Marching Forth!

After I came home from hospital, it happened my morning readings were in the book of Job.  This was impeccable timing, because whenever I read Job his suffering dwarfs mine in a matter of sentences.  A sore, surgically-repaired knee is nothing compared to what Job faced!  When pain hits hard it prompts soul-searching and questions.  There was no rational reason for the theft of his herds, the consuming fire from heaven, nor the collapse of the home of his son and subsequent death of all his children in one day.  There was no human answer for why Job's health failed so suddenly and the severity of his suffering.  Job's brilliance was revealed in the midst of his suffering, not by the absence of it. Job never allowed his pain to reflect poorly upon the character, purity, and righteousness of God.  What happened to Job was wrong, but Job refused to charge it to God's account.  He acknowledged he had freely received good from God and it would be hyp...

The Bible tells us in heaven there will be no more pain.  Yet alas, on this earthly side of heaven, we are guaranteed pain.  Pain, sickness, and sorrow are consequences of sin, and as long as we live in this body of flesh, pain will be a part of life.  Even Jesus, a man who never sinned, was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.  He experienced the full range of human pain:  physical suffering, mental anguish, emotional hurts through rejection and betrayal, and spiritual separation from the Father on the cross.  If God should see fit to allow His own Son to suffer and die for the sins of the world as a demonstration of divine love, then pain for those who have received His love need not sting so badly. It is a truth that often pain must be inflicted before restoration and healing can be experienced.  When I tore my ACL and meniscus in May, it hurt.  Walking was slow and painful.  My knee was stiff, sore, and swollen.  If I twiste...

Years ago I spent a few weeks refurbishing a pool table for my garage.  Over the course of time, one of my two-piece pool cues broke.  As I walked to the rubbish bin, I held the lower portion in my hand.  Man, this would be a good club, I thought to myself.  Convinced of the bell-ringing power of my new club, I put it near my bed in the case of an unexpected intruder.  For years the thing collected dust. Then one day I heard a story (fact or fable I do not know) about a woman who woke up and caught an intruder rifling through her home.  Instead of demanding he leave or threatening to call the police, the woman invited the man to sit down and offered him some food.  As she prepared the meal, she spoke to him gently and told him of God's love for him despite his sins.  This woman's faith in God's protection was her security, even when there was a thief in her home.  The story made an impact on me.  It reminded me God is the one who prote...

1 Corinthians 13 is a great description of God's love.  It is active, pursues, is patient, kind, gracious, generous, and seeks to sacrifice self for the benefit of others.  1 Corinthians 13:5 says of God's love: " It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs ." ( NIV)   The last phrase of this verse is most instructive to me.  In the NKJV it is translated " thinks no evil ."   Love is not wary or suspicious, but thinks good of others - even when they have done something wrong towards us in the past.  When we keep track of other's mistakes or faults, we are not walking in love. Closely related to keeping no record of wrongs in others is when we keep track of our rights.  It does not demonstrate love when we bring up how much good we have done for others when they have wronged us.  If I point out my "good" deeds to make someone else feel guilty, or to glorify myself in light of their conduct, t...

" I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase ." 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 A person need not be a farmer by trade to know acres of desirable crops do not spring up on their own.  A bountiful harvest is enjoyed only after much labour and expense.  The ground must be cleared, tilled, and irrigated.  Good seed must be planted at the appropriate time and spaced according to each kind.  Vigilance is required to protect the growing plants from insects and rodents.  After the planting and watering, then a fruitful harvest may result.  There is no guarantee offered the farmer his efforts will be rewarded with the same degree of fruitfulness every year.  But his faithful labour greatly affects the end result. No farmer could lay claim to creating seeds, plants, or fruit.  God is the Creator, and skilled farmers have learned methods, devised eq...

This morning I read a most insightful, instructive passage in the book of Esther.  After Haman felt slighted by Mordecai, he inquired and discovered his Jewish ancestry.  Haman decided the punishment of Mordecai was insufficient, and treacherously schemed to destroy all Jewish people.  He influenced the king to give him permission to destroy this "certain people scattered among the provinces" who refused to keep the king's commands, and this permission was granted.  Mordecai and all the Jews mourned this grave injustice, clothed themselves with sackcloth, and wailed bitterly.  Queen Esther, though a Jewess, was ignorant of Haman's plans to destroy the Jewish people because she lived in relative isolation in the palace. When I read chapter four, the living Word sprang to life before my eyes.  Esther 4:1-4 reads, " When Mordecai learned all that had happened, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city. He cr...

Yesterday our family returned safely from a visit to the United States.  It was a refreshing and encouraging time of meeting with friends and family.  I was also able to attend a pastor's conference hosted at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa and to teach at Jericho Road Christian Fellowship.  As I reflect back upon the things the LORD showed me during the trip, one that has been useful for me is an illustration God provided me to share for the fellowship at Jericho Road. As we live out our days on earth, we face situations and circumstances we cannot explain or understand.  With our limited vision, it is impossible for us to see how fiery trials can work for good.  Before assembling a jigsaw puzzle, the complete picture has already been printed clearly on the front of the box.  Should you come across a strange or oddly coloured piece, an inspection of the picture provides clues where the piece fits in the big picture.  But when it comes to our lives on eart...

During a communion service today, I held a small cup of juice in my hand.  The grape juice represented the blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross for the sins of the world - and mine too.  Christians have not been redeemed by corruptible things, but as it is written on 1 Peter 1:19 :  "... but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot ."  It amazed me to think God would allow the precious blood of His Son to be poured out for any reason, much less to atone for cursed sinners. We count precious things we own as treasures, treasures to be guarded, preserved, and cherished.  Yet so great was God's love for fallen men, He poured out the blood of Jesus on the dust of the earth.  The riches of God's glorious love and grace were displayed in God's sacrifice.  It boggles the wildest imagination!  Jesus Christ is in very nature God, and made in the fashion of a man - doubly precious!  In light of God's expens...

" Then Amos answered, and said to Amaziah: "I was no prophet, nor was I a son of a prophet, but I was a sheepbreeder and a tender of sycamore fruit. 15 Then the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said to me, 'Go, prophesy to My people Israel .'" Amos 7:14-15 Amos is a great example of a man God called to enter His ministry step by step.  God brought him out of a farming profession - breeding sheep and picking fruit - and called him to be a prophet for His people. He didn't have a pedigree which would have been valued in the Jewish community, but he was called a prophet nevertheless.  Like Moses, he was taken from following a flock of sheep and was called to prophesy to the nation of Israel. Jesus called fisherman, tax collectors, doctors, and educated Pharisees to follow Him.  Jesus is our Good Shepherd who takes us from one pasture and moves us to another.  He takes people from all walks of life and employs them in His service.  ...

The other day I was struck with a simple truth:  things which tempt me to be proud are the very things which God desires to use to humble me.  Pride comes from a high regard of self.  Our flesh always seeks promotion and recognition.  The basis for true humility springs from a high view of God.    After being born again by faith in Jesus, our whole perspective changes through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.  Our chief satisfaction is found in service and glory of God instead of serving self. Tonight I have a privilege of going to my dad's ordination at Calvary Chapel Santee and I have been asked to share a few words.  From a fleshly standpoint, I have always been "proud" of my dad.  He has always been my pastor, and has always been an godly example for me to follow.  Should I be proud of him, however, it reveals I seek to promote myself through him.  Instead of a feeling of pride, I am greatly humbled that God wou...