Lost Cause?

I overheard a song yesterday in a restaurant and commented to my friend, "Do you know what band that is?  Who is the artist?  It sounds like Beck."  Much to my surprise, my friend pulled out his mobile phone and fired up "Shazam," an app which in seconds was able to discern the song amid the chatter and noises of a crowded restaurant!  Will the modern conveniences of technology ever cease?  The song we heard above the background was "Lost Cause" by Beck.  Listening to the song made me feel good, but when I read the lyrics later it made me sad.  It is a tragic message that resonates in a fallen world.

The refrain goes, "Baby you're lost; baby you're lost; baby you're a lost cause.  I'm tired of fighting; I'm tired of fighting - fighting for a lost cause."  From a human perspective, we have all known people who needed help beyond themselves but have refused it.  It can be disheartening and even devastating when people are ensnared in addictions or behaviours that are killing them and it can feel like there is nothing we can do about it.  As Beck sings "Lost Cause," I can feel the despair in his voice from the depths of his soul.  It's like a person who invests everything in a relationship just to experience pain and betrayal and finally walks away, wounded and broken.

It is easy for people to look at other people like a "lost cause" not worth fighting for, but that is not how God views people.  Jesus Christ came and laid down His life to save lost sinners.  Nothing is too hard for Him!  Therefore there is no one on this planet who is a lost cause.  They may be fallen, deceitful, filled with hate and bitterness, and have committed great wickedness.  But Jesus is able to save to the utmost all who repent and trust in Him!  For the God who created the universe and all that exists, nothing is too hard - not even wayward, foolish, lost men.  People only seem lost causes when we have lost sight of God, His power, and love.  Even a little faith in God is enough to move mountains.

There are many causes in the world.  No person is a lost cause because Jesus not only has the power to find, but to save!

01 May 2013

The Resurrected Life

What do you suppose is the best evidence of Jesus Christ's resurrection?  The empty tomb?  The historical evidence?  The biblical accounts?  While all of these are credible, there might be evidence that holds more sway than all these:  the new life of a born-again believer.  A transformed life through the power of the Holy Spirit is a divine revelation of God's love, power, and grace as our living Saviour Jesus Christ lives His life through us.  People might discount the authority of scripture in ignorance.  They may wrongly believe that the resurrection account was a fabrication.  But they cannot long deny the transformation of a person by a real relationship with the living God.

Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 3:16, "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory."  Jesus is Immanuel, God with us clothed in human flesh.  After His crucifixion, three days later Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to many before His ascension.  He chose to leave His disciples behind, but He did not leave them alone.  He prayed the Father who sent the Holy Spirit to empower Christ's followers to be witnesses to glorify His name throughout the world.  An empty tomb carved out of a rock still speaks, but living witnesses have a more powerful testimony still.  Jesus affirmed in John 14:12:  "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father."

How great is the work and calling of every Christian disciple!  We are not worthy through our efforts, but we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.  Great is the scope of the need, hard are the hearts, blind are the eyes, and deaf are the ears.  But our God shall supply all our needs.  His strength is sufficient for us.  He came to open the eyes of the blind, set the captives free, and raise the dead - and desires His work to continue through us!  It is written in 1 Corinthians 4:1-2, "Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful."  While on earth we are not yet perfected, but we are called to be faithful.  We must be faithful to Jesus, His Word, be obedient to His commands, and love one another as He has loved us.  We are called to abide in Christ and boldly hold forth the mystery of the Gospel revealed in these last days.  We are unable, but God is able.

Let us pursue this high calling, that our Christ-led Spirit-empowered lives might provide the best evidence of Christ's life and love for the glory of God.  Let us work with our hands what is good "...for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10).  Praise His name for the gift of forgiveness, salvation, and the gifts He has given to men!