Marching Forth!

How easy it is to take things for granted!  Often it takes lack or denial of what we are accustomed to  before we recognise with gratefulness the gifts God has graciously supplied. About 10 years ago I went on a trip to Israel and stayed in the Mugraby hostel in Tel Aviv.  It was a clean, affordable option close to the beach.  The only downside was in chilly November our group returned to the hostel late at night.  The toilet and shower facilities were shared between several rooms on a single floor.  By the time I was ready for a shower before bed, all the hot water had been used.  Let me tell you, I was surprised the water flowed from the shower head at that temperature!  Surely it was spitting sharp icicles, not water!  Ever since that experience, I have always been so thankful for hot showers.  I have had some cold showers since, but I thank the LORD the water is not always so cold. Have you ever thanked God for your knees?...

" Ye shall have just balances, and a just ephah, and a just bath ." Ezekiel 45:10 God's people were to be a reflection of His honest and just character.  Proverbs 11:1 says, " Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is His delight ."  He commanded His people, "Be holy, for I am holy."  They were not to be like people who naturally showed partiality, favouritism, or nepotism, but to be honest, trustworthy, just, and conduct their business matters with integrity.  When discovered some people shrug at their own dishonest business practices and say, "That's just business."  If the God of Israel is also your God, the call to just weights and measures remains true regardless of what is socially acceptable.  In a "dog eat dog" world, we are to walk in light of the new nature God has given us through faith in Jesus and live His way. From an early age people have the knack of always seeking preferenti...

When we see negative examples in the Bible of unbelief, folly, or wickedness, it is a portrait of stunning detail of ourselves.  Let us not scoff or shake our heads disapprovingly of what we do ourselves but learn from the unerring truth of scripture.  We can say in every case, "It is I, LORD!"  We may not have taken all sins to their ultimate fulfillment, but the potential and willingness to transgress is always present in our mind and members. Last night I read Psalm 78 , a comprehensive account of God's faithfulness, power, and miraculous dealings with the children of Israel.  Asaph provided a historical overview of many things God had done to deliver, provide, guide, and establish His people.  The common issue at the core of Israel's problems was their unbelief of God.  Though God had done much in the past and given great promises for the future, the people seemed incapable of connecting God's faithfulness in the past to assurance of His future faith...

Paul and Silas had a rough day.  Though innocent, they had been falsely accused, arrested, beaten, humiliated, thrown into prison, and their feet secured in stocks.  Acts 17 tells us they were praying and singing praises to God at midnight when suddenly there was an earthquake, the chains fell off the prisoners, and the doors swung open.  The jailer woke up and panicked at the sight of the open cell doors.  He was about to kill himself when Paul called out he should do himself no harm.  No one had escaped, and the man's life would not be required at the hand of his superiors. Deeply moved the jailer asked, "What must I do to be saved?"  Paul answered, "Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ and you shall be saved, you and your whole house."  The man believed, rejoiced, and was baptised.  He washed the stripes of Paul and Silas, having been whipped terribly.  When Paul and Silas were released the following day, their miraculous, amazing story was...

Jesus knew His coming to this world would involve much suffering, yet His suffering or pain was not His focus.  Even as Paul recognised the sufferings of this world could not be compared to the glory which would be revealed in him, so Jesus for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross and despised the shame.  Jesus was never selfish or self-focused.  He did not balk at obedience to the Father because it would mean temptation, physical pain or spiritual separation.   John 12:23-24 says, " But Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. 24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain ."  Jesus didn't spend the bulk of His time speaking about His future pain, but how His death would be the path to eternal glory and fruit. When Jesus spoke of His future crucifixion, He spoke of it with the ultimate end...

"Seeing is believing," some say.  This statement can be safely tucked away with many other sayings which are not always true.  Thomas believed when he saw Jesus physically standing before Him, but some have believed who never laid eyes on Christ once.  The people who personally saw Jesus perform many miracles and even saw Lazarus whom Christ raised from the dead did not believe, as it is written in John 12:37-40 :  " But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, 38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: "Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?" 39 Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: 40 "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them." The Jews in Christ's day could not cite...

Over the past couple months I first noticed my vision was blurred, especially over distance.  I have always been blessed with good vision, and I decided it was time to have my eyes checked professionally.  I was diagnosed with mild astigmatism and sent to a specialist because it appeared my optic nerves were swollen and performed poorly on a peripheral vision test.  After a few additional tests were done, it was discovered I have a fairly rare condition called " optic disc drusen " which is when deposits of calcium and protein collect in the optic nerve.  Typically it is considered a benign condition, but it can lead to increasing peripheral vision loss and even blindness. One site I read called it an "insidious" condition, which sounds more menacing than it is.  Most often (like in my case) optic disc drusen is discovered when ruling out more dangerous conditions.  The second definition of word "insidious" in the Merriam-Webster dictionary is, " ...

There is no shortage of worldly options which offer themselves as substitutes for the life God intends.  The flesh always prefers gratification over denial.  But Jesus said if we will be His disciples, we must deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him.  He always lived to please the Father, and as we learn to follow Him we find satisfaction for our souls.  Denial of the flesh becomes a great source of joy, for in obedience to God there is rest and freedom from the bondage of sin. No man can serve two masters, Jesus said:  we cannot serve both God and money.  The pursuit of wealth and love of money causes men to be pierced through with many sorrows, though money promises what only God can deliver.  Trusting money instead of God places our feet on a foundation of slippery sand.  People look to money to supply security, material possessions, the freedom to acquire, and to open doors for travel and experiences.  But like all thin...

Many times the impact of what Jesus said can be lost in our modern day.  The spiritual spin we apply to a verse by jumping to interpretation before we have carefully observed can remove the strength of emphasis which struck Christ's hearers.  For example, during the Sermon on the Mount Jesus employed a complete paradigm shift from what the Law said to what He said.  In doing so He claimed to be a greater authority than Moses, which was an unimaginable claim to the Jews! Jesus said in Matthew 5:21-24, "Y ou have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember ...

God's ways are truly higher than ours.  Our vision is sorely limited and often focused on peripheral things, but God sees the whole picture at once.  This aspect of God is portrayed wonderfully in John 11 when Jesus raised His friend Lazarus from the dead. Jesus received word that Lazarus was sick, yet He waited for two days before going to visit him.  Martha and Mary, the sisters of Lazarus, hoped Jesus would quickly visit them at their request to heal their dying brother.  What seemed like an unnecessary delay set in motion a pivotal moment with eternal consequences.  Lazarus died, and many Jewish mourners gathered to comfort Martha and Mary ( John 11:19 ).  Jesus knew of the death of Lazarus before they began their journey to Bethany, and said in John 11:14-15 :  " Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead. 15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him ." After meeting wit...

Many people sought Christ and heard Him gladly, but that was no guarantee they practiced what He preached.  Jesus was not the first who endured this treatment, and men continue in this pattern even in our day.  The books we read and recommend to others are not necessarily as life changing as they could be.  The views we cheer or espouse are not always reflected in our own lives.  The pastors we enjoy listening to often go unheeded by us.  Agreement or knowledge of right and wrong is not sufficient to transform our lives. When God put words in the mouth of the prophet Ezekiel, people were interested to hear what he had to say.   It was not because they necessarily agreed with or believed him, but they enjoyed discussing and dissecting his remarks.  God told the prophet the truth in Ezekiel 33:32 , " Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do no...

The earliest version of the nursery rhyme " Humpty Dumpty " was written in 1797 by Samuel Arnold.  The first lines read, " Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.  Humpty Dumpty had a great fall ."  The higher the wall, the greater chance of significant injury from a fall.  Humpty Dumpty is commonly portrayed as an egg, and considering his fragile condition he may have been better suited for a downy nest.  Once Humpty fell, irreversible damage was done.  There was no putting him back together again. The well-known nursery rhyme has been around for centuries, but catastrophic falls for people and nations is nothing new.  This morning I read from Ezekiel 31, a passage where God spoke of how He had elevated Assyria as a towering cedar of Lebanon, the envy of the trees of Eden.  God had provided a tall, strong trunk and an ample water source to nourish the tree and cause it to grow.  Ezekiel 31:10-11 reads, " Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: 'Because yo...

" Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly--and indeed you do bear with me. 2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ ." 2 Corinthians 11:1-2 When a couple was betrothed in ancient Jewish society, the man and woman after a legal ceremony were viewed as a married couple - though they did not live together or consummate the marriage until their wedding.  This betrothal period could last a year or more, until the father of the groom gave the command.  The husband had been preparing a place for them to reside in, typically a room attached to his father's home.  The bride also prepared during that time, ensuring she had a dress for her wedding, as well as gathering clothing and items to take with her on the day of her wedding.  As the wedding drew near, her close female friends kept a watchful eye on her.  Both husband and wife were to remain sexually...

Nothing is too hard for God.  What is impossible with men is possible with God.  Psalm 135:6 says, " Whatever the LORD pleases He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deep places ."  God has absolute power, and His power is always governed by justice, righteousness, mercy, grace, and love.  Such power would corrupt any mere man, but God is more than a man.  He is altogether not like us - finite beings conceived in sin - yet He created man is His own image. God's ways are past finding out, and His decisions and motives are righteous without question.  Daniel 4:35 records the observations of Nebuchadnezzar, a man whose eyes were opened to God and His glorious ways:  " All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, "What have You done ?"  We have as much right to question God as our abil...

For a discipleship course at Calvary Chapel Sydney, we have been reading through an out-of-print edition of Spiritual Leadership.  It is lamentable how the more recent versions have been stripped of original force and power, but thankfully there are plenty of copies for purchase available online. I was struck with the perceptive wisdom of Sanders concerning the tactics the devil uses to stunt the growth, sap the power, and reduce the fruitfulness of Christians.  Paul was not ignorant of Satan's devices, and neither should any follower of Jesus Christ be.  Satan shamelessly appeals to the opinions of others and our flesh, and works tirelessly to distract and confuse.  Causing us to yield in our pursuit of Christ for even a moment lends him our ears and access to our hearts.  Sanders wrote this in his Christian classic: The epic contest of Moses with Pharaoh affords a classic example of the progressive temptation to compromise.  When Pharaoh discerned Mo...

Our lives have the potential to make a huge positive influence on others.  For those in church ministry, it may feel like you aren't making much of a difference.  As I think about those who invested time in me as a kid, I remember and appreciate their sacrifice of time and faithfulness to God and His Word.  God is able to use straight-laced folks and complete characters to impact others for His glory. Ricardo Medina was a man I will not forget.  He was called by his friends the "crazy Cuban," and would wear a cowboy hat, boots and trench coat to church every week.  I heard stories about him going to local churches and being asked to leave because of his wardrobe.  All I know is the man loved the LORD, and he had the heart of a servant.  What I remember the most was the time he stood in as youth leader on a Sunday evening at church.  I was in grade 7 or 8, and though decades have passed I have always remembered the lesson: Ricardo taught us the ...

Suffering is an intrinsic part of life on earth.  Paul wrote all of creation is currently in the bondage of corruption brought by man's sin.  Romans 8:22 explains the scope and the effects of this corruption that brings death:  " For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now ."  It is not all bad news, for as certain as suffering and pain is present on earth, so redemption and freedom for eternity is assured for those who repent and trust in Jesus Christ.  Birth pangs are unbelievably painful, but necessary for the living miracle to be born. Jesus suffered pain on the cross and drank of the bitter cup of judgment man deserved so those who trust in Him could be delivered from sin and death.  Though Jesus has taken our punishment, pain and suffering is a necessary part of life for we all who are alive and remain - especially for those who take a stand for Jesus Christ and godliness.  Jesus promised tribulat...

" In God (I will praise His word), in the LORD (I will praise His word), 11 in God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me ?" Psalm 56:10-11 Jesus is the name of above all names, having been exalted over all others by His heavenly Father.  Jesus is the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us, and revealed God's love through sacrificial death and mighty power through the resurrection.  It is the scripture, the Word of God, by which we learn of the true nature of God in trinity:  one God revealed in the persons of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  We ought to place a high value on the Bible in study and practice, and Jesus displayed total mastery of the holy scriptures.  The Pharisees thought the study of the scriptures would give life, but the scriptures spoke of Christ who alone has the words of life.  The life is in Jesus, and by faith we can know Jesus through the written Word. One thing consistent in the book of Acts...