Today I preached at Calvary Chapel Sydney on 2 Corinthians 1:1-7. I have been richly blessed in preparing and considering the truths of that passage. God gave me deeper understanding of His grace, mercy, and comfort through His Word. It dawned on me how God blesses us whether we recognise it or not. We can have confidence Paul demonstrated, that even in our trials He will certainly accomplish His redemptive work.
When I think of "good works," I think of sacrificing, serving, or obeying God in some area of my life. I think of things I choose to do because Christ's love has compelled me. Yet I am learning sometimes a good work can be our response to situations over which we have little or no control. It is a good work to endure hard times, trusting God has a plan and purpose He will accomplish despite my ignorance. When Jesus endured the cross He did a good work. Jesus did not do this for His own benefit, but His sacrifice accomplished deliverance, redemption, salvation, and comfort for me and all who trust in Him. It is amazing to consider that even as Christ's suffering benefited me with salvation and consolation, whether I suffer or receive comfort from Him it benefits others with salvation and consolation as well.
I cannot think of any time in scripture when God asks us if we are willing to suffer. In the life of Paul God divinely revealed to Paul he would suffer greatly for His name's sake. The 2 Corinthians 1:1-7 passage teaches us with every trial and suffering we experience for Christ's sake there is abundant consolation provided for us. Sometimes it is God's will we suffer, for in times of trial we mature greatly (James 1:2-4). The trials we endure are not only for us, but bring salvation and comfort to others through the Holy Spirit. This is mind blowing, and it is a fundamental truth. It is not our suffering which enables us to comfort others who suffer, but the fact we have received the Holy Spirit and the comfort He provides. The more we suffer for Christ's sake, the greater the consolation.
I encourage you to meditate on this passage and see how necessary it is for our souls to align with God's perspective on trials for Christ's sake. We can suffer as unto the LORD, even as we are to do all things as unto the LORD. It is a good work when we are in the midst of a trial to say as Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18: "...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." We maintain an eternal perspective when we focus our eyes on the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity. Through the prophet in Isaiah 57:15 our gracious Father of mercies and of all comfort said He will dwell in the holy place "with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." If we humble ourselves before God, He will lift us up. One day our Saviour will present us faultless before the Father with exceeding joy. It is all God's doing, and it is glorious in my eyes.
31 January 2015
28 January 2015
Watching the Watchman
The scriptures speak of the necessity of watchfulness in the life of a believer. Jesus bid His followers to watch for His coming. We are told many times to be watchful in our prayers, knowing what the will of the LORD is. Those who are born again have been made spiritually alive, and we ought to remain alert and watchful, not spiritually drowsy and dull. Good watchmen do more than watch: they are called to effectively communicate with others. A watchman on the wall guarding the city is not useful if he does not sound the alarm to warn inhabitants of enemies before their arrival. A shepherd is careful to observe and know the state of his flocks, and Christians are to watch out for the good of others compelled by the love of Jesus.
Watching is good, but the way we watch and communicate is important too. It seems there are some watchmen whose concerns are so great they feel their knowledge of facts exclude them from following the order laid forth in scripture. This often becomes a way of dealing with issues among Christians or with a church. Personal offenses become public on social media with open letters. To what end? What does it accomplish but fuel the fires of gossip and confusion, seeking to sow division and uncertainty? Is it because we doubt the warning of Moses and the ability of God to deal with sinners who do so secretly: "Be sure your sin will find you out?" Pointing out the flaws of others is simple, and it is natural to focus on flaws rather than Jesus who unites us.
In the New Testament, the primary emphasis is not placed on us watching others or warning of all the deceptions in the world. Our focus is to first deal with the log in our own eye rather than focusing on the speck in someone else's eye. We are to take heed to ourselves. More than having the facts on our side, we must to share them motivated with love and seasoned with grace in accordance to God's scriptural order. The internet has given exponential rise to gossip in countless forms which Christians do well to avoid. Even if we do not contribute to a thread or discussion, what we read can wrongly skew our view of others or cause suspicion to grow. Much damage has been done by zealous watchmen who have neglected to examine their methods as carefully as the doctrine and deeds of those whom they criticise.
We are to watch, and let us so examine ourselves how, why, and who we watch. Our eyes ought to be on Christ, and we should examine ourselves according to His example and holiness. We are called to take heed, be watchful of ourselves. The following verses are by no means an exhaustive list, but hopefully it conveys the strong emphasis we ought to have in self confrontation through scriptural examination. Notice how each individual is to watch and take heed to himself as his primary focus - not others. Feel free to look up and read these passages in context:
Watching is good, but the way we watch and communicate is important too. It seems there are some watchmen whose concerns are so great they feel their knowledge of facts exclude them from following the order laid forth in scripture. This often becomes a way of dealing with issues among Christians or with a church. Personal offenses become public on social media with open letters. To what end? What does it accomplish but fuel the fires of gossip and confusion, seeking to sow division and uncertainty? Is it because we doubt the warning of Moses and the ability of God to deal with sinners who do so secretly: "Be sure your sin will find you out?" Pointing out the flaws of others is simple, and it is natural to focus on flaws rather than Jesus who unites us.
In the New Testament, the primary emphasis is not placed on us watching others or warning of all the deceptions in the world. Our focus is to first deal with the log in our own eye rather than focusing on the speck in someone else's eye. We are to take heed to ourselves. More than having the facts on our side, we must to share them motivated with love and seasoned with grace in accordance to God's scriptural order. The internet has given exponential rise to gossip in countless forms which Christians do well to avoid. Even if we do not contribute to a thread or discussion, what we read can wrongly skew our view of others or cause suspicion to grow. Much damage has been done by zealous watchmen who have neglected to examine their methods as carefully as the doctrine and deeds of those whom they criticise.
We are to watch, and let us so examine ourselves how, why, and who we watch. Our eyes ought to be on Christ, and we should examine ourselves according to His example and holiness. We are called to take heed, be watchful of ourselves. The following verses are by no means an exhaustive list, but hopefully it conveys the strong emphasis we ought to have in self confrontation through scriptural examination. Notice how each individual is to watch and take heed to himself as his primary focus - not others. Feel free to look up and read these passages in context:
- 1 Timothy 4:16 - "Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you."
- Hebrews 3:12-13 - "Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."
- Galatians 5:13-16 - "For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! 16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh."
- 1 Corinthians 3:10 - "According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it."
- Acts 20:28 - "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."
- 1 Corinthians 10:12 - "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall."
- Matthew 18:10 - "Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven."
- Luke 17:3-4 - "Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him."
- Mark 13:5 - "And Jesus, answering them, began to say: "Take heed that no one deceives you."
- Mark 13:32-33 - "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is."
- Luke 11:35 - "Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness."
- Luke 21:8 - "And He said: "Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time has drawn near.' Therefore do not go after them."
27 January 2015
Righteous By Faith in Christ
I read a news story I found most illuminating. Fox News reported a woman in New Hampshire received more than she expected when she visited Burger King. After driving through to pick up the food she ordered, she realised she had mistakenly been given money intended for a bank deposit. The article read, "...the couple briefly considered keeping the money,
which they certainly could have used. But he says he and his wife are
Jehovah's Witnesses, and that "Jehovah sees everything." I found this mildly amusing and tragic at the same time.
It is true "Jehovah sees everything," but it appears the fear of retribution or punishment for stealing was more a deterrent than loving to do what is righteous and pleases God. It is sad many people who "fear" God in a worldly sense know nothing of His love, grace, and forgiveness. God saw this couple briefly considered keeping the money, and the fact they even needed to have a discussion over the dishonest temptation to steal the money condemns of the condition of their hearts. You see, God cares not only about our external behaviour, but the thoughts and motives of our hearts. If it is only the fear of being caught and punished which keeps me from criminal activity, the monstrous power and influence of sin remains on the loose- though concealed before men in my heart. God sees the heart, and only by spiritual regeneration, forgiveness, and salvation through faith in Christ can sin within us be put to death.
We cannot earn God's favour through external adherence to the law. The Law of God only condemns, but has provided life and salvation through Jesus Christ, God-made-flesh. It is only through faith in Jesus we can be reconciled to the Father, adopted as children of God, and made righteous even as Christ is. Paul wrote in Philippians 3:7-11, "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead."
It is true "Jehovah sees everything," but it appears the fear of retribution or punishment for stealing was more a deterrent than loving to do what is righteous and pleases God. It is sad many people who "fear" God in a worldly sense know nothing of His love, grace, and forgiveness. God saw this couple briefly considered keeping the money, and the fact they even needed to have a discussion over the dishonest temptation to steal the money condemns of the condition of their hearts. You see, God cares not only about our external behaviour, but the thoughts and motives of our hearts. If it is only the fear of being caught and punished which keeps me from criminal activity, the monstrous power and influence of sin remains on the loose- though concealed before men in my heart. God sees the heart, and only by spiritual regeneration, forgiveness, and salvation through faith in Christ can sin within us be put to death.
We cannot earn God's favour through external adherence to the law. The Law of God only condemns, but has provided life and salvation through Jesus Christ, God-made-flesh. It is only through faith in Jesus we can be reconciled to the Father, adopted as children of God, and made righteous even as Christ is. Paul wrote in Philippians 3:7-11, "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead."
25 January 2015
God's Goals and Ours
Some people love the journey, and others are focused more on the destination. I'm more a destination guy. The knowledge I will ultimately arrive at my intended destination makes even a long journey tolerable. As I was cycling for exercise today up and down hills, it occurred to me my goal was not a particular destination on the map, but for the purpose of attaining goals of personal fitness. I was able to enjoy the journey, knowing I was working towards my goals whether I ever arrive there or not.
We make goals and plans, and often they are desires of our hearts given us by God. We can be so focused on the destination - like setting foot in a mission field - that we face discouragement when the lack of financial support seems to hold us back. Some people have in their hearts to plant a church, but for some their goal is never realised. But such efforts are never wasted. What the Christian must understand is God is faithful to redeem that time to accomplish His purposes. Our goals are not God's goals. We look at the surface, but God looks at the heart. He uses apparent obstructions, setbacks, and delays to prepare and strengthen us so we will be ready for the next chapter in our lives and ministry.
Considering my own life, I remember clearly when God led me and my family to seek His will for us in Australia. It was confirmed again and again God was leading us to Australia to serve Him. My realisation of God's will for our future did not mean it happened instantly. Years passed, and our goal seemed no closer to culmination. In those formative years our faith was stretched and our resolve strengthened as we sought the LORD. God was working in my heart, in the hearts of my wife, children, relatives, and even in hearts of the people where God would establish us. My goal was to serve God in Australia, but I needed preparation I never thought I did. God is wise to lengthen our journey and leave our goals unrealised until we have brought to a place of surrender and trust we could never have otherwise.
Isaiah 55:6-9 says, "Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. 8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. 9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." God's thoughts and ways are higher than ours, and so are His plans for us. He has plans far more important than our goals to accomplish in us through His sanctifying works along the way. Without the journey, we could never be prepared to arrive, thrive, and endure at our destination. Trust the LORD, and praise Him for His goodness and mercy towards us!
We make goals and plans, and often they are desires of our hearts given us by God. We can be so focused on the destination - like setting foot in a mission field - that we face discouragement when the lack of financial support seems to hold us back. Some people have in their hearts to plant a church, but for some their goal is never realised. But such efforts are never wasted. What the Christian must understand is God is faithful to redeem that time to accomplish His purposes. Our goals are not God's goals. We look at the surface, but God looks at the heart. He uses apparent obstructions, setbacks, and delays to prepare and strengthen us so we will be ready for the next chapter in our lives and ministry.
Considering my own life, I remember clearly when God led me and my family to seek His will for us in Australia. It was confirmed again and again God was leading us to Australia to serve Him. My realisation of God's will for our future did not mean it happened instantly. Years passed, and our goal seemed no closer to culmination. In those formative years our faith was stretched and our resolve strengthened as we sought the LORD. God was working in my heart, in the hearts of my wife, children, relatives, and even in hearts of the people where God would establish us. My goal was to serve God in Australia, but I needed preparation I never thought I did. God is wise to lengthen our journey and leave our goals unrealised until we have brought to a place of surrender and trust we could never have otherwise.
Isaiah 55:6-9 says, "Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. 8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. 9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." God's thoughts and ways are higher than ours, and so are His plans for us. He has plans far more important than our goals to accomplish in us through His sanctifying works along the way. Without the journey, we could never be prepared to arrive, thrive, and endure at our destination. Trust the LORD, and praise Him for His goodness and mercy towards us!
24 January 2015
Not Cast Away
Last night I watched an interesting foreign film called "Castaway on the Moon," a Korean twist on the movie "Castaway" starring Tom Hanks. The basic plot is after a failed suicide attempt, a floundering businessman ends up on a island in the middle of a metropolitan area. Unable to swim or successfully call for help, he begins to embrace his simple lifestyle of foraging for food and supplies. No longer wanting off the island, he wrote "Hello" on a sandy beach. Unknown to him, his message caught the eye of a solitary woman who lived in the city. After watching and photographing the "alien" man for a while, the woman decided to contact this man with a simple message in a bottle: "Hello." Over the next months they would trade messages back and forth, writing on the beach or sending messages in a bottle.
The discovery of someone who cared enough to write personal messages in a bottle for him to find caused the man to grow increasingly curious. He wrote on the beach, "Who are you?" This is a natural response. When I see the order of the universe and the beauty of this world, when I consider the message of the Bible as a letter introducing all people to the living God who created all and loves us, I am brought to the same point as the solitary man on the beach: "Who are you?" God wants to be known, and He has revealed Himself to man in the person of Jesus Christ. God the Father is an eternal, holy, and unapproachable Spirit who consumes all sin as fire does dry chaff. By His grace He revealed Himself in the fashion of a man so we might see His love practically demonstrated and love Him back.
Knowing God is a prime purpose in our lives as human beings. It is only through knowing God we can begin a new life of discovery, comfort, joy, and wisdom. David knew this. More critical than serving God is knowing Him. It is only through knowing God we discover how to please God. His words are recorded in 1 Chronicles 28:9: "As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever." Did you see the first phrase? "Know the God of your father." We can know God because He has made Himself known by His grace. Once we know God intimately through receiving the Gospel by faith, we can serve Him with a loyal heart and a willing mind. All who seek Him will be found by Him, when we seek Him with our whole hearts. Forsake Him and there will be severe consequences.
God has not left us marooned on some rock without any means to communicate with Him. God has made a way through faith in Jesus Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit who teaches, comforts, and helps us. There is no great distance for us to span, for the Holy Spirit dwells inside each person who has confessed their sins, repented, and trusted in Jesus as LORD and Saviour. Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us so where He is we can be also forever. Jesus will not reject any who seek Him, for He said in John 6:37, "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out." How wondrous this is, that we can know God! Do you want to know Him? How far will you go to know Him just a little more today?
The discovery of someone who cared enough to write personal messages in a bottle for him to find caused the man to grow increasingly curious. He wrote on the beach, "Who are you?" This is a natural response. When I see the order of the universe and the beauty of this world, when I consider the message of the Bible as a letter introducing all people to the living God who created all and loves us, I am brought to the same point as the solitary man on the beach: "Who are you?" God wants to be known, and He has revealed Himself to man in the person of Jesus Christ. God the Father is an eternal, holy, and unapproachable Spirit who consumes all sin as fire does dry chaff. By His grace He revealed Himself in the fashion of a man so we might see His love practically demonstrated and love Him back.
Knowing God is a prime purpose in our lives as human beings. It is only through knowing God we can begin a new life of discovery, comfort, joy, and wisdom. David knew this. More critical than serving God is knowing Him. It is only through knowing God we discover how to please God. His words are recorded in 1 Chronicles 28:9: "As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever." Did you see the first phrase? "Know the God of your father." We can know God because He has made Himself known by His grace. Once we know God intimately through receiving the Gospel by faith, we can serve Him with a loyal heart and a willing mind. All who seek Him will be found by Him, when we seek Him with our whole hearts. Forsake Him and there will be severe consequences.
God has not left us marooned on some rock without any means to communicate with Him. God has made a way through faith in Jesus Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit who teaches, comforts, and helps us. There is no great distance for us to span, for the Holy Spirit dwells inside each person who has confessed their sins, repented, and trusted in Jesus as LORD and Saviour. Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us so where He is we can be also forever. Jesus will not reject any who seek Him, for He said in John 6:37, "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out." How wondrous this is, that we can know God! Do you want to know Him? How far will you go to know Him just a little more today?
23 January 2015
The Lamb for the Offering
"But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." Then he said, "Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?"
Genesis 22:7
The offering itself is an intrinsic part of sacrifice and worship of God. Isaac knew from experience an altar, fire, and wood was missing the most important part: the offering. God is seeking people of faith like Abraham and Isaac, men who worship Him in spirit and in truth. Hebrews 13:15 says, "Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name." God is the one who supplies the fire within our hearts to offer a sacrifice of praise which is acceptable in His sight.
Churches all over the world supply the fire and wood in times of corporate worship. The songs are prayerfully selected and practised so all can with one voice praise God in unity. The music and words sung are not worship in itself, just like fire and wood is not a sacrifice without an offering. So what is the offering we are called to give? Ourselves. God is to be the central focus of our lives, as we lay aside all idols and weights which clamour for our attention. An acceptable sacrifice before God needed to be the animal prescribed for the particular offering in the law. Though the animal might be different, they all shared one thing in common: they had to be without blemish.
This is why holiness is a key component in worship. Should we approach God in the filthy garments of self-righteousness or our flesh spotted with the leprosy of sin, our sacrifice of praise will not be acceptable. We must humble ourselves before God in repentance and be born again. We then have boldness through the cleaning blood of Christ we have been washed, and through the Gospel have received the imputed righteousness of Christ through faith. "Nothing in my hands I bring," Spurgeon used to say, and this is the truth. We have nothing to offer the Creator of the Universe, nor is He in need of anything from us. But He delights in the sacrifice of praise of people who are overwhelmed with His love and goodness, and offer themselves completely without reservation.
When is the last time you allowed yourself to be overwhelmed with the glorious love and grace of Jesus Christ? What do you know of holy affections which bring tears to the eyes and singing becomes impossible? It is not only in the good times we can freely offer ourselves: it is in the tough times, when we are hurting and depressed and bound in sins. In a day when Israel was being judged by God for their sins it was spoken through the prophet in Jeremiah 33:10-11: "Thus says the LORD: 'Again there shall be heard in this place--of which you say, "It is desolate, without man and without beast"--in the cities of Judah, in the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man and without inhabitant and without beast, 11 the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who will say: "Praise the LORD of hosts, For the LORD is good, For His mercy endures forever"-- and of those who will bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause the captives of the land to return as at the first,' says the LORD." It is in times of desolation buoyed by faith we can look to the certain future and hope we have through faith in Jesus Christ. Singing of God's goodness when life isn't good becomes an act of faith in which God is pleased.
As you gather this week at your church fellowship, there no doubt will be wood and fire supplied: but where is the lamb for the offering?
21 January 2015
Making an Impression
First impressions are important, but they are not everything. Speaking for myself, faithfulness in a friend over the long haul is more desirable over a good first impression. I cannot count the amount of times my first impression of someone or of a thing was completely incorrect. We take care to make a good impression upon people. Have you ever thought of the impression we make on God? Jesus astonished multitudes which remain to this day, yet scripture reveals He marveled on two occasions: over the lack of faith of people (Mark 6:6), and over the great faith of a centurion (Matthew 9:10 & Luke 7:9). Our faith or lack thereof makes an impression on God.
God can be impressed. For example, Cornelius was a devout Gentile who placed his trust in God, was generous with his money in helping others, and prayed always. Acts 10:3-4 reads, "About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, "Cornelius!" 4 And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, "What is it, lord?" So he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God." Cornelius was a man who feared God and served Him faithfully. The demonstration of the faith of Cornelius came before God, and God sent an angelic messenger to tell him so. Cornelius was not just one who made a good impression before men, but one who impressed God through his faith, loyalty, and service.
People will go to great lengths to impress others, yet how many are there who seek to impress God through devotion and service - not that they would be recognised with an angelic visitation - but because they are compelled by faith and the love of Christ? 2 Chronicles 16:9 tells us the eyes of the LORD go to and fro throughout the whole earth because God is seeking to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are loyal to Him. When His eyes pass to and fro over your life, thoughts, and actions, will it give Him that impression? To be seen and recognised by men is a little thing indeed when compared to God's perception of us. Let us labour therefore not to be known by men, but that our prayers and devotion would come before God as a memorial and make a good impression on Him.
God can be impressed. For example, Cornelius was a devout Gentile who placed his trust in God, was generous with his money in helping others, and prayed always. Acts 10:3-4 reads, "About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, "Cornelius!" 4 And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, "What is it, lord?" So he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God." Cornelius was a man who feared God and served Him faithfully. The demonstration of the faith of Cornelius came before God, and God sent an angelic messenger to tell him so. Cornelius was not just one who made a good impression before men, but one who impressed God through his faith, loyalty, and service.
People will go to great lengths to impress others, yet how many are there who seek to impress God through devotion and service - not that they would be recognised with an angelic visitation - but because they are compelled by faith and the love of Christ? 2 Chronicles 16:9 tells us the eyes of the LORD go to and fro throughout the whole earth because God is seeking to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are loyal to Him. When His eyes pass to and fro over your life, thoughts, and actions, will it give Him that impression? To be seen and recognised by men is a little thing indeed when compared to God's perception of us. Let us labour therefore not to be known by men, but that our prayers and devotion would come before God as a memorial and make a good impression on Him.
19 January 2015
Divine Flashbangs
I love it when God blows my mind through His Word. Have you ever seen a war movie when flashbangs are thrown into bunkers to disorient the enemy? It's like I'm down in the dark bunker, and God just drops a single verse which explodes with light that dazzles and amazes. Instead of displacing dirt or confusing me, God's Word brings clarity as He continues to erode the natural way I think and gives me God's perspective on practical matters. God's wisdom is so foreign, but my soul cheers to own and live it out myself. Keep 'em coming, LORD Jesus!
Last night I read 1 Chronicles 12:16-17 and all I could say was "Wow!" The verse reads, "Then some of the sons of Benjamin and Judah came to David at the stronghold. 17 And David went out to meet them, and answered and said to them, "If you have come peaceably to me to help me, my heart will be united with you; but if to betray me to my enemies, since there is no wrong in my hands, may the God of our fathers look and bring judgment." Like most people familiar with a language, halfway through a sentence most of the time our brains can complete the rest of the sentence with a fair amount of accuracy. I am reminded I wrote once of this in a previous post about the danger of finishing God's sentences. As I read David's words, it was easy for me to know what flesh would want to say. "If you are my friend, I will be yours. But if you choose to be my enemy, I..." You can fill in the blanks.
David, however, didn't finish his sentence the way I expected. He said, "If you have come peaceably to me to help me, my heart will be united with you; but if to betray me to my enemies, since there is no wrong in my hands, may the God of our fathers look and bring judgment." David affirmed he would be united to those who genuinely, peaceably came to him. Should they betray or seek to hurt him, David looked to God alone to sort that out. David trusted his God would see any evil and mete out judgment according to His righteousness. David was a man of faith, and this statement reveals how David committed his hurts and those who hurt Him to God - without feeling the need to retaliate. This perspective of trust in God is amazingly practical and a key to avoiding bitterness and walking in love towards all.
Today I had the very rare opportunity to play golf. I am pleased to report my knee held up very well, even having to walk the 18-hole course whilst carrying my clubs. The only blemish on a fantastic day was that somewhere between holes 9 and 10, I inexplicably lost the cover to my putter. I was bummed for a couple reasons. It was the special cover which came with my putter, and it would be hilariously expensive for me to replace it. As I continued the final holes, I prayed someone would turn in my putter cover to the pro shop where I could reclaim my lost property. Unfortunately, no one turned it in. Because there were many golfers following our group, I am certain that bright red cover would contrast nicely with the green grass! Oh well.
It would be easy for me to be angry someone has claimed my valuable property as their own. But I was reminded by the scriptures to maintain the God-honouring perspective David demonstrated. I can commit all my stuff and those who decide to keep it for themselves to God without a shred of anger or frustration. God knows all about it, and God will sort it out. I don't need to avenge myself or even beat myself up over my mistake of dropping the cover somewhere. God has given me an opportunity to trust and honour His Word: will I follow David's good example with the comfort of the Holy Spirit, or will I become bitter and angry? Praise the LORD not only for His wisdom, but opportunities to put His wisdom into practice. Then we can say with David, "As the LORD lives, He has redeemed my soul out of all distress" (1 Kings 1:29). When we apply God's Word by living it out, it starts becoming a practical and powerful witness of God's undimmed truth. God gave me that divine flashbang verse yesterday to teach me how to deal with difficulty today. How glorious is our God!
Last night I read 1 Chronicles 12:16-17 and all I could say was "Wow!" The verse reads, "Then some of the sons of Benjamin and Judah came to David at the stronghold. 17 And David went out to meet them, and answered and said to them, "If you have come peaceably to me to help me, my heart will be united with you; but if to betray me to my enemies, since there is no wrong in my hands, may the God of our fathers look and bring judgment." Like most people familiar with a language, halfway through a sentence most of the time our brains can complete the rest of the sentence with a fair amount of accuracy. I am reminded I wrote once of this in a previous post about the danger of finishing God's sentences. As I read David's words, it was easy for me to know what flesh would want to say. "If you are my friend, I will be yours. But if you choose to be my enemy, I..." You can fill in the blanks.
David, however, didn't finish his sentence the way I expected. He said, "If you have come peaceably to me to help me, my heart will be united with you; but if to betray me to my enemies, since there is no wrong in my hands, may the God of our fathers look and bring judgment." David affirmed he would be united to those who genuinely, peaceably came to him. Should they betray or seek to hurt him, David looked to God alone to sort that out. David trusted his God would see any evil and mete out judgment according to His righteousness. David was a man of faith, and this statement reveals how David committed his hurts and those who hurt Him to God - without feeling the need to retaliate. This perspective of trust in God is amazingly practical and a key to avoiding bitterness and walking in love towards all.
Today I had the very rare opportunity to play golf. I am pleased to report my knee held up very well, even having to walk the 18-hole course whilst carrying my clubs. The only blemish on a fantastic day was that somewhere between holes 9 and 10, I inexplicably lost the cover to my putter. I was bummed for a couple reasons. It was the special cover which came with my putter, and it would be hilariously expensive for me to replace it. As I continued the final holes, I prayed someone would turn in my putter cover to the pro shop where I could reclaim my lost property. Unfortunately, no one turned it in. Because there were many golfers following our group, I am certain that bright red cover would contrast nicely with the green grass! Oh well.
It would be easy for me to be angry someone has claimed my valuable property as their own. But I was reminded by the scriptures to maintain the God-honouring perspective David demonstrated. I can commit all my stuff and those who decide to keep it for themselves to God without a shred of anger or frustration. God knows all about it, and God will sort it out. I don't need to avenge myself or even beat myself up over my mistake of dropping the cover somewhere. God has given me an opportunity to trust and honour His Word: will I follow David's good example with the comfort of the Holy Spirit, or will I become bitter and angry? Praise the LORD not only for His wisdom, but opportunities to put His wisdom into practice. Then we can say with David, "As the LORD lives, He has redeemed my soul out of all distress" (1 Kings 1:29). When we apply God's Word by living it out, it starts becoming a practical and powerful witness of God's undimmed truth. God gave me that divine flashbang verse yesterday to teach me how to deal with difficulty today. How glorious is our God!
17 January 2015
More Love, More Power
The lyrics of a classic worship song go, "More love, more power, more of You in my life." Often this is an echo of my own soul to God. As much as I desire this request to be satisfied, this occurs in a way not addressed in the song. When a person is born again, the Holy Spirit spiritually regenerates the one dead in sins and begins to reside within. We do not receive only a fraction of God, but the Holy Spirit in overflowing fullness. As we mature, we recognise our natural poverty of soul and our God-given supernatural hunger for more of Him grows.
To ask more of God's love, power, or presence insinuates He has not given us all, or He is in some way "holding out" on us. This is not the case. The fact is, it is always we who are holding out on Him. It is useless for us to beg God to dole out more love toward us from His infinite stores. We must submit more of ourselves to receiving and walking in His love obediently by loving others. God has not only given us a fraction of His divine power or unction, for the power which raised Jesus from the dead is working in us through the Holy Spirit. It is we who have refused to trust and commit our lives to Him completely. God gives the Holy Spirit without measure, and the Spirit pours God's love into us. It says in Romans 5:5, "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." To ask for God to supply more of Himself is not really the point: we are the ones who must draw near to Him in faith, for the scripture says if we will draw near to Him, He will draw near to us.
The core issue behind our lack of surrender, disobedience, and waning desire for God is because we busy ourselves seeking satisfaction in anything but God every day. In Authentic by James MacDonald, a quote from Wilbur Reese's book made an impact upon me: "I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please. Not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep, but just enough to equal a cup of warm milk or a snooze in the sunshine. I want ecstasy, not transformation. I want the warmth of the womb, not a new birth. I want a pound of the eternal in a paper sack, please. I would like to buy $3 worth of God." (Reese, $3.00 Worth of God, 1971) We only lack love, power, and presence of God because we are not willing to cultivate it. We do not want our lives to be disturbed or changed. We hold onto our sins and are not broken in sorrow and humble repentance. We want power for living a life we want, and we want it as conveniently and easily as possible. God is wise to make life hard for it is in the hard, trying times when men and women of faith cry out to God in earnest.
One last thought: when Jesus sent out the disciples two by two, He told them to bring the clothes on their back, a staff in their hand, and shoes on their feet. They were not to load themselves with food, money, and supplies. He was teaching them to live by faith for their day to day necessities. When it comes to spiritual blessings, we are happy to have feelings of love and power beyond our needs for the day. We too must learn to trust God for our daily bread and seek Him for a supply of love, power, and grace moment by moment. Our stores of comfort and joy can be immediately exhausted in this life, and it is only through intentionally seeking God with empty hands and a humble heart in faith that we can be filled again and again. To have more love, power, and the presence of God, He must have more of us. He will not demand; He will not force. Let us draw near to God with a true heart in full assurance of faith, seeking His perfect will by surrendering our own will to His. We will find it is in Him alone we are satisfied and complete.
To ask more of God's love, power, or presence insinuates He has not given us all, or He is in some way "holding out" on us. This is not the case. The fact is, it is always we who are holding out on Him. It is useless for us to beg God to dole out more love toward us from His infinite stores. We must submit more of ourselves to receiving and walking in His love obediently by loving others. God has not only given us a fraction of His divine power or unction, for the power which raised Jesus from the dead is working in us through the Holy Spirit. It is we who have refused to trust and commit our lives to Him completely. God gives the Holy Spirit without measure, and the Spirit pours God's love into us. It says in Romans 5:5, "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." To ask for God to supply more of Himself is not really the point: we are the ones who must draw near to Him in faith, for the scripture says if we will draw near to Him, He will draw near to us.
The core issue behind our lack of surrender, disobedience, and waning desire for God is because we busy ourselves seeking satisfaction in anything but God every day. In Authentic by James MacDonald, a quote from Wilbur Reese's book made an impact upon me: "I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please. Not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep, but just enough to equal a cup of warm milk or a snooze in the sunshine. I want ecstasy, not transformation. I want the warmth of the womb, not a new birth. I want a pound of the eternal in a paper sack, please. I would like to buy $3 worth of God." (Reese, $3.00 Worth of God, 1971) We only lack love, power, and presence of God because we are not willing to cultivate it. We do not want our lives to be disturbed or changed. We hold onto our sins and are not broken in sorrow and humble repentance. We want power for living a life we want, and we want it as conveniently and easily as possible. God is wise to make life hard for it is in the hard, trying times when men and women of faith cry out to God in earnest.
One last thought: when Jesus sent out the disciples two by two, He told them to bring the clothes on their back, a staff in their hand, and shoes on their feet. They were not to load themselves with food, money, and supplies. He was teaching them to live by faith for their day to day necessities. When it comes to spiritual blessings, we are happy to have feelings of love and power beyond our needs for the day. We too must learn to trust God for our daily bread and seek Him for a supply of love, power, and grace moment by moment. Our stores of comfort and joy can be immediately exhausted in this life, and it is only through intentionally seeking God with empty hands and a humble heart in faith that we can be filled again and again. To have more love, power, and the presence of God, He must have more of us. He will not demand; He will not force. Let us draw near to God with a true heart in full assurance of faith, seeking His perfect will by surrendering our own will to His. We will find it is in Him alone we are satisfied and complete.
14 January 2015
Avoiding the Invisible Web
I love how God uses simple things to declare spiritual truth. This morning I saw a small beetle hanging motionless in a spider's web. Seconds after noticing the bug, a spindly spider with a large abdomen slowly climbed down to its prey. I sat spellbound, wondering what was going to happen. Would the spider wrap up the bug? Would it slowly eat the beetle or lay eggs in it? Much to my surprise, after moving around the beetle a few times, the bug fell to the floor. The spider skillfully crept back to its hiding place out of sight.
That was anti-climactic, I thought to myself. How silly it seemed to go through all the trouble of spinning a web only to fumble your food to the ground and forget about it! But then it hit me: cutting loose the dead beetle was deliberate. One of the aspects of a effective web is to make it virtually unseen. A bird will seldomly fly into an obvious trap, nor will a beetle crawl into the mouth of a bird. A spider's web is nearly invisible until a moth or bug flies into it. As long as the beetle was hanging in the middle of the small web, it was much more noticeable. Removing the dead bug from the web reset the stealthy trap for future victims.
It occurred to me the scene was a picture of Satan's tactics. He holds forth the alluring aspects of sin but does not include the whole picture - that sin leads to certain death. He craftily cuts loose the corpses of those fallen into iniquity so the simple run headlong to their destruction. How thankful I am that God warns us of the devastating, destructive consequences of sin. Even as sin brings certain death, repentance and trust in Christ leads to eternal life. A fool looks at the fun or enjoyment laying just out of reach on the other side of sin's invisible web, yet the discerning believer sees the corpses littering the ground under the web as dire warnings to heed. This depicts the truth spoken in Proverbs 22:3: "A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished." The souls that sins will surely die (Eze. 18:20), and those who repent and trust in Christ have a certain hope of life eternal in the presence of the LORD.
Our responsibility is to fear God and keep His commandments. With the leading and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, it is not burdensome. What is a burden is when we try to pursue the tantalizing offering of the world to satisfy our flesh and still walk in the way which fully pleases God. Micah 6:8 reads, "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" We cannot earn salvation through our efforts, but receive salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. In light of the grace we have received, our faith can be demonstrated with works by denying the flesh, being renewed in the Spirit of our minds, and walking in obedience to the Spirit. In this God is well pleased, and we can receive a full reward!
That was anti-climactic, I thought to myself. How silly it seemed to go through all the trouble of spinning a web only to fumble your food to the ground and forget about it! But then it hit me: cutting loose the dead beetle was deliberate. One of the aspects of a effective web is to make it virtually unseen. A bird will seldomly fly into an obvious trap, nor will a beetle crawl into the mouth of a bird. A spider's web is nearly invisible until a moth or bug flies into it. As long as the beetle was hanging in the middle of the small web, it was much more noticeable. Removing the dead bug from the web reset the stealthy trap for future victims.
It occurred to me the scene was a picture of Satan's tactics. He holds forth the alluring aspects of sin but does not include the whole picture - that sin leads to certain death. He craftily cuts loose the corpses of those fallen into iniquity so the simple run headlong to their destruction. How thankful I am that God warns us of the devastating, destructive consequences of sin. Even as sin brings certain death, repentance and trust in Christ leads to eternal life. A fool looks at the fun or enjoyment laying just out of reach on the other side of sin's invisible web, yet the discerning believer sees the corpses littering the ground under the web as dire warnings to heed. This depicts the truth spoken in Proverbs 22:3: "A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished." The souls that sins will surely die (Eze. 18:20), and those who repent and trust in Christ have a certain hope of life eternal in the presence of the LORD.
Our responsibility is to fear God and keep His commandments. With the leading and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, it is not burdensome. What is a burden is when we try to pursue the tantalizing offering of the world to satisfy our flesh and still walk in the way which fully pleases God. Micah 6:8 reads, "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" We cannot earn salvation through our efforts, but receive salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. In light of the grace we have received, our faith can be demonstrated with works by denying the flesh, being renewed in the Spirit of our minds, and walking in obedience to the Spirit. In this God is well pleased, and we can receive a full reward!
11 January 2015
The Unmodified Seed
“And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind.
And God saw that it was good.”
Genesis 1:12
In the
beginning God created plants which brought forth seed after their own
kind. In simple terms, the seed of each
plant is produced in the fruit.
Fruitfulness increases future fruitfulness as more plants grow to
maturity. Seeds produce plants which
grow more plants which will bring forth additional fruit of the same kind. Over the years, plants have been “engineered”
or genetically altered to improve aspects of the fruit. Seedless watermelons and mandarins, sweeter
corn with more kernels, and firmer tomatoes are all examples of such efforts. Whilst many of these engineered crops have
various benefits, in many cases they are rendered unable to reproduce
themselves. The alterations have made
seedless watermelons but removed the capacity for future fruitfulness from the
same vine.
At camp
this week, we have talked about the importance of answering questions by sharing
the pure Word of God, the Bible. In the
Parable of the Sower, Jesus compared the Word of God to good seed which falls
on different soil conditions which represent various conditions of the human
heart. Even as many plants and crops are
genetically altered to make them more palatable or to remove those annoying
seeds, the same can be done with the good seed of God’s Word. If we alter the Word or the message, we strip
the text of the power to be fruitful in the hearts and minds of others. Pressure from scientifically minded people have
sought to introduce man’s ideas into the biblical account of creation of the
earth by God. In doing so, the text may
be more acceptable to our finite, biased minds and make it unfruitful. The Gospel of Jesus Christ shared without the
necessary seeds of man’s sinfulness, need for repentance and atonement, and
that Jesus is the only way of salvation, rob souls of kernels necessary to spring
into new life.
07 January 2015
Riding Along
During recent months I have been cycling for exercise and to strengthen my surgically repaired knee. These days I am on the lookout for new routes to try. While I usually stick to the bike paths, it is fun to take on new roads and challenges. I have often quipped Jerusalem and Riverstone have some similarities: regardless which way you came from, it seems you always "go up" to Riverstone! Pushing hard up the hills provides a welcome challenge, but I still prefer racing down them!
The other day my sons and I went fishing with a good friend. We headed down Boundary Road to Wiseman's Ferry, and the scenery was beautiful. Cows lounged under the shade of spreading trees, and green fields stretched out for kilometres. "This would be a good place to ride," I thought to myself. There wasn't a true bicycle lane, but there seemed like enough room to comfortably stay out of the way of passing traffic. The gentle rise and fall of the terrain would be a good challenge as well. One the way back I had decided: Boundary Road was my next cycling destination.
A few days later I embarked on my new path. It wasn't very long before I was white-knuckling those grips! The hills which seemed hardly to rise in the Toyota Kluger seemed to stretch on and on whilst cycling. I am basically new to cycling distance and I had to concentrate furiously on the edge of the road. Many areas had no room at all, and the drop off the edge of the bitumen was severe at times. The ride also happened during afternoon peak hour, so cars and trucks whizzed past me. It wasn't too long before I was a bit saddle sore. Towards the end of the ride, I began to lose circulation in my right hand - likely gripping too hard due to intense concentration and physical exertion. I actually experienced more adrenalin on that ride with "close calls" than ever before. At the end of the 53 minute ride, the Strava cycling app on my phone told me I had traveled a distance of 18.2 kms and climbed 215 metres. I am looking forward to improving on my time and distance.
As I cycled, I was amazed how different elevation seemed from when I rode along in a car. It occurred to me we often "ride along" with others in their pain and struggles, the hills they are tackling gentle and easy - kind of like when my mate drove me along Boundary Road. His car was doing all the work. I enjoyed the comfort of air conditioning and was not winded at all. Needless to say, it was a massive difference when I took to the road myself on my bicycle. It was hot. It was perilous and cars swerved around me and at times I was mere centimetres from sliding off the road into gravel. One time I even threw the chain and had to stop and fix it. There was pain and discomfort I experienced on that bike I couldn't have imagined from the plush seats of a vehicle. This is the truth: you never know what someone is going through until you are in the saddle yourself. It is easy for us to dismiss the pain and struggles of others, thinking that our "ride along" gave us real insight concerning how they should cope or what tactics they could use. It seems quite easy until we climb into the saddle ourselves and go through the exercise ourselves, as the road stretches on and the uphills seem to go on forever.
If you know someone who is going through a tough uphill experience - whether it be divorce, illness, depression, loss of a job, chemical dependency, or family strife - demonstrate compassion and loving support. Even if we have driven down that road plenty of times, it takes climbing into the saddle to open our eyes and receive a deeper appreciation of a struggle we couldn't have grasped otherwise. One aspect of the Christian life which is so lovely is whatever suffering God allows, He provides greater consolation and comfort still. The comfort we receive by faith is not only for us, but to give to others when they suffer. 2 Corinthians 1:3-6 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. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation."
We don't have to experience all the suffering in the world to offer the consolation and salvation we have in Jesus Christ and God's Word. Jesus has suffered for our sakes, and when we share in the sufferings of one another as faithful friends, we can rejoice and endure through Him. We can never know how much someone else is suffering or how they are doing it tough. But God does, and He is able to deliver and save. He is able to comfort, heal, and restore. He's the One who protects us as we push up the challenging hills of this life. Should we fall, it is He who will lift us up and bring brothers and sisters along to strengthen us in Him. Let us bless the LORD, thanking and praising Him, for our God is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.
The other day my sons and I went fishing with a good friend. We headed down Boundary Road to Wiseman's Ferry, and the scenery was beautiful. Cows lounged under the shade of spreading trees, and green fields stretched out for kilometres. "This would be a good place to ride," I thought to myself. There wasn't a true bicycle lane, but there seemed like enough room to comfortably stay out of the way of passing traffic. The gentle rise and fall of the terrain would be a good challenge as well. One the way back I had decided: Boundary Road was my next cycling destination.
A few days later I embarked on my new path. It wasn't very long before I was white-knuckling those grips! The hills which seemed hardly to rise in the Toyota Kluger seemed to stretch on and on whilst cycling. I am basically new to cycling distance and I had to concentrate furiously on the edge of the road. Many areas had no room at all, and the drop off the edge of the bitumen was severe at times. The ride also happened during afternoon peak hour, so cars and trucks whizzed past me. It wasn't too long before I was a bit saddle sore. Towards the end of the ride, I began to lose circulation in my right hand - likely gripping too hard due to intense concentration and physical exertion. I actually experienced more adrenalin on that ride with "close calls" than ever before. At the end of the 53 minute ride, the Strava cycling app on my phone told me I had traveled a distance of 18.2 kms and climbed 215 metres. I am looking forward to improving on my time and distance.
As I cycled, I was amazed how different elevation seemed from when I rode along in a car. It occurred to me we often "ride along" with others in their pain and struggles, the hills they are tackling gentle and easy - kind of like when my mate drove me along Boundary Road. His car was doing all the work. I enjoyed the comfort of air conditioning and was not winded at all. Needless to say, it was a massive difference when I took to the road myself on my bicycle. It was hot. It was perilous and cars swerved around me and at times I was mere centimetres from sliding off the road into gravel. One time I even threw the chain and had to stop and fix it. There was pain and discomfort I experienced on that bike I couldn't have imagined from the plush seats of a vehicle. This is the truth: you never know what someone is going through until you are in the saddle yourself. It is easy for us to dismiss the pain and struggles of others, thinking that our "ride along" gave us real insight concerning how they should cope or what tactics they could use. It seems quite easy until we climb into the saddle ourselves and go through the exercise ourselves, as the road stretches on and the uphills seem to go on forever.
If you know someone who is going through a tough uphill experience - whether it be divorce, illness, depression, loss of a job, chemical dependency, or family strife - demonstrate compassion and loving support. Even if we have driven down that road plenty of times, it takes climbing into the saddle to open our eyes and receive a deeper appreciation of a struggle we couldn't have grasped otherwise. One aspect of the Christian life which is so lovely is whatever suffering God allows, He provides greater consolation and comfort still. The comfort we receive by faith is not only for us, but to give to others when they suffer. 2 Corinthians 1:3-6 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. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation."
We don't have to experience all the suffering in the world to offer the consolation and salvation we have in Jesus Christ and God's Word. Jesus has suffered for our sakes, and when we share in the sufferings of one another as faithful friends, we can rejoice and endure through Him. We can never know how much someone else is suffering or how they are doing it tough. But God does, and He is able to deliver and save. He is able to comfort, heal, and restore. He's the One who protects us as we push up the challenging hills of this life. Should we fall, it is He who will lift us up and bring brothers and sisters along to strengthen us in Him. Let us bless the LORD, thanking and praising Him, for our God is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.
05 January 2015
Losing and Finding Jesus
Yesterday I was reminded of when Joseph and Mary took Jesus to celebrate the Passover in Jerusalem for the first time. After the days of the feast were completed, the passage in Luke 2 says they left with a company of other people. They traveled for a day, assuming Jesus was somewhere with the people of the group. When they realised Jesus was not in the company, they hurried back to Jerusalem to seek Jesus. If you have ever lost a child even for a short time it is worrisome, but how much more when you have been entrusted to raise the Son of God!
Luke 2:46-49 states, "Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously." 49 And He said to them, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" Joseph and Mary had "lost" Jesus, but Jesus wasn't lost. His behaviour and choices were completely consistent with His divine character and purpose: "I must be about My Father's business." Joseph and Mary inferred Jesus had wronged them in some way because of their anxious feelings of losing Him. But Jesus asked them, "Why did you seek Me?" The truth is, they never should have lost sight of Him. They should not assumed He was with them when it was they who left Him behind!
There is a picture we do well to meditate upon. Joseph and Mary took Jesus to the temple in obedience to celebrate the Passover. A time came when Joseph and Mary figured it was time to head home, but forgot to bring Jesus with them. They simply assumed He would find His way home with them. But on the trip back to Nazareth, they discovered Jesus was not with them! Can Christians do the exact same thing? Absolutely. We go to church on Sunday mornings or to attend a prayer meeting or evening service and assume Jesus will be there. We head off to work or a business meeting and expect because we are a Christian, the presence of Christ will be around us all the time. Even though Jesus was born of Mary it did not mean they were inseparable. You may say, "Wait a second! Jesus said He would never leave or forsake us!" And you would be right. However, just because Jesus will not leave or forsake us does not mean we are unable to leave or forsake Him. If we think by virtue of being born again God is "in" all that we say or do - that God's presence will rubber-stamp our actions or words with His approval because of our belief - we are making an assumption similar to what Joseph and Mary did. "Oh, He must be around somewhere," we say. The reality was Jesus was more than a day's journey away! For three days there was great distance between them and Jesus. But when they sought Jesus faithfully, they found Him. When they finally found Him with great relief, He was about His Father's business.
Let us never lose sight of Jesus. Stay close to His side. He will always be about His Father's business. One of the roles of a shepherd is to seek lost sheep. I am grateful Jesus is my Good Shepherd, so when I lose sight of Him and cry out to Him, seeking Him with all my heart, I can always find Him. Instead of blaming Jesus for not gracing us with His presence, we ought to put into practice James 4:6-10, "But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." 7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up."
Luke 2:46-49 states, "Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously." 49 And He said to them, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" Joseph and Mary had "lost" Jesus, but Jesus wasn't lost. His behaviour and choices were completely consistent with His divine character and purpose: "I must be about My Father's business." Joseph and Mary inferred Jesus had wronged them in some way because of their anxious feelings of losing Him. But Jesus asked them, "Why did you seek Me?" The truth is, they never should have lost sight of Him. They should not assumed He was with them when it was they who left Him behind!
There is a picture we do well to meditate upon. Joseph and Mary took Jesus to the temple in obedience to celebrate the Passover. A time came when Joseph and Mary figured it was time to head home, but forgot to bring Jesus with them. They simply assumed He would find His way home with them. But on the trip back to Nazareth, they discovered Jesus was not with them! Can Christians do the exact same thing? Absolutely. We go to church on Sunday mornings or to attend a prayer meeting or evening service and assume Jesus will be there. We head off to work or a business meeting and expect because we are a Christian, the presence of Christ will be around us all the time. Even though Jesus was born of Mary it did not mean they were inseparable. You may say, "Wait a second! Jesus said He would never leave or forsake us!" And you would be right. However, just because Jesus will not leave or forsake us does not mean we are unable to leave or forsake Him. If we think by virtue of being born again God is "in" all that we say or do - that God's presence will rubber-stamp our actions or words with His approval because of our belief - we are making an assumption similar to what Joseph and Mary did. "Oh, He must be around somewhere," we say. The reality was Jesus was more than a day's journey away! For three days there was great distance between them and Jesus. But when they sought Jesus faithfully, they found Him. When they finally found Him with great relief, He was about His Father's business.
Let us never lose sight of Jesus. Stay close to His side. He will always be about His Father's business. One of the roles of a shepherd is to seek lost sheep. I am grateful Jesus is my Good Shepherd, so when I lose sight of Him and cry out to Him, seeking Him with all my heart, I can always find Him. Instead of blaming Jesus for not gracing us with His presence, we ought to put into practice James 4:6-10, "But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." 7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up."
04 January 2015
The Candle of the LORD
"The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the inner depths of his heart."
Proverbs 20:27
This verse was in my Bible portion I read this morning and God has used it to illuminate me today. The scriptures say God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). Jesus is the Light of the World, sent to bring light into the darkness. Psalm 119:105 compares God's Word to a lamp which lights our path: "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." The Proverbs passage above in the KJV calls the spirit of a man "the candle of the LORD," something which we commonly call "the conscience." Even as a flickering light shows us where solid footing is free from obstructions, so the conscience illuminates our hearts, minds, and motives. It is not a pleasant experience when our conscience brings sin to light according to God's Word, but it is for the best. In the end it is fruitful and a great blessing, even though it is hard for us to accept.
After a conversation I had today (which was light and friendly), the LORD used the light of my conscience to reveal sin in my heart. He said something like, "Did you enjoy your little whinge today?" Those from the UK or Australians will understand what this means. For any Americans our there, a "whinge" could be compared to what is called "whining." It is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as, "to complain persistently and in a peevish or irritating way." Whilst I was speaking I did not thing myself as whinging at all! But as the light of my conscience shone upon my words, I could only agree with God's assessment. The majority of the conversation was me talking about how hard things were, all the work I had done, and how much I still had to do. When I could have chosen to speak concerning the faithfulness or goodness of God, my focus was primarily on myself, and it disgusted me.
Call it whinging, complaining, whining, or whatever you like, but when motivated by pride and selfishness it is a foul stench in God's nostrils. Just because it is natural or normal for people to whinge does not mean it is approved as righteous in God's sight. Whinging always takes a view of problems apart from God's grace, goodness, and righteousness. I have no right to trot out my accomplishments as if it's something I have done. All I am and I have done is by God's grace. When I complain it is a sign I am focused on myself rather than glorifying and praising God. I don't need to whinge to people: I need to cry out to God for strength, deliverance, and help! I can rejoice and praise Him, knowing that God's grace is sufficient for me and His strength is made perfect in weakness. Instead of focusing on myself, my feelings, or my efforts, how good it is to praise God and be content in all circumstances. Pride loves to put self as the main course in a conversation, but humility and godliness holds forth the wonderful truth of God's love and power.
We are called to let our light shine before men, and this happens when we open our eyes to the light of our conscience, confess our sins, repent, and start walking in the right way. We can be confident that God who began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it (Phil. 1:6). I have resolved to put off the sin of evil speaking and choose to glorify God with my heart and mouth, so help me God. In this God is well pleased!
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